InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unexpeced Allies Part III: Trial of the Century ❯ The Final Battle ( Chapter 10 )

{Disclaimer: Anyone who's read this from chapter one of part one knows this already, so…}

Chapter Ten:

The Final Battle

Kagome stood at the base of the tree in the center of the village, Mira braiding her hair beside her. Kagome spread her aura through the village to the trees at the edge of Inuyasha's Forest. She could sense Naraku's approach as the sun rose. She turned to Mira, smiling slightly as Mira fought with a tangle of hair.

"Its been entirely too long since I last braided my own hair. I'm going to cut-Oh. Thank you Kagome-chan."

"No problem," Kagome said as she took over braiding Mira's hair. She patted the finished braid and stood back up. As she helped Mira to her feet, she sighed. "Mira, may I ask you for a favor?"

"Sure, Kagome-chan," Mira said. "You can ask me for anything."

"Well," Kagome started, scratching her head thoughtfully. "I want to ask this now, just in case I can't ask you later. It's about Inuyasha."

"Oh," Mira nodded as she fiddled with the sleeve of her kimono, leaning against the tree.

"You see, Inuyasha isn't really a bad guy. On the outside, he's rude, egotistical, arrogant-"

"You're not winning any points for him, Kagome-chan."

Kagome giggled nervously. "On the inside though, he's sweet, caring and rather dedicated to what he wants. He's been alone since his mother died. Other youkai hate him, humans fear him, even Sesshoumaru isn't very tolerant with him. They fight constantly. I just wanted to ask if you'd give him a chance. I'm not asking you to become his mother or something, but just get to know him, you know what I mean?"

Mira nodded and hugged Kagome gently. "It was very brave of you to ask me that. For you, I will give him a chance."

"Thank you!" Kagome gasped in relief as she returned the hug. Mira smiled and patted the back of her head, then released her. She jumped into the highest branch of the tree, her bow and quiver hanging beside her.

"Go, Kagome-chan. The hanyou is coming."

Kagome nodded and walked away from the tree to the shrine. She entered the doors and dropped to her knees before the alter, her eyes closed in prayer.

"If anyone's watching up there," Kagome whispered. "Then please help us today. Help us free our friends and defeat our enemy." Kagome inhaled deeply as her aura spread. Naraku was indeed closer, his youkai at least 100 yards from Inuyasha's Forest. Kagome reached over to the duffle bag in the corner of the shrine and prepared for the hanyou's arrival.

++++++

"Thanks for staying, Keni'Chi," Shorin said as she drew her sai out of their sheaths. Keni'Chi nodded, his right hand flexing the gauntlet experimentally.

"No thanks is necessary. I say we kick his butt."

"I agree. Good luck, Keni'Chi." They shook hands, then turned to face the army pouring over the horizon.

"Good luck, Shorin. Let's give 'em Hell."

+++++

Kenirous grinned as he sat between Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha's cells, a crystal ball in his hand.

"I thought you two would like to see the final hours of your miko," he said as he sat the ball on the table he brought with him.

"Kagome's not gonna die!" Shippou screeched.

Kenirous shrugged. "We shall see." The inside of the crystal ball clouded, then cleared to show Shorin and Keni'Chi at the gates of the village, a masked inuyoukai in a tree in the center of the village, and the village shrine. Kenirous smiled.

"This should be interesting."

+++++++

Mira nocked a flaming arrow into the bow, poised and ready as the first stream of youkai poured into the clearing, tugging gently at the mask Kagome told her to wear.

'She said this is what the firefighters wear in her time to protect themselves from heat,' she though as she raised the bow. 'Why does it have to be so itchy?' Mira calmed herself and focused, turning a full 360 degrees as she glanced at the village grounds under her. The youaki were approaching on all sides, but the majority were coming straight for Shorin, Keni'Chi and the village gate.

Mira sighed and thought about Kagome's request. 'She was so scared, like I'd strangle her or something. Why do I have the feeling Maru-chan has something to do with that? I'll do as she asked, like I said. Maru-chan is so lucky to have such a wonderful mate. She's everything InuTaisho said she would be.' Mira blinked back the tears that formed at his name. 'Morn later, Mira. You have a daughter to protect.'

She watched as the last of the vast youkai army ran over the hill into the clearing. At the back of them stood a lone figure, dressed in a baboon pelt. 'That must be Naraku. We have a surprise for you, you sick bastard.'

++++++

Shorin jumped as the first gasoline can exploded, the explosion blinding her momentarily. Shorin closed her eyes and used the rest of her senses to strike out on the approaching youkai, her sai jabbing repeatedly into unsuspecting throats, eyes and chests. She could hear Keni'Chi's gauntlet clang and clash against whatever it was he was fighting, the softer click of his boots as they landed swift blows ringing out every so often. Another bush exploded in a flash of sound and light. Shorin leaped onto a nearby boulder, her sai clanging against the rock as she called out for Keni'Chi.

"I'm here," he gasped as he reached the boulder. More explosions sounded in the early morning light, the youkai they destroyed raining down on the battlefield in bloody bits and pieces. Shorin grimaced as she jumped down.

"That was rather…enlightening," Keni'Chi said, flicking off his shoulder what could've been someone's liver as the youkai around them became frantic. They attacked anything near them, slicing and smashing their way thought the army as more gasoline cans blew up around the village. Keni'Chi pointed to the distance.

"Naraku!"

Shorin whipped around, her chestnut ponytail smacking the face of an offending youkai. "Where?"

"There! I'm going for him!"

Shorin nodded as Keni'Chi sprinted away, pinning the youkai she was fighting to the ground with a quick stab of her sai.

++++++

Kagome looked down at herself nervously, smoothing out the fabric of her clothes as she fingered the Shikon no Tama half around her neck.

"What made me think of this?" Kagome asked herself as she put her gi inside her bag. "I must want Naraku to kill me."

Kagome stood in what Inuyasha would call 'the stupidest thing he'd ever seen her wear'. She wore a denim flight suit that flowed over her curves, with suede ribbon lacing the deep v neckline closed. She refused to give up the combat boots, just in case she needed to run. The swords were in their usual places on her back and sides. Kagome sighed, then tensed as the shrine door slid back.

"Hello koi. Did you miss me?"

++++++

Kenirous grinned as he watched Shorin and Keni'Chi dodge the exploding forest around them while they attacked Naraku's army. "How interesting. Who would think a female could fight so viciously? A wise decision, Lord Sesshoumaru"

"What can I say?" Sesshoumaru quirked aridly as he watched the generals fight inside the crystal ball. "I am an equal opportunity employer."

"A what?" Kenirous asked as the others stared at Sesshoumaru curiously. Sesshoumaru sighed and fought the urge to roll his eyes. 'It is true what they say,' Sesshoumaru thought as Shippou settled on his shoulder. 'TV does rot your brain.'

"What's this?" Kenirous said as he leaned closer to the ball. "It seems like your miko has a visitor."

+++++++

Kagome rose slowly, turning to face him.

"No, Naraku, I can't say that I have."

Naraku's face folded into a slight pout. "Really? How sad. I've missed you." His eyebrow rose as he inspected her wardrobe. "What are you wearing, koi?"

"Its called a flight suit."

Naraku stared at her quizzically. "What?" He shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Soon it will be in a heap on the floor."

Kagome unsheathed the Reiosegia slowly, reaching over her right shoulder to grasp the hilt. "I don't think so."

Narkau grinned. "You really want to fight?"

Kagome answered by charging forward, the blade of the Reiosegia transforming into a smaller version of the transformed Tetsusaiga. She swung the fang through the air between them, aiming for Naraku's neck. Naraku swiftly blocked the attack with a flex of his claws.

"Alright, koi. If it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you get." He backhanded her sharply across the chin, sending Kagome skidding across the floor and colliding into the alter at the back of the shrine.

++++++

"Why can't we see inside the shrine?" Shippou asked as he sat on Sesshoumaru's shoulder. Kenirous shrugged.

"I do not know. Perhaps your okaasan is blocking the ball's magic."

"Really?" Shippou asked, peering at Sesshoumaru.

"It is possible."

Shippou smiled. "Kagome is going to beat Naraku, I just know it."

"Well, if I were you, I wouldn't look at the ball right now," Kenirous said. Sesshoumaru looked into the ball as Shippou and Inuyasha gasped.

+++++++

Mira jumped down from the tree, her arrow supply completely depleted. She unsheathed her sword and sliced through the youkai at the base of the tree. She glanced toward the entrance of the village. Shorin and Keni'Chi were fast approaching a baboon-clad youkai at the far ranks of the youkai army.

'That must be Naraku,' Mira guessed as she hacked through a crocodile youkai. 'I should help them.'

+++++++

Shorin and Keni'Chi barely reached Naraku when a sudden blur behind him slashed through his pelt. He turned around as Mira landed, her blade filleting the left side of his face from his head. Naraku shuddered under her assault as the usually calm, chipper inuyoukai sliced through him like a seasoned assassin. When she finally ceased her rain of deadly blows on the hanyou, he turned to Shorin and smiled.

"Uh, uh, uh. You've killed the wrong Naraku." He turned into a pile of ash then blew away, revealing a small wooden doll.

"What the hell?" Keni'Chi breathed as he picked the doll up. He crushed it in his hands as Shorin and Mira exchanged glances.

Shorin gasped. "If that Naraku is the fake…"

"Then where's the real Naraku?" Mira finished. The earth rumbled under their feet as a loud crash was heard from behind them. Shorin, Keni'Chi and Mira turned around and paled.

+++++++

Kagome crashed through the shrine wall, sailed over the rice fields outside and landed on her back in a field ten feet away. She groaned as she attempted to stand up, stars dancing behind her eyes. Naraku cleared the distance to her, grinning.

"Do you still want to fight?" he sneered as he approached her. Kagome rushed to stand, using the Reioseiga as a crutch. Naraku laughed at her feeble attempts.

"You may as well stay down there," he said as she fell back down.

Kagome sighed in exasperation. 'I can't destroy him if I can't get up. I could try to purify him, but he'd more likely than not behead me before I do. I'll have to get close to him, but how?' An idea lit up in her mind and she smiled. Attempting to stand up one last time, she was almost elated when she dropped back to the ground. 'Well,' she told herself as she sat back on her knees. 'if plan A fails, go to plan B.'

As Naraku closed the distance between them, Kagome suddenly kneeled on the ground before him; her head lowered and her eyes downcast.

"Are you giving up?" he asked Kagome as she sheathed the Reioseiga.

"Yes, I yield."

+++++++

"WHAT?!!!!!!!!!" Inuyasha screeched at the ball. Sesshoumaru and Kenirous glared at him, but he ignored them for the scene inside the ball. "What's wrong with you, you stupid girl? Get off your ass and fight him!"

Kenirous shook his head as Sesshoumaru growled in warning. "It seems as if your brother really is as wild and undisciplined as informed."

Sesshoumaru redirected his glare to Kenirous, but Shippou's cry gave him pause. "What's Kagome doing now?" He paled under Sesshoumaru's gaze. "Sorry. I forgot about your ears."

Sesshoumaru ignored him as Kenirous stared at them. "You behave, Sesshoumaru-sama," Kenirous jeered "As if you were the pup's chichiue."

Sesshoumaru turned a cold, indifferent stare at Kenirous, only to have the deadly image shattered when Shippou decided to snuggle into his tail. Sesshoumaru fought the urge to flick the kit off, choosing to stare back into the crystal ball instead.

++++++++

Kagome held her breath as Naraku came closer. She could feel the stares of her friends around her as he jerked her chin up. She kept her eyes lowered as Naraku stared at her quizzically.

"Why are you giving up?" he asked.

"Because I'm not strong enough to fight you. Inuyasha's right, I'm just a weakling."

++++++

Sesshoumaru glared at Inuyasha, who suddenly became more interested in the floor of his cell.

++++++

Naraku smiled. "I'm glad to see you've come to your senses." He hooked his hands under her arms and picked her up. Kagome avoided looking directly at him, choosing to look at the ground below as he looked her over.

"Does this mean you're willing to return with me?"

"Yes."

"No!" Mira shouted. Naraku waved a hand and his army descended on her, Shorin and Keni'Chi in an instant; distracting them.

"I don't believe you. Prove it."

Kagome glanced up, her actions innocent and timid. "How?"

"Kiss me."

++++++

"WHAT?!!!!!!!!" Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha growled in unison. Kenirous smiled, but said not a word as he watched the scene unfold inside the ball.

++++++++

Kagome looked away shyly, a faint blush staining her cheeks. Naraku chuckled. "Have you never been kissed in such a way, koi?"

Kagome mentally grimaced, but made the blush on her cheeks darken to answer. Naraku wrapped an arm around her and patted her cheek.

"Don't worry. I know what to do."

He dipped his head down and kissed her, grunting in approval when Kagome opened her mouth to accept his tongue. So engrossed was he in the kiss, he failed to see the small tendrils of smoke snaking their way out of Kagome's mouth.

++++++++

Mira watched in anger as Naraku kissed Kagome , feeling any pleasant feelings for the girl evaporating when Kagome wrapped her arms behind Naraku's head. Shorin and Keni'Chi deflected attacks against them as Mira searched for a way to effectively destroy the youkai around her without hurting Keni'Chi and Shorin in the process. As she gathered her youki, she smelled the faint smell of something burning. Mira sniffed around, following the scent back to Kagome and Naraku as faint swirls of smoke trailed lightly from Kagome's mouth.

+++++++++

"Who knew the miko had it in her," Kenirous said in disguise. Sesshoumaru turned away from the ball as Inuyasha heaved dry air in a corner of his cell. Just as Sesshoumaru was walking to the back of the cell, Shippou pointed to the ball.

"What is it, kit?" he asked.

"Did you see that?" Shippou asked.

"Yes, I saw her kiss that disgusting hanyou."

Shippou shook his head. "Not that. Did you see the smoke coming from her mouth."

'Smoke?' Sesshoumaru turned back to the ball.

++++++++

Kagome focused as she wrapped her legs around Naraku's waist, earning another purr of contentment from the hanyou. Her purification gathered inside her in a force of purple, slowly leaking from Kagome's mouth to Naraku's. Naraku's eyes suddenly flew open, a look of desperate disbelief etched on his face.

"What are you doing?" he demanded as he jerked away. Kagome hissed as he tried to break free of her grasp.

"I said death was coming, Naraku. I do not lie," she whispered as her eyes glowed a fierce white. She grabbed Naraku's face and kissed him again, her purifying magic pouring freely into his mouth.

+++++++

>Clink!<

>Crash!<

Kenirous stared in amazement as the crystal ball shattered into millions of pieces. He brushed the splintered bits from his hands to the ground as Inuyasha, Shippou and Sesshoumaru looked on.

"Well, it seems like your miko is more powerful than I thought," he said as he suppressed a giggle. "Naraku finally will be defeated." As he turned to leave the prison, he stopped before Sesshoumaru's cell.

"I hope that little display helps you, Sesshoumaru. I do not believe even you could withstand a kiss like that."

++++++++

Kagome winced as Naraku clawed through the denim to her right arm again. She had cuts and bruises all over her body from Naraku's attempts to escape, but Kagome held firm. 'If I can hold him for a little longer,' Kagome told herself over and over again as her magic poured into Naraku like a crack inside the Hoover Dam. Naraku fought to close his mouth, but Kagome's power held it open. Her magic swirled inside him, eagerly purifying all it touched.

Kagome gasped suddenly and released her arms from his neck, flinging them out to her sides as her power gushed out of her mouth and into the sky in a fountain of purple. It came back down to earth; not in tiny droplets like rain but like a thick blanket, covering Naraku and Kagome in a purple flash of light. Shorin, Keni'Chi and Mira shielded their eyes as the power raced toward them, purifying anything in its wake.

A cat youkai grabbed them from behind and dashed for the edge of the forest, racing to stay ahead of the light. As it died down and shrank back, the youkai backtracked the three back to their original positions.

"Who are you?" Mira asked as she opened her eyes. The cat youkai had shoulder-length free black hair in her humanoid form, with little whiskers beside her nose.

"My name is Katsumi," the youkai whispered. "And I am a loyal servant of the lady Kagome."

Mira nodded as Shorin and Keni'Chi pulled themselves out of their stupor. "Where is Kagome?" Shorin asked as she stood up and looked around. She gasped when she looked past the rice fields. On the other side was Kagome, her clothes tattered and barely hanging on by a thread. Beside her was what looked like an escapee from a zombie movie. The withered remains of the man gasped for air in raspy breaths, shaking as if assaulted with each attempt to hang onto life. It crawled toward Kagome, who was stretched on her back on the grass, her eyes closed and her breathing labored. It reached for the completed Shikon no Tama, it resting in Kagome's hand.

"Give it to me!" Naraku croaked hoarsely. Kagome's eyes remained closed as Naraku touched the jewel.

"Not today," Kagome hissed as her eyes flew open before Naraku could take the jewel from her. She unsheathed Reioseiga and plunged it deep into Naraku's side, through the other side and into the ground underneath him, Naraku shuttered, then died, pinned down by her blade. Kagome smiled as she rolled on her back, gazing up at the afternoon sky as Mira's face appeared above her.

"Kagome-chan, are you ok?" she asked. Kagome shrugged, unaware that the scratches and bruises Naraku gave her were slowly healing.

"As ok as one can be after kissing Naraku," Kagome groaned as Keni'Chi and Shorin appeared beside Mira.

"That was dumb on so many levels," Keni'Chi whispered in awe as he picked Kagome up. Katsumi took off her cloak and wrapped it around Kagome, shielding her slowly healing body from the elements.

Kagome smiled at them all. "Sesshoumaru is as good as free." She slipped into sleep quickly as Keni'Chi carried her back to Kaede's, with the others close behind.

+++++++++

The air in front of Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha's cells shimmered as Miroku's right hand started to itch. He stared at it a moment, then rubbed the itching palm against the bars. The itching alleviated, Miroku stared at it in confusion, then wonder as a small curl of smoke rose out of his palm. Miroku cautiously removed the rosary, then unwrapped his hand. Where the wind tunnel used to be was a small raised scar in the shape of a circle. Miroku blinked, his thumb tracing over the scar.

"Its gone…" he whispered. Sango turned to him. "What?"

"It's gone!" Miroku cried. He lifted Sango of the floor and spun her around in his glee. "The Wind Tunnel! It's gone!"

Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha glanced toward the sound, but refocused when Shippou gasped. A transparent form of Kagome appeared in front of the cells. She was dressed in her old school uniform, smiling at them as she brushed herself off.

"I just wanted you guys to know that I'm ok," she said. "And not to worry. Naraku is dead. I can't find Kohaku though. Tell Sango I'm sorry." She faded away, leaving one last thing.

"I'm coming Sesshoumaru. Remember: Patience is a virtue."

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Silver Fox: So sorry about the last update people. You weren't supposed to see that chapter until next week. Everything is fixed now.