InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unexpected Encounters ❯ twenty two ( Chapter 22 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: kittyb78 
Final showdown with Naraku and a death.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 12.29.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.1K | Visits: 342 | Status: Work In Progress
Final showdown with Naraku and a death.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 12.29.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.1K | Visits: 342 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, they belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I do own this plot line and all OC’s.
Chapter twenty two:
As they were working their way across the land, Kikyo sat on the tank next to Airi and asked, “Why are you here?”
Airi stared at her asking, “Why do you ask?” not sure she wanted to tell this priestess anything.
Kikyo replied, “I sense something different about you. You are not from this region, are you?”
Airi replied, “I’m a nomad. I travel as I wish and go where the wind takes me. I have no origin.”
Kikyo replied calmly, “Everyone has an origin.” Adding, “Perhaps you just haven’t found yours yet?”
Airi scowled and challenged, “Why does a priestess care so much about my origin?”
Kikyo blinked and responded coolly, “Why do you care so little?” and the women looked away from each other.
Bankotsu ordered, “Enough, both of you.” and silenced them with a stern glare. He nodded satisfied and turned his gaze back to their surroundings, informing his group, “Something isn’t right here.” as he noticed there were no sounds of wild life anywhere around them.
Ginkotsu rolled to a halt at Bankotsu’s command. Airi stood up with her hand going to her waist and whispered, “You’re right Ban, something strange is going on.” as her eyes scanned their surroundings, and a sinking feeling overcame her.
Kyokotsu looked around and informed his leader, “There are no animals anywhere.”
Bankotsu blinked and said, “You’re right.” as he felt the air around them become cold and worrisome. He shouted, “Get ready guys!” and pulled Banryu out of its cloth, preparing for battle.
Kikyo said, “Naraku,” as she watched wide eyed as the demons began swarming up behind a purple blimp.
Inuyasha and Kagome were beside the tank and Inuyasha snarled, “Kagura,” as he stared up at the sky, with his sword drawn.
Sango and Miroku were riding on Kirara and landed next to Inuyasha as Sango said, “he’s coming,” pointing to the massive demons staying put in the sky a mile away from them.
Inuyasha barked, “I know,” and glared at Kagura who floated down twenty feet away from them and put her feather away, tapping her fan against her chin.
“Well well, what a surprise,” she said amused, moving off to the side a bit as Naraku floated down to hover just above where she had been standing.
Bankotsu’s eyes narrowed at Naraku and he sneered, “So you’ve finally come out of hiding, eh?”
Naraku scowled, “Bankotsu, you’re alive again, eh?” noticing his companions behind him, Naraku asked, “All of you?”
His eyes landed on the woman beside Kikyo and he chuckled, “And with a wench too? This is most unexpected.”
Airi’s jaw clenched and her hands flicked open her swords. She drew her katanas and she seethed silently, 'I’ll show you what this ‘wench’ can do,' waiting for her chance to charge into battle.
Naraku’s eyes zeroed in on Kikyo as he spoke coldly, saying, “Ah Kikyo, so you’ve decided to join them too?” adding with mock disappointment, “I never would have expected you to join with a group of murderers.” chuckling at the revulsion in her eyes.
Bankotsu taunted, “At least we kill honorably, and don’t stab our allies in the back.” eyes lighting up with challenge.
Naraku said, “Ah ah. Not everyone is here yet.” chuckling at the mercenary’s confusion.
Naraku’s eyes landed on Sango and he said, “Ah my dear tajiya, I have a gift for you.” and waved his hand showing her Kohaku, who was prepared to fight.
Sango’s hand on Hiraikotsu clenched and she ground her teeth, determined to free Kohaku once and for all.
His ruby eyes narrowed on Kagome and he said, “Ah little miko. I’ll be taking those jewel shards from you, just so you know.” Laughing as her hand unconsciously wrapped around the bottle dangling on her neck.
--
The earth began to tremble and a huge mass of flesh burst out of the ground and he said amused, “Well Hakudoshi, I see that you and Moryomaru have also finally come out of hiding.”
A child dressed in white, with lavender hair, sat high atop of the demon horse known as Entei and he replied, “Naraku, you terror has come to an end, today we finish this.”
Naraku chuckled, “You are so right.” and sent his demon hoards in two different groups, one to attack Hakudoshi and Moryomauru, and the other to attack the Inutachi and Band of seven.
Bankotsu immediately started sending rapid dragon hammer attacks towards the charging demons, enjoy their shrieks of pain as they were slowly destroyed.
Suikotsu, and Jakotsu quickly slashed their weapons, tearing through any demons that were unlucky enough to make it to them.
Ginkotsu fired his cannons whenever the demons got too close to his leader, keeping Bankotsu’s back covered.
Renkotsu sent his wires out and blew his flames, incinerating the fleshy remains on the ground, to ensure that they wouldn’t be any more threat.
--
“Kagura, destroy Inuyasha and his allies.” Naraku ordered, turning his full attention to Hakudoshi and Moryomaru.
Hakudoshi and Entei charged towards Naraku, with Hakudoshi’s weapon slicing through Naraku’s tentacles, and Entei fire breath incinerating the demonic flesh before it could come up and surround them.
Naraku’s ruby eyes narrowed at the insolent brat and he warned, “You’ll never defeat me Hakudoshi. I created you and I will destroy you.”
Hakudoshi released a deep dark chuckle and said, “I will destroy you Naraku.” and charged towards him again.
Naraku had to dodge Hakudoshi’s attacks, and Moryomaru’s flying spear like tentacles at the same time, so he was kept busy, and had to rely on Kagura and the demon hoards to handle Inuyasha and the others.
Kagura sighed and turned to face the group. She tapped her fan against her chin saying, “You heard him,” and opened her fan, preparing to unleash her powers towards them.
Inuyasha grit his teeth and ordered lowly, “Kagome, I need you to shoot through her attack and aim for that fan of hers.” Kagome nodded and prepared to do so.
Kagura raised her fan into the air and brought it down yelling, “Dance of the dragon,” watching as the attack sailed towards Inuyasha.
As expected he raised his sword and released the windscar, countering her attack.
Smirking Kagura released a second dance of the dragon, and Kagome released her arrow sending it through the attack and embedding right into Kagura’s fan.
The wind demoness shrieked, “No!” as her flesh began to purify and became shreds, floating in the air.
Inuyasha began working his way through the sea of demon hoards and nodded for Kagome to aim for Naraku’s barrier.
Watching the wind demoness be torn to shreds, Airi jumped off of Ginkotsu, and began slicing her way through the demonic flesh, uncaring of the muck flying all over the ground and worked her way over to Bankotsu’s side, and said, “Let’s do this.”
The mercenary leader smirked and told her to get on his back. She did so, clamping her thighs around him and digging her knees into his hips. He nodded and jumped into the air twirling Banryu, to attack with his heat blast of hatred, as her blades remained in her hands, in case of any surprise attacks.
Kikyo watched stunned as the female warrior sliced through the demons, ignoring the blood and flesh chunks covering her, and then worked with the mercenary as a team, as if they had done it a million times before.
They moved together fluidly and never missed a single demon that was foolish enough to charge towards them. She stared awed for a moment as she noticed neither of the team’s timing was off even by a fraction.
Kikyo blinked and returned her focus to Naraku, who was battling his own minions. She sensed that the infant was hiding inside the great beast named Moryomaru, and raised her bow, saying, “Ginkotsu, I need you to get me a little closer towards Naraku.”
Ginkotsu blinked at the unexpected request and slowly began moving towards the demon. The shrieks of the dying demon hoards, was loud enough to muffle his movements.
A few minutes later, Kikyo nodded, Okay that’s far enough, thanks.” Ginkotsu rolled to a stop and wondered what the priestess was doing. She carefully aimed her arrow and called for her soul collectors.
They gathered around her sacred arrow and she sent it and them, sailing through the air directly towards Moryomaru. At the same moment, Kagome’s sacred arrow flew towards Naraku, combined with Inuyasha’s windscar.
Kagura slowly began piecing back together and was now angered. The strange priestess had taken away her main source of power, but she wouldn’t die unless the heart was defeated. Like Naraku, her heart wasn’t in her body.
Moryomaru’s eyes widened as the arrow impacted enough to break through and send the infant flying outside of him, into the air. Seeing an opportunity, Miroku ripped off his beads and opened up his hand yelling out, “Wind tunnel!” and began sucking in The remaining large chunks of Moryomaru, before he could manage to reform.
He grit his teeth against the burning sensation as the hole began to slowly tear wider and wider and several of the poisonous insects were inadvertently sucked into it as well.
The monk’s hand turned completely black and he was forced to close it, collapsing to one knee, gritting his teeth against the pain and the massive waves of nausea that started to grip his body. Weakly he wrapped the beads around his hand and continued to focus on breathing through the sickness and pain.
Shippo busily kept the lesser demons from getting any closer by unleashing his fox fire. When the last one was gone, he collapsed on his little back panting harshly, with sweat beaded on his face and falling into his little eyes that were closed.
Naraku smirked intending to reabsorb the helpless infant, but gasped and roared out in pain as Kagome’s arrow combined with Inuyasha’s attack, broke down his barrier and slammed into him, ripping his flesh apart bit by bit.
Wasting no time, and fueled by determination to spare the world from the horrifying that fate she had witnessed in her dream, Kagome grit her teeth and fired two more arrows towards Naraku, which continued to slowly purify him from the inside out.
Taking one last aim, Kikyo sent two more arrows towards the falling infant. One struck through Naraku’s tentacle that was reaching desperately for the infant, and the other accurately pierced directly through the shrieking infant’s heart.
Its eyes widened and then let out a blood curdling shriek, which mingled with Naraku’s, Hakudoshi’s, and Kagura’s, as their bodies began disintegrating and the baby was purified from the inside out. Naraku creamed absolutely outraged, “Impossible,” before vanishing into oblivion forever.
At the same time, Sango was busy dodging her brother’s weapon as it clashed against Hiraikotsu, and blinked when she heard Kohaku let out a painful scream, holding his head, before falling over and landing face first in the dirt.
“Kohaku,” she screamed out, and ran forward cradling the unconscious boy to her chest sobbing.
Watching his love toss her weapon away, Miroku feared the worst and forced himself to his feet. He ran over to her side and yelled, “Sango!” falling to his knees beside her, checking her over, noting a few minor cuts, but nothing major.
Sagging with relief he collapsed against her and his eyes rolled back in his head and his fell into the deep chasm of unconsciousness.
Suikotsu blinked and ran over to the fallen monk, shoving him over to his side and began mixing up an antidote.
Kikyo had collapsed on top of the tank and laid on her back staring up at the sky, whispering weakly, “Inuyasha.”
--
After retrieving the nearly completed jewel off the ground, from where Naraku had been floating above, the hanyou just happened to look around for his former lover and saw her collapsing. With Kagome still on his back , he sheathed his sword running over and cried out, “Kikyo!”
She heard him and whispered longingly, “Inuyasha,” slowly opening her eyes.
He leapt onto the tank and set Kagome down, before gathering Kikyo Into his arms and hopping off the tank beseeching desperately, “Kikyo no, don’t leave me yet.”
Kagome blinked when Kikyo stared up at her, from in Inuyasha’s arms, and said, “Kagome, come here.” stretching out an arm towards her reincarnation.
Kagome blinked and climbed down off the tank asking, “Yes?” as she knelt beside Inuyasha and stared at Kikyo.
Kikyo held Kagome’s empty hand and whispered, “Do not be sad Kagome, for I will soon leave this realm for the final time.” giving it a light squeeze.
Kagome held her hand and cried, “You can’t Kikyo, Inuyasha-“
Kikyo cut her off assuring, “Inuyasha will be fine. He has you to look after him,” and gave her a weak smile.
Surprised by the unexpected statement, Kagome’s eyes filled with tears and her lower lip trembled.
Sensing that Kikyo’s time was nearly over, Inuyasha stood up and requested, “Give us a few minutes, please.” and slowly walked off so that they could spend Kikyo’s final moments alone.
--
On the other side of the battlefield, Bankotsu finished off the last hoard smirking, as he proclaimed smugly, “Not a bad day’s work.” and grinned at his lover, who smiled nodding her agreement, while their eyes slowly surveyed the battlefield.
Bankotsu whined, “I wanted to be the one to defeat Hakudoshi though,” and sat down pouting.
Laughing Airi climbed into his lap and said, “Next time babe,” before pressing her lips to his. Smirking into the kiss, he laid back and pulled her on top of him, before rolling over and pressing his full weight down on her, as they continued kissing.
Before things could go any further than Bankotsu’s hand riding up her shirt, Jakotsu walked over scrunching up his face and whined, “Ugh! Big brother, don’t ruin this battle for me by doing the nasty with her on this glorious battlefield.” with disgust ion his eyes.
Bankotsu broke the kiss and sat up laughing. “Oh Jakotsu, you’re definitely one of a kind.” He said, draping his arm over his best friend’s shoulder, and earning a disappointed pout from his lover. Bankotsu winked at her promising, “Later baby.”
Airi sighed and stood up reminding, “You owe me big time.” While fixing her armor back into place, and then moved to stand by his side.
Bankotsu smirked wider assuring huskily, “I’ll make it worth the wait, I promise.” nibbling her ear lobe.
Airi grinned and slapped his butt saying, “You better,” before laughing and running off towards the others.
Bankotsu’s face split into a huge grin and he asked, “Nice day for a battle, eh Ja?” as he and Jakotsu walked over and rejoined their group.
--
At the same time, Inuyasha cradled Kikyo against his chest and sobbed. He wasn’t ready to let her go yet.
Kikyo raised her hand to cup his face and said, “Don’t worry Inuyasha, this time I will die at peace and my soul will be free.”
Inuyasha said, “At least I was able to avenge your death this time.” with tears welling up in his eyes.
Kikyo, who had never seen him shed tears before, blinked and said awed, “You’re crying,” as she wiped away a solitary tear that had trailed down his cheek.
He just gave her a watery smile, hugging her and said, “I love you Kikyo, and I will miss you greatly.” wanting her to know what he had never been able to voice before.
Her spirit soared happily and she smiled, replying, “I love you too Inuyasha.” gazing deeply into his eyes, pressing her lips to his for a final kiss. Lips slightly trembling as he tried not to cry, Inuyasha kissed her back.
Kikyo pulled back giving him a final smile and used her last breath to say, “Be happy Inuyasha.”
Feeling truly at peace, she closed her eyes and her body became a bright light, which lifted into the sky to swirl around the crying hanyou a minute, before floating over towards Kagome and the rest of her group, sending them a final fair well in the form of the warm light, and then finally floating into the sky and fading away.
Kagome’s tears fell onto her knees as she lowered her head and began crying. Inuyasha stayed on the small hill top crying to himself.
As he lay in Sango’s arms, Miroku opened his eyes and whispered, “Farewell Lady Kikyo.” before getting nearly hugged to death by a relieved Sango, who had Kohaku laying beside her.
--
A/N: Okay before anyone asks, Naraku, his cohorts, and Kikyo are all gone, but this isn’t the end of the story just yet. I hope everyone enjoyed chapter twenty two XD
Chapter twenty two:
As they were working their way across the land, Kikyo sat on the tank next to Airi and asked, “Why are you here?”
Airi stared at her asking, “Why do you ask?” not sure she wanted to tell this priestess anything.
Kikyo replied, “I sense something different about you. You are not from this region, are you?”
Airi replied, “I’m a nomad. I travel as I wish and go where the wind takes me. I have no origin.”
Kikyo replied calmly, “Everyone has an origin.” Adding, “Perhaps you just haven’t found yours yet?”
Airi scowled and challenged, “Why does a priestess care so much about my origin?”
Kikyo blinked and responded coolly, “Why do you care so little?” and the women looked away from each other.
Bankotsu ordered, “Enough, both of you.” and silenced them with a stern glare. He nodded satisfied and turned his gaze back to their surroundings, informing his group, “Something isn’t right here.” as he noticed there were no sounds of wild life anywhere around them.
Ginkotsu rolled to a halt at Bankotsu’s command. Airi stood up with her hand going to her waist and whispered, “You’re right Ban, something strange is going on.” as her eyes scanned their surroundings, and a sinking feeling overcame her.
Kyokotsu looked around and informed his leader, “There are no animals anywhere.”
Bankotsu blinked and said, “You’re right.” as he felt the air around them become cold and worrisome. He shouted, “Get ready guys!” and pulled Banryu out of its cloth, preparing for battle.
Kikyo said, “Naraku,” as she watched wide eyed as the demons began swarming up behind a purple blimp.
Inuyasha and Kagome were beside the tank and Inuyasha snarled, “Kagura,” as he stared up at the sky, with his sword drawn.
Sango and Miroku were riding on Kirara and landed next to Inuyasha as Sango said, “he’s coming,” pointing to the massive demons staying put in the sky a mile away from them.
Inuyasha barked, “I know,” and glared at Kagura who floated down twenty feet away from them and put her feather away, tapping her fan against her chin.
“Well well, what a surprise,” she said amused, moving off to the side a bit as Naraku floated down to hover just above where she had been standing.
Bankotsu’s eyes narrowed at Naraku and he sneered, “So you’ve finally come out of hiding, eh?”
Naraku scowled, “Bankotsu, you’re alive again, eh?” noticing his companions behind him, Naraku asked, “All of you?”
His eyes landed on the woman beside Kikyo and he chuckled, “And with a wench too? This is most unexpected.”
Airi’s jaw clenched and her hands flicked open her swords. She drew her katanas and she seethed silently, 'I’ll show you what this ‘wench’ can do,' waiting for her chance to charge into battle.
Naraku’s eyes zeroed in on Kikyo as he spoke coldly, saying, “Ah Kikyo, so you’ve decided to join them too?” adding with mock disappointment, “I never would have expected you to join with a group of murderers.” chuckling at the revulsion in her eyes.
Bankotsu taunted, “At least we kill honorably, and don’t stab our allies in the back.” eyes lighting up with challenge.
Naraku said, “Ah ah. Not everyone is here yet.” chuckling at the mercenary’s confusion.
Naraku’s eyes landed on Sango and he said, “Ah my dear tajiya, I have a gift for you.” and waved his hand showing her Kohaku, who was prepared to fight.
Sango’s hand on Hiraikotsu clenched and she ground her teeth, determined to free Kohaku once and for all.
His ruby eyes narrowed on Kagome and he said, “Ah little miko. I’ll be taking those jewel shards from you, just so you know.” Laughing as her hand unconsciously wrapped around the bottle dangling on her neck.
--
The earth began to tremble and a huge mass of flesh burst out of the ground and he said amused, “Well Hakudoshi, I see that you and Moryomaru have also finally come out of hiding.”
A child dressed in white, with lavender hair, sat high atop of the demon horse known as Entei and he replied, “Naraku, you terror has come to an end, today we finish this.”
Naraku chuckled, “You are so right.” and sent his demon hoards in two different groups, one to attack Hakudoshi and Moryomauru, and the other to attack the Inutachi and Band of seven.
Bankotsu immediately started sending rapid dragon hammer attacks towards the charging demons, enjoy their shrieks of pain as they were slowly destroyed.
Suikotsu, and Jakotsu quickly slashed their weapons, tearing through any demons that were unlucky enough to make it to them.
Ginkotsu fired his cannons whenever the demons got too close to his leader, keeping Bankotsu’s back covered.
Renkotsu sent his wires out and blew his flames, incinerating the fleshy remains on the ground, to ensure that they wouldn’t be any more threat.
--
“Kagura, destroy Inuyasha and his allies.” Naraku ordered, turning his full attention to Hakudoshi and Moryomaru.
Hakudoshi and Entei charged towards Naraku, with Hakudoshi’s weapon slicing through Naraku’s tentacles, and Entei fire breath incinerating the demonic flesh before it could come up and surround them.
Naraku’s ruby eyes narrowed at the insolent brat and he warned, “You’ll never defeat me Hakudoshi. I created you and I will destroy you.”
Hakudoshi released a deep dark chuckle and said, “I will destroy you Naraku.” and charged towards him again.
Naraku had to dodge Hakudoshi’s attacks, and Moryomaru’s flying spear like tentacles at the same time, so he was kept busy, and had to rely on Kagura and the demon hoards to handle Inuyasha and the others.
Kagura sighed and turned to face the group. She tapped her fan against her chin saying, “You heard him,” and opened her fan, preparing to unleash her powers towards them.
Inuyasha grit his teeth and ordered lowly, “Kagome, I need you to shoot through her attack and aim for that fan of hers.” Kagome nodded and prepared to do so.
Kagura raised her fan into the air and brought it down yelling, “Dance of the dragon,” watching as the attack sailed towards Inuyasha.
As expected he raised his sword and released the windscar, countering her attack.
Smirking Kagura released a second dance of the dragon, and Kagome released her arrow sending it through the attack and embedding right into Kagura’s fan.
The wind demoness shrieked, “No!” as her flesh began to purify and became shreds, floating in the air.
Inuyasha began working his way through the sea of demon hoards and nodded for Kagome to aim for Naraku’s barrier.
Watching the wind demoness be torn to shreds, Airi jumped off of Ginkotsu, and began slicing her way through the demonic flesh, uncaring of the muck flying all over the ground and worked her way over to Bankotsu’s side, and said, “Let’s do this.”
The mercenary leader smirked and told her to get on his back. She did so, clamping her thighs around him and digging her knees into his hips. He nodded and jumped into the air twirling Banryu, to attack with his heat blast of hatred, as her blades remained in her hands, in case of any surprise attacks.
Kikyo watched stunned as the female warrior sliced through the demons, ignoring the blood and flesh chunks covering her, and then worked with the mercenary as a team, as if they had done it a million times before.
They moved together fluidly and never missed a single demon that was foolish enough to charge towards them. She stared awed for a moment as she noticed neither of the team’s timing was off even by a fraction.
Kikyo blinked and returned her focus to Naraku, who was battling his own minions. She sensed that the infant was hiding inside the great beast named Moryomaru, and raised her bow, saying, “Ginkotsu, I need you to get me a little closer towards Naraku.”
Ginkotsu blinked at the unexpected request and slowly began moving towards the demon. The shrieks of the dying demon hoards, was loud enough to muffle his movements.
A few minutes later, Kikyo nodded, Okay that’s far enough, thanks.” Ginkotsu rolled to a stop and wondered what the priestess was doing. She carefully aimed her arrow and called for her soul collectors.
They gathered around her sacred arrow and she sent it and them, sailing through the air directly towards Moryomaru. At the same moment, Kagome’s sacred arrow flew towards Naraku, combined with Inuyasha’s windscar.
Kagura slowly began piecing back together and was now angered. The strange priestess had taken away her main source of power, but she wouldn’t die unless the heart was defeated. Like Naraku, her heart wasn’t in her body.
Moryomaru’s eyes widened as the arrow impacted enough to break through and send the infant flying outside of him, into the air. Seeing an opportunity, Miroku ripped off his beads and opened up his hand yelling out, “Wind tunnel!” and began sucking in The remaining large chunks of Moryomaru, before he could manage to reform.
He grit his teeth against the burning sensation as the hole began to slowly tear wider and wider and several of the poisonous insects were inadvertently sucked into it as well.
The monk’s hand turned completely black and he was forced to close it, collapsing to one knee, gritting his teeth against the pain and the massive waves of nausea that started to grip his body. Weakly he wrapped the beads around his hand and continued to focus on breathing through the sickness and pain.
Shippo busily kept the lesser demons from getting any closer by unleashing his fox fire. When the last one was gone, he collapsed on his little back panting harshly, with sweat beaded on his face and falling into his little eyes that were closed.
Naraku smirked intending to reabsorb the helpless infant, but gasped and roared out in pain as Kagome’s arrow combined with Inuyasha’s attack, broke down his barrier and slammed into him, ripping his flesh apart bit by bit.
Wasting no time, and fueled by determination to spare the world from the horrifying that fate she had witnessed in her dream, Kagome grit her teeth and fired two more arrows towards Naraku, which continued to slowly purify him from the inside out.
Taking one last aim, Kikyo sent two more arrows towards the falling infant. One struck through Naraku’s tentacle that was reaching desperately for the infant, and the other accurately pierced directly through the shrieking infant’s heart.
Its eyes widened and then let out a blood curdling shriek, which mingled with Naraku’s, Hakudoshi’s, and Kagura’s, as their bodies began disintegrating and the baby was purified from the inside out. Naraku creamed absolutely outraged, “Impossible,” before vanishing into oblivion forever.
At the same time, Sango was busy dodging her brother’s weapon as it clashed against Hiraikotsu, and blinked when she heard Kohaku let out a painful scream, holding his head, before falling over and landing face first in the dirt.
“Kohaku,” she screamed out, and ran forward cradling the unconscious boy to her chest sobbing.
Watching his love toss her weapon away, Miroku feared the worst and forced himself to his feet. He ran over to her side and yelled, “Sango!” falling to his knees beside her, checking her over, noting a few minor cuts, but nothing major.
Sagging with relief he collapsed against her and his eyes rolled back in his head and his fell into the deep chasm of unconsciousness.
Suikotsu blinked and ran over to the fallen monk, shoving him over to his side and began mixing up an antidote.
Kikyo had collapsed on top of the tank and laid on her back staring up at the sky, whispering weakly, “Inuyasha.”
--
After retrieving the nearly completed jewel off the ground, from where Naraku had been floating above, the hanyou just happened to look around for his former lover and saw her collapsing. With Kagome still on his back , he sheathed his sword running over and cried out, “Kikyo!”
She heard him and whispered longingly, “Inuyasha,” slowly opening her eyes.
He leapt onto the tank and set Kagome down, before gathering Kikyo Into his arms and hopping off the tank beseeching desperately, “Kikyo no, don’t leave me yet.”
Kagome blinked when Kikyo stared up at her, from in Inuyasha’s arms, and said, “Kagome, come here.” stretching out an arm towards her reincarnation.
Kagome blinked and climbed down off the tank asking, “Yes?” as she knelt beside Inuyasha and stared at Kikyo.
Kikyo held Kagome’s empty hand and whispered, “Do not be sad Kagome, for I will soon leave this realm for the final time.” giving it a light squeeze.
Kagome held her hand and cried, “You can’t Kikyo, Inuyasha-“
Kikyo cut her off assuring, “Inuyasha will be fine. He has you to look after him,” and gave her a weak smile.
Surprised by the unexpected statement, Kagome’s eyes filled with tears and her lower lip trembled.
Sensing that Kikyo’s time was nearly over, Inuyasha stood up and requested, “Give us a few minutes, please.” and slowly walked off so that they could spend Kikyo’s final moments alone.
--
On the other side of the battlefield, Bankotsu finished off the last hoard smirking, as he proclaimed smugly, “Not a bad day’s work.” and grinned at his lover, who smiled nodding her agreement, while their eyes slowly surveyed the battlefield.
Bankotsu whined, “I wanted to be the one to defeat Hakudoshi though,” and sat down pouting.
Laughing Airi climbed into his lap and said, “Next time babe,” before pressing her lips to his. Smirking into the kiss, he laid back and pulled her on top of him, before rolling over and pressing his full weight down on her, as they continued kissing.
Before things could go any further than Bankotsu’s hand riding up her shirt, Jakotsu walked over scrunching up his face and whined, “Ugh! Big brother, don’t ruin this battle for me by doing the nasty with her on this glorious battlefield.” with disgust ion his eyes.
Bankotsu broke the kiss and sat up laughing. “Oh Jakotsu, you’re definitely one of a kind.” He said, draping his arm over his best friend’s shoulder, and earning a disappointed pout from his lover. Bankotsu winked at her promising, “Later baby.”
Airi sighed and stood up reminding, “You owe me big time.” While fixing her armor back into place, and then moved to stand by his side.
Bankotsu smirked wider assuring huskily, “I’ll make it worth the wait, I promise.” nibbling her ear lobe.
Airi grinned and slapped his butt saying, “You better,” before laughing and running off towards the others.
Bankotsu’s face split into a huge grin and he asked, “Nice day for a battle, eh Ja?” as he and Jakotsu walked over and rejoined their group.
--
At the same time, Inuyasha cradled Kikyo against his chest and sobbed. He wasn’t ready to let her go yet.
Kikyo raised her hand to cup his face and said, “Don’t worry Inuyasha, this time I will die at peace and my soul will be free.”
Inuyasha said, “At least I was able to avenge your death this time.” with tears welling up in his eyes.
Kikyo, who had never seen him shed tears before, blinked and said awed, “You’re crying,” as she wiped away a solitary tear that had trailed down his cheek.
He just gave her a watery smile, hugging her and said, “I love you Kikyo, and I will miss you greatly.” wanting her to know what he had never been able to voice before.
Her spirit soared happily and she smiled, replying, “I love you too Inuyasha.” gazing deeply into his eyes, pressing her lips to his for a final kiss. Lips slightly trembling as he tried not to cry, Inuyasha kissed her back.
Kikyo pulled back giving him a final smile and used her last breath to say, “Be happy Inuyasha.”
Feeling truly at peace, she closed her eyes and her body became a bright light, which lifted into the sky to swirl around the crying hanyou a minute, before floating over towards Kagome and the rest of her group, sending them a final fair well in the form of the warm light, and then finally floating into the sky and fading away.
Kagome’s tears fell onto her knees as she lowered her head and began crying. Inuyasha stayed on the small hill top crying to himself.
As he lay in Sango’s arms, Miroku opened his eyes and whispered, “Farewell Lady Kikyo.” before getting nearly hugged to death by a relieved Sango, who had Kohaku laying beside her.
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A/N: Okay before anyone asks, Naraku, his cohorts, and Kikyo are all gone, but this isn’t the end of the story just yet. I hope everyone enjoyed chapter twenty two XD