InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Youkai Society ❯ Downfall of Hope ( Chapter 9 )

Happy thanksgiving everyone, and best of wishes!

-If you have any questions about this chapter, or if I confused you in anyway, please let me know. If you see spelling/grammar mistakes, please inform me. I was a bit rushed in the double checking of this chapter.

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Chapter 9 -Downfall of Hope-

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The night was cool and dark, the moon hidden behind dense clouds. In the center of a clearing burned a healthy fire, smoke curling atop the golden flames. Kagome sighed leaning against the warm chest behind her, her hand resting on his red clad knee. "Inuyasha?" She questioned tiredly.

Naraku kept his eyes trained on the fire even while he pressed a kiss atop her head. He was tired, and began to worry about how long he would be able to sustain the image of her lover. "Hn?" He murmured into her fragrant hair.

"You mentioned earlier that you were able to come back to this world in order to rescue me." She paused hesitantly. "I was wondering, what was it like to be dead?" Kagome shivered, pushing herself further back into his arms.

Naraku withdrew from her briefly before draping a thick gray blanket across her shoulders, his arms securing her in his hold once again. "Frustrating." He supposed, pausing in thought before continuing. "Being aware of what is going on in the realm of the living, when all the while you are unable to protect those important to you." He rocked her gently, trying to lull her to sleep. Naraku needed to rest as well, and would be unable to until the miko allowed herself to sleep.

Yawning, Kagome tilted her head back smiling at him. "And yet, here you are with me. Protecting me once again." Kagome's smile faded as she nuzzled tiredly against him, her eyes drooping shut. "Yasha and Sota will be so happy." She whispered against his chest, her fingers knotting in his haori. "Tomorrow we'll go get them, right?"

Naraku watched as a strand of his hair flickered between ebony and silver. "It is safest for them to remain where they are until Sesshoumaru is taken care of." He raised his hand, gently stilling her head before she could look up at him and notice the changes occurring. "Sleep Kagome, we'll talk about it more in the morning." She stopped straining against his hand and allowed her head to rest heavily against his chest, slipping into a blissful sleep. Absent mindedly Naraku ran his clawed hand through her silky tresses, allowing his masquerade as her lover to disappear, leaving him in his true form.

The fire burned out encasing the night into utter darkness, the glowing embers cooling off and fading away into the shadows. Then with one last deep breath, Naraku slept. Enthralled with the new emotion that tingled throughout his body while the miko, Kagome, slept so fearlessly in his arms.

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Sesshoumaru stood majestically in the early dawn, a deep blue tinting the sky as the sun began to wake. Birds and other woodland creatures became alive and filled the air with their chatter, signaling the start of the new day. In the darkness of the clearing, where the sun had yet to glow, stood the bone eaters well.

If such things were possible, Sesshoumaru would believe the well to look sad. The old well was nothing more then a shadow in the early morning light. Large grass stalks waved mournfully from their home between the cracks of the cobbled stones. Along with the morning came a haunting wind, a strong, yet gentle wind. The foliage whistled a persistent tune, singing, or perhaps crying, a distressing farewell.

Perhaps it was simply saying goodbye to the night, or maybe the wind wished to whisper its adieu's to the bone eaters well. In answer a rock would crumble from the old wells rim, clattering down the tunnel of its mouth with a impending thump. And yet, the well stood strong, unwavering as the wind brushed against it, caressing it for the last time.

The sun peeked above the treetops, a single gentle ray casting itself through a open patch of foliage, kissing the well in its glow. As if signaling that it was ready to meet its fate, the well seemed to straiten proudly from beneath its spotlight. Sesshoumaru moved, for the first time in hours, approaching the well with powerful strides. Around him the grass quivered, trees seeming to tilt in the opposite direction, while the well, and the grass stalks growing from it, remained mockingly still.

The morning had fallen silent in the heartbeat it took Sesshoumaru to poise his poison gleaming claws. Then without hesitation he swiftly lashed out, knocking a side of the well down in a cloud of smoke. Along with the loud crash of the wells debris, came the voice of morning, the birds screeching loudly from their perches.

Again he attacked, neatly slicing down the remaining side with gleeful pleasure. Soon all that remained of the stone portal, was a single cracked gray rock. Satisfaction lingered promisingly in the air, and he kicked it down. When the last stone fell, the well gave a mighty tremble as the inside of it began to cave in, the earth burying it from all sides.

"No where to run, no where to hide." Sesshoumaru spoke contently as he walked away, the ruble that was once the well crunching beneath his feet.

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Kagome woke with a jerk, a loud gasp caught in her throat. Trembling she pushed a hand to her heart, stilling its rapid pulse. Confused she straitened herself, clinging to the wool blanket as she looked around at the campsite. 'What... What was that?' She questioned herself. It had felt like someone had taken the ground out from beneath her, a unremembered nightmare jarring her from her sleep.

The sound of rocks clapping together caught her attention, and she looked up. Before a unlit makeshift hearth crouched Inuyasha, as he attempted to revive the internal life that is fire. "Inuyasha?" She called out sleepily, shakily.

The rocks sparked as they rubbed hotly together, the dry leafs beneath them catching flame. Gently he blew, spreading the fire across the dry contents inside the ring of stone. When the fire was secured and roaring robustly, Naraku stood turning to the miko. "Sleep well?" He inquired, eyeing her sweat slick brow and panic filled eyes.

Kagome disregarded the blanket, raising from the ground into Inuyasha's arms. "I-I'm not sure." She tightened her hold on him, trying to ward off the foreboding chill prickling at the back of her neck.

Naraku sat her down upon a log that rested horizontally to the fire, once again draping the blanket over her shoulders. "Are you ill?" His eyebrows furrowed in annoyance upon realizing he did not have to fake his worry for her.

Kagome nodded hurriedly, shrugging the blanket off. "I think I'll be fine, I just want to go wash up a bit." She stood firmly, stepping over the log. "There should be a hot spring nearby." She smiled softly, wishing she had her toiletries.

Naraku frowned sniffing the air, and listening for any signs of danger. Finding none he nodded, gesturing to the east. "Go that way, if you have any problems just yell for me Kagome." He studied her carefully. "You have a hour, if your not back before its up, I'm coming after you." Naraku turned his attention back to making breakfast.

Kagome headed off in the direction he pointed in, mildly considering being late intentionally. The sight that welcomed her upon entering the small clearing was simply breathtaking. The hot spring was not overly big, but a reasonable width, stretching out broadly in front of her. A smile curled on her lips, and she stripped herself free of her elegant kimono. Kimono in hand, she dipped a tentative foot into the steamy water. A pleased sound escaped her lips as she deemed the water satisfactory, easing herself fully into the bubbling spring.

Kagome leaned back into the water floating in a silent bliss, the bubbles tickling at her back. The kimono she had brought along with her to clean sunk to the bottom of the spring, forgotten.

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Their breakfast was ready and Kagome had yet to return from the hot springs. Naraku frowned, setting two bowls down beside the log, preparing to go fetch her. When he came upon her in the clearing, he had to steer his gaze away from her delectably naked body. "Kagome." He announced his presence, his voice husky.

Startled Kagome spun around to face him, ignorant of her nudeness. In the abrupt gesture, the kimono she had fished out from the spring and began to wring dry, once again slipped from her fingers back into the bubbling brook of the spring. Thin arms moved to conceal her chest, Goosebumps spreading across her wet body. "Inuyasha?" She whispered, a healthy blush coloring her pale cheeks.

Naraku turned back to look at her, his eyes lingering monetarily on her thinly tapered waist, and the gentle curve of her hips, and down the vast length of her creamy legs. A parched tongue darted out to moisten suddenly dry lips, trailing his eyes back up along her figure he took a step forward, removing his haori.

Kagome lowered her arms with slight hesitation, smiling warmly at him while he draped his haori atop her shoulders. A soft gasp escaped her parted lips, her body going rigid in surprise. Her lips curved upward in a smile, and she relaxed against his chest and into the sudden embrace. Kagome rested her head against his shoulder, pulling the haori tighter against her naked flesh, shivering. "Take me back to fire Inuyasha?" She asked sweetly.

Naraku swept her up into his arms, mindful of how the haori dwarfed in comparison to a lady's kimono. While standing his haori would fall just below the ample curve of her buttocks, but in her current position, it rode up far past his capabilities of imagination. Naraku inhaled sharply, deeply, careful not to stumble over the thickly vegetated forest carpet.

Kagome shifted uncomfortably when he sat her down upon the log, her bare bottom harassed by the coarse bark. Aside from her sat Inuyasha, his warm travel toned legs flexing with his subtle movements. Her mind made up, Kagome rose only to perch herself atop of them, sideways to his chest. A smile laughed upon her lips as beneath her, his muscles stiffened, jumping in surprise at her actions. "The log was unpleasant." She explained, lifting a bowl of soup that had sat beside him on the log.

Naraku watched her silently, cautiously, while she elegantly ate the soup he prepared. Less then half remained when she guiltily looked up at him, and spooned another healthy mouthful up. Instead of her lips the spoon pressed against his, and he relented allowing her to feed him. Intentionally, or deliberately were her actions as she spilt a small stream of soup from the corner of his hungry lips. About to lick the soup free from his chin himself, Naraku was stopped by Kagome, as she sweetly leaned up, delicately running her velvet tongue up the sharp contour of his face.

Kagome pulled away, turning her flushed face downward to look upon the empty soup bowl. Normally she was not one to eat such things in the morning. As peculiar as eating rabbit stew in the morning would have normally seemed to Kagome, it did not seem so that morning. In fact, it had crossed her mind at one point in time during the meal, that she had never tasted anything as delicious. 'Talk about your weird cravings…'

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Sesshoumaru returned to his castle by mid afternoon, storming throughout the halls attracting the warily attention of the servants. He disregarded them egotistically as he made his way to his chambers, intent on donning his armor. The door to his chambers stood slightly ajar, but the inside of the room was immaculate as ever. Barely an hour had passed before Sesshoumaru once again left his castle, in hot pursuit of Kagome. 'Kagome.' Everything about her was burnt into his thoughts, and when he shut his eyes, it would seem as if her image was burnt into the back of his weary eyelids. "Kagome…"

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Kagome stumbled along the dirt road, a heavy blanket wrapped around her waist, while she continued to don Inuyasha's haori. Ahead of her he walked, carrying all their camping accessories as he lead her onward to the unknown. Her foot tangled inside the thick blanket, and she fell with a thick cloud of dust.

Naraku turned to see her sprawled out in a painful tangle of arms and legs, dust swallowing her in its foul mouth, choking her. He had taken a single step towards her when he saw it, the Shikon no Tama half rolling away from the anarchy. He froze in response to the sudden increase of her power, the Shikon no Tama rolling to a stop. She had yet to look up at it, but when she did her eyes were hidden beneath her bangs, shadowing the brilliant orbs. The Shikon no Tama shuddered before slipping into a false stillness, then suddenly it shot back at her.

Kagome opened her mouth to scream, the sight of the Shikon no Tama hurtling towards her face startling. Her mouth was still hanging open a moment later, the Shikon no Tama hovering before her face. A trembling hand lifted to touch it, her palm cupped upward. The jewel materialized before contact could be made, transforming into a shimmering pink mist.

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Inuyasha fell naked against the cold moist ground, weakly twisting his head to the side drawling deep breaths into his thirsty lungs. Inside his chest beat his reborn heart, his mind fogged with confusion. Inuyasha shut his eyes struggling to remember the string of events that must have occurred to have resulted in him being in his current position. Try as he might, his mind was blank to all memories, a swift dizziness overtaking him as he continued to struggle regardless. 'Kagome…' The name, her name, sprung forth from the darkness, warming his heart.

Inuyasha stirred, forcing himself up onto his elbows, head hanging down, his eyes closed. The sun crept out from behind a cloud and warmed his bare back, encouraging him as he strained to sit up.

"Master Inuyasha!" A small, yet loud voice screamed into his ear. Myouga tugged on a strand of silver hair desperately in a fit of distress.

Inuyasha's reaction was instantaneous, his hand lethargically lifting to slap away the annoyance. The small flea demon was caught unaware, the force of the blow flinging him downward to the ground. "Inuyasha!" He called again, bouncing to his feet.

Inuyasha blinked his eyes open, his mouth opening and closing while he struggled to find his voice. After a few guttural rumbles, Inuyasha managed to form a name. "Myouga?" He coughed, wetting his cracked lips.

Myouga nervously looked behind him at the aged woman, her hunched form resting against the base of a old willow tree. "It worked." He voiced to her, trying to revive her strength with confidence. She looked up, her single dark eye sparkling in liberation

Kaede visibly relaxed, a smile lingering on her lips, that was for once not forced. "Inuyasha." She rasped in her exhausted emotion weary voice. It was a odd turn of events, and Kaede mulled over them while Inuyasha collected his wits.

The night he and her village had been annihilated, she had been away tending to a local village that had been struck with a horrid sickness. She had returned to her village after three long tiring weeks, and what she had found, was not the home that she had been longing for. Even though the villagers had reconstructed the village into what it once appeared to be, it was obvious of the ruin it had faced. The villagers all wore a mask of death, and the dirt paths were naked of travelers, children no where to be seen.

Things had been difficult to accept for both Kaede and the village, and they all felt the loss of Inuyasha and his family. Over the years that they had made the village their home, they had protected it against all harm, and the villagers began to see the hanyou in a different light.

When Kaede finally felt at rest, and looked forward to the days where she could rest in her wicker rocking chair and listen to the laughter of the village children, the afternoon sun warming her old tired bones, she was once again caught off guard and unaware. It was no more then a day ago when the small flea demon, Myouga, had interrupted her afternoon nap with disturbing news.

Kaede had supposed Kagome to have gone back home to the future, her bags having been gone, and local villagers reporting having seen her nearing the old well. Contrary to her earlier beliefs was the news Myouga provided her with, in desperate need of her aid. Together they researched and planned to bring Inuyasha back from his grave, much like Kikyo had been revived. Kaede was uncertain with the flea demons plan, but not having one of her own, went along with it. Kaede prayed they had done the right thing while she watched the hurt mar the hanyous features as he listened to Myouga's explanations.

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Naraku stood before her his body taunt with uncertainty. 'What has happened?' He questioned himself while looking her over for answers, his anger growing with his confusion. The Shikon no Tama had disappeared into the miko, it was gone, and with it his last hope for unstoppable power. A furious growl seeped out from his parted fangs, his lips pulled back in a snarl.

Anger smoldered in his eyes, darkening them. Naraku then reached out to her from where she floated in the air before him. He held his arms out underneath her, and she dropped down into his waiting embrace. Unbeknownst to him, a warm spark chassed away some of the anger plaguing his heart while he looked down at her angelic face. Her hair cascaded downward in silky waves, strands blowing softly across her face.

Naraku brushed his thumb against her cheek, before quickly withdrawing with a small tremor. He was almost afraid to touch her, embrace her openly with his defenses lowered. The simplest of caresses were enough to make Naraku aware of the power that now thrived throughout her being. The power of the Shikon no Tama was now inside his cherished miko. He had caught glimpses of such power inside her before, but now it was as if a key had been turned in a lock, a door once sealed now flung open unleashing what was never meant to be. He feared her, but would not abandon her.

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Sesshoumaru stilled from where he stood at the top of a grassy hill, the wind whipping his silver around in its hold. 'What is that power…' His brows furrowed in concentration while he looked upward at the darkening sky. The air trembled with waves of tingling power, a underlining scent mingling with it. "Kagome." He whispered, although it came out more as a growl. His hand fisted, spearing his palm with razor sharp claws.

His body lurched, eyes aglow with blood lust as he began to transform. Moonlit hair sprouted from a towering form of a mighty dog, ruffles of fur blowing westward in the wind. The earth rumbled beneath the claws of the beast, muscles rippling beneath the silken fur. The dog demon stood with proud eyes, eyes that dared you to question his severed forearm. He was perfectly poised, his large head lifting heavenward, teeth gleaming in a smile. Above his muzzle and pulsating red eyes, was a purple crescent moon, around it was a well endowed nest of silver fur.

The sun fled from the sky seeking shelter in the west, while the moon began to turn its face in welcome, alighting the sky in its glow. Sesshoumaru leapt forward in long strides, racing towards the power, at times leaping over entire village's in a single bound. His movements were elegant and graceful, truly a sight to be seen.

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Inuyasha braced himself against the trunk of the sacred tree that overlooked his grave. He was clothed in a loose pants and a wide sleeved coat, his throat bare of prayer beads. "Why did you come back Kagome?" He whispered pained by the turn of events. Tears leaked from his golden orbs and his nails sunk into the rough bark of the tree. More then anything he wanted to hold her one last time before he once again returned to the land of the dead, leaving her in the safety of her own time.

When the sun arose the next morning, he would not. His soul was unable to remain locked away in this life, it needed to move on. The only way he would be able to sustain life in this world would be to suck away the souls of others, clinging to life the way he had pitied Kikyo for doing. A sigh escaped his lips and he pushed away from the tree, walking off into the west, Myouga in tow.

He would have to fight without his fathers fang, discouraged at the thought, Inuyasha hurriedly pushed the thoughts aside. He could not enter a battle with his brother with self doubts in his level of capability, he would win. Inuyasha straitened his shoulders, marching determinedly toward his brothers fortress.

Inuyasha wondered if it was because of youkai society that after him and Kagome had became mates, Sesshoumaru had stopped coming after him for his fathers fang. Fierce anger glittered in his eyes, and he quickened his pace. Damn his brother, damn Sesshoumaru. It was a wonder Kagome was still alive with the way Sesshoumaru treated humans. Fear embedded itself in his belly when his thoughts came to rest on his pups. Surely Sesshoumaru wouldn't have adopted them as his own, they would be shunned, abandoned.

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Kagome awoke to a throbbing headache, her eyes opening from her deep sleep, struggling to focus. "Inuyasha?" She reached outward towards the red of his fire rat haori, hoping to use his embrace as support. Warm arms lifted her from underneath her arms, and she nuzzled her face into soft folds of his shirt. A soft mumble escaped her lips as she wrapped her warms around his torso.

Naraku sat stiffly with her in his arms, his disguise no longer masking him as her lover. Should she had truly looked at him she would have seen it for herself. His black hair fell over his shoulder in silky waves, mingling with hers while he kissed the top her head. "Kagome." He whispered in his voice, regretting it as she stiffened in his hold.

Kagome's eyes sprung open, the black veil of night shrouding her sight. Then ever so slowly, she pulled back in the unrelenting hold, her eyes widening in surprise. Her mouth fell open, useless to voice her newfound horror. With a sharp jerk she pulled herself away from the warmth of his lap, landing painfully on her backside.

"Naraku!" Shouted the rage filled voice of her lover, Inuyasha.

Kagome spun around standing, confusion glittering in her eyes. "I-Inuyasha?" A whimper clawed its way from the back of her throat, and she clasped her hands over both sides of her ears. "Your not real!" She screamed loudly, shrilly, while to her it was but a mere muffle. A brilliant pink glow swallowing her within its impenetrable shield.

Naraku caught the glare of her hanyou lover from over the brilliant miko shield. A sadistic smirk curved his lips, a false façade for all to see. "Back from the dead hanyou?" His eyes shifted over to Kagome.

Myouga swiftly disappeared into the underbrush, waiting at a safe distance for the battle to end. His faith in his master was unwavering, his Lady would be safe, and he would retire a faithful retainer.

Kagome blocked the painful thoughts of reality from her mind, parting her lips to inhale hungry gasps of air. Her body tingled with power, a power she felt to be limitless. The shield fell away, and she looked up calmly, locking her accusing eyes with Naraku's. "Was it a game?" Her voice had changed, somehow more musical then before, edged with a newfound danger.

Naraku felt his knees weaken and he shook his head no, his clawed hands resting hesitantly at his sides. "You were never a game to me." His resolve grew, and he straitened pushing the fear from his being.

Inuyasha shook himself from the stupider that had overcome him, standing protectively before his Kagome. "I wont let you, or anyone hurt Kagome." He growled out menacingly, his claws lengthening dramatically.

Kagome pushed herself to her feet, marveling at the way a trail of pink dust seemed to trail away at the sudden movement. She raised her hand, sweeping it through the air. A trail glittered in its wake before fading away into the night, almost like the tail of a shooting star.

Her nails were longer, sharper, maintaining a more feminine appeal, and to her amazement it would seem as if they were the source of the excess power. Much like some demons had claws that could emit poison, hers supplied a steady flow of purification magic.

Mindful of her new fighting technique she rested a hand on his shoulder, overwhelmed with memories of their life together. He relaxed beneath her touch, his hand coming to rest over hers, gripping it tightly in reassurance. "Together?" She breathed in his ear.

Inuyasha squeezed her hand lovingly, his eyes unseeing behind the fog that had overtaken them. "Together, Kagome." He agreed, his eyes clearing.

Naraku stiffened, a wave of unwanted foreboding slamming into him as he watched the couple before him. The hanyous eyes held the same fierceness they had the night he had killed him. But now back from the dead, with his power restored, he could backup the unsaid threat. Miasma crackled around his feet, swirling up along his form in a supporting manner.

Kagome tightened her hold against Inuyasha's shoulders as they waited for Naraku's attack. The miasma had hid him in its murky mouth, the twin pair of crimson eyes glowing sharply throughout the fog. Suddenly the miasma lashed out at them and Kagome reacted before she realized what she was doing, throwing up a shield of her miko energy. The Miasma rebounded disappearing somewhere off behind them, while her shield sizzled in remembrance of the foul touch that had marred its surface.

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Off in the distance the sky was alight with a pink glow, occasionally pushed backward by a offending black cloud. The dog demon exhaled sharply at the sight, his nostrils flaring. He could feel her power as it lingered in the air around him, miles away from where she actually stood. The great abdomen of the beast strained as he inhaled a large amount of the air, his breath was released in a snarl of displeasure, his pace quickening.

Her blood, he could smell her blood and it infuriated him. He could smell the scent of his brother and Naraku grow stronger as he neared the battlegrounds. Sesshoumaru had been in a number of inner battles as of late, and would not lose this one.

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The ground began to shake beneath their feet, and Kagome held onto Inuyasha to keep from falling, exhaustion written all over her face. The tremors only grew stronger and soon the both of them were on hands and knees upon the earth, Naraku clinging to a tree. Birds squawked angrily fleeing from their homes in the trees as they came crashing down beneath the paws of a mighty beast.

Kagome coughed dust burning her eyes and lungs, burring her face in Inuyasha's chest. The beast had suddenly slid to a stop, causing clouds of dust to rouse from the ground. Hot wind whipped around her and she peeked out from Inuyasha's chest up into the rage filled red eyes of the demonic canine. 'Sesshoumaru.' She acknowledged him fearfully, wanting to seek comfort against Inuyasha's chest once more.

Sesshoumaru snarled out her name roughly, his voice ringing throughout the forest. Her hair and clothing blew wildly around her, and she clung tighter to his half brother. Furious he turned his anger on Naraku, slamming him tighter against a tree underneath his paw. He could feel Naraku pushing his paw away and forced it down again with renewed strength, once again looking back to Kagome.

Inuyasha did his best to keep Kagome out of sight, blocking her behind him. Although he knew it was a futile effort, Sesshoumaru would have known she was there without seeing her. Inuyasha fought back the urge to attack both Sesshoumaru and Naraku for the harm they had afflicted on Kagome, his Kagome. Perhaps dieing made you more cautious during your second chance at life. Whatever the reason, Inuyasha decided to fight them one at a time.

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Kouga and his clan of wolfs slid down the steep mountainside, rocks crumbling beneath their feet in a dusty trail. Behind them flew flocks of raven birds blending into the night sky above them, lead by Muikare. Along the path that meet the bottom of the mountainside raced other demons of alliance, determination alive in their war cries. Aloof clouds of fire flew a cow, Toutousai perched atop its back. Lastly was the undead priestess, Kikyo, who flew with the support of her soul snatchers.

Worry etched its way across Kouga's brow, and with a extra burst of speed, the air around him formed a whirlwind. All this without the aid of the Shikon shards he thought with pride. Word had came late regarding the beginnings of the battle, and they had all raced in chaotic order to fulfill their purpose. No one was sure on exactly what was happening, clinging to the urgency of bloodlust.

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Sesshoumaru roared loudly over the thunder of Naraku's attack, the Tenseiga held out before him shielding him from harm. The force of the blow had sent him crumpled down upon one knee his breathing ragged but steady. He had long lost slipped from his demon form, and now he crouched in front of Kagome, protecting her from the filth that was Naraku. Inuyasha was not far from her side, busying himself with the whips of miasma that slipped past Sesshoumaru.

Kagome gasped horrified as a hard spear of miasma caught Inuyasha in the shoulder, pulling him back with it. Her eyes dilated, darkening as she turned back around to face the onslaught of razor sharp miasma attacks. A inhuman roar tore from her throat leaving it raw in the process as she bought her clinched fists down upon the earth. Upon contact with the trembling ground, a flash of pink emitted from her hands, swelling out around her like ripples in water. Her power grew, and with more force then before she repeated the process. This time the ring of pink barely stopped at the tip of Naraku's boot.

Lithely she leapt to her feet, blood trickling down her chin from where she had bitten her lip in concentration. She was unaware of the pain her attack had inflicted on the youkai lord as he stood deftly before her in his effort to keep her safe. Even Inuyasha who was sprawled out behind her, pinned to the ground by miasma, was blocked from her mind. His face contorting in pain as the pink tendrils of purification energy wrapped up around his legs.

Kagome continued to gather the power within herself until she was no longer able to stop, and her body grew rigid with the strain. A thin ring of crimson outlined her hugely dilated pupils, and her jaw sprung open, the teeth within her mouth bloody. A strangled scream of confusion and rage vibrated from within her chest, her back arched with a sharp jerk, her scream increasing to a thunderous cry.

Around her all foes and allies grew silent, forgetting the danger in everything except for her, the human woman. Kouga stepped out of the ranks of his tribe, his breathing harsh as he remained a horrified spectator, marveling in disbelief at what they had ran blindly into. Kikyo leapt from the embrace of her soul snatchers, moving to the front of the bystanders. Her eyes glittered with the coldness of death but amidst it all was a eternal fire, once again sparked to life. "Stay behind me!" She ordered before quickly setting to work, calling all the power forth from her soul. Kikyo's eyes fell upon Inuyasha's fallen form and she inhaled sharply, throwing her arms out in a gesture that brought to life a shield. Cries of disbelief wrung out behind her, a few youkai tentatively reaching clawed fingers out to poke at it. Kikyo steeled her back straitening her shoulders, as she watched on in apprehension as her reincarnation continued to gather energy. Her shield had boxed in Naraku, as well as both Kagome and Sesshoumaru. The Western Lord would not budge from his position affront his mate. He stood stubborn even as his skin began to grow hot from the energy of the one he protected.

Naraku shielded himself with thick layers of miasma, his brow cold with sweat. The amused laughter was lost from his lips, as he waited for the inescapable fate that had been bestowed upon him. The miko he had dreamt of possessing, rose up before him, lifted by invisible hands, glowing a ethereal shade of pink. He inhaled deeply cherishing the breath as if it were his last. In truth, he wanted to taste it, her power. The miko's power was nearing its peak, and it was everything Naraku knew she possessed.

Kagome held her breath in a effort not to release the power that had grown to vast for her to maintain. Her body was gripped by seizures, and the breath she had been holding back was torn from her body in a earsplitting scream. The energy sought any possible exit from within her being. Hot, pink rays of light, escaping from her open mouth, eyes, ears, the smaller rays filtering out from the pours within her skin.

Kagome thrashed, suspended in midair as towering waves of purification energy loomed threateningly over both Sesshoumaru and Naraku. There was a pulse and a brilliant blue flash as Kagome's purification attack rebounded against the sturdy walls of Kikyo's shield, once again lashing out over Sesshoumaru and Naraku.

Sesshoumaru refused to cry out as a immense pain engulfed him in its searing embrace. In his hands the Tenseiga pulsed, followed by a blinding blue flash that surrounded him, separated him from the searing kiss of Kagome's purification waves. His eyes slid shut against the luminous glow, gripping the hilt of Tenseiga tighter. He would much rather feel the unforgiving scorch of her attack then the dull ach that chilled his heart.

Sesshoumaru had been enable to ignore the memories brought back from the depths of his subconscious upon seeing his hated half brother and mate together. On occasion of seeing them together, both before and after they had mated, Sesshoumaru would always notice the warmth she held in her eyes for him. 'She loved, loves him.' A bitter sigh rumbled forth from his sharply sculpted lips.

Kikyo cautiously let her shield down as her reincarnation fell into the waiting embrace of Sesshoumaru, the air tingling with the aftermath of the energy. How the youkai lord had survived the immense blast of purification eluded her, not wanting to dwell on the thought her eyes landed once again on the crumpled form of Inuyasha. A jagged piece of miasma jutting outward from both sides of his body, blood trickling down his chest. 'He lives.' She thought blissfully before walking over to him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. 'I would never wish death on you again, Inuyasha.'

Inuyasha stirred beneath her touch, flinching as he tore the shard of miasma from his shoulder, leaving a wide hole in its wake. "Kikyo?" He coughed in question, accepting her help as he stood.

Kikyo nodded searching his tired eyes, hers saddening. "Forgive me Inuyasha." The cruel hate forever present in her voice was missing, replaced with unfulfilled longing.

Inuyasha hesitantly pulled her into a hug, mindful of his shoulder. Cruel laughter broke them apart, and Inuyasha quickly moved in front of Kikyo, his hand resting above a sword less hip. His eyebrows knitted together and he took a step towards a huge crater, from which inside birthed Naraku's mocking laughter.

Naraku lay brokenly inside the uncovered grave, laughter bubbling forth from his torn open stomach. The shadow of the hanyou cast itself over the rim, blocking out the light of the moon. Soon more shadows joined his in unity, the majority of them were enemies he had collected over the years, while a slim few where trusted allies of his. He was both surprised and amused to see Kagura, a victorious gleam to her eyes.

Naraku leaned his head back, resting it against the uneven earth, a rock pressing against the underside of his ear. The smell of their fear brought on more peals of laughter, which soon died off into ragged coughs, blood trickling from both his nose and mouth.

"Naraku." Kikyo called his name from where she stood at the ledge of the crater, directly above his head.

Naraku stilled in memory, a sad smile lingering on his lips. "Kikyo." He answered, a longing etched on his parted lips.

Sesshoumaru cradled Kagome against his chest, kissing her brow while she slept. He watched carefully as the undead priestess summoned forth her soul snatchers, the eel like creatures descending into the crater. Naraku was unable to lift a finger to hold them off as one by one, they tore away a demon soul from his body, replenishing them into the undead priestess.

Kikyo shivered, lifting a clawed hand upward in a gesture that put her soul snatchers at bay. She was hanyou now from all the demonic souls she had taken possession of, her eyes burning red with the fires of hell. "Onigumo." She called out, the same way she had before. She caught his eyes and laughed, richly and darkly, leaping down into the pit with him. "Do not worry Onigumo, I'll take you to a place where everyone is burned by the touch of fire."

A sadistic smile curled the corner of her lips. "But first." Kikyo cupped a slender hand out in front of her chest, a shimmering orb of white forming within her palm. A sincere smile worked its way onto her face and she flattened her hand to the sky, watching as it disappeared into the chest of her reincarnation.

Onigumo did not protest when the miko he had set eyes on fifty years ago lifted him from the broken earth. Free from the corruption of demonic urges he was ashamed of all the pain he caused, and shut his eyes against the disgusted stares of his defeaters. He heard his sweet miko bade her old lover farewell and opened his burnt eyelids. Should he had been alone, he would have been afraid as the fires of hell rose up to greet them. The flames licked hungrily at them as they descended into the dark abyss.

Inuyasha stood silent, his golden eyes blazing in a parting far stronger then words could provide. After a while the allies began to depart, leaving only Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, Kagome, and a hidden Myouga.

Sesshoumaru set the unconscious Kagome down, withdrawing his sword. "It has been a odd turn of events, Inuyasha… That brings you to stand before me now." Sesshoumaru then moved a safe distance away from Kagome, keeping her out of the battlefield.

Inuyasha ignored the pain in his shoulder, and slipped into a defensive stance. "Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha growled out in mounting fury. "Why her? Why Kagome?"

Sesshoumaru looked down his nose in distaste at his younger brother. "Why her what, Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha clinched his fist, his jaw tightening. "She is not a toy Sesshoumaru!" Outrage, pure outrage overcame him. "She was my mate." His anger softened into sadness.

"I did what was customary, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru shook his head with a frown. "I was in need of a mate, and yours had proven her strength so I decided to rescue her."

"Rescue her?!" He shouted in disbelief, standing from his defensive stance.

Sesshoumaru leveled his gaze on his half brother, irritated. "Humans are fickle creatures. Without you Inuyasha, she was left alone to face the ridicule of her own kind." Sesshoumaru furrowed his brows over flashing molten eyes. "Did you want the same fate to fall upon your pups that had been bestowed upon you?"

Inuyasha was caught off guard, his eyes flickering between accusing and confusion. "When did you start to care about the welfare of humans?"

"I grow tired of this Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru looked heatedly into his eyes, pure hatred glittering in their depths. "I grow tired of you." Scornfully he looked over to the sleeping figure of Kagome. "Your all she wants." With red tinged eyes he looked back to the half breed. "She would have you, nothing more then a meager mutt, over everything I can provide."

"Love." Inuyasha breathed the word, looking in her direction. "I can give her love."

Sesshoumaru was silent, a mask if indifference molding his features. "It would seem we both inherited a weakness from our father, Inuyasha." He admitted harshly, planning on sending Inuyasha back into his grave. "She is the one unable to give her love."

Inuyasha tore his gaze from Kagome to his brother, shock written on his face. "What did you say?" He asked, his tone losing its strength.

Sesshoumaru growled once again preparing himself for battle, tightening his hold on Toukijin's hilt. "She will not leave me, I will not be abandoned again!" His lips curled back, a growl rumbling forth.

Inuyasha took a uncertain step forward. "Do you love her, Sesshoumaru?"

Sesshoumaru stiffened eyeing the hanyou warily. "She carries my pup."

Inuyasha paused looking back towards the upturned earth of the battlefield. "You protected her tonight." Inuyasha recalled how his brother had refused to acknowledge the certain death that would befall upon him, and continued to protect Kagome. The fact that he would consider having pups with her was enough of a declaration of his love. "How long?" He asked, sudden realization dawning on him.

Sesshoumaru briefly considered not answering the hanyou, but sighed slipping out of his fighting stance once more. He knew what his brother was asking. He wanted to know how long he had loved the girl, Kagome. "Since the day she defied death by my claws."

Inuyasha dropped his guard completely, casting his tired eyes up at his brother. "You wouldn't hurt her would you? Or our children?"

"I would not dishonor myself so." Sesshoumaru replied annoyed, giving a faint snort.

Inuyasha swallowed hard. "I was revived for only this night. Let me use it to say goodbye to her."

"No." Was Sesshoumaru's immediate reply, cold and indifferent.

Having received the expected answer, Inuyasha glanced at her once more. "She loves her family… back home." Sadly Inuyasha tore his gaze away from her back to his brother. "You should take her to visit them sometime soon."

Sesshoumaru remained silent, a pang of guilt twisting in the pit of his belly. He would not tell the hanyou, or Kagome, that her only way home had been destroyed. "Your children are being kept at the safe house in the western fort. I suggest you spend your last living hours there." Sesshoumaru turned to leave, gently lifting Kagome to rest against his fur pillowed shoulder. "Farewell Inuyasha." He did not look back or wait for a reply before lifting up into the night sky on his cloud, disappearing into the horizon.

Inuyasha stood there like a dejected puppy, watching until his half brother and Kagome were nothing more then a pinprick in the distance. "Goodbye Kagome." He whispered sorrowfully into the wind, a part of him dieing all over again.

Myouga came out from his hiding spot within the underbrush, and plopped himself atop the hanyou's slumped shoulder. "Was that wise Master Inuyasha?" He cautiously questioned his Lords actions.

Inuyasha didn't answer, instead he straitened his shoulders, walking off into the direction of his children.

---

Kagome scrunched her face up, a moan announcing the end of her slumber. Disoriented she sat up, shutting her eyes against the sudden rush of dizziness. "Inuyasha?" She called his name hopefully, fearing what she would see if she opened her eyes.

Sesshoumaru propped himself up on his side, a curtain of silver hair falling over his shoulder as he leaned over pulling her against him. The smell of her salty tears hit him hard and he gently shushed her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Go back to sleep Kagome."

"S-Sesshoumaru?" She chocked over his name, her body convulsing against his. "Where is Inuyasha?"

Sesshoumaru shut his eyes to calm himself, drawling in a deep breath. He had been prepared for her outburst upon awakening, but still, the pain he had been expecting seemed to dwarf in comparison to the feeling now taking hold of his chest. "Inuyasha is gone." He murmured softly.

"Gone?" Kagome jerked in his hold. "Y-you killed him didn't you?" Accusing violet blue eyes bore into the backs of his closed eyes.

Sesshoumaru held her tighter to still her struggles. "It was not necessary, he was bought back for just that day Kagome. He is gone now." He opened his brilliant golden eyes, looking past her out the widow at the sun kissed morning sky.

Subconsciously her arms tightened around him, pressing her face against the shallow of his missing arm. Her body rocked against his as his chest rose and fell with his steady breathing.

A chaotic spark caught in Sesshoumaru's golden eyes, disrupting the false image of peace he wore. He could feel her tears running tickilishly down his flesh, and the ragged huffs of her hot breath against his chest. His single arm loosened its hold on her, gently rubbing smoothing circles into the small of her back.

---

On the other side of the well sat Souta with Buyo cradled in his lap. A sad sigh slipped past his parted lips, his shoulders slumping forward. Standing to leave he lightly kicked the old well with the tip of his sneaker. Just then there was a rumble, and Souta stiffened fearfully. Right before his eyes the well began to cave in on itself disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

Coughing Souta made his way out of the old well house, hands pressed against his knees as he bent over. When he turned back around, there was no longer a well house, instead a patch of grassy green earth had taken its place. Horrified, he ran over to the spot the well should have been, dropping to his knees. All that remained in evidence that a well once stood there was a small coble stone. "Mom!" Was his panicked response, as he leapt to his feet running towards the shrine screaming bloody murder.

---

!! Ah!! Bad author, bad me! I know ^_~: So many of you wanted me to bring back Inuyasha from the dead to seek revenge out on Sesshoumaru, and what did I do? Well… 1 out of 2 isn't so bad! I am humbly sorry for the delay, I said I would have this chapter out sooner, and I was wrong. I had a lot of trouble writing the demise of Naraku, it was a very important part in my story and I wanted to write it to the best of my abilities… Sadly that wouldn't happen anytime soon, I'm a very picky person, so I just went with the flow and this was the result!

~*Thank you*~

-Everyone for your kind reviews, and thoughtful opinions! It's a huge honor to have you all read my work.

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