Miko... Kitsune?

Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, don't own InuYasha or any of it's characters. That is, with the exception of all the original characters and the story... yeah, those are mine.

Chapter 21: Naraku's End


Rage consumed him. Vengeance pushed him. No more time for plots or manipulations, this time he would wipe them out with his bare claws. This time, the Shikon and the blood of his enemies, were to be his.

~*~*~

Naraku's scent choked the air over the field, the small group the only ones that stood there. Kouga and Kagura standing at the other's side, looks of determination on their faces. Sango stood in full demon-hunter regalia, the only difference in her attire being the symbol of the west over her heart. InuYasha was garbed in his usual red, but also a breastplate that mirrored Shesshomaru's bearing the symbol of the west on his back as tetsuaiga hung at his hip. Miroku stood in his monk's robes and staff, a solemn look on his face as he looked to Renshi, whom was dressed in the armor of the south and his swords brandished. Tsaisuki stood between her mates, dressed in a kimono of black and breastplate of silver, her long azure hair pulled back into a long braid and a dark look in her silver eyes.

Sesshomaru and Kagone stepped out in front of the group, Sesshomaru in his usual attire. Kagome was dressed in white miko's robes and armor that resembled that of Midoriko bearing the symbol of the west, the shikon no tama hung about her neck and glowed in the darkening light, her eyes taking on a similar glow. She appeared a tenshi of heaven among them with her yumi of white ash and her glowing arrows.

He appeared, a combination of gigantic spider and dragon flesh. His fierce roar echoed over the field, but fazed none of the warriors that stood against him. Tsaisuki stepped forward to stand next to her cousin and mistress, a silver light coming over her eyes. They appeared yin and yang to those that watched them, the combination of the yumi, both black and white, the soaring arrows of pale pink and deep blue as they streaked across the field and imbedded into the demon mass. It was blinding.

Naraku screeched, no longer able to form words and keep himself whole as he fought the pure miko magic and the power of the kitsune sorceress. He writhed and clawed at the arrows, distracted enough as Sesshomaru, InuYasha, Kouga, and Renshi leapt forth with their weapons at the ready. Tentacles shot forth, battling the demon warriors as he tended to his deteriorating flesh. Then Sango and Kagura, aloft in the air on Kilala and feather, let loose their own attacks. Blades of wind and Hirakotsu sliced into his unguarded side, rending another scream from the dark creature.

Arrows flew out again and again, impacting with the beast, swords dispatched tentacles and headed towards the larger flesh, and aerial attacks continued to eat away at the massive form Naraku had taken. Two legs out of eight had been severed, another was being eaten away by miko magic. Blood the color and consistency of oil slid down his body and hit the earth, destroying all it touched.

Not all wounds were solely belonging to the monster Naraku had become. Kouga had taken a slash to his leg, hampering his speed, Renshi's helm lost as a tentacle slashed at his face, causing blood to flow into an eye. Kagome and Tsaisuki seemed to be wavering, their arrows starting to dwindle as time lapsed. Miroku had taken up the task of purifying the fallen flesh so Naraku couldn't take it again as he defended the two archers. Sango's arms were tiring and Kagura was still weakened from her time out of her body. It appeared that either side could win at this point.

Kagome released another arrow in time with Tsaisuki, her senses telling her something was wrong. During their short reprieve between flights, she attempted to pin point the darkness that teased her senses. Dread built deep within her mind as she felt it close to her. Slowly, she turned her head, her eyes clearing slightly as she looked to the kitsune at her side. Tsaisuki's eyes had taken on a black glow, strange runes appearing on her hands and brow as she watched, almost obliviously, out at Naraku. Kagome's eyes widened momentarily before she let loose another shaft at Naraku.

'What's happening to her?' she asked herself.

*The void,* a voice answered.

'What? Who is this?' Kagome asked the voice worriedly.

*Worry not, Miko, I am no fiend. I am the Shikon.*

'The Shikon? You have a voice?'

*Hai. You must purify me, free the souls within.*

'But what about Tsaisuki?' she asked.

*No worries, miko. She has merely become part of the magic of the void. Her power holds no evil, nor good. It is merely power. She is not tainted by evil, merely becoming more powerful. She will protect you as you purify me. You must hurry!* the voice of the Shikon ordered.

"Tsaisuki," Kagome called.

The darkly glowing sorceress nodded and cast a smile to her cousin. "I know. Do what you must."

Kagome closed her eyes as she held the jewel in her palms. Soon the jewel and the miko kitsune were levitating in the air, a gow of pale pink enveloping both. Tsaisuki took out five arrows and stabbed them into the ground around her, causing a blue shield to appear. The darkly glowing kitsune then prepared a spell of her own.

Miroku looked back to the two kitsune in amazement before attacking another roving tentacle. Naraku was growing frantic, this attacks wild as he channeled the anger of Ryuzi. So much so that he didn't notice the strange glow that came from the two mystical kitsune females. Nor did he notice Kagura and Sango pulling back in their attacks on him to defend Miroku and the girls. He was blinded by rage and desperation.

Sesshomaru and InuYasha exchanged looks as they looked back at Kagome and Tsaisuki. They leapt back in unison to stand beside the sorceress as Kouga and Renshi joined Kagura, Miroku, and Sango. The darkly glowing sorceress looked up, a ball of dark light in her hands, and glanced to the inu brothers before releasing her spell. The tokijin and tetsuiaga released their attacks at once, only a fraction behind the dark light. The three energies slammed into Naraku on three fronts, each decimating a portion of his massive form and reducing him to a writhing, smoking lump.

Kagome could feel it's beat. Naraku's heart lay bare on the ground. Determined, she focused all her energy into purifying the jewel. Slowly, the gem shrank down to a throbbing, speck of varying light. One beat, it would be white, the next black. These were the souls of Midoriko and the demon. She clenched her eyes shut as she felt the powers of the souls push against hers in retaliation. They wanted a wish.

*Give us your wish, maiden of the jewel. Purify our souls and free us,* the jewel pleaded.

"I wish for Naraku to no longer be able to harm another life. That his evil be destroyed to save the lives of those I love and the world," Kagome wished aloud.

*Good choice, miko. Your wish is granted. Arigato.*

A burst of white light enveloped the field and all those that stood on that field. Faintly, they could hear the cries of Naraku, but were mostly occupied by the sound of the energy rushing past their ears and the light blinding their eyes.

~*~*~

Blue eyes opened quickly and Kagome sat up with a start, her white hair flying about her as she looked over the battlefield. It was changed. What had once been rent barren and destroyed now looked lush and full of life. Kagome smiled as she heard the groans of her companions.

"What the hell was that?" InuYasha's voice called out as his head appeared out of the tall grass.

"Are you truly that dense?" her mate asked in his usual deadpan as he stood and dusted off his kimono.

"Shut up, Fluffy," InuYasha growled.

"Oh. My. God!" Sango exclaimed as she too stood. "The battle hasn't been over for five minutes and you're already starting another fight?"

"InuYasha is nothing, if not predictable," Miroku teased as he sat up.

"Everyone okay?" Kagome called out.

"A few bruises and scratches, nothing youkai healing can't fix," Renshi answered.

"Kouga's unconscious," Kagura called out from a little further down the field. "But I can take care of him."

InuYasha snorted. "Yeah, good luck with that."

"Tsaisuki?" Kagome called.

"She's over where Naraku fell," InuYasha pointed out.

"Is it me, or is she talking to something?" Sango asked.

The warriors, minus Kagura and Koga, all stood and headed down to where the dark sorceress stood. There, lying in a patch of dead grass lay a burned and mangled man. Kagome covered her mouth while InuYasha and Sesshomaru tensed, their hands reaching for their blades.

"Don't," Tsaisuki's voice ordered. "He's already dying."

"Who is he?" Miroku inquired.

"Onigumo," Kagome answered.

Tsaisuki knelt beside the dying man and cast him a sympathetic smile. "When I was in the void between waking and dreams, I learned a great deal about Onigumo. When I left, I took the human soul with me. I promised him that I would make sure that he would have a chance to die as himself, not as Naraku."

"He could have corrupted you," Renshi protested.

"It was my choice," Tsaisuki stated.

Onigumo whispered something brokenly to the kitsune sorceress and smiled to her as a ragged breath left his shuddering chest and his eyes closed the last time. Tsaisuki mumbled something and his form was alight with black flame. Miroku closed his eyes and sent a prayer as Kagome whispered luck to the human soul that had caused so much pain because of love, twisted by desperation and demonic influence.

Naraku was truly no more.

~*~*~*~
Levii: Sorry everyone! I know, I've been kinda absent lately.
Inu: Kinda?
Levii: Shut up, InuYasha. I was busy... and suffering from an affliction called... writer's apathy. It's common, really. When the writer has many ideas, but lacks the motivation to actually get up and write them. Yeah! Writer's Apathy!
Inu: Did you just invent that?
Sess: Quiet mongrel, or else she'll get lazy again.
Levii: I said I had Writer's Apathy!
Inu: You were being a slacker and you know it.
Levii: Whatever! Yes, I was slacking off! But, hey! I got this one out. Might be a bit short, but I'm not all that talented with battles. Anyways... this is the last chapter... next up is the epilogue.
Inu: So you guys better review!
Levii: Until next time, Ja ne!