In His Arms

All previous disclaimers apply.


Author’s Note: This is where things get a little AU. Please forgive. Warnings: Not for Kikyo or Kagura lovers. Neither will be good or even redeemable in this story. Sorry to those who like them.

I also know a lot of this chapter will be very unpopular. Please, remember the story isn’t over yet and suspend your judgment for the end of the story!

As always, if you feel the need to flame, please be civil about it and refrain from foul language. Thanks so much!


The battle had been raging for three long days. For three long days and nights all of the Lords and Ladies had been sleeping and eating in shifts unless they were in the command tent, which they seemed to be most of the time. They were all restless and given to anger with each other because, even though they had decided just after the front lines had gone in that they would all have to wait until the lower class demons were taken care of and Naraku was sending out well-trained demons, all of them wanted to be on the battlefield, helping their men and women fighting. While it was true that the losses that the combined armies had suffered were minimal, even with the sheer numbers they were facing, every death of a soldier cut into the lords very personally. Kouga especially was taking the deaths of any of the wolves, whom he had just begun to really lead, extremely personally, sitting at their pyres until the smoke had cleared, allowing the tears to roll down his cheeks unheeded. They were all grateful for Ayame, who seemed to keep him grounded and prevented him more than once from running into the fray. They were not stupid. They understood completely that they would need every man and woman they could get when it came to the final battle.

It hadn’t helped the wolf’s metal state any that one of the biggest arguments of the strategy sessions centered around him. Both Sesshomaru and the Dragon believed that Kouga should give up the jewel shards in his legs so that when Kagome was able to get the jewel from Naraku she would be able to complete it right away and give them all one less thing to worry about. Kouga and the Eagle believed that Kouga should keep them until absolutely the last moment in case, for any reason, Kagome was unable to purify the jewel. Naraku could never have the completed jewel. They had all turned to Kagome to cast the deciding vote on what was to happen. It had caused tension that had never existed before between Kagome and Sesshomaru when she had sided with Kouga and the Eagle. Her logic was good, she knew. Kouga was not used to fighting without the jewel shards. He might become more of a hindrance than a help if they took them away before the battle. He had glared at her after that comment but she had just looked coolly back and raised an eyebrow.

“And you must understand, if you die and Naraku gets your shards, Kouga, we will not be singing your glories even of we win. You will be known as a hindrance for the rest of time.” She knew that Sesshomaru had forgiven her for going against him with the last comment because he had smiled sharply at her and placed a kiss to her forehead, causing Kouga to growl at them both.

“Growl at my mate again,” Sesshomaru had stepped in front of Kagome, tensed for a fight. Both Kagome and Ayame had rolled their eyes before Ayame had stepped between the two lords and pushed on both of their chests with her petite hands.

“Save it for the hanyou,” she ordered sternly.

It had been good advice as they now found themselves standing atop the ridge that overlooked the dark castle. Between them and the castle was the battlefield, littered with the bodies of those in Naraku’s army who had fallen. He had not bothered to have their bodies cleared, as those from their army had. What would Naraku care if they got proper burial or not? What would most of them had cared? Kagome allowed the anger to overtake her as she thought of all the wasted life that had occurred since Naraku had created himself. He deserved more than death. He deserved to rot in the lowest level of Hell for all eternity. If she were able to make sure it was so, she would have dragged him there herself before returning to her family. The thought caught her off guard and she almost put a hand to her mouth in shock. She sounded like Kikyo.

Once again her thoughts seemed to be self-fulfilling as Naraku’s generals, she guessed they could be called, stepped out of the castle and lined up much as they were lined up on top of the ridge. They were led by Kikyo, who smiled smugly at Kagome as Inuyasha, somehow feral and tame at the same time, came up behind her and wrapped her in his arms before grinning at Kagome, though it looked more like a growl. Kikyo at least had enough human left in her to look shocked when Kagome just smiled back and pulled the collar of his mail shirt aside just enough to let the silver of her mating mark show. She heard Sesshomaru growl lowly from the back of his throat in approval just before her heart leaped into her throat. Miroku, Sango and Kirara, and Kohaku joined Kikyo, Inuyasha, Kagura, Kanna, and a few others she didn’t know the names of. They all looked very calm and put together. They looked dangerous. She felt the tears fill her eyes as she thought about the fact that she would soon be fighting her closest friends, but she did not allow them to fall.

“Surrender!” Kikyo called out, “Surrender and turn over the bitch who holds the jewel shards and you will be allowed to live as part of the Dark Lord’s kingdom. If you do not, you and all of your armies will be killed. No quarter will be shown.”

“We will not hand over the Lady of the West, nor will we surrender,” the Dragon surprised them all with the heat in his voice when he called out.

“Lady of the West,” Kikyo scoffed, “Very well, have it your way.” She lifted her hand and the line broke, all heading to try to kill them.

Kagome pulled her bow and fitted an arrow, “Spare the slayers, the fire-cat, the monk and the hanyou if you can,” she almost had to shout over the wind that had kicked up, “When the foul one is dead they will return to themselves.”

“The wind-bitch is mine,” the Dragon growled.

“Let me handle Inuyasha,” Kouga muttered, making Sesshomaru turn to him with a growl, “I don’t trust you to fight him and not kill him.”

“You cannot defeat him, pup.”

“Maybe not, but I can hold him off for a while.”

“Watch for the monk’s wind tunnel, the slayer’s weapons and Inuyasha’s sword. They have mastered them all,” Kagome interrupted the argument as the enemies flew at them, ever closer. What were they thinking? The Lords had the high ground. It could be considered suicide. But, more importantly, where was Naraku? She scanned the black windows and doorways of the castle searching for any sign of him. The others would take care of his generals. Her priority had to be getting the jewel completed and purified so that it could no longer be used by Naraku or any like him. She looked up when she recognized False’s cry and the firebird burst into full flame, sweeping in front of them so that a flame barrier almost nine feet high separated the Lords and Ladies from the advancing generals. Shouldn’t things be happening much faster? Always before the battles had seemed to happen so quickly that she could hardly follow them.

Her senses had improved, living with yokai for so long, she realized, and she had awakened to the true potential of her power. The thought made her smile grimly. False landed on her shoulder as his demon fire burned too hot for the generals to cross and soared into the air when one tried to leap over it. Kanna’s face was that of a spoiled child when she tried to cross and was burned, the hem of her kimono catching fire. Kagome stroked False’s head, wordlessly assuring him that he had done well, then launched him off of her arm with whispered instructions to protect the children and Hiroko. If they failed, perhaps False could give them the time they would need to escape.

“Nice trick,” Sango growled in a voice Kagome didn’t recognize, “Here’s one of mine!”

Kirara ran through the fire, banishing it, and leaped right for the Eagle’s throat. It had begun. In moments the Lords were separated, each fighting their own battle. Kagome stood wordlessly, none of the fear that would have once been in her heart and head coming. Instead, she just waited, keeping her eyes forward as Kikyo walked toward her slowly as the battle noises began to rage around them.

“So…” Kikyo’s voice was smooth and cool as they began to circle each other, “You seem to have landed on your feet. We wondered when Kanna could no longer see you in her mirror.”

“We?” Kagome raised an eyebrow. She could feel Kikyo’s power rising to the surface as she knew her own was.

“Naraku and I.”

“I don’t understand, Kikyo,” Kagome had waited to ask her the question for a very long time, “Why? Why do you serve him?”

“Serve him?” Kikyo laughed, “You think I serve him? Ha. I serve no one but myself. I would rather see him ruling while Inuyasha is by my side, than see Inuyasha with you. Look at him. Isn’t he magnificent this way?”
Kagome turned her head to watch Inuyasha’s battle with Kouga. In an instant she knew that Kouga could not win. Inuyasha was magnificent. His speed, his every blade thrust, it was perfect. Even at his most controlled, his most trained, he had never been like this.

“Naraku’s made him perfect,” Kikyo whispered in Kagome’s ear, “Just like he’s made all of them perfect. Just like he’s helped me to become perfect!”

It all seemed to happen in slow motion as Kagome turned to see Kikyo raising a dagger to plunge into her back. The dagger was lit with the fire of a Miko. It would take the rest of her soul and give it to Kikyo if she didn’t stop it. She was amazed at the way she saw herself move as her own blue fire covered her body and she turned, grabbing Kikyo’s wrist and yanking it downward. She could see the shock on Kikyo’s face.

“Obviously not perfect enough, clay doll,” She hissed. Kikyo broke away from her on a scream of fury, raising her hands above her head and gathering all of the power she had. Kagome just laughed. She could sense Kikyo’s power, and she knew that she was the more powerful by a great amount. She could only cock her head in amusement.

“What are you laughing at, bitch?” Kikyo screamed.

“Surrender now or I will destroy you so completely there will be no more left of you to bring back,” Kagome warned.

She couldn’t even force herself to feel a twinge of regret for the bitter woman who would have rather seen her lover completely dehumanized or in Hell than with another woman. Kikyo would have stood by and done nothing, let Naraku rule in a violent and bloody era, as long as she had someone who Kagome knew wasn’t actually the Inuyasha she herself had fallen in love with by her side. The hate, it was the only thing that kept her going at all. In a way, Kagome knew that she would be releasing Kikyo from all of the punishment she deserved, but in a way she was also releasing her from the hate. She felt no ill will toward the woman, not anymore, but she hoped she burned in Hell for all time. Even as Kikyo release all of the energy in her body, visualized in flame, Kagome raised a hand a released her own attack. The blue flames engulfed Kikyo’s body, killing and purifying her instantly, not even giving her enough time to scream. In an instant she felt the final part of her soul returned to her, filling a hole she hadn’t even realized was there.

In the next instant she cried out in shock and pain as she was thrown against a tree, a hand around her neck, squeezing tightly, as Inuyasha, feral and destructive growled and spit in her face. As he raised the Tetsusaiga she acted on instinct and grabbed the sheath from his waist, raising it above her head. It took all of her strength to keep it where it was as the sword crashed down on it. But, as it always had, the sword sheath reacted as protection to her, even from the sword itself. It would do no good, though, if she didn’t get his hand off of her neck. Already her vision was blurring.

“Inu…yasha,” She managed to force out. For a moment she saw a flicker of golden recognition in his blood red eyes and his hand loosened enough for her to take a gasping breath and wrap her free hand around the fingers on her neck, forcing them just the slightest bit farther away as she allowed her power to flare.

“Inuyasha, it’s Kagome,” she whispered, “See me. Please see me. Come back. Come back to me. Remember. The night Naraku took all of you. The night we made love for the first time. Come back to me. It’s me. It’s your Kagome.”

“Ka…go…me…” Inuyasha ground out in his rough voice and she could see the struggle in his eyes.

“Yes. Yes, it’s me,” she whispered. She could see out of the corner of her eye that Sesshomaru was coming for her. She knew she needed him, but she didn’t want Inuyasha hurt. She had to reach him! Inuyasha followed her eyes with his own. He glanced from Sesshomaru down to the silver scar on her neck and she knew that she had lost him once again to his fury as he clamped down on her neck and bared down on his sword, snarling at her once again.

“No!” she choked on the word and did the first thing that came into her mind. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to Inuyasha’s. It had worked before.

It worked again. He dropped the sword, his hand flew from her neck, and he began to shake his head, trying to rid himself of the control Naraku had over him. Kagome fell to her knees, gasping, trying to regain her breath and not let herself fade from consciousness. She was in Sesshomaru’s arms in an instant and she knew he was struggling with his own beast not to kill Inuyasha outright because it was not what she wanted. They watched, aware of every little move he made, as Inuyasha gripped his hair in tight fists and fell to his knees, screaming. When he looked up at them, she could see his eyes wavering between red and gold. They settled on gold, but she could see he was still struggling. It could never be over until Naraku was killed. She watched, tears rising in her throat and a sob stopping in her chest as Inuyasha looked over at Kouga, motionless on the ground, his eyes closed, and knew what he had done. There were tears running down his face as he looked back at them.

“Please, Sesshomaru,” he begged between growls as he began to lose control again, “Do it before it takes over again. Do it, please! Don’t let me hurt anyone else!”

Kagome couldn’t even object as Sesshomaru put her back on her feet and moved to Inuyasha. It was what had to be done. They all knew it was so.

“I love you, Kagome,” Inuyasha’s tortured whisper cut into her soul.

“You will always be my first love,” she responded truthfully.

Suddenly Sesshomaru was next to him, a hand on his shoulder, his other hand, claws extended, ready for a killing blow.

“Do it,” Inuyasha half-ordered, half-begged.

“When this is over,” Sesshomaru whispered right next to Inuyasha’s ear, “I will revive you… brother.”

Inuyasha’s eyes went completely red and savage again and he lunged to tear out Sesshomaru’s throat just before Sesshomaru’s clawed hand shoved directly through his chest and into his heart. Inuyasha let out a yelp unlike anything Kagome had ever heard him make and his eyes went golden. He gasped and nodded to Sesshomaru, then turned to Kagome, peace on his face, before he fell to his knees and then to the ground. Kagome couldn’t stop the sob as she looked around her. Kouga on the ground, her friends fighting those who had become her friends. Even as she watched Kanna returned the arrow Miyuki had shot at her back into Miyuki’s abdomen. The Eagle was on the ground, cradling the broken form of his son to his chest. Paru and two of the others dodged Miroku’s wind tunnel, but they were tiring fast. Sango, Kirara, and Kohaku were carving a path of destruction in the soldiers who had come to the Lords’ side to fight. Sesshomaru ducked quickly back into the battle as soon as he saw that she was safe. Would she have to see her mate die as well? She covered her ears and screamed out the frustration, anger, and sorrow.

Even as she screamed it was covered by a dark laugh. Her head whipped up and she saw Naraku, standing in the doorway to his castle, his arms crossed, a smile on his face. She got to her feet and ran quickly to Kouga. She only vaguely noticed that he was still breathing, but barely, as she quickly pulled the shards from hid shins. How could she hurt him anymore now?

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, and kissed his head.

“Delightful,” Naraku laughed, “Brother killing brother. Destruction. Death. All of it for just a few tiny things that you refuse to give me, Miko. Tell me, do you really think you can win?”

“Perhaps not,” Kagome drew herself up to her full height, “Perhaps all we’re doing is delaying the inevitable. But, one thing I do know, Naraku, if I have to die with you, one way or another you die today.”

“Oh, yes? Well, then, Little Lady of the West, do your worst.”