The Herald of Heaven and Earth

*author's note: Well, its been a pleasure to bring this story to you and I have already envisioned the end of this tale (I just have to get it written down). I have to say that I truly appreciate those who have given such wonderful feed back and perhaps in the future I may try my hand at another story. Till then enjoy the next few chapters to come and rate or review, or both.* ;)

Chapter 21: The Fields of Redemption

When the earth was created in its wonderous beauty so long ago, it began to connect spiritually to its inhabitants. The love and hate of the people that resided on this planet would seep into the ground and it would absorb those powerful emotions. Which is why some places still hold the echo of spirits. It is also these emotions of the living and the dead that make the earth act accordingly whenever a great event, whether good or evil approaches.

The ground was shining and slippery with the water that pelted down upon it. It seemed that the heavens were weeping heavily and it unashamedly let the droplets of tearful rain shower upon the earth. A strong wind was churning the rolling clouds that were dark and forbidding overhead. When the red moon had disappeared behind the blanket of clouds, the dark of the early morning was so thick that one could have sliced it with a knife. The only luminescence that could be seen was the streaks of white hot lightening across the sky and the rumble of angry thunder that accompanied it.

Whenever the lightening would tremor and crackle it would reveal two armies marching intently towards each other. Each warrior had a look of determination upon his face and was oblivious of mother nature’s volatile expressions. Though each army was leagues away from the other, every individual could feel the anticipation of the coming conflict. Two different armies, two different reasons for battle and whenever the clouds would part it seemed that there was an unseen audience above watching this great war unfold.

The night trudged on and soon day broke, unveiling a sky that was as red as the moon had been. All was quiet and not even a bird or cricket sang to welcome the hesitant sun. When the soft rays of light hit upon the trees of a forest, it created a shadow in the immense field that usually called to the
playful wildlife to feast upon its green, succulent grasses. The blades of grass seemed to sway and dance in the wind and the rustling of the trees that lay on either side of the field mingled together into a melancholy chorus.

If possible, the land seemed to grow even more silent when deceivingly hidden shadows began to appear from out both sides of the forest. From the South, menacing soldiers dressed in black armor emerged. Their cruel adornments and weapons glittered evilly, as if it already shone wet with life blood. As far as the eye could see there were the undead, demons and humans alike, all growling with bloodlust and an insane fury. Suddenly from amongst the middle of the foul army came their leader.

A somber looking foursome of a cloaked Kikyo, Kagura, Kohaku and Kanna flanked their master as he stood in front of them. His black armor glinted with intricate designs and underneath the harsh metal was a flash of red. His black hair was done up in a bun and on the sides of his face hung a few strands that had managed to escape. At his waist, a flaming red sword lay, eagerly awaiting the impalement of life to be thrust upon its hilt.

Naraku surveyed his army and smirked at their eagerness to destroy. As he was basking in their maliciousness he suddenly felt the strong presence of his beloved. He turned his red gaze to find her and took in the sight that lay before him.

A sound of a trumpet blared proudly from the North and from the forest came a glare of white light. Naraku hissed angrily as he saw the majority of his warriors cover their eyes at the sudden intrusion of bright light. He looked back to see that his adversaries were all donning armor of pure silver and gold. They were magnificent and regal as if they were all angels come down from heaven. His eyes scanned each holy warrior until he came to the one he had sought. He was speechless as he took in her alluring beauty, coupled with a power that seemed to shimmer around her.

Over a pure white kimono she was adorned in a hakama, patterned in silver, gold and blue. Around her shoulders was a golden armor plate that was outlined in silver. Her long blue hair whipped around her form softly and her blue eyes with the tint of gold seemed to glow. Her elvish ears made her appear dainty and delicate but, it was a deceiving appearance as held in her clawed fingers was a wicked looking bow. The aerial silvery weapon curled into sharp points and on her back was a quiver full of white tufted golden arrows.

Naraku growled as he saw that she was nestled between the objects of his hate. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha stood protectively over her. No expression was written on their faces and they seemed to emanate a calm that enraged Naraku. His anger began to surge when he saw the Northern Lord appear behind Kagome. Both their blue eyes seemed to stare through him and he wanted nothing more in this moment than to physically wipe the confidence and arrogance from all of the hated males faces.

When he finally forced himself to look away and study the army, he was mildly shocked. Among the many odd humans were demons. Demons of every shape, size, and type. Who would have thought that demons would care of the fate of humans so much that they would rise up against him. They all mingled side by side, a strange brotherhood united for one cause… to separate him from his beloved. Angrily Naraku took a step forward and let his voice ring clear out over the silence of the field.

“My mate, if you cease this maddness I will forgive your indiscretion against me.”

Kagome growled as she stared daggers at him. “Naraku, I was a fool to have once loved you. It is not just my life you threaten but, the lives of the all.” She lovingly looked up at her mates and at her army behind her. “For me to surrender would be to leave earth at your mercy, and as I know all too well, you have none.”

At her words a collective ring of weapons sounded. The holy army raised their bows and drew back their strings ready to let the deadly sea of arrows descend upon their enemy. Quietly Kagome’s voice floated over her warriors as she whispered a prayer.

“If it is your will, give us strength, give us courage to defeat this evil. Surround us in your love and grace and grant us victory…”

The men gasped in amazement as a purple glow collected itself around their arrows and with a new confidence they proudly wielded the purified weapons.

Naraku fell silent as he watched this show of heavenly defiance and suddenly a low, mad chuckle came from him. “So be it my love, if you seek death for your beloved humans then I’ll oblige you.”

A thunderous roar shook the field as the dark army charged. At the same time a volley of golden arrows shimmered through the air. The metallic clang of metal scraping metal screeched through the pounding of armored feet and the ones that had been brought down by the holy arrows were trampled by the onslaught.

Another wave of arrows showered Naraku’s army and behind the soaring points of death came a rush of the warriors of light. The first demons to see them gasped when they saw an axe boomeranging wildly toward them. The last thing they saw before their heads rolled to the ground was a grinning Kubaksuru who was holding his lone axe in front of his chest barreling into the fray. Behind him were Sango and Miroku who were busy bringing down the demons that tried to subdue the tiger.

Lord Daichi was engaged with a huge boar demon that wielded a deadly looking mace. The demon towered over him and because of its size he was slow. Thinking quickly, Daichi was able to agilely dance around the demon and slash into its ankles and the backs of its knees, bringing it crashing to the ground. As the demon writhed in pain he brought down a fatal blow but, before he could gather his senses another demon came from behind and ran him through his side with a dagger. The Dragon Lord stumbled and fell in pain. Weak with fury he looked up at the demon as it brought a sword up to slice him in half, but before it could land he heard it shriek and he saw a curved, glittering cutlass jut through its stomach. He watched as the demon fell to the ground and there staring down at him was the dark skinned human. For a moment Daichi studied the human as he reached out his hand to him and then without hesitation he grasped the offered appendage. As he stood to his feet he didn’t let go of the man’s hand and they regarded each other with respect, then they took off together into the mass of tangling bodies and swinging weapons.

Naraku watched as his army struggled against the light, and his eyes scanned the area for Kagome and her protectors. He paused when he saw them approaching him through the sea of warriors. Both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru seemed to be unmoved and they would dispatch any demon that would try to come between them and the woman they guarded without a blink of an eye.

Warily Naraku looked to Kikyo and his eyes lit up with a venomous amusement. “My dear, why don’t you go say hello to your former lover. Let him know that you are alive and well.”

Kagura quietly eyed Kikyo and she saw the priestess look at her under hooded eyes. There was was something in her eyes, something in her face that made Kagura start and before she could contemplate it Naraku interrupted her thoughts.

“Why don’t you take your brother and sister and do something besides standing here being useless. You would do well to remember not to displease me…” Naraku watched gleefully as Kagura, Kohaku, and Kanna went out into the battlefield and his eyes turned to Kikyo as she approached Inuyasha.

The brothers minds were set upon one thing, the protection of their mate but, suddenly Sesshoumaru noticed that Inuyasha had lowered his sword and fallen still. His golden eyes scanned the area and he focused his developed sense of smell over the strong scent of blood and on a strange scent that he had thought was gone forever. His eyes narrowed as he saw a hooded figure come into view and stand before them and he began to growl.

Inuyasha stood dumbfounded. He would know that scent anywhere and it startled him. “Kikyo?” He whispered when he saw her remove the hood and gaze at him. He barely registered Sesshoumaru’s growl when he started towards her. He shrugged off the hand that tried to stop him and continued to her, and when he finally stood face to face with her, he brought a hand to her cheek. The time seemed to slow as the noise of the battle surrounded them and as Sesshoumaru’s voice tried to penetrate him but nothing could break his trance.

Feeling the warmness of his touch Kikyo covered his hand with hers and she closed her eyes as she welcomed him into her arms and into a passionate kiss. She continued kiss him and after a few moments she opened her eyes to see Kagome’s blue eyes staring at her. Those same eyes that had pleaded with her during Kanna’s vision and she shuddered as she took a step back. She turned tear filled brown eyes at the radiant woman and bowed her head.

“Kagome, forgive me, I know now that he isn’t nor ever was mine. Forgive me for all my transgressions against you.” She whispered as she looked at Inuyasha once more and nodded her head in apology to Sesshoumaru. Then she turned as she drew her bow and arrows and shot a purified ball of energy toward Naraku.

Naraku watched as the energy flew at him and he lazily stepped aside, letting it collide with the earth. In that same instant he sent a sharp barrage of his spider legs toward Kikyo and grinned as the many points, punctured her body. He laughed maniacally as he retracted the legs and let her fall to the ground mortally wounded.

Kagome ran to the dying woman and placed her arms around her, and Kikyo looked up at her with a bloody smile. She raised a pale hand to Kagome’s cheek and she felt a overwhelming sense of love for the woman that held her. “Kagome…” She whispered and as she felt herself sink into a calmness she looked over at Inuyasha who was staring down at her. “Inuyasha, take care of her, she… she is so very special. I love you both…”

Sesshoumaru watched as the priestess’s eyes closed for the last time and he could feel one of his mates grow enraged. He turned to Inuyasha expecting that he would need consoling but, he saw that his brother had not a look of rage on his face. He was surprised when he heard a low, feral growl come from the blue haired woman that was Kagome. He could feel her anger rise to an alarming level and he knew without seeing her face that her eyes had started to glow in their golden rage.

Both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru stood side by side as she started to stride toward Naraku. When the dark warriors saw that the holy trio had started toward their master they moved in to intercept them. The brothers were relentless as they hurled attacks from their respective weapons, clearing a path for their Goddess.

She had drawn her bow and had aimed her golden arrows at Naraku. With every step she took the earth seemed to shake and with her mates cutting down demons on either side of her with flashes of gold, silver, and blue energy, she was truly a sight to behold.

From the middle of the field Kanna observed the surge in Kagome’s power and she turned to Kagura who had been battling with Koga. “Its almost time,” she whispered.

Kagura turned to glance at Naraku and saw Kagome approaching him ever closer and her lips curled into a smile. Suddenly before she could say something to her sister, she found herself knocked to the ground with Koga standing over her.

“I remember when you killed my tribesmen,” he said dangerously as he stared down at her with hate. “I hope you’ve said all your prayers because I’ve waited a long time for this.”

Kagura closed her eyes awaiting her death but the blow never came. Reluctantly she opened them again and saw that Kohaku stood over her shielding her from Koga. She watched amazed as the boy’s eyes that were once listless, were now clear and aware. Koga growled at the boy and he pushed him back, fully intending to turn his rage upon him but, suddenly Sango appeared and stood before him. The wind sorceress watched as the demon-slayer and monk tried to placate the angry wolf and she rose to her feet.

“Dragon-strike!!!”

Naraku’s voice and a crack of thunder made them all turn around and stare at Naraku who had risen into the air surrounded by his barrier, and sent a devastating attack from his sword. The powerful whirlwind bathed in flames plowed through the battlefield, killing warriors from both sides.

The land was slick with the blood on the grass and Kagome looked around at the devastation. Her golden gaze fell upon the scores of broken bodies that littered the ground. She lifted her eyes to Naraku above her and she raised her hands to the heavens. As she threw her head back a light surrounded her, Inuyasha, and Sesshoumaru.

A strange thing happened then at that moment. Kagome’s mates and their weapons began to glow. As the brothers radiance became brighter, everyone gasped as they saw them transform into silver and gold orbs and absorb into the swords. Those on the field were transfixed as Kagome and the Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga arose into the air. The swords rested into each of Kagome’s hands and as her form eclipsed the sun she brought the swords together and along with her bow, the weapons combined into one magnificent katana. The silver glinted in the sunlight and etched into the blade were golden insignias.


Naraku shielded his eyes in a final pulse of blinding light and when he looked back at her, he had to take a breath. Outstretched powerful wings fluttered behind her and she looked very much like the angelic Goddess he had known a long time ago. In fact if it were possible she was even more beautiful. A warrior Goddess wielding the power of heaven and earth. It filled his heart with a deep longing that brought a pain through his body. He quickly looked around to his army, and those that were still fighting he summoned them to him.

Kubaksuru who had been awed at his daughter’s transformation turned to see that the demons which Naraku commanded had all descended upon him and was absorbing into his body. He watched in panic as Naraku began to grow stronger and in a pulse of darkness and his maddening laughter, Kubaksuru saw Naraku’s body contort. His hair fell from its bindings and as he doubled up in pain, all could see a pair of jet black wings erupt from his back.

The Northern Lord saw Kagome’s friends and Naraku’s traitorous children come to stand beside him and he looked to the humans as he felt a wave of fear and worry emerge from them. Tenderly he smiled as he looked adoringly at the figure above them. “Have faith my friends, we may have lost many but the outcome has yet to be decided…”