Remember Me

chapter 28

With tetsusaiga clutched tightly in his hands, Inuyasha streaked toward Naraku. He was nothing more than a silver and red blur as he lunged at the dragon. A tentacle shot out at Inuyasha but the hanyou moved with such incredible speed until he seemed to just disappear out of the way of the attack. He reappeared to the right of the dragon and hit it with his wind scar. Naraku shrieked in pain and turned to face the hanyou with glowing white eyes. He opened his mouth forming a huge fireball toward the hanyou. Again, Inuyasha seemed to vanish as the fireball left a scorching hole. Naraku growled in frustration as it was very difficult for him to keep track of the hanyou. He seemed to be all over the place. He would look in one place, Inuyasha seemed to disappear and be somewhere else. It was almost like there was more than one of the young demon. But Naraku refused to give up. He would either shoot a fireball or attack with his tentacles. No matter what attack he used the hanyou would attack him from another position.

His speed was incredible. No one could keep up with his movements. Even Sesshomaru with his keen sight could not follow his brother’s moves. It was like looking at a ghost.

Inuyasha appeared in front of Naraku and plunged his sword into the dragon's stomach slicing a deep gash into Naraku's flesh.

Naraku roared in pain and rage. ‘How dare that filthy half breed think to harm me. Naraku?’ Suddenly all his tentacles turned toward Inuyasha and lunged at him. The dog demon leaped out of the way just as the tentacles dug a deep hole into the ground where he was standing.

"Damn you you little bastard," snarled Naraku. "I will have your head."

"Feh, just try and take it," smirked Inuyasha. He lunged at the dragon. Tentacles came at him. Inuyasha chopped one off, dodged another and leaped on one of the tentacles and catapulted himself into the air.

Thinking this is his chance to destroy the upstart half breed. Naraku opened his mouth forming a huge fireball in it. Thrusting his head forward, he sent the flaming yellow red ball at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha saw the ball coming toward him. Raising tetsusaiga, the sword pulsed in his hands as he sliced through the fireball. The attack fizzled and disappeared. "Not bad for a scaly lizard, but try this!" Suddenly the tetsusaiga began to pulse a bright white as power surged and crackled around and through the blade. "Thunderbolt!" Inuyasha swung his sword downward as great bolts of lightning came from the sword striking Naraku in the chest.

The dragon released a horrible shriek as a glob of blood shot from its mouth and fell backwards hitting the ground with a mighty crash.

Inuyasha landing a few feet away from the smoldering body. Waiting. The dragon twitched and then he slowly rose. Naraku glared down at the smiling half breed. "Was that suppose to hurt me?"

"I know it hurt you," said Inuyasha still holding his smile. "The fact that that burn mark is still in your chest is proof enough that the attack hurt. That was only a small amount of power the spirits gave me Naraku. I’m giving you a chance to surrender and face justice for all the crimes you have committed."

The dragon threw its large head back and laughed. The sound was like thunder rolling across the sky. Everyone flinched from the sound. Then he turned those burning white eyes on Inuyasha. "You are a fool if you think for one minute I would consider surrendering just when I am about to become a god."

Inuyasha's smile became wide. "I knew you wouldn't surrender."

"So why offer?"

"Well, I wouldn't be much of a good guy if I didn't offer." Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders. "Oh well, don't say I never offered." He plunged tetsusaiga into the ground. "Aftershock!" Twin jagged streaks of power zig zagged across the ground engulfing the pompus dragon in its power.

Naraku howled as he felt his blood boiling in his veins and staggered backwards. Blood and smoke spewed from his mouth and from the corner of his eyes. Once the attack ceased he growled at the hanyou and took to the air. "You shall pay for your insolence."

"Going airborne won't save you, Naraku." He raised the pulsing tetsusaiga. "Raging Storm!" Tsunami winds came from the blade catching the dragon in its grasp. Naraku was sent spinning wildly in the sky, trapped inside a tornado of wind which turned downward and slammed the dragon into the ground leaving a huge dragon shape imprint into the earth.

Unimaginable pain racked through his body. Naraku could feel some broken ribs floating around the inside of his chest. As he slowly raised his head he groaned as he felt the bones in his chest began to heal. His eyes flashed white with rage. "You little shit!" Naraku got to his feet. "I shall rend you into tiny pieces. I shall piss on your grave." He opened his mouth as flames began to overlap in his mouth. Jerking his head forward great yellow red flames spewed forth like quicksilver to engulf Inuyasha.

"Phoenix Wings!" Everyone heard Inuyasha yell before the liquid flames consumed him.

Everyone gasped in horror as the ground where Inuyasha was standing was nothing but molten earth. Naraku laughed in triumph as he was sure the hanyou was nothing more than a pile of ashes. As the flames dissipated, Naraku stared in utter shock as Inuyasha held tetsusaiga before him. The young demon stood on a small patch of ground that was encased in a crimson red protective barrier along with him. Suddenly, the barrier moved and unfolded itself to reveal a huge firebird with wings extended. "Ascending Phoenix!" The firebird rose into the sky and swoop down toward Naraku and exploded on contact against the dragon. Naraku roared in pain and staggered back as he fell to the ground smoldering.

Inuyasha watched the dragon slow rise. A huge red scar covered the dragon's right eye from the attack. The phoenix attack was so hot, some of the dragon's scales began to flake and peel away revealing blistered, red raw flesh. "You should have surrendered when you had the chance," he said harshly. "Now, you will die."

"Better than you have tried half breed."

"But I’m not trying. I will kill you." To prove that he meant it, he raised his hand and turned his claws upward. "Earth Spear!" A large column of dirt with an arrow like tip shot up from the ground and pierce the dragon through the neck. Blood mixed with miasma gushed from the wound in his neck and from his mouth.

Growling, Naraku wrapped his clawed hands around the earth and snapped it off. Dropping it to the ground, he then pulled the rest of the earth out of his neck tossing it aside. Naraku turned rage filled eyes upon the hanyou as the hole in his neck healed. "Fire Storm!" Inuyasha slammed tetsusaiga into the molten ground to send flaming arrows toward him. The arrows embedded themselves into the dragon's flesh.

Naraku roared in pain. Regaining his composure, he exhaled deeply and the arrows flew from his body. He glared down at Inuyasha and lunged his large head with mouth opened at the hanyou. Inuyasha leaped up and landed on top of the dragon’s head where Naraku's face was. The slithery beast raised its head and thrashed it about wildly trying to dislodge the hanyou. Inuyasha buried his sword within inches of the face steadying himself. Then he began to stomp his foot into Naraku's face.

xxxxx

Sesshomaru had long since returned to his human form and watched with fascination as his brother attacked the dragon by himself. He was amazed at the speed at which his brother moved. He was faster than him. And the power, he could not even begin to describe the force that was being used, but Sesshomaru had a feeling that his little brother was only using a small amount of the spirits powers.

He watched in awe as the first two attacks left the hide of the dragon smoking, and the scent of burnt flesh filled his nostrils. He crinkled his nose in disgust. He thought to cover his sensitive nose to keep out the stench of the burning flesh. Just as he was about to raise his hand he caught a look of awe and pride on the face of the annoying lion demon as he turned to smirk at the dog demon. Sesshomaru's hand twitched as he wanted to use his poison claws to melt the smug smirk from the feline's face.

Sesshomaru turned from staring at the lion to see Naraku had taken to the sky. It was a problem since there was no way for his brother to protect himself from an ariel attack. But to his surprise, his brother's next attack took care of the airborne dragon. The powerful winds coming from the tetsusaiga sent Naraku crashing to the ground.

The young demon lord could feel his own heart and soul fill with love and pride at how his mate was handling himself against such a powerful opponent. 'My otouto is so strong and he is mine. All mine.' He glanced out the corner of his eyes sneering at the cat who had the gall to stare at his mate with so much love in his eyes. 'Once this is over with, cat. We will settle our dispute and you will see who the top dog is around here.'

Then he turned back to the battle and gasped in horror.

xxxxx

Just as Inuyasha was about to land his killing blow to the face on top of the dragon's head a tentacle shot up spearing him in the shoulder. He screamed in pain dropping his sword as Naraku rose up with him still impaled on the tentacle. His laughter echoed across the sky. "I have you now said the spider demon to the fly." Inuyasha screamed even louder as another tentacle tore through his right leg.

"INUYASHA! KUMO!" Inuyasha heard his mate and the lion prince yell.

Eventhough he was blinded with pain, Inuyasha knew Sesshomaru and Ngbaka was coming to his aid.

"Hold it! If you two come any closer I will not hesitate in killing him," said
Naraku holding a tentacle at the hanyou's throat and another pointed at his heart.

Sesshomaru and Ngbaka stopped in their tracks as they snarled and growled in rage at the disgusting creature standing before them. Naraku smirked as he watched the dog and feline glare murderously at him. ‘It feels so good to be evil. But what fools they are to think I would let something like this half breed live. I shall absorb him into my body and his powers shall be mine.’

"You must think we are fools," said Zaine walking up to stand beside the two elder demons. "You want us to believe that you will not kill him anyway." He walked defiantly toward the towering dragon.

"Zaine!" Ngbaka snapped angrily at his brother in warning.

"No! Don’t you see?" He turned to face his elder brother and Sesshomaru, and then he turned back to face Naraku snarling in anger. "He is going to kill Kumo whether you attack him or not. He can't afford to let someone as powerful as our brother live."

"Well, at least one of you has a brain," the dragon smirked. "But how do you know I’m not lying. If you agree to let me leave here. I will dump him somewhere alive where he can be found."

Zaine snorted in disbelief. "Because creatures like you are greedy and having someone powerful like Kumo around to hunt you down is something you will not allow." Then a devilish smile crossed the young feline's face. "But Kumo need not worry."

"Oh, and why is that?"

"As a member of the Lion Pride of Africa, he is never alone," said Zaine.

Just as he finished his sentence, a large brown female lion came up behind the gloating dragon and sunk her fangs and claws deep into the neck of the dragon. Naraku shrieked in pain and rage as he tossed his head back and swung it from side to side trying to dislodge the cat from his neck. He thrashed his tentacles about and didn't notice Zaine had slipped up to him while he was busy with Ashanta and slashed the tentacles that had his dog brother pinned. He held onto Inuyasha and carried him over to the others.

Naraku began to slam himself against the gate and the palace trying to break the death grip the lioness had on his neck. Again and again, he slammed the determined feline into the wall of the castle until finally he was able to get her to release him. But before she released him, she had tore off a large chunk of flesh from his neck. Naraku howled in terrible agony as the black purple fluid of blood mixed with his miasma flowed from the wound.

Ashanta went sailing through the air as she quickly changed back into her smaller human form. Sethos was there in a heartbeat to catch his mate before she hit the ground. Blood flowed from her mouth as her arms and legs were bleeding also.

"Did Zaine get Kumo?" she asked as a great glob of blood filled her mouth to spill out down the side of her face.

"Yes, he got him," said Sethos lifting her head and turning it to the side. She coughed and spat the blood out. He frowned with worry. Something was wrong. The wounds on his mate was not serious enough to cause her to lose so much blood. He lifted her into his arms and was about to take her to see one of the healers.

“No.” She clutched the fabric of his clothes. “I want to go back to the battlefield.”

“But you are . . .” He began but she spoke up.

“I’m fine.” She smiled up at him. Sighing heavily, he carried her back to join the others.

xxxxx

"How is he?" asked Sethos as he rejoined them. Ashanta was doing better so he sat her down on her feet. He was beginning to think that maybe she wasn’t as seriously hurt as he had thought.

They knelt around Inuyasha and glared at the pieces of tentacles still writhing in his shoulder and leg . Sesshomaru grabbed the slimy flesh and pulled it from the hanyou's shoulder. Ngbaka had pulled the one in his leg out.

Inuyasha screamed in pain curling himself in a fetal position as he clutched his bleeding wounded arm. As the pain began to fade, he took a deep breath and sat up. In a matter of seconds his wounds had healed. He stood up flexing his shoulder.

"Are you all right?" asked Sesshomaru staring at his young mate in shock. He knew that demons healed quickly but Inuyasha's wounds healed almost instanteously.

"Fine," said Inuyasha. "It's time to end this." He glared at the enraged dragon as it slithered away from the castle to stand before them. Seeing the tetsusaiga, Naraku curled his large body around it but making sure not to touch it.

"Now that I have your precious sword. What are you going to do now, little half breed?" asked the insipid dragon.

Inuyasha smirked and raised one hand. "Come to me tetsusaiga." His voice boomed like thunder as he commanded the sword. The sword glowed bright red. It rose from the ground and sliced through Naraku's flesh as tetsusaiga settled in the hand of its master. "This is what I am going to do. Stand back everybody." He raised the sword and began twirling it above his head. Suddenly a small vortex of power appeared above his head and with each spin it became bigger and bigger. The power emitting from the vortex was so strong until the small animals that stayed to watch the epic battle scurried away to hide in safety. "Here Naraku have a taste of Dragon Twister!” Inuyasha hurled the massive tornado at the startled dragon.

Naraku tried to move out of the way of the devastating attack but it was too late. The force of the attack tore through his flesh and the earth leaving a deep long scar on the surface destroying what was left of the palace and half of the forest behind it. As the violent whirlwind of power made contact with flesh, Naraku howled in such terrible agony, everyone had to cover their ears. The attack had tore out half his side. Blood and miasma gushed from the horrible wound as his entrails dangled from his ripped out flesh.

The half form of Naraku fell to the ground. Everyone waited holding their breath. When he didn't move they all breathed a sigh of relief and cheered. It was over. Or so they thought.

Inuyasha remained in a defensive stance as he glared at the demon. "Inuyasha, what is wrong brother? Naraku is dead."

"I wish he was brother, but he's not," growled Inuyasha.

Sesshomaru turned to stare at the monster and gasped when he saw the body twitch. Then slowly he began to rise. Everyone had stopped cheering to stare in horror. It was not over. At least not yet.

"You . . ." was all Naraku could say as blood poured from his mouth.

"I know you are using the shikon jewel to keep yourself alive. Well, not even that will be able to save you."

"You bastard!" yelled Sango. She lifted her Hiraikotsu and Miroku slapped one of his sutra onto the weapon.

"Do it Sango," said the monk.

"This is for my family and village! And for everyone you have cause pain and grief. Die Naraku!" As she sent her weapon hurdling at Naraku the sutra that was stuck to the boomerang burst into blue flames turning the weapon into a flaming blue wheel. But before the weapon could make contact a crimson barrier appeared around the badly injured dragon. Sango's weapon bounced off the barrier to mow down several trees in the forest.

"Fools, you have . . . not seen . . . the last of me," he gurgled out between raspy breaths. "When I return I . . . shall destroy you all." Then the barrier began to rise with Naraku inside it.

"Still using that tainted jewel to save your worthless ass," said Inuyasha standing before the group glaring at Naraku. "I'm afraid that you are the one that will be destroyed today. I have no intentions of letting you leave this place alive." Suddenly the tetsusaiga began to pulsate as the fang became larger than before and changed into crystal. "Today is a very good day for you to die." He raised his sword and swung it downward. "Adamant Barrage!" Crystal shards erupted from the blade to break through the barrier and slice through Naraku flesh. The barrier shattered as the dragon fell to the ground with a thud.

The wounded Naraku tried to get up but his body was too injured from the hanyou's attacks to move. Then something began to happen. It started at the tip of his tail and moved upward. His body was turning into crystal. "What did you do to me?" Naraku gurgled out as more blood spewed from his mouth. A sudden feeling of dread started to creep into his panicky mind.

"You may as well cease your struggling Naraku," said Inuyasha. "You cannot break free of the crystal. All you can do now is die." He then turned to Sesshomaru and smiled. "Ready niisan?"

"Ready otouto," said the elder demon removing tokijin from it sheath. They turned to face the huge crystal dragon.

"Wind Scar! Dragon Strike!" yelled the brothers in unison. Their attacks combined into four red crystal claws of power that raked across the earth to engulf Naraku in its wake.

Naraku watched in horror as the claws of powers surged toward him. ‘NO!’ Naraku yelled inside his mind. 'I was suppose to be god of all the demons.' Was his last thoughts as he was consumed in the attack.

Where the towering dragon form of Naraku once stood a shower of crystals fell like rain to the ground. Inuyasha exhaled a gusty breath as he sheathed his sword. Then he turned to his shocked friends and smiled. "Now, it is over."

They cheered in joy. It was over Naraku and Ryuukotsusei was dead and the west was finally free once again. Miroku unwrapped his hand to stare at his palm. It was whole. He felt tears of joy fall down his face. He looked up at Sango and the demon slayer smiled at him. She flung herself into his arms and kissed him passionately.

Suddenly the rest of the army emerged from the woods cheering the victory of the great Inutaisho’s youngest son. The elder dog demon hurried up to his sons and embraced both of them. "This is the happiest day of my life. We are once again a family and our home of free of those vile monsters. I am truly proud of you, my sons."

As everyone gathered around the dog brothers congratulating them. No one notice Ashanta standing in the distance silently watching. She smiled as she saw her eldest brother snarled at Kumo's mate and the dog demon returned the gesture. 'Idiots,' she thought fondly. Her smile became brighter as she saw Kumo and Zaine wrestle playfully with one another. She would miss them.

"Something wrong, Ashanta?" asked Sethos walking up behind her.

'Quite the stealthy one, Set,' she thought with a smile as she turned to face him. "Promise me something, Set."

"Oh?"

"Promise me that you will always keep that wonderful smile on your face."

Sethos frowned at her. She got up on her toes and pressed her lips gently against his. "I love you, Sethos. Even though you are a pampered house cat." She smiled at him. Slowly her eyes closed and she fell backwards.

Sethos caught his mate immediately and lowered her to the ground. "Ashanta." He shook her gently. "This is not the time for your sick sense of humor, woman." No answer. Suddenly a feeling a dread clutched his heart. "Ashanta!" He shook her once again. Still, no answer. He could feel her skin getting cold. "NO!" he yelled in sorrow.

Suddenly the roughhousing, and joyous reverie came to a halt. Inuyasha, Zaine and Ngbaka quickly rushed to Sethos' side and knelt around Ashanta. "What happened?" asked Ngbaka.

"I don't know," the Abyssinian said with tears falling from his eyes. "She asked me to promise her something and told me that she loved me." He wiped tears from his eyes. "Then she . . . she . . ." He could not say it. He turned his teary face up to Sesshomaru. "Please, use your sword to bring her back to me."

Sesshomaru didn't hesitate as he clutched the hilt of the Tenseiga but the sword did not pulse. He clutched the hilt of the sword tighter but still, there was no surge of power. The demon lord looked at the cat with sympathic eyes. "I cannot save her."

"But why not?" asked Zaine holding the hand of his sister and crying. "You were able to save everyone else."

"I'm sorry young ones, but the Tenseiga resurrects those that have been killed," said Inutaisho sadly.

"I don't understand," said Inuyasha confused.

"It's because of the spell," said the Dragon Father settling behind them. "The spell she cast called for a sacrifice. Which is why your sword cannot bring her back."


Sethos held his mate tightly in his arms pressing his lips to her cheek and then laid her on the ground. “Wait for me, my pet,” he whispered in her ear. Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a dagger and was about to plunge it into his heart when Ngbaka grabbed the knife and wrestled the weapon away from the weeping demon prince. "Why did you stop me?"

Ngbaka snarled in disgust at the Abyssinian. "Don't you dare dishonor her sacrifice. She gave up everything so that we all could be safe and happy."

"I can never be happy. My mate is gone. My life has no meaning." He looked back at the body of his mate letting the tears fall. He took her lifeless body into his arms, pressing his lips against her cold cheek and rocked back and forth with her.

"She knew, didn't she," said Zaine looking up at the black dragon. "She knew that if she performed that spell that she would have to give up her life."

"Yes, she did," came a soothing female voice like the sound of a gentle stream from out of nowhere.

Everyone looked around but saw no one. Suddenly, four figures began to appear in front of them.


A/N: I know what everyone is thinking. Dragon Twister was Souunga's attack. I know this but i think it is so unfair. Dragon Twister should have been tetsusaiga's attack. That's what i say. anyway, that attack was so cool and since i didn't have souunga in this story i decided to use the attack instead.