A Love That Transcends Time: Book I
folder
InuYasha › Het - Male/Female › InuYasha/Kagome
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
49
Views:
14,192
Reviews:
338
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
InuYasha › Het - Male/Female › InuYasha/Kagome
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
49
Views:
14,192
Reviews:
338
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Inuyasha or the characters in it, nor do I make profit from this story. Everything else is the product of my over-active imagination.
~*~Apocalypse~*~
~*~Wow, it's been such a long time you guys! I'm so sorry for the delay, but I've been so caught up with my vacation preparations, that I've put the story on hold. But now I'm back, and I'm hoping to finish this fic before tuesday okay? Besides, I've been chewing my nails in worry since the mental block I have is pntinnting me from forming an idea to this chappy. WAAH! Luckily, my muse kissed me again, so here's the Naraku kick-assing chappy I promised you. hehehe. Hope you guys still don't hate me, LOVE YA LOTS!!!
To MegaBorX: Hey. Sorry for not updating soon, and I do promise to finish this one before I go back home. The end is really coming to a close now, that I can say. But as for the story after this, I really can't say as of yet. I'll try and write while I'm on vacation, and of course I would never forget about you guys! Love ya lots!
To Zandy: Welcome back, Zandy!!! *hug* So how did the finals go? Thanx for still taking the time to read and review, and here's the 'grisly demise' you're asking for. hehehe. Love ya lots!
To ktakn_yeni: So sorry for the delay! Gomen 'coz I didn't get to give yoys tys the prize you deserve for being so patient with me. But I'll think of another prize to give you ok? *wink* Love ya lots!
To DreamAngel: Oyou\you're still here! And you still love the story in spite of the twists and turns I've taken it to! *hug* And yeah, whoever cast the mental block probably heard you and took pity on me. But he/she definitely took her own sweet time on lifting it up! Anway, here's the new chap, and I hope you like it. Love ya lots!
To KagoKitty: OMG, YOU'RE BACK!!! *jumps up & down while trying to hold a big,big sign with "WEEBEE, KAGOKITTY!!!" and trying to hug you at the same time* Hope you get the picture there. hehehe. And yeah, we missed you girl! I'm not mad, since your excuse is very valid. I'm sorry about your friend though. But you know, she's in a good place now and I kinda envy that. She's with GOD!!! :D And good luck on the job hunting, and hope your man doesn't blow his ass off too much. hehehe. MISSED YA GIRL! GLAD YOU'RE BACK. LOVE YA LOTS! MWAAH
To guyana's cutie: Hey, thanx for reviewing. Sorry for the delay, but here's the next chappy. Oh and by the way, I'm a girl too. *wink* :D Love ya lots!
To SilverFox: *heaves a big breath after being choked by you* Is it over? Are you finished choking me? Water pleaseeeeee!!! Gosh, good thing the last chappy pacified you enough to let go of my throat. I only hope this next one would keep it off *crosses fingers*. :D And I am seriously thinking of putting you on the fic just to make the badass guy suffer right away. Unfortunately, my muse had other plans, so I hope you'll be content to know that Naraku is now having his due. Love ya lots!
To Stefanie: You were sick!? *gasp* Are you okay now, girly? I'm so sorry for the delay, & I do hope you're feeling better so you can read and review the story. :D And I do have some ideas *ehem* of a new story after this, so don't fret. And it isn't over 'till I say it's over got it? *wink* Love ya lots!
To maria: Yeah, I don't know what's coming over me to almost kill Kag twice *sigh*. But then again... :D Anyway, I have no answers for your questions right now, but stick around and maybe the last chappy will reveal all *grins*. Love ya lots!
To MelMuff: Yeah, bad guys just don't win. And after all the messing up he's done to the gang, I'm messing him up lots in this chappy too! So sit back and enjoy imagining Naraku blowing to bits here. mwahahaha. Love ya lots!
To Nina: Yeah, the site is really sometimes busted, huh. That happens to me too, esp. when I'm in the middle of updating. Sometimes I wanna blow my pc off, but I refrain 'coz you guys are going to kill me if I don't finish this one! hehehe. And nice analogy there! hehehe. Love ya lots!
To psycho: Hey, glad your story's going great and hope you update soon too. Thanx 4 reviewing, and love ya lots!
AND TO YOU READING THIS: THANX FOR WAITING FOR ME!!! AND FOR HITTING ME TO ALMOST 12000 HITS NOW!!! Wow, even while I'm gone you guys never forgot about me. I'm sooo... touched! *sniff* And sorry again 4 everything! Hope you still love me, you guys! Enjoy the chappy, and LOVE YA LOTS!!! ALWAYS!!! MWAAH!!!~*~
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha... I share. ^_^
~*~Chapter 33—Apocalypse~*~
Naraku loved it. The pain, the sorrow and the hurt that’s coming off in waves from those who tried to take him down filled him with such a high he has never known before. And the knowledge that he’s the cause of all of their emotions made him want to throw back his head and shout in jubilation just for the feeling of sheer joy he experienced at that moment.
To know that he’s the most powerful. The conqueror.
But as in many duels, it always must come to an end.
“How the mighty has fallen has it not, Sesshomaru-sama?”
Naraku smirked knowingly at Sesshomaru before lashing out with his feet and giving a well-placed kick on Sesshomaru’s stomach. Thung ung lord’s eyes almost fell out of their sockets in agony before the strength of the blow has him flying backwards and breaking three trees in a row with his body.
The Lord of the Western Lands crumpled to the ground, his body doubled over as blood spilled from his lips.
“Onii-saaannnn!!!”
Inuyasha saw his brother cough up blood and went to attack Naraku on his behalf, flashes of red appearing in his amber eyes.
Naraku turned to face him, and even before the hanyou could reach him, he already had his arm shot out to catch the hanyou’s wrist. And using both hands lifted Inuyasha up into the air before tossing him like a caber to the opposite direction of his brother.
“Weak. Each and every one of you are pathetic losers in this game I’ve constructed. You have placed your bets and all the stakes are in now, but you’re still not strong enough to take them. Useless creatures,” Naraku all but sneered at them.
“Nothing you could do can harm me. No weapon that you have can hurt me. I am indestructible. Not even the famed fang of the once great ai cai can stand a chance against me,” Naraku laughed in front of their faces now.
He turned to face the humans opposing him.
“Without the strength of the two brothers, you pathetic ningens are no match against me. Foolish mortals, when you know that I could easily crush all of you, including the youkais you have as your allies. And the mikos can’t even touch me,” He found the last one vastly amusing.
“The supposedly guardians of the Sacred Jewel can’t even do a thing to stop me from taking it, much less take it away from me now. How does it feel, to know that the thing you’ve protected with your life is helping to destroy you?”
“The Shikon no Tama has chosen its’ master. It is now time to fulfill its’ destiny,”
~*~
~Kagome’s POV~
The time has come. The world would come to its’ end, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Especially her, a seventeen-year old girl from the future who is so lacking in skills that she cannot even be properly termed as a “miko”.
He’s right; I AM weak. I’m not from around here, and probably don’t belong here anyway. My supposed “skills” with archery are just “borrowed” from Kikyou, and somehow, even after all the training I’ve done with it, my only chance of hitting the right target is through luck or divine intervention. If not for the others, I would be nothing in this world—in this era.
That makes me feel so useless—just a necessary burden to this quest, nothing more.
It pisses me off. I’ve been to Hell and back again, just to see the end go our way. I’ve sacrificed a lot of things just to ensure the closure to our long hunt, and so did the others. Every living person standing here in this fight has given up something of importance to them. And I would be damned if I’d let a stinking, obnoxious, and totally mad hanyou ruin our moment.
Even if I am unskilled.
Even if I don’t belong here.
Even if they don’t really need me for this.
Even if I don’t actually have a snowball’s chance in Hell to stop this.
I HAVE TO.
~*~
And with those words echoing inside her head, Kagome felt the strangest things. Of all things.
It was like there’s a string connected to her heart and soul that’s being pulled by an unseen force. She could feel the sensations clear through her every being, calling out to her.
Her gaze strayed to everything and everyone around her; her friends still fighting Naraku while the bastard just beat them to their feet again and laughed at them.
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha being repeatedly slammed back to trees after each encounter with the hanyou.
Kouga… helpless to do anything but watch as Naraku’s detachment watches over him.
And Kikyou…
For that one instant, their eyes met. And each knew that the other is experiencing the feeling. After all, their souls are joined; bound together. And they are both the mikos of the Sacred Jewel.
And that means…
‘The Shikon no Tama is calling out to me!’
~*~
~Stand up~
Both mikos stand simultaneously, as though in a trance. They wbothboth waiting for the next command…
~Fight. For the sake of the earth, for everyone~
Kagome and Kikyou turn to face each other.
‘But how will I know what to do?’
~You will; do not fear. You are the chosen one, the only miko to be given the jewel to protect. It will come to you~
Their eyes cleared and they stood there, facing each other. Azure met russet.
~Courage and Honor.
Love and Compassion.
Good against Evil.
Everything goes hand in hand.
You know who should win in this.
Rise unto the battle with all your might.
The fate of the Earth lies in your hands…~
They both nod as the voice drifted away, a renewed purpose and strength behind their every move. The two of them turn to retrieve their bow and arrows before running straight to the opposite directions.
~*~
“Inuyasha!”
He opened his eyes slowly, every bone and muscle in his body protesting as he tried to raise himself up.
“Are you all right? Can you move?” Kagome’s face loomed before him, her worry apparent. Her hands roamed all over his form anxiously, searching for the damage.
Inuyasha caught her hands in his.
“Kagome, no. Naraku—“
“Hush. I’ve put up a barrier. It will have to stand against his attacks. Now concentrate here with me, Inuyasha-kun. We need to heal you as fast as we can, all right?”
Even as she spoke, Kagome is already channeling all her energies to her mate in order to heal him.
And Kikyou is doing the same to Sesshomaru…
~*~
Naraku’s thoughts are in turmoil. He’s been too busy preying upon and torturing the defenseless humans that he failed to notice the two mikos’ trance.
And now he can’t get to them. What is happening?
“Insolent fools,” Naraku snarled as he attacked the two barriers on the opposite sides of the field.
“Do you honestly think your puny barriers can keep me away from you?”
He banged hard against the barrier, again and again. He even hurled his larger-than-life form at both of it, in hopes of breaking it up. But it was now use…
Unti fel felt her weakening, one of the barriers fluctuating for a moment. Inuyasha’s mate is wavering, her powers weakening for a second as sweat appeared on her brows and upper lip. He took advantage of the opening, making all his limbs shatter against the barrier, and almost succeeded.
If it weren’t only for Kikyou trying to ruin it for him.
“No. Don’t give up. Focus all your energies into it. You can do this,”
The distance between them should’ve made hearing impossible, but the girl apparently did.
‘They’re linking!’ Naraku howled in his rage and renewed his attack against the barriers.
“Why, Kikyou!? Whose side are you really on to, huh!?”
~*~
“A good question,” Sesshomaru said as he stared at the miko, unflinching.
They were almost done healing him. He never even thought that a miko’s purifying power could work with a demon’s. Guess that shows just how much he knows…
Kikyou met his gaze head-on.
“I would have thouit oit obvious, with my doing this and all. I surmise that shows how slow-witted you really are,”
The demon lord caught her hands in his, his golden eyes flashing dangerously.
“Enough. I would be careful of what I say if I were you, human. You forget yourself,”
The miko shrugged before standing up and facing their adversary. But Sesshomaru would not be deterred.
“Why are you doing this, exactly?” Sesshomaru persisted.
Kikyou turned to him once more.
“Because you are needed. You still serve a purpose. The battle for everything good and evil ends now. And we need your help,”
The Lord of the Western Lands is silent for a moment. Then he nodded indistinctly.
“Do you know what to do?”
“Hai. Shimpai nai, taiyoukai,”
~*~
Kagome put her every thought and power to what she’s doing, her concentration complete.
Her stubborn streak would not let her accept defeat, not ever. She would give out everything she has and hope it will be enough. Inuyasha is healed now.
“Kanai, what are you—“
Kagome stopped him, her eyes still closed. Her aura seemed to surround her, getting brighter every second. Then she spoke.
“Miroku-sama? Sango-chan?”
The houshi and the taijiya look around them in confusion, hearing Kagome’s voice but not seeing her. They support each other to stand with difficulty.
“Can you hear that, houshi?”
“Yes, it’s Kagome-sama,”
“I hope you both can hear me well. This is our last chance—our last fight. I know you’re probably bruised and broken and tired beyond repair, but we have to do this. There is still hope for us. The jewel called out to Kikyou and I, and we know what to do. But we need your help, all of you. You too, Kouga-kun,”
The wolf-prince cannot believe his ears. It IS Kagome, and she’s inside his head!
“K-Kagome?”
“Hai, it’s me. I’m so glad you’re alive and well, Kouga-kun. But I’ll save that for later. Right now, we’ve got a bug to squash. A very big spider is begging for extermination. Think you guys are up to it?”
At Kagome’s slight teasing, they find their strengths returning and they stand on their feet once again, bravely. To do whatever they have to do to help rid the world of Naraku’s evil.
Their last stand.
“Yeah. Let’s give the super-deformed spider man a rest. For all eternity,”
~*~
“She’s starting it,” Kikyou murmured quietly as she felt and saw Kagome’s aura shift and broaden.
Sesshomaru felt it too, and he looked back to where his brother and his mate are, his hand automatically gripping Tokijin’s hilt.
“She won’t be purifying every demon around here, is she?”
“Kuwai ka, youkai?”
“Iie, kuwakunai. Kagome will know friend from foe. Besides, she’s not like what you think,”
Kikyou raises her eyebrows at him in surprise. The demon lord ignored it.
“Now, you do what you must, miko. I will protect you,”
And imagine ‘her’ surprise at that.
~*~
They moved as one, seeming to know what is required of them. Sango and Miroku came to attack Naraku from the south, and Kouga attacks from the north.
Kagura tried to stop him once again, but to no avail. Kouga knew it’s all or nothing at that moment, and he won’t just stand there while the others fight to eradicate Naraku on the face of the planet.
When it seemed as though she can’t really stop him anymore, she wanted to join in the fight. But he’s the one who stopped her at that time.
~Flashback~
“You can’t. You have to wait for your time, Kagura,”
But she won’t be deterred.
“Why can’t I? You said it yourself: this is the moment. Naraku WILL be defeated now, so it’s my time too,” she said defiantly.
“No. If you act on this right now, he will know too early that you betray him. Anen wen what? You’ll be dead. He’ll kill you with no second thoughts. But if you try and play it by ear, and make him know at the last possible moment, you’re the one who’ll emerge victorious,” Kouga logically explained to her.
The wind sorceress remained silent, her nod the only sign of her agreement.
~End Flashback~
Their goal is to distract Naraku long enough for Kagome and Kikyou to perform the ritual. And Inuyasha and Sesshomaru had to attack him and protect the two mikos, distracting the enemy and providing the priestesses with protection at the same time.
And so they began, and worked together for their plan to fall into succession.
Kagome and Kikyou combined their powers and auras together, creating a barrier and force field big enough to encompass the whole of Inuyasha’s forest. This time, Naraku cannot escape.
“What are you doing? Are you thinking of containing me here, you pitiful mikos?”
He had noticed the barrier too late. It’s already erected and being fortified with each minute that passes. Now he can do nothing to break it down.
“Hiraikotsu!”
The bone-boomerang shot out to him, making him leap to avoid it. But then the wolf-prince’s kick connected to his shin, making him fall to the ground.
“We are your opponents, Naraku. Remember that and face us!”
He caught onto their plan right then. With a mighty roar, he power-blasted the two humans and the demon away from him to get to the mikos. He had to stop them…
“Going somewhere, asshole?” Inuyasha snarled at him.
“Kaze no Kizu!”
The raging fire of the wind scar blazed a path at him, and he feinted left to get out of its’ way.
“Stupid hanyou, how can you ever think you can touch me?”
Then he felt a burning sensation at his side, making him look down and gasp in surprise.
A gaping hole the size of a man’s fist appeared on his body. It dripped with a green substance, that of poison. That could only mean…
“What makes you think he wanted to?” Sesshomaru asked him coldly right before using Tokijin’s energy to blow him away a distance.
The two mikos’ chanting rose in volume, with their auras flickering to life at the same time. The words are not that of this world, seeming to be too ancient and mysterious to be understood. Their companions watched in astonishment as their power surged and crackled all around them.
Their eyes are closed, both of their long black hair raised to the tips. Their fingertips were glowing with an unnatural light, bathing them with its’ radiance. The movements of their lips were too fast and too eloquent to be deciphered, eif tif they can.
And then they stop, and both their eyes opened for the first time since the ceremony began. They locked in onto Naraku’s form without pause or doubt.
And in both their eyes, as he looked at them back and forth, Naraku saw his own apocalypse coming to a close…
~*~
Kagome opened her eyes, and saw that Kikyou also did the same. Her gaze is drawn to Naraku, and at that moment, she promised to herself that he would suffer a thousand times more for all the destruction and mayhem that he caused.
The power coming from her is astounding; she had never imagined this much to be emanating from her. She thought that Kikyou would do all the work, and that she’s there only as support.
But the gods really knew what they were doing.
The language they’ve spoken is unheard of, their lips almost moving automatically to form the words. How they knew how to say it is beyond them, only that it is required.
The enemy tried to fight, he really did. But the barrier surrounding them prevented them from getting hurt anymore, protecting each and every one of the warriors.
“Give it up, Naraku. You cannot win. The jewel has spoken, it has not accepted you as its’ master. Come back to your senses before its’ too late,” Kagome said, feeling a slight sympathy for the hanyou.
His eyes are wild, their crimson irises dilating more proficiently. He’s in disarray, and he seemed to be at the brink of his sanity.
“Never!” Naraku yelled as he ran and attacked Kagome with his energy.
She calmly lifted her hand up, stopping the ball of power an inch away from her, before making it turn back to attack him.
She did the reflector spell without breaking a sweat, and without even holding her bow!
Naraku screamed in agony as his own energy consumed him. But he still stood up to fight.
The voice came to them once again.
~Pick up your weapons~
Both she and Kikyou readied their bow, the others mimicking their every move.
~Now you have to concentrate all of your auras together.
Remove all impure thoughts from your mind, and focus.
Make your energy an extension of your body and fuse it onto your weapon.
Heed me when the time comes~
They did as the voice asked, closing their eyes as one. They held their weapons at the ready, and concentrated on combining their auras together.
Naraku saw what was happening and he attacked them one by one, but to no avail. The force field protected them from him, and he is now at their center, like a deranged banshee.
His end would come the moment they open their eyes, and he knew it…
~*~
Their energies lifted up, a multitude of colors creating a spectral rainbow. It was like the gods are with them, favoring them with their strength.
And it is fitting, for the evil one is encased in an indomitable fortress he cannot get out of. A confinement that if one could see it, would believe it was made by the four gods.
~Now my child, it is time.
Aim for the jewel~
‘Nani? But it will shatter once again!’
~Never doubt me.
I will not allow the jewel to be broken once again.
Believe in the power of the Shikon no Tama
And know that it asked this of you~
Kagome reluctantly gave her agreement, and reached for an arwithwithout even opening her eyes. She notched it to her bow.
~Call upon the spirits of the gods
To aid you in this battle
They will not fail you, and neither will you fail them~
Words tumbled from the mouth of the two mikos once again, and as their words died, each one of them opened their eyes.
“Inuyasha? We have to deal the finishing blow. Work with me, okay?” Kagome kept her eyes trained on Naraku as she asked her mate of this.
Inuyasha finally turned his ationtion away from the enemy to look at Kagome.
“I trust you, Kagome. What do we do?”
I’m to aim for the Shikon no Tama. You have to use the Bakuryuuha to make sure that nothing would stand in the way,”
Inuyasha nodded.
“Right. Let’s do this,”
Kagome gazed up at him and smiled.
“No matter what happens after this, I love you Inuyasha,”
~*~
They attacked simultaneously.
Miroku and Sango from the south.
Sesshomaru and Kikyou from the west.
Kouga and Kagura from torthorth.
And Inuyasha and Kagome from the east.
They let go of their powers the same time they let their weapons fly.
Naraku didn’t expect his offspring to go ahead with her plan and betray him, but that didn’t hurt as much as what he got from Kikyou.
She stood there; her bow trained on him, and with a rare display of skill, she’s got three arrows notched upon it.
Beautiful, beautiful Kikyou. Even in her rage, she’s perfect to him…
“You failed,” he whe words came out of her lips coldly right before she released. And with her words, she managed to drain all the fight out of him.
He failed her again, when all he ever wanted was to love her and be worthy of her. Why can’t she see that?
He smiled a sad smile and said her name.
“Kikyou,”
Naraku closed his eyes at the agony he felt from their attacks. When another whistle of an arrow and Inuyasha’s
“Bakurryuuha!”
resounded in the air, he could care less. He stood still and waited for the arrow to pierce his heart and for the wind to slice him into pieces, welcomed it even.
He’s still nothing, after all…
~*~
It is over.
Kagome’s arrow not just pierced Naraku’s heart—the spider-shaped scar on his back—but also speared the Shikon no Tama clear out of it, the arrow imbedded at the center of the jewel amazingly.
Blood and gore surrounded them, as the mass of Naraku’s body came apart and flew in every direction. But she didn’t take notice of this, her steps sure and unfaltering as she made her way to the jewel.
She would make sure no harm or evil would come upon it once again…
Miroku and Sango supported each other a little ways away from her, while Kouga tended back to Ayame with Kagura at his side. Sesshomaru leans back against a tree, his eyes ever alert and open to unforeseen dangers. And Inuyasha…
Inuyasha stood over by the Goshinboku, his hands clutching Tetsusaiga’s hilt so hard she could see his knuckles going white. He’s staring at something lying on the ground, but Kagome knew it couldn’t be the jewel, because she now held it at the palm of her hands.
After looking more closely, the head of Naraku appeared on her sight. The hanyou is still miraculously alive, what with his body torn and cut into pieces. And the lips are moving!
Kagome shuddered at what she saw, not knowing why Naraku is still alive. And then she stopped.
She felt rather than saw. Her eyes scanned the trees around her, searching for something. What it was she didn’t know. And then her eyes fell upon it.
And she remembered…
To MegaBorX: Hey. Sorry for not updating soon, and I do promise to finish this one before I go back home. The end is really coming to a close now, that I can say. But as for the story after this, I really can't say as of yet. I'll try and write while I'm on vacation, and of course I would never forget about you guys! Love ya lots!
To Zandy: Welcome back, Zandy!!! *hug* So how did the finals go? Thanx for still taking the time to read and review, and here's the 'grisly demise' you're asking for. hehehe. Love ya lots!
To ktakn_yeni: So sorry for the delay! Gomen 'coz I didn't get to give yoys tys the prize you deserve for being so patient with me. But I'll think of another prize to give you ok? *wink* Love ya lots!
To DreamAngel: Oyou\you're still here! And you still love the story in spite of the twists and turns I've taken it to! *hug* And yeah, whoever cast the mental block probably heard you and took pity on me. But he/she definitely took her own sweet time on lifting it up! Anway, here's the new chap, and I hope you like it. Love ya lots!
To KagoKitty: OMG, YOU'RE BACK!!! *jumps up & down while trying to hold a big,big sign with "WEEBEE, KAGOKITTY!!!" and trying to hug you at the same time* Hope you get the picture there. hehehe. And yeah, we missed you girl! I'm not mad, since your excuse is very valid. I'm sorry about your friend though. But you know, she's in a good place now and I kinda envy that. She's with GOD!!! :D And good luck on the job hunting, and hope your man doesn't blow his ass off too much. hehehe. MISSED YA GIRL! GLAD YOU'RE BACK. LOVE YA LOTS! MWAAH
To guyana's cutie: Hey, thanx for reviewing. Sorry for the delay, but here's the next chappy. Oh and by the way, I'm a girl too. *wink* :D Love ya lots!
To SilverFox: *heaves a big breath after being choked by you* Is it over? Are you finished choking me? Water pleaseeeeee!!! Gosh, good thing the last chappy pacified you enough to let go of my throat. I only hope this next one would keep it off *crosses fingers*. :D And I am seriously thinking of putting you on the fic just to make the badass guy suffer right away. Unfortunately, my muse had other plans, so I hope you'll be content to know that Naraku is now having his due. Love ya lots!
To Stefanie: You were sick!? *gasp* Are you okay now, girly? I'm so sorry for the delay, & I do hope you're feeling better so you can read and review the story. :D And I do have some ideas *ehem* of a new story after this, so don't fret. And it isn't over 'till I say it's over got it? *wink* Love ya lots!
To maria: Yeah, I don't know what's coming over me to almost kill Kag twice *sigh*. But then again... :D Anyway, I have no answers for your questions right now, but stick around and maybe the last chappy will reveal all *grins*. Love ya lots!
To MelMuff: Yeah, bad guys just don't win. And after all the messing up he's done to the gang, I'm messing him up lots in this chappy too! So sit back and enjoy imagining Naraku blowing to bits here. mwahahaha. Love ya lots!
To Nina: Yeah, the site is really sometimes busted, huh. That happens to me too, esp. when I'm in the middle of updating. Sometimes I wanna blow my pc off, but I refrain 'coz you guys are going to kill me if I don't finish this one! hehehe. And nice analogy there! hehehe. Love ya lots!
To psycho: Hey, glad your story's going great and hope you update soon too. Thanx 4 reviewing, and love ya lots!
AND TO YOU READING THIS: THANX FOR WAITING FOR ME!!! AND FOR HITTING ME TO ALMOST 12000 HITS NOW!!! Wow, even while I'm gone you guys never forgot about me. I'm sooo... touched! *sniff* And sorry again 4 everything! Hope you still love me, you guys! Enjoy the chappy, and LOVE YA LOTS!!! ALWAYS!!! MWAAH!!!~*~
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha... I share. ^_^
~*~Chapter 33—Apocalypse~*~
Naraku loved it. The pain, the sorrow and the hurt that’s coming off in waves from those who tried to take him down filled him with such a high he has never known before. And the knowledge that he’s the cause of all of their emotions made him want to throw back his head and shout in jubilation just for the feeling of sheer joy he experienced at that moment.
To know that he’s the most powerful. The conqueror.
But as in many duels, it always must come to an end.
“How the mighty has fallen has it not, Sesshomaru-sama?”
Naraku smirked knowingly at Sesshomaru before lashing out with his feet and giving a well-placed kick on Sesshomaru’s stomach. Thung ung lord’s eyes almost fell out of their sockets in agony before the strength of the blow has him flying backwards and breaking three trees in a row with his body.
The Lord of the Western Lands crumpled to the ground, his body doubled over as blood spilled from his lips.
“Onii-saaannnn!!!”
Inuyasha saw his brother cough up blood and went to attack Naraku on his behalf, flashes of red appearing in his amber eyes.
Naraku turned to face him, and even before the hanyou could reach him, he already had his arm shot out to catch the hanyou’s wrist. And using both hands lifted Inuyasha up into the air before tossing him like a caber to the opposite direction of his brother.
“Weak. Each and every one of you are pathetic losers in this game I’ve constructed. You have placed your bets and all the stakes are in now, but you’re still not strong enough to take them. Useless creatures,” Naraku all but sneered at them.
“Nothing you could do can harm me. No weapon that you have can hurt me. I am indestructible. Not even the famed fang of the once great ai cai can stand a chance against me,” Naraku laughed in front of their faces now.
He turned to face the humans opposing him.
“Without the strength of the two brothers, you pathetic ningens are no match against me. Foolish mortals, when you know that I could easily crush all of you, including the youkais you have as your allies. And the mikos can’t even touch me,” He found the last one vastly amusing.
“The supposedly guardians of the Sacred Jewel can’t even do a thing to stop me from taking it, much less take it away from me now. How does it feel, to know that the thing you’ve protected with your life is helping to destroy you?”
“The Shikon no Tama has chosen its’ master. It is now time to fulfill its’ destiny,”
~*~
~Kagome’s POV~
The time has come. The world would come to its’ end, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Especially her, a seventeen-year old girl from the future who is so lacking in skills that she cannot even be properly termed as a “miko”.
He’s right; I AM weak. I’m not from around here, and probably don’t belong here anyway. My supposed “skills” with archery are just “borrowed” from Kikyou, and somehow, even after all the training I’ve done with it, my only chance of hitting the right target is through luck or divine intervention. If not for the others, I would be nothing in this world—in this era.
That makes me feel so useless—just a necessary burden to this quest, nothing more.
It pisses me off. I’ve been to Hell and back again, just to see the end go our way. I’ve sacrificed a lot of things just to ensure the closure to our long hunt, and so did the others. Every living person standing here in this fight has given up something of importance to them. And I would be damned if I’d let a stinking, obnoxious, and totally mad hanyou ruin our moment.
Even if I am unskilled.
Even if I don’t belong here.
Even if they don’t really need me for this.
Even if I don’t actually have a snowball’s chance in Hell to stop this.
I HAVE TO.
~*~
And with those words echoing inside her head, Kagome felt the strangest things. Of all things.
It was like there’s a string connected to her heart and soul that’s being pulled by an unseen force. She could feel the sensations clear through her every being, calling out to her.
Her gaze strayed to everything and everyone around her; her friends still fighting Naraku while the bastard just beat them to their feet again and laughed at them.
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha being repeatedly slammed back to trees after each encounter with the hanyou.
Kouga… helpless to do anything but watch as Naraku’s detachment watches over him.
And Kikyou…
For that one instant, their eyes met. And each knew that the other is experiencing the feeling. After all, their souls are joined; bound together. And they are both the mikos of the Sacred Jewel.
And that means…
‘The Shikon no Tama is calling out to me!’
~*~
~Stand up~
Both mikos stand simultaneously, as though in a trance. They wbothboth waiting for the next command…
~Fight. For the sake of the earth, for everyone~
Kagome and Kikyou turn to face each other.
‘But how will I know what to do?’
~You will; do not fear. You are the chosen one, the only miko to be given the jewel to protect. It will come to you~
Their eyes cleared and they stood there, facing each other. Azure met russet.
~Courage and Honor.
Love and Compassion.
Good against Evil.
Everything goes hand in hand.
You know who should win in this.
Rise unto the battle with all your might.
The fate of the Earth lies in your hands…~
They both nod as the voice drifted away, a renewed purpose and strength behind their every move. The two of them turn to retrieve their bow and arrows before running straight to the opposite directions.
~*~
“Inuyasha!”
He opened his eyes slowly, every bone and muscle in his body protesting as he tried to raise himself up.
“Are you all right? Can you move?” Kagome’s face loomed before him, her worry apparent. Her hands roamed all over his form anxiously, searching for the damage.
Inuyasha caught her hands in his.
“Kagome, no. Naraku—“
“Hush. I’ve put up a barrier. It will have to stand against his attacks. Now concentrate here with me, Inuyasha-kun. We need to heal you as fast as we can, all right?”
Even as she spoke, Kagome is already channeling all her energies to her mate in order to heal him.
And Kikyou is doing the same to Sesshomaru…
~*~
Naraku’s thoughts are in turmoil. He’s been too busy preying upon and torturing the defenseless humans that he failed to notice the two mikos’ trance.
And now he can’t get to them. What is happening?
“Insolent fools,” Naraku snarled as he attacked the two barriers on the opposite sides of the field.
“Do you honestly think your puny barriers can keep me away from you?”
He banged hard against the barrier, again and again. He even hurled his larger-than-life form at both of it, in hopes of breaking it up. But it was now use…
Unti fel felt her weakening, one of the barriers fluctuating for a moment. Inuyasha’s mate is wavering, her powers weakening for a second as sweat appeared on her brows and upper lip. He took advantage of the opening, making all his limbs shatter against the barrier, and almost succeeded.
If it weren’t only for Kikyou trying to ruin it for him.
“No. Don’t give up. Focus all your energies into it. You can do this,”
The distance between them should’ve made hearing impossible, but the girl apparently did.
‘They’re linking!’ Naraku howled in his rage and renewed his attack against the barriers.
“Why, Kikyou!? Whose side are you really on to, huh!?”
~*~
“A good question,” Sesshomaru said as he stared at the miko, unflinching.
They were almost done healing him. He never even thought that a miko’s purifying power could work with a demon’s. Guess that shows just how much he knows…
Kikyou met his gaze head-on.
“I would have thouit oit obvious, with my doing this and all. I surmise that shows how slow-witted you really are,”
The demon lord caught her hands in his, his golden eyes flashing dangerously.
“Enough. I would be careful of what I say if I were you, human. You forget yourself,”
The miko shrugged before standing up and facing their adversary. But Sesshomaru would not be deterred.
“Why are you doing this, exactly?” Sesshomaru persisted.
Kikyou turned to him once more.
“Because you are needed. You still serve a purpose. The battle for everything good and evil ends now. And we need your help,”
The Lord of the Western Lands is silent for a moment. Then he nodded indistinctly.
“Do you know what to do?”
“Hai. Shimpai nai, taiyoukai,”
~*~
Kagome put her every thought and power to what she’s doing, her concentration complete.
Her stubborn streak would not let her accept defeat, not ever. She would give out everything she has and hope it will be enough. Inuyasha is healed now.
“Kanai, what are you—“
Kagome stopped him, her eyes still closed. Her aura seemed to surround her, getting brighter every second. Then she spoke.
“Miroku-sama? Sango-chan?”
The houshi and the taijiya look around them in confusion, hearing Kagome’s voice but not seeing her. They support each other to stand with difficulty.
“Can you hear that, houshi?”
“Yes, it’s Kagome-sama,”
“I hope you both can hear me well. This is our last chance—our last fight. I know you’re probably bruised and broken and tired beyond repair, but we have to do this. There is still hope for us. The jewel called out to Kikyou and I, and we know what to do. But we need your help, all of you. You too, Kouga-kun,”
The wolf-prince cannot believe his ears. It IS Kagome, and she’s inside his head!
“K-Kagome?”
“Hai, it’s me. I’m so glad you’re alive and well, Kouga-kun. But I’ll save that for later. Right now, we’ve got a bug to squash. A very big spider is begging for extermination. Think you guys are up to it?”
At Kagome’s slight teasing, they find their strengths returning and they stand on their feet once again, bravely. To do whatever they have to do to help rid the world of Naraku’s evil.
Their last stand.
“Yeah. Let’s give the super-deformed spider man a rest. For all eternity,”
~*~
“She’s starting it,” Kikyou murmured quietly as she felt and saw Kagome’s aura shift and broaden.
Sesshomaru felt it too, and he looked back to where his brother and his mate are, his hand automatically gripping Tokijin’s hilt.
“She won’t be purifying every demon around here, is she?”
“Kuwai ka, youkai?”
“Iie, kuwakunai. Kagome will know friend from foe. Besides, she’s not like what you think,”
Kikyou raises her eyebrows at him in surprise. The demon lord ignored it.
“Now, you do what you must, miko. I will protect you,”
And imagine ‘her’ surprise at that.
~*~
They moved as one, seeming to know what is required of them. Sango and Miroku came to attack Naraku from the south, and Kouga attacks from the north.
Kagura tried to stop him once again, but to no avail. Kouga knew it’s all or nothing at that moment, and he won’t just stand there while the others fight to eradicate Naraku on the face of the planet.
When it seemed as though she can’t really stop him anymore, she wanted to join in the fight. But he’s the one who stopped her at that time.
~Flashback~
“You can’t. You have to wait for your time, Kagura,”
But she won’t be deterred.
“Why can’t I? You said it yourself: this is the moment. Naraku WILL be defeated now, so it’s my time too,” she said defiantly.
“No. If you act on this right now, he will know too early that you betray him. Anen wen what? You’ll be dead. He’ll kill you with no second thoughts. But if you try and play it by ear, and make him know at the last possible moment, you’re the one who’ll emerge victorious,” Kouga logically explained to her.
The wind sorceress remained silent, her nod the only sign of her agreement.
~End Flashback~
Their goal is to distract Naraku long enough for Kagome and Kikyou to perform the ritual. And Inuyasha and Sesshomaru had to attack him and protect the two mikos, distracting the enemy and providing the priestesses with protection at the same time.
And so they began, and worked together for their plan to fall into succession.
Kagome and Kikyou combined their powers and auras together, creating a barrier and force field big enough to encompass the whole of Inuyasha’s forest. This time, Naraku cannot escape.
“What are you doing? Are you thinking of containing me here, you pitiful mikos?”
He had noticed the barrier too late. It’s already erected and being fortified with each minute that passes. Now he can do nothing to break it down.
“Hiraikotsu!”
The bone-boomerang shot out to him, making him leap to avoid it. But then the wolf-prince’s kick connected to his shin, making him fall to the ground.
“We are your opponents, Naraku. Remember that and face us!”
He caught onto their plan right then. With a mighty roar, he power-blasted the two humans and the demon away from him to get to the mikos. He had to stop them…
“Going somewhere, asshole?” Inuyasha snarled at him.
“Kaze no Kizu!”
The raging fire of the wind scar blazed a path at him, and he feinted left to get out of its’ way.
“Stupid hanyou, how can you ever think you can touch me?”
Then he felt a burning sensation at his side, making him look down and gasp in surprise.
A gaping hole the size of a man’s fist appeared on his body. It dripped with a green substance, that of poison. That could only mean…
“What makes you think he wanted to?” Sesshomaru asked him coldly right before using Tokijin’s energy to blow him away a distance.
The two mikos’ chanting rose in volume, with their auras flickering to life at the same time. The words are not that of this world, seeming to be too ancient and mysterious to be understood. Their companions watched in astonishment as their power surged and crackled all around them.
Their eyes are closed, both of their long black hair raised to the tips. Their fingertips were glowing with an unnatural light, bathing them with its’ radiance. The movements of their lips were too fast and too eloquent to be deciphered, eif tif they can.
And then they stop, and both their eyes opened for the first time since the ceremony began. They locked in onto Naraku’s form without pause or doubt.
And in both their eyes, as he looked at them back and forth, Naraku saw his own apocalypse coming to a close…
~*~
Kagome opened her eyes, and saw that Kikyou also did the same. Her gaze is drawn to Naraku, and at that moment, she promised to herself that he would suffer a thousand times more for all the destruction and mayhem that he caused.
The power coming from her is astounding; she had never imagined this much to be emanating from her. She thought that Kikyou would do all the work, and that she’s there only as support.
But the gods really knew what they were doing.
The language they’ve spoken is unheard of, their lips almost moving automatically to form the words. How they knew how to say it is beyond them, only that it is required.
The enemy tried to fight, he really did. But the barrier surrounding them prevented them from getting hurt anymore, protecting each and every one of the warriors.
“Give it up, Naraku. You cannot win. The jewel has spoken, it has not accepted you as its’ master. Come back to your senses before its’ too late,” Kagome said, feeling a slight sympathy for the hanyou.
His eyes are wild, their crimson irises dilating more proficiently. He’s in disarray, and he seemed to be at the brink of his sanity.
“Never!” Naraku yelled as he ran and attacked Kagome with his energy.
She calmly lifted her hand up, stopping the ball of power an inch away from her, before making it turn back to attack him.
She did the reflector spell without breaking a sweat, and without even holding her bow!
Naraku screamed in agony as his own energy consumed him. But he still stood up to fight.
The voice came to them once again.
~Pick up your weapons~
Both she and Kikyou readied their bow, the others mimicking their every move.
~Now you have to concentrate all of your auras together.
Remove all impure thoughts from your mind, and focus.
Make your energy an extension of your body and fuse it onto your weapon.
Heed me when the time comes~
They did as the voice asked, closing their eyes as one. They held their weapons at the ready, and concentrated on combining their auras together.
Naraku saw what was happening and he attacked them one by one, but to no avail. The force field protected them from him, and he is now at their center, like a deranged banshee.
His end would come the moment they open their eyes, and he knew it…
~*~
Their energies lifted up, a multitude of colors creating a spectral rainbow. It was like the gods are with them, favoring them with their strength.
And it is fitting, for the evil one is encased in an indomitable fortress he cannot get out of. A confinement that if one could see it, would believe it was made by the four gods.
~Now my child, it is time.
Aim for the jewel~
‘Nani? But it will shatter once again!’
~Never doubt me.
I will not allow the jewel to be broken once again.
Believe in the power of the Shikon no Tama
And know that it asked this of you~
Kagome reluctantly gave her agreement, and reached for an arwithwithout even opening her eyes. She notched it to her bow.
~Call upon the spirits of the gods
To aid you in this battle
They will not fail you, and neither will you fail them~
Words tumbled from the mouth of the two mikos once again, and as their words died, each one of them opened their eyes.
“Inuyasha? We have to deal the finishing blow. Work with me, okay?” Kagome kept her eyes trained on Naraku as she asked her mate of this.
Inuyasha finally turned his ationtion away from the enemy to look at Kagome.
“I trust you, Kagome. What do we do?”
I’m to aim for the Shikon no Tama. You have to use the Bakuryuuha to make sure that nothing would stand in the way,”
Inuyasha nodded.
“Right. Let’s do this,”
Kagome gazed up at him and smiled.
“No matter what happens after this, I love you Inuyasha,”
~*~
They attacked simultaneously.
Miroku and Sango from the south.
Sesshomaru and Kikyou from the west.
Kouga and Kagura from torthorth.
And Inuyasha and Kagome from the east.
They let go of their powers the same time they let their weapons fly.
Naraku didn’t expect his offspring to go ahead with her plan and betray him, but that didn’t hurt as much as what he got from Kikyou.
She stood there; her bow trained on him, and with a rare display of skill, she’s got three arrows notched upon it.
Beautiful, beautiful Kikyou. Even in her rage, she’s perfect to him…
“You failed,” he whe words came out of her lips coldly right before she released. And with her words, she managed to drain all the fight out of him.
He failed her again, when all he ever wanted was to love her and be worthy of her. Why can’t she see that?
He smiled a sad smile and said her name.
“Kikyou,”
Naraku closed his eyes at the agony he felt from their attacks. When another whistle of an arrow and Inuyasha’s
“Bakurryuuha!”
resounded in the air, he could care less. He stood still and waited for the arrow to pierce his heart and for the wind to slice him into pieces, welcomed it even.
He’s still nothing, after all…
~*~
It is over.
Kagome’s arrow not just pierced Naraku’s heart—the spider-shaped scar on his back—but also speared the Shikon no Tama clear out of it, the arrow imbedded at the center of the jewel amazingly.
Blood and gore surrounded them, as the mass of Naraku’s body came apart and flew in every direction. But she didn’t take notice of this, her steps sure and unfaltering as she made her way to the jewel.
She would make sure no harm or evil would come upon it once again…
Miroku and Sango supported each other a little ways away from her, while Kouga tended back to Ayame with Kagura at his side. Sesshomaru leans back against a tree, his eyes ever alert and open to unforeseen dangers. And Inuyasha…
Inuyasha stood over by the Goshinboku, his hands clutching Tetsusaiga’s hilt so hard she could see his knuckles going white. He’s staring at something lying on the ground, but Kagome knew it couldn’t be the jewel, because she now held it at the palm of her hands.
After looking more closely, the head of Naraku appeared on her sight. The hanyou is still miraculously alive, what with his body torn and cut into pieces. And the lips are moving!
Kagome shuddered at what she saw, not knowing why Naraku is still alive. And then she stopped.
She felt rather than saw. Her eyes scanned the trees around her, searching for something. What it was she didn’t know. And then her eyes fell upon it.
And she remembered…