The Portal

Chapter 36 – Battle for the Shikon no Tama

Sesshomaru was beginning to wonder if Naraku had gained immortality. Every strike he made on the hanyou decimated huge portions of his anatomy, but in mere minutes the bastard had regenerated everything lost.

Three monstrous tentacles came hurling toward him and Sesshomaru easily dodged. He was lucky in one aspect however, and that was that Naraku no longer needed or wanted his own demon power. Otherwise he would now be covered in disgusting portions of the vermin’s flesh. The knowledge that Naraku no longer needed his power was not much of a comfort. It only proved that he would not die easily.

“Lord Sesshomaru, you do realize that I am only toying with you? No one can surpass my power now!” Naraku mocked with a round of wicked laughter.

The once clear blue sky was now massed with thick dark clouds swirling above the pyramid. Eerie flashes of purple tinted lightning bolted out of the vortex. The winds whipped about stirring the sands and causing Sesshomaru difficulty seeing.

He refused to let the bastard’s words intimidate him. He would kill him. He must kill him.

Again Sesshomaru dodged a horde of tentacles, spun and sent a blast from Tokijin hurling toward Naraku. Dozens of flailing tentacles were shredded to nothingness. A strong blast of wind filled with sandy debris blinded him for a second and he barely dodged Naraku’s newest onslaught. A minor gash to his left thigh was received, in addition to a rather deep cut on his left arm. Nothing serious.

He was about to strike again when Naraku changed the game. His eyes widened in disbelief as his enemy suddenly raised the jewel commanding the ominous lighting from above and sending a bolt directly into his chest. The pain was tremendous as he was hurled backwards by the blast. The scent of his burning flesh was putrid and for the first time Sesshomaru began to realize his potential for failure.

His body landed with a sickening thud breaking his back and rendering him helpless. Sesshomaru could barely hold onto consciousness. He couldn’t feel his lower body at all, but his chest was filled with agonizing pain. His blood was pouring from the wound and his vision was becoming cloudy.

As Sesshomaru lay there in a twisted pain wracked heap, he felt no fear, but found that his only thought was of Kagome. He had failed her. He had left her to face this menace alone. He found himself hoping that Anubis had found her unharmed, and wished with all his being that he could have gained vengeance against Naraku for what he had done to her.

Sesshomaru had always been told that at the moment before death one’s life would flash before their eyes. Strangely enough, he found that information to be incorrect. The only thing flashing before his eyes was Kagome’s smiling face.

~~~***~~~

Kagome followed behind the youkai lords and ladies as they ran out of the dungeon. The sky was no longer bright, but covered with ominous clouds and supernatural bolts of lightning. It could only mean one thing.

Naraku had tainted the Shikon and was using it against Sesshomaru.

She ran faster.

When they came around the last corner stone of the great pyramid Kagome gasped at the sight before her. Naraku was standing on the deck before the temple doors holding up the blackened jewel and laughing. She could even hear the blackened sound above the wind and crashing lightning.

She began to frantically scan the area for Sesshomaru, and when she caught sight of his white robes, she cried out pulling her hand over her heart. Kagome took off for her fallen lover. The harsh flying sands stung against her bare skin as she ran. When she finally made it to him she dropped to her knees and lifted his head into her lap. She did not even notice the rain of tears pouring down her face.

Kagome ran her hand lightly over his perfect cheek, tracing his beautiful magenta stripes, and felt a wave of relief when he opened his eyes. Sadly they were not shining and bright, but dull and drained. He looked up at her and she noticed the hint of a smile.

“Oh Kami, Sesshomaru. Please don’t die on me. I need you. I love you,” Kagome cried desperately as she clutched him to her chest.

“Hnn... Ka....gome,” he replied weakly. His normally deep velvet voice was barely a whisper of broken sound.

She heard someone shout, and looked up briefly. Anubis, Hapy and Ma’at were facing off against Naraku.

Anubis could smell Sesshomaru’s blood and burnt flesh. Naraku had indeed gained much power from the Shikon Jewel. He could see the swirling aura of his newly acquired strength. Enough strength to take down Sesshomaru where even Seth had failed. It was not going to be easy to destroy this monster, but it had to be done. “May the Gods help us,” he murmured before stepping forth.

Hapy stood to his right side and Ma’at stood to his left. He hoped that between the three of them they could accomplish the task before them.

“Naraku!” Anubis shouted, gaining the full attention of the creature.

“Ah Lord Anubis, and I see you have brought Hapy and the lovely Lady Ma’at. To what do I owe this pleasure?” Naraku replied with a sneer.

“I have been told that you hold in your hand the Shikon no Tama! A jewel which houses the soul of Midoriko!” Anubis shouted above the thrashing wind.

Naraku lowered his hand that contained the tainted jewel and held it toward Anubis before replying, “That is correct inuyoukai, however I fear that Midoriko has finally lost the battle.” He released a peel of dark laughter. His eyes burned crimson as he smiled down to the taiyoukai.

“HOW DARE YOU DEFILE OUR SISTER”S SOUL! You will die in her name!” Anubis shouted as his hands began to glow with red light. Beside him he heard Hapy and Ma’at draw their sword.

Naraku smirked and scoffed at the youkai before him, “Kukuku. Why Anubis, one would think that you actually cared for the dead priestess. Was it not you three who assisted in banishing her from this very world?”

Hapy stepped forward with a rumbling growl, “You know nothing! Do not speak on what you don’t know, scum! You have no right to use her soul for your own dastardly purposes, and we will defend her with our lives!”

“Very well. Your lives it is then,” Naraku replied arrogantly. These three would prove to be entertaining, and give him the opportunity to test his new strength.

Anubis glanced at the other’s and they nodded once before beginning their assault. Hapy ran to Naraku’s left and Ma’at to the right, as Anubis raised both of his hands, now glowing like hot embers. When Hapy and Ma’at were in place he released his attack on the monster before them.

A tremendous wave of scorching heat barreled through the air hitting Naraku at an incomparable speed. He had no time to dodge the attack, and cried out in agony as a large portion of his body was melted away. He had no time to recover before he felt searing pain from his right and left sides. He swiftly registered that Hapy was sending a wave of crackling energy from his sword, and Ma’at’s attack was freezing his right side. Between the three he was actually stunned momentarily from the onslaught.

With great effort Naraku shook off the pain and focused his power. Within minutes he had repaired the damage done by the three taiyoukai, and swiftly raised the jewel into the air.

Anubis could not believe his eyes. Although their combined efforts had crippled Naraku, he had managed to regenerate his flesh. How could they defeat an enemy like this?!

Naraku glanced around for just the right tool. He called on the jewel’s power and uprooted the huge palm at the far edge of the courtyard. He sent it into a fast spinning motion and hurled it at Hapy. He laughed with satisfaction as he caught him unaware. The baboon lord was crushed by the force of the makeshift weapon, and hurled against the stone walls of the pyramid below.

Ma’at watched in horror as her son was struck by the spinning palm. By the Gods she didn’t even see it coming. The winds were so strong that hearing was minimal, and she had no idea Naraku possessed this sort of control. Her thoughts were abruptly brought to a halt when her own body was lifted from the ground by an invisible force. She looked to Anubis with fear in her eyes. She was helpless against this sort of power!

Anubis could not prevent the attack on Ma’at, but he could damn sure try to stop it from succeeding. He flung another blast of red hot jaki at the filthy beast, but was stunned when it met with an invisible force, and was dispersed without making a so much as a dent. Then helplessly he saw Ma’at as she was hurled against the stone of the pyramid with a massive force. Her limp body dropped unceremoniously to the sands below.

“It appears to be just you and me Lord Anubis!” Naraku laughed.

Kagome watched in horror as Naraku lay waste to her new friends. Sesshomaru, still resting in her lap, was taking in small panting breaths. Only a slit between his long lashes revealed that he was watching the gruesome scene before them, and Kagome feared that she was about to lose her true love to death.

Naraku was unbelievably powerful now, and she could only imagine what he could and would do to both Earth and Karnak if he were to complete the entire jewel.

Something began to burn inside her. Something new and frightening. Her entire body began to ache with a powerful force that was flooding her senses and burning her nerves. She cried out in pain and grasped her hands to her head, which was pounding with fire. What was happening to her?

Sesshomaru jerked his eyes up when Kagome cried out. Was Naraku attacking her in some way?! He could feel her body burning against him, and what remained of his life force ached with the helpless need to protect her. Suddenly she reached down and lay his head off of her lap. She had a strange expression on her face and her normally blue eyes were swimming with glowing pink. Something powerful was happening to Kagome!

Anubis faced his enemy bravely waiting for the attack that never came. Instead he noticed that Naraku seemed to be distracted. Then he heard her voice echoing through the winds behind him.

Kagome.

“Anubis, you must trust me. Gather Ma’at, and Hapy, then retreat back to where Sesshomaru lays,” Kagome ordered.

“Kagome? You...what?” Anubis stuttered before she cut him off.

“GO NOW!” Kagome shouted.

Anubis could feel her power pulsing against his body. Her anger and purity pounded against his senses.

Her true power had been released.

Once Anubis was on his way to gathering her fallen comrades, Kagome focused on Naraku.

Naraku smirked down at the lovely little miko. He was so absorbed in his own dark swirling aura of power that he was hardly aware of the increase in her own. All he could see was her flashing eyes as the winds swept about her lithe form spreading her long raven hair to dance about wildly behind her. She was going to be such a delicious prize.

Kagome stared at Naraku then narrowed her eyes as she pointed to the jewel. “That jewel belongs to me, Naraku! Your days of corruption are over!”

Naraku smiled wickedly, but before he had a chance to give his scathing reply Kagome’s purity power flared. Pink purifying flames burst from her body like an inferno. His eyes grew wide as he suddenly realized that something unexpected had occurred in the miko. Something that could mean his demise!

Kagome raised her hands and sent an enormous wave of purification straight to Naraku. He tried to block it with a barrier, but to no avail. The purification burned through it easily and hit him with its searing purpose. His flesh began to disintegrate, and he suddenly understood that this was his end.

She did not cease her attack until every molecule of Naraku was decimated with her purification. The now shimmering pink Shikon dropped onto the pile of light dust that was once the evil hanyou Naraku. The howling winds ceased abruptly and the swirling mass of dark clouds began to dissipate before her eyes. The clear sky sparkled brightly as if nothing terrible had ever occurred there.

Kagome ran back to Sesshomaru, and found Anubis and Lady Isis there with the unconscious Ma’at and Hapy. She stood at the feet of Sesshomaru and said, “Lord Anubis, Lady Isis, please step behind me.”

Anubis was unsure of her intentions. Did she mean to purify them as well?

Kagome could sense his distress, and quickly made to calm him. “No harm will come to them. Trust me.”

Anubis and Isis stood and moved behind Kagome. Once they were clear, Kagome smiled at the barely conscious Sesshomaru then waved both of her arms over the injured youkai bodies. Her healing powers poured forth in a comforting wave that settled over the three of them in a glimmering blanket of pink hope.

Sesshomaru closed his eyes when Kagome’s warmth covered him. Her scent surrounded him in a cocoon of comfort. It felt like heaven had ascended over his broken form.

Kagome ran to his side and shook him gently. When his sparkling golden eyes opened she released a breath of air that she did not even realize she had been holding. She smiled and said, “How do you feel?”

Sesshomaru gave her one of his rare smiles and said with silken smoothness, “I feel like I’m in love with you.”