Meant to be

Same disclaimer
Pairing: Inuyasha/Sango.
” Inner musings”


Chapter 5:The last stand

Inuyasha’s intuition had not failed him. It was only a few days later that the small shard-hunting group came face to face with the enemy. They had been walking in silence through the trees. At the last village they had encountered the rumor of a castle, a castle that seemed to have appeared overnight in the nearby valley. Immediately, the heroes had understood the significance of this strange occurrence. The intelligence that had gathered previously was accurate, Naraku was in the area.

After obtaining precise information with regards to the castles’ location, they set off on what would be their final mission. Cutting a path through the trees, they hoped to come upon the fortress from the side and so, surprise any that might be guarding it. They had yet to clear the trees that the half-completed jewel, which hung around Kagome’s neck, began to glow.

- “ I can feel him” She said, startling her companions by her unusual statement.

None of them had to ask her who “him” was. Instinctively, they knew it was time to make their last stand. Quietly, in whispered voices, they worked out a quick stgy. gy.

- “All right, this is how its gonna go down.” Inuyasha said, taking command of the situation.” Miroku, you’re responsible for Kagura. Let’s see how that wind-manipulating bitch deals with your air rip.” He elaborated looking at Miroku.

- “ That’s fine by me. I’ve been itching to fight her.” Miroku answered.

- “But Miroku, what about Naraku’s poisonous insects?” Kagome asked, worry for her friend evident in her voice.” You almost died last time you sucked them into your void.”

- “It doesn’t matter Kagome. All that matters now is killing Naraku.” The monk replied, understanding that his life was but a small price to pay if they could rid the world of that vile creature.

- “No Miroku, it does matter. As perverted as you are I don’t relish the idea of losing anybody else.” Turning his eyes towards Sango, Inuyasha continued to explain his plan. “That’s where you come in Sango. If you see any of those insects, and I’m sure you will, you take them out. You’ve done it before and you can do it again!”

- “You can count on me! “ She replied.

- “ I know I can, Sango” Inuyasha affirmed. “ But you have another job to do…Kanna! I don’t care how you manage it, but I want her dead”

- “You’ve got it, she’ll never know what hit her.” She answered between clenched teeth. She’d been a victim of her mirror before and she wanted to make sure the ghostly demon would never steal another innocent soul.

- “What do I do Inuyasha?” Shippo asked, not wanting to stay on the sidelines.

- “You stay close to Kirara. Naraku has humans in his service, and it’ll be up to you two to make sure they don’t interfere.” He told the little fox demon while the fire cat nodded her head in understanding.

- “You got it” Answered the kit, determination shining in his eyes.

- “Kagome, you stay with me” Continued Inuyasha. “ We’re taking down Naraku together.”

Kagome only bowed her head to show sheersterstood the plan. Despite having encountered Naraku before, she was still frightened. “I can do this!” She told herself, trying to push down the lump in her throat.

- “All right, let’s go” Inuyasha told them.

He moved back, letting Miroku, Kagome and Shippo go ahead of him. Catching Sango’s hand in his, he turned her around to look at him. With worry shinning in his eyes, he bent down to give her a gentle kiss on the lips. Reluctantly, he ended the tender embrace spokspoke.

- “Promise me you’ll be careful. I can’t lose you, and I can’t lose what’s growing inside you” Placing a finger on her lips to keep her silent, he continued. ” I wasn’t sure yet, but I am now.”

- “ I promise, but you have to do the same.” She told him, still trying to assimilate the fact that she was pregnant.

- I’ll try baby, I’ll try. But if anything happens to me, I want you to go to my brother. He’ll take care of you, and our pup. His honor won’t allow him to do anyfereferent.” Seeing the pain in her eyes, Inuyasha leaned his forehead against hers and smiled down at her. “ Don’t worry, I plan on seeing my son.”

Never letting go of her hand, Inuyasha followed after the others, taking Sango in his wake. A few moments later, they caught up to t com companions just has they we’re about to clear the trees. There it was, Naraku’s castle. It seemed unhabited but the heroes we’re not fooled, they knew Naraku was waiting for them inside. Giving up on the element of surprise, they marched side-by-side down to the main gate. ”I know you’re in there Naraku, and there’s no way you’ll escape this time. You might have taken Kikyo from me, but you will not take away my family!”

As though the would-be-demon had heard his thoughts, the heavy gates of the castle opened. And there, with Kagura and Kanna on either side of him, stood Naraku.

- “I’m getting tired of this little game of ours. It was fun for a while but now I think it’s time I took back what is mine.” His voice was dark and gravelly has he spoke. “ Give me your piece of the jewel and I’ll kill you quickly. If not, well…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, with a slight nod of his head he signaled his henchmen to attack. Kagura and Kanna moved forward, approaching the shard-hunting group from the front, while armed guards poured out of the side entrances of the courtyard to surround them. But the companions we’re ready.

Kirara transformed into her true form immediately, Shippo barely had time to jump on her back before the large fire cat launched herself into action. With teeth bared and claws extended, the neko demon ripped through the castle guards with voracity and abandon. With a swat of her paw she tore open the chest of one guard, spilling his vital organs onto the cold ground. Lunging at another, she clamped her jaw on his neck and pulled, leaving a large gapping hole as blood bubbled in what used to be his windpipe.

With the castle regiment more than occupied by the ferocity of Kirara’s attack, the rest of the group jumped in to battle with the approaching demons. Sango moved with great speed, her inborn grace and agility allowed her to sidestep the bloodied carcasses of the fallen guards. She had only one thought in mind, getting to Kanna before she could use her mirror. Never faltering, the slayer pulled her short sword from its scabbard and ran at the child-like demon. With all her strength, Sango stabbed he sword through the mirror, shattering the glassy surface. The force of the blow was so great the brass back of the mirror gave way and Sango’s sword continued its journey; piercing the demon’s abdomen and impaling the small body.

Seeing her sister’s body slump to the ground, a sword protruding through her stomach, Kagura let out a rage filled scream and made to run at Sango. Her sprint was cut short when Mirokus' staff made contact with her legs, tripping her. Rising to her feet, the wind witch turned her crimson eyes to glare at the monk.

- “You shouldn’t have done that.” She told him in a deceptively calm voice. “ I’ll play with you for a while if that’s what you want, but rest assured that bitch will pay for what she did to my sister.”

Miroku did not reply, rather he gathered is focus and readied for the attack that was sure to come. With a flick of her wrist, Kagura opened her fan and sent her wind blades in Mirokus' direction. The monk tried to protect himself by spinning his staff and knocking away the sharp blades. But he was too slow, one blade grazed his left arm cutting deep into his flesh while another made contact with his chest leaving a large diagonal wound behind. In great pain, Miroku fell to his knees.

Turning her back on the dying houshi, Kagura began to walk towards Sango who had joined Kirara and was currently fighting what was left of the castle guard. Oh non you don’t Miroku thought as he began to undo the beads that kept his air rip in check. But before he could unleash the wind tunnel and suck the witch into the void, there came a buzzing sound.

Dispatching the guard she was fighting with a sharp twist of her hands, breaking his neck, Sango turned head aad and took in the sight before her. She could see Kagura as she made her way towards her, murder in her eyes. Sango could also see Miroku, on his knees, preparing to unleash his void on the oblivious demon. And that’s when she heard it, the sound of hundreds of buzzing insects. Time came to a standstill as the swarm of poisonous insects swooped down into the valley.

Remembering the time she had protected Kohaku for this very swarm, Sango took a firm hold on hirokatsu. Twisting her body, she launched the giant boomerang into the air. With precision, the youkai bone sailed through the incoming masse of insects and destroyed the body of the flying army. Sango had no time to catch the boomerang and make another pass at the insects, as a guard attacked her. Bringing her focus back to the threat at hand, the demon slayer prayed that she had killed enough of the insects. That’s the best I can do for now. I hope it helps!

Miroku didn’t waste anytime. Sango’s attack had not dispatched all the insects but it had created a void in the swarm. With no thought to his own safety, he unleashed the air rip. So intent on reaching Sango, Kagura was unprepared for Mirokus' attack. She let out a blood-curdling scream has she felt herself being pulled back by the force of the wind tunnel. She tried to use her feather in the hopes of getting clear of the powerful winds swirling around her, but it was useless.

Once he was certain that Kagura had disappear into the void, Miroku closed the air rip as quickly as possible, trying not to suck in too many insects. Finally, the monk collapses to the ground due to the blood loss and the poison coursing through his body.

While Sango and Miroku were busy fighting against Naraku’s acolytes, Inuyasha and Kagome had been fighting the demon himself. But their efforts had proved fruitless till now. From beneath the baboon skin cloak, Naraku’s tentacles worked to keep his adversary’s at bay. For every one I cut down, two more come out from under there. How are we supposed the kill the bastard if we can get close to him? Inuyasha reflected, quickly loosing hope that they could win this battle. His dark musings we’re interrupted has a shriek pierced the air. Jumping back to avoid another tentacle, Inuyasha turned his attention from Naraku for a moment to look around the bloodied battlefield. He saw Kanna’s fragile body impaled by Sango’s sword, he saw Sango, Shippo and Kirara has the fought against Naraku’s human followers; and he saw Miroku laying in a pool of his own blood. However, he could find no sign of Kagura, it seemed the monk had done his duty and dispatched the sorceress into oblivion. With that realization, Inuyasha felt hope surge up in him again.

- “ Looks like you’re alone, Naraku.” He yelled at the creature. “ Your servants are all dead or dying. Give up, it’s clear you can’t win”

- “You insolent fool.” Naraku spat has he launched his tentacles at Inuyasha and threw the hanyou to the ground. “I don’t need my servants to get rid of you. “

Inuyasha was back on his feet in an instant. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on calling up the wind scar. When he could feel the power of the sword flowing through his body, he opened his eyes again. There it was, he cloud see it clearly. With uid uid movement of his arm, Inuyasha cut through the center of the wind scar. The golden colored rips tore into Naraku’s body leaving him vulnerable. Without being told, Kagome notched an arrow to her bow. Focusing her purifying powers into the slender piece of wood, she took aim and released.

The arrow sailed through the air at great speed. Wounded has he was, Naraku could not avoid the arrow, which pierced his heart. A burning purple light began to seep from the arrow wound in his chest. Soon the light grew, consuming Naraku’s body in its fire. The would-be-demons’ destruction was accompanied by a powerful explosion, which created shockwaves in the atmosphere and knocked all those still standing to the ground. Seeing their master destroyed, the few guards who could still move ran from the battlefield trying to lose themselves in the surrounding forest.

As quickly as they could, the companions got to their feet and ran towards Miroku’s prostrate form. Reaching him first, Inuyasha checked for vital signs. The hanyou lifted his head as he heard the rest of the groppropproach. Looking at the horror stricken faces, he spoke.

- “His still alive. His pulse is very weak but its still there.” He said. “We need to get him back to Kaede as fast as we can.”

And that’s when it happened. The jewel fragment around Kagome’s neck began to glow again. Before the young miko could react, the chain keeping it securely fasten broke and the shard flew into the air of its own volition. Over the spot where Naraku had been killed, a small vortex was growing and began moving towards them. Kagome’s fragment was sucked into the swirling winds. Slowly, the winds died down and out of the vorcamecame the reformed jewel. They could make out the swirling of black and pink as the good and evil contained within the jewel battled for dominance. Finally, the jewel dropped from the air and into Kagome’s waiting hands. Gradually, the black swirls diminished and disappeared has her purifying powers worked their magic. Putting the reconstituted jewel back around her neck, Kagome turned to her companions.

- “We need to get moving. Miroku won’t last long.” She told them as her friends just stood staring at her in fascination, trying to assimilate what they had just witnessed.

With one mind, they worked together to lift Miroku’s body onto Kirara’s back. Sango jumped on behind him and immediately Kirara took to the air.

- “Don’t worry, we’ll get him there as fast as we can.” She told them. “Follow uickuickly as you can and we’ll see you back at the village.”

Both Sango and Inuyasha would have preferred to linger on the battlefield. Both would have liked to hold the other in their arms has the immensity of what had happened finally sunk in. But there was no time, the life of their friend was at stake. I’ll see you soon my love, be safe. Inuyasha thought as he watched his mate disappear into the sky.

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A/N: Wow! That was really hard to write. I am never doing that again. Next time, I’ll avoid the actual fighting and just say they had a fight. Oh! And there will be more Inu/Sango lovin’ in the next chapter.