Sesshoumaru stood, sampling the scents on the wind. Inu Yasha and Kagome had already tried to find Kouga’s scent, but neither were able to find it anywhere—now it was Sesshoumaru’s turn to try. He had to concentrate harder than usual now because he still felt a throbbing pain in his side—which seemed little more than an annoyance to him now. Finally, he noticed a faint trail towards the north, faint enough that it seemed as though it was being hidden. He began walking forward, knowing that it was likely that Naraku had lured the wolf yokai away from the group for a sinister reasoning. He noticed that no one spoke, although it seemed as though the fact that Sango’s brother had been freed from Naraku would have been cause for at least some celebration.

Sango watched Sesshoumaru from the distance, silently grateful that he had saved Kohaku. However, no matter how glad she was that her brother had been finally returned to her, she couldn’t help but to notice that Miroku seemed rather troubled. He walked at quite a distance from the rest of the group, only occasionally forcing a smile to try to reassure Sango. It was those fake smiles that worried her more than anything else—she knew very well that something was wrong. Every time she tried to approach him to ask about it, he stepped back and shook his head; now he was avoiding her completely. More than once it had came back to her attention that he had been the first and only person to have noticed Kouga’s absence, but she knew that he wasn’t that worried about Kouga.

Kohaku looked up at Sango, worried for his elder sister. She had introduced him to her circle of friends and explained a few other things to him, such as the fact that they were going to attack Naraku. She didn’t need to remind him who Naraku was. The man who had enslaved him and forced him to attack his family, friends, and dozens of innocent people would never leave his memory. He remembered every detail of the mansion that he had lived in while under Naraku’s influence. He remembered hating himself at times for being too weak to fight for control of his own body. More than anything, he remembered how well he despised Naraku.

Kagome followed shortly behind Sesshoumaru, sensing the high level of anxiety within her group of friends. Aside from a few words that had been spoken between Sango and Kohaku, no words had been spoken within the group. Many times Kagome had considered starting a conversation in order to lessen the tension that seemed to permeate in the air around them, but right when she would start to say something, she thought the better of it.

Within a few hours of leaving the site of their first battles of the day, the group of friends, linked by their equal enmity for Naraku, reached a hilltop that overlooked Naraku’s stronghold. They all paused for a moment as the gentle breeze seemed to soothe some of their worried minds. Kagome placed her hand on Sesshoumaru’s arm, a smile on her face. "It’s okay, we can do this."

Sesshoumaru returned her reassuring words with a smile of his own, but he realized that he had never before felt so afraid in his life. By now he had begun to worry a little about the throbbing pain in his side—but that was something that he’d have to endure for now. He had thought of all of the risks that came with this battle, and the risks that came in the event that they did not win. With Naraku, he realized that almost anything could happen, including that Kagome could get hurt. Or, rather, if he got hurt, even killed, who would be there to protect Kagome?

Inu Yasha stepped forward and reached for the hilt of Tetsusaiga. "So, does anyone have anyone have any special strategies?"

Sesshoumaru nodded as he pulled Kagome closer to himself. "It seems as though Naraku has erected a barrier so that he could mock us. Inu Yasha, it’s your job to slice through it. You and I are going to distract Naraku until Kana-chan gets a chance to make an attack of her own. The taijiya, her brother, and the houshi can protect Kana-chan and wait for the opportunity to rescue Sayaka. The wolf is down there somewhere, but I don’t know where or what he’s doing… Anyhow, once everybody is clear of Naraku, it will be Kana-chan’s turn to fight, okay?"

Inu Yasha nodded as he withdrew Tetsusaiga from its sheath and concentrated his energy into the blade. Shortly thereafter, the blade began to glow red and Inu Yasha charged forward to the barrier. Sesshoumaru, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Kohaku followed as he led the group into Naraku’s stronghold.

Inu Yasha stopped as he heard an effeminate scream from within the mansion. His ears twitched as he heard Naraku’s sinister laugh echoing through the halls of the mansion. He could only think of all of the treacherous things that Naraku had done and hope that he could end Naraku’s life. Of course, in a way, he did owe Naraku all of his friends and who he had become, but Inu Yasha chose not to see that as a positive thing. He had been pinned to the Goshinboku tree because of Naraku. Miroku had come to travel with him and Kagome because he too needed to fight and destroy Naraku. Sango and Kohaku had lost their entire family, their entire village, in fact, because of Naraku. Sesshoumaru had quested to kill Naraku because Naraku had made a blow against Sesshoumaru’s pride. Kouga wanted Naraku’s blood because Naraku lured in nearly the entire wolf tribe to his mansion and had Kagura brutally murder all of them. Kagome was the only person who hadn’t been directly dragged into this fight by Naraku—that is, until Naraku took it upon himself to kill her.

But today was the day that they would all show how well that they had overcome their tragedies. Sango had gotten Kohaku back, Inu Yasha had come to an understanding with Kikyo, and Kagome had been revived by Sesshoumaru. Miroku could only overcome his curse now by destroying Naraku. However, they all still had reasons to destroy Naraku—to exact revenge, to lift Miroku’s curse, and to rescue Sayaka.

Inu Yasha flattened his ears against the back of his skull as he rushed into the mansion, followed by Sesshoumaru. He followed the sounds of screaming and crying to the end of a hall and stopped at a bamboo door in the floor. He cautiously lifted the door and looked inside. His anger swelled as he caught the scent of not only Kouga’s blood, but Sayaka’s as well. He began to dive into the room, but Sesshoumaru caught the collar of his kimono. He spun around, anger flaring in his golden eyes. "WHAT?!"

Sesshoumaru’s face was more cold and void of emotion than ever as he answered, "We cannot possibly fight in that room—it’s too small."

Inu Yasha growled as he stepped back away from the door. "Naraku! Show yourself! Stop hiding like the coward you are!"

Naraku’s laughter came bubbling up from the small dungeon room. "Awfully bold words for someone who is afraid to introduce himself before entering another’s home, don’t you think?"

Inu Yasha let out a feral growl as he stabbed Tetsusaiga into the wooden floor out of frustration. "You have NO reason to speak to me of cowardice—you use innocent women as shields! You have murdered countless people in cold blood—Kagome included!"

Naraku was finally stricken speechless, or so it had seemed. Inu Yasha stood back as he heard sounds from the dungeon room and what seemed to be a muffled scream. It took only moments before Naraku emerged from the room, Sayaka held tightly in his grasp. Naraku’s smile was none short of villainous when he made a move towards the door to the hallway. "Would you like to take that outside, dear Inu Yasha?"

"I’d kill to." Inu Yasha picked his sword up, his eyes burning with anger, and followed Naraku as he backed out of the room.

Sesshoumaru started after his younger half-sibling and Naraku when he heard a voice from the dungeon. Knowing that Naraku had gone, Sesshoumaru cautiously peered into the small room, only to see Kouga lying in the corner. He hesitated before he slid down into the room and moved to Kouga’s side.

The young wolf leader was soaked in his own blood. He slowly looked up and saw Sesshoumaru’s silhouette. His eyes glazed over in pain as he tried to sit upright. "I tried… I knew that if Naraku still had that girl when you all came to fight him that Naraku would use her as a shield—no one would be able to actually fight the way they needed to.

"But… I guess I walked right into a trap that even a human should have been able to sense. As you can see… I’m not going to be able to see the finish of this battle. Heh, I’ve been more of a trouble than anything… don’t mind me—just go on and kill Naraku." Kouga managed a faint smile as he saw Sesshoumaru straighten and move away.

Sesshoumaru flinched as he stood straight, the pain in his side was now seemingly unbearable. It made no sense to him as to why he was in such pain just because of such a slight injury. However, he did understand that death was looming over the wolf tribe’s leader—one of Kagome’s friends, by Sesshoumaru’s understanding. Ignoring the pain in his side, Sesshoumaru knelt down and picked Kouga up. More to himself than to Kouga, he muttered, "She would never forgive me if I didn’t…"

Kouga managed a hollow chuckle as Sesshoumaru carried him out of the dungeon. "She has really had that much of an effect? The taiyokai that wouldn’t waste a moment’s time to help out a fellow is now going out of his way to save a wolf?"

Sesshoumaru lowered his eyelids in annoyance—even in his dying moments, Kouga had found the few words that would deflate his pride. "If you’re alive than there will be more to fight Naraku—that’s all."

"Yeah, well, I doubt that I will be… All I really want now is to see to it that Naraku is defeated… but I am in no position to help fight… I…"

"Don’t talk now—save your strength." Sesshoumaru continued through the halls, thankful for the silence that followed. He was nearly out of the mansion when he heard a woman’s pained scream. [Kagome…]

"Go to her. Leave me here." Kouga coughed into his hand a few times. When he pulled his hand away from his mouth, it was covered in crimson. He winced as Sesshoumaru set him down on the wooden floor and leaned him against one of the walls. "I don’t have much time left—don’t waste your time here. Go to her."

Sesshoumaru nodded as he spun around and began running out of the mansion. He nearly fell to the ground, though, as his side once again began pulsating with excruciating pain. He clutched his side as he continued running and finally found his way out of the mansion. [Damn this… I don’t understand… why is it that I am so pained by such a mere wound? Could it be that Kagome’s antidote did not work?] Sesshoumaru shook his thoughts as he slid to a stop and took in the scene before himself.

Naraku turned as he heard Sesshoumaru’s footsteps. He still held Sayaka tightly in his grasp and had not obtained a single injury as of yet. His villainous smile widened as he saw Sesshoumaru clutching his side where he had been previously injured. "So, Sesshoumaru-sama, have you decided to join the fight after all? I mean, I figured that you were going to stay behind with that wolf and die as well. By now, that poison should have worked its way completely through your body… It hurts, doesn’t it? Of course, you probably don’t recognize true pain, do you?"

Sesshoumaru growled as he dodged a few of Naraku’s attacks and made his way towards Kagome. He stood protectively in front of her as he noticed a slice in her kimono sleeve and a cut on her left arm. "What happened, Kana-chan?"

Kagome shook her head as she tugged down on the sleeve of the kimono. "I’m fine, Sesshou-kun… Was Kouga-kun okay?"

For some reason, Sesshoumaru had known that she was going to ask that particular question, yet he had no way of answering her without worrying her. He withdrew Toukijin and prepared to attack Naraku.

"Is he hurt?"

Her quiet, innocent question caused Sesshoumaru’s heart to skip a beat. He had known since he had met Kagome that she was very compassionate—but the way she was asking about Kouga seemed almost too concerned. For a split second, his mind filled with anger that she had more concern for Kouga than she had shown for him. His eyes held this anger as he spun around, glared at Kagome, and spat, "He is past any aide that you would have been able to give him. Right now we have more pressing issues to deal with!"

Kagome gasped as she considered Sesshoumaru’s actions. All she had done was to ask if Kouga was okay and Sesshoumaru had nearly yelled at her. As she watched him move to attack Naraku, she convinced herself that he had only acted in such a way because of the situation at hand—after all, they were in for the fight of their lives and she was pestering his about someone else. Of course, she also considered that no matter the situation, Sesshoumaru had never acted out in such a way.

As she heard a muffled cry behind herself, Kagome turned around to see Sango with tears in her eyes and Miroku clutching his right hand. He jumped back several feet, still holding his cursed hand, and yelled to Sango, "Stay back! I don’t want you to be sucked in!"

Sango looked up to Kagome, as though all of the hope lay upon her shoulders. "I can’t lose him…"

By now, all other worries had washed away from Kagome’s mind. She rushed to Sango and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Listen, Sango. We still have to fight—if Naraku is destroyed before the Kazaana becomes out of control, Miroku will be fine… I need you to help Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru get Sayaka away from Naraku. When that happens, then I can finally do what it is I need to do."

Sango nodded slowly as she gripped the handle of Hiraikotsu and began moving towards Naraku. She concentrated her energy and thoughts into fighting, pushing aside, but not eliminating, her worry for Miroku. [Miroku… hold on for a little while longer…] Sango gritted her teeth as she skillfully threw Hiraikotsu at Naraku.

Hiraikotsu faithfully cut through the arm that Naraku had been holding Sayaka up by, sending the girl plummeting to the ground below. Just as Sango and the others were sure that Sayaka was free from Naraku, he extended one of his tentacle-like arms and caught Sayaka, once more holding her closely to himself. He threw a disgusted glare down to Sango as he quickly regenerated his lost limb. His face settled into a casual smile as he drawled, "Three on one? That hardly seems fair."

Sesshoumaru took the opportunity to slice at Naraku with Toukijin, but it seemed as though Naraku had foreseen the attack. In fact, it seemed unusual that anyone could so easily dodge one of Sesshoumaru’s attacks.

"Slowing down already, are we, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Naraku sneered as he sent out several deadly sharp tentacle-like extensions of the lower part of his body, all aimed for Sesshoumaru.

Inu Yasha could not lose the opening that Naraku had left for him. He sheathed Tetsusaiga and leapt at Naraku’s opposite side, where he held Sayaka. He managed a thin smile as he clawed through the flesh that held her and caught her in his own arms. Before Naraku was able to interfere with his rescue, he bounded out Naraku’s reach, fairly close to where Kagome was standing.

Sayaka smiled as Inu Yasha set her down on the ground, free for the first time in ten days. She took in a deep breath and jumped forward, wrapping her arms around Inu Yasha’s shoulders. "Arigato!"

A loud hissing sound was made as blades of youki sliced through Naraku’s spear-like projections, thus preventing his attack on Sesshoumaru. Naraku looked up into the air, surprised to see Kagura standing defiantly on her feather several feet above his reach. A thin victorious smile made its way across Kagura’s lips as she saw Naraku’s jaw drop. "Too bad you haven’t the time to punish me, Naraku-sama."

As Naraku made a move to reach into the sky to pull down his servant and teach her otherwise, a sword flew into his side, placing itself between his ribs. Naraku looked down to see Kouga, dripping blood but smiling, proud of his small victory. "You have had this coming for a long time, Naraku!"

In a fury, Naraku pulled the sword out of his ribs and sent it flying down into the direction from which it came. An evil laugh erupted from his throat as the sword found its way back—straight into its owner’s chest. The once proud wolf fell to the ground, dead, just as his fellows had in Naraku’s mansion several months previous.

Kagome clenched her teeth as she felt her eyes sting with tears. "Kouga didn’t deserve that…"

Sesshoumaru sliced at Naraku with Toukijin, this time the attack hit squarely on the target. He jumped backwards, standing next to Kouga’s body, and pulled the sword from Kouga’s chest. [That could have been me… if Kagura hadn’t decided to betray Naraku, I would not be standing as I am…]

Sango threw Hiraikotsu at Naraku once more, distracting him from attacking Sesshoumaru once more. Kagura landed next to her, taking an offensive stance. She snapped her fan open and threw out several more of her ‘wind blades’.

Sesshoumaru dropped Toukijin and unsheathed Tenseiga. Even though he had no attachment to Kouga, he felt as though it was his duty to save him—perhaps because Kouga was one of Kagome’s friends. He took in a deep breath as he swung the Tenseiga over Kouga’s body.

Kagome spun around as she felt the winds changing. In an instant, she knew exactly what was happening: Miroku’s wind tunnel was moments away from going out of control. She could not spare another moment, if she was going to save Miroku, she had to take the shard out now. She pushed a claw into her chest and pulled out the Shikon shard. Rather than drop the shard into a pocket, she pressed it against a notch in her bow.

Sayaka watched quietly as the hanyou woman known as Kana changed into her human form. She looked up as she heard Inu Yasha let out a heavy sigh. "What’s wrong?"

Inu Yasha shook his head as he watched Kagome. [Kagome… I hope that this works…]

Kagome drew an arrow from the quiver that she carried over her shoulder. She knocked the arrow on the string and took aim. She had concentrated and found where the Shikon shards were in Naraku’s body. It was there, in his throat, that she aimed. [Where is Sesshoumaru? I can’t see him! But… Miroku… I have time for this… I just hope that Sesshou-kun is out of the way!]

It was a brilliant flash of light that shot across the area. For a few moments, Naraku’s jyaki intermingled with Kagome’s purifying energy, but in the end, all of the evil energy was eliminated. Dust and the smell of burnt flesh clouded everyone’s senses in the moments after. Kagome knew better than to just leave things to settle themselves—she rushed into the cloud of dust, following her mystic senses to find the Shikon jewel. She picked it out of a lump of what seemed to be the remainder of Naraku. As she lifted the jewel, she noticed that the… well, parts of Naraku’s body, all turned to dust.

Kagura, sure that nothing was over until she saw Naraku’s dead body, beckoned the winds to blow the dust away. Two figures stood where Naraku once had been, one was Kagome and the other was a certain wavy-haired villain.

Kagome stared at Naraku in shock for a few moments, but quickly reminded herself that she had not the time to waste. "Inu Yasha!"

Inu Yasha already knew what was needed to do. He charged at Naraku with Tetsusaiga and unleashed the ‘Kaze no Kizu’ attack. He smiled as he heard Naraku cry out in agony. "It’s over."

Kagome turned to see Miroku, smiling like a fool and staring at the palm of his right hand. Sango ran over to him, clearly glad that he was unharmed. Kagome also saw Sayaka run to Inu Yasha, a light blush on the hanyou girl’s face as she began talking to Inu Yasha. Kagome looked around, scanning the area for where Sesshoumaru was. She turned around and around, her eyes having covered the area, yet she still did not see Sesshoumaru.

Finally, footsteps were heard, coming from inside of the mansion. Hope swelled in Kagome’s heart as she ran to the door of the mansion. Slowly, the door opened, revealing the owner of the footsteps as Kouga. He looked at Kagome and instantly, his face fell.

Kagome stepped closer to Kouga, hoping against hope that Sesshoumaru would be right behind him. "Kouga-kun… where is Sesshoumaru?"

Kouga looked away from Kagome, but placed his hand on her shoulder. For a long moment, everything was stone silent and all eyes were on Kouga and Kagome. "I don’t know… he… disappeared in the blast."

Kagome turned around, praying that Kouga’s face would show that he was lying… but it wasn’t. She looked to the ground beside Kouga and saw two swords lying on the ground. One was the blood-stained sword that belonged to Kouga and the other was Toukijin. "Oh, no…"

~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ -^_^- ~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~

A.N. Well, we still have a few chapters left and for once, I don’t have much to say. ^_~ As always, read and review—I’ll get to working on the next chapter and have it up as soon as I get the chance!

Ja ne,

Ryoko Yuy / V Shape Otaku

P.S. The movie that I mentioned is the first Inu Yasha movie, Affections Touching Across Time. If anyone can still get a hold of the copy, there is an article about it in July’s Animerica. Trust me, you’ll know it when you see it because Inu-chan is on the cover.