In his dream, Kuro was drifting. Drifting in an endless black void, in his old body. He looked up, and a bright light shone around him. Above him was his new body, and curled atop its lap was Luna, dreaming peacefully. Kuro began to swim upwards through the darkness, and he neared them. If he could just enter his body, all would be well again. He got so close, hands scraping clothing, when a large thick green tentacle wrapped around his wrist, and pulled him down. Blood red eyes watched him, a wicked laugh echoing around him as the tentacles brought scythes and sickles, katanas and spears, knives and daggers, embedding each into his body.

Kuro snapped awake, flipped backward and landing on his feet, crouched down to one knee, claws ready. A laugh from his dreams made his head snap upwards, and he saw the bastard who had captured him.

"Kuro. How nice to see you. Do you know who I am?"

"I knew you smelled familiar. The one who devoured my fathers remains. My previous fathers stench is upon you too. You must be Onigumo...no...Naraku."

"Well done. You are by far one of the strongest demons I've met, after Inuyasha and Sesshomaru of course. You are going to become one with my body."

"The hell I am. You can't beat me. I'm better than you or any of your demons will be."

"Maybe so. But who ever said you had to fight me or one of my subordinates?"

Kuro blinked in confusion, and the ground around him began to rattle. Kuro held his stance, and hundreds of clawed hands burst from the ground. They all pulled themselves up, into the light, and Kuro froze. They were all...him. They were all his old bodies, looking exactly like him. Their eyes, emotionless and cold. Just like his once were. His still may hold the same look of emptiness, but Luna had filled that gap long ago. He realized this and held his stance still, growling softly. Naraku cackled, and lowered himself slightly from his airborne position, speaking to him.

"Long ago you were like these incarnations. Soulless, heartless and cruel. But you have fallen in love with a pathetic cat demon. You have lost your sense of priority. Power is everything, and you? You are nothing without your determination. When I am done with you, I'll rape and kill your little toy woman."

Somewhere, in the back of his head, the old Kuro whispered that Naraku was right. That Kuro wasn't the same. But there was a much stronger voice raging within him.

"...You're right, Naraku."

Naraku smirked, eyes glowing with victorious happiness, but quickly dulled when Kuro's body began to glow. Instead of his old purple aura which swirled about, pushing everything back, something new was formed. A purest white aura began to form around his feet, and then exploded into a torrent of energy. Naraku was thrown back into the cave wall, his barrier digging into the stone. Black electricity slashed at the ground, some of the imitation Kuro's being killed in the black bolts, some moving out of the way. Through the energy, Naraku could see a shadow of Kuro as he shouted.

"I'm not the same as I once was. No longer do I feel hollow and empty, my only purpose to kill all. My goals haven't changed, I will be the most powerful. However, my motivation has! I have someone I will give my life for, I have someone I will protect, and I will eliminate any threat that comes near her! So remember Naraku, I may not be the same as I used to be, but I will kill anyone before me simply because-"

The energy began to twist inwards towards Kuro, spiraling into one focused point. When the energy cleared, black and white lightning slashed at the ground, black stripes along Kuro's cheeks as his eyes glowed black with white pupils against them, his fangs lengthened and his claws extended, his Shiro Raikou crackling with power in his right hand as small flecks of energy danced around him, lightning slashing all about his body.

"I have someone to live for now...someone to protect."

"Kill him!"

Naraku shouted, and the imitation Kuro's charged forward. Kuro himself raised his sword, and spun it above his head. He slammed it into the ground, and aimed.

"Neko Raikou Hasaki. (Cat's Lightning Edgeblade)"

--

Luna leapt high into the air off of Hatchi's back, scanning the area. Where was it? Kagura, far behind with Kagome, Miroku, and Akitoke, had said that Naraku was based in a mountain back in the direction they had orginally came. What mountain? Inuyasha and Sango were below here, Inuyasha sprinting with Sango on her back. They had been running for some time now, and Luna had just now caught sight of a mountain. She shook her head, landing down in front of the two as they slowed to a stop.

"What is it Luna?"

Sango asked curiously, Inuyasha watching her lightly. She shook her head, turning back to them.

"The only mountain near here is...ours. Our den."

Inuyasha opened his eyes wide, and then slanted them. Of course. The perfect strategy. Hidden in plain sight. Just like Naraku. How he had managed to conceal his scent and his aura however was beyond him. It mattered not. All that mattered now was rescuing Kuro and killing Naraku. Luna began to run towards the mountain, and when they arrived at the base they waited for the others to show up. Kouga, Sesshomaru, Kagura, Rin, Jaken, Ah-Uhn, Miroku, Kagome, Akitoke, Hatchi, and Kilala all landed down by the three and looked at them wondering why they had stopped.

"He's inside this mountain. Can any of you sense him?"

Luna asked, impatient to finding her mate. Kagome and Miroku both closed their eyes, focusing their spiritual awareness. Kagome thought long and hard, before finally opening her eyes.

"There's a strong demonic presence in the direct center of the mountain."

"And Kuro's?"

Kagome shook her head, looking away.

"I couldn't get a strong signal. He's alive, a little closer than Naraku's, but his aura is fading. He's fighting, and hard too."

"Of course he is. Stupid idiot."

Luna said, tears tugging at the corners of her eyes. She turned towards the mountain, and raised her hands, her Sanguine forming in her palms. Her body pulsed with rage, and she roared as she swung down. Her sword emitted a huge black wave that slammed into the mountain, making a pathway for them. Not a very smooth one, but accessible all the same. She waited not for any plan, merely jumped inside and sprinted as fast as she could, the others close behind. She skidded to a stop when she saw lightning, black and white, dancing in a room not far from them. She began that way, and stopped at the entrance of the room. It was higher up, the opening she had made, and the sight below her left her in awe.

Kuro stood in the center of the large room, and she immediately recognized it. It was the 'playroom' she had used as a child. He wielded his Shiro Raikou, and was panting heavily. Blood stained his clothing, his sword gripped tightly in his hand even though it was limp. Swords shaped just like his old ones, at least six of them, were shoved into his body. Around him stood at least fifty other Kuro's, ones formed to look like his old body. Hundreds upon hundreds of them lay slain around him, he was literally walking in corpses. One of the Kuro's charged forward, and Kuro raised his sword to block it, but his wounds influenced his fighting.

The imitation Kuro thrust his sword deep into Kuro's heart, the tip protruding from the back. That same Kuro kicked him in his stomach and he flew backwards, slamming into the wall of the mountain. The remaining Kuro's stood still while two of them threw all four of their swords. Each one took a limb, stabbing through it and pinning him to the wall. Kuro gasped in pain, and coughed. Red blood fell from his mouth, landing on the little patch of ground remaining. Kuro sighed softly, exhaling as his body failed him. His eyes drifted to about halfway open, and lost their luster.

From above, Luna's heart had lost its vitality as she heard his own breathing slow...and then stop. No longer did his chest rise and fall. No longer did he struggle to win, no longer did he growl and roar. No longer, did Kuro live. Luna stood frozen as the others looked at her in sympathy. She fell to her knees, and screamed his name. She screamed it again and again, yet his body still hung on the wall. His beautiful silver hair was stained with his own blood, his body covered in wounds. Her Kuro, her love, her life. Was dead. She gripped her Sanguine tight, sobbing uncontrollably as Sango held her daughter.

Inuyasha and Sesshomaru both too looked off, saddened that yet another of the dog demon clan fell. Though he had been cat, he had been dog at heart. Or so those two believed. Kagura had joined Luna in her weeping, and Kagome seemed only a little shaken. Akitoke felt sympathy for Luna, as did Miroku and Kouga. A malicious, malevolent cackle broke their moment of grief, however, and the remaining Kuro's turned to flesh and tentacles, flying upwards to join both the brain and brawn behind these operations. Naraku descended quietly, and Luna's grief was replaced by an unfathomable rage.

"Look at your great Kuro now. He fought valiantly, but not enough it would seem. Now, his power shall be mine."

Naraku's tentacles shot forward, and enveloped Kuro's body, swords and all. Kuro's limp corpse was pulled along effortlessly, and Naraku's flesh disbanded from his body, forming a coccoon around Kuro. Around that coccoon formed a barrier. Naraku stood proud, looking up to them all.

"You arrived too late to save your mate, half-demon. What will you do now? All of you, and your pathetic weaknesses?"

Inuyasha opened his mouth to speak, but froze. He looked to Luna, who now stood on two legs, Sanguine in her palm. The sword pulsed, and a twisted black and white flame began to surround it. A single black wing, and a single white wing, both formed of fire formed on her back. Her orange clothing turned white, and her eyes pulsed black with white pupils. She screamed out in both grief, and rage. She leapt forward, and descended towards Naraku, slashing at him. He smiled as his barrier caught the sword, and though it held up for a good moment, it was not enough to pierce the barrier.

So the others all joined in. Kagome shot her arrows, Miroku his sutras. Akitoke his spears, Sesshomaru his Tenseiga and Toukijin. Kagura her dance of blades, Inuyasha his Tetsuuga. Hatchi and Kilala spewed red and black flames, Kouga kicked with all of his demonic might. Rin and Ah-Uhn waited outside, Jaken shooting flames from his staff of two heads. Naraku scowled, his barrier curling inward. But he smiled, as even through all of their attacks, Naraku's barrier held up. He thrust tentacles outwards, and shot bone spikes from his body. Kouga and Miroku were hit, Kagome had to evade the attack. The others blocked or dodged it, and continued to fight.

"Hahahahaha! Never will you defeat me! I am Naraku! I will always be strong! I will always be victorious! You are all inferior FOOLS!"

Luna was slapped backwards by a tentacle, and she began to lose hope. Her demonic rage subsided, and she was overcome with grief once more. She simply sat there, and wondered what the point was? Even if she did win, she couldn't bring Kuro back. The Tenseiga couldn't revive him, his aura fought all light. He would be forever gone. Naraku saw here lying there, and smirked.

"You see? Without her precious mate, she will die a horrible death, completely enveloped with sorrow. She will wander the earth a spirit, restlessly looking for her love. But he will always be with me after today."

Naraku twisted one of his tentacles, solidifying it until the point became sharp like a sword. He shot it directly at Luna, and she opened her eyes only enough to look at the Shiro Raikou that lay on the ground by the coccoon that enveloped Kuro. Tears continued to stream down her face as the tentacle flew forward at a rapid speed. Luna's eyes closed and she bit her lower lip. She saw no point in fighting back. She could only think of one thing, and it showed when she spoke it.

"...Kuro."

Naraku's eyes opened wide as the coccoon that enveloped Kuro burst open, slashes of white energy emerging from the coccoon. The flesh burst forward, sliced into thousands of pieces, and the entire room watched in awe. They saw no Kuro dash from the coccoon, not even with their perceptive demonic and spiritual senses. All they saw were flames fly into the air in a perfectly straight line towards where Luna sat down. Naraku's tentacle neared her face, and it only was about an inch away from her forehead. But it was all for naught, when a bright flash of white slashed downward, sending the tentacle into the wall cut into seven different slices even though they saw only one wave.

Luna slowly opened her tear soaked eyes, looking up.

"What are you doing, lying there defenseless? Is this truly the woman I love lying here as if this insignificant demon had any sort of true power?"

Her lips twitched, and then extended into a full smile. Kuro stood in front of her, and he was once again in his demonic form. But this one was much different. His eyes were white, no pupils whatsoever, just pure glowing radiance. His body was covered in glowing white stripes, the rest of his skin darkened to a black color. His long white hair had been tinted black at the tips, and his clothing remained the same shining silver. His Shiro Raikou rose in the air, and flew into his palm. He turned to Naraku, and slanted his eyes. He gripped his sword, and the rocks and pebbles around him began to rise into the air, the air waving as if the humidity had risen.

"I told you once before, Naraku. I have someone to protect. This girl, that you attempted to slay. Luna. My, Luna. I'm going to show you now, Naraku. Why you will never lay a hand on her. As a matter of fact, after this battle...you'll never lay a hand on anyone, ever again."

Inuyasha was suddenly behind Luna. He lifted her into his arms despite her protests, and retreated to the side of the huge cave. The others joined him, and simply watched. Naraku laughed, and smiled, but many could tell that it was not the same. Naraku was...nervous. He let his full power roar forward, his eyes glowing red as his bones sharpened and his tentacles began to grow spikes and sharpen at the tips. His aura, purple miasma, slashed at the ground around him, decimating the many imitation Kuro's around him. Kuro's aura remained the same, the pebbles and rocks around him floating in the air, his hair rising, his clothing drifting upward only stationed by his body.

Naraku regained his confidence, and laughed.

"That is all that remains of your aura? Pathetic fool!"

Naraku shot two long bone spikes at Kuro, and Kuro closed his eyes.

"For my mistress."

Kuro's body suddenly exploded. The ground around him turned into a huge crater, black and white electricity roared around him but unlike before. Before it had been three to five feet long bolts, but these were different. They were enormous bolts of lightning that reached the top of the cave, slashing into the ground and circling him. His sword became more jagged, and glowed with a fiercer power. Naraku's bones melted as they neared his body. The pebbles and rocks that rose around Kuro were either annhilated by the lightning or melted away from the intensity.

Naraku's eyes held a trait none of them had seen before; fear. Kuro spun his sword expertly, and brought it backwards, the tip scraping the ground. All of the lightning and aura around him circled, spiraling inward, to his sword. Kuro raised his blade back, and leapt into the air, swinging it over his shoulder.

"For my clan!"

Inuyasha drew his Sesshomaru, and took the same position, leaping high and bringing the blade above his head. Sesshomaru himself drew his Toukijin, and charged forward, leaping beside his brother. Kagome nocked an arrow, and fired it. Sango threw her weapon with all her might, and Miroku flung his staff at Naraku, glowing with spiritual energy. Luna raised her Sanguine, and slashed at Naraku with as much power as she could summon. Naraku spun in place, empowering his barrier. But it stood with as much fortitude and stability as a one legged stool against the might of the assault. Naraku roared as their energies, shining black, white, bright blue, purple, all of them slashing and stabbing his body until he roared in pain.

"No! I am the demon Naraku! I am invincible! How could this have happened to me!?"

His voice became gritty and deep, and his body was replaced by a red spider about the size of your standard dog. The spider demon looked about, scared, and began to scitter away from Inuyasha and his group. It looked back, and was halted by a white wall. It looked up, and Kuro stood tall, raising his sword. The spider demon gasped, inhaling sharply, but was too slow as Kuro stabbed his sword downward, into and out of the spiders body. The spider demon limped, fell, and evaporated into mist. Kuro spun the blade three or four times, before it turned to the white orbs that flew into his body.

His demonic phase ended, and he returned to his normal form. Luna leapt from her position, soaring above all of them, and cried out. Kuro looked up, and raised his arms. He caught her with ease, and held her close to him as she buried her face into his chest, sighing in happiness, calling him an idiot and a stubborn fool. Inuyasha and Sango smiled, the others all sheathing their weapons. Kagura lifted her hand to her chest, and smiled in great joy as she felt her heart beat within it. Kagome sighed, slumping against Akitoke. He had stood beside Kouga and Jaken, the three of them feeling very useless in all of these enhanced and ultimate demon Lords.

"We won..."