Author's Note: I do not own Inuyasha or anything affiliated with it. The rights to it belong solely to their respective owners.

Notice: And so, it has come- the final chapter of Wings of the Phoenix! I thank you all so much for you encouragement and support, and the 28,000 views you have given. So now, I shall reply to those set of reviews, and then offer the last chapter to my readers!

The Queen of Water: Wow indeed.

Gry18: Glad to hear that my cliffhanger did that, which was it's job.

PrincessAnime08: The answers to your questions lie therein...

Cutepuppy01: I'm happy that you thinking so highly of Yume, but while Sesshomaru will not appear here, know that it won;t be long before he does show up.

Elfen Children: Ask and ye shall receive.

Guest: To answer your question, it was Tenbatsu that Sango charged at.

Wings of Hope: You are most certainly welcome.

And Supboyyyyy93: I can most certainly do that.

And now, here we go once more!

Final Chapter: Tenbatsu's Plan

When Sango and I had left Kagome ran back inside the hut to grab her bow and arrows. Once she had them she ran back out, saying "Let's go!" But Inuyasha, Miroku and Shippo were all frozen, prompting her to ask "What's wrong?" "Mom said something... about a deal..." Shippo said, unable to believe it. Kagome gasped. "You think she made a deal... with Naraku?" she asked. "It's possible. Although I couldn't imagine what he would be willing to offer in exchange," Miroku said gravely. "Well, whatever it is, we know Yume accepted whatever bargain he made. And from the looks of it, Sango was involved," Inuyasha observed, his brow furrowing in frustration. "But why? Why would she do it?!" Inuyasha said, slamming his foist against the ground.

Kagome couldn't think of anything, until she looked at Kohaku's unconscious form and gasped. "Maybe it was that they agreed to trade Kohaku... for Yume," she said. Miroku frowned, thinking. "It could very well be. And that would explain why that barrier from before allowed both Sango and Yume in. So that Sango being there would convince Yume to accept," he said. "If that's that case, then we need to follow. I've got no doubt Naraku or Tenbatsu have got another trick up their sleeve," Inuyasha said. "Can you still trace their scent?" Miroku asked. "Yeah, I can still smell it. Come on, Kagome!" he replied, bending so as to let Kagome on. She got on and Shippo jumped onto her shoulder, and Miroku carried the unconscious Kohaku. Without a word the four of them rushed forward.

The light that enveloped me and Sango slowly faded as we kept flying, and when it did we saw a castle before us. Both of gasped, Sango recognizing this place instantly, and after a second I matched it with the images I had seen from her. "This is Naraku's castle, isn't it?" I asked, and she nodded. We landed on top of a roof and looked around. From every direction we suddenly heard Tenbatsu's voice, saying "Sango, Yume, so you've come. First, rid yourselves of your weapons." I grimaced, but did as he said and removed my sword from my waist, placing them on the ground. Sango did the same with her Hiraikotsu, and said "Naraku, Tenbatsu, show yourselves!" The courtyard below brightened at her words, showing Naraku sitting on the steps. Sango gasped. "The young lord from the castle!" she said.

Naraku chuckled. "Kagewaki was a fine lord, ordering for you and your fellow Slayers to have proper burials. He is still alive... at least according to those I've managed to fool into thinking I'm him." Tenbatsu stood in front of him, arms crossed as he smirked. He had taken off his cloak and now stood before us in an all-red kimono covered with glyphs in black ink, while his single wing was spread wide. Sango and I jumped down and landed in front of him. Tenbatsu's smirk grew even larger, and he spread his arms. "Welcome to Naraku's castle, my fair maidens. Now, for the final part of the exchange. Kohaku has already been left with your friends. Yume, step forward, and this whole matter will be done with," he announced.

Rather than do as he said, I said "Just answer me this question first. Tenbatsu, why do you even want to have possession of me?" "Ah, but it is for one simple thing- to restore the lost Phoenix Demon Tribe. Only you have the power to do so," he said. I blinked. Me? Seeing my expression, Tenbatsu said "Let me explain. There exists on the Continent a tribe of demon's known as the Hyoga clan. In this clan each generation absorbs the demonic power of the previous one and this increases the tribe's overall strength. The Phoenix Demon Tribe is much the same way." I frowned. "What do you mean?" I asked. "I mean that when the Phoenix Demon Tribe is but reduced to a handful of members, those remaining will inherit all the demonic power of every Phoenix Demon that came before them, passed down through the generations. In your world you are the last living descendant of the Tribe, meaning that all that unimaginable power has funneled down... into you," Tenbatsu explained.

I gasped, the full impact of his words hitting me. I had heard that the Phoenix Demon's had conquered the in the North, East and South of Japan, and only fell when they moved on the West. All that power to create just a vast empire had been passed down... to me? "But, if that's true, then why haven't I been able to use this power before?" I asked. "That is because while you now live in your true half-demon state, you never went through the ancient Ascendance Ritual," he said. I gasped, remembering what Kaede had said when she told me I was Phoenix Demon. The Ascendance Ritual was a rite of passage that all Phoenix Demon went through at the age of adolescence, or thirteen. Until the ritual was performed the Phoenix Demon in question would have no powers, no stronger than a regular human. The only reason I had the powers I did now was because Kaede had managed to awaken them in me.

But if I did go through the Ascendance Ritual... The force of the realization hit me, I fell to my knees. "No way..." Tenbatsu smiled. "Yes way. If you undergo the Ritual, you will possess the power of the entire Phoenix Tribe at your disposal," he said. While I was struggling to comprehend this, Sango stepped forward. "That still doesn't explain how you plan to make Yume help you. Even if you were to help Yume undergo this ritual, what's to stop her from refusing to help you?" she asked. "Ah, that would be my doing," Naraku said, standing. "You see, Tenbatsu and I have joined together, and I modified the version of the Ascendance Ritual he will use so that not only will your powers awaken, but your body will become that of a full demon to contain them. And not only that, but when you obtain this new body you will be under my control," he said.

I looked up at them, their full plan now coming together. I had agreed to trade myself for Kohaku, and now that they had me, they would make a full demon, unleash the powers I had dormant in me, and use them to bring back the lost Phoenix Demon Tribe. Tenbatsu smirked once more. "Now it's starting to all make sense, no? Once we have you under our power, we can rip open a hole between worlds just as your father did, and bring back all the fallen Phoenix Demons from the netherworld. But they won't be mere imitations. They will be flesh and blood living demons! The Phoenix Demon tribe will live on!" he called, grinning maniacally. I looked up at my grandfather, seeing him revel in his idea of bringing back his, our, tribe.

The sight of it filled me with rage, and I glared at him. "If you think I'm going to let you turn me into your slave..." I said, and they both looked at me. "Think again!" I yelled, launching myself forward while my hands burst into flames. Kirara flew at Naraku and bit into his shoulder, but then a toxic vapor burst from the wound and hit Kirara. "Kirara!" Sango called, seeing her companion fall to the ground and change back into her smaller form. Tenbatsu frowned and moved back, saying "I wouldn't do that. Kohaku's life could very well depend on what you choice to do." I froze at that, and hung my head, lowering my arms. Naraku smiled at that. He knew that they weren't holding all the cards, but they did have just the one to stop me.

"Good. Now, back to what we were doing," Tenbatsu said, snapping his fingers. The ground around me glowed before Tenbatsu conjured a fireball into the air. Once it was above me the fireball burst apart and rained down, hitting the ground and burning a circle in it along with glyphs and symbols from dozens of different languages. "Yume!" Sango called. She began to run for me, but then Naraku stopped her. "If you wish for Kohaku to live, you will not interfere," he said. I looked back at her. "Sango, it's okay," I said, before looking forward. "If I let you do this, then you agree to change Kohaku back to the way he was, and give up all control over him?" I asked. Tenbatsu nodded. "Absolutely," he said. The circle was complete, it was actually two circle, in between which were the spell symbols that I knew would bind me to him and Naraku.

Tenbatsu reached into his sleeve and pulled out a red scroll, unrolling it and looking back and forth. The pictures matched, and he smiled. "At last, after so many years the moment has come. Let us begin with the Phoenix Demon Ascendance Ritual!" he called. I looked at Sango, who's expression was one of torture. She had seen the vacant expression in Kohaku's eyes, and feared that I would have the same thing in mine. But I was willing to give up even my freedom if it meant Sango could have her brother back.

Outside of the castle Inuyasha and the others were still running, following the scents of me and Sango. They reached the castle, and stopped. "Is this the castle where Naraku has been hiding?" Miroku asked. "Looks like. I can smell Yume and Sango on the inside..." Inuyasha began, before trailing off. "What?" Shippo asked. "I also smell something... burning?" Inuyasha said, confused. Just then they saw the the fireball Tenbatsu conjured explode, and needed no further incentive. "Let's go!" Inuyasha said, leaping upwards. Miroku followed him, and the three of them landed on the roof. They looked at the courtyard, and they did the same. They could see me in the middle of the circle and Sango watch, but then she heard them approach and looked up.

"Inuyasha! You have to stop help stop them!" she called. "Keh. No need to tell me! Naraku!" he called, letting down Kagome and Shippo and drawing the Tetsuaiga. He leaped forward and I looked, my eyes widening. "Inuyasha!" I called. Tenbatsu frowned, and looked up. "Tenbatsu, Naraku, it's time I killed the both of you! Die!" he called, and swung at Naraku. He moved out of the way and then dodged a sacred Sutra thrown by Miroku, who was also jumping down. Kagome picked up the Hiraikotsu, managing to carry it with both hands despite its weight, while Shippo grabbed my swords and they all jumped. Naraku chuckled. "It's too late. Yume has already agreed to join us in exchange for Kohaku," he said. Kagome gasped, looking at me. "Is that true?" she asked. I nodded sadly. "In exchange for me, they were willing to offer Kohaku," I said.

Inuyasha scowled. So they had been right. But before he could call Naraku any of the curses running through his head, he heard the sound of something rushing at him from behind and jumping, Kohaku's kusarigama hitting the ground where he had been standing. We all looked to see him standing, conscious once more even though his eyes were still empty. I turned to Tenbatsu. "Hey! You said that if I greed to this then you would change Kohaku back!" I called. "I did say that I would change him back, yes," he replied, before smiling. "But I made no such promise," Naraku finished. I was about to attack when Tenbatsu snapped his finger, and the black lines making up the circle around me glowed red, a pair of chain bursting from the ground and wrapping around me wrists.

"What the-?" I began, and he chuckled. "Just to make sure you have no second thoughts. The deal has been resolved. Now to awaken the powers within you," he said, rising his arms. "Fat chance I'm letting that happen!" Inuyasha called, jumping at Tenbatsu again. But with a flick of his hand Tenbatsu willed another set of chains to burst from the ground, one wrapping around Inuyasha ankle while another went around his neck. Inuyasha shouted and was slammed into the ground, also unable to get any closer. Miroku tried to throw another Sutra but was stopped in much the same way, a pair of chains around his arms at the elbow. Two got Kagome around the ankles, and one even wrapped around Shippo's stomach. Tenbatsu laughed, seeing us all immobilized.

"I didn't spend the last two hundred years twiddling my thumbs. Even though I may not be strong enough to bring back my tribe alone, I'm more than strong enough to subdue all of you," he said, before turning back to me. "Now, let us begin," he said. He placed the scroll on the ground in front of him to read from, and raised his arms again. Immediately he slipped from speaking English to go back and forth from a dozen different languages, chanting in all of them. I wasn't surprised. The legend of the Phoenix existed in almost every part of the world. It would make sense it's greatest ritual possessed parts of each place. I struggled harder against the chains but the wouldn't budge. As Tenbatsu spoke the marks on the ground began glowing as well, spinning around, as waves of heat began to come off of them.

"Yume! No!" Sango called, staring at me. If getting Kohaku back meant that this had to happen, she didn't want it. But there was nothing she could do now. It was out of her hands. But then, just as I began to feel something rise within me, I heard the snap of a bow, and Tenbatsu leaped into the air as he just barely dodged being hit by an arrow. We looked to see Kagome standing there, bow in hand. "Tenbatsu! No way are you going to turn Yume into your slave! Now die!" she called, pulling out another arrow and firing. This one passed by his head by the width of a wire, and grimaced. The others chained he had conjured were taking up too much of his energy to maintain, and he couldn't call any more. "I guess I won't have Yume this time. Naraku, do with these fools as you will. I'm leaving," he said, grabbing the scroll from the ground and flying away.

Naraku frowned angrily. He had needed Tenbatsu to perform the Ascendance Ritual; there was no one else who could. Gritting his teeth and turned back to the rest of us, and from the ground around him a massive miasma appeared. It enveloped him and the rest of us, and from within he called "Foolish mortals! Now die in this sea of poison!" The miasma rushed at us, and Kohaku was enveloped in a red aura as he rose into the air. "Sango reached out for him, calling "Kohaku!" But he didn't respond, and soon he couldn't be seen through the miasma. Undeterred by the swirling toxicity around us, Kagome drew another arrow. Naraku had a large number of Sacred Jewel Shards. If she could just find them- There! "Naraku, you're totally despicable! Take this!" she called, and fired.

The arrow sailed through the miasma and emitted a white glow, until it pierced through a building to the side and exploded. Naraku was inside, and his eyes widened. "This woman... Her spiritual power is just the same as Kikyo's!" he though. "I won't let you go! Not even if you beg for forgiveness!" Kagome called, and fired one more arrow. It flew straight at Naraku and burnt a hole in his front. It hovered in the air as it threatening to go through, and Naraku fought it's power. "This is Kikyo's sacred arrow! That woman is...!" he said, gritting his teeth. "She did it!" Inuyasha said in amazement. "Not only did she locate Naraku but the miasma her arrows touched was purified!" Miroku said. With all his strength Naraku grabbed the arrow and flung it away, but when he did every part of his body with the exception of his head exploded.

The pieces disintegrated into more miasma that joined with the rest, swirling and trying to suck everyone in. The chains faded away from all of us at the same time, and without anything anchoring us we were almost pulled in. "Kagome!" Inuyasha called, and he grabbed her while I caught Shippo and Kirara and held them against my chest. All around us the castle began crumbling, disintegrating into nonexistence.

The next morning I awoke, groaning and looking around. "What in the-?" I said. There was absolutely no trace of the castle remaining, and the sun was shining high in the sky. I groaned and sat up, looking around. Inuyasha and Miroku were already awake, and after a few seconds so was Kagome, Shippo and Sango. "The castle disappeared!" Shippo said. "It must have been a phantom castle," Kagome said. "Did Naraku get away?" Inuyasha asked. "Yes. I don't sense his Sacred Jewel Shards anymore," Kagome told him. "I see..." he said, placing his hands on his hips and looking at the sky. Kagome looked at the ground. "I'm sorry. I couldn't finish him off," she said. "There's no need to apologize. Without you, we'd all be dead," Miroku said.

"The pervert's got a point," I added. Inuyasha knelt next to her. "Kagome, I've never seen you do something like that before," he said. Kagome clenched her hands, still looking at the ground. "Inuyasha... we have to destroy Naraku. No matter what happens, we have to work together," she said. Behind her Sango stood and turned away from us, walking off. I knew what was happening, and ran after her. "Sango, don't! Don't leave!" I said, placing a hand on her shoulder. She looked back at me, sad. "I'm sorry. I can't stay with here any longer," she said. I smiled. "Sango, I don't care that I was almost made a full demon. I was willing to do that for you," I said. "That's why-!" she began shouting, before stopping herself.

She looked away. "Something like that will end up happening again. As long as Naraku has Kohaku under his control...!" she said. "Do you intend to go after Naraku alone?" Miroku asked. "it's the only way," she replied. I tightened my grip and her shoulder, turning her around so I could look her in the eye. "Sango, he's not the kind of opponent you could handle by yourself. We'll all work to save your brother," I said. "But..." she began. Inuyasha growled. "Would you stop arguing?! We want you to stay 'cause you fight well!" he yelled. Sango stopped, and Miroku smiled. "See? Even Inuyasha doesn't want you to leave," he said. Inuyasha scoffed, saying "You make me sound like some sort of half-wit." "No, you're just generous," Miroku countered. "Sango, do you not like being with us?" Kagome asked.

"This all happened because of me. It might end up happening again, and..." Sango said, before I both my other hand on her other shoulder, and looked at her straight in the eye. My gaze said everything. Even with that possibility, we still wanted her stay. I wanted her to stay. Seeing the truth in my eyes Sango finally broken down, wrapping her arms around me and burying her head into my chest, sobbing. I held her and gently stroked her hair. "It'll be alright, Sango," I said softly. "Yume's right," Kagome said. "We're with you now."

And so, Wings of the Phoenix has come to an end! NOOOO! But soon to come is the sequel itself, so stay tuned!

Please review! If you flame me Liam Neeson will look for you, he will find you, and he will kill you. (I'm just kidding... or am I?)