In my Father's footsteps

©Copyright 2010

Lady Nefertiti.

Last time: "Eek..that means we have to go in there? In him?" Ayame said looking grossed out. "So let's discuss that awesome plan of yours Sesshomaru." Inuyasha said.

WARNING: CHARACTER DEATH

Chapter 22: Naraku's Deed and Epilogue

"I told you that you don't have to go and perhaps shouldn't go and fight Ayame." Kouga said. True enough, the spider ball was creepy looking and would make anyone queasy.

"So the plan is for Kouga to attack alongside…." Sesshomaru began.

"I say to hell with the plan of yours and we all attack at once to get rid of the bastard! All for one and one for all!" Inuyasha said cutting in, pulling his sword out and waving it with emphasis. Sango shifted on her other foot and gazed at Senjou, standing next to her, who had narrowed his eyes at the hanyou, sometimes not believing he was related to his lord, Sesshomaru.

"Something isn't right about this." Kagome said in a soft voice as she watched Sesshomaru and Inuyasha glaring at each other, looking away from the spider ball for a second. They should stop their bickering and pay attention to what was important. Kagura wasn't paying attention to any of this; rather she seemed preoccupied, her body tense. Was something coming towards them perhaps? Was she lying to them maybe and this was a set-up? And that she was still working for Naraku?

"Kagura…" Kagome began softly. She needed to know the truth but it wasn't right for her to be pointing fingers at her either.

"I sense the bastard Naraku's scent all around us now! He's playing with us!" Kouga said, glaring and looking everywhere. Suddenly tentacles shot out of the spider-ball and all thoughts of planning flew out the window as everyone jumped away in time before the impact of the tentacles hit them. Kouga had grabbed Ayame, Sesshomaru had Kagome, Senjou had Sango, Miroku and Inuyasha were just alone and then after the blow, after all the dust cleared, there was a loud scream that pierced the air. Assuming the worst they all looked up to see Kagura on her knees bleeding to death…through her chest…yet an odd and calm smile on her face.

"Kagura…oh no!" Kagome said as she covered her mouth with her kimono sleeve looking horrified. She was about to run up to her to see if she could help but froze when Kagura told her to stop where she was. "Sesshomaru do something!" Kagome exclaimed as she saw her newfound friend dying before her eyes, tears in her eyes. How? Why? Was he so cruel as to taunt and kill his own allies? And that he didn't trust them?

Sesshomaru pulled out Tenseiga and was all about to revive her, per request of his mate and also a look in his eyes…was it mild confusion and a hint of grief for her? Or disgust of the predicament she had landed herself in? Her own master had the gall to kill her even after she did all of his bidding? Truly the spider hanyou cared not about his own minions, rather just himself.

"No. I…" Kagura said in a gasping breath, holding a hand on her heart thought as she stared at him. 'Sesshomaru….I'm just glad I got to see you one last time…..' Kagura thought as she pitched forward and slumped down, dying. The wind blew a bit faster and she faded—the wind dying down after. Truly she was now free-one with the wind.

Ayame screamed clutching Kouga's arm for dear life and Sango just looked away as Senjou rubbed her back, a glare from Miroku. "Oi! This just fuels the fact that we need to attack all at once! Listen to me my people!" Inuyasha said raising a fist as if he was delivering a speech to 'move' all of them.

'…..'

"Oh Sesshomaru…" Kagome said staring at what would have been Kagura a minute or two ago. Truly they needed to get rid of Naraku once and for all. He had most of the shards. She then looked at Kouga. "Kouga…I'm going to need your shards but that is after we defeat Naraku of course."

-Naraku-

He looked through Kanna's mirror thoughtfully. "So it seems as though my little wind witch, the traitor has finally died. What a shame…although I can deal with the tragic loss." He said smirking evilly which even Kanna shivered at…although it could be expected of him, to hold multiple personalities, he was made up of lots and lots of demons after all. He chuckled and prepared to get battle ready. They would be here soon and he had the perfect plan…divided they fall. "Ku-Ku-Ku…"

-Back to the inu-tachi-

Without a single other thought they all barged into Naraku's spider ball thing together….and to think it was Sesshomaru who was supposed to be the one calling the shots. Inuyasha destroyed a part (wall) of the spider ball, destroying the barrier that surrounded it and then used his 'wind scar' and they all entered silently, thinking that Naraku hadn't noticed them yet.

"Oh gross! It's like we're in his body!" Sango whispered loudly and was about to poke something that looked like Naraku's flesh, before Senjou pulled her away. It might be dangerous and poisonous after all. Sesshomaru pulled Kagome close to his body and then everyone coughed as a smoke/fog came and clouded everything. Then flashes of light came and everyone was pulled apart, dividing everyone. Luckily when everyone was pulled apart some were holding each other and disappeared together and an evil laugh resounded through the walls.

-First divided couple (well sort of a couple)-

"Everyone has been divided! What an underhanded trick! Although I wouldn't put it past him!"Sango hissed looking around for Kagome or even Kouga and Ayame.

"Hn." Senjou said looking at her, making sure she was alright before gazing at anything else. His mate…would be mate anyway.

"Oh my head. Did you all make it alright?" Miroku asked looking pointedly at only Sango.

"Oh hell no! not you! Why can't you like melt into a puddle of mush? Or why didn't you get sucked in with Inuyasha somewhere?" Sango said pointing at him as Senjou, who was standing behind her, wrapped his arms around her for comfort and to let her know he was here for her and growled at the other male who was looking at her.

-Second divided couple-

"Kouga..Kouga are you there?" Ayame whispered. It was dark in this creepy 'body' and she'd lost sight of her future mate!

(Cough) (Cough) "Ayame are you alright?" Kouga said in a raspy breath and stood up.

"Yeah…did anyone get sucked in with us?" Ayame said. But there was no other response and this was hardly the time to think of romantic things to do with Kouga because they were alone….damn that Naraku. If Ayame had her way, she'd skin him alive with those claws of hers.

-Third divided demon, Inuyasha-

"Oh damnit!" Inuyasha coughed as he brushed debris off his fire rat haori. That was one fall and great he was all alone. Huh? "eeep!" Inuyasha said backing away falling on his butt. Creepy he was on a cliff inside Naraku! Grinning suddenly he crawled forward and yelled (echoing) "Oi! Can anyone hear me? Hello? Can you all hear me?"

-Fourth divided couple, Sesshomaru and Kagome-

Sesshomaru stood up and brushed himself off. He looked around to see his where he and his mate, Kagome had ended up. Hearing a cough and a mumbled swear word (an eye raise from him) from her he held his hand out to her as she came to stand beside him. "So where are we?" Kagome said. Everyone had been separated. Kagome blinked as she turned around suddenly. She could feel the presence of jewel shards, two maybe three? coming from nearby. That meant that Kouga was nearby.

"Kagome. Stay here. I shall be back." He said as he turned the other way. Kagome's eyebrow twitched at that. "No way you are leaving me right now mister!" Kagome said as she grabbed a hold of his mokomoko while he raced away. "You hear me? Oi! Slow down!" he said as she held tightly to his mokomoko. "Sesshomaru!" Kagome screeched not caring if it hurt his ears. Suddenly he stopped and Kagome 'flew' right at him and both landed on the ground, Kagome on top as she glared down at him. "why did you stop?" she hissed then heard what he did.

"Oi! Can anyone hear me? Hello? Can you all hear me?"

"Inuyasha…" Kagome said softly. He was nearby. Sesshomaru sat up, Kagome in his lap as he sighed burying his nose in Kagome's hair.

"Kagome…" he said nuzzling her neck.

"Not that this is enjoyable dearest…but this is hardly the time!" Kagome said pushing him away. Where did he get off….They were here in danger, trying to vanquish evil! Men….they really had a one-track mind. Sighing he stood up, taking Kagome up with him and walked hand in hand towards Inuyasha, he'd figured out where he was yelling from so he, Sesshomaru, thought that he could have a little playtime with his mate…no perhaps later.

"About time you two got here! I thought you had superior hearing and all Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha said from the edge of the cliff.

Kagome clenched her jaw. "Inuyasha… (he panicked at the tone) don't make me s-i-t you, we do need you for battle."

Their heads turned around as they heard a possessive growl. "You monk will leave my mate alone…" It was Senjou and a Sango (sighing at the fighting males) being dragged along with him.

"You are a vile and filthy…" Miroku said narrowing his eyes.

"You are a disgrace to your kind! Trying to steal other people's women…come to think of it, you are a monk…and monks aren't even supposed to…." Senjou said.

"Guys!" Sango said getting annoyed and then smiled widely at seeing the three at the top of the cliff and waved. "Hey everyone! and my lady! It's good to see you well!"

"Sango-chan!" Kagome said merrily waving back as if they were on a picnic or something.

Inuyasha gave her a look shaking his head. "Okay now that everyone's re-acquainted back can we please get down to business?"

"Indeed." Sesshomaru said. As everyone got to the cliff, they knew that they couldn't 'speak' the plan out loud; Naraku would hear them and find some way to use it against them. Suddenly a whirlwind blew towards them and everyone got into the defensive, but out of the whirlwind came Kouga, holding a freaked out looking Ayame. She'd never ridden by 'whirlwind' before. Suddenly they all felt it, it was a large portion of power; evil demonic aura… had to be Shikon and Naraku coming their way. Sesshomaru looked at Kagome's determined face. She was going to do it even though it was dangerous. He couldn't stop her…it was her responsibility. It brought him to a memory as he looked at his mate.

-Flashback-

"My son…do you have anything or anyone you wish to protect?"

"I have nothing nor anyone that I need to protect." He said.

His father shook his head inwardly. 'You will learn one day my son….'

-End flashback-

To protect. He had not seen it then. He had not known what his father had meant. Too hell bent on power, despising the human princess Izayoi and his father for mating her, his mother's recent death clouded his thoughts and judgement on what was important as he saw it now. His role as alpha and leader of the pack…he had responsibilities that he never would've thought were important.

Rin….

His mate Kagome…

His pack….All together fighting for a cause. It made him feel warm and fuzzy inside and he didn't like it…..

"Oi! Baka are you paying attention to the enemy here? Stop staring at Kagome, yes we all know you love her and she's good looking but here comes Naraku!" Inuyasha said. Leave it to Sesshomaru to space out at a time like this.

"Ku-ku-ku…my my….all of you, some being enemies too, have teamed up in order to destroy just me? I should be honored." Naraku said in an eerie voice.

"Shut up!" Inuyasha said waving his sword at him. Everyone knew it. This was no puppet. It had to be him—and it was time to destroy him once and for all.

Naraku, ignoring the hanyou, continued. "You all have lost admit it, I have nearly the entire Shikon and you Kagome have three shards and you wolf have only two left jabbed in your legs, I had the one in your arm removed." Naraku smirked at Kouga's growl. Of this, he knew all too well. He took out the Shikon from his pocket and revealed it to the pack—everyone's eyes riveted on the tainted jewel. "Ah yes…pretty isn't it? The jewel that will make me the most powerful, the most feared, hated and admired demon in all the land. You wish to hear about my plan? On how I will take over the world? Well okay then. After I finish the….." Naraku started.

"Not really." Sango mumbled. Really Naraku was way too full of himself. Too arrogant and cocky that he wasn't even paying attention to… hmmm….She looked at everyone and they were having the same thought.

"…Shikon Jewel then I will finish the rest of you off or maybe my spider ball will just suffocate and blow the rest of you up if I feel merciful but….." Naraku continued.

Everyone got their weapons ready as Naraku babbled on about how wonderful he was and what his plans on taking over the world was. Sango pulled out her boomerang, Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, Senjou readied their swords for their special attacks. Miroku pulled out his holy sutras and had his staff ready just in case he needed to hit Naraku across the head. Kagome pulled out an arrow and readied her bow. This arrow was special—given to her by Kikyo, it held the holy powers of Midoriko, Kikyo and Kagome. No way were they letting Naraku win this time. Kouga was there to 'fill in' in case anyone got hurt and Ayame wasn't fighting, an order from Kouga that they had plenty of people already.

"…I am only keeping Kagome alive so she can be my mate, the powerful Shikon Miko and then we will rule of the lands together." Naraku finished. He looked at the group to see what their reactions to his plan was, Sesshomaru would probably go all demon on him but that's not what he saw.

"Naraku!" Everyone yelled. Everyone threw their weapons/attacks at him at the same time and Naraku had no time to move or think of a plan to get away…he was injured from their attack. At this time Kagome, standing a ways away from the group, protected, closed her eyes and called the jewel towards her. She concentrated and muttered something that sounded like a chant and the jewel in Naraku's hand started to purify and glow pink. He screamed as the holy powers started to purify his hand. Too stunned and paralyzed to move—the jewel streaked towards Kagome and disappeared into her, back in her body from where it came from. She then glared at Naraku saying "Die Naraku!" and aimed her arrow.

"GO!" Kagome said and with a 'twang' the arrow flew towards him with the power and force of three Miko's Midoriko, Kikyo and Kagome. There was an agonizing loud scream/screech (the rest of the demons ran for cover—they had no desire to be purified) a bright flash of light, Naraku fell to dust and was no more. There was tense silence as everyone waited with a bated breath but nothing else happened.

Kagome huffed as Sesshomaru walked over as assessed her up and down to make sure she was okay then she gave him a tight hug, a sigh of relief. It was over. Finally. Letting go of Sesshomaru she walked over to Kouga and he handed over his shards from his legs, knowing this day would come, and she took her three shards from around her neck and fused them all together as everyone watched in fascination as they disappeared into her body.

Inuyasha 'keh'd' and put his sword back in its scabbard and said, "Well I guess there's no bad guy to destroy anymore." Everyone stared at him and started to laugh alongside him.

Suddenly there was a huge blast and then everyone looked at each other and started running, looking for the exit. Naraku-the spider ball was going to blow soon. Sesshomaru grabbed Kagome, Inuyasha grabbed Sesshomaru's mokomoko to which he, Inuyasha would receive a few 'bops' on the head later because no one touched Sesshomaru's mokomoko or his person except Kagome. Everyone jumped out of the spider ball before it collapsed and away from Naraku's miasma. They all watched from the western borders as the miasma spewed and was no more. Naraku was gone for good.

Now there was nowhere to go but back home. Kagome and Sesshomaru led their newfound pack back to his castle. "Err…" Inuyasha started but brought up the rear as Kouga and Ayame walked alongside him.

"Indeed this Sesshomaru follows in his father's footsteps although I am glad that I did." Sesshomaru said smirking, tipping and kissing Kagome soundly in front of everyone. Ayame blushed as she dragged Kouga back to the western palace with her…Kouga oddly didn't seem to put up a fight.

"Oh damn! Gross!" Inuyasha said looking elsewhere. Everyone chuckled as they walked to the western fortress, their hearts lighter since Naraku was gone.

"So hey Sesshomaru…can I now hang out at your place now? You have taken my pack from me, Sango's with Senjou now, Kagome's with you and I can't stay with the old Kaede all the time she like drives me up the wall sometimes!" Inuyasha said looking at him hopefully.

"Hn." Sesshomaru said looking at him.

"What does that tell me?" Inuyasha said looking confused.

-Epilogue-

The pack was visiting Kaede's village, Edo as it was called now. Rin had come to stay in the village for a while, with humans and to train as she showed Miko potential much to the surprise of Sesshomaru and happiness of Kagome. Kagome was sitting, in Miko garb picking herbs and putting them in her basket as Sesshomaru walked up to her watching his beloved mate. "Where have you been?" Kagome said as she looked at him suspiciously. He had this mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha said 'flying' through the sky and pulling his sword out ready to attack him.

"You imbecile. I can kill you with my new attack Baku…." Sesshomaru started.

"Nuh-uh! I'll cut your arm off again and feed it to…." Inuyasha started.

"No one's killing or cutting anyone! Sit boy!"

(BOOM!)

"$%^$#^%#$%#$#!"

"(Sigh) are the two at it again?" Sango said walking as Senjou walked alongside her for protection.

"Yes. Sango how are you feeling?" Kagome said standing up and brushing herself off.

"The baby's almost due. The last few weeks were the worst." Sango said smiling.

"Really? How so?" Kagome said.

"You're going to have a hanyou!" Miroku said. Senjou glared at him. Unfortunately he did not have permission to kill this Monk-his mate's orders. Pity.

"That's how." Sango said shaking her head as she watched Senjou and Miroku fight letting them duke it out. Kagome chuckled as she watched Inuyasha and Sesshomaru glare each other down.

"Males…can't live with them. Can't live without them….." She said.

"Kagome! Call off your dog!" Inuyasha said jumping away from Sesshomaru before he was singed by his poison.

Lady Nefertiti: please read and review for my last chapter!

Rei and Yusuke: "you forgot about us!"

Rei: "Yeah I'm still in trouble remember? At the dojo in the west?

Lady Nefertiti: "Oh yeah….hmm perhaps I'll make a sequel called, 'In my father's footsteps-the sequel and kill you both in the first chapter of that. How's that sound?"

Yusuke: "Did you have to remind her? Now she's going to do away with us you idiot!"

-Both guys start fist fight as Lady Nefertiti sweat-drops-