Sango's legs moved quickly, her speed unhindered by the enormous boomerang she carried. On her two sides, Miroku and Kirara kept apace, while Shippou rode on the large cat's back. They were giving chase to Sango's younger brother, Kohaku, as he had suddenly retreated. They noticed in alarm where they were headed. Even from the distance they stood, they saw the unmistakable form of Naraku. Their eyes widened further at the figure that stood before the evil hanyou. Sesshoumaru. Why the youkai would be facing Naraku was unknown. They had not seen the youkai prince since the incident with Kagome. Sango clenched her teeth together in frustration. If she let Kohaku reach Naraku then he would once again be subject to the hanyou's power. Naraku would be able to use him to threaten them all once again. There was no way that Sango was going to let that happen again. She threw hiraikotsu at the boy and quickened her pace. As she had predicted, Kohaku jumped to dodge the huge boomerang and she also leaped towards him at the same instant. The blow she planned managed to connect with the back of his neck, knocking him out upon impact.
"Kirara!"
The large cat swooped under the two falling humans and deftly caught them on her back. With her usual feline grace, Kirara landed softly and Sango lifted the unconscious boy off her back. Miroku checked Kohaku over and confirmed that the boy was uninjured to a relieved Sango. They were still at a loss of what to do with Sango's little brother though. Once he regained consciousness, Kohaku would once again be under Naraku's control. The only way to save the boy was to kill Naraku, freeing him from the hanyou's control. The fact that there was a Shikon shard in his body was a problem they would have to solve later. Having so decided, they tied Kohaku to a nearby tree so he could not interfere with the inevitable battle. And so, with Kohaku's peacefully sleeping face in her mind, Sango and the others prepared to confront Naraku.
* * * * * *
Sango's small group arrived on the scene as Sesshoumaru and Naraku watched on. The youkai watched their approach without expression while the other smiled and bid them welcome. The sight of the evil hanyou smiling sent a chill along Sango's spine even as she glared at the being that had destroyed her way of life. Beside her, she sensed the tension in Miroku's stance and if Sango had seen his eyes, she would have seen the hard look the houshi directed at Naraku. Shippou looked on with fear at the evil being before him, clutching the transformed Kirara's mane tightly.
"My, my, if it isn't Sango and Miroku with their little friends. How nice of you to show up. And here comes Inuyasha, right on time."
Naraku finished his taunt just as Inuyasha leapt into battle, taking a mighty swing with Tetsusaiga. The demon sword was repelled by the powerful barrier erected by Naraku. The force of Inuyasha's blow caused the raging hanyou to be blown back a distance. Dragging one clawed hand in the ground, Inuyasha slowed the momentum until he came to a crouched stop. Raising furious eyes to Naraku, he prepared to attack but was brought to a halt by the evil being's words. Naraku fairly chuckled as all those around him gave him their attention.
"Now, almost everyone that should be here has arrived." Glancing around at the enemies, Naraku smirked. "Don't you think it's high time to show yourself? Kikyo."
Sesshoumaru watched dispassionately as the woman walked out of the house. The hurt shock on Inuyasha's face disgusted him. As the undead miko stoically descended the steps Sesshoumaru wondered how the hanyou could be food enough to trust one who hated him and wanted him life. But in the end, it mattered not what his brother thought of this woman. For daring to threaten the life of his lifemate, she will be destroyed. If I hadn't been there that time... Sesshoumaru was nothing, if not protective of those under his care. From what Kagome had told him of this Kikyo, there was no doubt that Sesshoumaru would have to destroy the miko even if Kikyo had not made an attempt his mate's life. The doll of dirt and bones was animated because it possessed a part of Kagome's soul. The affect of missing a part of one's soul was, to his knowledge, unpredictable. He would not risk any danger to Kagome that missing part of soul could do to his lifemate.
Kikyo came to a stop beside Naraku who was still lounging on the stairs to the building. Although the undead miko had appeared to be fine, upon reaching Naraku's side, she collapsed. Naraku chuckled at the sight of Kikyo sprawled before him, straining to get into a sitting position. She glared at the evil hanyou with hateful rage as the evil hanyou tsked at the look in her eyes. Naraku grasped her chin firmly and almost gently, tilted her face up. A moment of panicked fear flashed in Kikyo's eyes, as Naraku's face loomed closer to her own.
Sesshoumaru thought Inuyasha looked as if he would like nothing better than to be able to reach over and cut off Naraku's offending hand. Luckily for the miko, rash though he may be, even Inuyasha realized that in their predicament Naraku could easily kill her before Inuyasha could even come close to them. Surprisingly, Sesshoumaru felt a flash of sympathy for Inuyasha as the hanyou whipped his face away from the scene before them. The Lord of the Western Lands could almost imagine his own mate in such a situation. As it would turn out, just as Kikyo's and Naraku's faces were about to touch, the evil hanyou turned slightly to the side. Instead of the expected kiss, they saw Kikyo's lips purse in rage as Naraku whispered in her ear, his face buried in the miko's hair.
"Expecting something else? Ah, my dear Kikyo you will watch as I destroy Inuyasha. I wonder what will become of you when the one whom your hate for was so great that you returned to this world, no longer exists."
Then, with a chilling laugh, Naraku suddenly went a wave of energy at the miko. The force of the impact sent Kikyo hurtling into a well, dried out a long time ago. Despite the hard blow, the long dead miko, managed to retain consciousness. Inuyasha shouted Kikyo's name and fairly roared with rage as he swung the transformed Tetsusaiga at Naraku. The fury seemed to give Inuyasha more strength as Tetsusaiga swung more ferociously than before. The evil hanyou smirked as Inuyasha's blow was held by his barrier. Instead of being hurtled backward, Inuyasha stubbornly pressed the demon blade more intensely causing the fang to glow blood red. Shocked disbelief lit Naraku's features as his barrier weakened, then completely dissipated under Tetsusaiga's assault.