After All

Chapter 1

Kagome panted as she kneeled before the decaying remains of Naraku. The sounds of the final battle raged on around her as Sesshomaru's army finished off the rest of the spider demon's minions.

The Miko lifted a battered hand to wipe away the blood that had trickled into her eye from a gash on her head, flicking it away so she could see properly again. Her hand flared in pain as her broken fingers moved but she ignored it. She kept her cold blue eyes on her enemy. 

She wouldn't let him escape again.

She slowly made her way to her feet, using her bow as a support. She stumbled slightly as a wave of vertigo hit her from her blood loss, but was able to catch herself with the steadying hand of Inuyasha. 

The Hanyo helped her limp her way over to Naraku's body, the two of them watching as his demonic body burned away, the toxic flesh becoming ash that fluttered in the wind. Soon it was all gone, leaving only the scared and emaciated body of Onigumo.

The Reiki that had been used to kill him slowly began to eat away at the frail human body as well, as it had been so tainted by demonic blood that it was no longer considered human to the Holy powers. 

Inuyasha helped Kagome kneel down beside the body before stepping away, knowing that he was not needed for this next part. He had gotten his revenge during the battle, so he had no need for the dying man before him.

Dull brown eyes glared up at the woman with such malice that any other person in the Miko's place would have turned to stone in fear. Chapped and wrinkled lips parted, showing off decayed teeth.

“One day…. Priestess. One day…. I will find you, and make you regret… ever crossing my path,” He rasped with shuttery breaths.

Kagome said nothing, only watching the man's face as he writhed in agony. The pink flames had reached his face now, slowly burning away at the skin of his cheeks and forehead.

The woman folded her hands in a prayer, praying to the gods that whatever humanity still resided in Onigumo be protected. She hated the demon for all of the horrors he had committed over the last five years, but she couldn't ignore that he was once a human man, driven into madness by the hardships he had faced.

He had no excuse, but she still held some kindness in her heart for what he had been, long long ago.

Soon, all of the ashes blew away in the wind, leaving only scorched earth and a black spherical jewel beneath where he had just been. 

Kagome's non-injured hand reached forward, gently picking up the jewel, which pulsed with life. She could feel the eternal battle rage within its spherical confines, the darkness within beginning to win.

The priestess frowned, forcing some of her Reiki into her hand to cleanse the jewel, and restore strength to the Holy powers battling within.

The jewel glowed alongside her hand, first a dark purple, then a violet, before it exploded in pure pink light.

Kagome swayed as she cut off her power, vaguely noticing a feeling of thanks coming from Lady Midoriko in the jewel.

Strong arms wrapped around her middle as she fell to the side, exhausted from the long battle that had gone on three days and three nights.

Blue eyes looked up into gold, a smile coming to her face as she looked up at her teacher.

“Kagome,” Inuyasha shouted from beside her, glaring at his brother's arms that were wrapped around his friend.

“I'm fine, Inuyasha. No need to yell,” Kagome smiled. Her eyes began to drift shut, finally able to relax now that the war was over.

“You did well, My Lady,” Miroku spoke gently as he hobbled over to them, his one arm supporting Sango and her now broken Hiraikotsu, while his other arm used his Monk's staff as a walking stick.