The Love Spell: A Sesshomaru x Kagome Fanfiction

Chapter 12: Let the Battle Begin

"It's time, Kagome." Inuyasha's words could mean a plethora of things, but in truth it could only really hold one meaning. The one thing that Kagome was waiting for but still hoped would never come. The one thing that sent a shiver of both fear and determination through her body. The one thing that marked the end but also the beginning.

"Naraku?" No one to confirm it verbally but she needed to hear the words spoken out loud.

"Yeah." Inuyasha stepped forward and the weight of all those years of shard hunting and friendship felt like a boulder weighing down on to her chest. The pain, the love, the life they shared together was all in preparation for this moment. Things couldn't always go according to plan. Actually, they never went according to plan, but still, they made it. Kagome felt raw emotion mounting within her as she watched the hardened amber eyes draw closer as her best friend approached her. This was it.

Once Inuyasha stood before her, he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. A meaningful squeeze and words that would forever remain unspoken passed between them, the friends that defied the boundary of time.

"Tomorrow" Inuyasha looked into the kind gaze of his first friend, of the first person who opened their heart to him with no resignation or prejudice, of his precious Kagome. How could he ask such a gentle creature to be a part of what was to come? Regardless of her strength, Kagome was a gentle soul, not suited for the battlefield. Yet, Inuyasha saw no hesitance in those big, blue eyes, just acceptance. Like always.

"Tomorrow we fight."

...

Kagome sat by the fire with a blank look in her eyes as she watched the stew she was making for everyone come to a boil. They spent the entire day discussing things like battle strategies and fighting tactics but it still didn't feel real to her. She still couldn't believe the war they were racing towards all these years was right before her eyes, that by tomorrow's end their battle would be over—win or lose.

The day began, after a very tense gathering of the allies, with Kagome and Sesshomaru being informed of what transpired during their absence. In the two short days Kagome was at home, Naraku managed to find the last remaining jewel shard, leaving a jewel-less Kohaku to be abandoned with just enough energy to seek out Kikyo and tell the dead priestess about his plans before dying at her feet. It was tragic but Kohaku's sacrifice granted them the knowledge necessary to prevent a catastrophe from occurring.

Apparently, tomorrow was a special day, a 'holy' day, where the heavens will be in alignment causing both the sun and the moon to appear in the sky at the same time. This celestial event will serve as the medium for which Naraku plans to take all of Japan under his control. By using Byakuya's dream casting, Naraku plans to place everyone, youkai and humans alike, under a permanent illusion, an enforced dream that will seep into the very conciseness of all living things and steal away the people's free will. All will live and breathe to serve Naraku's every whim. In the bastard's own words, "I will be their one and only. Their everything. Their god."

In this state, if Naraku was to appear before them, nothing would stop them from falling to their knees and offering the last few shards of the Shikon Jewel to him. The spider would then be able to restore the Jewel and make his final wish, whatever that could be.

A shiver of fear raked down Kagome's spine. It was simply too evil for her to have ever considered the possibility of such a plan, but that just showed how naive the miko truly was. Evil was not Naraku. Naraku was evil. Pure evil without a flicker of light to penetrate the abysmal chasm of his corrupted soul. It was with this final realization that Kagome's stare hardened with resolution. Naraku could not be allowed to succeed. He could not be allowed to live.