The Awakening by Raeanna Red Roses

The Final Battle

Well, this is my first Inuyasha fic in a long time. The first one didn't work out that well, so I'm hoping that this one will be different. Please read and review and enjoy! =^ ^=

Disclaimer: Not mine, please don't sue.

Chapter 1: The Final Battle

If anyone had been watching the old well that night, what they saw probably would have confused them. First came an overstuffed yellow backpack, torn in various places, and covered in a dark substance that might have been--and probably was--blood. Next was a boy with silver hair, dressed in a funny red outfit, carrying a large bundle. It was obvious to anyone watching that he didn't belong here, but where, they would be uncertain.

As he walked towards the house, the young woman in his arms stirred.

She was wrapped in a blanket, though that wasn't doing much for the shivers that racked her body. It was more to cover her bloody clothes than to keep her warm, for what little she had left on was soaked through with blood, both hers and that of Naraku.

"It's okay, Kagome," Inuyasha said as he neared the front door of her home. "You're home now. You're going to be okay." But even as he said it, he wasn't so sure. Yes, she was strong, and yes, she was brave, but in the last battle, the final battle with Naraku, Kagome had all but sacrificed herself to save them.

Inuyasha closed his eyes as he remembered the battle that had ended not even an hour ago...

"Kagome!" he could hear his own scream in his ears as he watched Kagome, his best friend, the girl he grown to not only care for but love, disappear. Naraku, who, at that point, was nothing more than a shapeless blob, had completely enveloped her. "You bastard... you... bastard!" Inuyasha picked up Tetsusaiga, ready to attack the vile hanyou, but was stopped dead in his tracks.

From deep within his body, the form that was Naraku suddenly began to glow. First, the light was a faint blue glow, and barely visible. Then his sides began to split, spilling the blue beams across the battle field. The glow intensified until it was a blinding burst of light. The last thing anyone saw was the face of Naraku rising from the shapeless mass, his mouth open in a soundless cry before he was obliterated from the earth.

Inuyasha lowered the arm that had been shielding his eyes as he felt the light fade. The first thing he was aware of was that Naraku's smell was gone. Not even the faintest traces remained. The next thing he was aware of was the strong smell of blood. Kagome's blood.

Inuyasha ran towards the battlefield as the blue sphere of light shrunk into nothingness. In its center, lying in a crumpled and bloody heap, was Kagome.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha looked up at the sound of Kagome's mother's voice. Looking at Kagome's mother, he realized that he had never seen true fear before that moment.

"She's still alive, but she's hurt. Badly."

"What happened?" she asked as she led Inuyasha into the bathroom. Gently, they lowered her into the tub, carefully peeling the blanket away from her battered body. "Souta!" Mrs. Higurashi yelled.

"The final battle with Naraku." He stated simply. "She saved us. All of us." He shook his head. All those times I called her weak, and she was stronger than any of us could have known... Inuyasha squeezed his eyes against the tears, willing them not to fall.

"Yeah, Mom?" Inuyasha jumped at the voice from the door. He didn't look up as Souta gasped, asking in a small, terrified voice what had happened to his sister. He didn't dare tear his eyes away from the unconscious woman lying before him. Though her remaining clothes were stained scarlet, there was very little fresh blood in the tub, which Inuyasha took as a good sign.

"Get your grandfather." Souta nodded and left the room quickly. "Inuyasha, I'm going to need your help." They spent the better part of an hour cleaning and bandaging her wounds. With the exception of Mrs. Higurashi demanding a few things here and there, they worked in silence. "Inuyasha," she said once they were finished, "I need you to please wait outside with Souta." Reluctantly, he got up, walking by Kagome's grandfather and brother as he left. He bowed to her grandfather, who nodded in return before shuffling into the bathroom.

"Inuyasha," Souta's voice was small and quiet. "Is Kagome going to be alright?"

Inuyasha stopped and looked at the young boy, pausing a moment before smiling slightly.

"She'll be alright."

"Did she really help you kill Naraku?"

"Yeah," he said. "She did. We probably wouldn't have beaten him without her." Inuyasha paused before continuing, "Your sister's very brave. Plus, she's tough. She just needs to rest, and she'll be up in no time."

"Really?"

"Really," Inuyasha said, ruffling Souta's hair. After a moment of silence, Souta spoke again.

"I really hope so. I never got to apologize for all the times I fought with her." Inuyasha looked down at the boy standing next to him. As much as they fought, they were closer than most brothers and sisters.

"She's going to be just fine," Mrs. Higurashi's voice came from the now open bathroom door. "But I am going to need help getting her upstairs." She said the last part while looking pointedly at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha carried her easily up the stairs, but was shooed out so Mrs. Higurashi could get Kagome into a clean pair of pajamas.

"Will you be staying?" Mrs. Higurashi said once Kagome was changed and settled. Inuyasha looked at her peacefully sleeping face and sighed.

"I have to go back tonight, but I'll come visit her tomorrow as soon as I can."

She nodded. "I understand." Inuyasha made as if to leave, but stopped as he looked at Kagome. She had so many cuts. The fresh white of bandages peeked out from under the collar of her pajama top, and still more were pale against her cheek, covering one of numerous wounds. "Inuyasha," he jumped at the hand on his shoulder. "She'll be fine. I'm sure you have a lot to take care of. She just needs to get some rest." Inuyasha sighed, but he knew she was right. He wasn't doing any of them a bit of good by staying there, worrying about her, when there were others in the Feudal Era that needed his help.

"Alright," he said, "but I'll be back tomorrow, as soon as I can." He turned to leave, almost missing Mrs. Higurashi's last comment.

"Thank you."

As Inuyasha returned from the old well 500 years in the past, he was met with a rather unexpected sight.

"I thought you were leaving." The ever present hatred in Inuyasha's voice was barely kept in check as he addressed his older half-brother.

"I wanted to ask about the status of the young ningen who travels with you." Sesshoumaru's voice was cold and indifferent as always.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha said, confused that his brother would care at all.

"I believe that is her name, yes."

"She'll live." Inuyasha gave Sesshoumaru a quick glance before turning to head back towards the village.

"I thought you cared about her," Sesshoumaru said. Inuyasha froze, his anger rising.

"I didn't come here to fight with you, Sesshoumaru. Either help us or leave." Inuyasha said briefly. He didn't turn, just paused a moment before continuing his walk back to the village.

Sesshoumaru watched Inuyasha for just a moment before turning and following his half-brother towards the village.

End Chapter 1.