With the sunrise, the members of the pack stirred and started to ready themselves for the day ahead. A quick discussion resulted in Ah-Un taking Shippo , Jaken and Rin to the safety of Kaede's protection. As they faded into the horizon, the pack continued their journey.
It was late that morning that Naraku started the final battle. And he had chosen his army well. Along with the usual low level demons, he had used the power of the Shikon to bring back some old enemies - the Birds of Paradise, Mistress Centipede, the Spider-heads as well as Tsukumo no Gama [the toad demon] . But this time the pack anticipated something like this could happen. Kouga’s group with Sango, Kohaku, Kirara and Miroku battled these lesser demons.
That left Sesshoumaru, InuYasha and Kagome to face Naraku. The brothers started their attack immediately. But Kagome hesitated . Something didn’t seem right. She couldn’t sense the Shikon no Tama from where the fighting was taking place. Never the less she raised her sacred arrow to the bow and released it with a blast of purifying fire. The figure of Naraku vanished in their combined attacks. Suddenly, she felt the presence of the jewel - it was behind her ! They had been battling a demon puppet. The real Naraku had used the deception to catch all of them off-guard . As she whipped around to face him, Naraku backhanded her across the face and knocked her to the ground.The brothers rushed to her aid but they were too late As she struggled to rise, he hit her again, this time using his clawed hand. Kagome shrieked as the claws tore through her clothing and into her flesh. He held up the last shards of the jewel that she possessed and added them to his and completed the Shikon. She placed her hand to her side and pulled it away, revealing her bloodstained fingers. Naraku turned his clawed hand into tentacle and grabbed Kagome around her neck. “I’m ending this now! You were never worth anything other than your gift to see the shards ! Just a pitiful human who should have never been involved in this struggle for power. Now die !”
She heard InuYasha calling out to her. Her vision started to blur, then fade to grey when the whispery voice called out to her again.
Dearest child, heal....
What did that mean ? Heal ?
To heal is to comfort and to forgive.
Suddenly, She knew what to do. Kagome reached out with the last of her strength and with her bloody hands , touched Naraku’s face. The triumphant leer started to fade from Naraku’s face. What was she up to ? His grip on her neck lessened as he heard her voice. She looked directly into her enemy's eyes.
“I forgive you Onigumo,” she whispered. A pale lavender light surrounded her body and flowed from her fingertips to engulf Naraku. He was frozen , unable to move as this purifying light enveloped him then spread out across the battlefield. His minions were either purified or collapsed unmoving to the ground as they encounter the light.
But Kagome took no notice of these happenings. As she watched Naraku , she was aware that she had been joined in the purifying light. She felt hands on her shoulders. She sensed that this was the source of the whispery voice that had guided her. As she looked over her shoulder, she saw the translucent glowing face of Midoriko. The warrior priestess placed her hands over Kagome’s hands. With a gentle pull , their hands left Naraku’s face. His eyes opened even wider with fear. “Onigumo......for you to be truly healed, you must begin your life anew.”
The light surrounding pulsed then became blinding. As the light faded to nothing, a sleeping baby, the Shikon and a spider as large as a human fist were all that remain of Naraku. As the spider scampered away , InuYasha swung Tetseiga and with the Wind Scar, destroyed the demon arachnid . Thus ended the long reign of terror.
Kagome collapsed to her hands and knees and gasped for air. InuYasha landed beside her and raised her up into a sitting position until her breathing settled into a normal pattern. He then hugged her and whispered "It's finally over ! We've done it."
Kagome turned to see the ghostly figure of Midoriko lean down to pick up the jewel and the sleeping infant. Before Kagome could utter a word , the warrior priestess smiled and said “Thank-You”
The survivors now approached Kagome and the warrior priestess. Midoriko looked up and noticed InuYasha as he helped Kagome to stand up. “Welcome and thank you for you help, kinsman”, she said with a smile. “Kinsman ?” was his puzzled reply. “We are of the same blood, InuYasha. Your mother was descended from my family. I am glad to see that my family line still survives “
He diverted his eyes from her. Had she not noticed his half-demon heritage? “I do not judge you by your appearance ,young one. I see the you- within-you and I see only good. You are a worthy descendant of both my family and of the great Inu-Tashio. And someone else here has already seen and values the goodness”, she said as she turned toward Kagome.
“ Kagome, by now you have guessed that the bow you won at Mount Azusa was mine. It was a way that I could help to bring this evil tainting the jewel to an end. The bow is now yours. Through the courage of you and your companions, the Shikon is now healed. Have you decided on your wish ?”
“We no longer need the jewel to grant our wishes. Through the hard work leading to this battle and our victory, we have everything we wanted”, was Kagome’s reply. It was true. Everyone had what they wanted. Miroku ‘s curse had ended with Naraku's passing and the wind tunnel had closed. He and Sango were standing side-by-side with arms over each other’s shoulders. Sango had her brother back. InuYasha had learned the powers of his Tetsaiga and also to balance his human, demon and hanyou natures. And Kagome.... well, she had matured in to a strong self assured woman with the love and companionship of her stalwart and brave companion - InuYasha.
Kirara strolled to Midoriko side. The priestess reached out and caressed the firecat's forehead. "It's been a long time, friend," she murmured as she continued to pet her. She returned her attention to the pack. "If you are not yet ready to make your wish, I would like to request a favour from you . I would like for you to accompany me as I return to the place of my final battle . I would like to be there as I celebrate the ending of the battle within Shikon no Tama". "It would be our honour and pleasure", was InuYasha reply.