Well, You asked to see it. So, Here is the final chapter of Demons and Slayers. A few surprises in store in this one, so let's get started.

(-THE JOURNEY ENDS-)

A view of the blood-stained battlefield, then Toramaru's body is shown lying on the ground still. Water splashes up around footsteps, a pair of legs slowly coming into view as they near the fallen shinobi's body. We're given an overhead look at Toramaru before changing to show the lower half of the person's face, feminine in complexion. The girl's mouth wordlessly speaks Toramaru's name once before her full face is shown, revealing her to be Saiko.

The raven-haired kunoichi sits down on her knees next to Toramaru and gently lifts his upper body in her arms, holding it with her left one as she uses her right hand to brush away the moist hair platted to his lifeless face. Tears fill her brown eyes as her lips move wordlessly yet again before, crying, she buries her face in his chest...

("Please, Live...")

/Scene-Switch/

In Naraku's fortress, A shouji-screen door is splintered as Inuyasha and the others bust into the room to find Naraku waiting confidently on them. (In case you're all wondering, Naraku in this fic looks like he does in the PS2 Fighting Game, Feudal Combat). The evil hanyou turns toward the assembled group of misfits (yep, misfits) and laughs evilly.

"What the Hell's so damn funny, Naraku!" Demands Inuyasha, pointing the tip of Tetsusaiga at wavy-haired demon, "Haven't ya noticed yet? Today's the day you DIE!" He leaps at Naraku, bringing Tetsusaiga down in an overhead slash... only to impact Naraku's shouki shield.

Naraku only grins in response before Inuyasha is blown back to hit the hardwood floor infront of the others. "Heh." He laughs once, then calmly says, "What was it you were saying about me dying Inuyasha?"

"Damn you, Naraku!" Sango states from behind Inuyasha, "Hiraikotsu!" With that, she tosses the over-sized boomerang at the evil hanyou.

"Pitiful." Naraku says, swinging his right arm from left-to-right once, his hand tranforming into two tentacles to easily knock away the Hiraikotsu. However, Having followed the Hiraikotsu with his eyes, he turns back to see Reika just as she leaps into the air right infront of him and spins before kicking toward him with her right leg.

"Huh?" The raccoon-girl says, blinking her pink eyes twice at seeing her leg having been caught in Naraku's left hand.

"Haven't you lot learned yet?" Naraku questions, "Your measely abilities are nothing to me!" He throws the girl into Sango and Miroku, sending all three flying back into a wall.

"Give up! You're going down, Naraku!" Kagome states, pulling back an arrow before letting it fly directly at the evil hanyou.

Naraku merely grins as the arrow vaporizes before it comes close to hitting him, "Die!" he states, once again turning his right hand into two tentacles and sends them straight toward Kagome.

"Kagome! Look out!" Inuyasha shouts, using his left hand to shove the schoolgirl out of the tentacles' way, just as they both pierce the silverhaired hanyou's left shoulder and carry him back, pinning him to a wall.

"Inuyasha!"

Naraku's tentacles break off, leaving part of themselves to hold the hanyou to the wall, and retract to Naraku before returning to the shape of his hand.

/Scene-Switch/

Toramaru is shown, standing atop a large rocky out-cropping that is overlooking Naraku's castle from a distance. His left arm is hanging limp at his side next to his sheathed katana which is held at his waist by his sash. Sesshoumaru appears from the woods a few feet behind the shinobi. Toramaru closes his reddish-gray eyes, "Death... finally found me." he says, "I... was dead." "But, I heard Saiko speak to me..." He continues, sliding his eyes partially open, "She said, 'Live...'." "Now, There is but one thing I must know..." The shinobi adds, quickly gripping the handle of Zanmato and drawing it in a slash as he spins toward Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru deadlocks with Toukijin, "What are you doing?" he questions, his expression unchanging.

"This life I now have was given to me by her..." Toramaru responds, breaking off the deadlock and exchanging several parries with platinum-haired taiyou before deadlocking with him again, "I must know why."

/Scene-Switch/

"I'll rid myself, now, of all of you!" Naraku states, swinging his arms outward and thus creating a cloud of miasma around himself that begins expanding to envelop everything with its deadly vapor.

However, Before the vapors have enveloped everything, an enchanted arrow flies through the miasma and narrowly misses Naraku himself, but it does succeed in causing the miasma to evaporate. As the cloud of death is removed from the room, Kikyou is revealed with her bow drawn and having fired the arrow. The priestess pulls out another arrow and draws it back along her bow, ready to fire again. Before she has the chance, however, Naraku transforms his hand again to quickly knock Kikyou aside into a wall. Naraku turns his full attention toward the downed priestess, "You, most of all, have been a growing thorn in my side because of that fool Onigumo!" he states, "And, This time, there's nothing to stop me from killing you!" He transforms both hands and sends them flying toward Kikyou.

The scene quickly changes to show a weapon being twirled, then back to Naraku's tentacles quickly approaching the unconscious Kikyou. Suddenly, Everybody hears, "Dragon Hammer!" in a very familiar voice as fiery lightning-like energy rains down, cutting off Naraku's attack and preventing Kikyou from being skewered.

Naraku retracts his severed tentacles and they return to the shape of his hands as Bankotsu lands between him and where Kikyou lay against the wall, the priestess is just starting to regain consciousness. "You!" Naraku states, angrily.

"What?" Bankotsu responds, smiling cockily. "I couldn't just stand by while a pretty girl was in danger." He adds, laying the blade of Banryuu against his right shoulder.

"Huh? What the?" Inuyasha questions after pulling his shoulder off the severed tentacles that him pinned to the wall, "How the Hell did you survive?"

"Hm?" Bankotsu responds, turning his head toward the silverhaired hanyou, "Oh! You must be wondering why that move of yours didn't kill me, huh?" "Truth is, If I hadn't noticed the attack as soon as I did, I'd have been a goner for sure." He explains, still smiling, "So, I figured I'd let ya live and maybe you'd lead me to Naraku. Which, You did."

/Scene-Switch/

Toramaru is down to one knee as Sesshoumaru stands over him with Toukijin raised and poised to finish the half-demon shinobi off. "Did you honestly believe that I, Sesshoumaru, could be defeated by a half-breed such as yourself, Toramaru?" Sesshoumaru questions, his expression still unchanged, "Especially in that broken state you're in?"

"Iie..." Toramaru responds, shaking his head slightly. "But, Tell me... Sesshoumaru," He adds, his left arm twitching just slightly, "What is... true strength?" He finishes as he raises his gaze toward Sesshoumaru, a single tear of blood escaping his left eye as he comes up from his kneel and slashes with the claws of his injured left arm, slightly shocking Sesshoumaru as the taiyou jumps back to avoid the surprise strike. Toramaru turns his head toward Sesshoumaru as his left arm once again falls limp at his side.

"A move out of desperation..."

"... indeed." Toramaru responds, casting a quick glance to his left arm, "And, One that I can not duplicate again." "Now, Shall we continue?" He queries, readying Zanmato in his right hand.

"Hmph." Sesshoumaru responds, slipping Toukijin back under his sash beside Tenseiga, "This battle is already over, I'm leaving." "Being matched in battle by a wounded half-demon doesn't sit well with me." He adds, turning to leave.

Toramaru sheathes Zanmato, "I am... far from being your equal, Sesshoumaru." he says, causing the taiyou to stop. "However," He continues, "I know the path you walk, for I once set foot upon a similar road..." He turns to gaze up at the branches of the trees as they sway with the wind, "Precious is the wind that blows through the forest." He adds, lowering his gaze forward as he begins walking into the forest, "Sesshoumaru, Do not let the wind blow away..." His words trail off as he vanishes into the thick foliage of the forest. (Btw, Toramaru's line about being far from Sesshoumaru's equal can be construed one of two ways, 1: He is saying he's weaker than Sesshoumaru. 2: He's actually saying that, being half human, he surpasses Sesshoumaru. You can guess to which he meant).

/Scene-Switch/

Inuyasha and all the others are winded and breathing heavily, still having been unable to even scratch Naraku. "No matter how many of you there are, or what you try," Naraku informs, smiling evilly, "You can't hope to overcome the power I now possess!" With those words, he transforms both arms into tentacles which fire out in all directions toward the assembled group that stands against him.

"Dance of Blades!" comes Kagura's unmistakeable voice as several wind blades slice through Naraku's tentacles, once again cutting off the evil hanyou's attack.

"Kagura..." Naraku says, turning his gaze slowly toward his right, "Damn you!" he retracts the tentacles created of his left arm and returns them to the shape of his arm, then materializes the crystal-representation of Kagura's heart in his palm. "Have you forgotten what happens when you betray me, Kagura?" He questions, squeezing the crytal slightly.

Kagura grips her chest with her left hand and falls to her knees in pain. "I..." She strains to say, "I don't... care!" she manages to finish her sentence, forcing herself back up. "I'm tired of being controlled by you!" She states, "If I die... at least, I'll die FREE! Dance of Blades!" The wind-sorceress swings her fan, sending several more wind blades flying at Naraku.

"Fine. Die, you shall!" Naraku states, gripping his hand tightly around the glowing red orb in his left palm. However, Before he can crush the essence of Kagura's heart, a silvery flash passes infront of the evil hanyou that severs his forearm and allows the the crystal-representation of Kagura's heart to fall to the floor as her attack collides with Naraku's shouki shield.

Kagura falls face-first to the floor as the crystal rolls up to her and she, weakly, moves her right hand forward to clasp it, a tiny smile gracing her features, "You came..." she says, her pupiless red eyes remaining afixed on her own hand, "Sesshoumaru..." With those words, she falls unconscious as the view changes to show the aforementioned taiyou slipping Toukijin back under his sash. All eyes now on the platinum-haired taiyou, some staring with anger while others with utter confusion.

Inuyasha is the first to speak, "Sesshoumaru! You-"

"Inuyasha." The silverhaired hanyou's elder brother interrupts, "We'll settle things between us later." "After we have wiped this nuisance from the face of the Earth." He finishes as Naraku re-connects his left hand to his arm.

Suddenly, Two arrows fly at Naraku, fired one by each Kagome and Kikyou. The two arrows glow with purification energies as they strike Naraku's barrier... shattering the evil hanyou's defensive screen. At that moment, Bankotsu leaps into the air as he twirls Banryuu with his right hand, "Now, You'll pay for using my brothers as puppets!" he states, swinging Banryuu down pointedly at Naraku, "Dragon Thunder!" The lightning-like energies hitting Naraku.

"You're going down, Naraku!" Sango states, swinging her large boomerang around herself before sending it flying at Naraku, "Hiraikotsu!" Naraku is unable to avoid or deflect the Hiraikotsu this time as he is held fast by Bankotsu's Dragon Thunder, the boomerang cutting the evil hanyou in half.

As his upperbody falls almost as if in slow-motion, Naraku slightly raises his left arm, "This... can't be..." he says.

"Now, I'll finish it up with my Wind Scar!" Inuyasha states, swinging Tetsusaiga in a downward swing, sending three waves of energy flying at Naraku. The waves hit the vile hanyou, ripping his body into hundreds of shreds that all fall to the floor.

However, Before the group has a chance to celebrate, they notice the parts of Naraku's body starting to pull themselves back into one piece. "Damn!" Inuyasha says, "Don't he ever die?"

After the pieces have re-combined, but before Naraku's body takes shape, Sesshoumaru knocks Inuyasha aside, "Step aside, Inuyasha!" he states, time seeming to move slower as his right hand reaches to grip the handle of Tenseiga instead of Toukijin. Sesshoumaru quickly draws Tenseiga in an upward diagonal swipe, performing his Dragon Strike attack with it.

"Oh no you don't!" Inuyasha states, "Naraku's mine! Backlash Wave!" He performs a downward vertical swing with Tetsusaiga to use the attack.

Tetsusaiga's energy collides with that of Sesshoumaru's Dragon Strike. However, instead of engulfing it, the two energies swirl around one another and create one powerful attack that completely obliterates Naraku, leaving no trace of the evil hanyou. (If anyone's wondering, this is the same technique used to destroy Sounga in the third Inuyasha movie, the combination of Tetsusaiga's Bakuryuuha and Tenseiga's Souryuuha was the only to overpower Sounga's Gokuryuuha -Dragon Twister-).

"Hmph." Sesshoumaru voices as he slowly sheathes Tenseiga before turning and walking away. As the taiyou leaves, Kagura gets back to her feet and follows behind after him.

"Gah!" Bankotsu voices, gaining the remaining people's attentions as he drops to one knee and uses Banryuu to brace himself. "Looks like... I'll be joining my brothers again pretty soon." He says, still grinning as his body begins to dissipate. He turns his head slightly toward Kikyou, "But, It's a shame that we didn't have a chance to get to know each other better, priestess."

A lite glow emanates from under Kagome's school-uniform top, "Huh?" she voices, pulling up the necklace she used to keep the jewel-shard attached to. Everyone looks on in wonder as the completed Shikon no Tama is revealed at the end of the necklace, "How...?"

"Listen to me, there is not much time." A female voice says before Midoriko's image appears in the room. "The battle between myself and the great demon of the past still rages within the Shikon no Tama." She explains, "And, This battle can only be brought to an end if the jewel either grants a completely pure and unselfish wish... or a blackened evil wish. Either way, One side shall remain victorious and the jewel shall lose its power..." The image fades as the last word trails off.

"But, What-" Kagome starts but interrupts herself, "I know..." She clasps her hands around the jewel and closes her eyes to pray her wish. There's a bright flash of light...

EPILOGUES(A few months later)

/Miroku/

At Naraku's defeat, and no longer plagued by the curse of the Wind Tunnel, Miroku returns to the peaceful and quite village where Koharu awaits him patiently. Even so, His heart feels heavy after having said farewell to his friends and companions. However, He feels that someday -indeed, some far off day-, that he just may meet his friends again. But, For now, their travels together are but a fond memory.

/Bankotsu and Kikyou/

Bankotsu stops walking, Banryuu laid against his right shoulder. He closes his eyes and half-grins, "So, You're still following me, eh?" he queries, "Why?"

Several steps behind the leader of the former Shichinin-Tai, Kikyou is revealed as she smiles slightly, "To make sure you don't kill anymore innocent people." she replies, closing her eyes, "And... because I want to."

"Heh." Bankotsu laughs once. "Fine. Do whatever ya want." He says, still smiling as he continues to walk. Hell, He certainly wasn't about to complain about having the company of a pretty girl and that's a fact!

As for Kikyou, She indeed feels some sort of a unique connection with Bankotsu, a man who was the same as herself when she had first met him -neither truly alive or dead-. But, now, Now they both have been given a second chance and Kikyou knows that she is now free to choose how to live her own life. And, It is all because of Kagome's unselfish wish to the Sacred Jewel.

/Sesshoumaru and his group/

Sesshoumaru is walking along through a forest and following him are: Kagura, Rin, Jaken, Ah'Un, and Kanna. (In case you're all wondering why Kanna is with them, well... with Naraku dead, she really doesn't have anywhere else to go but follow Kagura.)

"I'm glad you're travelling with us now, Kagura!" Rin says to the wind-sorceress walking nearby, "And, I think Lord Sesshoumaru is happy too!"

"You think so?" Queries Kagura, looking unsure.

"Mm-Hm." Rin responds, nodding twice before whispering, "Yep, But I don't think he'd ever admit it."

"Hmph. Nonsense." Sesshoumaru says, without so much as a glance behind him. However, He can't avoid the slight smile that crosses his lips.

Jaken suddenly trips and falls, landing face-first on the ground. The small demon raises his head to see everyone walking on without even stopping or glancing back toward him. Quickly, He scurries to his feet, "Wait! Please wait for me!" he calls after the group, comical tears filling his large round eyes, "How could you forget about Jaken!"

/Sango and Reika/

A whip wraps around a giant centipede's body -near its head- and is pulled tight. Reika is then revealed, -oddly enough- wearing a taiji-ya uniform, as she holds the giant centipede fast with her whip, "Okay! Now, Sango-chan!" she states.

Several feet to the other side of the giant centipede, Sango is shown -wearing her taiji-ya uniform and mask-. She nods once, "Hiraikotsu!" she calls out as she sends the large boomerang flying at the centipede with her right hand. The large weapon cuts the centipede in two before starting its return-course to Sango. Meanwhile, Reika quickly channels her youki through her whip and causes the centipede's head to explode before she jerks the whip back to herself.

Using a storage room, The two girls change back to their normal outfits before emerging to be greeted by the grateful villagers. "Thank you so much, slayers!" One of the villagers says, "We have prepared your fee. Here you are." He offers up the fee for slaying the demon that had been terrorizing their village. Sango accepts it and Kirara 'mews' from her shoulder, Sango smiles and bows politely as Reika finishes collecting some parts of the centipede to use in fashioning new armor and weapons back at the taiji-ya village... though, true that there's only the two of them right now, but they hope to rebuild Sango's home and pass on her demon-slaying heritage to new members should they be recruited.

Along the path away from the village, Reika takes Sango's left hand in her own right one and causes the girl to look toward her. "So, Sango-chan?" The raccoon-girl says, smiling brightly, "Ready to head home?"

Sango smiles at the slightly shorter girl and leans in to kiss her cheek, "Yes. Let's head back now." she replies. She glances to Kirara on her right shoulder and nods.

Kirara 'mews' and hops down to the ground, running ahead of the two girls before transforming into her larger form and roaring. Glancing back at the Reika and Sango to indicate for them to get on her back so she can return them to the taiji-ya village.

/Inuyasha and Kagome/

Inuyasha and Shippou are sitting inside old Kaede's hut, both looking melancholically depressed. Shippou breathes a sigh, "Man! I really miss Kagome!" the small fox-demon says, looking even more depressed than before, "Things are really dull without her."

Inuyasha, on the other hand, is completely silent as he stares depressedly into the fire burning in the room. The poor hanyou looking like he's lost his whole world, then suddenly his ears twitch with the sound of...

"Hey, Guys!" Kagome's voice calls from just outside the hut's curtain-like door, "I'm back!"

"Kagome!" Shippou cries out as he runs to her and scurries up onto her shoulder, "I'm glad you're back!"

"And just where the Hell have you been!" Demands Inuyasha, walking out of the hut looking almost childishly angry, "You think-"

"Sit boy."

THUD!

Kagome walks over to the now grounded Inuyasha and kneels infront of him, "Sorry, Inuyasha." she says, smiling, "You knew I had to go home and get a few things." Inuyasha 'Hmph's and turns his head away from the schoolgirl, propping it up in his right hand. "It's okay, I know you're glad I'm back too." Kagome adds after leaning her head around infront of the hanyou's. She then leans in and kisses him, causing Shippou to cover his eyes with his hands. However, From a short distance away, two other young demons are watching and seeming quite entertained by the two's relationship.

/Finally, Toramaru/

In the dark night, a lone shinobi continues to contemplate his existence...

Standing atop a high tree-branch within a dense forest, Toramaru's eyes are closed and his arms folded. "Saiko..." He says, his eyes remaining closed, "I now understand." He opens his reddish-gray eyes and unfolds his arms as he moves his gaze to the upturned palm of his right hand, "I now see there is a devil within me..." he adds before turning and leaping from branch-to-branch further into the dense forest.

"However, I am shinobi." He continues, "And I will use this life you have given me, to continue fighting from within the darkness..." "Forever hidden in darkness." He adds, "... a guardian shadow." With that, a pair of leathery wings tear out from his back and, with a powerful flap, he flies off and vanishes into the moonlight... though his shadow is visible passing over the ground.

(Fade to Black)

(-The End-)

Ramblings: Well, There you have it. And, To review, The pairings in this fic are: Sango/Reika(OC), Inuyasha/Kagome, Sesshoumaru/Kagura, Miroku/Koharu, and Bankotsu/Kikyou. As well as my OC pairing: Toramaru/Saiko. Okay, Hope to see at least one review for this final chapter. Ja.