Although it is early, Kagome has gone to pay her respects to the innkeeper and other guests. It will be at least an hour before she returns which is plenty of time to free that half-demon without anyone being the wiser. As soon as she left, the poor thing began to shake the cabinet so I knew it was time. I chipped away at the lacquer, the jade, the gold, the pearl as he shook with all his might. Before too long, it was stripped bare and it escaped. Yet it seemed displeased with its newfound freedom. Before my very eyes, it began to claw angrily at the walls and floors. Destroying all the fineries within the room as though it were a mighty typhoon. He calls to me to leave this room and to set him free yet no matter how many times I open the door he will not step foot outside.
I have barricaded the door now for I fear if he were to escape he would tear all the palace down in his fury. Kagome has returned and is trying with all her might to open it. Why is she calling for someone to come break down the door? Does she not know that everything I do is to protect her? This beast will strike her down without conscience and it would a shame to allow it to do more damage to this fine establishment than has already been done.
Soon, however, she manages to break into the room and I am surprised by her horrified gaze.
"What have you done?" she cries out tearfully, "You need to fight it. Don't let it control you."
I don't understand what she means so I ignore her and continue to attempt to catch this wretched beast destroying all those beautiful things.
"I've gotten out at last," I hear a voice speak that sounds very much like my own except much gruffer than normal which gives me pause. The angry sounding voice continued as I spin to find the source, "In spite of all of you, in spite of him, in spite of these beads around my neck, in spite of that sword made to keep me in check. I am free and nothing will hold me back."
It was a curious thing but as I followed the demon into the spring, I saw his reflection looked very much like myself with only a few differences. Jagged purple lines adorned his cheeks and crimson eyes looked back at me with as much shock and surprise as I felt. It was almost as though I were looking into a mirror.
FIN