Kagome gasped before crying out her friends' names, for Miroku and Sango were before them, suspended in a bird-like cage.
She had been travelling with the two inuyoukai for another hour at least, both males tracking the scent of the monk and demon slayer. Despite Inuyasha's unhappiness with his brother's involvement and the loss of his sword, he kept his mouth shut in moody silence. It would have been uncomfortable had she not been worried for what lie ahead.
Her worst fears realized, part of her gang had been captured. A gnarled tree-like monstrosity, with its branches forming a human sized cage, stood several yards before them. It was no natural tree but one grown from magic. Suspended high in the air, Miroku and Sango gripped the cage bars and shouted back at them, worry etched in both their faces. For them, Kagome knew, and not themselves.
Before she was aware of anything else about the area and situation she found herself in, a loud noise wracked her ears. The ground shook, erupting around them, flinging dirt like a geyser. Still firmly held on Sesshomaru's back, he jumped swiftly to the side. The move so quick and unexpected, Kagome feared she'd fly right off his back to crash onto the ground, but hold on she did, reflexes taking hold. Inuyasha had often jumped around, making her feel like a ragdoll, so she had become accustomed to reacting to unexpected and inhuman reflexes to hold onto her perch. One too many painful landings had taught her to hold on.
"What's going—Inuyasha!" Gasping in shocked horror, Kagome saw that Inuyasha had not been so lucky as to evade the trap waiting for them. A cage had sprung from the ground, as tree-like as the one holding her other friends.
Inuyasha chuckled, arrogantly smirking. "You think this can hold me?" Cracking his knuckles, he lashed out with an, "Iron Reaver!" Instead of the wood splintering under his deadly claws, they remained intact without being seemingly affected.
"What…?" her hanyou friend muttered in astonishment. Growling, he went on a rampage of clawing and swiping, yet still the strange bark held.
Struggling down from Sesshomaru's back, Kagome tried to go to her friend. However, though she regained her footing upon the ground, a large hand wrapped securely around her wrist. Glancing back, she saw Sesshomaru, but he was not looking at her. His intense gaze was focused upwards.
"Naraku." That was all he said, but it was enough.
Swinging her gaze around in the direction Sesshomaru was looking towards, she saw him. Dressed in a white baboon suit, Naraku was suspended in the air, kneeling upon one knee as if on a hard surface, his toxic miasma beneath him. The blue baboon mask concealed his features, and that was when she knew without a questionable doubt that this was yet another puppet. Naraku, the coward, would never show himself in person.
But more surprising was the kid who stood beside him.
"Kohaku?" Staring at the boy, Kagome glanced over at Sango, her heart going out to the other woman. Siblings by blood, Naraku kept them apart by controlling the young boy. Worse, Kohaku was nothing more than a corpse held together and alive by the power of a single jewel shard.
"Hey, gimmie back Tetsusaiga!"
At Inuyasha's holler, Kagome glanced back towards the sky. But it wasn't Naraku who held the great sword. Kohaku did.
"Lose something, Inuyasha?" Naraku taunted.
"Release me and fight me, you coward! I don't need Tetsusaiga to beat you."
Naraku chuckled after that boastful claim. "You never were the brightest among your companions."
Offended, Inuyasha lashed out at the cage that held him, getting nowhere fast. "Coward!"
"Another false body, Naraku? My idiot brother is correct, for once," intoned Sesshomaru. "Are you such a coward you quake at the thought of confronting me yourself?"
Kagome turned to Sesshomaru, who had released her wrist long before the verbal sparring had begun. He stood tall and unaffected by the situation they found themselves in; though, his gaze was centered in his foe with deathly intent. Glancing lower, she saw his knuckles twitch as if ready to strike.
As if unruffled by the taunt, Naraku shook his head. "I am not your opponent today, Lord Sesshomaru. Nor will you be the first to die."
With those ominous words spoken, a scream spooked Kagome. Swiveling around towards Inuyasha, she saw him flat on his back upon the ground. He leveled up on his elbows with a groan.
"Inuyasha!" She would have ran to him but her wrist was captured for the second time that day. She didn't have to look behind her to know it was Sesshomaru. "Are you alright?!" she didn't even try to fight that vice-like grip as she shouted at her friend.
"I'm fine," Inuyasha assured her. "Stay back, Kagome!"
She was sorely tempted to ignore that order and instead issue one of her own at the demon behind her to let her go, but Kagome refrained. Biting her bottom lip, she was helpless to do anything other than watch what horrors Naraku had next. Unfortunately, she did not have to wait long.
Suddenly, something dark struck from the ground. It wasn't until after Inuyasha cried out in shocked pain and jerked away to glance behind him that Kagome saw what had attacked him for the second time. A black spike protruded from the ground. Slowly, it lost its solid form, wavering in the air like insubstantial wind.
"What is that…?" Her voiced was hushed as she voiced her question, yet her companion heard her easily.
"The shadow demon from before, I would gather." Smooth as silk, and unfeeling as a statue, Sesshomaru's voice echoed the still pureness of his face as he watched on as his brother's life was put in danger.
Kagome felt a pang of sorrow well within her heart at the demon lord's utter lack of sympathy and compassion towards his sibling. Was this really the man she had agreed to help? Was he the same man who'd asked her to show him how to become better than the self-righteous hypocrite he'd once been?
His entreaty whispered through her mind. 'Teach me, miko. Teach me to be a better man.'
However, from where she stood, he wasn't making much of an effort, but then, she thought absentmindedly, was he even capable of caring for someone he'd never seen much value in? And in fact resented every breath Inuyasha breathed? Though Inuyasha was his brother, Sesshomaru's feelings for his younger half-sibling were rooted in hatred.
'The half-breed, my little brother who was the downfall of my father, should expect nothing from me.' Such bitter words, hiding a pain even Sesshomaru refused to acknowledge, she had no doubt.
She was foolish to think change could happen swiftly, that he might suddenly grow fond of someone he'd always despised. It was sad, incredibly soul wrenching when she thought of a young Inuyasha, alone, lost, and growing up knowing that no one cared. Not even his older brother.
By Sesshomaru's lack of care as his brother faced off with a formidable foe, Kagome was reminded of this gross unfairness towards a man she called friend and loved dearly. Should she hate Sesshomaru, or at the very least dislike him to some degree? Should she not turn her back on him as he had done to her friend when Inuyasha had needed his brother's guidance the most?
Part of her was angry, while another part was immeasurably sad. No, more hatred would not stop this vicious cycle. Turning back to watch Inuyasha fight off the shadows that surrounded him, Kagome resolved herself to be the example Sesshomaru needed to grow as a decent individual, and cast aside a hatred that held no meaning. Melancholy slipped past her conviction as she recalled a brief conversation she'd had with the demon lord the time he'd cuddled her close all through the night the day she'd washed the blood from his body.
'You mean, you'll try to be a family with Inuyasha?'
'No, there is too much bad blood between us.' Sesshomaru's voice had been gentle in its finality. 'However, this Sesshomaru can offer a truce and an alliance with the half-breed.'
Kagome took heart in his promise of a truce. It was more than she could have asked for. She couldn't help but wonder if Inuyasha would give Sesshomaru the chance to make amends in his own stand-offish way.
Her thoughts took no longer than a few minutes, lightening quick, yet already Inuyasha was bloodied, while his opponent was still nothing more than a black mass. Its form was like smoke, yet darker than midnight, making it impossible for Inuyasha to touch, let alone strike. Yet it was able to harm her friend, which frightened her.
Though she kept her eyes on Inuyasha, her question was given to Sesshomaru, who still stood close behind her. "What's going on? Why can't he touch that thing?!"
"Are you capable of touching your shadow, Kagome?"
She turned to glance at him for a second. "What?"
Golden eyes met hers for a brief moment. "Your shadow exists, but you cannot truly touch it."
Understanding sunk in like a heavy weight as she turned back to Inuyasha. "Then how is it able to attack? It's going to kill him!" Her heart cried out in fierce denial at the mere thought.
While her voice held all the emotions she felt, Sesshomaru's was as toneless as the grave."Once the shadow demon is ready to strike, its form solidifies long enough to draw blood. Then like a coward, it becomes shadow once more."
"How is he supposed to kill it then?"
"Timing is everything."
Kagome was not comforted by this answer.
"Inuyasha, please be careful." Her prayer spoken aloud, she clasped her hands before her stomach and watched Inuyasha's blood flow red in the harsh light of day.