Wake. Up.
Kagome scratched her shoulder tiredly, dreaming about Inuyasha's ears. They were so cute! She reached out to pull on them and listened to him mumble something. He was always grumpy when anyone played with his ears.
Wake up, human! You don't have time to dream about Inuyasha!
"Always time," Kagome mumbled. She flicked his ears again just to prove her point.
That isn't Inuyasha, idiot!
Her eyes immediately opened. She was staring at something yellow and furry, directly in front of her face. She squeaked and rolled over, making herself dizzy in the process. Her hands pressed flat against cold, rough stone that was digging into her knees. She took a moment to breathe. Manacles surrounded her wrist. She pulled, listening to the frighteningly loud sound of chains scraping against the ancient stone beneath her. The floor was slightly damp and musty. Beside her, Kilala was similarly bound against the floor, unconscious.
"Kilala? Oh no!" Kagome managed to touch the nekoyoukai's matted fur. "Oh, Kilala!" She let her fingers curl around the cat's thick fur, trying to warm them. She was damp and cold all over—the stone beneath them was freezing. She shivered, looking around. The room was dark, but she could make out another figure.
"Kouga." Kagome's eyes detailed the unconscious wolf, lying in a dark puddle of something. His arms and legs were bound by sharp-looking manacles. Kagome shifted, wincing as the rusted chains around her wrists chaffed the raw skin. Raw emotions rose into her throat. She didn't know whether she was ready to look him in the face again, but she needed an ally, and she didn't want him to look so…vulnerable. He was so strong!
"Kouga, can you hear me?" Kagome shifted closer. She managed to touch his shoulder. "Kouga-kun, wake up!"
"Fool." A woman's voice snorted. Kagura leaned against the far wall, holding her fan carefully. "I warned you, and you were still captured. Pathetic." She carelessly examined her nails. "I told Inuyasha to keep the ningyo safe. And look—you delivered her yourselves."
"Kagura! You told Inuyasha that Naraku wanted something from Nori, some kind of magic." Kagome struggled. "What does he want her to do? What spell?"
"She is here. Somewhere." Kagura glanced towards them. "I would be afraid, were I you. Naraku has grown tired of games. This ends, tonight."
"We are not your enemies, Kagura! Naraku is the one who enslaved you." Kagome couldn't reach Kouga. His aura was extremely weak. Why was he so sick? Had Nori already gotten to him? "Please, Kagura. We are the only ones left who can help—"
"You fools have failed." Kagura snapped her fan together sharply, glaring at them. "Sesshomaru is the only one remaining, and he is busy fighting an army of ningyo. He will not get here in time to stop Naraku."
"Where are my friends? What have you done?"
"I am disappointed in you." Kagura's eyes narrowed, and her voice turned hard. "I expected more from you, against my better judgement. You let that ningyo—"
"What? What did I do?" Kagome forgot for a moment that she was a prisoner. She wanted to fight. "Nori is the one who is to blame! Naraku—"
"Naraku orchestrated this! He broke the little fool's heart!" Kagura's voice was barely a whisper, but it was harsh. "He killed her mother and she fled, exactly as he expected. And your hanyou picked her up! The ningyo is barely three years old. Of course she bonded with him!"
"—what?" That couldn't be right. Nori was…she was a woman! Nori's body was more developed than hers!
"All instinct and no brains!" Kagura rolled her eyes. "She was so vulnerable, especially after those human men."
"Human men?"
"The merchants you fool buried-they tried to rape the ningyo." Kagura's lips tilted. Kagome's mouth opened reflexively, but she couldn't speak. She could only picture Inuyasha carrying Nori into their campsite, terrified, dressed only in that shirt. "They didn't realize what they had found, until it was too late. She killed them."
"Do you honestly expect me to believe that Nori is only three years old? Youkai don't age that way, and I know it! You're lying!"
"The girl is barely an adolescent—a twisted, half-version of a child with a woman's body." Kagura fully smirked. "And a ki-eating ningyo. But being the soft-hearted fools that you are, you could not refuse."
"No way. That's—" Kagome felt sick. She forced her hands over her face. It was too horrible to be real. Yet—Nori's odd behavior and her childish ways would make sense. All of the instincts of a ningyo, the emotions of a child and trauma to boot. No wonder she was insane.
Insane—and obsessed with Inuyasha.
"And she even managed to feed from Sesshomaru." Kagura was laughing, but it was hollow. "The little ningyo-hanyou cannot even handle her own instincts anymore. Less than a day after she fought Sesshomaru, she stole your lover. The ki of a full-blooded taiyoukai seems to have been too much for her little mind."
"Where are my friends? Where is Inuyasha?" Kagome rattled her cuffs again, desperate to be free. She had to save her companions from this place and Naraku's schemes before it was too late.
"Find them for yourself." Kagura tossed a piece of metal towards her. Kagome picked up the rusted thing, examining it. It was a key! Confusion sprung in her and she looked up, but the wind sorceress was already gone.
Was this another part of their plan? A trick to lead her into a trap?
It doesn't matter! Get moving! Find Inuyasha before that creature does something that can't be undone! The 'other' her had no such doubts.
"If you're so smart, what do I do about Kouga?" Kagome mumbled to herself as she uncuffed her hands. She was fairly certain the nekoyoukai was going to be unconscious for a while yet. She undid the manacles on both her friends. Kouga still wasn't moving.
"Kouga-kun?" Kagome's face flushed, just looking at him. His eyes were closed, but she could still remember the way she had felt when he had kissed her in front of the others. She didn't know if it was because of Nori's spell or her own weak teenage flesh, but she had enjoyed that kiss. Her eyes followed the strong curve of his jaw to his lips, blushing.
Her head suddenly began to ache with angry tension. Your humanity is really getting on my last nerve! Do you really have no idea why you suddenly find men so attractive? You molested a monk!
"I did not!" Kagome protested
First your friend, and now the wolf. We're in the middle of a crisis! Save it for Inuyasha! You have to control your urges. The wolf isn't going to wake up without help. Do you understand what I'm talking about?
Now she was getting lectures about lust from her sex-craved alter ego, which might or might not exist. She was losing her mind.
You fed from him—and you left a mess. Can you feel how weak his aura is? If you want to save him, you have to put things right. You need to learn to do these things yourself, Ka-go-me.
"What do you expect me to do?" she mumbled.
Repair his aura. You have the benefit of my experience, whether you believe I'm real or not. But you can't let yourself get caught up in your urges. Follow your instincts, but don't get lost.
"I thought that you said—"
He's dying!
"Ok, ok! So what do I do?" Kagome huffed. "I don't know what I need to do! Nobody has ever taught me about stuff like this! It's not like I grew up with mutant youki crawling around in me! I don't even want it! I wish it would go away! I just want to be normal!"
Touch him. And relax. You can do this.
Kagome grit her teeth, but she did. She let her hands rest on Kouga's shoulders, not sure what to expect. All she felt was the hard sinew of muscle underneath her palms, and his warmth, despite the cold. She waited. The unnaturalness of Kouga's broken aura made guilt twist in her heart. How was it possible that she had done something like this? And she didn't even remember it!
"I'm so sorry, Kouga." Kagome apologized softly, studying his face. He had been such a good friend over the years…other than the kidnapping part at the beginning. And the territorial fighting with Inuyasha. And kissing her in front of her closest friends.
"How am I supposed to help you? What can I do?" Kagome lightly pinched his arm. "Come on, Kouga. Wake up!"
Humans! The anger in her head increased painfully. She winced, closing her eyes. What would you do without me? Stop overthinking everything, Kagome. Smell him.
"Are you out of your—" Kagome stopped before she said 'mind'. She was going to draw the line here. There was no way she was going to start smelling her friends. Kagome inhaled heavily. The air happened to enter through her nose. She couldn't determine whether or not she was smelling anything, but she couldn't deny the sudden warmth that crawled down her spine. She shivered, covering her nose.
What was that?
See? I knew your pathetic human senses couldn't even recognize our instincts on your own. Why else would you keep burying your nose in Inuyasha's neck? And you mauled him in front of Kikyo! Face it. You have instincts now. And a half-decent nose, if you would use it.
Kagome ignored the little voice in her head. She was too busy inhaling the scents coming from Kouga's skin. Every intake of air was doing…something…to her nerves. It was crazily addictive. It was…it was like her mother's most expensive cologne and—what was that? All she could smell was full grown male wolf-boy, with an undertone of dungeon.
Oh bloody—Kagome! I shouldn't have…hey! You're in the middle of a dungeon, your friends are in danger, and Naraku is probably fileting the little ningyo as we speak. Don't get distracted! Snap—
Kagome buried her nose in Kouga's neck, inhaling. Was this what Inuyasha and Kouga experienced every day? It was incredible. There were so many…well, scents! There was something like grass, and she vaguely recognized the smell of sweat. Kouga's skin was covered in something else, but she couldn't identify it. And the spicy, mature undertone that kept weaving under her nose.
A hand landed on her shoulder. Kagome jumped.
"Kagome-sama?" It was the little girl—Sesshomaru's companion. Kagome could only stare at the innocent brown eyes gazing back at her. "Do you remember Rin?"
"Why are you here? Are you ok? Is Sesshomaru here?"
"I fell. When I woke up, I was alone. Have you seen Master Jaken?" Rin had her hand pressed to her cheek. Kagome breathed, and a foul-smelling odor filled her nose. She quickly eased the girl's hand down, noting the blood smeared on her cheek. There was also a stained bandage on her foot. "It is not so bad, Kagome."
"You're hurt." Kagome didn't have water, or any of her usual medical supplies. "I am sorry, Rin, but I'm glad to see you. Have you seen anyone else?"
"There are nasty fish in the water." Rin frowned. "I went into a room. There was a lot of water. A man was screaming."
"Ningyo, Rin." Kagome hugged the girl, forgetting about Kouga. There was a sweet, flowery scent surrounding Rin. It was refreshing. "We're going to get out of here and find the others. Do you know where we are?"
"A scary castle." Rin looked down at her feet.
"Well, that's ok. We will just have to find our way out of here on our own. I have to find a way to help our friends here first."
"The kitty!" Rin dropped down beside Kilala, touching her warily. "Is she going to be ok? She's always been so nice."
"Her name is Kilala." Kagome stood, edging towards the door. She looked outside. It really was a dreary, leaky castle; and completely silent. At least they didn't need to worry about murderous youkai coming to get them quite yet, unless Naraku sent a monster their way.
"Hello Kilala." Rin rubbed the nekoyoukai's unconscious back. "Can you help her, Kagome-sama?"
"Nothing seems to be seriously wrong with her. I'm sure she will wake up soon." Kagome could find nothing physically wrong with Kilala, and the neko's aura was intact. Kouga was the one who needed help.
"Poor kitty." Rin let her cheek rest against Kilala's side, rising and falling with the cat's breathing. Kagome returned to Kouga's side, exhaling. Her nerves were stretched to the max and she didn't know what to do. She rested her hands on Kouga's pectorals. She focused on controlling her breathing as she examined the ookami's aura, and the sickness connected to it.
But how to fix it? She had done to Kouga what Nori had done to Miroku, kind of. She could sense the dissipating aura coming from her friend. She had evidently 'fed' from him without closing him up. Not that she was entirely clear on the process. Still, she was honor-bound to assist her friend. She did what she could to pull Kouga's aura back together, but she was failing. Kouga was dying.
"Help me," Kagome whispered.
Give it back. You stole his youki. If you return it to him, he'll heal.
This was impossible! How was she supposed to give it back? She didn't even remember taking it from him in the first place! Besides, ki wasn't something she could separate, like bread dough. She was playing around with his life!
The ningyo can do it—which means that you can. You've inherited a lot of her abilities. Trust me. If you can return his youki, you can stop him from dying. But it is something you will need more practice with.
What was she supposed to do? What if she couldn't heal Kouga? What if he…died? As confused as she was about him, he didn't deserve to die. She didn't want him to die! But she was absolutely clueless about how to save him.
"Nori." Kagome winced as she uttered the word. "Rin-chan? Have you seen any of my friends? Do you have any idea where they might be?"
"No. I haven't seen anybody." Rin sighed. "But Sesshomaru-sama will come for me. He will keep us safe."
Kagome bit her cheek. Sesshomaru would probably skin her alive, after what Nori did to him. She couldn't imagine Sesshomaru choosing to do her a favor. Their "friend" had almost killed him.
His head was going to split in two. He groaned, brushing dirt from his cheek. Every muscle in his body felt raw and overused. Vague memories of being trapped inside a dragon's belly passed through his mind. Was he already dead?
A horrifying shriek jolted him into awareness. Miroku sat up, reaching for his staff. A pair of fangs scraped against the rusted metal bars in front of him, reaching forward. The creature's claws tore rents in the excess fabric of his robes. Miroku immediately drew his legs in, hunching over. The creature could not reach him—and neither could its brethren.
"A cage," he realized. He had been placed in a cage, in the center of a teeming mass of youkai. They were fighting desperately to destroy his minimal protection. They were a dull yellow, with human-like torsos and fish-like tails. They were covered in scales and their mouths were far too large to be human. The creatures gnashed their teeth against the bars of his cage. There was no intelligence in their eyes.
"Ningyo." Miroku could only assume that these were Nori's brethren. He could see only the barest resemblance. What terrible monsters they were. He grasped his staff, preparing to cast a barrier. He ignored the bones by his feet; probably some other poor man, given to their terrible hunger.
The cage was beginning to bend.
If they reached him, he would be eaten alive. Naraku would not have the chance to watch him be sucked into his own Kazanna. The—
"You are an idiot." Miroku was already unwrapping the rosary beads that controlled the wind. He waited until they had almost eaten through the metal before unleasing the Wind Tunnel. The metal snapped easily, and dozens of ningyo were sucked forward. His ears rang with the vibrancy of their wails. Those who weren't immediately killed disappeared underneath the nearby waves, escaping. When Miroku could see no more youkai, he wrapped the rosary around his palm.
Miroku kicked what little remained of the bars out of their holdings in the wall. He picked up his staff and moved forward. Someone had placed him in a dungeon connected to a sunken place in the floor. Water covered the other half of the room, where the stones had been pulled away and salt water had flooded in. The ningyo had been given easy access to prisoners, here. There was a myriad of bones covering the floors, along with scales, and what he could presume to be clothing.
He stooped to examine a sickly looking liquid covering the floor. He brushed his hand over delicate membranes connected to an oval-shaped…something. He was standing on a sea of bloody mush, bones, and whatever this was. He turned immediately as something moved. A half-formed creature flew at him, and he tossed it aside with his staff. It crashed against the wall, thrashing.
It was a miniature ningyo.
Miroku immediately crushed its skull beneath the end of his staff. It disappeared in a flash of holy power.
The nest. Naraku had brought them to the ningyo's nest! Or one of them. And if these were egg shells, a horde of newly-hatched ningyo had just been introduced into the ocean. They were going to kill and devour any living creature they found.
Miroku abandoned his prison in favor of the nearby stairs. Remaining near the water was far too dangerous. He needed to find Sango and the other before Naraku's plan unfolded. No doubt this was another one of his insidious ploys to toy with them before killing them. Sango was in danger. Sango, the woman he loved more than anything in the world.
"Sango?" Miroku paused at the top of the molding stairway. He carefully began to follow the twisting passageway. "Inuyasha? Kagome-sama?"
Silence.
"Shippo-chan! Sango!" Miroku was forced to raise his voice. The jyaki permeating the air was heavy, making him feel nervous. There was no light in the stone passageway. He needed to find something to create a torch.
He turned the corner. Miroku was grateful for the window carved out of the stone. Fresh air was pouring in. Outside, he could see the full moon hanging overhead and the beach below. Waves were peacefully lapping against the rocks. There was nothing that would betray the hideous acts happening below.
"Sango?" Miroku harshly whispered.
In the distance, Miroku watched a flash of blue strike against the bright sky. A low, bellowing noise echoed across the water. He was able to make out the giant figure disappearing underneath the ocean. There were shrieks below. Golden-streaked figures were swarming around something.
"Help me—someone! He—" The screams ended in a gurgle.
"How many men have died tonight, Naraku?" Miroku set his jaw. It angered him. He was tempted to curse, as Inuyasha would. Sometimes the hanyou's methods were actually effective, crass as they were.
Somewhere inside the castle, a female voice screamed.
"Sango?" Miroku's feet were already running. He had never heard the taijiya scream, but terror still ran through him. If Sango were hurt—or worse—he would never forgive himself. Even if he died tonight, Sango should survive. She deserved to have her brother safe and whole, returned to her. She deserved to see Naraku die to avenge her family.
"Sango? Sango!" Miroku followed the screams. He climbed another set of stairs, trying to find the source. "Sango! Kagome! Where—" Miroku busted open a half-rotted door the size of an oni. He entered a room filled with odious torches, highlighting the scene.
Kohaku raised his kusarigama, preparing to strike again.
"Kohaku—no!" Miroku moved forward. The boy stood over Nori, whose hands were bound together by metal cuffs. The ningyo cringed on the floor. The wounds in her tail were severe, although healing. Kohaku's weapon struck again, sinking into her shoulder. The girl screamed.
"Kohaku, what are you doing?" Miroku swung his staff. He struck the boy along his shoulderblades. Kohaku moved, turning on him. "Kohaku! Enough of this. I am not your enemy!" Nori moaned, trying to reach the weapon buried in her back. She couldn't reach it, because the cuffs were chained to the ground. "Why would you do this? What is Naraku's plan—to kill her?"
The boy remained silent.
"Torture?" Miroku stepped forward. With a sickening squelch, he pulled the weapon free. Nori whimpered, head bent forward. Her long hair brushed against the ground. He threw the weapon away, facing Sango's brother. "Kohaku—where is your sister? Have you hurt Sango?"
"Sango?" Kohaku repeated the word slowly.
"Your sister. Kilala." Miroku was hoping to reach his mind. Naraku's taint ran deep in Sango's only sibling; perhaps it was reversible. "Naraku has brought us here for something. I need your help, Kohaku."
Nori snarled as Kohaku took a step forward.
"Why did you hurt the girl? What is going on?" Miroku was horrified at the wounds on Nori's body. The girl wasn't wearing a shirt. The cuts along her back were quite gruesome.
"The…girl?" Kohaku's voice was quiet. His eyes were blank. "Inuyasha."
"Where is he? Where is Inuyasha?" Miroku took a leap of faith. He stepped closer to the boy, lowering his weapon. "Help me, Kohaku. What do you know?"
"Kagome. He hates Kagome." Kohaku's head tilted slightly. "She's dangerous."
"This is about Kagome? To hurt Kagome?" Miroku kept his voice gentle, despite his urgency. "Then why are you hurting this girl?"
"Ningyo. I have to hurt the ningyo." Kohaku examined his empty hands. He looked around for his weapon. "Hurt the ningyo. Do not kill her."
"Kohaku—no!" Miroku was not quick enough to catch the agile boy. Sango's brother was already moving towards his weapon. "Kohaku!"
Nori lunged. The ningyo swung her head, entangling her foolishly-long hair in the boy's shins. The boy tripped, falling hard. Nori's bound hands caught hold of Kohaku's shins. Miroku yelled as she managed to wrap her hands around his neck. Kohaku struggled, but she had him pinned.
"Nori—no!" Miroku touched her shoulders. "The boy is an innocent! He doesn't deserve to die!"
Nori ignored him, snarling.
"Let go of him now! That is Sango's brother. I will stop—" Miroku froze. The ningyo was not strangling Kohaku. He was pinned, but unharmed. Nori's aura was shifting, and her mouth was moving. A spell—but a spell for what? "What are you doing?"
Kohaku's eyes rolled back in his head; his spine arched.
"Help him—Naraku is controlling him with the Shikon jewel shard." Miroku removed his hands, but kneeled beside her. He did not know what the ningyo was doing, but almost anything was better than being Naraku's murderous servant. "Save Kohaku…please save him."
"Ninfa," Nori whispered. An enormous amount of energy was centered around the girl. One of her hands glided down to rest over his heart. Miroku felt utterly helpless. Either he was watching Nori kill Sango's little brother, or he was watching her save his life.
Kohaku went limp. Nori nearly fell forward, and would have fallen onto Kohaku's body if Miroku had not caught her. She twisted her hand into his robes. He could only offer his prayers that the boy did not seem to be dead. Nori's hair shifted. Silver eyes looked up at him.
"You tried to kill me." Miroku was willing to stop Kohaku from torturing someone, but that did not mean Nori was innocent. "You tried to kill Kagome. You seduced Inuyasha. You destroyed Kagome's rosary."
Nori held up her hand, palm up.
"You almost killed Sesshomaru." Miroku exhaled. "You have done nothing but cause trouble. Why shouldn't I kill you myself? End this?"
Nori's silver stare was steady. She held her hand higher.
"How do I know you won't eat me?" Miroku raised an eyebrow. "I've seen the others. I don't trust you."
Nori turned away. She stuck her finger in her mouth briefly before finding a dirty section of the floor, within reach. Her bonds scraped against the floor as her hands moved, drawing lines in the dirt. Miroku watched in fascinated horror.
"Naraku killed your mother. The dragon…is your mother? How is that possible?" Miroku's mouth went dry. His eyes roved the scratchings. "Why does that matter to me?"
Nori extended her hand again. There was a vulnerability in her face that made his chest ache.
"You kidnapped Inuyasha! You probably possessed Kagome-sama!" Miroku scoffed, turning his eyes away. "Why should I believe anything you say?" Metal scraped softly against the ground. Soft hands touched his jaw, and then soft lips kissed his.
He nearly choked. Naraku's slimy voice filled his mind.
"—that I told you the legend, Kohaku? Go. Torture that pathetic creature. I doubt it will be enough, but eventually the ningyo will snap. I will enjoy watching her suck the life out of that annoying Inuyasha. And when I get the pearl, I will destroy that miko bitch."
Nori's face swirled back into vision. She looked as distraught as he was.
"What pearl?" Miroku frowned. Nori buried her face in his robes. "Nori, what pearl is he talking about? You have to tell me!"
A small, cold hand found his.
Protect Inuyasha—not kill.
"What is Naraku planning? Nori!" Miroku pushed her away by the shoulders. She was so simple-minded! The girl's jaw was set firmly. "The people I care about are in trouble. By the gods, tell me what's going on!"
Mine. Nori shifted. Only a story. Can't happen.
"What. Is. It." Miroku grabbed her wrists tightly. She made a sound of complaint, tugging against his hold. "Nori. I don't care if it is only a legend. Naraku doesn't think so, which means he knows something you don't. I will help you if you will only tell me what it is."
Humans do it. Nori was obviously uncomfortable. The girl frowned at his chest.
"Huh?" Miroku repeated.
Nori ran the pads of her fingers down his cheek, from his eyelid to his jawline. She gave him a look. Water.
"Tears?" He was extremely confused. In the time that he had known her, she had not cried once. He had seen Sango cry, but not this ningyo. "Naraku wants you to cry? What does that have to do with a pearl?"
We have no water. Not like humans. Story about human who loved ningyo. Sad when she ate him.
"A ningyo fell in love with a human, and she cried." Miroku couldn't make sense of it. She seemed to be telling the truth. Nori made a swooping motion from her own eyes. Her hands coupled together, and she looked at him expectantly.
"…what?"
Nori gently tapped her hand against his arm. She repeated the motion.
Miroku exhaled to relieve his own exasperation, running his hand through his hair. The ningyo was trying to explain, but something was obviously missing. He didn't understand how a ningyo had anything to do with some form of pearl. And if he couldn't understand, there was no chance of defeating Naraku.
Only one thing was certain. Naraku intended to use Nori as a weapon against them. She was unwilling, but dangerous nonetheless. He needed to find the others, and to get Nori away from this place. Miroku shouldered his staff and went towards Kohaku, shifting the boy into his arms.
"Would you change form, dear?" He could not carry them both. They needed to move, quickly.
Nori remained on the ground, staring up at him.
"Nori. We need to leave. You need to be able to walk. Would you transform?" He was desperate to find Sango. The taijiya was strong, but not invulnerable. And she knew more about youkai lore than anyone else in their group. Maybe she could explain Nori's bizarre story.
The girl shook her head.
"Nori…" Miroku couldn't stop his frustration. "We need to find Inuyasha. Isn't that what you want? To find Inuyasha?"
Nori stared at her hands.
Miroku set Kohaku against the stone wall, kneeling in front of the ningyo. "I know you must be frightened, but we need to leave. It is no good to sit here, waiting. Inuyasha and the others are somewhere here in this castle. They might need your help. Will you do that?"
She shook her head.
"And why not? After everything you've done." Miroku was angry. "You owe me. Transform, so what we can find the others."
Nori lifted her head, staring back steadily.
"You—" Miroku drew his hand across his mouth. He had never had the urge to strike a woman before, but he was tempted. This creature was so selfish that she would abandon his companions inside Naraku's castle.
"Nori." There was no gentleness in his voice. His patience had snapped. "Transform, you little fool. How dare—" Nori's chin snapped up. The ningyo's eyes flickered upwards, towards the ceiling. Her head tilted, dragging her hair across the floor. "Nori!"
Nori's eyes slid back towards his face, although her head did not move.
"We have to save Inuyasha. Do you care?"
The ningyo licked her lips, tilting her head the other way. Her eyes closed and her hands moved, jostling the chains around her wrists. Miroku frowned. The ningyo swayed back-and-forth gently, barely noticeable. The aura around her was changing, and not for the better. Miroku's eyes widened as he noticed the ningyo's fangs lengening over her full lips.
"…Nori?"
The girl's aura was darkening with every passing heartbeat. Miroku's fear heightened as he realized that the girl's nails were sharpening. She was transforming, but not into her human form. The ningyo's eyes were blood red when they opened, and she lunged for him. He barely escaped the reach of her claws; they raked through his sleeve, reducing it to shreds. Her lips pulled back, revealing a set of razor-sharp teeth.
Miroku immediately lifted Kohaku's limp form, escaping towards the door. He was not sure if Nori could escape her bonds or not, but he could not risk finding out. The ningyo was dangerous. If he did not leave, Nori could break out of the cuffs and kill Kohaku. She might even be strong enough to kill him. He had seen Inuyasha's uncontrolled youkai side. It was utterly ruthless, devoid of mercy or friendship.
Miroku passed by an open window. The moon was high in the sky, shining brightly over the ocean. A horrific screech echoed after him as he sprinted down the passageway. It only served to quicken his strides. There was no time left. Nori was no longer any form of asset to them. Naraku was going to use Nori against them. He needed to find the others and warn them.