Update (February 2021): Chapter edited and lengthened!
Chapter 47: Talon Protects Claw
Recap:
As the Inuyasha group continues their journey through Edo, they come across a girl caught in a bad situation.
Koharu, a young teen who lost her family to war and was forced to work for an oil keeper in order to survive, her days spent dismal and miserable. One day, Miroku had come to perform an exorcism, and shared both food and a fond memory that Koharu would keep for the next three years until his return...And the arrival couldn't have been better timed, for the son of the oil keeper has been relentlessly pursuing her as of late, and she barely escaped losing her virginity, hiding in the marsh...
Of course, Miroku knew the girl was ill-suited for the journey he and his comrades were engaged in, and decides to help her settle in another village instead. She is saddened to have to part from him so soon, so he pulls her aside to speak with her about the reality of life.
"Miroku, I cannot bear to part away from you after such a short time."
"...Try to understand, Koharu...I cannot always guarantee that I would be able to protect you in times of battle...You see, the demon that I pursue is more devious and formidable than any other. Parting like this is difficult for me as well...Koharu...listen: you are about to commence a new life in a new village...I know you must be afraid."
Koharu nods against the monk's chest...
"Life itself is a frightening image for every human being."
"(Looks up) Huh?"
"In my right hand, is a hole, capable of drawing everything in its path into the void. A Wind Tunnel, if you will...A curse was placed upon my family in my grandfather's time. He, and my father, were eventually sucked into the Wind Tunnels in their own hands. In time, I too will be drawn into the terrible nothingness of my own hand. Despite that, I made up my mind to use this terrible curse as my strength."
Miroku smiles bitterly, his bangs shadowing his eyes.
"The Wind Tunnel allows a mere human like myself to take on demons...so I've come to think my curse is also my greatest strength to battle against evil."
Koharu looks at the monk in awe, noting the way his pupils shone with the hidden fear he keeps inside.
Miroku is trembling...
Is Miroku's tale nothing more than a deception?
"Being strong in life...It's not easy...Overcoming uncertainties, is difficult..."
It isn't long before they and the others find a new village, and as they settle into the headman's home for the night, Koharu slowly begins accepting that she and Miroku weren't meant to be, and chose to make the best of whatever time she has with him...However, the night's peace would be interrupted when a group of men from the village come to attack!...Though given that their souls were stolen from their bodies, they weren't acting on their own accord, but on that of Kagura's...and her sister Kanna, a new demon created by Naraku with a mirror that has the capability of sucking the spirit out of a person!
Kagura would keep Inuyasha, Miroku and Kilala busy outside long enough for everyone else to be attacked by Kanna, with Sango knocked out cold by her own weapon, and accidentally taking Besa and Shippō with her while Freeman is taken down by Koharu - who had her own soul stolen by the demon a little earlier - by using his own weapon! Coraline tries to wake her friends up, only to be seized by the zombified girl and forced to focus on Kanna's mirror, triggering the process of spiriting away the redhead!
Miroku is soon sent to help while the half-demon keeps Kagura's attention, but the monk becomes distracted by Koharu, who feigns unconsciousness to gain his trust. Shippō does wake briefly courtesy of Lumos, only to get knocked out again by Kanna's shield when he tries to rescue Coraline...
Besa is more successful in regaining and maintaining consciousness, finding his gaze fixed into the next room to see Miroku embracing Koharu...as she prepares to stab the monk dead!
Now...
While one of her brothers struggle to warn a friend of the hidden danger, Coraline had fallen to the floor, body paralyzed and her eyes dilating out of focus as Kanna continues to steal away her soul.
"Hh! H-Hrh-nnyh..."
N...No...!
...Suddenly, the process pauses, and we see the misty light bound for the mirror is fighting to stay out of the silver glass.
"How strange. I cannot subdue her soul..."
Even more odd...this energy...
The little demon is referring to a brief throbbing from the spirit, the colour shifting between icy blue, then amaranth pink, before settling back to the ghostly white...Even so, Kanna's mission comes before her curiousity, and she wanders closer to the redhead.
"Still, you are unable to move, are you not? I desire the shard of the Shikon-no-Tama that you possess. Give it to me."
...Just as the demon in white begins reaching her hand towards her victim...
"Hm?"
Lumos comes barreling over and blocks Kanna's hand, then floats over Coraline...before releasing a sparkling light.
(Twinkle...)
"...What is this?"
The Will O' Wisp finishes his job...and Coraline's eyes focus back! She reaches behind her and draws her sword, quickly sitting up on her knees in a defensively offensive position to prepare a counterattack...
Meanwhile, just as Koharu prepares to mortally wound the monk, Besa manages to stutter out,
"M-Miroku, look out! She's got a knife!"
He catches the warning, and looks to see the weapon in the girl's hand. He acts fast, grabbing her wrist to stop the trajectory and moving to stand up against her.
"Koharu!"
"Rgh...!"
Miroku's strength prevails, and he slaps the knife out of Koharu's hand before punching her gut, knocking the wind out of her.
"Gh! Uhhh..."
He catches her and asks himself,
What on earth is going on?
"Hah-h...are you alright, man?"
The monk focuses back to the front, watching Besa try to shuffle upright again.
"I'm fine. Besa, what's happening; are the others okay?"
"I'm, not su-Uh!...There was a girl, all white; I-I think she's still here! She had a mirror that's real powerful!"
Miroku gently places Koharu on the ground, before rushing over to help his friend to their feet. They then turn around to access the situation in the next room...
"Uh, Sango! Coraline!"
"Freeman! Shippō!"
Focus then turns to Kanna:
"Is she the other demon?!"
Besa nods, holding his head with a slight grimace from the new bump.
"Yes, rgh. Be careful; she's able to create a shield from her mirror."
Of course, the white-clad demon's focus is directed at Coraline, her surprise subtly highlighted on her blank expression.
How is she able to move still?
...That orb creature...Did they give her strength?
Meanwhile, the panting redhead thinks to herself,
I mus', remember t' thank Lumos in'a minute...
Kilala then arrives, sending a growl at the one responsible for hurting her comrades. Realizing the odds were being stacked against her, Kanna decides to retreat for now...Once the threat was gone, Coraline lowers her sword and tries to stand up, only to fall on her front.
"Grh! D-Dammi', c'mon..."
Miroku rushes over in concern:
"Coraline, are you harmed?! Wh-What has she done?!"
Meanwhile, Besa and Kilala try to wake up the others, the cat demon whimpering by Shippō while the human shakes his brother and the slayer.
"Freeman, Sango, snap out of it!"
...Only two out of three would meet the calls, namely, Shippō and Freeman.
"Mmh?...Oh, Kilala, it's you!"
"R-rrh...Uh, Besa! Are you okay?"
"Yeah, how 'bout you?"
The Brownlee with irises a brighter shade of green ringed by dark brown sits up and replies with a groan,
"I think so-mmf, but the back of my head is killin' me...Oh, Koharu! Where's-"
"She's unconscious in the other room, thanks to Miroku."
"Gotcha..."
It was then Shippō springs to his feet as his mind floods with recent memories.
"Awah! Coraline!"
Miroku asks all three of them,
"Shippō, Freeman, Besa: what exactly happened here?"
"Miroku, didn't you see the white demon?! She was trying to draw Coraline's soul into her evil mirror!"
"Coraline's soul?...!"
...Speaking of the girl, she weakly shakes her head before calling out in a raspy tone,
"L-Lumos...I need, yur help again."
Said Will O' Wisp floats over to her and performs the same sparkling energy from before.
(Twinkle...)
The others watch with interest and confusion.
"Huh?"
"What's he doing?"
"Coraline...?"
Lumos finishes...and much to everyone's surprise, Coraline gingerly rises to a stand, breathing a bit heavily but with more confidence that she won't be passing out anytime soon.
"Hah, hah...Thank you, m' friend, hh...but I fear I may need, more energy in'a lock'a minutes, so be ready."
The Will O' Wisp 'nods' and settles himself on the girl's left shoulder, wanting to stay close...
"Coraline."
She turns to see the others wander her way with curious expressions.
"You can stand..."
"Thank god you're alright...!"
"Are you okay?"
"What did Lumos do to you?"
She smiles faintly and replies,
"I'm, hangin' in there...T' answer your questions, Lumos, gave me a burst of energy, to help steady whatever amount of, m' soul I have left...Tha' demon, whoever she is, wasn' able to steal away all of it."
The boys widen their eyes, and Coraline forms a serious frown while adding,
"But, hah...even this won' last long. I can-hh, already feel th's boost wearin' off...We need to find the demon fast, so I can destroy tha' devil mirror."
...
...
As everyone in the headman's home begins to ready themselves for Kanna, Inuyasha was continuing his battle against the zombified villagers, knocking them flat off their feet with his fists...Of course, he also had to deal with Kagura and her wind attacks.
"Dance of Blades!"
(SWIPE)
He jumps out of the path of the sorceress's attack, only for the trajectory to continue forward and cut down against the men...Inuyasha flips back on his feet, directing his eyes at Kagura, who in turn calls,
"What is wrong, Inuyasha? You do nothing but flee from me! (Smirk) This leads me to one belief: you have not yet recovered from your injuries."
The silverette grits his teeth and thinks to himself,
I only need one good attack on her. If I can get one good swing in, my arm can handle it...
When I fought that fool Kōga who had been deceived by Naraku, my right arm was wounded by the power of that fake Shikon-no-Tama shard.
...My arm has not yet recovered. Still, if I can cut through the Wind Scar in one move, I can bring her down!
Kagura calls upon the 'Dance of the Dragon', creating a large spiral of wind that surrounds her body as the eye of the storm, while sending some smaller cyclones at her opponent. He dodges them, of course, leaping away from the path of the weaponized gusts as the conjurer thinks about the events of their first encounter.
I never imagined that this young upstart would try something as elaborate as the Wind Scar to battle me...
When we first met in battle, a Sacred Arrow dispelled my Wind Song and created a Wind Scar...
The Wind Scar is created when the demonic winds collide...I control all wind!
If not for that arrow, a Wind Scar would never had formed!
The current gusts pick up speed, as if reacting to the sorcerer's grudging memories...
Meanwhile, Inuyasha struggles to find the fissure required for Tessaiga's ultimate attack.
...No good. It won't work. A Wind Scar won't form within the winds she created!
The two opposing enemies stand still for a minute...before Kagura hums and folds her fan a bit, her wind control decreasing low enough for the fissure to become visible!
"Wait...That was a Wind Scar! How can that be?! What does it mean? Is her control over the wind weakening?"
Something feels off...and yet...
"This is my only chance. (Shing) I can slay her now, with the Wind Scar!"
...Just as the half-demon draws his fanged sword, Miroku and Shippō come running down from the headman's house, leading the twins who were holding Coraline up with their arms around her shoulders, and Kilala who's carrying the unconscious Sango and Koharu on her back.
"Guys, look: Inuyasha is wielding his Tessaiga! He will cut through the Wind Scar!"
The monk replies in accordance to the young fox demon's observation,
"I must stop him. He does yet not know of the second demon, that soul-thieving apparition. Sango's weapon was thrust back at her...and the Wind Scar will be hurled back at Inuyasha!"
...Besa and Freeman nod at one another, before handing Coraline over to Miroku.
"We can run down there easy."
"Keep Coraline upright in the meantime."
"What?"
They then draw their weapons and begin running down the hill.
"We can handle it!"
"Wait, no! It's too dangerous; neither of you have enough battle experience against demons yet! Come back!"
Meanwhile, Inuyasha focuses on the Wind Scar...
"I see it."
"I allowed you to see it."
"The Wind Scar...!"
"You want to slice through it, I imagine?"
...A pair of small feet come wandering to Kagura just as the silverette readies Tessaiga.
"You're, mine!"
Besa and Freeman make it halfway down the hill shouting,
"Inuyasha, stop!"
"It's a trap!"
But they were too late:
(SLASH...)
Kagura lets out a laugh at the coming projectile, and uses her winds to switch positions with her 'sister'.
"Now, perish!"
...Kanna's mirror gleams, and just as the Wind Scar connects...the enchanted object reflects the clawing energy back on a straight course for the one who released it!
"What?!"
(...BOOM)
"AAAAAA-AAAAAAAGH!"
Inuyasha is hit full blast, his body cut by the Wind Scar!...And once the energy dies down, we see him laying seen face-up on the ground over the giant cut marks in the grass, his body bloodied...
"Inuyasha!"
The twins rush over to his side and kneel down to shake his shoulders.
"Inuyasha, can you hear me?!...Inuyasha!"
"Come on, man, wake up! Inuyasha!"
(...Rumble...)
"Huh?"
They look up, and see the sky beginning to darken over from a new change in the atmosphere...A cloud of slate purple mist then flows down into a spiral, causing them cringe when they feel the wave of power emanating from it, as do the other conscious souls higher up the incline...
More spirals of pitch black wind join in, and the entire manifestation lands directly behind Kagura and Kanna...before Naraku emerges from the winds! Getting a closer look as the gusts die down, we see he's wearing an open, antique fuschia hifu over a Charleston black-green kimono with gold/fern green feathers pattering it, and off-black hakama matching the zōri sandals worn over his tabi socks.
"Ghh! Is that...?!"
Besa replies to Freeman,
"Yes. (Glare) I think it's a safe bet that he's Naraku."
The twins stand up on the defense as the identified demon lets out a laugh and remarks,
"That was indeed simple enough...I came so I could ask you in person how it felt to have your power turned against you, and very easily I might add."
Despite her weakened state, Coraline could sense the stronger anger in Miroku's aura as they listen to the mockery from the demon below.
"I know, you wan' to head down there. Go...I'll be alright."
The monk hesitates...but nods and sets the girl to lean against the twin-tail, before bounding down the incline quickly to join Freeman and Besa, and address the enemy.
"I am indeed honoured for your presence, Naraku. I rather expected a demon puppet."
His grim smirk shifts into a glaring frown as he exclaims,
"You are a coward who never sullies his own hands, who knows only how to lay traps. You must've been vastly confident, otherwise you wouldn't have thought to dare show your face!"
He unwraps his beads from his right hand with a growl and says to the twins,
"Both of you, stay behind me, alright?"
"Got it!"
"No arguments, dude. Suck back the bastard!"
Naraku's smile grows a touch:
"The Wind Tunnel...You are free to draw anything into your void..."
He glances down at Kanna:
"But surely, even you could not be that foolish, young monk?"
Miroku reminds himself,
The souls of Coraline and the villagers are locked within that mirror...
On that note, he had no choice but to re-contain his curse with the prayer beads.
Besa frowns, also realizing the consequences that might erupt:
"That's right, bad idea. A good chunk of Cora's spirit is in there, as well as Koharu's and the villagers...If Miroku uses his ability now..."
Freeman finishes in a low tone,
"It's game over."
Feeling he had his enemies properly backed into a corner, Naraku continues his grand dialogue.
"My course of action was simple: I created Wind and Void as incarnations of myself, and yet witness the damage I was able to inflict."
The monk narrows his eyes in thought.
Incarnations? So my suspicions were correct: Naraku's power has increased drastically if he is capable of this level of sorcery.
We have fought Kagura, the Wind Sorceress once before, and this other...she is the Void?
...That's why we could not sense it's evil: it has no presence! It's no wonder the situation went unnoticed until it was too late.
He then furrows his eyebrows in confusion, stealing a glance behind him at the distant orb of light that was the Will O' Wisp.
But then, how did Lumos sense her?
...Does he have sensory beyond the level of humans and demons?
Meanwhile, Freeman bends down to the silverette's side to try and wake him again.
"Inuyasha!...Damn, I can barely hear his heartbeat. Come on, dude, wake up! Don't leave us now!"
Coraline's POV
I'm standing between Kilala and Shippō, panting a little heavily as I fight to stay awake.
Damn...Inuyasha's not moving, and m' brothers are gonna ge' themselves killed down there with Miroku!
...I've got, to ge' down there, while I'm still able to.
I slowly begin trudging forward, stumbling a bit as my energy levels continue their gradual drop, prompting Shippō to direct his concern on me.
"Coraline, are you in pain? Don't force yourself to move if you can't."
"Hh, I'm-hh...I'm fine...I can't, stand by an' watch this. I need to help."
...And I think I know just how I'm gonna do i'.
I reach to my back and pull ShatterSoul from its sheath...
Seemingly reading my mind, Lumos makes a cry before releasing another burst of energy for me.
(Twinkle...)
"Hah-h, (tired smile) thank yeu, Lumos...I know you probably, won' be able to do that f'r a bi', so save y'r strength for when I tell you next, 'kay? I should have enough in me to make i' down the hill."
Lumos chirps softly, understanding my request, and I face forward with a determined expression, gripping my sword tight.
...This ends now.
"Shippō, Kilala?...Walk with me. If I stumble, jus' help me up and keep me movin', no matter wha'."
The little fox demon gapes at me uncertainly...but then nods firmly, and moves to my left side as Kilala positions herself on my right, before we all begin making our way down to where everyone is.
Inuyasha...I'm comin', and I will make these monsters pay for hur'in' you.
No POV
As the weakened but determined young Croft starts her slow trek down the hill with her demon companions, Kagura waves her fan out and asks Naraku,
"Have we not spoken long enough? Shall we take Inuyasha's head along with us as a trophy?"
"Not gonna happen!"
"Hm?"
The sorceress glances down at Freeman, who glares hard her way while moving to stand up, holding his ōtsuchi at the ready.
"The only way you're getting his head is through us!...Right, Besa?"
He nods at his twin, turning to look at the three demons with his own glare while bringing his kama out from their holsters.
"Absolutely!"
Kagura sneers at the teens, Freeman in particular.
"And how exactly are you going to stop me, boy?...I can see it in your eyes: you have fire, but not enough battle experience...You and your brother are the most likely to fall first after Inuyasha."
"Rrrh...!"
The one under scrutiny grinds his teeth in anger, and Kagura turns to Naraku again.
"Well?"
...His stare says it all...
"No?...Did you not want to tell that woman that Inuyasha had been slain?...I was under the impression that this is what you desired."
Naraku directs his blood red irises down on Inuyasha's beaten form...and replies,
"True enough. It was only through her cooperation that I was able to create you and Kanna...What emotions would shine on her face if I were to show her that Inuyasha's dead, I wonder?"
As he ponders this, he brandishes out the close-to-complete Shikon-no-Tama! Besa asks in astonishment,
"Miroku...is that...?"
"Yes, but, how can that be? Naraku's Shikon-no-Tama fragment is nearly whole!"
The demon himself explains,
"You suggested earlier that I do everything to avoid sullying my own hands...Even the mightiest are inferior to someone. A woman attempted to use me so I would murder Inuyasha for her."
"A woman?...Nh! You don't mean...!"
"Heh, she's some piece of work, that Kikyō."
The twins wince and curse, remembering what their sister has told them regarding the wandering priestess.
She gave Naraku the fragment?! But why?!
Upon hearing her name, Inuyasha's eyes snap awake.
Ki...Kikyō!
He begins wincing from his severe injuries, his mind flooding with disbelief.
Hearing the noise, Besa turns around to see the half-dog demon was conscious.
"Ah! Inuyasha, you're alright! Thank god..."
But without proper medical, he might not be for much longer...
We need to wrap this up some way, or we're all done for!
"Kikyō personally handed me the Shikon-no-Tama shard to me of her own free will."
Inuyasha grimaces more, his eyes dilating in sadness and betrayal over what the enemy revealed.
...Kikyō...
Kagura readies her fan:
"She wishes to gaze upon your face, after you're good and dead!"
She then sends a torrent of wind blades at the crippled warrior party, and Miroku rushes in front of the twins.
"Stay behind me!"
He tries to deflect with his staff, but is overwhelmed by the numbers and strength.
"Gyaaaah!"
"Miroku!"
"Bro, incoming!"
"Now give me your head!"
Just as Kagura lets a few more wind blades loose...
(Sheen)
"Huh?"
"Wha...?"
The crystals in the twins' wrist bands begin to glow like a prism, and they subconsciously raise them to form a cross shape across their free wrists...The rainbow light bursts forth and solidifies, creating a large dome surrounding them, Inuyasha and Miroku that deflects the blades!
Kagura stares at the shield in disbelief:
"What?! Impossible!"
Naraku narrows his eyes slightly at the humans, he too surprised by the display.
Those boys...That power.
It is not of the Shikon-no-Tama, but is close to being as powerful...
How irritating.
Once its purpose was fulfilled, the shield fades away, leaving Freeman and Besa to look down at their bracelets in shock.
"...How did we-"
"I have absolutely no idea...but I'm glad we did...!"
"As, am I."
"Hm?"
They turn around, and gasp seeing Coraline standing a few feet away, sword in hand and ready to fight!
"Coraline!"
"Sis!"
"(Weak smile) Nice job with th' shield, you two. I'll take it from here."
"What?"
"Are you sure?"
"Positive...Protect everyone for me, 'kay?"
Though a little concerned for the girl's well-being, the twins nod, and Coraline moves so she's standing a few feet in front of them as the fox demon rushes over to hug the young man with the war mallet.
"Freeman!"
"Shippō! Mm, (hug) it's gonna be okay, I promise..."
The one with the kama, meanwhile, wanders over to Kilala as she tries to nudge the monk.
"(Whimper...)"
"(Pat) Don't worry, he just got the air knocked out of him...but be ready to take him and Inuyasha out of here if things get worse then they already are."
Kagura eyes the approaching redhead with a glare.
"Her again? (Turn) You failed me, Kanna! Why did you not steal her soul?"
"Actu'lly, she did."
She whirls back on Coraline:
"What?"
The young redhead pants a bit, but her stare is serious and strong.
"I, no longer feel, th' half of Kikyō I possess...Y've likely figur'd i' out by now, but I'm no' the miko's origin'l reincarnation; her spiri', came to mine only five years ago...But, she's tak'n back a' least half of hers...an' right now, Kanna's mirror is strugglin' to hold half of mine and half of Kikyō. (Glance) See for y'self if you don' believe me."
Naraku turns to look at his latest creation, and sees the light fighting to get out of the mirror.
The soul is spilling out of the mirror...
Does this girl truly possess an abnormal soul?
Coraline looks back over her shoulder and asks,
"Shippō, Freeman, how'is Inuyasha?"
"Well, he's alive, but he's so badly wounded, he's unable to move."
"He needs serious medical..."
"(Nod) Alrigh'. Keep him awake; don't let him fall unconscious."
Inuyasha tilts his head a bit to meet his gold-hazel irises with the stormy-sky blue.
...Coraline.
She smiles sadly and whispers,
"I'm happy t' see you alive, Inuyasha...Stay strong for me; I'll take care of things from here."
The girl then focuses back on the central evil before her, more specifically, the jewel in his hand.
...Kikyō. Have ye really given into darkness so much tha' yeu'd rather Naraku have the shards we pu' our blood, swea' 'n tears into collecting?
Do you wish for Inuyasha's death so bad, ye'r willin' to make a deal with hell on earth?
...Even if i' is true...I can see it in your ex-lover's eyes: no matter what you do, he can't forget yeu.
Coraline swallows down a threat of tears, just as Naraku says to her,
"Woman. Pass this message on to Inuyasha: if he must hate someone, then hate Kikyō...for the only thing she desires, is Inuyasha's death."
"...Yeu sleeven, hallion bastard..."
Suddenly, any exhaustion in her bones is gone, and she turns a raging glare on the demon between his incarnations.
"You'll regret tha' taunt!"
She poises her own special sword over herself by her left arm.
Shippō and Freeman try to protest against her actions:
"Don't do it, Coraline! It'll fire back at you exactly like the Tessaiga did!"
"And doesn't an attack from ShatterSoul require alot of spiritual energy? Why do that instead of an arrow?"
"...Because I have the confidence t' do it. Lumos, now's the time."
The Will O' Wisp floats off of Coraline's shoulder, and moves over her head before giving her an energy boost.
(Twinkle...)
She sucks in a deep breath, and unfolds her eyelids to showcase her signature glowing eyes as her aura channels through her veins...
"Heed my words, Naraku: had yur incarnation no' sap most of me strength, I'd smite yeu where you stand!...But given th' circumstance, I'll jus' have to settle with this!"
Don' fail me, ShatterSoul!
"(Swing) Claw Spiorad!"
She brings her sword in a downward strike through the air, and blinding ice blue energy in the shape of a bird's talon is released to head straight for Kanna!...The demon holds up her mirror to catch the attack, only to find herself pushed back a few inches from the impact.
"Uh!"
Coraline looks on, breathing heavy from the loss of spiritual energy going into the attack...Miroku then stirs awake.
"R-Rh?...Uh-h! That energy...!"
(Shing...)
Shippō shouts,
"The sword slash is starting to pierce the mirror!"
The talon-shaped power is drawn in...and the mirror begins throbbing harder...before-
(Crick...)
Kanna looks down and notes,
"The attack, went through. It did not deflect...and it cuts the glass."
Kagura exclaims,
"What's going on?! Why did it not strike back at her?!"
"...Khm. K-hehehmhmhm."
She turns to the sound of the assailant's little chuckle, and snarls,
"What's so damn funny?!"
Coraline sends a tired but sardonic smirk back and replies,
"Simple, sorceress: the 'void' is no' as spacious as yur master intended."
"What?!"
"I understand."
Kanna focuses on Kanna as the latter remarks,
"This energy, is her own essence...The mirror is entirely filled, and was damaged by the cut. Unless the souls are released, the mirror will burst."
(Crick...)
Seeing no other option, the white-clad demon reverses the power of her mirror and releases the souls captured.
(POW)
The streams of spiritual light shoot outwards, returning to the villagers, Koharu...and Coraline. The redhead holds out her sword, and the missing part of her own spirit that shines that familiar ice blue and amaranth pink bounces onto the blade, swirling downward and into her body again, filling her with strength once more.
"Rgh!...Hahhh..."
Naraku watches Coraline lower her arm, his eyes fixed on the weapon she held.
...This woman. She has the power to use her own spirit as a weapon.
And that sword...
Just what is she?
Once the girl feels things settle inside herself, she looks around to see that the other souls have returned to their respected bodies...
"Glad tha' part's over. (Glance) Miroku, if yu'r able, now's the time to unleash the Wind Tunnel!"
He shakes his stupor off and calls back,
"Right," rising to his feet...just as Koharu awakens.
"Mmm...uh? (Lifts herself up) What happened?...Hh! Miroku!"
Coraline hurries to the side of Inuyasha, her brothers and Shippō as the monk unleashes his cursed power.
"Wind Tunnel!"
(Whoooooooosssssssshhhhhhhhhh...)
Koharu watches the spectacle with wide eyes, remembering Miroku's words from hours before.
(Flash)
"Life itself is a frightening image for every human being."
"In my right hand, is a hole, capable of drawing everything in its path into the void...In time, I too will be drawn into the terrible nothingness of my own hand..."
"Being strong in life...It's not easy...Overcoming uncertainties, is difficult..."
(Flash)
...I think...I think I now understand.
Getting back to the battle, Kagura uses her power the wind to upturn the ground, countering the suction with boulders of rock and dirt...She, Naraku and Kanna then turn to leave, vanishing with the mist...
Miroku hastily cancels his power and mutters,
"Curse them; they've escaped."
...However, the demon marred by the mark of the spider leaves a final message in the air for his enemies.
"We shall allow you to live for a while yet. The Shikon-no-Tama will continue to bestow me with more and more power. Let us all relish the immeasurable power of the Shikon-no-Tama, shall we?"
With that, Naraku's presence ceases, leaving our group with the aftermath to sink in.
...
...
Come the sunrise, the villagers playing the part of puppets awake in the battlefield with no memory of what had occurred last night.
"How was it we all awoken in the fields?"
"I'm finding it hard to remember anything at all..."
"Same for me..."
The only one who would know the truth...is Koharu...She stands away from the other victims of Kanna, looking down at a message left behind by a certain monk. Her eyes dilate with sadness...but then she forms a determined frown, vowing to never forget what her experiences have taught her thus far.
...My new life, starts now...Good luck to you and your friends, Miroku.
Speaking of said people, we catch up to them a fair distance from the village in an old wilderness hut, recovering in their own manners from last night's encounter with the enemy. We see Shippō and Kilala sitting together outside the flap door, who glance at Miroku leaning against one side of a native elm tree, while Sango rests under a blanket on the other side of the trunk...
Sick of the silence, the little fox demon hops to his feet and exclaims,
"Hey! Cheer up, would you?! (Sad frown) But I suppose it's not that easy, not after everything that we've been through...Naraku possesses nearly all of the Shikon-no-Tama shards..."
He shakes his head in disbelief from his own tone.
"What am I thinking?! We can't give up at a time like this! I've got this thing all wrong: we must possess incredible powers ourselves to survive such a conflict with the nearly invincible Naraku, and live to tell it."
Kilala mews in agreement, just as Freeman comes out the door with a smile.
"That's the spirit, kiddo. It's always better to look on the bright side of the worst of times...And contrary to what that asshat thinks, we've got something that Naraku will never have."
"What's that?"
The dark-skinned boy glances over at the monk and slayer...before replying simply,
"Something worth fighting for."
Shippō gapes...before nodding firmly at the wise observation...It was then Coraline pops her head out from behind the flap.
"Hey, Shippō."
"Coraline. How's Inuyasha doing? Any better?"
"The 'erbal remedies are star'in' to do their work. His fever's dropped and he's sleeping more comfort'bly."
Freeman says to his sister in a helpful tone,
"If you'd like, I could go and see about gathering more herbs. I should be able to ID the right ones thanks to that old almanac Besa and I read a while back, heh, and all those times we popped into the shop back home."
"(Smile) I'd appreciate tha', brother; thank yeu. By the by, how's tha' bump on the back of yur head feelin'?"
"Eh, just aching a bit; nothing serious. It's more annoying if anything."
Coraline nods, and Shippō offers,
"Kilala and I can go with you, Freeman, 'cause besides Coraline and Besa, we're the only ones here with enough energy."
"Alrighty then. We'll be back in a bit, sis."
"Thanks, yeu three."
The redhead watches the trio head off into the tree cover...then moves back in the hut so she could sit down and rest while keeping an eye on Inuyasha. He in turn is laying on a bed of straw, with bandages around his torso, left shoulder and arm, and Tessaiga laying on his removed kimono and nagajuban just above his head. Besa is sitting nearby the rucksacks that belong to him and his siblings, as well as Hiraikotsu and ShatterSoul.
"Hey."
"Hey. (Sits) Freeman, Shippō and Kilala are off ta ge' more healing 'erbs, 'case you didn't hear...How's your head an' elbow?"
Gingerly touching his left elbow that had a bandage covering a scab received from his tumble, the young man replies,
"Not bad. I didn't hit my head as hard as Freeman's mallet hit him. I'm still shocked he didn't need a bandage...What about you; are you okay?"
"Hah...my mind's racin', and my muscles are stiff as'e board, but other than that...I'm copin'."
"Hm..."
As the siblings let out matching quiet breaths of unease, Inuyasha gently stirs awake, his mind fixed on what was learned last night.
...Kikyō handed over the Shikon-no-Tama shard to Naraku.
Kikyō who had died once...then rose again in a body made of clay.
Kikyō who despises me, who tried to murder Coraline...
Where are you...my, Kikyō?
His thoughts are interrupted by the following conversation between the two other souls in the room.
"Say, Cora?"
"Auy?"
"...Now we're out of harm's way, I wanted to ask something that I'm sure everyone else is wondering...Why did you use ShatterSoul instead of drawing a Sacred Arrow to defeat Kanna's mirror? Wouldn't the other have been more effective?"
Coraline smiles sadly and replies,
"Perhaps, bu' I didn't think tha' with the condition I was in, I'd be able t' draw a Sacred Arrow...Not withou' Kikyō's half of the soul I possess."
"Huh?"
"...Yeu see, every time I use a Sacred Arrow...I feel the miko sharin' my body pulse within me, forming a connection with my own spirit...With tha' connection, comes the knowledge and spiritual experience required to draw such a power, and tha's how I can perform the act with ease...I'm not sayin' I couldn't create a Sacred Arrow on my own strength...but, it would be extremely difficult, seein' as I'm a self-taught novice of th' bow and arrow."
"Hm..."
"Also...wieldin' ShatterSoul just felt, more natural."
"More, natural?"
"Aye...I' felt more like me when I focused my spiri' with my blade, and sent tha' aura attack agains' Kanna. I had the best confidence my sword, and my skill, wouldn't let me down."
...Coraline's smile suddenly becomes more bitter when she mutters,
"Besides...I don' think with my own soul, I'll be able to create a 'pure-enough' energy to defeat demons like Kikyō can."
Besa furrows his brows in confusion:
"What? Why not?"
"...Because even with wha' she's been doin' as of late, compared to how I've lived before now...I'm less of'a saint than Kikyō is."
"Uh-...Coraline..."
She shakes her head and adds,
"Bu', whatever. That's jus' my thoughts. I could be wrong abou', some of it...I dunno..."
The solemn girl's brother could only stare at her for a minute...before pulling her to his side and guiding her head on his shoulder, both choosing not to say anything more...Unbeknownst to them, Inuyasha heard it all.
...Coraline...?