Update (February 2021): Chapter edited and lengthened!
Chapter 48: A Broken Fang
The sun shines through an overcast of white-gray clouds and over the green hills of Edo, our view taking us to yet another village nestled discreetly within the forest greenery. This one is a little smaller than most, home to an equally smaller populace comprised mostly of men with various battle experience, from farmers being forced to take arms to veteran samurai. Based on the condition of the bunch resting by a modest shrine house, it seems that this era is living up to its war-fueled reputation...
Luckily, a priestess has happened upon them in her own travels, and decides to lend them a hand with her healing skills...
That person, is Kikyō...
Finishing her work on one man's upper arm, the miko of divided existence pivots her sitting body to grab her basket of herbs...only to feel eyes leering at her from afar.
"Hm?"
That presence...
Excusing herself, Kikyō walks into the thicket to investigate, her face set in a suspicious glare...
She stops on the path once she's moved in some ways, and calls out,
"Show yourself. I know that you've been following me."
...A dark chuckle resonates, and we see Naraku - dressed in his baboon fur cloak - fade into view within the darkness of the canopy.
"Kikyō. Inuyasha feels, bitter toward you. He lies close to death, and it is all because of my newly found power from the Shikon-no-Tama fragments you gave me."
He fades out with another laugh, leaving the woman behind to form an expression of anger and disdain.
...
At the same time, our titular group continues to recover from their battle against Naraku's incarnation agents...Inuyasha's injured form lays on the straw pile, drifting through an uneasy sleep as his memory replays his enemy's words.
(Flash)
"Kikyō personally handed the Shikon-no-Tama shard over to me of her own free will."
"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."
"The Shikon-no-Tama will continue to bestow me with more and more power..."
(Flash)
Why, Kikyō? By giving Naraku the Shikon-no-Tama, his evil powers have grown stronger.
What were you thinking? Kikyō, do you hate me that much?
...Kikyō...Kikyō...
"(Jolt) Huh!...Ggrh, nh..."
He awakens and grimaces from the soreness of his battered body, just as Shippō and Besa return from outside.
"Uh! Inuyasha! Are you in pain?"
"Inuyasha..."
The fox bounds over by the dog's head, commenting with a concerned frown,
"I guess that's to be expected: Tessaiga protected you, but you still took the full brunt of the Wind Scar."
"Yeah, and Sango's not really doing much better."
They both look over at the boy with cornrowed hair, he standing by the slayer who's now resting on her side atop a rice straw mat set against the wall opposite the dog demon.
"She took a pretty hard hit from Hiraikotsu thanks to Kanna, and even though she's tried to shake it off as just a bad bruise, it's better if she doesn't move for a while."
Inuyasha finally speaks, his voice coming out a bit strained.
"...And Coraline?"
Shippō answers,
"She went with Miroku and Freeman to search for medicinal herbs and food."
Besa then picks up on a whimper of pain from the brunette.
"...Sango?"
She remains asleep, and Kilala mews at her partner with concern.
The human with espresso skin pets the twin-tail and chides,
"Don't worry, girl; she'll be okay. (Turn) Shippō, could you go get some more water, please?"
"Sure."
The little ginger heads outside, and grabs a bucket to scoop up some water from a small punchbowl waterfall flowing from the higher valley.
"...Both Inuyasha and Sango have broken arms, and two terrifying incarnations of Naraku are roaming about. Haah...I wonder how we're gonna get ourselves out of this one?"
...Unbeknownst to him, a small group of the Shinidamachū emerge from the treetops...
Back in the hut, Besa sits down in one corner to take a breather...only to spot a couple small circles of translucent light appear on the door and the adjacent wall.
"What, the..."
Those eel-like demons then float in, hovering over Inuyasha and causing the other male to scramble to his feet in surprise.
"W-What the hell?! Inuyasha!"
"...Hm? Uh! Shinidamachū."
Now that their presence is known by their intended target, the demons exit and begin flying back where they came...Inuyasha grabs his Tessaiga and mutters,
"Kikyō must be somewhere close by," before pushing himself to a stand...
Kilala growls warily with her fur standing on end, while Besa quickly moves to the half-dog demon to steady him and try to reason with his mindset.
"Inuyasha, hold on: your injuries are still great. Even if she is near, you shouldn't push yourself just for her sake."
"Rgh, sh-shut it. Just, stay out of my way, Besa."
...Seeing the stubborn determination in the half-demon's gold-hazel eyes, the male with dark emerald irises bordered by dark brown lets out a puff of air before saying,
"Alright, fine. If you're going to be like this...at least let me be your crutch instead of your sword."
Back outside, two other Shinidamachū ensnare Shippō and hold him up in the air.
"Hey, let go of me, you slithery demons!"
He then spots Inuyasha and Besa coming out of the hut, the former being held up with an arm around the shoulders of the latter, and vice-versa...
"Inuyasha, Besa, watch out!"
The half-demon urges forward, muttering the name of the miko who controls the creatures that spirit away souls. Hearing that name clear as day, Shippō tries to protest his friend's actions.
"She'll kill you! Don't go, Inuyasha! Besa, stop him; don't help him!"
The teen with cornrowed hair calls over his shoulder,
"It's no use, Shippō; he won't be talked out of it!...But I have my sickles with me. I won't let him get hurt, I promise!"
"...Besa. (...Nod) Okay, but be careful. If she does attack, get Inuyasha back here no matter what!"
"Got it!"
The little fox demon watches the pair go, mentally praying,
Please, Besa, don't let Inuyasha be killed. Both of you, come back safe!
...Following the Shinidamachū away from the hut, the half-demon and full human come to a hill where the ground is rocky and the soil is exposed...As they slowly trudge down, Inuyasha thinks to himself,
...Kikyō. I have, to see you.
Meanwhile, Besa quirks while eyeing his friend,
He's got a strong will, I'll give him that. Almost reminds me of Freeman when he's fighting a cold...
But I have to be vigilant. Only kami knows what Kikyō has planned for Inuyasha.
...I can't let him get hurt...or Coraline will never forgive me.
About halfway down, the silverette slips on some loose dirt.
"Gy-uh!"
Luckily, his living crutch grasps him around his middle to steady him.
"I gotcha!"
...They move on again, and Inuyasha found himself asking,
"Wh-Why, are you doin' this?"
"Because I'm your friend, and I've had my share of stubborn moments with my brother, so I know you're not gonna give up until you see to your goal...Now come on; let's take it a bit slower."
They eventually make it to the bottom of the hill without sliding, and watch the Shinidamachū float up to a tree branch...Kikyō cancels the illusionary barrier previously cloaking her presence, and turns to look down at the half-dog demon.
"Inuyasha."
"...Kikyō."
"You're still alive, I see. (Half-smile) I'm, glad."
Inuyasha growls a bit, and the priestess turns her eyes to Besa.
"And who might you be?"
"...Besa. Don't mind me; I'm just acting as his crutch for the moment. (Frown) But I'll easily become a bodyguard if you plan on doing anything to cause Inuyasha greater harm."
She nods firmly at the warning, and the silverette begins addressing the topic that's brought them together.
"Grh! Kikyō, tell me what's going on! Is it true that you gave Naraku all those shards of the Shikon-no-Tama that you stole from Coraline?"
"Yes, I did...to cast Naraku into oblivion."
Inuyasha forms a confused look, as does Besa.
"Huh? What's that suppose to mean? Naraku's already alot stronger than he used to be."
"He now has the power to create incarnations of himself to act as his offensive. Currently, he has Kagura of the Wind, and Kanna of the Void."
...Speaking of said wind sorceress, we see her skulking nearby from behind a cypress tree.
"Hm..."
So Inuyasha and that Kikyō woman know eachother...
(Flash)
"...Kagura: follow Kikyō and find out what she's up to. She cannot be trusted."
(Flash)
She continues to spy as Besa sets Inuyasha down on the ground per his request, before the latter gets to the core issue.
"You wanted me dead...Isn't that the reason you gave Naraku the shards of the Shikon-no-Tama?"
Kikyō narrows her eyes at the accusation and replies,
"I would never allow someone such as Naraku to take your life...Take heed, Inuyasha: Naraku is our most bitter enemy."
The true human in the area tilts his head in bewilderment at her words.
What? Strange...
Does that mean she's playing as a double agent...or does she maybe not care for either side, if she's to meet her own goals?
On the other hand, Kagura was becoming bored rather than enlightened.
...How dull, merely spying on these three.
Inuyasha is close to death. He hasn't even picked up on my scent, and that boy he brought with him is a weak protection.
She flips out her fan:
I shall kill both Kikyō and Inuyasha!
...Unfortunately for the sorceress, Kikyō picks up on Kagura's presence...and just as the latter unleashes her demonic wind...
(Twok, zwing-TOK)
"Uh!"
The blades are immediately destroyed by a Sacred Arrow that lands in the tree trunk just centimeters beside her head!...Kikyō readies another arrow, and Inuyasha and Besa look over where she fired.
"Kagura!"
"Damn..."
The miko says to the incarnation with a cold tone,
"...Your head will be next."
Seeing no alternative, the wind sorceress takes a feather from her hair and makes her escape.
"Hah!"
(Whoosh...)
Kikyō mutters to herself,
"Hm...She escaped."
Besa puts his kama back into their holsters, and the priestess turns to say to the half-demon,
"Inuyasha, Naraku will only grow stronger and stronger."
"...Huh?"
"You mustn't allow him to kill you. Until I'm able to cast him and the Shikon-no-Tama from this world...your life belongs to me. No one else will have you."
With that message in the wind, Kikyō calls on her demon agents...before fading away from view.
"Huh?"
"She's gone..."
...Kikyō.
Coraline's POV
Dammi', can' we even ge' one day of rest from all th' drama?!
Miroku, Freeman and I had left the hut earlier this morning to collect more medicinal herbs as well as attempt to hunt for small game to increase our food supplies. It took a little over two hours of patience and tracking, but we were more or less successful...
However, when we returned, Shippō would inform us that Inuyasha and Besa were gone, having followed after the soul collecting demons that are under Kikyō's control! I call on Lumos to help us track down their auras, and we end up chasing after my partner to the field in the opposite direction of the small grove we went hunting in...
"Hah, hh, Shippō, are you one-hundred percent certain?"
Miroku asks further,
"Was it Kikyō's soul collectors that you saw?"
"I'm positive, and they lured Inuyasha away from the hut!...Besa did go with him, but I'm worried."
Freeman replies,
"Yeah, so am I. At least he was smart to remember his weapons and not let Inuyasha go alone."
As I urge my muscles on, I found myself half-pleading,
Inuyasha...please be alright.
I don' care if y' did meet with her, as long as you're still movin'.
...Once we were halfway down to where an incline would begin, we'd finally spot the missing pair coming out of the mist from last night's light shower.
Oh thank dhia, they're both okay!
"Inuyasha! Besa!"
They both stop, and my brother eases my friend to kneel on the ground as Lumos circles them both in both excitement and relief over finding them...I drop down in front of the injured half-demon.
"Are yeu alrigh'? (Glances up) Thank you for gettin' him back safe, bro, an' I'm glad yo'r okay too."
"No prob, and, thanks."
I turn my focus back on Inuyasha, noticing that he's avoiding my eyes...
Letting out a quiet sigh, I place a gentle hand on his shoulder and softly inquire,
"Inuyasha...did yeu see Kikyō?"
He doesn't answer, and only grunts reluctantly while continuing to stare away, just as the rest of the search team catches up.
"Besa, you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I only went with him just to make sure he didn't strain himself...and, protect him incase something went awry."
Freeman nods, clapping a hand on his shoulder and priding,
"Good call...but next time, maybe leave a note or somethin'? I was worried."
I roll my eyes a bit at his halfhearted but relieved smile, before focusing back on trying to eliminate this unnecessary awkwardness.
"...Please, Inuyasha, I must know...Did she, say anything we don' already know had happened?"
He finally looks at me with surprise...before muttering,
"No...but, she did elaborate a bit on her reasoning."
"Oh?"
"...But I don't wanna talk about it."
"I...I understand."
I look down sadly and muse,
So she really did hand over th' shards willingly to Naraku...
Oh Kikyō. Why go so far if it'll only end more bitterly than i' did fifty years ago?
Miroku then says with a serious bite in his tone,
"So it's true: she made a pact with Naraku."
Inuyasha immediately snaps on the defense,
"Never!"
We flinch back a bit, and he adds more calmly,
"I can't say what Kikyō intends to do, but...I think that-"
"She might be acting as a double agent."
"Hm?"
We all turn to Besa in surprise, he folding his arms with a closed-eyed frown.
"I could see it in her eyes as she spoke: she doesn't want anything to do with Naraku anymore than her motives will allow...I believe she intends to use his new-found strength against him somehow, and despite the, tension, Inuyasha is still technically her main ally...She said that until the jewel and Naraku are gone from the world, Inuyasha's life belongs to him, so it's fair to say that she wants him to continue living...but only until her obstacles are destroyed."
...Huh...Tha', actually makes sense.
The others hum in thought similarly, and Inuyasha looks at my brother in astonishment.
"...So, you don't think she's a traitor?"
"Well...to be perfectly frank, I don't think Kikyō's playing on anyone's side but her own...Which is why I'm begging you to be careful in the future, Inuyasha, should you decide to meet with her again. She's clearly got it out for Naraku...but that misunderstood anger against you is still there. I dunno what your, feelings toward her are like at this point...but what I'm asking, is that you don't let them blind you from reality."
"Uh-...mm, right."
Besa...
I smile at my wise brother, just as Miroku and Shippō each say,
"It was still rather dangerous for you both to go out."
"Yeah, Inuyasha! You're still badly wounded, and Besa's not as skilled in combat as you!"
"Alright, I got it! (Turn) Besa...I'm, sorry I dragged you along for the walk."
My brother shakes his head and replies,
"Don't be. I made the choice to be your crutch...and if I could do it over again, (smile) I would."
Inuyasha looks at him in surprise, while Freeman wraps an arm around his twin with a sweatdrop.
"Hauh, I think you might be too protective for your own good, bro..."
"Tch, you say that like you're not."
They both chuckle a bit, while I focus back on Inuyasha with a worried frown.
"...Inuyasha?"
"Hm? Yeah?"
...I lean forward and hug him, careful not to aggravate his injuries.
"Uh! C-Coraline?"
My voice catches a touch as I softly plead,
"Please, don' scare me like tha' again, okay? I...If you do wish t' see Kikyō again in the future, jus' be in better physical shape first...I don' want ya to hurt yurself, just f'r her sake."
I hear Inuyasha breathe in with surprise..before he wraps an arm around me.
"Keh, fine. If it'll keep you from getting sick with worry..."
I smile gently and whisper,
"Thank yeu...Also, don' be afraid t' talk to me about wha' may 'r may not h've been said. I can handle it...That's all I ask."
I feel him nod, and we part so I can stand up and extend a hand to him.
"C'mon. Let's head back to the hut an' see if Sango's awake so we c'n all eat. We managed t' catch some rabbit the-day."
He reaches to take my hand and replies as I lift him up,
"Rabbit, eh? How'd you catch 'em?"
"Heh, Freeman an' I tag-teamed. He used his malle' to crea'e some vibrations and spook 'em towards me, and I shot th'm with my bow."
We all begin walking back as Inuyasha comments,
"Keh, is that right?...Almost wish I could've seen that."
"Well yeu never know; the opportunity could come again."
Freeman adds with a goofy grin,
"Yeah! Maybe we might get lucky with something bigger next time, like a boar or a deer."
Besa lightly slaps his arm and jokingly scoffs,
"Ha, keep dreaming, brother! You're more likely to get hunted by a deer or a boar before you hunt them!"
"Oi! Who's side are you on?!"
We all laugh at their banter as we keep on our trek...and I think to myself while stealing a glance at Inuyasha,
I wan' to help yeu both. You...and Kikyō.
I don't care if she hates me...I'll put any bitterness I have aside, if i' means I can help 'er reach peace.
Doin' that...I hope it will bring you some peace too, Inuyasha.
No POV
At the same time our titular group recollects themselves amidst the curve-ball that was the undead miko, we follow the mist to the next village over...just as a force of darkness comes stomping forth.
(...CRASH)
Whatever they were, their strength is great, so great that the stable they infiltrated stood no chance, much to the distress of the horses inside...and the villagers outside who heard the echo.
"Huh? What was that?"
"Something is in the horse chorale!"
"Let's go!"
Two men rush to investigate...but would arrive too late, as evident by the one mare trapped under the splintered wood, and another that was currently being eaten by what can only be assumed as a demon! Getting a closer look, we see a large figure with lilac purple skin on all fours, the front appendages each carrying a jagged bone sticking outward above the elbow, opal white hair flowing in a skinny mane from it's lizard-like horned head, and a long tail.
...It senses the men, and looks up with a feral growl while flashing its red eyes...
"It's a demon,"
"Devouring the horses!"
The two humans retreat to warn everyone else, but wouldn't be fast enough to escape the demon, who lunges after them with ease and rips them apart with their sharp teeth...It was then Kagura appears by a tree near a few homes, looking at the creature with disgust.
That demon's pathetic; nothing more than brainless glutton.
...They suddenly turn to her with a chuckle, and replies,
"Sister...you were just thinking that I am no more than a brainless glutton, weren't you?"
He's toying with me...This demon is able to read my mind!
...
...
(Sizzle...)
Turning back to the wilderness hut, we zoom in on Freeman and Besa as they finish cooking up the rabbit meat for everyone over a fire just outside the structure...Shippō comes out to check their progress.
"Wow, looks good, guys!"
The twin with cropped coarse hair ruffles the fox demon's own locks and replies,
"Thanks, kiddo. How's everyone inside?"
"Alright, I guess. Sango just woke up, and Miroku's beginning the next round of treatment on Inuyasha's wounds, as per Coraline's order."
Besa chuckles,
"You sure it was Cora's order and not Sango ordering through Cora?"
The trio laughs, well-aware of the growing dynamic between the monk and slayer...The twins then focus on cutting and divide the meat into portions for everyone, giving the first bit to Shippō.
"Here, you eat first. That way you're not fighting tooth and nail with Inuyasha."
"Thank you!"
The little fox demon gobbles down his share, while the two teens gather the rest to take inside as they hum a tune familiar to their era...Coraline looks up from her medical kit and quirks,
"Tha's, Renegades by X Ambass'dors, isn' it?"
Note: Rights and ownership of any songs by the mentioned artist belong to them and only them.
Freeman hands a portion of the rabbit meat to Inuyasha and replies,
"Right as rain...Guess the, lyrics feel really relatable right now. I mean...this is kind-of what we've become. Renegades, waiting for their chance to make their move again."
The young Croft hums in thought...before nodding solemnly,
"I guess so..."
She then turns to the demon slayer and asks,
"Anyway, Sango, think yu'r ready to sit up?"
"I'll, try...rgh!"
Sango grimaces from her bruising, and Shippō chides,
"Don't push yourself too hard..."
Coraline asks,
"Do yeu wan' to give some painkill'rs a go? I have ibuprofen if y' need somethin' stronger than the herbs."
"I'll be fine...It's too dangerous to stay here."
Besa shuffles their way to give the girls their shares of the game meat.
"At least have something to eat."
They take their portion with thankful smiles as Miroku turns from dressing Inuyasha's wounds to say,
"Kagura is close, so we had better move on."
The teen with cornrowed hair gives some rabbit to Kilala next while replying,
"I agree. I already wrapped the rest of the cooked meat to take with us. We should have enough for today and tomorrow."
"Good."
Sango then suggests to her fellow woman after swallowing down her food,
"Why don't you forget about me for a while and tend to Inuyasha's wounds, Coraline?"
"(...Nod) Alright. Besa, I leave Sango to you."
He salutes,
"Roger that," and they switch places so Coraline could tag out the monk, and the latter could get some of the meat from Freeman.
"Here, Miroku. You haven't eaten yet."
"Thank you, Freeman. You and Besa roasted the meat rather well."
"Heh, thanks."
The girl with long red hair sets a patch of gauze onto her companion's arm after applying a clear solution...
"Here. This'll help speed the healin' process on tha' cut...It looks like your wounds are finally startin' to scab over."
"Keh, you expect anything less with my blood?"
Coraline smiles a bit from Inuyasha's boastful retort, taking it as a sign that his mood is also improving.
"Of course not, bu' be careful you don't overdo it. There's a chance they could reopen."
"Right...Hey, how are you feeling?"
"Uh, me?"
"(Turns around) Yeah. You're, not feeling winded anymore, right?"
The girl is taken aback by the question...but then replies with a faint smile,
"I apprecia'e the concern, but I'm good. I'was, mostly spiritual exhaustion..."
Inuyasha nods, but nearly frowns when he recalls what he overheard the other day...
Meanwhile, the monk tries to persuade the slayer into letting him examine her body.
"If you'd like, Sango, I could look at your injuries..."
She gives him with a serious deadpan:
"Keep your distance, monk. That smile on your face says you'll be doing more than needed."
Miroku makes a dejected noise, and Freeman claps his back while quirking,
"Swing and a miss, my friend. Better luck next time..."
Coraline rolls her eyes with a stifled chuckle as she finishes re-wrapping the bandages around Inuyasha's torso.
"There we are."
...Suddenly, his head snaps up on alert.
"Uh! What?...What is it?"
"...The scent of a dead man."
Everyone tenses:
"A dead man?"
"Oh, crap..."
"You don't think-?!"
Miroku is the first outside, followed by Freeman, then Inuyasha and Coraline. The collective gaze is on a thin man in just a dirt-stained hakama, slowly trudging their way with wheezy and spacious breath.
"Hhh-hh, a demon has come! Hhhh-hh, it devoured the entire village!"
Besa holds up Sango as they exit the shack next, with Shippō and Kilala not far behind. Coraline then calls out to the stranger,
"Wha' sort of demon?"
"On its back, was the mark of the spider...!"
Everyone instantly knew where the demon's origins laid, Inuyasha and Miroku each mentally quirking,
A spider?
Another incarnation of Naraku.
"Please h-help-hh...urh!"
With the message of assistance made, the man burns to an ashen husk! Everyone gasps, and Freeman stutters,
"S-So that guy's been dead the whole time?!"
Miroku guesses,
"Kagura must have been controlling his body with her 'Dance of the Dead'...It has to be a trap."
Inuyasha nods,
"Yeah. A trap set to force me to face the third demon."
Coraline turns to him and asks incredulously,
"Please tell me you're no' goin' anyway! Your wounds are still too severe f'r any real combat!"
"...I don't have a choice."
Sango clues into what the half-demon was really saying.
"She sent the dead man to us...which means that Kagura knows where were hiding."
Besa states,
"In which case, trap or no trap, it isn't safe for us to stick around...But if she found us this quickly, I doubt we'll get very far."
Miroku nods,
"Yes. There will be no chance of fleeing."
Inuyasha then says,
"I'll go after him...Huh, the demon was bound to attack us here sooner than later."
"...No. We'll go after 'im."
"Huh?"
He turns to see a new level of seriousness replacing the Croft's expression of worry.
"I'm no' gonna stand by an' watch when I know I can lend a hand."
"Coraline..."
"She's got the right idea."
Inuyasha turns eyes on Freeman, who argues just as seriously albeit stubbornly,
"Strictly speaking, with the condition we're all in collectively, it's better we stick together."
Besa nods in agreement, as does Shippō, Sango, then Miroku.
The half-demon is taken aback by the commitment...but then sighs and says,
"Alright. Let's do this."
...
...
As our heroes and heroines prepare themselves as best they can for the battle ahead, we return to the village the new incarnation had attacked...or rather, is still attacking, his latest target being a chicken coop...Kagura says to him in annoyance,
"It's just a few children. Let them go."
Now, on a side-note, let's remember that the wind sorceress is no saint herself, especially since she slaughtered a good chunk of the northern wolf demon tribe, and has previously demonstrated that she has no qualms over manipulating corpses...However, even someone as evil as Kagura must have some restraint if she wants to avoid attracting too much attention...which is more than can be said for her 'brother'.
"Naraku commanded me to devour the entire village, so I will kill every last human, and every single cow, chicken, and horse."
"Humph, do as you wish. I can't bear your company any longer."
With that, Kagura walks away, leaving the demon to continue his search for the last survivors of this ruined populace...Zooming inside a barn, we find two young children - a boy and girl - huddling together under some straw...
The boy looks down at his whimpering younger sister.
Don't cry, Yuki. The demon will never find us if we stay hidden under the hay.
(...Stomp, stomp, CRASH)
"Aaaah!"
Unfortunately, luck wasn't in their favour, and the demon whacks the roof off with one stroke from his fist, before upturning the straw to reveal the hidden children!
"He found us...!"
"You thought you could escape me by hiding among some straw, now didn't you?"
Yuki and her brother cry out in fear, and the demon mocks them further.
"And you cried out for your mama and papa to save you. They can't help you now, because I devoured them both. I speak the truth: look inside my belly and see!"
The demon opens his jaw and charges at the frightened little souls...
(SLASH)
But he's immediately blocked by Inuyasha, who comes to the rescue with Tessaiga!
"Iron Reaver...!"
He then sends the demon back with his claws, before turning to the kids to exclaim,
"Get outta here!"
They heed his urging, and Yuki's older brother carries her off as fast as he can. Inuyasha then focuses back on the demon, just as everyone else comes on scene, most on foot while Sango and Shippō rode on Kilala...Miroku is the first to comment on the demon's appearance.
"Look at that!"
Coraline mutters,
"The demon..."
"With a spider mark on it's back!"
Freeman comments,
"Yeesh. He's definitely more monstrous-looking if anything else," with Besa replying,
"All the more reason to be on our guard," and they both ready their respected weapons...
"You must be Naraku's third incarnation."
The monster chuckles in response to Inuyasha,
"You're thinking, 'I dodged the Tessaiga'. You were surprised at my speed despite my enormous size."
"Huh?"
He knows what I'm thinking!
"Nehehmhmhm, just as you suspect, I am able to read the minds of others, Inuyasha. My sisters Kagura and Kanna were merely the opening act...Now, Goshinki makes his debut!"
"Kuh, your big speech is over, demon. (Leap) Time to take you off the stage!"
(Swing, boom...)
Though it was a valiant first effort, Goshinki proves to be too fast for the half-demon, and the latter would only strike the dirt with his Tessaiga!
"Huh?"
"Nnrrrr-hah!"
He's then forced to roll out of the way just in time to dodge the incarnation who slams their fists into the ground...While catching his breath, Inuyasha grasps his chest with a slight grimace, his injuries beginning to act up...
"I told you: I know every thought that crosses your mind...You seem to be suffering greatly. Tell me, could this be the end of you?"
The silverette stands up and replies with a grunt,
"Not very likely. I'm gettin' tired of you. (Leap) Hrrrrrraaaaaaaahhh!"
(Swing, miss)
"What?"
Once again, he does not meet his mark...Goshinki then sneaks up behind him!
"I can predict every move before you make it."
(Swing, slam)
"Gah!"
The half-demon is then knocked off his feet by Goshinki's clawed hand, sliding into the dirt hard...Coraline calls out the former's name in worry, and Miroku decides to step in and help.
"I'll go. He's still too weak to fight. (Rattle) Wind Tun-"
"Stop!"
Miroku pauses at Sango's urging, and Besa points out,
"The Insects of Hell are here!"
Seeing the dreaded wasps buzzing around in front of Goshinki, the young monk re-wraps his prayer beads...
"Hehmhmhm, you were thinking you would suck me into your Wind Tunnel, monk. You can't, because you see, I know all of your weaknesses."
Goshinki then focuses on each other person here.
"Coraline...don't even consider shooting me with your arrow or using one of your blades. I'll kill you before you draw either weapon...Sango, you are unable to battle. You still can't move since you were struck with your own weapon...As for you two, Freeman and Besa: you seem to be smart enough to know that neither of you will be fast enough to hit me with your mallet or sickles. You are not skilled enough for such a battle."
The twins cringe with glares, Freeman muttering,
"I'm startin' to get real tired of being pointed out for experience..."
Goshinki then glances at Shippō, causing the latter sweating up intensely.
M-M-Me next...
He then turns his back to move on with his battle against Inuyasha, which leaves the fox demon feeling bristled with being brushed off. He hops onto Miroku's shoulder and shouts,
"Hey you! How dare you try to ignore me like that!"
"Don't worry, Shippō; he's just toying with you."
"Huh?"
Freeman then comes over and adds,
"Miroku's right. He's just doing to you what he did to me and Besa a few seconds ago. Best to let it slide off your shoulders and move on."
"Mmm, okay..."
Deep in the rolling mist, Inuyasha lifts himself on his knees...only to see,
"Huh? The children from the stable...I told you to escape! What are you doin' still-"
He stops himself when he sees what they each had in their hands...
"Oh...Those clothes. (Rise) Do they belong to your parents?"
"Uh-huh..."
Inuyasha hums with a grim glare, and turns his eyes to the approaching Goshinki...He moves protectively in front of the little souls as the enemy stops a couple feet away, reading his mind once again.
"'Despicable. I'll kill this demon once and for all.' That's what you were thinking, correct, Inuyasha? Don't, make me laugh...You are half-demon, are you not? You have demon blood coursing through your veins, yet you take pity on humans."
"Get off my back!"
Anger and disgust gleams in those hazel-gold irises, and the owner raises Tessaiga into the air.
"I'll slice you in half!"
He then searches for the fissure in the demonic winds.
The technique brings the Tessaiga's ultimate power...The Wind Scar!
"Inuyasha...you're trying to slice through the Wind Scar and blast me away, are you not?"
"If you can figure that out, (leap) you know you're gonna die!"
...Suddenly, Goshinki lunges his head through the fissure, cancelling any chances of the sword technique!
"The demon has destroyed the Wind Scar!"
Sango's observation does nothing to faze Inuyasha.
"Okay...then I'll just slice your head in half!"
...But that proved to be a great mistake.
(Swing, CHOMP)
Goshinki clamps his jaw right on the Tessaiga's blade...
"Your precious Tessaiga is nothing more than a dog fang now!"
(Crick...CRACK)
And in a twist none of our heroes/heroines could foresee,
the infamous sword is broken if half!
"Guh-h!"
"Aah!"
"No! Tessaiga's been shattered!"
"Aw man, not good!"
...Goshinki spits out the piece of the bone blade from his mouth and comments,
"I suppose that proves a demon's fangs are stronger than the Tessaiga."
But Inuyasha wasn't listening, his gaze fixed on the remaining half of his sword that left in his hand.
He...he bit it in half! He destroyed my Tessaiga!
...But such a distraction would prove to be his undoing.
"Hrrrrraaaah!"
(SLICE)
"Aaaaaaaargh!"
"Inuyashaaaa!"
Coraline screams as Goshinki claws at Inuyasha, ripping through the latter's nagajuban and reopening the wounds received from Kanna!...Blood spills in streams, and the silverette drops face-down on the ground, while the remainder of Tessaiga returns to its dormant form...
"Hehahaha, Inuyasha, it appears that your mind has now gone blank. Your sword is broken and so is your spirit...or are you dead perhaps?"
Lumos pops out of Coraline's quiver, and zooms over to hover in frantic circles over the half-dog demon...She uses her Aura Sight to peer into Inuyasha's aura, and becomes frightened by what she sees.
Hh!...No...His aura is fading..I've go' to get over there!
"Inuyasha!"
Miroku stops her from getting far:
"No, stay back, Coraline!"
(Dash, slam)
"Gaaaah-gyuh!"
He's then backhanded away by Goshinki!
"No, Miroku!"
"And you, monk: you were prepared to draw me into your Wind Tunnel, even if it meant sacrificing your own pathetic life."
Sango and Shippō rush over to help their comrade.
"Miroku!"
"Please, say something...!"
The Brownlees meanwhile, chose to act bravely and run to their sister's sides.
"Sis!"
"Cor!"
"Guys!"
"Don't rush to your death. Be assured I plan to devour each and every last one of you humans. Mmhmhmhmh, and you, Coraline, shall be my first, along with your foolishly selfless brothers."
Freeman and Besa hold their sibling close as Coraline prays while inching her hand to her combat knife, preparing to fight to her last breath if that's to be her fate.
Inuyasha...Please, Inuyasha, wake up...!
"Foolish girl. Inuyasha is already-Hah!"
Goshinki freezes...sensing something amiss.
What's this? Inuyasha's heart; it's-
(Leap, SLASH)
"Yaaaaagh!"
And before he could prepare himself, the incarnation's arm is cut off!
...
...
Landing on the ground swiftly, we see the assailant is noneother than Inuyasha, miraculously still alive even after that fatal blow...But based on the tone in his voice, there was something seriously off about the half-dog demon.
"(Knuckle crack) Is there something wrong, Goshinki? I thought that you were able to read my mind..."
Miroku rouses awake and sees his companion was alive.
"I-Inuyasha...!"
But, Coraline could see the change:
...Something's wrong.
Inuyasha...his face has altered. I see...facial markings...
And 'is eyes...they're red. Where'r those golden hazel irises I know?
The twins feel their sister beginning to tremble.
"...Cora?"
"What's wrong?"
"Inuyasha...He's not himself. Look."
They peer over more closely, and quietly gasp when they spot the physical changes.
"Whoa..."
"What's, happened to him?"
Goshinki proves to be the most confused:
"I don't understand. Why have you transformed?"
Getting a closer look ourselves, we see jagged African violet stripes on each of Inuyasha's cheek bones, his injuries rapidly healed and nonexistent, and his sclera are carnelian red with cat-like irises of dark cyan...He replies to the enemy in a dark tone,
"Keh, how would I know that? You should be less concerned about me, and more concerned about Judgment Day."
Goshinki bares his teeth and says to himself,
What's the meaning of this? His heart is completely different now.
He has none of the indecision or sadness or fear of before. I sense only anger, and he delights in the thought of killing me!
"(Dash) I will rip you apart with my fangs, you half-breed!"
"(Leap) The demon blood that flows through my veins..."
"Silence!"
"...is unlike yours!"
"You half-demoooon!"
"I am in a class of my own!"
(SLASH)
With just one swipe of his claws, the silverette completely tears the incarnation to pieces!
...The head falls beside Inuyasha, and he growls with a dark grin,
"Goshinki...I enjoyed that."
Coraline stares at him with wide eyes, her heart beating with worry.
...Inuyasha...what's happen'd to yae?
He looks down at his bloodied claws, feeling some of his senses return amidst the chaos of his mind.
...I can feel the blood rushing through my body. Why do I feel this way?
I feel the need to kill more...
Through with standing around like a post, the girl with long red hair begins to slowly approach the confused half-dog demon.
"...Inuyasha?"
He darts his head her way and growls, causing her to flinch back a bit as he says roughly,
"Rgh, stay away from me!...I can't say what I'm going to do next..."
As Coraline contemplates over what to do, Shippō grasps Miroku's side and asks,
"What's going on? What's wrong with him?"
"The demon in him...It's gotten stronger!"
Sango adds,
"Yes. He's almost like a full-blooded demon now."
...Yet despite the tense air, the young Croft refuses to give up, and smiles sadly while slowly walking towards her troubled friend.
"Inuyasha...it's okay. You destroyed Goshinki; it's over now..."
"I said stay away!"
"No."
The fox demon and monk each try to call her back.
"Coraline!"
"Don't go near him! Coraline!"
Her brothers watch, knowing their sister would not be persuaded and that she has what it takes to save their friend.
"...Be careful, sis."
"We know you can bring him back..."
Coraline was now within hugging distance of the silverette.
"...Inuyasha..."
He snarls, but only flinches from her...
"Coraline!"
"Be careful!"
The redhead stares at her friend and sadly muses to herself,
I can sense it: his ligh' and darkness are clashing...He's struggling...
In one swift movement, she embraces him before whispering,
"...Inuyasha, Sit."
(Gleam, wham)
Both teens go down hard, the girl landing back-first from the impact!
"Grh-h!"
The others gape in shock from her action:
"Coraline!"
"Wha-?!"
"She allowed herself to be taken down with Inuyasha!"
"Dang, that's a gutsy move!"
"Talk about a true blue friend..."
Coraline grimaces from the pain in her back and the weight on top of her.
Now I know how 'e feels when the beads effect 'im...All the more reason I can't abuse th' enchantment...
I'll share the pain, if it means he'll be okay for anoth'a day.
Inuyasha's body shudders, before he snaps up to reveal his original facial features.
"Will you stop doin' tha-Huh?"
He cuts himself off when he doesn't see Coraline staring downward at him as he expected...He then feels something shift under him, and looks down, only to widen his eyes when he sees,
"C-Coraline...?!"
"(Grimaced smile) Hey. Glad yu'r back..."
Shippō is in awe, and Sango and Miroku each mutter,
"He's normal..."
"Incredible..."
Inuyasha quickly lifts himself off of Coraline, still gaping at her as she sits up and rubs her back while muttering,
"Tha's definitely gonna bruise..."
"...Coraline, why did you-what's going on?!"
She's confused by his question:
"Wha' do you mean? Inuyasha...do yeu no' remember?"
"I...I dunno..."
She shakes her head and hugs him anyway.
"I, guess the important thing is tha' you're okay...Tha' was scary..."
Inuyasha looks down at her, noticing a new shiver in her being.
She's trembling...Coraline...
He puts an arm around her, and watches as Lumos hovers in a slow circle around them, his mind muddled with uncertainty over what just occurred.