Update (September 2021): Chapter Edited and Lengthened!
Chapter 67: Kikyō and Tsubaki
Continuing where last left our tale, Tsubaki the so-named dark priestess gazes at the blackened and near-complete Shikon-no-Tama with intent as she focuses on maintaining her hold over Coraline's being. As we'll recall, the former had placed a curse over the latter...
Naraku lays in wait in the shadows of the hut, letting out another chuckle while cruelly commenting,
"Very amusing. How does it feel, Inuyasha, to once again have the woman you love point an arrow at you?"
You can re-experience that very moment fifty years ago when Kikyō shot and killed you, only this time, it will be by Coraline's hands.
Relish the pain, Inuyasha. It won't last nearly long enough!
Panning outside, we find Sango, Miroku and Besa back in the air on Kilala as they try to come up with a strategy to get past the barrier erected by Tsubaki's energy.
"The barrier here is so strong..."
"Meaning the dark priestess must be inside. Looks like we finally found her."
Besa adds after Sango,
"Yeah, but I got a gut feeling getting past it won't be a walk in the park. (Turns to Miroku) Shall we try another combined effort again?"
The monk nods at the novice warrior, and he closes his eyes while murmuring a prayer...before snapping his pupils open.
"Kilala, take us down!"
The twin-tail cat demon charges to the barrier, and Besa crosses his wrists activating his crystal shard.
(Sheen)
The shard emits a thin rainbow light that surrounds all four beings, just as Kilala makes contact with the enormous shield.
(...Bzzzt)
But try as they did, the barrier holds out and pushes the cat demon and her passengers back. The three humans cry out while Kilala rumbles a frustrated growl, and she somersaults backwards before steadying herself...The two young men comment,
"I hate to admit it, but it's too strong for me."
"And even my Seven Light shard didn't help...Shoot, now what?"
Sango suddenly notices another being present down below.
"Uh! Miroku, Besa, look down there."
"Hm?"
They follow her gaze, and zooming downwards, one would spot Kikyō walking towards the barrier, stopping at the edge to stare with narrowed eyes.
...I feel it. This demonic aura is sated with evil.
The spectators from up above were quite surprised by the wandering miko's arrival.
"Kikyō!"
"Why is she here?"
...Said priestess then senses their presence, and glances up above.
Those are Inuyasha's friends.
Besa stares back and mutters,
"I wonder...did she sense the dark priestess too?"
What are you gonna do now, Kikyō?
The woman caught between life and death focuses on the giant barrier in front of her...before continuing her walk.
What could be happening beyond this barrier?
Somehow, she's able to pass through, much to the shock of her observers.
"Uh!"
"You see that? She walked right in!"
"What is she thinking?"
...
Jumping back to where the rest of our main team would be, save Shippō and Kaede who were away from the latter's home gathering water, a large violet/cerise barrier surrounds the hut in accordance to the effects of the dark priestess's black magic. Inside, Coraline's grip on her weapon and ammunition has not lazed despite the occasional tremors. Her unfortunately target, Inuyasha, can only stare at her perplexed, while Freeman stands near with bated breath.
Damn, this is bad. All it'll take is one move and Inuyasha's gonna get shot!
...Unless...
He glances down at his shard of the Seven Light Crystal in thought.
It's risky...but if it can block a greedy behemoth like Tokijin, maybe...
(Grip) Okay, standby, Freeman!
As the young man with coarse black hair prepares to rush in and defend for what could come next, Naraku once again sadistically muses over the silverette's ultimatum as he observes the scene from afar.
"Choose, Inuyasha: will you be slain by Coraline, or will you flee and save yourself?...If you run, Coraline will perish under the curse of the dark priestess."
(...Ba-bump...)
"Hm?"
The evil entity suddenly feels a shift in energy coming from the jewel, and Tsubaki softly gasps when she sees a ring of ice blue light beginning to manifest around the blackened gem!
"What's this?!"
This aura...Is this the young woman's soul?!
...I've never felt such power. Is this reincarnation that powerful?
The demonic priestess's speculation may have merit, for back in Kaede's home, a similar phenomenon occurs for her victim, their body and eyes throbbing with their signature icy blue aura energy.
(Ba-bump...ba-bump...)
"Huh? Coraline?"
The redhead grits out,
"Inu...y'sha...T-Take, Freeman, 'n run...!"
I can, feel...my spiri'...It's, tryin' to...
Despite the girl's insistence, the half-dog demon refuses to leave her to suffer.
"Coraline...don't be stupid. As if I'd run, and leave you!"
With that, Inuyasha sprints forward to save her, just as Naraku makes his voice echo in Coraline's mind.
Kill Inuyasha.
...No...If that, priestess can't make me, yeu won' either!
Now ge', AOUT!
(PWOWM)
With the fiend of deception acting as a final trigger, the young Croft releases a rippling ring of her soul's energy! Gasping, Freeman hurries to protect his friend from the backlash:
"Look out!"
(Sheen)
...
Meanwhile, back in Tsubaki's hut...
"Aauh!"
"Rh!"
Both the dark priestess and evil demon cringe back and shield their eyes as the Shikon-no-Tama glows brightly with the same icy blue energy as Coraline's aura...!
"Impossible! Her soul is, fighting my curse!"
...The glow would quiet down after a minute or so, and Tsubaki lowers her sleeve before looking down to see the tainted jewel...only to see it carrying a mix of obsidian black and arctic blue! Naraku sees the change as well, and becomes agitated:
"What has happened? Tell me, Tsubaki!"
"I can't say for certain myself...but it seems the girl managed to falter my control over her...Still, it came with a cost...I can sense it: her soul is now trying to overwhelm her."
Just what sort of wretch is this strange woman?
"Whatever the case, there is a chance that burst of power may have killed Inuyasha instead of the arrow."
A grim smile curves onto Tsubaki's crimson lips as she comments,
"Naraku...you are truly evil. To force Kikyō's reincarnation, to try and kill the man that she loves once again."
(...SLICE)
Suddenly, the revealed demon puppet is cut to pieces, and Tsubaki whirls to see Kikyō standing in the doorway!
"Hm?! Kikyō?!"
"...Who are you?"
...
Panning far from Tsubaki's hut, we briefly return to the cloaked stronghold of Naraku as the true being lets out a short laugh as he observes the events from Kanna's mirror.
"Ha. It seems Kikyō has made her appearance."
Kagura - also in attendance - replies,
"Kikyō has? Do not underestimate that priestess...Are you sure we can trust her?"
By her, she meant Tsubaki, and Naraku simply says with a dark smile,
"Let her continue. We can take care of her after we see what she has planned."
...
With the demonically-empowered miko otherwise distracted, the curse placed on Coraline would be forced to back off from the girl's dominating spirit. The barrier previously around Kaede's home had disappeared almost instantaneously as soon as the redhead released that near explosive ripple of power, while the girl herself is left bend over as she struggles to stay upright. Sweat coats her warm porcelain skin, and a fainter glow of ice blue throbs around her in an outline in time with her haggard breaths.
"Hah...hah-h...hah..."
...Tha' was...Tha' was too close, i' was.
Her bow and arrow had basically been knocked out of her hands, settling on the floor with a new singe on the wood...As for Inuyasha and Freeman, they were kneeling on the ground a couple feet away behind a thin, transparent shield of rainbow-hued energy conjured by the latter just seconds before his sister's counter would've struck them both. He lets out a quiet sigh of relief as he relaxes and cancels his crystal power:
Thank god I made it in time...
Though momentarily surprised by his friend's quick action, Inuyasha's primary focus is on the redhead.
"...Coraline?"
(Ba-bump, ba-bump, ba-bump)
"Aa-ch! A-Aih!"
She suddenly grips the sides of her head with a pained grimace, the pulsing growing more intense.
D-Damn! My abilities...They're, tryin' to, take, over...!
"Inu...yasha! Help!"
She collapses on her knees, and both young men rush to her sides.
"Coraline!"
"Sis, what's wrong?!"
"M...M' aura...It's, overpowerin' me!"
Tears begin forming in the corners of her eyes, and Inuyasha reaches out to grip the girl's right upper arm.
"Coraline, hang in there. Just breathe; it's okay. You're safe."
Freeman takes his sister's left hand and chides,
"Yeah, listen to him, Cor. You're okay now, and so are we. You managed to stop yourself from firing the arrow."
...Slowly, the pulsing energy ceases and dies away, and Coraline takes a few gulps of air before whispering tiredly,
"I' stopped."
Lumos - he too forced to take cover behind the rainbow shield - hurries to whirl around his human partner with soft moans of relief as the boys let out a big breath each. The silverette in red would then ask,
"Are you alright? What happened?"
"I...I think so...I kept hearing, a woman's voice...and then Naraku's, but...m' soul fought back, and used a power wave to force th'm out."
"Coraline..."
"Wow, sis, that's amazing."
"Thanks..."
(...Ba-bump, ping)
"U-hh!"
She suddenly pulls back a bit from Inuyasha to look at him in eye, a new glint of clarity shining in her cerulean/sky blue irises despite her fatigue.
"I can, sense it: the Shikon-no-Tama...Please...take me there."
...Two minutes later, Kaede and Shippō return with more water, only to stop when they see Inuyasha, Coraline and Freeman emerge out of the hut.
"Coraline!"
"Coraline! Lie down; you're too sick to walk!"
The redhead's Will O' Wisp companion pops out of the hut seconds afterward, and hovers over her head before releasing a burst of energy to help steady her wavered constitution.
(Twinkle...)
"(Small smile) Thank yeu, Lumos. (Eyes Kaede and Shippō) The voices of the miko and N'raku were evicted by my aura. If I don't go now, it could happen again."
"You're going to look for the jewel? The dark priestess is dangerous. The curse isn't lifted it."
"Maybe no', Kaede...but, me soul has weakened it a touch. I'm sorry, but I hafta do this."
Freeman hands her the ShatterSoul Sword:
"Well, I know it'll be a bigger pain in the ass for ya to try and use an arrow, so here."
"Thanks, bro...Can yeu stay here and protect Shippō and Kaede?"
"(Nod) Of course. (Turns) And Inuyasha? Take good care of her."
The silverette nods and hoists the girl onto his back:
"I'll protect Coraline. Don't worry."
He starts his mad dash off to where Tsubaki would be, much to Kaede's protest.
"Inuyasha!"
Shippō watches them go with worry:
"I hope that she'll be alright. She's still in alot of pain."
"Coraline is a strong girl. She will be fine; Inuyasha will see to it. Let us all go inside and wait for them all to return safely."
Freeman lifts the fox demon into his arms and adds after the elder priestess,
"Yeah, Cora's not gonna take this lying down. She'll beat up the dark priestess first before a stupid curse gets the better of her."
Shippō smiles at the optimism and sends his good wishes to the redhead.
"Take good care of yourself, Coraline."
Yet despite the hope, Kaede looks off to the distant greenery with a serious expression.
It's taking all of Coraline's will to endure her pain...Inuyasha, you mustn't let her perish!
You must find a way to break the curse and save her!
...
We head into the deeper forest canopy as the half-dog demon leaps over moss and log, keeping true in his speed as he hurries to uncover Tsubaki's hiding place. Flying close behind him is Lumos...As he lands on the ground and travels across the land for a short distance, Coraline whispers from atop his back,
"Inuyasha...'m, so sorry, 'bout the arrow, an' for nearly knockin' more th'n just the wind outta ya with, me aura...If no', for Freeman, I don', think I could st'mach-"
He cuts her depressing train of thought short with a stern tone.
"Stop. You didn't shoot, and your soul was only trying to protect you. Don't even think that way."
She nods weakly, and buries her face into his robes while thinking,
He's righ'...but unless somethin' is done...I may not be able to suppress me powers next time.
While those three hurry to the area where the black-hearted miko's power beats strongest, Miroku, Sango, Besa and Kilala were in the air again, all four of them becoming frustrated in their own right by the barrier resurrected.
"The enemy is so close, yet out of our reach!"
Miroku and Sango each comment,
"The dark priestess's curse is working her evil even as we speak."
"Coraline won't be able to endure it for much longer."
"Breaking through this barrier might be next-to-impossible."
Besa argues,
"That can't be true, otherwise Kikyō wouldn't have gotten inside...It's strange, though: she looked at the barrier like she, recognized its power. I'm almost wondering if she might know the dark priestess from her past."
"You think?"
"Can't say for sure...The only way to find out is to get inside, so let's all put our hearts together and try again, for Cora!"
The other two nod, and the demon slayer replies,
"Well, it's better than doing nothing. Come on, guys, let's go."
"Right!"
"Let's do this!"
"Kilala!"
With a newly determined growl, the twin-tail dives at the barrier again...Inside the hut past the blockade, we find Tsubaki and Kikyō glaring at one another, before the former speaks up first.
"What is this? This girl, Coraline...she is your reincarnation, is she not, Kikyō?"
The other priestess glances over where the nearly complete jewel rested, noticing the ice blue glow that's trying to overtake the black.
Hm...The energy of her soul is trying to cancel the curse...
(Slight nod) Do what you can, Coraline.
"Tsubaki...I see that you've placed a curse on Coraline. Your powers will be useless on the girl."
"Hmph. Don't underestimate me, Kikyō. I've changed since you last defeated me."
Kikyō watches as the scar of the fifty-year curse appears over Tsubaki's eye.
"So I see...One glance tells me the entire account. Tsubaki, I know that you've sold your soul in exchange for youth."
"Clever girl. For youth and for beauty, though."
(Flash)
Winding back the clock by approximately fifty years, we find a younger Tsubaki admiring her reflection in a mirror...
Ah, this youth and beauty. (...Frown) Someday, I shall lose it.
She looks up as she ponders,
Is this the fate of all mortals?
...No. If I can take possession of the Shikon-no-Tama Kikyō guards, then my beauty shall become eternal.
I can defeat Kikyō now, while she is infatuated with the half-demon!
We fast-forward to some time after Inuyasha and Kikyō's discussion over using the jewel to change their fates, and find the latter wandering through that clearing of sakura trees...
Tsubaki comes on scene not too far behind Kikyō, and summons her serpent familiar.
"Arise, my shikigami!"
The snake manifests and curls around the dark priestess...
"Kill Kikyō, and steal the Shikon-no-Tama for me. Go!"
The shikigami springs forward towards their target...but she swiftly turns around and uses her bow to whack the creature back at Tsubaki!
"Aaaaahhhhh!"
"That day, fifty years ago, you inflicted me with my own curse, Kikyō!"
Once the initial pain fades, the dark miko would hurry back to her home to see what the curse had done to her...
"My face! My beautiful face!"
Hesitant, she picks up her mirror, only to drop it with a shriek when she sees the scale-patterned scar the shikigami curse left behind over her right eye...!
(Flash)
The scar fades from view as the current Tsubaki adds,
"I wasn't able to steal the Shikon-no-Tama from you, but I collaborated with a demon, and hence gained eternal youth and beauty...not to mention my own demon power!"
"How foolish."
"You're one to talk. Tell me, how is it that you appear before me, exactly as you did fifty years ago?"
...The bitter woman gasps a bit when she fully senses the unworldly aura around the other's body.
"Kikyō! You're...You're dead! (Smirk) That body you're inhabiting is neither mortal nor that of a demon! It's a counterfeit...Kikyō, you walk by the grace of dead souls, yet you dare lecture me?"
The black-haired miko does not deny her current state of affairs, but replies,
"I merely came to ascertain the cause of the demon aura. I care not what happens to you, Tsubaki."
She then directs her eyes to the exit, sensing two bodies coming.
"They're coming closer."
Tsubaki is confused...but then turns to see the ice blue light claiming more space on the jewel than that of the obsidian black.
"What?!"
We cut over to the forest canopy near the dark priestess's barrier, and see Inuyasha, Coraline and Lumos closing in...
"Inuyasha...why didn' you run and save yourself?"
"Look, I already told you: I would never leave you, Coraline."
"...Am I really worth i', though? The last thing I want...is for yur heart to be hur' again like, fifty years ago."
"Well that's a chance I had to take. I wasn't gonna run away! I'm staying with you, so you better get used to it!"
...Inuyasha. (Small smile) Thank yeu.
The trio soon reaches their destination, and the half-demon in red leaps high into the air, giving him and his passenger a perfect view of the barrier.
"Uh!"
"Whoa..."
Miroku senses them, and turns to see their approach.
"Inuyasha, Coraline!"
Sango and Besa turn to see as well, widening their eyes as Coraline raises herself and pulls out her sword.
The dark priestess is in there...Time t' take ou' that barrier!
Inside her hut, Tsubaki is taken aback as the jewel continues to gradually lighten and throb from the power of the stubborn spirit she cursed.
"What's happening?! The jewel is being purified! (Turns to Kikyō) This is the work of that reincarnation of yours, isn't it?! This, Coraline?!"
Kikyō calmly replies,
"I already told you, Tsubaki: a curse from the likes of you will have no effect on Coraline...especially with those mysterious, Aura Reader powers of hers."
"Aura Reader?! What nonsense do you speak of?! How dare you; this is your fault for your unwanted appearance!"
Outside, Coraline takes a deep breath...focusing her spiritual strength into her blade.
(Shing)
"Time t' cut this barrier down to size!...Claw Spiorad!"
She swings her blade from high above her head in an upper diagonal, watching she didn't get her carrier nor her Will O' Wisp friend in the process. The talon-shaped slash of energy flies through the air before hitting the barrier dead-on, forcing it to disintegrate, much to Miroku's surprise.
"Coraline broke through it!"
The excess power surrounds the hut in a wind vortex, before disappearing just as quick...
Tsubaki looks outside to see what had happened.
My barrier...(Looks up and gasps) It's him, Inuyasha!
"Oh no...Coraline missed him!"
That grumble didn't escape Kikyō's ears, and she frowns...before shooting two arrows at Tsubaki, with one pinning her robe to the doorway and the other landing dangerously close to her neck!
"Kikyō! Wh-What are you doing?!"
"Silence! What did you just say?! Speak the truth: you had Coraline attempt to slay Inuyasha?!"
"(Smirk) Ha, what ails you? Some unpleasant memories, perhaps? You are correct: I drove Coraline to shoot the arrow...Ironic, isn't it? It was the same way you killed Inuyasha years ago."
And who knows? Even though the arrow did miss, I bet the girl almost killed him with that mysterious soul power of hers...
Kikyō's body writhes with anger, and as she steps forward, we see that her rage was so great her foot burns some of the remains of Naraku's demon puppet!
"Uh!"
She grasps some of Tsubaki's hair and pulls her head backwards, before sending the following warning.
"Tsubaki...do as you please with Coraline, for I have to intention of interfering...But if you should do any harm to Inuyasha...I will personally see to your demise."
The dark priestess winces...but then grabs an arrow from the door frame and tries to take a swing at Kikyō.
"You, wench! How dare you presume I would fear you!"
"Be warned, and heed my words: it was no idle threat."
With that, the undead woman fades away, leaving Tsubaki to relax a bit upon the other's departure...
Back outside, Inuyasha stops in front of the hut just as the others come to land.
"Inuyasha!"
"Coraline!"
"Sis, you're up!"
Inuyasha turns to them and says,
"Good timing," as Coraline focuses her attention on the hut.
"...The jewel is inside. So is tha' damned wom'n who cursed me and tried t' use me as a puppet."
A gust of wind passes...before the hut door creaks open, revealing Tsubaki and her serpentine shikigami at ready, stopping at the foot of the top stair. Inuyasha would be the first to address her:
"Are you the dark priestess?"
"I am known as Tsubaki...Are you Inuyasha? Kikyō's lover?"
"Huh?"
Miroku then demands,
"Hey, Tsubaki: what have you done with Kikyō? I know she was in there!"
Inuyasha widens his eyes at the mention of the wandering priestess, as Sango and Besa press the subject.
"Don't deny it, I saw her as well! I saw her come in here."
"Same here! She walked inside your barrier no problem!"
Tsubaki huffs with a smirk...before saying to the dog demon of the group,
"That Kikyō...Inuyasha, she came here to ask me to spare your life."
Coraline feels the addressed stiffen, and she smiles sadly while thinking,
Seems I was right: Kikyō's feelings f'r Inuyasha remain, even though her darkness is callin' the shots...
"She can't face death, because she loves you, so she borrows the spirits of the dead."
Shaking off the mixed emotions from the statements conveyed, Inuyasha then gently sets his passenger on the ground as he prepares to fully confront the evil.
"Miroku, Sango, Besa, watch over Coraline!"
The trio nod and quickly rush over to the redhead's side.
"Are you alright, Coraline?"
"Hh, hh, hangin' in there..."
Lumos could sense his partner's spirit was teetering off-balance again, and floats closer to provide a bit of his own strength.
(Twinkle...)
"Hah...thanks, Lumos..."
Eyes focus forward on Inuyasha as he spits out a response to Tsubaki's comments about Kikyō.
"What's the deal? You seem to know an awful lot about all of us, and you used a foul curse to possess Coraline and get her to try and kill me! I bet you made a pact with Naraku!"
"Ha, and what of it?"
"I'll tell you what: you're going down! (Dash) Tessai-"
"Draw your sword and Coraline will die!"
The half-demon freezes in his tracks, and the demonically-empowered woman adds,
"Pathetic fool. My curse has not yet been broken! (Holds up the dark jewel) As long as I hold the Shikon-no-Tama in my hand, Coraline's life belongs to me!"
Everyone fixates on the tainted jewel, and Sango and Besa mutter,
"Why that...!"
"Not good..."
Coraline notices the ice blue patches on the partial gem.
Huh?...Tha' glow...Did m' earlier burst of power echo all th' way to the jewel?
The shikigami slithers loosely around Tsubaki's wrist as she closes her palm around the jewel, and squeezes tight.
(Ba-bump)
"Aaaagh!"
Coraline cries out in pain, the glow of the black shards emitting from her neck.
"Coraline!"
Besa notices the glow on his sister's skin:
"Those cursed shards are hurting her! (Turn) Hey, knock it off!"
As Tsubaki opens her palm, we see the jewel being bathed in black once again.
The evil has returned. (Looks to Coraline) The poor girl. Not even she can thwart the jewel's power...
(...Ba-bump)
"Hm?"
She looks down...and sees a thin, icy blue outline of energy around the gem.
Tch, even so, it seems that earlier burst of strength has not left...
Her soul is doing its damnedest, I'll give her that much, but this, plus the breaking of my barrier, was purely due to Kikyō's interference distracting my concentration on the curse.
(Flash)
"A curse by the likes of you will have no effect on Coraline..."
(Flash)
Kikyō certainly thinks highly of Coraline's abilities...
Inuyasha's eye twitches in anger from Tsuabki's actions:
"Why you dirty, conniving witch!"
She starts walking down the stairs as she replies,
"I will do anything order to posses the whole Shikon-no-Tama."
Inuyasha, you shall be the first to perish.
...Her own curse appears over her eye once again, before her iris glows red as she releases a demonic smoke from her pupil!
Coraline exclaims from her seat,
"Do yeu see that?!"
Besa is just as stunned:
"It looks like, a demon!...Or a wispy form of one..."
The smoke flies at Inuyasha, who jumps out of the way in time before running from the charging force...Miroku then realizes what's going on:
"Uh! That priestess: she harbours demons inside her body!"
After another minute or two of chasing, the smoke shoots out in front of the silverette forcing him to stop as it solidifies into giant three-tailed kitsune with rose quartz fur! Inuyasha growls on the defense before leaping at the demon with his claws, landing a good hit but not good enough to kill. Landing on the ground, he prepares to draw his Tessaiga, but is stopped by Tsuabki who warns,
"Do not draw your sword, Inuyasha...or I shall curse Coraline to death."
He reluctantly releases the hilt of his blade, and the dark priestess laughs,
"Fight your pathetic battle and die at the hands of my demon!"
The young man with hazel-gold irises growls in anger, and the redhead under fire from the spell looks over at his form with a mix of frustration and worry.
This isn't fair...I hafta stop this curse.
(Clenches her fist) And I migh' hafta let me aura take over t' do it...
"The dark priestess has rendered Inuyasha totally helpless."
Sango wonders after Miroku,
"But what can we do about it?"
Coraline takes in a breath...before focusing her energy on the blackened shards to try and eliminate Tsubaki's influence.
(Ba-bump, ba-bump...)
"Huh? Sis, what are you doing?"
"Wha', I hafte. (Shouts) Kill the demon, Inuyasha! I can handle th' stupid curse!"
He looks over at the girl, noticing the power traveling through her upper blood vessels straight for the cursed jewel fragments, throbbing in time with her heartbeat.
"Coraline?...Wait...Gh!"
She's trying to use her soul to cancel the curse!
...But if she fights too hard...
Before he could call back at her to stop, Tsubaki laughs and shouts,
"Kill him, my precious demon!"
The kitsune leaps upward and tries to take Inuyasha down with a paw, but he manages to leap out of the way in time. He backflips onto the ground, before jumping out of the path of another attack, sliding to the ground and then charging at the kitsune with a counter.
"Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!"
(Whack)
"Guh!"
But the monster is faster, slapping Inuyasha to the ground with its paw, and he barely manages to roll to his feet again safely...Coraline cringes a bit from the curse and her pulsing power, before muttering weakly,
"You c'n do it, Inuyasha..."
Tsubaki watches the struggling dog demon with a sneer:
Hehaha, without your sword, you are helpless! Now you shall become fodder for my demon, Inuyasha, hehehahahaha!
The opponents glare at one another with their own growls, the humanoid demon muttering,
"Why, you...!"
Curse that Tsubaki to Hell! Hang in there, Coraline. I'll destroy this beast and that witch before you exhaust yourself out.
Just please, stay strong!