Update (January 2022): Chapter edited and lengthened, including a re-written battle scene and better side-character inclusion (Ginta and Hakkaku need more love)!
Chapter 73: The Power of a Pack, & Evil's Cloak-and-Dagger
Continuing where we last left off, Kagura had just offered Sesshōmaru a deal in which she would hand over the jewel shards she had just acquired, in exchange for having the latter destroy Naraku and free her from his control...
They continue to stand eye-to-eye atop the grass-covered cliff-side overlooking the plains below, and the incarnation further punctuates her case.
"You have the power to do it. Once you've killed Naraku, all the Shikon-no-Tama shards will be yours. (Smirk) Let's use those shards to provide ourselves a little amusement."
"...You intend to betray Naraku?"
She bitterly scoffs,
"It's not as though I've chosen to live under his command...What do you think of my plan? Joining forces would be for mutual benefit."
...Sesshōmaru's reply is blunt but honest.
"Unfortunately, I have no interest in the Shikon-no-Tama...If you wish to become free, use those shards for yourself to destroy Naraku."
"Tch...Are you afraid of him?!"
"I'm saying I'm under no obligation to assist you."
Kagura's expression contorts into an angry glare, and the dog demon adds,
"If you do not have the resolve to go it alone, don't even think about betraying him."
"Foolish coward!...And you call yourself a man?!"
Rin and Jaken gasp from the sidelines by A-Un, and Kagura tosses her feather out while muttering in a brooding tone,
"I misjudged you. (...Whoosh) Pathetic fool!"
With that, the scorned incarnation takes her leave...
As she flies out of sight, Jaken opens his mouth to comment,
"Huh! That despicable woman! You know, I wonder if she truly intended to make you her protector. (Folds his arms) Talk about gall! Where on earth does she get the nerve?! An incarnation; that's all she is!"
Rin then says,
"You're so strong, Lord Sesshōmaru. You don't even need the power of the Shikon-no-Tama."
Said dog demon replies to neither vassal, but thinks to himself,
Wind Sorceress Kagura...I wonder if she can use the Shikon-no-Tama and kill Naraku herself?
...Either way, it does not concern me.
With that, he begins walking away, with Jaken and Rin moving to hurry with him.
"Milord, where are you off to? Are we leaving already?"
...But then the imp circles back to get A-Un.
"O-Oh, I forgot something! (Grabs the reins) Come along!"
Meanwhile, the youngest vassal catches step with Sesshōmaru and says,
"Lord Sesshōmaru...I'm not lonely anymore, but I wonder if maybe Kagura is..."
The dog demon does not reply, and we hear the imp ask from the back as a way of changing the subject,
"Um, Lord Sesshōmaru, what shall we do about dinner?"
Coraline's POV
With Kōga's injuries mostly healed courtesy of my brother's Seven Light shards, I hand over the first aid kit so they could wrap some bandages around his legs to further protect his scarring cuts should they reopen...
"Alright, that should do it. You can try standing up now, but mind your pressure."
Kōga nods to Besa, and Freeman finishes up some minor first aid for Ginta and Hakkaku after noticing a few bruises.
"There. You might feel a bit of numbing for the next half hour, but it'll help get rid of those bruises faster, 'kay?"
The boys nod and reply,
"Thanks."
"Y-Yeah, thank you."
I don't miss the quick exchange of stares and light blushing between Freeman and Ginta as the former caps the muscle cream, and I smile a touch in amusement.
Oh geez, neither is makin' it subtle...
"Hey sis, mind taking this and slipping it back into my backpack?"
"Aye, no prob, Besa."
But just as I make a move forward, I feel a hand close over my upper arm and pull me back...
Let's all take a wild guess as to whose hand it was?
"Hauh, wha's wrong now, Inuyasha?"
"Nothin'...as long as you stay here beside me."
Mo dhia, his overprotective nature shines no matter wha' form he's in...
Freeman rolls his eyes while Besa raises a brow at Inuyasha before saying,
"Really? Dude, get a grip on yourself, will you? Kōga's lost interest in Cora, so what's the big deal if she walks near him to grab something?"
Inuyasha growls a bit at my sibling, causing me to lightly glare at him while slapping his arm.
"Hai! Don't growl at m' brother."
"Tch, yeah, right. Anyway, (focuses on Kōga) if your injuries are fine, just run on home, ya puny little wolf."
It was Kōga's turn to growl, and he rises to his feet before retorting,
"Who are you to talk? Standing there all weak and mortal, Inuyasha. You don't have the right to criticize the shape I'm in!"
As Hakkaku holds his hands out to his companion in a calming gesture, Inuyasha lets my arm go to ball his fists while barking,
"Kuh, I'm not like this by choice, idiot!"
"You wanna fight?!"
"You bet, if you're up to it!"
By this point, they were up in eachother's faces and grinding their teeth in a sizing matter.
As my brothers facepalm in exasperation, I call out while using the calmest tone I can muster,
"Ahem, fellas! Can we save th's contest for anoth'a date and focus on findin' the jewel shards Kagura has?"
Once everyone's focus is brought back on the incarnation and her master, we all head off to hunt down Kagura before she reaches Naraku and disappears once again. Our path takes us away from the woody grasslands to a short rocky section, myself running alongside Sango while my brothers, Miroku, Ginta and Hakkaku follow a few steps behind us. Meanwhile, Kilala is carrying Shippō, Inuyasha and Kōga. That just leaves Lumos changing his flight speed every few seconds so he's sort of circling all of us, and the small pack of wolves had spread to certain points so they're almost circled around us too.
...Wow. I think th's is the biggest allied group we've made thus far, i'tis.
"Why do you have to come along, anyway?!"
"Shut up! Those shards belong to me and I ain't gonna let you have them!"
My eyes roll at the terribly typical banter between the 'alphas' of our respected two groups, just as Miroku comes up to my left side.
"So Kagura hasn't returned to the castle yet?"
I hum,
"Doesn' seem like it...and it's strange. (Sheen) The ród made by h'r energies 'n tha' of the shards seems t' be avoiding that of Naraku's aura..."
My creature partner chirps a short moan of confirmation, and Inuyasha wonders aloud,
"Does that mean that Kagura is stealing the shards on her own?"
Miroku speculates,
"It's possible...Don't you think this whole thing is strange, Inuyasha? Even the barrier: why were you and Kōga able to pick up the scent of the castle? The barrier has weakened...It must mean that Naraku's own powers are weak."
Weak'ned...just like, when Inuyasha...Uh!
I slap my forehead in realization and gasp out,
"Of course: Naraku is a half-demon!"
Ginta and Hakkaku are understandably surprised by such a conclusion.
"What?! No way!"
"That evil incarnate is only half-demon?!"
Sango and Freeman's words act as an explanation to their confusion.
"He used the body of a human named Onigumo, and gathered the power of countless demons..."
"One greedy human thief plus hundreds of dark demon spirits? (...Shiver) Yep. That sounds about right."
"...I feel like there's more to this than what you're saying..."
My brother nods at Ginta,
"There is, but, it's a little too complicated to explain right now. All you and your buddies really need to know, is that Naraku's evil was born from some pretty messed-up desires."
"(Cringe) I can only imagine..."
Probably best he doesn'...Wait...If Naraku truly is'a half-demon...then tha' means...!
"We have a bett'a fighting ch'nce now!"
I feel eyes on my form as Kōga asks,
"How'do ya figure?"
"Well think abou' it: all half-dem'ns experience some sort'a power reduction on a monthly basis...Tha' means Naraku must have th' same weakness!"
Everyone gasps at my deduction, and Inuyasha exclaims,
"Then let's not waste anymore time! Let's stop Kagura before she changes her mind and delivers those jewel shards to Naraku!"
No POV
At the same time our enlarged group of heroes and heroines achieve this epiphany regarding their common enemy's true origins, we briefly look in on the subject's castle basement where they're currently resting...
Of course, contrary to what happens to half-demons like Inuyasha during that monthly period of weakness, Naraku's temporary transformation is something more unique and dare we say...disturbing. Rather than remaining as a single entity, we see that the evil has been severed into numerous, grotesque demon parts, all connected by bulging veins pulsing towards his head, the only part that maintains his Kagewaki persona!
...He rouses from rest when he senses someone in this dank space, and looks down to see Kanna. She holds up her demon mirror to show the image of the wind sorceress flying away on her feather to...well, basically anywhere but the cloaked castle of her master.
"Kagura...It's useless to flee."
...
Speaking of the incarnation, we catch up with her as she flies over a mountainous forest after failing to form an alliance with Sesshōmaru. She clenches her palm around the two Shikon-no-Tama shards she stole in anger over the dog demon's attitude.
Ugh, the impudence! How dare he say those things to me! Damn him!
(Flash)
"If you do not have the resolve to go it alone, don't even think about betraying him."
(Flash)
...But upon thinking more clearly about Sesshōmaru's words, she looks down at the little fragments of power...before deciding,
Hmph. I'll use them myself...and kill Naraku!
...
...
Now we return to Inuyasha and company as they continue tracking down Kagura so Kōga can take back his pair of jewel shards...The latter soon picks up on the scent of said incarnation as soon as he and everyone exit the thick bark and green.
"I can smell Kagura here!"
He hops off Kilala and begins running ahead, though doesn't get too far before calling to the Brownlees,
"Thanks for helping me! I'm going on ahead! Ginta, Hakkaku!"
Said wolf demons nod,
"Right," and hurry to catch up with their companion and leader, despite protests from Coraline and Freeman.
"Hang on a sec!"
"Kōga, hold on!"
Inuyasha grumbles over his rival's hastiness, while Besa makes his own attempt to prevent their group's ally from running headfirst into danger again.
"Are you sure you should be running off right now? We may have healed the bulk of the injuries, but there's still the risk of re-opening!"
"My wounds are fine! Unlike that twerp, Inuyasha, I'm a real demon!"
Obviously, that insult wouldn't sit well with our currently human half-dog demon.
"What?!"
"See ya!"
"Who do you think you're callin' a twerp?!"
Seconds after the regular wolves of Koga's travel party step up their speed to catch up with him, the twin of our main group wielding a war mallet falls in step with his sister as he quietly sniggers to her,
"They actually made it about forty-five minutes without barking at eachother. That's gotta be some kind-a record."
The redhead playfully nudges her brother with a half-smirk, even though she was trying hard not to laugh herself...
"Sango, Kōga doesn't have his Shikon-no-Tama shards anymore. He doesn't stand a chance!"
She nods at Miroku,
"We'll follow him. (Turn) Kilala, let Inuyasha down!"
And by 'let down', the twin-tail tilts her body so that the half-demon dog and full-demon fox roll off her body...
Sango quickly replaces them as she calls,
"Inuyasha, I want you to keep out of sight for a little longer."
"Aw come on, you gotta be kidding me!"
Just as the silverette prepares to chase after the slayer, and the monk creeps up behind his friend with his staff, Coraline and Freeman hurry to grab Inuyasha's arms to prevent him from moving, while Besa stops Miroku from almost literally cracking down against the dog demon's head!
"Uh! Besa?"
"You talk to Inuyasha about not being so hasty, yet you seem to forget your own advice."
As the young man with the kama scolds the monk, his siblings try to reason with their other friend.
"Please don't ge' mad at Sango, Inuyasha."
"Yeah, she's just lookin' out for your best interest like we all are...And don't take Kōga's taunts seriously. In his current state, he's gonna get his ass kicked again by Kagura unless he accepts help."
Inuyasha stares at the two humans for a minute as he takes their words into consideration.
Tuh...I guess they have a point. That wolf might have some skills, but most of his power's been comin' from those jewel shards.
...If he wants to stand any chance against the enemy, he's gotta build up his own strength and quit playing the chicken card.
(Buzzzz...)
"Huh?"
They, Miroku, Besa, Shippō and Lumos suddenly turn to the sky behind them, spotting a horde of Saimyōshō heading their way! The twin with plainly-cropped hair groans,
"Auh crap, not those wasps again!"
The monk mutters,
"Naraku's making his move," and the tallest redhead starts tugging her fellow swordsperson towards the treeline.
"C'mon. We c'n still tail aft'a the others, bu' we should stick t' the shadows 'til sunrise."
"Hauuh, fine!...But only to stop you guys from badgering."
...
...
Catching up with one of the small parties that took off ahead, Sango and Kilala are the first to close in on the wind sorceress at the edge of the next forest...
"Kagura!"
(Toss, za-za-za-za-za-za-za-WHACK)
The latter's feather is hit by Hiraikotsu, forcing her to land on the dry field of dirt just as Kōga, Ginta, Hakkaku and their wolf friends approach this point.
"Kagura, you witch!"
Said incarnation jeers irritably through her teeth,
"What is it this time? Looking for more punishment?"
"Don't kid yourself! You stole my jewel shards, so I'm takin' 'em back!"
"Yeah? And you're relying on help from Inuyasha and his pathetic friends? (Holds out the shards) Without these, you're too scared to fight alone, aren't you?"
Kōga growls at the implication, and his two comrades try to soothe their leader's bruised ego.
"Don't listen to her, Kōga; she's just trying to get under your skin."
"Yeah, besides, who's she to talk when she's used dirty tactics to try and get a leg over her enemies?"
"We know you're strong with or without those shards,"
"And we're ready to back you up no matter what...because that's what teammates do."
The wolf demon with periwinkle blue irises stares at his best friends in awe for their words.
"Ginta...Hakkaku...Hm, (nod) alright. I hear what you're saying...Back me in any way you can, but leave the main strikes to me."
They nod with a 'right', and Kōga turns to call to the slayer,
"We can take this witch, so don't bother with trying to help!"
"Uh! Are you sure?"
"Positive! Don't forget, I still have my claws!...We'll show you how wolf demons make their enemies regret ever crossing them."
On that note, the trio of canine demons make their charge against Kagura as she readies her fan.
"Just try it!...Dance of Blades!"
Several air blades fly down to strike her opponents, forcing them to scramble different directions to dodge. Kōga's luck is compromised after a minute or so, having one wind-based attack knock him off his feet from behind.
"Aaar-aagh!"
Damn, it's takin' all I have just to dodge 'er! I can't get close!
"Just hurry up and die now!"
"...Shuriken kōgeki!"
"Huh?"
Having been solely focused on the one wolf demon she perceived as the biggest threat, Kagura almost forgot about the other two that joined this second round. In which case, Hakkaku and Ginta attempt a counter by having the former thrust the latter into the air, before they whirl around and throw themselves downward to try and kick the woman!
"Inazuma kōgeki!"
"Ah!"
Kagura barely hops to the side to dodge the surprise attack...
"Tch, is that all the two of you can muster? How disappointing."
(Swipe)
"Agh! Aa-hh!"
Unfortunately for the incarnation, this was but a feint to distract her from the real attack! Seconds after Ginta scurries away from the enemy, Kōga would jump forward and bring his claws down against Kagura, specifically, the area between her left shoulder and upper torso. Blood spills from her new wound as she falls backwards, barely stopping herself from hitting the ground and instead dropping to a kneel, while her attacker jumps back a couple feet and casually shakes off the red staining his claws.
"Hah, hah, (smirk) there, ya see? That's what happens when you mess with a pack of wolves, you bitch."
His comrades cheer,
"Alright!"
"Wayda go, Kōga!"
All Kagura could do is clutch at her new injury and curse through her teeth.
"D-Damn, you...!"
How infuriating, getting bested by some cocky wolf...
As if that dog's arrogance wasn't already irritating enough.
(Flash)
"...If you wish to become free, use those shards for yourself to destroy Naraku."
(Flash)
Once again, she casts her eyes down at the Shikon-no-Tama fragments in her possession.
Hmm...Alright, I will. (Clench) I will use them!
The incarnation is pulled out of her thoughts when Sango calls down from atop Kilala,
"What's happening? This isn't even a fight, Kagura!"
...But before Kagura could retort, suddenly, a massive horde of demons breaks through the overcast, heading straight for them all!
"Naraku's demons!"
The wind sorceress stares at the snarling, hissing and buzzing creatures with angry apprehension.
Naraku...
Since she was requested to not interfere with the wolf demons, the brunette decides to focus on the approaching army.
"He always sends so many demons to attack!...Hy-gah!"
(Za-za-za-za-za-za-za-tok-tok-tok-tok...)
She takes down several demons before catching her Hiraikotsu on the rebound, and flies higher on Kilala to fight more...Meanwhile, Kagura continues to stare upward while wondering,
Hasn't Naraku realized that I tried to betray him?
...Or is it me that he intends to get rid of in this attack?
"Thanks for the target, Kagura!"
"Uh!"
She snaps out of her daze too late, just as Kōga comes charging in again.
"Diiie!"
(PUNCH)
"Gah!"
She's sucker-punched in the gut by the wolf demon, causing her to lose her grip on the jewel fragments!
"The shards!"
Kōga wastes no time in sprinting towards this open opportunity.
"They're mine!"
"...Dance of the Dragon!"
(Whoosh)
But what were the chances that his enemy would give in so quickly? In which case, she sends a particularly harsh cyclone of her demonic wind against Kōga, and one of his arms and hands would be cut badly. A howl of agony escapes his lips, the pain distracting him as more cyclones close in...
"Kōga!"
"Hang on, we're coming!"
He barely registers his comrades' forms as the pair run forward in an attempt to rescue their leader, and hoarsely grits out,
"N-No, stay back! You'll be-!"
But his warning falls on deaf ears, and Ginta and Hakkaku reach Kōga before wrapping their bodies around him as living shields!
"Uh! Y-You idiots! What're you doing?!"
"S-Savin', you!"
"We're not, g-gonna lose, another pack member to that monster of a woman!"
"E-Even if, it means we might die, protectin' you..."
Once again, all the blackette with Prussian blue irises could do is stare as his best friends try to buffer some of the blows. This selfless act alone was enough to threaten the possibility of tears from this normally strong and prideful leader.
Ginta...Hakkaku...
Gyh, (shakes head) no! This, can't be the end!
By this time, everyone of our main group that got left behind will have caught up to this point, watching the fight from the shadows of the treeline. Gasps emit from the humans and fox demon as the three wolf demons are mercilessly bombarded by Kagura's winds, while Inuyasha comments bluntly but not unkindly,
"All that effort, and those wolves are gonna get themselves killed. Kōga doesn't even have the strength to fight right now."
Coraline cringes to herself,
They'll be hacked t' pieces unless we do something!
"...Tha' tears it."
She swipes out ShatterSoul and prepares to charge in.
"I'm goin' in!"
"The hell you are!"
She's quickly pulled back by Inuyasha, who then says,
"You're not going anywhere near that field!...I'll do it."
"Inuyasha..."
"(Turn) And you lot better not try to stop me either."
Miroku asks him,
"You're going to save Kōga and his friends?"
"Get serious! I just want the jewel shards."
Inuyasha adds as he begins sprinting towards the battle,
"If Kōga gets killed in this battle, then Kagura will make her escape with those shards! I can't stand around and do nothing!"
Both redheads try to call him back, with no success.
"Inuyasha, wait, please come back!"
"Don't let her see you!"
His path would take him past Sango and Kilala, the second former quite surprised to see him.
"Inuyasha? What're you-...Huh?"
That's when she notices that the grounds were becoming more visible and vibrant...Looking up and leftward bound, we see that the hues of the sky are gradually shifting from midnight blue, to cobalt, to light sapphire and so on as the sun drives the night's darkness away! A fact which catches Besa's attention, going as far as pointing at the phenomenon for everyone else.
"Look! Morning's come at last!"
A breath of realization and relief escapes his sister's lips as she thinks to herself,
Inuyasha must'a known th's before he charged off...
But if he's throwin' h'mself into battle too early...
Mo dhia, you better've timed this ou' right, Inuyasha, or you're screwed!
Zooming in on said young man, his thoughts reel over the human friends in his social circle as he gets closer to the dangerous action ahead.
Coraline...Sango...Miroku...Freeman...Besa...You're all mere mortals, yet you've been fighting so hard.
All because you believed in your own power...I can't hold back knowing that!
The sun was nearly over the horizon by this point, the skies nearing its brilliant bright blue, and the cyclone around Kōga and his comrades finally dissipates, leaving three grievously-injured wolf demons to drop to their knees while holding eachother steady by the shoulders.
"Hah...hah...H-Hey. Are you two, st'll alive?"
"Hah, hah...yeah..."
"Barely..."
"Hah-h, good...You two are crazy f'r jumpin' in here...but, a part of me's glad you did."
"Heh, whatever it takes, hah, to remind you that you're not alone."
"Dunno if-hh, we'll be able to do somethin' this insane again, though..."
Kōga would've laughed at Hakkaku's comment, had their assailant not interrupted.
"...Kōga, you're a glutton for punishment, aren't you? How about you and your two subordinates just surrender here?"
The trio turn glaring eyes towards the Kagura, too tired to come up with a smart retort...All they could do is watch, mentally preparing themselves as the wind sorceress sends a giant cyclone their way as a final move to this battle! The wind collides and sends dirt flying over their forms, their names cried out in fear by their allies on the sidelines, while Kagura relishes in her victory.
I've done it.
...However...
"Hh!"
As the smoke and dust clears, we see Inuyasha's silhouette standing in front of Kōga, Ginta and Hakkaku, the trio being held up by Miroku, Coraline and Shippō who ran over to help, while Freeman and Besa shielded them all with the power of their Seven Light shards! Through the murky mist of dirt and rainbow light, one could see that our titular hero in his human form for about twenty more seconds...before his body throbs with demonic energy, and shifts back into the smirking half-demon we all know!
"Kagura...it can't be much fun killing a half-dead wolf, can it?"
"...Inuyasha?"
"(Pulls out Tessaiga) I'll take you on from this point!"
Shaking off her surprise, the incarnation narrows her eyes suspiciously at the silverette.
I know I saw it...For a moment, I saw Inuyasha was...
Noticing the change in the enemy's face, the fox demon asks his fellow redhead in worry,
"Do you think, that maybe Kagura saw Inuyasha in his human state?"
"Hm...hard t' say...bu' it's not impossible..."
As he and Kagura continue their contest of glares, Kōga remarks more to himself with heavy breath,
"That, Inuyasha...Is 'e crazy, buttin' into our fight like that?"
Miroku and Besa each reply,
"Well you're lucky that he did."
"No kidding. A few seconds too late, and you lot would've been sliced and diced by that cyclone."
"Kuh, what a laugh...He came to save me, us...knowing that Kagura would discover his dirty little secret."
The wind sorceress feels the gears in her brain click when she realizes,
I see! There was no moon last night!
"...Inuyasha. So, you lose all of your powers on a moonless night."
"Teh, and what if I do? I'm back now, so who cares? (Dash) Hrrraaaahhhh!"
"You're right; it doesn't matter anymore, (raises fan) 'cause you're gonna die right this minute! Dance of the Dragon!"
(Whoosh)
"Wind Scar!"
(SLASH)
Both attacks meet in a clash...but it wouldn't be long before Inuyasha's power overtakes Kagura's, forcing the cyclones to dissipate and allow the Wind Scar to continue its trajectory!
"What happened?! How did he cut through my whirlwind?!"
Coraline and Freeman cheer,
"Incredible...!"
"Ha! Not so high and mighty now, eh Kagura?!"
Kagura is stuck frozen, staring at the charging Wind Scar with a look of terror.
He's going to get me!
...
...
But contrary to her fear, the incarnation would continue to live thanks to the demon horde that dives down to block the sword attack!
(BOOM)
All that would remain after the collision of energy and flesh is numerous carcass pieces to rain upon the ground, the wind sorceress having taken the opportunity to make herself scarce...
"All of Naraku's demons...!"
"...They protected Kagura...!"
While Sango and Miroku were surprised by the sacrifice, Besa is more focused on the person those demons gave their lives for.
And yet, she didn't make any beelines to even run...Kagura was frozen.
...Come to think of it, she wasn't really putting up much of a fight like she usually does.
She seemed, desperate to end this as quickly as possible, almost not caring if her attacks even landed a hit...
And she made no move to head back to the castle when she had the jewel shards...but heads back now empty-handed.
"What on earth was going on through your mind, Kagura?...Have you lost your loyalties?"
Inuyasha sheathes his sword, muttering angrily after catching his breath,
"Hah, Kagura...She escaped again. (Turns around) Hey, ya puny wolf, I hope you learned your lesson: never interfere in my fight with Naraku!...Huh?"
Kōga pays no heed to the half-dog demon, too busy rummaging around in the large crater left by the giant cyclone behind him his jewel shards...
"Found 'em! My Shikon-no-Tama shards!"
"What?! Give 'em here!"
The silverette leaps down to try and nab the shards from his rival, but the latter hops out of the hole before the former could reach him.
"No way I'm doin' that!"
He inserts the shards back into his shins, before standing to add fiercely,
"Remember this, you mangy mutt: I've sworn to avenge my comrade's deaths! I'll be the one to take Naraku's head, not you! Don't forget that!...Ginta, Hakkaku, let's go."
Nodding, the two wolf demons hurry to meet with their leader's steps - along with the true wolves - as he prepares to leave...
"Kōga, please wait a minute!"
He pauses at Coraline's call, and she makes her request.
"Um, wha' you 'n yur friends saw last night, regardin' Inuyasha...please, keep th's inf'rmation to yourself."
"Hmph...oh, don't worry. I could care less about what shape that Inuyasha takes...See ya."
With that, the small wolf pack finally takes their leave...
"Does that mean he won't tell?"
Miroku and Inuyasha come over, and the former says to Shippō,
"I think we can count on Kōga...The problem is Kagura."
"...I'm not so sure about that."
"Huh?"
Everyone turns to Besa, who looks to the sky as he thinks aloud,
"Something in my gut's telling me this fight may have revealed more about where she stands as a subordinate for Naraku then we realize..."
Kagura's POV
Despite how things ultimately turned out, I return to the castle with ease...But as I walk down the skeleton-ridden corridor, my mind remains muddled by the events from only a short while ago.
Naraku knows nothing of my treachery...That's why he used demons to save me...right?
I then spot my sister Kanna walking down another hall, oblivious to my arrival...I decide to follow her.
Kanna...Where is she going?
I watch as she moves down a set of stairs for the cellar, and I watch from up top, before slowly and silently heading after her...only to find another floor entrance with a chain attached.
...Another room beneath the cellar?
Ignoring this feeling of caution that stirred in my being, I open the doors...only to be seized by my neck by a bulbous tentacle!
"GH!"
I'm yanked inside and hit the ground hard, and as struggle to get back up...I hear the voice of the one person I thought had left this place for a while.
"Kagura...did you enjoy yourself outside?"
...No...No, it can't be!
I look up, and gasp in horror when I see Naraku's, head, among various attaching demon body parts!
These, demons...Naraku builds his body with these demons?!
He's a half-demon like Inuyasha!
...Which means...my origins...My god, was I one of these demon parts?!
"Kagura...while I slept, you left the castle...Don't try to deny it."
I was too horrified by my own thoughts to come up with a reply, and the next thing I knew, four tentacles seize me by my arms and legs, pressing me dangerously close to his face!
"Kagura...you are still a part of me...Would you like to return to my flesh again?"
Swallowing down my pride, I croak out,
"N-No, please, wait! I...I, promise I won't do it again! Ngh!"
"Hm...This will be your last chance."
I cast my eyes to the ground as I mentally curse,
I cannot escape from Naraku on my own!
...Inuyasha...I'll let you live for a while longer. You're my precious trump card.
For reasons I could not fully understand, Sesshōmaru's image came to my head as well...But I shook him away, knowing that I had no hope of ever getting his help...at least not now.
It seems freedom will be eluding me for a while longer...But I'll bide my time.
I'll wait out the day when this bastard will meet his end...
Damn you to Hell, Naraku!
No POV
Morning has finally come in full circle, and our main group makes their way down a new dirt path leaving the dry, rocky barren grounds to their next destination, greenery and rolling hills as far as the eye could see...Miroku then comments on the events from only a few hours ago.
"This'll make our lives alot harder...Now that Kagura knows of Inuyasha's secret, we'll have to make ourselves alot stronger, Sango."
She nods, and Besa and Freeman add to one another,
"Guess we'll need to step up our game more too, brother."
"Yep, but then again, it's kind-of become a requirement for everyone here..."
Inuyasha just smiles smugly and replies,
"You don't need to worry about me. Besides, I'm the one that comes through when it matters the most."
The demon slayer retorts,
"Give it a rest!"
The silverette only smirks smugly at her, while the monk smiles at their antics, and Coraline shakes her head before chiding,
"Hai, easy does it, yeu guys...Y'know, if you think about it, Inuyasha had t' keep his human form under wraps by every means before 'e met all of us...Just goes to show he really counts on us when the goin' gets tough."
Inuyasha gives her a sideways glare and huffs,
"Yeah, that's what you think!"
Miroku replies,
"Don't be embarrassed, Inuyasha."
"I ain't embarrassed."
Shippō says to him,
"I think you are," and Sango giggles,
"It's not even an issue."
"That's for sure."
Inuyasha growls, before waving his fist at the ones choosing to bug him.
"Would you get off my back for once?!"
"You can always count on us, Inuyasha."
"Knock it off, would ya?!"
The small fox demon yelps in mock fear, and Freeman holds him close while saying in a dramatic tone,
"Stay with me, little fox; I shall protect you from the aggravated dog demon!"
He then rushes ahead with a laugh as Inuyasha calls,
"Hey, come back here!"
Coraline can only shake her head again with a smile as she watches Miroku put an arm around the half-demon, who shoves him away.
He always acts so tough...but he trusts us so deeply, like we all eachother.
That's why he doesn' lose hope durin' the New Moon...Maybe that's the secret to his strength.
As she was contemplating her friend/secret crush's value of trust and friendship, we zoom in on Freeman as Shippō notices the whistle tied around his neck with a drawstring.
"Huh? Hey, what's that?"
"Hm?...Oh, this? It's a special bird call that's suppose to summon a sparrow demon messenger, or at least according to the scroll that Ginta gave me before he left with Hakkaku to catch with Kōga."
"Ginta? Why'd he do that?"
"U-Um...he, wanted to keep in touch with me. You know, become friends..."
"Oooh. That's nice of him."
"(Smile) Yeah...it is."
But Freeman's light blush said something more, his memory recalling what was said in the letter.
Dear Freeman,
Okay, so...how to start? I know we don't really know one another too well, but, I'd like to get to know you. You seem pretty cool, for a human, I mean, and...oh the heck with it, I think you're good-looking, okay?
...That wasn't easy to say, because, no one else in my tribe knows that I like guys, and...I could see it in the way you and I were staring at one another that you understand that feeling. That, desire to be with someone in every way possible, even though most people around you will ask 'What are you doing?' or something else stupid.
Obviously, with our situations, we can't see eachother in person too often, so I came up with the next best thing.
You see, in my tribe, there used to be this old message delivery system that leaders would use to stay in touch with one another, involving a type of bird demon called Yosuzume, or 'Sending Sparrow'. It's become a bit out-of-date in recent decades, but can still be accessed. That's where the whistle comes in: just blow into it twice, and the Yosuzume will come and take your ready message to deliver to me. It'll know where I am; I've got a copy of the whistle too.
Anyway...I'm well aware that our chances of ever becoming...'you know', are pretty slim, but I'd really like a friend to talk to who can relate to these, feelings.
...That's all I'm really asking. Plus, this could be a good way of keeping eachother informed on what's going on with the business of the jewel and Naraku. I doubt Kōga and Inuyasha will be real thrilled about this idea, but I bet Coraline and your brother might find it interesting.
So, I hope to hear from you soon. Best wishes,
Ginta.
P.S. The Yosuzume might be a bit apprehensive to trusting you at first given your, human blood, but just be patient.
...Freeman subconsciously grasps the whistle, while mentally replying to the message,
I'd like that very much, Ginta...I'll send somethin' back as soon as I can, promise.
By this point, Inuyasha had enough of the teasing from the others in his circle of companions.
"Would you people stop getting under my skin?! I'm serious; that's the last warning!"
The tallest redhead of the group lets out a laugh, before doing something both playful and crazy: she snags Inuyasha's Tessaiga!
"Huh?! H-Hey, Coraline!"
She rushes up the path while calling back playfully,
"Try 'n catch me if you can, Inuyasha!"
He stares at her giggling form for a minute...before breaking out a grin and calling,
"Oooh, you better run!"
And everyone else bursts into laughter as they watch Inuyasha chase Coraline down the stretch to get back his sword, the sunny skies brightening the road ahead...