Hey all! A new year, a new chapter! Happy 2018!
...I wish I could be a bit more cheerful. However, something has recently surfaced in the review section that has rubbed me the wrong way, and I feel the need to bring it to attention:
A few of you anonymous commenters have been accusing me of reviewing my own story under different aliases. What in the world makes you think that I have such a low confidence in my own writing that I would stoop so low as false advertisement?! I do not submit to the ideals of fake story buzz, and I find it extremely insulting that you think I would (more so than when someone accused my OC of being a Mary Sue in my other story).
I believe my writing is good, and I don't need to generate a bunch of sweet words in the reviews to tell myself that. Hell, even if this story didn't have the amount of reviews it does now and had just one or two, I would have continued without so much as a bat of an eyelash.
...That being said, I think I understand where this accusation may be stemming from, which is why I must make the following requests.
To the guest reviewers, JDJPJST and 738: While I have been flattered by the many positive comments you've been sending, perhaps it may be best if you could, step back for a little while, and let others have their moments in the sun?
Also, some of you have been kind-a, parroting their questions. Again, I'm flattered by your interest, but I think it'd be easier for myself and all of you if we move in a 'one question per chapter' scenario, and try to keep each question you ask as unique to the last one as possible.
...That's my speech of the day, and I sincerely hope this doesn't become a problem again.
Anyway, let's all get back to why we're all really here: The story!
Chapter 75: Terror of the Faceless Man
"Hah!"
(Clang, clang)
"Hrah, take that!"
(Shing...)
It's been a few days since the encounter with Souten, sole survivor of the Thunder Demon Tribe, and we turn tail to modern Tokyo, specifically, the abandoned warehouse district, where Coraline and her brothers are currently training with Master Yoshi, the focus of the day being weapons practice.
Right now, it would be Besa who makes his next move with his sickles, trying to disarm his teacher's hands of his katana:
(Clang)
But Master Yoshi easily blocks and pushes him back, before testing the younger's blocking skill:
(Clang)
"Hrrrgh..."
(Shove)
"Gah!"
Besa falls backwards to the crushed, concrete-powdered ground from the overwhelming strength, while Master Yoshi prompts,
"Remember to keep your arms straighter as you block, Besa."
"Mrgh, right..."
Next to attack, was Freeman, who swings his hammer to the ground:
"Hah!"
(Slam, rumble)
A shot of seismic vibrations travels through the dusty pavement straight for Master Yoshi, who leaps into the air to dodge it, before thrusting his katana at the other:
(Clang, clang, CLANG)
"Waaah!"
Freeman is thrown to the ground, landing a few feet to the right of Besa, as Master Yoshi smiles a bit and comments,
"Shaking an enemy off-balance is well and good, but it must not be your only move at your disposal. Strive for balance and power, Freeman."
Said boy salutes a thumbs-up with a grunt, and Master Yoshi turns attention to the last teen: Coraline. She readies her ShatterSoul Sword in her left hand, before charging at her teacher with a war-cry:
"Hrrraaaahhh!"
(Clang, clang, clang...)
But it would only be three minutes, before Master Yoshi easily disarms her, and slams her into a nearby wall of an old warehouse building barely standing from weathering:
"Gh!"
"You are distracted, Coraline. A warrior must have a clear head in order to combat fluidly."
He releases her, and turns to the other two teens as they pick up themselves off the ground, before announcing,
"That will do for today. All of you have made significant improvements, but there is a long way to go. We shall continue training tomorrow."
"Hai, Sensei." "Hai, Sensei." "Hai, Sensei."
Small Time Skip
With their training done for the day, Coraline, Freeman and Besa decided to head over to WacDonald's for some lunch and discuss earlier:
"(Grimace) Damn, Master Yoshi's not makin' it easy. I don't think my shoulders have ever felt so sore."
"Well what did you expect? He did say that this was gonna get harder. (Yawn) I find it a miracle that we're all still awake, considering how early we woke up for practice."
Coraline was only half-listening, her mind wandering between subjects:
I hope that essay I turned in for Science class was decent enough. That was a bitch of a topic to cover...
It's strange, though: Inuyasha didn't seem too antsy in me leaving this time, but maybe it was because my brothers vouched for me this time, and mentioned the training we would be doing with Master Yoshi...
Speaking of, I gotta be better at tucking my thoughts away to focus on combat. If that had been a battle against a strong demon, I'd be toast.
...And on the subject of demons...I haven't heard anything from Cipher for a while. I wonder where he is?
"...Yo, sis!"
"Huh?"
She finally snaps back to reality, and turns her gaze from her food to her brothers, who were eyeing her oddly:
"You okay there?"
"We called ya five times and you weren't hearin' us."
"Oh, sorry about that. I was, just thinking..."
"About?"
Coraline takes a sip of her soda through the plastic straw before replying,
"...Lots of things. Too much at once. (Weak smile) Unfortunately, Master Yoshi was right earlier: I'm distracted."
"Hm..." "Hm..."
The twins look to one another, before Freeman says a bit cautiously,
"Coraline...we've been noticing you're spacing out a bit more in these last couple weeks."
"...Have I?"
"Yeah...Is everything alright? Is there, anything you need to talk about?"
Coraline was a bit taken aback by the concern:
Oh no...Do they suspect?
No. They can't be. I've been doing a hell of a job keeping this pact a secret...
...I feel bad, though: After all, we did make that promise to not keep secrets back when we met up in Trinity Headquarters...
(Sigh) Still, this isn't a good thing to be telling them.
Coraline forms a reassuring smile and replies,
"I'm okay, guys, really. There's just been alot on my plate lately, and I've been having a bit of a trial keeping it all in check. But hey, nothin' I can't handle, right?"
Besa hums, and smiles a bit before saying,
"Well, if you're sure..."
"I am. If there was something I needed to tell you guys, I would be spilling like a waterfall."
But for now, I need to dam the top with concrete...until I can get this all figured out.
Time Skip, Higurashi Shrine/Residence, Coraline's POV
A couple hours pass, and I return home in the late evening, finding myself in a light blue sweater and soft grey pants while writing some notes for my history class in the living room:
This is an easy subject, because my interest levels are high...
"I got an eighty-two on my math test!"
"Good job, dear. You studied hard."
I hear Souta approaching me from the kitchen, as he chimes,
"Look, sis, I got an eighty-two!"
I look up from my papers and text to see the tell-tale red ink on his test paper:
"(Smile) Nice work, little bro. Keep up the hard work, and you might hit perfect next round."
"You think so?"
"Mhm, totally."
Akari-sama then calls us for food:
"Coraline, Souta, time for dinner."
"Okay!" "Coming!"
I'm now sitting at the dinner table with everyone, the meal this evening being croquette:
"Thank you, Akari-sama. (Munch, munch) Mmm, good as ever!"
"You are eating over on the other side, aren't you?"
"Mhm. Mostly wild fruits, roots, fish and the occasional game animal on a good day, but nothing as good as the food you make."
Akari smiles in appreciation and replies,
"Then eat up while you're here, dear."
Souta then asks,
"How come Freeman and Besa aren't here tonight?"
"They had some things to take care of at their apartment, and Shuji invited them to his place for dinner tonight."
"Ah...So when are you three goin' back, Cora?"
"Hm...Well, the plan is to get a goodnight's rest, then head down to the dojo for some hand-to-hand combat training tomorrow. We'll likely head back to Edo around late afternoon."
Akari then asks me,
"How did your training go today?"
"(Weak smile) Could've gone better, but definitely not worse. My mind was wandering a bit, so I missed my marks a few times."
Grandfather comments while eating from his bowl,
"That's no surprise. You've got alot on your plate as it were."
"No kidding...At least my Science grade has bumped up to a B- so it's no longer an issue to plague me."
I take a bite more of my croquette and add,
"As long as I keep my head above water, all should turn out fine."
After dinner, I hop into the shower, letting the heat of the streaming water cool the raging aches in my muscles:
"Aaahhh, that's much better..."
If only hot showers existed in the Sengoku period...
Once I was through, I dry off, change into some clean pajamas, and sprawl across my mattress in bliss:
"Haahh...Moments like this where you really appreciate what you have..."
"(Ghostly moan...)"
I turn my head left, and see Lumos float into my room through my window:
"Hey, Lumos. How's it goin'?"
He spins around me a few times, before settling on my side table, making a sound akin to his own version of content.
"Heh, guess we're in the same vote then."
I move to lay on my back again, and wonder aloud while staring at the ceiling,
"...I wonder what everyone in Edo's doing right now?"
Pulling back the covers of my bed, I add,
"Well, I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I just hope they're staying warm tonight...'night, Lumos."
He chirps softly back, and I drift to sleep, my mind manifesting dreams filled with swords, demons...and jewels.
Sengoku Edo, No POV
As Coraline settles into her bed for the night (her brothers likely doing similar in their home), we zoom in on Inuyasha and the others, as they sit around a campfire on a large, flat rock by the riverside, barbecuing some fish to eat...
"(Munch, munch) It's lonely without Coraline and her brothers here."
Inuyasha replies to Shippo indifferently,
"You think so? Nothin's different."
"You liar. You haven't been kidding anyone: You've been in a daze since she left. It's totally obvious that you miss her."
(Bonk)
"Ooow! What'd you do that for?!"
While Inuyasha effortlessly holds a ticked-off Shippo back with his palm, Sango asks,
"When did Coraline say she and her brothers were returning, Inuyasha?"
"Let's see...(Counts his fingers) One, two, three, tomorrow."
Hearing that, Shippo trades his anger for an expression of excitement:
"They're gonna come back tomorrow? Well then, we better head back to the village so we can greet them!"
Inuyasha then comments a bit annoyed,
"You know, we've been roaming around the countryside without any luck at all."
Miroku replies matter-of-factually,
"Without Coraline around here, we can't get any leads on the Shikon-no-Tama." Sango adds,
"And there's been no signs of Naraku either."
Inuyasha growls and mutters bitterly,
"If only I could catch a scent of him, I could get on his tail no problem."
...Speaking of said demon, we now turn to a large cliff overlooking a small canyon far off from where our group was, where Naraku and Kanna currently stand...His right arm suddenly jerks...before rising up without control, and having purple-coloured flesh bulging out!
"...You wanna come out?"
(Jerk, jerk)
"...Then allow me to grant your wish."
The purple flesh spreads over his fingertips...before the entire mass detaches off of Naraku, falling to the chasm below!
Kanna looks down and asks,
"...Who was that? My brother?"
"He's nothing like the rest of you."
Naraku turns to leave and calls Kanna:
"Let's go."
...Unbeknownst to either demons...the flesh mass still lived, and began slithering away to parts unknown.
We jump now to an open grass field, where a group of bandits have set camp for the night:
"Awesome! Which village will we hit next?"
"Someplace of many women and drink!"
As the leader's fellows all laugh and agree to the plan, the mass of demon flesh from before slowly creeps up on them...
"...Huh? Wha's that?"
"Boss! Come over here!"
"What is it now?"
The leader stands up to walk over to where a couple bandits had gathered, and looks down to see the demon flesh mass:
"What is that?" "Is it alive?"
The leader snorts in disgust and says,
"That thing is disgusting. Let's kill it."
The bandits agree, and begin thrusting their swords and spears into the flesh to try and destroy it...
...Suddenly:
(Shoom)
A hand comes out of the flesh, and grabs hold of one of the bandit's swords!
"Uh! A hand?!"
But it wouldn't just be a hand: Next thing the bandits knew, a bare-skinned man of strong upper build and long, black hair emerges from the purple mass, with the iconic spider mark burned in his back!
"W-What is that thing?!"
"Just look at him: He hasn't got a face!"
The bandits would have no time to ponder further, when the faceless man suddenly springs on them, killing them all instantly!
...Yet the cause of his rage and outcry of frustration, would not be directed at the bandits...but rather at one startling question:
"(Pant, pant) Who am I?!"
Time Skip
Come the next morning, Inuyasha would be leading Miroku, Sango, Kilala and Shippo down a path in the older growth of a forest nearing the Goshinboku Village, when his nose picks up on a familiar scent...
"Inuyasha, are you sure about this?" He replies to Miroku,
"Nobody could mistake Naraku's disgusting stench. This way. It reeks all over in Naraku! Him and the scent of human blood!"
...But instead of finding said demon, they come across the camp of the bandits, along with the corpses laying scattered face-down on the ground...Shippo steps off of Miroku's shoulder to get a closer look at the corpses and wonders,
"Do you think they're all dead?"
Inuyasha bends down to grab one body and comments,
"They're bandits..." But when he turns the body over, he immediately drops it with an expression of shock:
"W-What the hell?!" Miroku asks,
"What is it?"
"Come and have a look at this: His face has been carved right off!"
Sango looks at another body:
"...This one too."
"Really?" Miroku examines the head of another bandit, and finds the same result:
"Him too."
As he sends prayers, Inuyasha comments in mixed shock and horror,
"Every last one of them...had their face hacked off!"
Shippo trembles back and cries out,
"Let's get outta here!"
"...I've never seen anything like it." Sango was just as baffled as Miroku, but suspected,
"Naraku's behind this." Inuyasha asks aloud infuriated,
"Yeah, but why would he steal their faces?!"
Scene Shift: Riverside
We catch up with the source of this new terror, aka, the faceless incarnation, as he kneels by the clear water to take a look at his reflection, with a horse he also stole from the bandit group tied to a nearby oak tree by their reins...We see he is wearing the face of the bandit leader...
The identity does not satisfy him, and he rips the face off, before trying another one...Success alludes him, and that face joins the rest on the bottom of the riverbed, leaving the faceless man to sigh in disappointment...
"...Demon. Are you the source of evil?"
The incarnation turns around, and 'sees' a handsome monk dress in simple robes and a younger disciple standing nearby. The student cringes back and exclaims,
"Master Muso! That thing has no face! What is it?!"
"...Stay back and out of danger."
"Yes, master."
The student monk rushes away from the area, leaving Muso to face the incarnation alone:
"Demon. Where do you come from?"
"...Where you ask? I don't know."
"Why have you done such a cruel thing to all those people?"
The faceless incarnation rises to his feet, and begins approaching the monk:
"Give me your face..."
"You want a face? Is that why you killed those people? Despicable savage!"
"I want your face!"
The student watches from behind a boulder with worry:
"Master's in danger..." Muso remains calm and fearless:
"You are nothing but pure evil. (Holds his staff out) Perish!"
"Give me your-"
(Pow)
"Aaagh!"
Muso then whacks the faceless incarnation with his staff, releasing some of his spiritual power! The student monk is amazed:
"He did it!"
...Unfortunately, the monk's power would not be enough to defeat the incarnation, and the latter would flex his fingers, before grasping the former's face!
"Gh!"
The incarnation leans in threateningly towards Muso, and the monk's yell would ring with the whinny of the spooked horse, leaving the student to cry in grief over losing his master, before running for his life:
"Nooo!"
...A moment passes, before the faceless incarnation walks over to the water to see his reflection, now occupying the countenance of Muso! He is pleased by his new identity:
"Oh yes! I have a new face! Finally! Hehehahahaha!"
Leaving the monk's body behind, the incarnation is then seen on a path overlooking some flooded fields, he also dressed in the hat and robes of the poor victim...It was then a warrior comes walking by...The demon stands to face the other:
"Hello. Nice face, don't you think?"
"Rgh, impudence! Move or I'll slay you!"
"Now that I have a fine face, next I will need a fine weapon. Your sword will do nicely, don't you agree?"
The warrior slices the demon's hat in two, but does not faze the other, causing the former to gasp:
"Yes indeed: It's a fine sword alright."
"Who are you, a demon?!"
Once again, little time would be wasted on such questions, before the warrior is killed and stripped of his clothing and weapon, and the demon rides off on his new horse with a laugh...
His next location would be a random village, and would not show mercy to those occupying: The fire bell would ring, over the sound of raging flames destroying many huts, screaming men and women as they meet death by fire or blade, and the incarnation's cruel laughter of enjoyment in his actions!
...He would then be seen resting on a grassy hillside, examining his bounty he plundered from the newly devastated village, chuckling a bit as he held some silk...He then sighs, and lies back on his side, playing with some gold and jewellery with a listless gaze...
This state would not last long, however, when he suddenly throws a pot against a rock in frustration:
(Shatter)
"Why?!"
He kneels near the ground, holding some of his loot, his mind trying to narrow down on something that seems...missing:
"...It's not enough! I want more, more of something...What is it?"
He rides off again on the horse, pausing by a cliff overlooking another, yet very familiar village...
"Heheheh, maybe that village will be next..."
...Suddenly:
(Heartbeat)
Mm? That, village...
(Flash)
Kaede's hut...
The Goshinboku Tree...
The cave of Onigumo...
(Flash)
"...Strange, those memories..."
With a new motivation writhing within, the incarnation begins directs the horse to ride swiftly towards the Goshinboku village...but would only get so far, when Inuyasha runs out from the tree cover and blocks his way:
"You hold it right there!"
"Whoa!" The incarnation halts the horse, and addresses the dog demon:
"Speak: Who are you?!"
"Someone who's been out looking for you."
Modern-day Tokyo, Higurashi Shrine/Residence
At the same time the incarnation and Inuyasha came face-to-face, Coraline and her brothers will have finished packing for their journey back to Edo, and began making their way towards the Bone Eater's Well.
"...Lumos, time to go!"
Said Will O' Wisp flies down from the top of the Goshinboku Tree, and hops into the redhead's satchel pocket, before she and the twins kept moving along to the well-house.
Today, Coraline wore a red tank-top, a black button-down shirt, dark-blue jeans with two rips in her right knee and lower leg, her black combat boots, and her hair was in a ponytail. Meanwhile, Freeman and Besa wore similar outfits of black t-shirts, light-blue jeans, and black/white sneakers, but with the former wearing his leather jacket, and the latter a white zip-up sweatshirt.
As they stood at the bottom of the stairs, the teens turn with smiles to wave the Higurashis off:
"Well, we're off."
"We'll see you all soon!"
"Bye for now."
"Later, sis, guys!"
"Be careful now."
"Do your best, you three."
With a nod, the three move to sit on the edges of the well...before sliding inside:
"Hup!" "Downward!" "To parts unknown!"
(Glow...)
...As the light of the portal fades from view, Akari comments with a smile,
"It never ceases to amaze me..." Souta asks aloud,
"How come they're the only ones who can go?" Grandfather answers,
"It's their fate. That's the only explanation."
The other two hum in thought...before Akari remembers something:
"Oh, right: I better go shopping so I can stock on food for them when they get back."
"I'll go too!"
"And so shall I..."
...Just as the eldest Higurashi exits the well-house, he pauses to look back at the well for a moment, adding to himself with a somewhat sad smile,
If only Mathias was here to see this...He would be so proud of her.
Back to Sengoku Edo
We now turn back to the dirt path between the treeline and a canyon wall where Inuyasha and the no-longer-faceless incarnation are facing off, as the former places a hand on his Tessaiga and demands,
"Where's Naraku?"
"...Naraku?"
"Don't play innocent: You're another one of his incarnations! You reek of his stench!"
Sensing that Inuyasha knew more than he did, the incarnation asks the other,
"Do you know anything about me at all? Could you tell me who I am, where I'm from?"
"Shut up!"
Sango then comes to Inuyasha's side and informs him,
"Inuyasha, I think he's the one responsible for all the killings, not Naraku."
"Kuh, one thing is certain: He definitely has the same scent as Naraku."
Miroku, with Shippo on his shoulder, would be the last to come, and he asks the incarnation,
"Are you the one who killed the bandits and stole their faces?"
"(Smile) Yes, that was me. But they were all so ugly, that I couldn't use them. (Touches his face) But this one is beautiful."
Inuyasha asks,
"Did ya steal that face too?"
"Yes. I wanted to have a handsome face...And money, women...I wanted it all, and I stole everything. But it's not enough: There's something else...Tell me, what is it that I'm craving here?"
"Why you...!" Sango sees no signs of an act:
"He's not joking!" Shippo comments,
"He doesn't even know who he is...He's nothing like Naraku's other incarnations..."
Up in the sky, we see one of the Insects of Hell spying...and sending the image back to Naraku through Kanna's mirror...
"Hmph, excellent. They've found eachother."
He's the most abominable creation of my flesh yet.
I'm sure you'll agree, Inuyasha...
"(Smirk) Now then..."
Getting back on scene, Miroku then says with a glare,
"You were the one that attacked the village and set it ablaze!"
"Yes, I did. I thought that if I slaughtered some people, it might help restore my memories. It didn't work, but I did have myself a good time."
Inuyasha asks heatedly,
"Who the hell are you?!"
"I told you, I can't recall...Oh I know: How about calling me Muso? Yes, call me Muso. That will do quite nicely. It's the name of the young monk who gave me this face. Kind of him, wasn't it?"
"'Gave you his face'?! You slaughtered the poor guy!"
"Why are you looking at me like that? I don't like that."
"The feeling's mutual."
"You know...I don't really like the look of your face. Say, have we met before?"
"I dunno, but obviously this conversation's going nowhere fast."
Sensing what his next action will be, Miroku quickly steps over to Inuyasha's side to protest:
"Inuyasha, no!"
"Obviously, someone who smells exactly like Naraku is killing innocent people! He deserves to die!"
Inuyasha then pulls out his Tessaiga, just as Muso gets ready to charge at him via horseback:
"Just try it!"
(Leap)
"Die!"
(Slash)
"Aaargh!"
Muso's arm is hacked off, and he falls off the horse, as it runs off...Shippo exclaims,
"He did it!"
However, Sango would see that the job was not done:
"Not yet!"
...We then see as Muso rises, that no blood is shed, and that he doesn't show signs of feeling pain, much to Miroku's shock:
"What's his body made of?! It's like, clay or something!"
(...Buzzzzz...)
"Huh?"
The group then looks to the sky...and sees a large drone of the Insects of Hell heading their way!
"Naraku's poison insects!"
The wasps then barrel down to Muso, before forming into one mass over his wound...and reforming his arm!
"His arm is back!" Miroku then realizes,
"He's absorbing the poison insects into his body! My Wind Tunnel will be useless against him!"
Muso flexes his reformed fingers, and laughs a bit in astonishment:
"I'm more amazing than I thought I was!"
He then gestures to the Goshinboku Village:
"So what's in that village over there?" Inuaysha asks,
"Huh? What're you talking about?"
"That village is calling me. If I slaughter the villagers, maybe this time I'll remember something."
Inuyasha begins charging at Muso again with a war-cry, but he just chuckles, before his right arm shifts into a brown-shaded whip, blocking the Tessaiga!
"What?!"
Muso then tries to hit Miroku, who blocks it while telling Shippo,
"Stay back!"
"Owaah!"
The fox demon is knocked off, while Miroku barely jumps back from another attack...Muso pulls the whip arm back, and looks at it with surprise and delight:
"Nice! This'll do just fine."
He then whacks Inuyasha in the face, sending him backwards, before Sango takes a turn at trying to take Muso down:
"Hiraikotsu!"
(Toss, spin...)
"Hm, there!"
(WHACK)
Muso uses the whip to thrash the giant boomerang away, and Miroku comments,
"We've got a fight on our hands. We must use extreme caution!" Sango agrees:
"Yes, especially since he's Naraku's incarnation."
Inuyasha continues to try and land a hit, regardless:
"I'll bring him down!"
(Shoom)
"Aaaaaaagh!"
Unfortunately, Muso was able to split the whip into three, and shoot the segments at Inuyasha, one landing in and out of his throat!
"Inuyasha!"
"How's that?"
Inuyasha lands back on the ground hard, and moves to sit up while cursing his failed efforts:
"Damn..."
"...Inuyasha!"
"Huh?! (Turns his head right) Coraline's come back!"
And coming down a path in the forest cover, was said redhead, along with Freeman and Besa:
"Inuyasha!" "Hey, you guys!" "We're back!"
Shippo calls out to the teens:
"Coraline! Freeman! Besa!"
"Sorry we took so long!"
"Yeah, training went a bit longer than we expected!"
"Plus downtown traffic was a bit-"
"(Ghostly moan)"
"Huh?"
Before Freeman could finish his sentence, Lumos suddenly darts out of Coraline's satchel, and zooms in front of the three teens, forcing them to halt:
"Whoa!" "Lumos!" "What's wrong, man?"
The Will O' Wisp makes cries of warning, and begins throbbing in and out red and blue, just as Inuyasha yells,
"Stay back, Coraline! Stay back!"
But the warning would come a bit late, and Muso would see her:
"(Gasp) That woman...!"
(Flash)
Kikyō tending to Onigumo...
(Flash)
"What was, that vision...?"
Inuyasha struggles to stand upright, as he adds to his warning,
"He's one of Naraku's incarnations! Stay back and out of danger!"
The three teens cringe, and take a defensive step back, with the twins moving to stand at their sister's sides protectively, weapons raised...Muso continues to gape at Coraline:
"...That woman...who is she?"
And why is it, that despite not looking like, the woman in the vision, she triggered it?
"Are you gonna gawk or fight?!"
He snaps back to reality, but not fast enough to escape having his whip-like arm sliced by Tessaiga:
(Slash)
Shippo cheers from the sidelines by the three modern teens,
"Yeah! Now you got 'im!"
Muso stumbles back, his mind still fixed on Coraline and the vision:
"...That woman...Who is she? I know her...yet don't...Uh! I remember: I know who she is!"
"You won't be babbling for much longer. You're dead!"
Both dog and incarnation demon charge, before the latter regrows his whip arm and shoves Inuyasha away harshly:
"Out of my way! Woman!" Sango tries to stop him:
"Got 'im! Hr-gah!"
But her Hiraikotsu misses, with Miroku moving to chase after him:
"Rgh, wretched demon!"
Muso laughs, before shooting his whips at Coraline:
"Come to me!"
Inuyasha calls over,
"Run for it!"
Coraline makes her move to turn and run, while Freeman and Besa stand to cover her escape:
"Don't worry, sis, we got your back!"
(Slice, wham)
They knock the whips off-balance...but then had the wind knocked out of them in a counter-attack:
(Whack, whack)
"Aaaaaghhh!" "Auuuuhhhh!"
Coraline whirls around in worry as she watches her brothers slide hard into the dirt and grass:
"Freeman! Besa!"
The whips then turn towards her, and she shucks off her satchel, pulls out her sword and combat knife, before trying to block and hack away the whips:
(Slice, slice, slice)
"Back, off, ya freak!"
But she would only succeed for so long, before Muso overpowered her, and seized her my her wrists and torso, forcing her to drop her weapons:
"Aaah!"
"Coraline!" "Coraline!"
"Cor!" "Cora!"
Muso laughs and exclaims,
"You are the one!"
Coraline struggles hard against the whips:
"Let me go! Who are you and what do you want with me?!"
"It is her! It is this woman that I've been missing! Hehehahahahaha!"