"Looks like the tables have turned…" Inuyasha muttered, a smug look on his face. He took a step toward him, and Korosu backed away even more. An animalistic red glow formed in his eyes, and claws became more pronounced on his hands.
"You're out-numbered and outclassed, you scum. I don't see why you just give up…I might think about letting you live if you do…" Inuyasha growled. His voice was intense. He just wanted to finish the emaciated-looking demon that threatened them so they could help Sango. He just wanted to finish the drama that they had all been entangled in within a few hours…
Korosu glared back at Inuyasha, the glow in his eyes fading as he casually examined his claws. "Go ahead, kill me, it's not really a big deal…" he said, his voice almost seeming carefree. "It's really your lovely friend you should be worried about. In your situation, Kami only knows what I drugged her with. Perhaps…it's slowly killing her. You don't know that, do you? And if you kill me…who knows, you might as well be lopping her head off as well…"
----
Kagome all shuddered within. He was exactly right; they didn't know what he had done to Sango. She wanted to scream, to threaten the demon with his life, to do anything she could to help her friend. She bit her tongue. What good would it do? No matter what she could think of, she knew he could turn it around on her. Even if they could get him backed in a corner with sheer strength, he could use his intellect to stifle their tries, as he had just proved. Then, she got an idea.
She pushed past her husband and her friend, taking a step toward the demon. Inuyasha threw his hands out to pull her back as Miroku watched, stunned, but she pushed the hanyou off of her.
"Kagome…what are you doing?!" he demanded. She didn't answer. I have to get through to him somehow…even something like him can be good at heart…
Kagome kept walking, ignoring the silent pleading of her friends behind her, stopping right in front of the demon. "Tell me your name…" she demanded, her voice rough.
He smirked and ran a cold claw down her cheek. "So much bravery from such a dainty flower…" he commented icily. Kagome slapped his hand away. "Answer me!!" He looked surprised, and could feel the immense power that flowed through her, powered by rage.
"Ah, so her bite is worse then her bark…" he said. She glared in response. "If it's so important to you, my name is Kososu…" Kagome looked at his face, searching his soul for something to work with. She just needed to connect…
----
Korosu stared at the miko warily as she studied him. He could feel her deep brown eyes prying into his. He could feel her powers coursing in the air around him. He knew what she was trying to do, he knew she was trying to get into his head just as he had been doing to her. But that's not going to happen, my naïve priestess…
"You're only in my way, you know…" he said, his tone dark. She gave him a confused look in response, but Korosu was more amused by the sheer anger that coated her male companions' faces."You're friend Sango isn't the same Sango she was before her ordeal…I know what she's been through. You, on the other hand, I doubt can even comprehend the many twists of fate that form a knot around us all…" The cruelest of smirks crossed his face as she glared back at him, puzzled. He only hoped that they wouldn't be able to call his bluff…
----
Kagome tried her best to act like the remark Korosu made had no effect on her, but she knew her bewilderment was all over her face. Did he know that Sango had died and been resurrected? But how? Then she remembered when they had found Sango sobbing…when they found out Sesshomaru was dead. Inuyasha had said it was an assassin…and she remembered his reaction to Korosu's name…was he the one that killed Sesshomaru? She hadn't been able to hear was Sango was saying to him when she was conscious because of the distance, but she seemed so involved in what she was saying…it was all making sense.
"You know everything…" she said angrily, "Everything. You're the one who killed Sesshomaru, so now you've come after Sango? Why? Why would you do something like this to her? Did Sesshomaru tell you something about her, did he tell you everything? How she died in those awful swamps, how he brought her back? Was your sick little mind intrigued enough to want to hurt her too?!" she demanded.
She watched his pupils get small and his grin fade for an instant, but they both quickly returned, nearly making her sick to her stomach.
"No…I didn't know that…" he said with a nonchalant snort, "But now I do…" The sadistic quality faded once again from his features, this time not reappearing. "This is all beginning to make sense. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to---" He was cut off by a strong punch in the gut from none other than Inuyasha.
Author's Notes: It's short, I know. Especially after such a looooooong hiatus. But I know exactly what I'm doing with the next chapter or two, so I'll update soon. That, and I just like getting you to the edge of your seat right before I cut you off. Anyway, please tell me what you thought, I hope you liked it!!!