Inuyasha's ears twitched. He wasn't sure, but he thought that he could hear Hikaru's heartbeat grow stronger. He released a breath that he hadn't known he was holding in relief. She would be all right. That was what mattered.
Beside him, Kagome gasped.
"Kagome, what is it?"
"Inuyasha, I can sense the power of a Shikon fragment with her," she whispered. They both winced. She had accomplished her mission; whether that would prove to be a good thing or not would now be seen.
Hikaru took a deep breath as she body fought off the last effects of the potion she had taken. All around her, the youkai became alert and their leader stood in front of her.
"Well, do you have it or not?"
In response, Hikaru opened her left hand. The shard emitted a faint glow that almost seemed to pulsate.
Hakudoushi leered and reached down to take the jewel. The others gasped in horror or anticipation as his fingers grasp it. Slowly he lifted his hand…
Only to have Hikaru's hand move with his. The youkai continued to tug on the shard. The miko bit her lip to keep any sounds of pain from escaping. The shard wouldn't move; it seemed embedded into her skin.
Snarling he shoved the hand onto the floor and used his foot to keep it in place. He brought out his axe.
"Wha-what are you doing?" Juanyu yelled.
"The shard seems to have fused itself into the miko's hand. But I will have the shard. Now I have to take the hand as well."
Hikaru paled. She was weak from her journey and she was human for this night. If she lost her hand there was a good chance that she would die.
Hakudoushi raised his axe and aimed. Halfway towards the hand, Hakudoushi was knocked to one side by a mysteriously freed Juanyu. As they wrestled the shadow-half youkai resumed his wolf form and went for the throat. The axe shaft stopped the jaws from reaching their target.
During this, the guards were distracted enough for Sango and Kiarara to attack them from behind. Miroku and Inuyasha joined moments later. Kagome and Shippou crawled to Hikaru's side and headed for the cave entrance.
There was a moment where they were afraid of running into Kagura, but her attention appeared to be focused on the struggle between Hakudoushi and Juanyu. The three of them took cover in the underbrush and waited for the others. Juanyu leapt off of Hakudoushi and followed the kitsune and girls outside.
Inuyasha brought out Tetsusiaga once he saw them leave the cave. In such small quarters, he didn't want to risk it while Kagome and Hikaru were still in midst of the fighting. Miroku and Sango moved close to the wall, out of his way. "There's no way in hell that you're getting the last shard!"
The sword released its Cutting Wind, eliminating the guard youkai. A windshield created by Kagura protected her and Hakudoushi. A summoned feather carried them out and away from the hanyou and his friends.
"Dammit, they got away…again!" Inuyasha groaned.
"True, Inuyasha, but at least we have the last shard," Miroku commented.
"Yeah, and Hikaru is safe."
"We better get to her and the others," Sango said. "They might come back for her."
These words hurried them out into the woods where they quickly reunited with the rest of the group.
"Dammit! I almost had it. If that damn wolf-boy hadn't interfered, then I would have the shard by now."
Kagura paid him little attention. Hakudoushi had been whining in this manner ever since they had made good their escape from the cave. She was glad to be away from there. The youkai they had recruited for this mission were dead; but then they were of no consequence.
"I just wish that I knew how that boy managed to break loose?" he murmured.
Kagura did her best to keep her expression of indifference. "Maybe he's stronger than we thought he was. He is a shadow-half youkai after all. How knows what powers he possesses," she replied.
This shut up Hakudoushi as he thought. "Maybe so, maybe so…"
It was doubtful though that he would learn the real reason. And the wind mistress wasn't going to enlighten him any time soon. She was just glad that neither of them had noticed.