Chapter 55:
In the midst of silent comforting from Sesshomaru, Arisa spontaneously felt dreadful and nervously turned towards the barrier.
"What seems to be the matter?" he asked, bugged by her sudden feats.
"The barrier…I think it's about to collapse..."
The two of them watched on and just as what she inferred - the barrier slowly disappeared and soon, the sky rumbled and became dark-purple. Hordes of demons started coming out of the mountain, and miasma surrounded the summit of Mt. Hakurei. The mountain was now in chaos, and it was hard to believe that it was just pristine and taintless just a while ago. Jaken who was feeling ill moments ago was now perfectly okay, and so did Ah-un.
On the other hand, Arisa covered her mouth and fell to her knees, quivering. Cold sweats also started coming over her; overwhelmed by the sudden, massive impureness and Naraku's demonic presence all around.
"T-this is horrible…how was Naraku able to hide this huge stench inside that saintly barrier…?" she commented in a wobbly voice.
"That vermin probably took advantage of someone holy enough and convinced him with his smooth words of business."
Demons bustled over them in no time and Sesshomaru stepped in front of her, drawing out his sword. He used Tokijin's powerful energy blast and all the demons that went their way were all gone. After that, he carried Arisa and carefully flumped her on Ah-un's back, and set their way towards Naraku's possible location inside the cloud of miasma.
Sesshomaru was being careful as members of the Band of Seven could still be around and attack them from anywhere, most especially that Arisa was currently defenseless.
Hmph…but that rascal showed up, so that would almost mean that his insects of distraction were eliminated.
However, demons were endlessly coming their way, and he was getting irritated at slaying them all the time. But later, he was surprised to see a surge of light pass through, and all the demons vanished with sparkling after-effects. The dark, heavy atmosphere in the area was also lifted. He then turned to see Arisa up and about, ready to perform another spell.
"Leave the demons to me, Sesshomaru! I've finally adjusted with Naraku's disposition." She assured, and another gush of light followed right after, eradicating the next batch of demons.
He felt proud of her for a second, and a relieved smirk left his lips. Then, they hastened their movements to get to Naraku as soon as possible.
But eventually, even Arisa was getting exhausted and annoyed with the seemingly never-ending demons.
How did that scumbag amass such number of demons in that mountain?
She was about to fire another purifying shot, but Sesshomaru stopped her.
"Do not waste any more of your strength."
"Why is that?"
"Observe them properly. These demons are not even attacking in the first place."
Arisa did as what he said, and so she let the demons just pass by.
"You're right…it seems like they are desperate in escaping from this place."
"This is another one of his diversions to delay us."
"Does that mean that he's still not ready? Then we better move faster…!"
With that, Sesshomaru glided with much more speed, while Arisa requested Ah-un to fly faster as well.
As they were nearing the peak of the mountain, Arisa felt Naraku's actual aura and the presence of someone familiar.
Kagome...? No…wait…
"Naraku is just beyond that layer of miasma…!"
"I can smell him. That dead priestess is there as well."
"You mean Kikyo…?"
She recalled their conversation a few days ago, and her goals struck her.
Can she really kill that monster all by herself…?
However, the moment they approached the miasma, Arisa immediately felt miserable. Sesshomaru sensed her discomfort, and came up with a decision.
"Arisa. You stay here."
"N-no! I'm coming with you. Kikyo needs our help…!"
"Don't be foolish. In your current condition, you won't be able to do anything."
"I-I can…! I will disperse this crappy miasma right now!"
"You…"
Arisa knew that it would drastically affect her, but she didn't hesitate. She instantly deployed the four cuts, though she had to do it thrice since it was no ordinary smog. It was an extremely dark and dangerous type, fresh from Naraku himself. She was successful thereupon, but she was utterly drained after. Although this time, she was able to remain conscious which she deemed as another big improvement. Back then, she would just easily collapse from removing a few remains of his poison or miasma from someone. She then tried her best to appear well in front of Sesshomaru, but the latter was doubtful of it. Yet, he let her be - thinking that she would somehow manage.
The blanket of miasma soon faded, much to Naraku's astonishment. He only just finished his experiment of whether attacking Kikyo would still cause him affliction. Luckily, it worked, and the said priestess had just fallen off the cliff.
So she was still able to erase my miasma. The nerve of that—
But, he realized that her body was too fragile and extensively purged to do some purification. Also, her arrows were right there on the ground. Soon, his eyes widened, seeming to recognize that kind of spell.
No, it is not from Kagome either. She has yet to reach that level...then, this must be from that woman. If it is, then Sesshomaru is probably near. I should prepare for a warm welcome-
Just then, Naraku's thoughts were interrupted by the man he was supposed to welcome. He dashed right over and sent him a powerful blue energy wave from his Tokijin. Naraku was quick to act and put up his defensive barrier. Unfortunately, it was absorbed and deflected back to him; which he easily repelled anyway and it spread throughout the place instead.
"So you've become strong, Naraku." Sesshomaru sarcastically commented, and Naraku chuckled mischievously.
"But of course. Why would I spend so much time hiding in this mountain without doing anything?"
"Indeed, you are only great at hiding." He scoffed, and subsequently delivered another powerful attack with Tokijin's green energy sphere. There was some resistance at first, since it looked like it was forcing its way through. But then again, his attack was rendered useless as it was ultimately absorbed by the barrier and was readily deflected.
Sesshomaru casually blocked it using Tokijin with the aid of his sheer force, making it disperse to many directions.
Naraku snickered. "It's futile, Sesshomaru."
"Futile, my ass! Not when you get this…!"
Both men turned to where the voice came from, and were surprised to see Arisa already portraying the hand signs for the verse cuts. Sesshomaru frowned at her sudden entrance, which was uncalled for.
This woman...!
But before Sesshomaru could go and stop her, the spell was already released and a bright, enormous and heavy swirl of light approached the intended target.
"Jin! Retsu! Zai! Zen!"
He moved away from the spot and signaled Ah-un to stop right where they were, feeling a little tense as he distinguished her enchantment.
Naraku was confident with himself and he simply enhanced his barrier. But to his disbelief, the light was able to penetrate his barrier, and brought it down. Naraku gritted his teeth as he tried to evade further damages, but he was a second too late. The lower half of his body was taken, and he had difficulty in regenerating. It was only at that moment when he recognized that it was the attack that he feared in his last moments at his previous castle.
…! That insufferable woman!
He glared at her in the most dangerous way he could, but in that exact moment, Inuyasha arrived and his expression turned anguish as he saw Naraku and Kikyo's broken arrows on the ground.
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