They were in the mountains again. Hotaru was coming to realize just how much she hated the mountains. Japan had entirely too many mountains, and somehow Hotaru seemed destined to climb all of them. She knew A-Un would probably give her a ride if she needed it, but she had ridden on his back the day before and didn't want to appear to be weak. She would climb this mountain out of spite if nothing else. After all, Rin was padding along barefoot. If an eight-year-old could manage the rocks without complaining, Hotaru could.
Suddenly, a horrible feeling of dread seized Hotaru's entire body. She froze, unable to move. This feeling was unlike anything she had ever felt in her life. It felt like a claw was clutching her heart. She couldn't take a breath. For a moment, the whole world was a black void.
"Hotaru?" Kohaku asked.
Lord Sesshomaru halted as well.
Hotaru felt Kohaku shake her. She wanted to explain, but words failed her. She had never felt anything so evil.
"Something is coming." She managed to choke out.
Moments later a storm cloud appeared out of nowhere. It crashed down with a fury of thunder and lightning. This wasn't Naraku's presence. It was similar, yet somehow, more malignant.
Instinctively, Hotaru cast her Silent Wall. Not a moment later, the cloud dispersed and the demon inside charged straight for the three children. It hit Hotaru's shield and rebounded. Lord Sesshomaru intercepted immediately. The two demons began battling as Kohaku helped Rin onto A-Un's back.
"Come on, Hotaru!" Kohaku shouted. She was about to join them when she noticed Lord Sesshomaru seemed to be on the defensive. He tried to use his Meido Zangetsuha attack, but this demon was fast enough to prevent him from drawing his sword.
"Go on!" Hotaru replied. "Get Rin to safety! I'll be right behind you."
Next thing she knew, Kohaku was beside her as Jaken flew off with Rin.
"I told you to get to safety!" She protested.
"This is one of Naraku's incarnations, isn't it? He's after me. If I stay with Rin, I'd be putting her in danger." Kohaku argued. He pulled out his weapon. "I have a better chance fighting with you than hiding with her."
Hotaru hated to admit it, but he was probably right. She launched herself forward, ready to distract the demon so Lord Sesshomaru could finish him off. As soon as she lowered her shield, the demon turned on her and Kohaku. It crashed into the ledge that they had been standing on. Hotaru fell as a cage made of bones enclosed around Kohaku.
Hotaru panicked, but before she could hit anything solid, a vortex of wind pulled her violently to one side. She tumbled sideways through the air and collided with a body. She looked up to see the monk Miroku had caught her in his arms.
"Are you okay?" Miroku asked.
"I'm fine." said Hotaru. She got to her feet to see that Inuyasha, Kagome, and Sango had arrived to join the fight.
Hotaru jumped up the crags until she came to the bone cage that trapped Kohaku. She tried to pry him out; as soon as she touched the bone, it disintegrated her gloves like an acid. Her hands blistered. She forced herself to fight through the pain until she could reach Kohaku's forearm. Every part of her body that accidentally skimmed the bone shrieked in agony. Her cheek, her arm, her stomach. The acidic bone melted her clothes and burned her skin. Kohaku was unconscious, she would have to rely entirely on her own strength to free him. She pulled hard, bracing herself against the corrosive bone structure which was eating through her boots. When she finally managed to free him, they both crashed hard onto the ground. There was a loud crack from her head hitting the rock.
The world went black for a moment. A loud ringing filled Hotaru's ears. It felt as if she were falling in darkness for hours, but when she opened her eyes, only a few seconds had passed. She felt dizzy. She pushed herself up, focusing her energy on her rapidly healing concussion.
"Kohaku!" Hotaru heard someone yell. She looked up to see Sango running towards them. Sango pulled her brother into her arms. The demon made an attack again.
"Silent Wall!" Hotaru shouted.
"Kohaku?" Sango's voice was full of worry, as she shook her brother. "Kohaku, say something!"
"Get him out of here!" Hotaru shouted. "I'll cover you!"
Sango nodded. She pulled Kohaku onto Kirara's back and retreated. Hotaru followed them, fending off attacks.
A short ways away from the fight, Miroku was protecting Kagome's unconscious body. Shippō clung to the monk's robes. Sango joined him with Kohaku. Rin and Jaken were the furthest from the danger.
Protected by sheer cliffs on three sides, Hotaru was able to let her guard down for a moment. She ran to Kohaku. He was breathing. Hotaru sighed in relief.
"Can you help him?" Sango asked.
"Yes." Hotaru replied, confidently.
She closed her eyes and put her hand on his chest, trying to sense what was wrong. Something repelled her. Her energy violently retracted back into her own body. She recoiled. Pain shot up her arms, seizing up her muscles. She grabbed her shoulder and let out an involuntary yelp of pain.
"Hotaru, are you okay?" Rin asked.
"Yeah." Hotaru replied. The pain had already started to fade, though her arm now tingled as if she had received an electric shock. Nothing like that had ever happened with her healing powers before.
There was a loud crash. Lord Sesshomaru had turned into his full demon form in order to fight. Rocks started falling around them.
"Silent Wall!"
A barrier encircled the small group. Kagome came to after a little while, though she seemed dazed and confused at first. Hotaru focused all her energy on keeping her barrier up. She was only vaguely aware of what was going on behind her.
"We should get back to the village." Miroku said. "Kagome and Kohaku need help. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru will fight better if they don't have to worry about us."
The others agreed. As soon as there was an opening, Hotaru dropped her barrier and swung herself onto A-Un's back.
They flew through the mountains, keeping low to avoid detection. Miroku, Sango, and Kagome led the way to a small village. Some people looked up momentarily as the group passed, then returned to their work unphased. Others waved or called out greetings. Several children ran up to see what was going on. No one acted like it was unusual to see people riding on demons, and everyone seemed to recognise Sango's group. They touched down outside a small house, a handful of kids ran up to meet them.
"Shippo!" One child called. "We have a new game we want to show you!"
"Where is Inuyasha? Did he get into trouble again?" Asked another.
"Lady Kagome, are you going back through the well? Can you bring us back more treats?"
"Who's with you? Who are they?"
An elderly miko, with a patch covering one eye, hobbled out of the house. The children parted as she gently shooed them away.
"Be gone with ye, now." The old woman told the kids sternly, but not unkindly. "Ye know the rules. Ye are not to badger them until they have had a chance to rest." The children scattered. She approached the group. "Ye have returned much sooner than normal. Tell me what ails ye?"
"It's my brother, Lady Kaede." Sango said. She had slipped off Kirara's back, with Kohaku's unconscious body still in her arms. "His jewel shard is defiled. Not even Kagome can seem to purify it."
"Bring him inside." The priestess said, "I shall take a look."
Everyone filed into her house except for Jaken.
"Master Jaken, aren't you coming?" Rin asked.
"Me? Go into a human hovel?" Jaken looked offended by the very prospect. "I would never stoop so low!"
"Leave him, Rin. He can sit out here if he wants." said Hotaru.
Rin looked uncertain, but followed Hotaru inside. It was warm and cozy inside the little one room house. There was a fire crackling in the center of the room, with a pot of stew hanging over it.
Sango had laid Kohaku down on a bamboo mat. The old woman checked him over.
"I have not the spiritual power to purify this." The priestess said. She glanced at Kagome. "Ye spiritual power is still sealed?"
Kagome looked down in shame. "Yes…"
The old woman considered for a moment.
"I know not how to aid him. The evil corrupting his shard is far different than anything I have experienced. This is more than simply Naraku's influence. Rest may help. I can say the same for all of ye. Ye look exhausted."
"Thank you, Lady Kaede." Miroku said. The monk put his hand on Sango's shoulder. The demon slayer's eyes were full of anguish as she held Kohaku's hand. It took everything Hotaru had to keep her distance. Sango needed a moment to be with her brother. Meanwhile, Rin still clutched to Hotaru, uncharacteristically anxious. As much as it hurt to admit, there was nothing Hotaru could do for Kohaku that Sango couldn't, but Rin needed her.
The two of them sat down in the corner of the room. Lady Kaede noticed them.
"Now who are ye?"
"My name is Hotaru, this is Rin. We're Kohaku's friends."
"Ah, so ye must be worried about him as well?"
Hotaru nodded. Lady Kaede gave them a sympathetic look. She didn't offer the girls any words of comfort, but she began dishing up bowls of stew. She offered the first two bowls to Hotaru and Rin.
"Ye look like you could use a good meal."
"Thank you." Both girls responded.
It had been so long since Hotaru had eaten anything other than what could be found in the woods. The warm broth was thick and rich in flavor. It soothed her throat and filled her tummy.
"Hotaru and Kohaku traveled with Lady Kikyo for some time." Miroku said as Lady Kaede continued to distribute food. She almost dropped a bowl in surprise.
"So ye knew my sister?"
"Sister?" Hotaru repeated in shock.
"It may be hard to believe, but Kikyo was once my older sister."
"Oh…" Hotaru was caught off guard. She knew Lady Kikyo had been dead for many years. She just hadn't expected it to be so many years that her younger sister was well into her fifties. "She took good care of us." Hotaru finally said. "She protected us right up until the very end."
Lady Kaede gave a sad smile.
"That is good to hear."
Suddenly, Rin sat up straight. She put down her bowl and ran outside.
"Rin?" Hotaru jumped up after her.
Outside, Jaken was running down the dirt road.
"Milord! You have returned! I am most relieved!"
Sure enough, Inuyasha and Lord Sesshomaru were strolling towards them. Both looked considerably worse for wear after the battle, though Lord Sesshomaru proceeded with his usual cool air as if he hadn't noticed how bloody his kimono was. Inuyasha hardly acknowledged the two girls as he passed. Lord Sesshomaru stopped only momentarily.
"Jaken." He said. "You are to remain here with the children. If anything should happen to them. You shall die."
He didn't say a word to Rin or Hotaru before he took off once more.
What was that about? Hotaru wondered.