A deafening crash suddenly thundered through the cavernous abyss. The demons growled and turned their heads upwards, their faces reflecting agitation and surprise.
"That fool," the shadow-man hissed, "I should've known he'd resort to something desperate."
"Who?" Kagome asked, heart racing in her ears as another crash roared through the darkness. Had the jewel not frozen her body in place she would've fled and ducked for whatever sort of cover she could find, "What's going on?!"
"Naraku thinks he can destroy us instead of accepting our destiny," the jewel said, though it sounded as if it were more to himself than answering her, "Time to hurry things along a bit."
He waved his arm, and the dark beam glowing between Kohana and Ronuku roared and grew larger. The two of them sat passively as the jewel drew more of their energy in itself, unresponsive.
A third crash rang out through the jewel.
"It seems Naraku needs to be restrained in person," the shadow-man growled. He suddenly vanished.
"Wait!" Kagome called out, "Come back!"
There was no response.
The demons floated in circles around her, spiked bodies and fanged teeth as they eyed her hungrily through glassy dead eyes. Kagome tried to move again, but her body was still rooted in place, the jewel's magic refusing to let her legs so much as even twitch.
Her eyes stung, cheeks rosy and swollen from hours of frustrated and frightened tears. She desperately tried to calm herself, inhaling and exhaling slowly as she glanced around for any sign of the shadow or what he was up to.
What's happening out there, her worried mind whispered, are the others still alive? Where's Inuyasha?
Is he going to find me in here? How will I get out?
What if no one finds me?
A chill ran up her spine and she squeezed her eyes shut, a futile effort against the salty tears that continued to spring forth. The thought of dying here, without ever seeing Inuyasha again or knowing if he was okay or even alive…
She wanted to fall to the ground and weep.
She opened her eyes again, noting that the demons hadn't gotten any closer. Another crash echoed through the abyss, she looked at Ronuku and Kohana. They still sat idly, their faces dead to the world.
"Kohana," Kagome called out, "Ronuku…please, can you hear me?"
They didn't respond.
"Please, you have to wake up," she pleaded, her voice cracking in sorrow, "Whatever the jewel's been telling you, it's all lies. Sango, her babies, Kohaku…Rin and Futeki…They're all alive, they want to save you. Naoe, Kaida, Inuyasha, Miroku…everyone is out there fighting to stop Naraku and get you back. Please. Please wake up. Please!"
Once again she was met with silence.
"It's no use", Kagome whispered, heart trembling in anguish. The jewel won't let them hear me, there's nothing I can do. Her face crumpled as once more frightened tears wracked her body.
"You forget Kagome," a gentle voice whispered, "The jewel was born of both darkness, and light."
Kagome's head shot up. She glanced around expecting to see the shadow-man, but he hadn't returned. Only the demons still swirling around them.
"Who said th-"
"Shh," the voice interrupted, "Do not speak, or he will know I am here."
Kagome closed her mouth but continued to look around for the speaker. Her eyes suddenly widened as the faint outline of a woman faded into view before her. The woman smiled at her gently. Decked in the red and white robes of a priestess, long raven hair cascaded down her back. Light armor covered her torso and shoulders.
Is this…?!
"I am the priestess known as Midoriko," the woman whispered, confirming Kagome's suspicion, "The jewel was created when I cast my soul from my body. Just as good and evil wage constant war on Earth, so we too have constantly fought within the gem. There are times where I've been able to subdue the demons, and them me, for the balance of power always sways."
She glanced out towards the demons.
"But Naraku has had influence for too long. He poisoned the jewel with his malicious actions and gave strength to the demons. Their hatred and anger gave birth to an evil spirit, the one who now controls this place," she sighed, "And I have grown weary. My strength alone is not enough to subdue him."
"As long as the Shikon no Tama exists, so will he, so he seeks to continue the battle within. Now that he has brought you here, he won't stop until he has Naraku and whatever other demons he can find to strengthen him," she glanced towards Kohana and Ronuku, "Your friends' power is being used to draw in demons that will feed into Naraku's malefic power. Any of your allies that are dragged in with them will be devoured by the demons."
Kagome gasped, a bolt of horror shooting up her spine.
"But how will I sto-" Midoriko gave her a look that reminded her to be silent.
"As I've said, the powers of both light and dark hold sway here, one was not meant to reign over the other forever. My soul will not last much longer, but you are a priestess Kagome. The light exists within you, you are capable of purifying this place."
But how?! Kagome thought, frustrated. She shot a look at Ronuku and Kohana, and Midoriko nodded.
"Your friends are fueling the darkness, evil has flooded their hearts and they have willingly given their souls to it," Midoriko looked straight into Kagome's eyes, "I have but just enough strength left to help them hear you, and then I will vanish. From that point on you must convince them to stop, otherwise you will never gain sway in this place. Your friends will all die and you will spend eternity fighting the darkness alone."
Kagome shook, terror still coursing through her body, but she nodded. If Midoriko could give her any chance of saving everyone's lives she had to take it, she wouldn't let her fear stop her.
Midoriko smiled and stepped forward, placing her index finger on Kagome's forehead.
"I have faith in you Kagome," she said, "Once you act he will know I was here and try to stop you. No matter what he says or does, do not lose sight of your own power. You are strong enough to stop this."
Kagome closed her eyes, and at once a wave of warmth cascaded through her body, all the way from her head to her toes. Her heart stopped racing, her breathing slowed, and she once again had feeling in her legs. Her fear was gone, her tears dried, and for the first time in a long time she felt calm and sure of herself.
When Kagome opened her eyes Midoriko was gone. She felt something warm in her hands and looked down to see that she held a glowing weapon, a bow made purely from light.
The demons overhead hissed and recoiled from her.
A bow? Kagome was overjoyed at the prospect of being armed once again, but she realized that she had nothing to shoot from it. She glanced around in confusion before she remembered Midoriko's words.
I'm a priestess, there's light inside of me.
Focusing her energy, Kagome once again felt the familiar warmth of her own power flowing through her veins. She looked down at her bow, focusing with all of her might, when at last a glowing arrow of light formed in her palm.
She smiled.
"Thank you Midoriko," Kagome said, "I promise, I'll do my best. I won't let him win." Notching her arrow into her bow, she pulled back on the string of light and aimed her weapon.
At the end of her sight was the center of the black cord that ran straight between her friends and connected them to the darkness.
"Kohana, Ronuku!" Kagome shouted, "I need you to wake up!"
She released the arrow. A radiant beam of light shot forward and lodged itself directly into the cord between Kohana and Ronuku. Lighting crackled around them, sparks of light traveled the length of the cord, battling against the darkness that desperately tried to push it back.
"What's this," a furious voice growled. The shadow-man suddenly reappeared before Kagome, "You think that you're going to stop me too?!"
Fear bolted up Kagome's spine, but she didn't answer the shadow. She focused her energy and created another arrow.
"I SAID WAKE UP!" She yelled and fired once more. The thin threads of light grew in the cord of darkness.
Kohana and Ronuku twitched.
Their clouded eyes turned towards Kagome.