The barrier flickered but remained intact, the stench of miasma weighing down on them as his hair darkened and grew, peasant clothing replaced with that of a warrior, jagged spikes of armour poking out from his shoulders and arms.

The soft blue of his haori would be welcoming on anyone else, but the giant red orb in the middle of his chest blinked as though real, his hands twitching when she got caught in its gaze.

He had no weapon, but Kagome had a feeling he didn't need one, the confident air about him sending shivers down her spine. His aura was immense, leaving her reeling at the fact he'd been able to hide it so well. Managing to push herself back up to her knees, she glared at him, the pulse of her power only widening his smirk.

"You are so graceful in your defiance. It's a shame I require so much from you."

"I'm not giving you anything," she snapped, keeping herself between her sister and the monster in front of them.

Hojo—was that even his name?—chuckled. "You speak as though you have a choice. Now that I've found you—"

"How did you get into my dreams?" she demanded, slowly getting to her feet. Though mostly purified by her barrier, his miasma burned her nostrils, and she forced herself to slow her breathing, it helping to steel her nerves.

He was powerful. Kagome wasn't naive enough to think this would be a fair fight, but she refused to be intimidated.

He rolled his shoulders nonchalantly. "It's amazing what you can absorb when you talk to the right people."