Chapter 12 – Confrontation
Kurama stood in front of a large castle, with all of his friends behind of him. The castle was dark and dreary, and it reeked of the ma who stole Sarome: Naraku. Inuyasha and the other had told him about Naraku and all that he had done to this world, and Kurama had one more thing to add to it.
The shell in his hand still showed Sarome bound to the wall, bleeding out of her scars. Still chained…still in pain…Kurama shut the shell and placed it inside his shirt. Only Katoma and Sarome knew of it, and only Sarome knew how it worked. He stepped forward, and was reflected back by a weak barrier.
"Move, Kurama," Inuyasha ordered, wielding his Tetsusaiga. It glowed red, and he used the wind scar against the barrier, which dissipated instantly. Kurama stepped forward into a large field. It looked like a battle ground. "We are finally here. This place smells of Naraku," Inuyasha said. Kirara on Sango's shoulder mewed gently. "And Sarome."
"We should hurry," Sango said, catching up with Kurama. Kurama sighed and stepped forward, onto the battle field. A haunting wind filled the arena, bringing up dust and flames. When the dust died, stood Kagura and Sarome in the front.
"Kagura!" Inuyasha snapped. He lunged forward with his Tetsusaiga still unsheathed. Sarome shot her hand up, and a raging fire came up and caught Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha!" Jin yelled, sending a wind blast to cool the flames that licked his body. When he came back to the others unharmed, Kurama was the next one who took a step forward, bringing up his trademark rose whip.
"Sarome…" he whispered, as he noticed that her eyes were clouded over. One of her cat-like ears twitched, and she began to laugh.
"Fool! I am a part of Naraku! And always will be!" she yelled, sending a fire dragon towards him. The dragon didn't attack him, but attack the rose whip in his hand. Kurama saw that Hikaru's eyes were not blinded over with possession like Sarome's.
"Poison Blades!" Shelbra yelled, sending blades of poison from her claws that ripped open Sarome's chest, along with Kagura's. Sarome dissipated to a wooden golem again, but Kagura pulled out a feather and flew away, holding up her wilted kimono to her chest.
"Damn you!" she yelled, but, there was no fury in her voice.
"That was too easy," Hiei said. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"We should get going. Sarome is inside."
"How do you know, Kurama?" Shippo asked. A smile pulled on the corner of Kurama's lips. "How can you be so sure? What if she isn't and she is back in Kaede's village?"
"Trust me, Shippo," Kurama said. "I know. I can feel it."
"So can I," Katoma came in. "And she is hurt."
Kurama ran into the castle, followed by Katoma, Shelbra, and the others from Feudal Era Japan, and from Living and Demon Worlds. He continued to run, through the hallways, through every part of the castle, following Katoma and her keen sense of smell. But didn't find her anywhere. She was definitely in the castle here, they could feel her aura, but, she was no where to be found.
Dammit! Kurama thought. He brought the shell back up to his face and whispered Sarome's name into the shell. It showed her in the same place, not moved, but still bleeding. Sarome…where are you?