The screen flickered for a bit before the author appears, sitting next to a film projector.
*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 here and welcome back to another chapter of Hanyo of Snow.*
*Managed to get it out right on time and as my final update for 2023 too. Really need to be more on schedule for my other stories, but I've also had a busy year too. We'll see what the next year holds…*
*Anyway enough of my rambling, let's start the chapter.*
*The group closes in on Urasue but things or too late, the stakes turning quite tense as Kikyō returns. Hope you all enjoy this chapter.*
*First off I do not own Inuyasha, it belongs to the amazing Rumiko Takahashi.*
*Finally just sit back, relax, maybe put some music on, and enjoy. I'll see you all at the end of the chapter.*
The author taps the projector, getting it to flare to life as the screen turns to white before the chapter begins.
Kikyō
(Inuko POV - Bottom of the canyon - A few minutes later)
"The should be the last of them." I growled out as I sheathed Tessaiga as I looked at the soul leaving the smashed remains of a shibito. One of a number that survived falling down the canyon once that old hag sliced the bridge in half.
I managed to avoid the fate of a majority of the shibito by jumping on a low hanging branch and than onto a pile of debris and broken shibito without even a scratch.
Only to be landed on by Kaede and Shippō on a giant leaf. Honestly I was reprieved that they were alright, but also annoyed that they landed on me.
That and a good number of shibito survived the crash although thankfully a number of them were cracked or damaged. They were easy enough to deal with, but still quite a lot of them. I'd dealt with a majority of them when Touma and Yura descended down by her hairs.
I was relieved for a moment that they where okay, less so when I heard that Kagome was captured by Urasue.
Especially less so when I heard the yokai that was behind what happened that accursed day was here as well!
I was thankful for some more shibito that I could rip apart!
Either we go after Kagome to prevent that old hag to bring back Kikyō's soul or I go after the yokai that was behind everything that happened and lead to her death and being strung in that kami forsaken tree for decades! Along with encountering Ryūma again if he went after it!
Damned if I do, damned if I don't!
As much as I wish to go after the yokai, it survived 50 years without me sinking my claws into it. I was just going to postpone it by a few weeks at most!
Preventing Kikyō from coming back fully and getting Kagome back comes first. If I had time later and got lucky I can rip that yokai apart later! We just needed to hurry.
Speaking of which.
"You done yet Touma?" I asked as I turned to face him and Yura.
The both of them on the riverbank, surrounded by debris and a recently broken pair of shibito nearby Yura as she sheathed Benigasumi while he pulled an ice sphere filled with water before freezing it close and placing it in his gi.
For the past minute or two since explaining everything he's been doing that, repeating what he did against Hiten. Probably to conserve his yoki as I don't know how much he has left. If he has to face Ryūma again or worse if Urasue does bring Kikyō under her control he is going to need it.
"Yes I'm already, though it looks like Kaede is more than ready than everyone else." Y/N said, pointing to Kaede.
Who was trying to scale the cliff face despite the broken arm and her age with Shippō by her side.
She certainly is determined, I will give her that.
"There is no time to waste." Kaede said as she tried to climb a large before I sighed and jumped towards her.
"Come on, it'll be faster this way." I said, picking her up and placing her on my back before looking down at Shippō. "You climbing on?"
Shippō looked at the cliff and me before shaking his head.
"Not this time." Shippō said with a determined look before he started to jump up from rock to rock rather quickly, getting me to smirk before I began to jump after him.
Kit's starting to come a long way.
Shaking my head clear of those thoughts as we hurriedly along the cliff face with Touma being carried by Yura.
"So you are certain it 'll be easier to get to Urasue?" I asked them as we continued to ascend upwards.
"The old hag said for the samurai to take some shibito with it. If we didn't take them all out on the bridge which I doubt, it should be simpler to sneak up on her." Yura said, getting me to grin.
"Got that right, Urasue is a nuisance yet not the main issue. Though I wouldn't put it past her to have more shibito besides Kikyō or like Ryūma." I said with a frown.
"Then there is Kagome." Shippō said with a frown and he took a small stop on a rock looking concerned. Getting me to sigh before stopping next to him,
"Don't worry Shippō, that girl is pretty stubborn. There is no way that Kagome will not go down without a fight." I said, getting him to perk up.
"That's right, Kagome won't give up her soul and will be fighting tooth and nail as long as she can." Touma said, with a smile. Getting Shippō to nod before gaining a determined look and jumping up to another rock.
"Come on, it's go!" Shippō said as he continued to jump from rock to rock before Y/N and Yura followed after him. With myself joining after them.
"Lady Inuko?" I heard someone said, getting me to look down at my shoulder.
Now there where he is.
"Myōga the only reason I'm not squashing you is because of Kaede. Where did you bail on the bridge?" I growled out, getting him to flinch.
"I never left, I nearly stuck with Touma as he was dueling with Lord Ryūma. Before the bridge collapsed it work of reminded me of one of Lord Tōga's bouts with him." Myōga said with a sigh, getting me to blink.
Huh, thought that he would have bolted by now.
"So you are sticking around again." I said, getting him to nod.
"Considering the situation yes, but Lady Inuko if you have to head any advice of mine. Do not go after Lord Ryūma or the yokai after dealing with Urasue." Myōga said, getting me to scoff.
"Wasn't planning on it as much as I wish to rip them apart." I growled out, to which Myōga let out a relieved sigh.
"Good, I was going to suggest that you do not try that anyway. At least for the yokai." Kaede said.
"Really thought that you would say otherwise given how determined you are about going after Urasue?" I asked.
"She desecrated Kikyō's shrine and remains and now resurrected her body as a shibito. Normally I would be after them as well. Yet there is something you need to ask yourself to which I have been doing. How would you react when you actually meet Kikyō's soulless body and what would you do afterwards?" Kaede said, getting me to pause on the cliff.
Briefly standing in place looking at the top of the cliff, letting out a small snarl as I resumed the track up the cliff.
I don't know. I honestly don't know what I would do...
Just that this whole situation needs to be over very soon. Between this, the yokai behind everything 50 years ago, and the situation Myōga mentioned we already have enough problems on the horizon...
(Ryūma POV - Other side of the Mountain)
Miasma, nothing but miasma on this side of the mountain. Although I could not tell how strong it was with this accursed body. Yet it was more than an effective smokescreen as the Saimyōshō continued to swarm myself and the two dozen shibito Urasue had ordered me to gather accompany and deal with the intruder.
Now that number had been reduced to over 18 left after multiple ambushes had struck us.
Whatever this yokai truly was it seemed to want revenge for the other day. Along with possibly distracting me from Urasue and the others intruders.
It maybe dishonorable of my to think so, but if Urasue was dead by the end of the day I wouldn't be surprised. That onibaba's sins were finally coming due after Kikyō.
I just needed to make sure to get Enju and Kawaramaru get away from this yokai if it does come to pass.
I could only hope the yuki-onna hanyo, Tōga's daughter, and the others do get to Urasue first.
Cause as we stepped into a clearing, the miasma started to clear up and I could tell the yokai was nearby us.
Holding up my hand, the shibito stopped in their tracks as I began to look around.
"Protect the rear and each other. If you see an opportunity to attack while protecting one another do it. Other than that give it your all men." I said, getting the shibito to nod as they drew their swords and I drew my tachi.
Honestly I was never one for commanding troops even during my first life. I had no idea what I was doing aside from a few tips from Kawaramaru and my own philosophy.
While I might be more than enough for whatever this yokai, it wouldn't hurt to have some extra help for any other dishonorable tactics that it was more than willing to employ.
That and it was my belief that if they gave their everything while fighting and their souls were finally freed from their clay prison and back to Yomi I could only hope they held a better position than they held there before. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking on my part in hopes they will have an honorable passing back to Yomi.
Yet it would make me nothing happier than for them to possible have something better to look forward to after being trapped in those clay shells for Amaterasu knows how long.
I cleared my head of all thoughts and turned and trained my blade to the right, pointing at the pelt clad form of the yokai stepped out from behind a tree.
"Good instincts, I would not expect anything less from the fabled ronin who held the title of Tōjin-sama after death. Even if judging by the condition of your physical features the onibaba was unable to fully restore your body to it's prime." The yokai said as it began to walk closer.
"You would be correct, yet I do not believe I was ever worthy of the title." I said, getting the yokai to pause and tilt its head.
"That's not what history remembers you as." The yokai shot back.
"Well I have done nothing to deserve the title of a god. I was nothing more than a simple human, nothing more nothing less. And while my body might not age or need to eat or drink, my soul is still the same. That of a simple human." I said as the yokai resumed walking towards me.
"Never met a human with that mindset. Wouldn't have minded to dissected your mind if it wouldn't shattered. Nor your existence is an unaccounted factor that could pose a threat if even a minor one." The yokai said as roots sprout from their arms and pulled back their arm.
Dodging past multiple strike from roots and cutting a few apart as I drew closer to the yokai. With it taking a step back after cutting off another root like tendril.
"Yet you still prioritize Kikyō enough that your real self is after her husk while your just another kugutsu, am I correct?" I asked while gesturing for the shibito to approach me.
From under the pelt I saw the yokai smirk before suddenly horns and claws from various yokai began to sprout off of tendrils and lash out at me.
So this was the true yokai than, my mistake.
"Normally your hypothesis would be correct yet everything went exactly to my designs 50 years ago. If Urasue doesn't succeed than Kikyō is just a powerless shell I'll smash and salt the pieces. If Urasue does she and Inuko will finish the other off one way or another and I'll deal with the victor. I'm not leaving things to chance, so I'll deal with a minor yet potentially dangerous variable myself." The yokai said as a buzzing sound began to emerge from around us as the yokai retreated back.
So it most likely having a kugutsu observing Urasue and waiting for the others to deal with her and Kikyō while dealing with me personally with Saimyōshō.
"Many have tried while I was alive and they all failed." I said as the shibito drew closer to me as trained my tachi at it. "Still like all of them you might hold a chance, we shall see if you do."
"Never quite heard that one before but I hold more than a chance." The yokai said as at least two swarms of Saimyōshō flooded into the clearing as the miasama began to clear out.
"Adding more of myself to balance things out." I heard from my left to see another pelt clad figure emerge from the tree line
"Because I will not be taking any chances to eliminate you and anything else of Urasue's design." Another figure said emerging from my right.
So the yokai decided to bring about an additional pair of kugutsu besides the Saimyōshō to finish me off incase it couldn't do it itself.
As the shibito I brought closed in from behind and the Saimyōshō lunged forward, I pulled my tachi back and braced for the attack.
Only hoping that Kawaramaru had listened to what I said.
(Kagome POV - Urasue's Anagama - A minute later.)
"Let me go and stop pouring that on me!" I growled out as I tried to kick away at Urasue as she poured another giant urn full of water and mixed herbs that was starting to glow a lightish green. Feeling another shudder ring out throughout my body as my own soul struggled.
The shudders and feeling in my soul had gotten a lot stronger ever since that damned onibaba dragged me to her anagama built into the mountain. Binding my wrists together and dumping me in this clay tub.
"I swear if I didn't need you for Kikyō's soul I would have already pickled you up right now." Urasue growled she pulled back from me kicking at her, hefting the urn over her shoulder.
Okay that explained the tub.
"And the herbs are for making me lose my soul." I glared at her, feeling another such shudder as I could feel my strength was starting to wane.
"Exactly, yet it would seem you are as stubborn as you are an annoying wrench." Urasue said before grabbing another urn and began carrying them to her furnace while I continued to glare at her. "Normally you should be unconscious by now, evidently I should up the amount. I believe I have an extra urn somewhere?"
If she did I doubt that it would do much of a difference.
Yet then she grinned as she saw something emerging from the opening in the mountain she probably when I felt the shuddering intensified and all bravado I had almost crumpled. And replaced with dread.
Cause staring at me was a vacant look in her eyes was a young woman who look several years older than me with priestess clothing much like Kaede.
This was Kikyō
If it wasn't for the dread and fear I would have see the comparison between us. I could clearly some resemblance between our features, although she looked to be a bit more mature.
Yet what unnerved me the most besides Kikyō approaching me was her eyes.
They seemed innocent enough, but that was it. They were glossy and held practically nothing there.
Considering that she lacked a soul it was fitting...my own soul specifically...
"So you finally out your clothing on, it does look good on you. Even managed to get a few arrows from the girl, wish I could have grabbed the bow. But it will be easy enough to find and craft a longbow from one of the trees here." Urasue said proudly as she placed her shoulder on Kikyō, getting a pant of disgust to erupt from inside me.
Especially when she turned to face me with a grin.
"She is perhaps my best work yet, only missing one crucial piece. Which I will be able to rectify soon." Urasue said before facing away from us. "Now be a dear and keep an eye on that girl while I find that other urn."
Her tone sounded so motherly for a moment towards Kikyō I felt like it was going to throw up...that and it might be these herbs as well...
But what I do know as I shuddere and continued to feel my strength drain away was that I was clearly feeling disgusted, hate, and afraid. The disgust was clearly at Urasue and the fear was ending up like the shibito of Kikyō staring at me.
As for the hate, it wasn't entirely aimed at Urasue...nor was it entirely my own...
I really hope that they will be here soon...
(Touma POV - A few minutes later)
As we continued up the canyon wall Inuko had suddenly picked up Kagome's scent and we took a longer route along the side of the canyon towards where she was sure that we could quickly catch up to her.
We continued our trek in silence as we hurried along Inuko and Shippō bounding on rocks as Kaede clung on while myself and Yura followed along by her hairs.
To which I continued to shift my gaze from the mountain to Kagome's hama ya that Kaede was carrying alongside her own bow.
The longer we continue this way the longer I grow worried for her. The more worried especially in this matter of removing Kagome's soul to revive Kikyō.
From my various readings of records there has been no definitive answer as such a topic as manipulation of one's soul like this or ripping it out to bring about a past life is among the highest is considered forbidden to humans.
It didn't specify what could happen yet the best case scenario is that she will life with a chunk of her soul missing. At worst Kagome could be gone for good or eternally bared from the afterlife.
So the prospects of what could happen did bond well...
"Master your worried about her again are you?" Yura spoke up, breaking me from my thoughts and getting me to sigh before looking at her.
"Yes I know she can probably hold out on her own for a bit, but we are running out of time like you all keep saying..." I sighed out, getting Yura to nod.
She looked at me for a moment before sighing herself.
"I suppose I'm a little worried about her as well master, beyond what it could do to you as well. We'll get her back." Yura said with a determined look.
Surprising me for a moment before smiling, seeing that they were getting along and Yura actually caring about Kagome. If even a little bit.
"Yeah we will, but we need to stick to together if Kikyō is truly brought back and things turn bad." I said, getting Yura to nod.
I just wish it hopefully wouldn't come down to it. But between Urasue, Ryūma, and the yokai behind what happened with her and Inuko on this mountain it could go any which way rather quickly...
"Wasn't planning on otherwise master. For both of our sakes." Yura said, before coming to a stop as Inuko reached the edge of a cliff and jumped up followed by Shippō.
We soon did the same before Yura let me down onto the ground to see Inuko staring up a barren slope leading up the mountain. Inuko growling all the while.
"It's a straight shot from here, both all three of them are there and not that far. All I could also smell from there are a lot of herbs and perhaps another shibito or two around her anagama. No sign of Ryūma, perhaps dealing with the yokai." Inuko growled out, getting me to nod.
"Than we need to move now! If those herbs are what I believe them to be Kagome will not have much time left." Kaede said, getting Shippō to looked panicked as he tried to run ahead.
But was picked up by the scruff of his neck by Inuko and placed him on her back as she bolted. While myself nearly getting whiplash from how fast Yura took us back up in the air.
"Sorry about that master." Yura said while I just nodded.
"It's alright, just now we need to-" I cut myself off as I grunted in pain and clutched my chest.
I began to pain erupting from my jewel shard as it glowed violet and I could the sense of anger, sadness, and relief flooding from the presences inside. What was going on...wait...
"Master/Touma!" Yura and Shippō said at the same time as she and Inuko came to a stop.
"Touma what's wrong?" Inuko asked, to which I just shook my head.
"Don't stop we have to keep going..." I said through the pain. "Didn't Kagome have the jewel shard formed by the Kumogashira...?"
She took one look at me and my glowing jewel shard before we started to see a glow just a little further up the mountain.
No...
"Damn it all!" Inuko growled out as she bounded towards the light with Yura following afterwards while I continued to clutch my chest.
Something must have give very, very wrong for the jewel shard to react like this besides the one Kagome has acting as a possible amplifier for transferring her soul.
Kagome, please be okay...
(Kagome POV - A minute earlier)
"How, you should be a soulless husk by now! Much less unconscious! How are you still awake, I used every last urn and herbs!" Urasue growled out while I give her a weak smirk.
It had been I don't know how long since Kikyō and I was still feeling pretty weak and my body won't stop shuddering. But I was still me and Kikyō was still looking at me a little creepily.
"And here I heard you were the best at brining the dead back to life in Honshū. Evidently by Kikyō and besides Ryūma a whole army of mindless clay dolls you're nothing but a hack. You're even one hack of an herbal solution saleswoman if this bath is an example. And it's practically a business industry where I'm from." I said, getting the onibaba to see the and give me a hateful glare the likes of which I hadn't seen since Sesshōmaru.
Maybe I have been hanging around Inuko too much, but it is fun riling her help. That and keeping my mind together at least.
"You damnable girl if I didn't need you alive for the next few minutes I would flay you for comparing me to a snake oil salesman! Those miserable humans can't even get even get good oil. You can only get it from a snake yokai!" Urasue ranted while I smirked and glared at her.
You know I thought I knew hate in this era with the stunts Yura pulled and nearly killing me. Than there was Sesshōmaru and Hiten...although I still don't know how to quite react to the latter. Than there was the Nikuzuki no Men and what he did to Gramps and my family's shrine. The Ne no Kubi and the Kumogashira head were a close second.
Yet this onibaba what she had done, her trying to take my own soul, and how flagrantly she seemed to relish in it. I suppose I could say I've never despised someone as much as Urasue.
The only exception would be Inuko herself for what she did to me...
Wait a minute...that wasn't my own thoughts!
It would seem that the damned onibaba's solution was finally starting to work.
Panic started to fill me as the similar situation to when I used me reiryoku emerged except the hatred was much greater and there was a violet glow from my chest.
"Yes it's starting to work, and you even had a shard of the Shikon Jewel!" Urasue said with glee. "Now I will just take that."
Before I could even protest, the shard's glow increased and a spherical barrier of reiryoku formed around my body. Burning her hand as Urasue quickly pulled back while I smiled at seeing that.
Only for that to disappear as the barrier greatly expanded and I could feel the hatred permeating it. Alongside the fact I wasn't the one who was doing it and I could feel myself starting to fade fast.
So you did this...
I wasn't going to let that onibaba claim the shard or lay another hand on you. But that was as much as I can do for you. There is no stopping this as much as either of us want.
No...
"What a powerful grudge, something damnable ,it's have happened to Kikyō before she died. Her entire soul is consumed with wrath! It is glorious!" Urasue praised while nursing her hand while I glared at her.
Before noticing Kikyo's body looking off in the distance...
No they didn't...
Weakly turning my head I saw Inuko bending to let Kaede and Shippō down while Yura was doing the same with Touma...
They made it...
Any joy I had quickly turned to dread as my gaze turned to Inuko and I quickly felt my body going numb and fading even faster...
(Inuko POV)
We didn't make in time...
Obviously by the smell o freshly burnt flesh and Urasue clasping her hand Kagome didn't go down without some kind of fight.
But the massive sphere of reiryoku and the glow of Touma's shard was indicators enough that we were too late.
I came to a stop and anything else in the world seemed to blur out as a stared at a shibito of her likeness.
(Kagome/Kikyō POV)
Inuko don't call her name!
Inuko don't call my name!
(Inuko POV)
I knew that I would have to probably face her again and especially after the truth of what happened I dreaded seeing her again.
But now that she was here once again...
"Kikyō..." I said, and a great flash erupted and forcing me back.
(Kagome/Kikyō POV)
No...it was too...late...
Rest Kagome it will be alright, this will only be temporary. You'll have your body back after I drag Urasue and Inuko with me back to Yomi and smash this facsimile of my own.
Kikyō...don't...you both were-
I'll spare Touma, Shippō, and my sister. If that accursed tsukumogami gets in my way I will drag her too. And if I have to at least maim Touma to do it so be it.
I won't let you...
Whenever I was briefly awake there was nothing that I could do to you except influence. What chance do you think you have Kagome.
I'll still try...
And I will welcome it if you do succeed. But for now rest Kagome it will be over soon enough.
The last thing I saw before everything went black was the image of a small smile morphing into a hateful snarl...
(Touma POV)
The massive barrier of reiryoku flashed and pushed us back, feeling like it was singeing my skin and it seemed the same to Yura as Shippō hid behind me as the reiryoku raised in the air were I could assume that Kagome's soul had left from her body.
Inuko and Kaede where shielding their eyes from the flash as I felt the pain from my jewel shard die down as tried not to lose it like I did against Sesshōmaru.
That would be no help against anyone, but I did glare coldly at Urasue as she looked joyishly at the sight of the reiryoku and soul began to enter into the shibito body of Kikyō. Reaching into my gi and grabbing two ice spheres and cracking them in my grip?
Generating mist off of them and Yura began to attach hairs to them.
"Yes finally now that-" Whatever Urasue was going to say, she was cut off as the spheres collided with her body.
Covering where they broke off and most of her body in frost and a multitude of small ice spikes covering her body. And with any luck were dug into her body.
Givin how durable an elderly onibaba can be, if she wasn't killed by either one of us it will be Yomi to rip off.
Like she did now, breaking the ice off of her legs and arms. Bleeding quite a bit and taking chunks of her sleeves off.
"You damned pests I had hoped the fall had killed you all!" Urasue yelled out.
"You thought wrong and you'll burn in Yomi for that mistake." Yura said, with a grin.
"Touma, Yura leave that old hag to me and Kaede. Go check on Kagome. We got bigger things to worry about." Inuko said tersely looking off to the side of the tub Kagome was in to see all the reiryoku was gone and Kikyō's slumped over form.
Urasue had done it, she had fully brought Kikyō back from the dead. And at the cost of Kagome's soul...
No, don't go there right now. I need to check up on Kagome. But first...
"Inuko are you sure about this?" I asked, getting her to snarl. But not at me.
Her glare was firmly set on Urasue who while still looked joyous at Kikyō's resurrection was quickly stepping bag as blood and ice dropped off of her.
"Lady Inuko I believe that-""Shut it Myōga not now!" Inuko growled out, interrupting her retainer who ducked back into her hair before sighing. "We'll be fine for a minute Touma. Go!"
"Master I have to agree with her on this one." Yura said, getting me to nod before looking back down at Shippō who was clinging to my leg. "Kit let's check on the girl, no complaing."
"I wasn't going to-" Shippō tried to say, but was cut off as Yura wrapped us in her hairs and hurriedly carried us to Kagome. "Just this once."
As we were carried into the air Inuko pounced on Urasue with her claws drawn out, slashing at the onibaba with a feral snarl. She hurried grabbed her scythe to fend of the hanyo who jumped back to avoid the slash. Kaede just walked up to her with her Kagome's hama ya clutched in her good hand.
Yura set us down and began to raise Kagome's body out of the water/herbal mixture.
"Shippō if you have a pillow please set it down and generate some foxfire to warm up Kagome." I asked, getting Shippō to rifle through his kimono as mist generated in my hand.
"Right." Shippō said as he sat a pillow down on the ground as Yura lowered Kagome down.
Once she was lowered to the ground Shippō's hands were alight with foxfire as I pressed my hand's on Kagome's stomach, quickly freeze evaporating the mixture from her body and drying her off.
The only reason that even worked was because of the mixture was mainly water based. Yet there wasn't even a shudder or any other reaction from Kagome...
I stepped back as Shippō did the same thing I did except with his foxfire. Looking to see Yura placing her finger's on Kagome's neck.
Staring with concern at Kagome's empty glazed eyes.
Her soul was really gone.
"Kagome is still breathing master, but that is it. She is still alive, but no other response." Yura said, getting me to let out a small sigh of relief.
"Than she will probably never awaken unless we can get her soul back." I said.
Kagome was in a vegetive state, but was otherwise still alive. There was a lot worse she could have been affected by her soul being ripped out.
"Is there anything we can do?" Shippō asked worriedly while I looked between her and the groaning form of Kikyō as she was getting up.
There was only one way as much as I don't like it...
"Shippō I'm going to need you to promise me that no matter what you are going to look after Kagome until she wakes up." I said, getting him to nod determinedly.
"I would have done so without you asking. I'll make sure nothing happens to her." Shippō said.
Getting me to smile a little as I patted his hair, getting him to preen and his tail to bristle.
"Knew I could trust you with this Shippō. I can count on you." I said, removing my hand from his head before facing Yura. "Yura can you please stay back unless you believe it is necessary."
"Of course master, yet are you sure about this?" Yura said, looking at Kikyō as she began to walk away towards Urasue one shaky step at a time. Figuring out what I was going to do.
"That I am, no telling we're things could go. Yet I know that you have my back." I said, getting her to nod.
Looking into Kagome's soulless eyes one more time before smiling a little.
"It will only be a little bit Kagome, just a little bit longer." I said before walking away and around the tub.
Catching a glimpse of Inuko tackling Urasue to the ground and swiping away at the onibaba. Her claws razing ice and flesh before Urasue pushed her off with the back of her scythe and furiously tried and failed to hack away at Inuko.
At this time I caught up to Kikyō who was continued to take a shaky step as I could assume she was still accumulating to her shibito body.
I approached from behind her and dropped down, placing her arm behind my neck and helping her up.
"You should have stayed back Touma." Kikyō said not even looking at me, her voice holding back so much venom that it surprised me. More so than her knowing who I was.
Though her hate wasn't directed at me, instead at the onibaba and hanyo she was glaring out.
Oh I had hoped that this wouldn't happen...
"Perhaps, but you looked like you needed some help. Though I am surprised you know how I am. Don't think I've ever heard of a case of such as this before." I said.
"None have been recorded yet my teacher has spoken of one such encounter. It is extremely uncommon and never occurs naturally of a past life waking in their reincarnation. Such knowledge is forbidden." Kikyō said, getting me to nod.
That would make sense. Knowledge such as this goes against the very way souls are supposed to behave outside of normality. Of course there would be toning normal about souls and there would be outliers, yet such a scenario meant there probably wasn't any recorded notes even a human could reach.
Something must've awakened Kikyō from Kagome's soul before...
Tsukiyomi damn it.
"Please tell me it isn't my jewel shard." I said, sadly Kikyō nodded.
"At first it wasn't much, but the more shards you gathered and Kagome tapped into her reiryoku the more I continued to stir in her soul. Only learning a few things." Kikyō said before looking into my eyes. "The Shikon Jewel is more than just making wishes or enhancing one's power. Something you are more than aware from."
"That it is." I said, thinking of the various effects we had glimpsed from the shards these past few weeks. That and the presences within and the changes and reactions they had been on my body.
"Yet you haven't tried to destroy this body to free Kagome's soul, your chance to do is fading.." Kikyō said as she started to stand up fully.
"I was hoping that won't be the only way, but it would seem like it." I said with a sigh. "Is Kagome in there too?"
"Asleep but she will probably stir soon. I do not plan to have this body for long. Not until I dragged those two with me back to the afterlife." Kikyō said as Inuko pinned Urasue down and chucked the scythe away into the mountainside.
Both confirming and reforming my greatest worries.
"We would get in your way if you try to kill Inuko." I said, getting her to let out a hateful sigh.
"I told Kagome that I wouldn't kill you or my sister. Maim you, but not kill. So my only warning Touma, stay out of this." Kikyō said, getting me to shake my head.
"Unfortunately I probably won't be able to." I said, separating from Kikyō as Urasue tried to float away. Only for her foot to be grabbed by Inuko and slammed down onto the ground. "Urasue's all yours."
"Gladly." Kikyō said, her voice filled with venom as she walked towards the onibaba.
"I wish we could have met under better circumstances." I said, getting Kikyō to pause briefly.
Glancing back before continuing her walk.
"Indeed." Was all she said, getting me to sigh as I reached into my gi.
This was situation was going to become a whole lot messier...
"Master I take it things are going to get worse from here." Yura said as she pulled herself towards me, standing on one of her hairs.
"It is, stay close to me please. Shippō should be safe with Kagome and Kikyō hopefully won't do anything drastic to Kaede. But you are probably just as safe as Inuko will be." I said with a sigh, pulling out an ice sphere.
"Figured as much master, ready for whatever comes. I just hope we can end this quickly." Yura said while I nodded.
Honestly I hoped the same, but this could be anything but end quickly...
(Inuko POV)
While as fun and therapeutic as it has been mauling this damned onibaba with all the shit she has pulled, I was starting to grow worried as I glimpsed Kikyō separating herself from Touma. Leaning down to pick up Kagome's quiver and sling it over her left shoulder.
Glaring at Urasue and me with so much hate.
This was not going to end well...and I'm not sure how I would react.
"You damned halfbreed!" Urasue growled out as she stood back up, blood and ice falling off of her.
Got to hand it to the old hag, she could take quite a beating even half frozen. Yet I wouldn't expect anything less from a type of oni.
She tried to charge, only for Kaede to slam Kagome's bow into her face. Resulting in it being burned from reiryoku she had channeled through it.
"Focus more than just on her, there will be more for what you had done to my sister!" Kaede yelled, getting me to smirk.
Only for that and any elation to die once Kikyō was directly behind Urasue, the onibaba turning to face her with a smile.
"Kikyō you're finally ready. Now as I have created this new body for you I-" Urasue tried to say, but was silenced when Kikyō placed her hands on the her shoulders.
And in a burst of reiryoku Urasue yelled in pain as her mangled body was coated in blue flames and was screaming in pain as Kikyō stepped past her.
"That you should have let me rest." Kikyō said venomously before turning to face me, with myself gulping at her gaze held nothing but pure hatred. "And you should have stayed sealed away Inuko."
"You should have stayed dead Kikyō, and I didn't want this to happen." I said taking a step back, glancing to see Myōga clinging my shoulder.
Urasue continued to scream some more before the blue flames died out and she collapsed onto the ground, nothing more than a charred corpse.
Good riddance.
But now there was a more troubling situation to deal with. And I wasn't entirely sure we could handle Kikyō...especially me...
"The only thing we can agree on" Kikyō said before her right shoulder glowed a bright red. Glaring at me with hatred, tears streaming from her eyes.
Before to my surprise blood spluttered from the glow as she clutched it, more than enough trickling down her right arm and dyeing the shoulder of her kimono that if her body was human I was pretty sure it would be bleeding out right now.
And judging by Touma's shocked look I and Kaede weren't the only ones surprised by this.
"You did this to me Inuko, it was all a lie! Saying that you wished to be human and live besides me and Kaede! Only to strike when my back was turned and take the Shikon Jewel!" Kikyō yelled out as the blood pooled as she began to approach us.
Looking to see Shippō staying near Kagome, Touma and Yura approaching from the side.
"Kaede is that what happened to Kikyō?" I asked, getting her to nod solemnly.
"For decades I believed that she had died from bleeding out from you striking her in the back before now. But I never knew that she had the Shikon Jewel with her when she was attack. It was in the village when you attacked." Kaede said, seemingly to only anger Kikyō.
"Lies! She took the jewel from me and returned to the village to kill as many villagers as she could to further corrupt the jewel!" Kikyō yelled out.
Shocking and angering me.
We had been tricked and set up against each other!
Someone had set the both of us up to corrupt the Shikon Jewel and kill each other up! Planting the jewel back in the village so I could take it and no one would be the wiser to what happened!
"Lady Kikyō, Lady Inuko would never do that!" Myōga yelled out drawing her ire. "While many of the villagers were injured I checked, you were the only one to have died that day!"
"Myōga tell any more lies or you stay any longer you will be joining her." Kikyō said bitterly, getting Myōga to flinch. Yet he would not budge.
"He's telling the truth sister you were the only one who died that day and the jewel was back in the village when Inuko attacked." Kaede said, getting Kikyō to briefly pause.
With that I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what I was about to say.
"I heard what you said to Touma about being partially awake with Kagome. Than you're probably missing out on the both of us were tricked that day!" I shouted out as Kikyō continued to approach me while I took a step back. "I was on my way to where we were supposed to meet before who I thought was you shot at me! Saying that you never planned on turning me human and presented me the shattered remains of my mother's beni! Claiming you had no need for such a pathetic gift from a lowly hanyo after I gave you everything!"
Tears welled up in my eyes as I poured my heart out, not caring for anyone else's reactions as Kikyō's hatred stilled.
Replaced by shock.
"Am I getting too you, we were both tricked by someone after the Shikon Jewel! My only concern was getting the jewel after barely escaping who I thought was you trying to kill me! I could careless about killing the villagers, only escaping the village with the Shikon Jewel and making my wish and never seeing you again! Their plan worked except I never killed anyone and was sealed away while you took the Shikon Jewel with you! Yet according to the Ne no Kubi which you also failed to kill, thanks by the way admitted that they were the one who freed it! That yokai is still around and I'm going to kill them in the worst way imaginable!" I said, taking a deep breath.
For a long while I've had to wrestle with this, but no matter what happens next. I'll probably never get another chance like this.
"Kikyō despite stringing me up in a kami damned tree for 50 years and hating you for what you did I still loved you! I still do and I had hoped to stopped that damned onibaba because I had hoped that you would be at peace while dead! Evidently you died hating me, it took me a long while to figure that I still love you! I'm not sure that if you still do or not, but I do not want to fight you!" I admitted, trying hard to keep my tears from falling down any more...
There it is, all in the open...
Almost everything I've been trying to figure out for weeks...
Wether or not that got through to Kikyō or not I'm unsure. But I've made my peace. Yet I had no intention of dieing here.
Or of killing Kikyō.
"Lady Inuko..." Myōga said, breaking me from my thoughts as I saw him looking at me in concern.
Before looking up to still see Kikyō glaring at me as she approached. Her hatred still on full display.
Yet it almost seemed less intense as it was before.
"I saw you smash your mother's beni before leaving me. Claiming that destroying it and killing me would be the last thing you needed to get rid of any ties to your pathetic human side. If someone did planned against us than it would make sense for your beni to have already been smashed and the jewel returned to the village." Kikyō said with much less venom in her tone than I expected as she got pretty close to me before stopping.
For a moment I had thought that she had seen reason. Yet I should have not expected anything at all as she continued to glare at me.
"Yet I died hating you Inuko. My hatred of you stayed with me for who knows how long in Yomi before I reincarnated. Even in the times I was awake tried Kagome to steer her to kill you to no success." Kikyō admitted honestly.
Oh Izanami damn it.
"My hatred of you has tainted my very soul Inuko, even if you are telling the truth or not. We never should have meet again." She said, getting me to nod in agreement.
"None of this should have happened..." I said quietly.
"That is true. And soon I shall return back to the afterlife." Kikyō said as she took a step closer.
And I found myself rooted at the spot.
"Lady Inuko move now!" Myōga cried out as Kikyō came closer.
"But I'm not going back to the afterlife without you. My beloved." Kikyō said, before the damned rosary around my neck glowed.
Damn it all she had a word for this too!
I found myself plummeting towards her outreaches arms.
Only to be slam face first into an ice wall and pulled back as Kikyō slammed her palms into the wall. Shattering it with her own reiryoku.
That was way too close.
"Inuko are you all right?" Touma asked me as Yura pulled my besides them.
"Physically yeah, everything else none at all." I admitted.
Already admitted the truth mostly, no use hiding how I'm really feeling considering my former lover is trying to drag me to Yomi with her!
"Inuko just stay close to us we are going to-Master, Inuko scatter!" Yura said, before cutting herself off and warning us before splitting up as Kikyō threw one of Kagome's arrows.
It alone will probably be useless without a bow, yet not the reiryoku that erupted from it and cratered the ground!
"I warned you Touma and I will not kill you. I assured Kagome as much." Kikyō said venomously before stopping as Kaede got in her way. "Kaede move."
"No, sister please stop this madness!" Kaede said adamantly, trying to block her way. Only for Kikyō to rip Kagome's hama ya from her hand and reached for some of the arrows from her quiver. "Kikyō!"
"Kaede I'm proud of you for what I've seen through Kagome, but stay out of the way before I do something I regret." Kikyō said before shoving past Kaede to her shock. "Either look after Kagome or fully exorcise Urasue, This will not take long."
Kikyō notched an arrow as she stared us down while Touma retrieved an ice sphere from his gi with a solemn look on his face and Yura stuck close to him. With us can't tell if she was aiming for me or Yura.
"Myōga if you are going to run, now is the time." I said, giving the flea one last chance to back out.
However my retainer just shook his head.
"I'm afraid I can't leave you alone in this situation with Lady Kikyō. Aside from this I doubt anyone of us beside Shippō and Kagome are truly safe in this Lady Inuko." Myōga said, getting me to nod.
Kikyō was back in full force and while her grudge against me was pretty strong, she had enough reason to make up for potentially any blindness caused by it. That and this damned rosary was created by her.
One mention of that word and I'm an easy target.
She wants me dead before taking herself with me.
Either we both die or she dies. Either way Kagome can come back. If not her body will remain soulless and unresponsive. And I do not want to kill Kikyō...
This was whole situation was perhaps straight out of Yomi, and it was potentially only going to get worse...
The screen flickered for a bit as the chapter ended and the projector died down. The author moving to put it away.
*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 here and I hoped that you all enjoyed this chapter.*
*I'll keep things short.*
*Next chapter will the battle against Kikyō as she is determined to take Inuko back with her to the afterlife. All the while Naraku lies in wait, with some revelations and plans for the future are made in the winds from all sides. Hope you all enjoy it when the chapter comes out on January 25th 2024.*
*Got quite a few updates planned for January and I hope that you all will enjoy it when everything comes out.*
*Just before we go I have something to say…thank you all.*
*Not just for this story but for all of them, thank you all for the continued support. It has been a rough year for most of us authors and readers on this site, especially back in fall. Still I have to thank you all for everything, I couldn't have done this without you all. Hopefully 2024 will be a good year for everyone.*
*Anyway of you have a question leave a review or PM me and I'll get to you when I can. So until next time, ciao!*
The author waves goodbye as the screen faded to black.
