Ginta and Hakkaku arrived the morning after Kikyo's passing to escort Kouga back to the North, where his presence was urgently required by the elders. Holding Kagome in his arms, Kouga expressed his regret at having to leave her.
"I'm sorry, Kagome," he murmured, his expression heavy with concern. "I'm sorry that I have to leave you Kagome, I will return and help defeat Naraku."
Kagome shook her head, "no, you are a Lord. You must take care of your lands, we will defeat Naraku."
Kouga looked at her with conflict, she understood, but smiled nonetheless. "I will see you after he has been defeated. I'm trusting those dogs to protect you. If you even get hurt, I won't hesitate to challenge them and kill them for their transgressions."
It was his last words before he smiled at her, a large toothy grin and left with Ginta and Hakkaku bidding her farewell.
In the days following Kikyo's death, a somber atmosphere enveloped the group. Sango and Inuyasha seemed to be avoiding each other, while Miroku struggled with his own conflicting emotions. Kagome, after a heartfelt conversation with Miroku, claimed that he needed to be there for Inuyasha and she would be there for Sango.
The physical pain of separation from Sesshomaru, combined with the guilt and grief over Kikyo's passing, weighed heavily on Kagome's heart, it overwhelmed her to the point that she was on the verge of breaking down. Yet, amidst the turmoil, she clung to the plan laid out by Midoriko, using it as a beacon of determination to keep moving forward.
They traveled the countryside for those days non stop, they hardly took breaks. Kagome knew that if they did, then they would all succumb to the emotions they were ignoring.
"The flowers are beautiful," Kagome smiled as she crouched down beside the large field of flowers.
"I've never seen anything like it before, especially so close to a village," Sango noted. "There's something soothing about it."
"It's sickening if anything," Inuyasha grumbled, covering his nose with his sleeves.
As Kirara began to have a sneezing fit, the group stopped to look at their smallest companion with pity.
"It must be the pollen from the flowers that's making you sick, seeing as your sense of smell is more sensitive than ours," Kagome frowned, picking up Kirara and holding her in her arms.
As they followed the villagers, Kagome couldn't help but admire the beauty of the flowers that stretched out before them, their vibrant colors painting a picturesque scene against the backdrop of the setting sun.
Sango walked alongside her, a soft smile gracing her lips as she took in the peaceful atmosphere. "It's rare to find such tranquility amidst the chaos of our journey," she remarked.
Kagome nodded in agreement, the scent of the flowers mingling with the gentle breeze, offering a brief respite from their troubles. "It's a welcomed change," she replied, her gaze drifting over the blossoms swaying in the wind.
Meanwhile, Miroku engaged in conversation with the villagers, expressing gratitude for their hospitality. He exchanged pleasantries with them, his charismatic demeanor putting them at ease.
Inuyasha, however, remained behind, his arms crossed and a scowl etched on his face. "That's it?" he grumbled, feeling left out of the decision-making process. "No discussion? Just like that, we are staying?"
Kagome turned back to him, her expression softening with understanding. "Inuyasha, sometimes we need to embrace the kindness of others," she said gently. "We'll be safe here for the night, and it'll give us a chance to rest."
Reluctantly, Inuyasha relented, though his frustration simmered beneath the surface. With a resigned sigh, he followed the others, casting one last glance at the flowers before disappearing into the village.
As soon as they were left to stay in the small hut meant for travelers, Kagome wasn't surprised that Sango and Miroku immediately went to bed even though it was daytime. If anything, she was more worried about Inuyasha, who sat against the wall, quiet and not close to sleeping.
She understood that demons, even half demons, didn't need as much sleep as humans but she knew that he would feel better if he were to just rest. Kagome understood why though, it was because of Kikyo. Inuyasha didn't want to dream of Kikyo.
Kagome approached Inuyasha, her footsteps soft against the wooden floor of the hut. She settled beside him, feeling the weight of his troubled thoughts hanging in the air between them.
"Inuyasha," she said softly, her voice a gentle murmur in the quiet room. "I know it's hard, but you need to rest. It's okay to let yourself sleep."
Inuyasha's gaze remained fixed on the ground, his expression guarded as he struggled with his emotions. "I can't," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Every time I close my eyes, all I see is Kikyo."
Kagome reached out, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I understand," she said, her tone filled with empathy. "But staying awake won't make the pain go away. You need to take care of yourself, for Kikyo's sake as well."
Inuyasha glanced at her, his amber eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and exhaustion. Slowly, he nodded, acknowledging her words.
With a gentle smile, Kagome offered him a reassuring squeeze before rising to her feet. "Try to get so—"
Inuyasha's ears twitched, alerting him to the unusual activity outside. "Something is wrong," he muttered, rising to his feet and making his way to the door. With a careful hand, he cracked it open, allowing the group to peer outside.
Their eyes widened in horror as they witnessed several villagers sleepwalking, their eyes shedding tears of blood as they murmured incomprehensible words. The once serene field of flowers now glowed with an ominous light, casting an eerie hue over the landscape.
"Why are those flowers glowing?" Sango's voice was tinged with concern.
"We have to do something," Miroku urged, his brows furrowing in determination.
Without hesitation, they sprang into action. Miroku hurled several sutras while Kagome swiftly notched arrows, her aim true as she targeted the glowing flowers. As their combined efforts purified the flowers, they rushed to aid the afflicted villagers, only to discover a grim truth.
"They turned into soil!" Sango exclaimed, reaching out to touch one of the crumbling forms, her fingers recoiling at the touch.
"They'll be perfect for my flowers," a sinister voice rang out, drawing their attention to a demon with dark, unkempt hair and a fair complexion. His lips were painted to match the vibrant red eyeshadow adorning his eyes, giving him a chilling appearance. "Look around," he gestured, a twisted smirk playing on his lips. "Flowers thrive in happy soil, don't you find?"
With a shiver of dread, Kagome realized the extent of the demon's depravity.
"Who the hell are you?" Inuyasha's voice rang out, his tone laced with anger and suspicion.
"Flower Prince!" One of the villagers cried out, a note of reverence in their voice.
The Flower Prince clicked his tongue in amusement. "My dear villagers, you seem upset. I imagine that you are quite disappointed."
"We are upset at not having become soil," the older woman from earlier lamented, echoing the sentiments of the others behind her.
"Bastard!" Inuyasha seethed, his fists clenched. "What have you done to all these people?"
"I only offered them a chance at peace and tranquility," the Flower Prince replied smoothly, his expression betraying no remorse.
"Don't breathe it in!" Inuyasha warned, covering his nose, but it was already too late for Sango. As she fell over, her lips parted to utter a single word, "Kohaku," before vines began to ensnare her body. Miroku reacted swiftly, rushing to her aid and shielding her from further harm.
"Poor girl, worrying over the fate of her brother," the Flower Prince remarked, his tone dripping with malice. "Not to mention the grief of witnessing a loved one suffer the loss of their first love. Oh, and the jealousy and anger over that first love. So much sadness that it has driven her to madness."
"How did you know about Kohaku?" Miroku's voice reverberated with a mixture of shock and suspicion.
"A dead man walking," the Flower Prince cooed, his tone dripping with mockery. "Resign yourself to the flowers. They will bring you joy and everlasting peace that has so long eluded you."
"I've heard enough of this," Inuyasha snapped, his patience wearing thin. "Wind Scar!"
The powerful attack razed through the field, leaving behind only a small puddle of blood and clearing away the entire expanse of flowers.
"I'm going to follow him. You two stay with Sango," Inuyasha declared, but his movement was halted when Kagome grabbed his arm.
"I'm coming with," Kagome asserted firmly. "It won't be as easy as you think."
"She's right, Inuyasha," Miroku added, gesturing to Sango. "This demon, the Flower Prince, feasts on people's sorrow and pain, and you have both of those in abundance."
"Keh," Inuyasha scoffed, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. "I'm not as delicate as the rest of you people." Nonetheless, he resumed his stride, and Kagome followed closely behind.
"Take these, Lady Kagome," Miroku offered, presenting a bracelet adorned with teal beads. "They are beads of Demon Repulsion."
"Thank you, Miroku," Kagome said gratefully, accepting the bracelet before catching up to Inuyasha, who paused to allow her to climb onto his back.
It wasn't long before they arrived in front of a sprawling castle-like structure, adorned with the same ominous flowers that plagued the village.
"Can't wait to get rid of these damn flowers," Inuyasha muttered, lowering Kagome to the ground.
"Welcome to my humble abode," the Flower Prince greeted them with a sinister smile. "I do hope you came to apologize for your most violent behavior, however, there is no need, as you didn't even injure me."
"What's your game?" Inuyasha demanded, his hand instinctively reaching for Tessaiga.
"I purposely spilt my own blood to lure you here," the Flower Prince explained casually. "Consider it a personal invitation to my home, if you will."
"So you think you've fooled us?" Inuyasha's eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"I can practically taste your soul," the Flower Prince chuckled darkly. "It'll be exquisite. That's why I wanted you to come here, so I can take my time to truly savor the flavors of your pain and sorrow."
As they spoke, the flowers surrounding Inuyasha began to shift from pink to a menacing glowing red, mirroring the transformation that had befallen the villagers before they turned to soil.
"Dammit," Inuyasha cursed under his breath.
"Your soul is in such a fragile state," the Flower Prince taunted, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent. "Your pain and sorrow are easily felt in the vines and pollen. You've recently suffered a great loss. It must be tragic to lose the woman you love most in the world…wait…that woman back there. You love her too, which will make devouring your soul all the more satisfying, as I will feast on hers right after."
A pool of blood began to envelop Inuyasha, vines covering his body and dragging him down. Kagome rushed forward to grab him, her fingers desperately reaching out, but he slipped through her grasp like water through her fingers.
She felt weak and utterly helpless.
Falling to her knees, tears blurred her vision as she watched Inuyasha being consumed by the sinister vines. Gripping the flowers in frustration and despair, she tore them out by the roots and hurled them away, but the vines only crept closer to her, threatening to ensnare her soul.
In that moment of desperation, Kagome remembered the beads of demon repulsion that Miroku had given her. With trembling hands, she retrieved the bracelet from her wrist and held it aloft. As if in response to her plea, the beads glowed with a faint blue light, forming a protective barrier around her.
Yet, even with the barrier in place, Kagome couldn't shake the overwhelming sadness that threatened to consume her. It weighed heavily on her heart, reminding her of the pain she carried for Sesshomaru, the children, and Kikyo.
But she couldn't afford to succumb to despair now. With renewed determination, Kagome pushed aside her own grief and focused on saving Inuyasha. With a fierce resolve, she ripped the bracelet off her wrist, tying it securely to the tip of her arrow. With all her strength, she drew back the bowstring and let the arrow fly, aiming directly at the imposing barrier that surrounded the castle.
As Kagome's arrow pierced the barrier, she felt a surge of adrenaline course through her veins. Her heart pounded with determination as she watched the arrow soar into the castle, followed by a deafening scream that echoed through the air.
Suddenly, a grotesque figure emerged from the depths of the castle, its body composed of writhing tendrils and its face concealed behind a menacing Japanese wooden mask. Its eyes blazed with a fiery red light as it glared at Kagome with fury.
"You dirty wench!" the creature hissed, its voice dripping with malice.
Kagome met its gaze with a steely glare, her jaw clenched in defiance. "So, this is your true form," she remarked, her voice laced with determination.
"How dare you barge into my home!" the creature roared, its tendrils writhing with anger.
But Kagome stood her ground, undeterred by the creature's threats. She had come to save Inuyasha, and she would not be intimidated by this vile demon. "Hand Inuyasha over."
She unleashed another arrow, only for him to dodge it last second. She shot off several arrows, watching them fly and embed into him. She watched as he howled in pain by each of her sacred arrows.
The arrow pierced through his body, shattering it into countless pieces. However, to Kagome's horror, she realized that he was still alive, his essence now scattered among the flowers that surrounded them. With the demon no longer restrained by the demon repulsion beads, he seized the opportunity to launch a vicious attack on Kagome, aiming to feast on her soul.
Several vines shot out from the field of flowers, ensnaring Kagome and immobilizing her, causing her to drop her bow and quiver. As the vines constricted around her, she gasped in pain, feeling the emotions she had suppressed for so long rising to the surface.
"Her soul is more appealing than yours! Her sadness is even more exquisite," the Flower Prince taunted, his voice echoing ominously. "How could such a small human girl hold so much pain and sorrow, far surpassing that of you or your comrades?"
Inuyasha stumbled out of the shiro, his heart pounding with fear as he saw Kagome ensnared by the vines. Without hesitation, he rushed towards her, only to be ensnared himself, the vines tightening around his body.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted desperately, struggling against the vines that held him captive, his mind clouded by a haze of confusion and fear.
"The source of her pain and sorrow is…"
"Woman," Kagome grunted defiantly, her voice strained as she fought against the vines.
"What?" the Flower Prince exclaimed, taken aback by Kagome's resolve.
"I am a human woman, not a girl," Kagome declared, her eyes flashing with determination. With a surge of spiritual energy, she purified the vines that bound her, freeing herself from their grasp. Quickly retrieving her bow and quiver, she drew an arrow and released it into the heart of the shiro, the sacred energy purifying the structure and causing the Flower Prince to scream out in anger.
With unwavering resolve, Kagome notched another arrow, her movements fluid and determined. "My sorrow and pain are my own, and you will not lay a hand on them."
Releasing the arrow, she watched as it soared through the air, its brilliant light piercing through the Flower Prince's mask and shattering it causing all the flowers to disappear.
"I am sorry, Kagome," Inuyasha's voice was gentle as he immediately pulled Kagome into a tight embrace. Holding her close, he buried his face in her shoulder, his claws digging into her slightly. "I was so consumed by my own pain that I failed to see yours. I never realized how much you were hurting, just like me. Please forgive me, Kagome."
Kagome leaned back slightly, her eyes meeting his as she reached for a small handkerchief from the pocket of her kimono. Gently, she dabbed at his eyes, the dried blood flaking off under her touch. "I will always forgive you, Inuyasha," she reassured him softly. "Kikyo's death was a heavy burden for all of us to bear, and I understand how deeply it affected you."
Taking a deep breath, Kagome knew it was time to reveal the truth. There was no more hiding from it. "There's something Kikyo wanted me to tell you after she passed," she began, her voice trembling slightly with apprehension.
"What is it?" Inuyasha asked, his expression filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Unable to meet his gaze directly, Kagome turned away, her heart heavy with the weight of her confession. "Kikyo told me that she knew her death was inevitable, that it was foretold by Midoriko and could not be avoided. She accepted her fate because she believed it was necessary to defeat Naraku and reclaim the Shikon Jewel. She made me promise not to tell anyone, especially you, because she believed it was crucial for her sacrifice to succeed."
Inuyasha fell silent, his expression unreadable as he processed Kagome's words. After a few moments, she felt his claws gently grasp her hand, offering silent comfort and understanding in the face of their shared grief.
"I understand," Inuyasha nodded. "I suspected by all the private conversations between Kikyo and you the last several weeks."
Kagome had become accustomed to their constant battles, particularly when it involved facing Naraku and his numerous incarnations. However, encountering Kanna was a rarity. She watched with growing unease as Inuyasha faced off against Kanna's mirror demon, which had drained Tetsusaiga of all its demonic energy. Inuyasha found himself constantly on the defensive, dodging the relentless onslaught of attacks from the mirror demon.
It was clear to Kagome that they were outmatched. If they didn't retreat soon, they risked being overwhelmed and defeated. She knew they had to fall back, regroup, and come up with a new strategy if they stood any chance of surviving this encounter.
They had taken refuge in a cave nearby the lake, Kagome had erected a barrier around it to hide them inside. It was only temporary but would give them some time to think and come up with a better plan. Yet, they all knew that Kanna and her mirror demon would come after them.
As the Mirror Demon shattered the barrier, revealing its true form, Inuyasha's transformation into a full-fledged demon left Kagome, Sango, and Miroku stunned. Kagome watched with a mixture of awe and trepidation as Inuyasha's eyes turned a fiery red, his once gentle gaze replaced by a fierce, primal glare. Teal and purple jagged stripes marked his face, while his fangs elongated and his claws grew sharper.
"Inuyasha...?" Kagome's voice trembled as she reached out to him, only to recoil when he snapped his head towards her, emitting a menacing growl.
"Stay back," he warned, his voice deep and guttural. "I don't wanna hurt you."
Despite the chaos unfolding around them, Kagome remained resolute in her determination to help Inuyasha and her friends. As Inuyasha continued his fierce battle with the Mirror Demon, Kagome's keen senses picked up on a glint in the moonlight above. Looking up, she spotted Kanna holding a mirror, her expression unreadable.
Frowning, Kagome swiftly notched an arrow and took aim, targeting the vulnerable spot on the Mirror Demon's neck. With a precise shot, her arrow found its mark, piercing through the demon's defenses and striking true.
As the Mirror Demon staggered back from the blow, Kagome's attention shifted to Kanna, who now bore a crack on her neck mirroring that of the demon. Realization dawned on Kagome – the connection between Kanna and the Mirror Demon was undeniable.
Knowing they needed to act quickly, Kagome sprang into action, issuing orders to her companions. "Kirara, take Miroku and Sango into the air now!" she commanded, her voice filled with urgency.
Releasing another arrow, she shot it near Kanna to break her concentration of the mirror circle in the sky.
Kagome felt pity for the small girl in white, her heart breaking as the more damage Inuyasha inflicted on the mirror demon. The more cracked she became.
"Kanna! You don't have to do this! You don't have to die!" Kagome shouted, stumbling over the rocks. "Please!"
Inuyasha's decisive strike severs the Mirror Demon's arm, shattering the illusion and restoring Tetsusaiga to its former glory. With the threat neutralized, Inuyasha returns to his human form, his features softened from their previous demonic visage.
Meanwhile, Kanna descends from the cliff, her demeanor solemn as she approaches the defeated Mirror Demon. Kagome watches with a mix of pity and concern, her heart aching for the young girl trapped in Naraku's web.
"Kanna, please," Kagome pleads, her voice filled with compassion. Running towards Kanna, she was determined to save her just as she saved Kagura. "You don't have to stay with him. You can be free."
But Kanna remains silent, her cracked eye shattering into tiny slivers of glass as her body and the mirror demon was enveloped with a bright blue light before it exploded.
"KAGOME!"