Chapter 34
Yuki and Meiko gasp to hear the revelation, "We're the demon tree's puppets?" Meiko said in disbelief. Yuki embraces her.
"No, not you two." Inuyasha assures them. Yuki asks him, "Then how was it that the previous principals were the puppets?"
Misako pulls her fists. "To think that I would get my revenge on you and your family, the demon tree promised me that I would get something in return." She growls angrily.
Kagome managed to help Moroha rest at a more comfortable pace. "And what was it that you wanted if you got your revenge on us, Misako?"
"To have my reputation back. Before the whole fiasco terrorist attack, I was the best teacher in the school. It didn't matter which grade I was teaching, almost every student wanted my help to get better in their class. But that wasn't true. My reputation was to be their guide, not their doomed fates."
"Which is why I was able to do so with ease." A deep voice speaks from out of nowhere. Soon the school begins to shake. Without thinking a second thought, everyone evacuate the building to the outside towards the spot where the demon tree is.
"Misako, you could've just killed them right then and there." The deep voice spoke as a branch from the plant wraps itself around the girl.
"Misako!" Meiko shouts in fright. Yuki gets in front of her as another branch wraps itself not just her, but also Meiko.
Inuyasha quickly grabs the Tetsusaiga from Moroha and draws the sword, transforming it into a sharp fang. With quick moves, he's easily able to cut the branches from getting a hold of them.
Kagome focuses on her powers to create a barrier to protect herself and Moroha. Once a piece of the demon tree's branch makes contact with the barrier, it gets purified.
"Ah. A priestess. I haven't seen those in a while." The deep voice chuckles in amusement. Kagome feels something from beneath her. "Oh no." She runs to get to Moroha, but the branch was thick enough to prevent Kagome from reaching her daughter. Then another branch grabs hold of Moroha.
"MOROHA!" Kagome screams in terror. The branches hold Moroha up against the bark of the demon tree. Her hair ribbon was shredded as her hair falls freely down to the middle of her back. Inuyasha hears the scream and gasps to see Moroha in the demon tree's grasp.
"You release her right now!" He orders the tree. Soon enough another branch grows out of the back and transforms its end piece into a man's head. "I am Memori Nori. I have been taking away anyone's memories to gain power." The man said to them.
"And for the puppet claim. That is true as well." The tree said. "But how did you do it?" Kagome asks it.
"I merely transform my pedals into a person who would be the principal. Since this school is full of half demons, I made sure that my scent would make them believe that the puppet is the same as them. But once someone knows the truth about my power, I made sure that the incident never happened since the pedals make the school forget about it. And it's been that way for 50 years." The tree explains to them.
"And what would you obtain?" Inuyasha asks it next.
"I wanted a host to finally move amongst them. But no matter how hard I tried, each of my puppet wasn't able to achieve it for me." The tree answers.
"But now it ends here." It chuckles as the plant pulsates. Moroha screams in agony. "AHHH!"
Inuyasha jumps up to cut the branch that is holding his daughter captive. But the branch didn't get cut and sends Inuyasha backwards.
"Hmmm, I have to admit that the power of a quarter demon is interesting. Misako and Meiko are just as good to nourish my pedals."
Kagome pulls out a gun from her holster and aims it at the branches. "Hit the mark." She pulls the trigger to let the bullets piece the branches.
Once hit, the branch broke apart, but still keep a hold of Moroha.
"Just what was that you shot me with?" the tree asks her in annoyance.
"It's true that I'm a priestess, back then we had weapons of anything that we can put our spiritual powers in. But now with guns in this day in age, I'm able to use sacred bullets to take you down." Kagome answers confidently.
"Well, isn't that interesting. But tell me, would you use it on your own daughter?" The tree taunts as it releases Moroha. Kagome is about to run towards her, but Inuyasha gets in front of her. Moroha opens her eyes to reveal them pink instead of the usual brown eyes from Kagome's side of the family.
"Moroha, please back to your senses." Kagome shouts to her. Moroha growls in a feral way. "Why would I listen to you? You didn't believe in me." She bends her knuckles in a threating way.
Inuyasha bends his own, feeling that she's going to strike. "Inuyasha what's happening to her?" Kagome asks him worryingly.
"The tree is controlling her. And possibly trying to make her transform into a full demon." Inuyasha said with narrowing his eyes.
Kagome just stares in shock and afraid as Moroha is trying to prevent the transformation. "She's resisting. Moroha!"
Moroha holds her head as her raven black hair shifts between black and silvery white like Inuyasha's. Her human ears are trying to be replaced by the akita ears. Her claws and fangs are starting to lengthen as well.
Inuyasha feels the Tetsusaiga pulsing repeatedly. As well as shaking violently. "Tetsusaiga…" He murmurs. Moroha looks at the sword as well. "Give it to me." Her feral voice demands Inuyasha.
"Oh no, she's after your sword!" Kagome informs him. Inuyasha pulls out the sheathe and gives it to Kagome, "Use this if she attacks." He seriously said to her. Kagome nods as she accepts the sheath and let
Inuyasha do what he thinks best. Saving Moroha.
