As they descended the steps of the shrine together, Kagome and Sesshoumaru’s conversation fell into the usual, well-worn routine. She spoke to him of the progress Rin was making in her studies. He spoke to her of the state of affairs in the Western Lands. She told him of the measures she’d taken to further protect the region. He told her of the demons he had slain.

Inuyasha was never mentioned, yet he still seemed to be present between them—a phantom they both felt but refused to acknowledge. Even as the shrine and its graves faded into the distance, the specter of her husband remained.

After a short detour to deliver the purified venom to Kaede, their path took them to a modest house at the edge of the village. At the curtained door, Kagome paused, expecting Sesshoumaru to continue on his way. Yet like a ghost himself, he lingered at her porch step, his pale form faintly glowing in the near dark.

“Something is troubling you,” he observed.

Frowning, Kagome hesitated, worrying at the strap of her satchel. “…Another body was found, yesterday.”

At her guarded tone, he frowned as well. “Is that so?”

The miko nodded. “From what Miroku told me, the attack seems to fit the pattern. He convinced the victim’s family to delay her cremation–in case I wanted to see for myself.” Eyes narrowing, she looked toward the north. “The village is only a day’s ride away. If I leave first thing in the morning—”

“Kagome.”

Setting her jaw, she met his flinty gaze. His expression was edged with disapproval. Since Inuyasha’s death, Sesshoumaru had discouraged her from traveling beyond Edo and its surrounding territories. She supposed he considered it his pack obligation to look out for her safety, and although she appreciated the sentiment, she resented the overbearance. The only reason why they hadn’t come to odds over it before is because–since Inuyasha’s death–Kagome hadn’t wanted to leave the village.

“This is the first real lead I’ve had in years,” she maintained stubbornly. “I have to go.” Her gaze sharpened. “I’m going.”

For a moment, he considered her in silence. Kagome clenched her fingers to keep them from trembling.

“I will go with you,” he declared at last.

And now Kagome considered him–considered the prospect of them being alone and abroad together in the wilderness. Level with hers despite her elevated position, his golden eyes glinted, unblinking. A chill of unease threaded down Kagome’s spine. She shook her head.

“You’d frighten the villagers,” she insisted, pushing her own reservations aside.

Sesshoumaru inclined his chin, his gaze no less intent. “Kohaku will accompany you, then.”

Kagome swallowed. Despite his gracious manner, his words had a cold, steely finality to them. Grudgingly, she nodded in assent. There was no point in arguing if he was just going to have Kohaku follow her, anyway. And with the taijiya’s skills in youkai tracking, she could hardly say that he’d be a hindrance.

Having gotten his way, the daiyoukai parted from her with a trailing glance. Kagome bristled in the wake of it, glaring after her brother-in-law as his unearthly figure vanished into the gathering dark.

Alone in her home, she went at once to a long trunk near her bedside. Unclasping it with icy fingers, she reverently pushed aside Inuyasha’s sword, robe and rosary and withdrew a weathered map of ancient Japan. Unrolling the length of parchment and pinning down the fraying edges with a couple of cups, Kagome added another small ‘x’ to the collection of kohl markers that littered its surface.

One mark, for each known victim.

There were dozens scattered across the four lands–each one a testament to Kagome’s failure. Each one a reminder of her own crippling loss. It was in pursuit of this killer–this Beast, as she had come to refer to him in her mind–that Inuyasha had perished. She could no sooner let go of this phantom monster than she could let go of her husband’s memory. If Kagome harbored any true obsession, then maybe it was this.

She would never rest until the killings ended. This was her vow to her departed husband–this was what kept her even now, in her most dire moments, from joining him in the ground.

The stick of kohl crumbled in her fist. Her hard gaze fastened on the latest ‘x’ she’d drawn. This victim would be the last. She would not let another defenseless young woman share in this terrible fate. She would live up to her legacy–and her husband’s.

She would put a stop to this demon.

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi