Burning with panic and fury, Kagome plunged down at Mouryoumaru, driving her blazing, disintegrating spear into the crack in his chestplate. The naginata splintered, bursting in a shower of light. Mouryoumaru’s armor shattered as well, falling from his body like broken chunks of clay.

He reeled back, releasing Sesshoumaru as his tentacles retreated defensively. His features twisted in a nasty snarl, the gruesome hole in his shoulder sealing shut.

“Damn you, miko,” he seethed.

Kagome landed between him and Sesshoumaru, retrieving the bow slung across her back. Fighting back a wince of pain, she held the weapon before her as levellly as she could, making a show of slowly fitting the string with an arrow.

After a stare-down that lasted a small eternity, Mouryoumaru finally seemed to buy her intimidation act. Leathery wings spread out from his back as he took to the sky.

“We will meet again,” he declared, dark eyes narrowing ominously as he disappeared around the mountainside.

Air whooshed from Kagome’s lungs. The bow dangled loosely in her hand as she slumped forward in exhausted relief. A white muzzle turned toward her, the crimson eye above it regarding her steadily.

“Thanks for your help, Entei-san,” she said, giving the fire horse a pat as she slid down from his back like a sack of potatoes.

As her feet hit the ground, she turned toward Sesshoumaru, her brows knitting in concern. Still in dog form, he lay to one side, eyes nearly closed, tongue lolling out as he panted rapidly.

Cautiously, she approached him. “Sesshoumaru? Can you hear me…?”

His rheumy red gaze focused slightly. She reached out, brushing her fingers along the stripe on his jaw, surprised at the softness of his fur. Slit pupils slanted toward her.

“Er, sorry,” she said, dropping her hand with a blush as he transformed, clawed fingers digging into the front of her tattered shirt.

She gasped as he dragged her toward him, glassy eyes staring into her own. His chest heaved beneath his busted armor, his mouth drawn tight in obvious pain. Kagome’s throat went dry.

For a long moment he studied her face, Kagome hardly daring to breathe herself. Finally, his grip slackened, silver lashes lowering as he released her and collapsed onto his side. With a tired sigh, she sat back on her haunches.

“Hey,” she said, shaking his shoulder. “We should probably get out of here before the sun goes down.”

A muscle in his jaw twitched, but otherwise he didn’t respond. Kagome sighed again.

A low snort drew her attention. She glanced back at Entei, following the demon horse’s gaze upward, toward a distant dot on the horizon. Her senses tingled as the dot grew larger, emitting a faint, foreign aura of youki–even from this far away.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Kagome groaned.

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi