Swiping a furious hand across her lips, Kagome scrambled back from Naraku in revulsion. The hanyou laughed, assuming the form of Hitomi Kagewaki once more. “Does Sesshoumaru’s kiss so revile you now, Kagome?” The miko glared. “It’s you who disgusts me, Naraku. You can put on whatever face you want, but I see what you

Perhaps his power alone was not enough, but— Channeling his full strength into Tessaiga, Sesshoumaru unleashed the Wind Scar in a torrent of blinding light, directing it toward that divergence in Magatsuhi’s youki and his own. His attack blazed through the gap, prising into it and driving the demon’s own power back onto himself with

“It is unspeakably foolish,” Magatsuhi’s cold voice sneered, “to turn your back on your opponent.” Blood spilled from Sesshoumaru’s clenched fangs as he glared behind him. Serrated and envenomed, the tentacle spearing him through withdrew in a sharp, shredding lash–its course diverted from his heart and the Jewel shard above it by Tenseiga’s timely intervention.

The wide castle window disappeared, Kagome gasping as Naraku gathered her to him and launched them both through the empty frame. Higher and higher they climbed through the tumultuous violet sky, landing at last atop the tallest tower of the castle. Trembling, Kagome fell to her knees as Naraku released her. In the courtyard far

Sesshoumaru growled again, his vision going red as he summoned his power to him in waves of blinding light. Magatsuhi’s head tilted faintly in question a moment before the bonds of demonic flesh around Sesshoumaru exploded, the daiyoukai charging through the youki storm in his true and terrible form. Liquid poison seared from his gnashing