Kagome wasn’t sure what astonished her more—the fact that Hirokin was part of Sesshoumaru’s inner circle, or the fact that Sesshoumaru had a ‘childhood friend’. Even imagining her brother-in-law as a child was difficult enough, though she supposed he couldn’t very well have sprung from the womb as he was. Shaking her head at all

As Kagome watched her new army proceed through town, something nagged at the back of her mind. It was a feeling of misgiving that persisted in the days that followed, sharpening into outright suspicion as she opened the trunk at her bedside—and spotted something pale and glinting in the darkness within. Kagome’s brow furrowed. Plucking

Kohaku’s katana returned to its sheath with a snap. Jolted from her reverie, Kagome turned toward him at the sound. But the taijiya was already walking away. “…Grave lad,” Ren remarked as he drew up beside her, his smile wry. Sharp and narrowed, his hawkish eyes followed after Kohaku’s dark receding form, before flitting around

In that severed head Kagome glimpsed another. The image exploded red behind her eyes. The roar in her ears was deafening. Her stomach lurched as she reeled away, panic clawing at her throat. Her palm clamped to her mouth in frozen horror. At her shoulder, a touch—the warmth and weight of it familiar. Hunched, she

“Ren-san,” Kagome greeted warmly in relief, while Kohaku’s whole demeanor chilled. “What a vision you are to behold,” the captain said to her. “My memory of your loveliness has been a poor substitute.” His light eyes flicked casually over the taijiya standing so frigidly beside her. “…Might this fierce young man be your little brother?”

More harried militiamen followed in the messenger’s wake. Spilling into the room, they reported their own versions of these alarming sightings—not a few of their accounts clearly embellished by some combination of excitement and fear. As Kohaku began giving out orders, Kagome hurried to the north-facing window. Squinting, she could just make out the approaching