Sesshoumaru grit his fangs, his claws scraping through his tousled bangs in frustration.

Once more, Kagome’s captor had eluded him.

Heatedly, he surveyed the wasted mountainside, its blasted slopes scattered with the remains of humans and demons alike. This was the scene of a massacre—yet another bloody scramble for the fractured Jewel concluded in total, sweeping slaughter. The foul aura of Sesshoumaru’s target still hovered above the fresh corpses, blanketing the earth and sky alike in a dense malevolent fog. And beneath that fog, faint and nearly imperceptible, was the clear note of Kagome’s reiki.

Wending his way through the carnage, Sesshoumaru gleaned what additional knowledge he could of his quarry. For more than a week, he had been tracking this demon across all four lands, studying his movements and closing in on him slowly but steadily. Now, Sesshoumaru had missed him by a mere matter of hours.

Quelling his intense disappointment, he returned to the West to regroup and begin his search again.

Each minute that went by agonized him. He imagined Kagome, captive and frightened and in pain—an image which both galvanized and tormented him.

Perched upon a high cliff, he extended his senses farther than he ever had before, his exhausted youki depleting rapidly beneath the effort. But he could not stop. He could not afford to relent even in the slightest, or the opportunity to rescue her might very well slip away from him again.

So focused on ferreting out that accursed demonic signature, he scarcely paid any heed to the unnatural breeze that buffeted against him.

“My, Sesshoumaru-sama, you’re looking worse for wear,” a dry feminine voice remarked from beside him. “…Still, far better than the state you left your priestess in.”

Fangs bared, Sesshoumaru rounded upon her in sudden fury. Kagura’s eyes flared wide as he ripped her from her feathered aircraft and pinned her to the ground by her throat.

“Where is she,” he snarled, his knuckles paling as he tightened his grip. “Where is Kagome?”

“…Naraku’s castle,” Kagura wheezed out at once.

Sesshoumaru’s grip lessened slightly at the readiness of her answer. “Take me to her.”

The wind sorceress shook her head. “I can’t, but…I’ve brought you something that can help you find her—on one condition.”

“Condition,” Sesshoumaru seethed, venom welling beneath his claws. “You are in no position to make demands, witch. You will tell me how to find her, or there will be no end to your suffering.”

To his surprise, the demoness responded with a choking, mirthless laugh.

“Torture me all you want,” she rasped out. “It’s only a short matter of time…until Naraku discovers my treachery.” An expression of angiush flitted across her features. “You can let this chance go by—or you can listen…listen quickly to what I have to say.”

Sesshoumaru considered her narrowly. In truth, she had the advantage. What would he not give, to see Kagome safe again?

His venom withdrew as he eased the crushing pressure on Kagura’s throat. “State your condition.”

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

Part 100!!! 🎉💕