Chapter 24 | Predicament

- KYOKO POV -

The night was soothing and still, the sound of rain sounded from outside. Sneezing once again I set my hands down back to my side. I shouldn't have stayed out in the rain so long, what was a thinking? Now I've caught a cold.

Lifting up a hand to touch my head, it ached painfully, a hot sensation coming off from it.

Sighing I felt dispirited. I won't be able to cleanse myself down by the waterfall since its likely it's going to pour all day.

Suddenly, panic spread throughout my body. This demonic aura ...

The Muranaga. Rushing over towards the altar where the sword was held by seals, I channeled spiritual energy towards the weapon.

However, the swords demonic aura appeared once again, leaking out of its sheath. This time - it was black.

~- One Year Ago -

Releasing my arrow towards Tatsumori, I kept my eyes on him, feeling a tear stream down my face.

Suddenly, Tatsumori caught the arrow, bright red blood dripping from his grasp. He then turned his head over in my direction. His eyes now lifeless and dull. Backing a step away, I sprinted behind me towards a basket by the entryway.

Please be there!

- When I took over as priestess of the Muranaga, the priestess before me had left different sorts of talismans and demon warding off herbs! I need to find a -

Before I could finish my thoughts I became pinned to the ground, Tatsumori over me and holding me down. My wrists burned from the demonic energy, steam rising off from them as I cried out in pain.

He let go of the sword! Why is he still in this state?!

Neeing him in the stomach, he fell back. Before he could pin me down again, I had grabbed what I needed, A Pentagram Talisman. It will seal him away.

Without hesitation I chanted , holding up the talisman towards him. In an instant, Tatsumori was sucked into it.

Hah ... dropping the pentagram, I fell on all fours trying to hold myself up, gasping for breath. Wet tears fell in front of me, landing on the floorboard. The pentagram ... consumed ... more of my spiritual energy ... than ... I thought ...

Lifting my head up towards the pentagram, it rattled. If it took this much out of me to seal him in, I don't know ... if I ... could bring him out ..

Clenching my fist, I turned towards the Muranaga, which lay on the floor rattling. Cursed Sword ...

~- Present Time -

Taking out seals I tried to place them on the sheath of the Muranaga, but each one disintegrated.

Now panicked, I held my hands together, forming signs. Chanting, I held my eyes closed, concentrating on my spiritual energy.

Opening them, bright light sprang forth, onto the Muranaga. Relieved I put my hands down. Did ... the seals exhaust because of my weakened state?

In that moment, my eyes became wide from hearing something crack. Oh no, the sheathe - suddenly, I found myself on the floor, coughing from - miasma?! What's going on?!

Pushing off the floor I ran towards the entrance of the shrine as the black aura followed behind me. 

Stumbling, I made my way outside the barrier. The blackness then engulfed the entire inside of the barrier, making it pitch dark. The barrier ... is containing it!

I need to get back in there ... but how?

Footsteps caught my ears, interrupting my thoughts. As I turned back behind me, there stood Sesshomaru, one of his swords unsheathed and held by his side.

"Sess ... homaru ..."

__________Authors Note - Hi.