"Dr. Suikotsu, are you alright?"
After Kohaku risked his life to rescue Suikotsu, he looked at the man's contorted expression and asked with concern.
"I... I'm fine. My head just hurts a little."
'His head hurts? Wasn't it his leg that was injured?'
Before Kohaku could inquire further, he heard Kagome's shout: "Kohaku!"
She came rushing back, breathless. Seeing that both Kohaku and Suikotsu were safe, she let out a sigh of relief. "Thank heaven, you're both okay."
"The children are settled; Shippo is looking after them. Kohaku, take Dr. Suikotsu over there as well."
"But, Kagome, what about you?" Kohaku asked.
"I have to go help Sango. I can sense multiple Shikon Jewel shards now; it looks like there's more than one enemy. Sango might not be able to handle them alone."
"It's better if I go." Kohaku believed he was significantly stronger than Kagome and would be more effective in a fight.
"I know you're stronger than me, Kohaku, but in this situation, Shippo needs your protection more." Kagome smiled and added, "Don't worry, Inuyasha and the others will be back soon. We'll be fine."
"Alright." Kohaku was not an assertive person. After a moment of thought, he didn't push further and agreed to Kagome's plan.
As he leaned down to help Suikotsu up, a sudden alarm went off in his head. He instinctively recoiled.
A flash of cold light swept past him, carving out a chunk of flesh from his arm.
"Oh? Quite capable, aren't you?" Suikotsu, who had been clutching his head, looked up. His face was now twisted with malice, marked by dark lines, and his hair had shifted into a wild, spiky style.
Iron claws were now fitted onto his hands, dripping with blood, the very weapon that had wounded Kohaku.
"I was aiming for the Shikon Jewel shard in your back and planned to take your head with it. I didn't expect you to dodge."
Kohaku stared at Suikotsu, cold sweat beading on his forehead. His right arm was injured; his fighting strength was severely diminished, making it difficult to face this opponent.
"Dr. Suikotsu?" Seeing the drastic change in his appearance, Kagome realized his evil personality had taken control of the body.
'This is bad. Why now, of all times?'
Kagome gritted her teeth, moving slowly toward Kohaku while trying to remain inconspicuous.
However, in the eyes of the battle-hardened Suikotsu, her movements were amateurish.
With a cruel grin, he lunged, appearing instantly behind Kagome. His claws pressed against her fair neck.
"Don't mistake me for that weak, foolish doctor. I am the mercenary Suikotsu, and I kill without blinking!"
"What's going on? You're like a different person!" Kagome feigned confusion, desperate to buy time.
"Is it that hard to understand?" Suikotsu spoke with the urgency of someone newly released from a long imprisonment, eager for conversation.
"That idiot doctor... because he accidentally killed a bandit, his mind couldn't take it. He nearly collapsed. That's when I was born. He stuffed all his bad memories into me, treating me like a dumping ground. Over time, I became the dominant one. Isn't that hilarious?"
"What's funny about that? Aren't you the same person? Why didn't you try to help him instead of kicking him while he was down?"
"I am helping him, you stupid woman." Suikotsu traced his claws back and forth against Kagome's throat. "He can't do this, he can't do that, living is such a chore for him. I'm freeing him from his shackles. Do you know how good it feels to kill? To slice a throat like this and watch the hot blood spray out like a fountain... it's beautiful~"
"You're a monster!"
"Hahaha, thank you for the compliment."
"Hey, kid, don't move," Suikotsu suddenly snapped at Kohaku. "Drop everything in your hands, or else..."
He gave his claws a light flick, and a thin line of blood appeared on Kagome's neck.
Kagome winced, unable to suppress a pained moan.
"Kagome!" Kohaku had no choice but to comply. He dropped the flash bombs and his chain-sickle to the ground.
"Good boy." Suikotsu licked his lips. "Now, dig that Shikon Jewel shard out of your own back."
"No! Kohaku, don't do it!" Kagome cried out.
Kohaku was technically dead; he only lived because of the shard. Removing it would turn him back into a cold corpse instantly.
'What should I do?' Kohaku was trapped.
If it were a simple life-for-a-life trade, Kohaku wouldn't hesitate. But with Kagome in the enemy's hands, sacrificing himself would leave her with no one to save her. However, if he did nothing, Kagome might die immediately.
'Onee-chan, what do I do?'
"Hey, kid, don't try to stall. I'll count to three. If you don't hand over that shard, you can watch your lovely sister bleed out!" Suikotsu threatened.
"Three!"
Kohaku looked at Kagome in a panic, his face full of despair. The images of his father and comrades dying flashed repeatedly in his mind.
"Two!"
"Kohaku, no!" Kagome shook her head desperately.
"One!"
"AAAAHHHH!" Kohaku suddenly clutched his ears, closed his eyes, turned around, and bolted away.
"Hey! You're just going to let her die?!" Suikotsu was clearly caught off guard by this. He clicked his tongue. "Tch. Just a kid after all. Pathetic mental strength."
'Good job, Kohaku.' Seeing Kohaku escape, Kagome actually felt relieved.
'Now, what to do with this woman? It seems a waste to just kill her.'
Suikotsu thought for a moment. "Hmph. You're coming with me to see Aniki. The fight over there is fierce; your friends must be back. I refuse to believe they're all as cowardly and useless as that brat."
"Kohaku is not cowardly or useless!" Kagome retorted, her body forced forward as Suikotsu shoved her.
'Inuyasha, I'm so useless. Captured again. If it were Kikyo, she wouldn't be such a burden.' Kagome couldn't help but blame herself.
After running a short distance, Kohaku collapsed to his knees, weeping silently.
Recalling the time spent with everyone these past few days, Kohaku slapped himself. "No! I can't run away. I have to go back and save Kagome!"
After a quick bandage of his arm, he turned and ran back.
…
On the other side, the battle had reached its climax.
The peerless Bankotsu was using his full strength. His Banryu moved so fast it left afterimages, blade light flashing as the surrounding ground was torn to shreds.
Yet, despite his efforts, he was being pushed back by Aomori as if he were a mere amateur.
Bankotsu had never felt so powerless, but his fighting spirit didn't wane; it grew even stronger.
"Yes! This is what makes it fun!"
Bankotsu fought with increasing ferocity.
"Truly impressive." Aomori sensed Bankotsu's power continuing to rise as he pushed his potential to the limit.
Even as a dead man, he possessed an incredible capacity for growth.
"Very well. Let's see just how far you can go."
Aomori was in no rush to defeat Bankotsu; the situation was still firmly under his control.
Meanwhile, Jakotsu was struggling against the coordinated teamwork of Miroku and Sango. He was being heavily suppressed, staying in the fight only through his sheer agility. Barring an accident, his defeat was only a matter of time.
The most chaotic struggle was between Inuyasha, Ginkotsu, and Renkotsu.
Ginkotsu's gunpowder kept Inuyasha on the run. If not for Kikyo frequently firing arrows to keep the enemy pinned, Inuyasha would have been wounded long ago.
After dodging another of Kikyo's arrows, Renkotsu grumbled, "This woman is too annoying. She keeps aiming for the Shikon Jewel shards. One slip-up and she'll get them. Ginkotsu, change targets. Take her out first!"
"Heh heh heh, alright, Renkotsu." Ginkotsu pivoted his body, aiming his cannons toward Kikyo.
"Don't you dare!" Inuyasha couldn't stand by and watch Kikyo be put in danger. He leaped into the air, hoisted the Tessaiga, and focused his demonic energy, striking the ground beneath Ginkotsu.
"I can't break your shell, but I'm an expert at digging! Wind Scar!"
A brilliant yellow blade-light descended from the sky, grazing Ginkotsu and burrowing into the earth beneath him. The ground shattered instantly, and Ginkotsu's heavy body fell into the sudden pit before he could escape.
Renkotsu, sensing the danger, leaped away just in time to avoid the collapsing ground.
Trapped in the pit and unable to right himself, Ginkotsu began to panic. He called out to Renkotsu, "Renkotsu! Do something! Get me out of here!"
"How am I supposed to get you out?" Renkotsu wasn't a physical powerhouse; he dealt in fire and schemes. He had no way of lifting the massive, heavy Ginkotsu.
Maybe Bankotsu could have done it.
Seeing Inuyasha closing in, Renkotsu felt a surge of cowardice. He feigned reassurance to Ginkotsu: "Hang in there, Ginkotsu! I'll go find Aniki to come save you!"
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and fled.
He didn't run toward Bankotsu, but toward the wooden house.
'Things aren't looking good for Bankotsu-aniki either. I have to see if I can grab a hostage or two.' Renkotsu knew that if they didn't break the stalemate, they were all finished.
"Don't you run!" Inuyasha ignored the trapped, helpless Ginkotsu and chased after Renkotsu.
Renkotsu was forced to stop and use his fire-breathing to push Inuyasha back. He was anxious. "Dammit! With him here, I can't get near a hostage!"
Just as the Shichinintai were facing total collapse, Suikotsu appeared, holding Kagome hostage.
"Everyone, stop! Or the woman dies!"
"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted, his heart racing with panic.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome's eyes drifted toward Kikyo in the distance. She felt more like a burden than ever, always needing Inuyasha to save her.
"Suikotsu?" Renkotsu hadn't expected the long-missing Suikotsu to be their savior. Overjoyed, he ran to his side. "Great work! These enemies are too strong; we need to retreat for now."
"Heh heh heh, you guys are too weak. Leaving without killing someone... that doesn't sit right with me," Suikotsu said.
"Don't do anything reckless! We can't kill this woman yet," Renkotsu warned.
"Relax. I'm not an idiot."
"Kagome!" Miroku and Sango stopped their attack.
"Ha! Saved at the last second. Nice one, Suikotsu!" The tattered Jakotsu left his opponents behind and skipped over toward Suikotsu.
"Suikotsu? That man is Suikotsu?" Miroku's brow furrowed. "My fears were justified."
"Kagome's been captured... but what about Kohaku?" Sango said, her voice trembling. "It's my fault. I should have stayed there."
"It's not your fault. The enemy was too cunning," Miroku comforted her. "Don't worry, Kohaku is resourceful. He'll be fine."
"Yeah." In this situation, she couldn't leave Kagome to look for Kohaku. She could only pray he was safe.
…
"Is that Dr. Suikotsu? Even the holy Mount Hakurei couldn't suppress his malice?" Kikyo sensed the once-pure Shikon Jewel shard on him had turned pitch black with corruption. She felt a flicker of realization.
"Purity is corruption; corruption is purity. Good is evil; evil is good. Life is death; death is life."
"Is it the same for Naraku?"
…
"It seems our fight has to end for now." Bankotsu rested his Banryu on his shoulder and spoke to Aomori. "You're strong, the strongest I've ever faced. I'm no match for you yet, but one day I'll become even more powerful and come back to challenge you."
"And your method for becoming stronger... would that be collecting Shikon Jewel shards?" Aomori asked, seemingly reading his mind.
"How else? Since I'm already dead, that's the only way left, isn't it? I just released every bit of power in my body, and I still couldn't budge you," Bankotsu admitted bluntly.
"I see. That's a pity."
"Truly a pity."
Bankotsu smiled and walked past Aomori, intending to rejoin his brothers.
However, just as he pulled level with Aomori, he felt a massive force slam into him, pinning him to the spot.
"Did I say you could leave?" Aomori looked at Bankotsu from the corner of his eye.
"Huh? You don't care about the woman's life anymore?"
"Sorry. I despise being threatened."
Sensing the coldness in Aomori's voice, Bankotsu felt as if he had been dropped into a glacier. He realized the danger and roared, "Suikotsu, kill—"
His words were cut off. Aomori had already brought his fingers together in a seal before his chest.
"Domain Expansion: Infinite Dark Prison!"
Darkness. An unprecedented darkness, deeper than any night, instantly swallowed everyone present.
'What's happening? Am I dead?' In this void, Suikotsu could not see, hear, or feel anything. Not just Kagome in front of him, he couldn't even sense his own existence.
Finally, even his consciousness faded into the black.
It felt as if only a second had passed, yet also as if an eternity had gone by. Light returned.
Inuyasha and the others looked around. The members of the Shichinintai had already been reduced to bleached bones.
"What... what just happened?"