After a night of rain, sunlight poured through the trees.
The air smelled fresh with damp earth and new leaves, while droplets glittered on the foliage before falling into shallow puddles and sending tiny ripples across the water.
A bird took flight from a branch, circled low twice, then landed lightly on a head with a glossy blue-green sheen.
It pecked a few times before rubbing its claws against the smooth surface.
Jaken wrinkled his nose in his sleep.
He dreamed that his incompetence had allowed Yura to have Inuyasha torn limb from limb by five horses, leaving an enraged Sesshomaru stabbing him in the head with a sword.
“Sesshomaru-sama…
Please stop poking me.
Your humble servant will die…” “It is all because that half-demon is useless…
If only he were more like Sesshomaru-sama…” The bird tilted its head and continued pecking.
“Sesshomaru-sama, please do not…” Jaken’s eyes flew open.
He let out a shriek and sprang from the ground, startling the bird into flight.
Before escaping, it stomped hard on his head.
Jaken clutched his reddened forehead with one hand and snatched up the fallen Staff of Two Heads with the other, waving it furiously.
“Even a little bird dares humiliate the great Jaken-sama?
Come back and fight me!” “Achoo!” After shouting a few more times, Jaken suddenly sneezed.
He immediately remembered why he had spent the entire night sitting in the rain, shuddered, and hurriedly turned toward the cave while praying under his breath.
“Please do not let me find Inuyasha-sama scattered around in bloody pieces.
That would be rather troublesome.” Hair still covered the entrance.
Jaken paced in place twice before deciding to wait where he was.
Trying to fight Yura the night before had been an instinctive response to panic.
Now the rain had passed, the sky had cleared, and whatever was going to happen had already happened.
Knowing how powerful the demoness was, Jaken did not believe he could avenge Inuyasha.
At most, he could gather the remains so they would not be left exposed in the wilderness.
Afterward, he would report everything to Sesshomaru-sama and let him decide what to do.
Inside the cave, the lustful murmurs that had continued all night gradually faded.
Inuyasha looked at Yura, now as obedient as a pet, and instinctively recalled how stunning she had been when she first appeared.
‘If Yura turned out like this, then what about the aloof Kikyo and the brave Kagome…?’ ‘Whew.
I can’t think about that.
How could the women I cherish like moonlight be lumped together with a pet?’ His demonic energy once again filled his entire body.
The half-demon glared at the demoness who had disturbed his peace of mind.
After enduring edging and then being stripped of every shred of dignity, Yura noticed her master’s gaze.
Supporting her weakened body, she once again assumed a yoga pose—Downward-Facing Dog.
But instead of another forceful lesson, a ball of azure fire struck her.
The flames burned away the filth and restored order to the demoness’s confused mind.
Yura shuddered, and her hazy pink eyes finally became clear.
She pushed herself upright as hair swept across her body, restoring her usual refined and dangerous appearance in moments.
Yet when she looked at Inuyasha again, invisible threads of lingering desire seemed to connect them.
Her gaze practically clung to him, and her voice turned soft and sweet.
“Master~” “Ugh—” Those two syrupy syllables sent a numbing chill racing up Inuyasha’s spine and straight to his scalp, covering him in goose bumps.
He slapped her plump rear, and the sharp crack echoed through the cavern.
“Act normal.” Yura clutched the spot he had struck and nearly collapsed again as her memories took over.
Inuyasha could not be bothered to wonder what was running through her mind now.
“Open the entrance.
It is time to leave.” The hair covering the cave parted like curtains.
The fresh scent of the forest swept inside and washed away the stale, musky air left behind by the night.
Inuyasha stepped outside, his long hair once again gleaming silver-white beneath the morning sun.
He stretched, his joints cracking, then released a long breath.
After battling all night, even a human body twice as strong as normal had struggled to keep up.
Fortunately, he had thoroughly subdued the demoness inside and out, both body and mind.
Yura followed him outside, her face returning to its usual cold expression.
Her steps were half a beat slower than normal, and her waist was almost imperceptibly weak.
She tucked her disheveled hair behind one ear, only for the breeze to lift it again.
Jaken, crouching beneath the rock wall outside, heard them and snapped his head up.
Dog ears, silver hair, and that wildly roguish face—Inuyasha was back to normal.
After glancing at the completely unharmed Yura, Jaken shot to his feet.
“Inuyasha-sama!
You finally came out!
Your humble servant was worried all night—” “Enough noise.
Go make breakfast.” Inuyasha pushed the charging Jaken aside with one foot and looked west, appearing thoroughly refreshed.
“Once we have eaten our fill, it will be time to meet Sesshomaru and deal with those panthers!” “At once, Inuyasha-sama!” …
Meanwhile, Sesshomaru’s camp was steeped in gloom.
Low groans and the suffocating stench of blood filled the air as demons lay scattered across straw mats.
Some had lost limbs, while others had their chests torn open, exposing living organs.
There was no doubt about it.
The disciplined Panther Tribe had defeated the allied demon army, handing them yet another loss.
Royakan, known as the Guardian Wolf of the Forest, leaned against a boulder.
He had a large head, a small body, gray-brown fur, green leather armor, and a red cord tied around his waist.
A bloodstained bandage wrapped one arm, while his other hand rested on a chipped longsword.
His adorable eyes, far too large for his body, passed over the wounded and settled on a lone figure standing atop the cliff above.
Sesshomaru had his back to everyone as he silently watched the clear blue sky washed clean by the rain.
In that direction, the Panther Tribe’s vigorous demonic energy surged skyward.
‘Sesshomaru-sama…’ Sorrow welled inside Royakan.
He remembered how Sesshomaru had broken through the Panther Devas’ siege two days earlier, buying the routed army enough time to retreat.
And what had his subordinates done?
They had not possessed enough strength to ease even the smallest fraction of Sesshomaru-sama’s burden.
Even after their defeat, Sesshomaru had not blamed them.
He had merely swept his usual calm gaze across everyone.
Royakan knew his own cowardice well.
He also knew that look held the resolve of a true warrior—one determined to shoulder everything alone.
‘But this can’t continue!’ Royakan recalled the hateful rumors spreading through the army.
Sesshomaru was only a child.
He could not compare to the Dog General.
They could never win this war.
Those vile and dangerous whispers grew stronger with every defeat.
No one remembered that they had begged Sesshomaru for help in the first place.
He had never sought them out.
Royakan stared at the clear blue sky, his thoughts caught somewhere between prayer and despair.
‘Isn’t there anyone who can help Sesshomaru-sama?
Anyone who can help us?!’ “Yo, Sesshomaru.” “I heard you lost again.
Looks like you aren’t so impressive after all!” The arrogant voice rang across the camp, silencing it instantly.
Every gaze turned toward the source.
At the entrance, a silver-haired figure in red strode through the sunlight, leading the way into camp.
Several demons who admired Sesshomaru’s strength and believed he would become the next Dog General rose to their feet, their faces filled with anger.
Atop the cliff, Sesshomaru caught a different scent in the air and raised one eyebrow slightly.
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