Sesshomaru and Han walked at the front, with Inuyasha, Kagome, and their other companions close behind. Even in the blazing heat of midsummer, the castle remained dark. The deep palace corridors resembled a monster's gaping maw, swallowing them all. Suddenly, a scarlet figure flashed past ahead of them-
"Who's there!" Inuyasha shouted. Instantly worked up, he leaped to the front and charged after it.
"Wait! Inuyasha!" Kagome called after him. It could be a trap, Inuyasha! But remembering that their main purpose in coming to Hitomi Castle was not to destroy Naraku, but to rescue Kikyo, Kagome bit her lip and fell silent.
"Kagome! Stay with Miroku and Sango!" Inuyasha's voice came from up ahead.
"Okay..." Kagome answered softly, though she did not know whether Inuyasha had heard her. Perhaps whether he heard her did not matter to him at all. Right now, Kikyo was probably the only person on his mind. Unable to hide her dejection, Kagome buried her face in Shippo's soft body as she held him in her arms and slowly exhaled. Once we get out of here, I'm going to tell Inuyasha to sit a hundred times!
"Miss Kagome..." Miroku stood beside her, his voice betraying his concern.
"Kagome..." Sango laid a hand on Kagome's shoulder and patted it gently.
"I'm fine!" Kagome lifted her head, forcing a breezy tone. "Come on, everyone. Let's go!"
"Right!" Miroku and Sango nodded, feeling all the more that Inuyasha was reckless. He had hurt Kagome again because of Kikyo. It was simply too much. Yet Kagome was always so kind, so forgiving, so generous...
Han glanced back at Kagome. Seeing that she seemed to have collected herself, Han said softly to Sesshomaru, "Let's go too. I'm a little worried..." For some reason, the vague sense of foreboding in her