The flesh of Inuyasha's right hand kept corroding around the sword's hilt. The unbearable pain made it almost impossible to concentrate.
"Damn it, before that happens..." His left hand joined his right on the hilt, and he shoved the blade toward Sesshomaru. "I'll cut you in two!"
To avoid Tessaiga's edge, Sesshomaru had no choice but to retreat with the force of the push, his brow furrowing. "What a nuisance."
Sesshomaru leaped up. In the instant he hung in midair, a Light Whip flew from his fingers and neatly knocked Tessaiga away. Without its master's demon power and conviction to sustain it, the invincible demon sword reverted to a rust-covered blade and plunged into the ground.
"Han, remove Tessaiga's barrier." Sesshomaru did not look back.
"All right." The girl nearby nodded. For the moment, she did not particularly want to help Inuyasha either.
"Tessaiga has wasted enough time in your hands, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said, looking at his empty-handed, disheveled brother.
"Damn you!" Burning with rage, Inuyasha hurled himself at Sesshomaru without regard for his own safety.
"Are you really going to help Sesshomaru kill Inuyasha?" Kagome spread her arms and stood in Han's way.
Han shook her head. "Move aside, Kagome." As a human, you're too weak to stop me.
"No!" the girl from the modern era said bravely. She believed this monster named Han would never hurt her-not with the feelings she had for Kikyo, not after the nostalgic, cherishing look in her eyes when she first saw Kagome.
Smiling, the girl extended one finger and touched Kagome's forehead. "Don't worry. It'll wear off soon."
"This is..." It was exactly like the binding Kikyo had placed on her earlier, and this girl had done it with just one finger, while Kikyo had needed two. Kagome stood frozen in place,