Please let me lend you a hand

The sudden turn of events left every human and demon present except Hojo Akitoshi unable to react.

Above all, they simply could not understand how a demon could still move freely after its body had been riddled with holes.

But they could hardly be blamed too much for that. After all, this was Japan.

The place was different, and so were its customs.

Almost every demon in Japan fought head-on. How could they possibly match the elaborate tricks practiced over at Tōdai across the sea?

"Hahaha! You have the Shikon Jewel on you, don't you?"

Finally getting a chance to hold her head high, Yura of the Hair swiftly glanced over the dumbstruck members of the Hojo Army.

She wasted no more words. Even before taking action that night, Yura of the Hair had used her hair to get a rough understanding of the situation.

She hurriedly interrogated the fat hen she had caught-Kagome, Kikyo's reincarnation.

She wanted to make the girl surrender the treasure she had been longing for.

And once that treasure was hers!

Her vicious gaze drifted toward the Hojo Army again. Yura of the Hair swore she would make these hateful humans understand.

I!

The mighty demon Yura of the Hair! How could mere humans like you possibly be my match?

"I don't know!"

Kagome had yet to recover from the sudden shock. Just a moment ago, she had been standing beside the perfect daimyo, Hojo Akitoshi.

Yet a moment later, a demon had captured her?

Though this was not her first time being caught by a demon, Kagome's heart still thundered like a drum battered by a flurry of blows.

She stared at the demon's face right before her-a delicate face whose beauty was laced with murderous intent.

Her heart felt as though a venomous snake were gnawing at it, her chest aching as though she were suffocating. Endless terror spread through her body.

Yet the girl still gritted her teeth and told Yura of the Hair no!

"Heh!"

Yura of the Hair laughed in fury, her cold gaze settling on Kagome in her grasp.

To her, crushing Kagome to death would take scarcely more effort than crushing an ant.

The human girl in her hand was already a lamb awaiting slaughter, yet she still failed to recognize her position and tried to resist.

For Yura of the Hair, who had already endured an entire evening of frustration, this was an even more intolerable act of defiance.

"Forget it. Once I kill you, I can search your body for the Shikon Jewel just the same."

Having lost her patience, Yura of the Hair immediately moved to finish Kagome off.

After all, searching a dead Kagome for the jewel might prove easier than taking it from a living one.

Watching Kagome and Yura of the Hair from a distance in the darkness of night, the others could do little.

Inuyasha could not reach her in time.

Kaede wanted to help but lacked the strength.

As for Akechi Mitsuhide and the others, there was even less to say. First, they lacked the ability. Second, she was merely an immodest girl. If she died, so be it.

Except...

"Where is our Lord?"

Akechi Mitsuhide abruptly realized something was wrong. Earlier, it seemed that his lord, Hojo Akitoshi, had noticed the danger at the same time as Kagome.

Then Kagome, who had been standing beside Hojo Akitoshi, was captured. What had happened to his lord?

Why did it seem as though his lord had vanished without a trace?

"Draw-Sword Slash!"

Just as Akechi Mitsuhide turned to search for Hojo Akitoshi, and Yura of the Hair was about to tighten her grip and strangle Kagome-

Hojo Akitoshi appeared along with his shout.

When Yura of the Hair launched her surprise attack, Hojo Akitoshi had immediately confirmed that he was not her target.

Nor could he guarantee that he could save Kagome within that fleeting instant of opportunity.

Instead, he had quietly used the cover of night and the opening created by Yura of the Hair focusing all her attention on the Shikon Jewel.

He had then taken a wide detour and silently approached Yura of the Hair from the side.

Finally, before the demoness could strangle Kagome, Hojo Akitoshi swiftly drew his Muramasa Blade Sirius.

Using the Draw-Sword Slash, a sword technique popular in Japan, he viciously severed the hand with which Yura of the Hair held Kagome!

"My Lord!"

Akechi Mitsuhide watched in astonishment as Hojo Akitoshi appeared beside Yura of the Hair and cut off the demoness's hand with a single stroke, saving Kagome.

Along with his admiration, he felt a faint hint of regret.

Such a fine opportunity, Lord Hojo Akitoshi! Why did you have to concern yourself with saving someone?

Wouldn't it have been better to kill that demon with one stroke?

"What?"

Yura of the Hair watched her own hand fall off, then watched the prize already in her grasp slip away.

Her vicious eyes grew even more ferocious.

In an instant, she sent the fallen hand flying toward Hojo Akitoshi, who was retreating with Kagome in his arms.

Didn't expect that, did you?

I'm a comb demon! This body is nothing more than something formed from countless strands of hair.

Cut me with swords or shoot me with guns all you like. It's all useless!

Without understanding that, you'll never uncover my secret.

I have the advantage!

Faced with Yura of the Hair's flying hand, Hojo Akitoshi was not entirely unprepared.

Akechi Mitsuhide, Inuyasha, and the others might not know the truth about this demon, but how could he not?

Unless they could damage the comb concealed somewhere inside a red skull, Yura of the Hair would not die!

But in theory, Hojo Akitoshi should not have known that.

Thus, with the utmost caution in his eyes, Hojo Akitoshi raised a hand and tossed several fire-oil bombs ahead while holding Kagome.

After using the burning oil to hold Yura of the Hair back and buy a little time, he lowered his head and asked Kagome, who was in his arms.

"You said there was a different strand of hair in that Hair Sea. Can you still see it?"

"And can you see anything else unusual about this demon in front of us?"

Since there were things he could not say outright, Hojo Akitoshi could only give hints to the person who was supposed to discover them, so she could find them herself!

"Ah! Oh!"

Escaping death felt wonderful, and the suspension bridge effect sent her affection for Hojo Akitoshi soaring.

Nestled in the perfect daimyo's arms, Kagome had been a little dazed until she heard his questions.

The girl quickly pulled herself together and widened her eyes, searching hard in the darkness.

Before long, as Hojo Akitoshi used every means at his disposal-

With fire-oil bombs flying nonstop and his blade dancing through the air in flashes of bright steel-

And only just managed to fend off Yura of the Hair's varied attacks-

Kagome discovered the key to turning defeat into victory.

Pointing her small hand at a spot beside the demoness, Kagome shouted with certainty.

"I see it! Over there! There's a different strand of hair over there."

"It keeps stretching out from the forest in the distance, and demonic energy is surging through it!"

"Understood."

Struggling to fend off the demon's attacks, Hojo Akitoshi felt his spirits lift at the good news.

Just then, Inuyasha, Akechi Mitsuhide, and the others rushed forward, unwilling to be reduced to spectators again.

To protect Hojo Akitoshi, Akechi Mitsuhide and the other Hatamoto Samurai threw caution to the wind, ready to lay down their lives.

Meanwhile, the Hojo Army's performance that night had fully ignited Inuyasha's competitive spirit and pride.

His claws never stopped slashing as he used his half-demon body to keep Yura of the Hair firmly occupied.

Even when Yura of the Hair beat him until he was covered in blood, the stubborn dog refused to back down. He might lose the fight, but he would never lose his nerve.

"Damn humans! You annoying half-demon!"

Unable to break free of their relentless attacks, Yura of the Hair discovered to her astonishment that she had fallen behind.

"Don't think you can win!"

As before, Yura of the Hair remained confident in the secret on which her existence depended.

Keep wearing yourselves out. I can drag this out with you all day!

Creak!

But just as Yura of the Hair was still brimming with confidence, something happened at the main strand carrying demonic power from her true body.

To her horror, the demoness heard the sound of a blade straining against that strand.

"You!"

The shock of having her secret discovered made Yura of the Hair turn her gaze, even as a crowd of burly men pressed their attack.

"Don't bother! That one is different. Don't think your treated blades can cut it the way they cut the other hairs!"

Seeing Hojo Akitoshi still locked in a stalemate with the main strand, Yura of the Hair sighed in relief and shouted smugly.

"I'll help you, Lord Hojo Akitoshi."

Having likewise noticed that Hojo Akitoshi could not cut through the special strand of hair, Kagome desperately summoned the unreliable power she had inherited from Kikyo.

Then Kagome pressed her whole body against Hojo Akitoshi's back, reached both hands beneath his arms, and clasped his sword hand.