Ice and Snow, Mind and Heart

Chapter 14: Sacrifice

The humans looked around in terror, except for the small group of fighters who frowned as they looked around the blue barrier shielding them inside.

"They've managed to teleport all of us." Yuki murmured.

"We're doomed!" The villagers started wailing, and Sango whispered: "What's the matter? What's going on?"

"We're being sac-" Yuki began, when the barrier suddenly dimmed around them, revealing that the entire group was standing trapped on a stone pedestal in the middle of the castle courtyard, just off to the side of a shrine offering of sorts. The panther demons all sat before the shrine, the four leaders kneeling at the front before a huge skeletal statue... except it wasn't a statue.

Yuki's eyes widened as she saw it move, and she realized: "That must be the panther demons' master."

"But what's going on here?" Kagome wondered, when a voice shouted: KAGOME!"

They all blinked and then looked up to see Koga jumping towards them.

"Koga!" Kagome gasped, when Koga's outstretched leg hit something, and he was forced to kick off and land back on the ground away from them.

"Dammit!" He growled. "A barrier!"

Toran laughed as she scoffed: "As if fools like you could break the great one's barrier!"

It was at that moment that Yuki noticed Sesshomaru, also caught outside the barrier on the other side from where the humans and Koga were. He didn't see her, his eyes fixed only on the panther demons' master as it moved slowly, still in the process of coming to life.

"Stick around and join us for dinner!" The brunette panther demon, Shunran, added tauntingly. "We're having sacrificial lamb!"

At her words, the panther master appeared to notice the humans huddled on the pedestal at his feet, and he reached out for them.

"Look out!" Yuki called sharply, and Sesshomaru's head jerked towards her as Kagome cried: "Everyone duck!"

The villagers all did as Kagome ordered, crouching low while Yuki met eyes with Sesshomaru, and she pulled a face as she saw his gold eyes widen in surprise as he took in her human form.

"Shut up, don't say anything!" She yelled defensively at him. Sesshomaru raised a brow at her words, while Kagome also glanced to the side and spotted Sesshomaru in surprise.

"He actually did come." She said, causing Sesshomaru's eyes to narrow as he wondered why the mortal sounded shocked. Had Yuki been that confident he would come? Somehow, that thought both irritated and – very slightly – pleased him.

"Told you he'd come to settle a score against his pride." Yuki answered Kagome.

Ah. Well, that explained her confidence, Sesshomaru thought.

Yuki was a perceptive woman, he'd recognized that from their first battle. She was quick to analyze her opponents' characters, their strengths and weaknesses, so it was no surprise she'd read and understood him. Now, to just understand how she was human... He glanced at the full moon.

While Sesshomaru was absorbed, Miroku growled as he tugged off his sacred beads: "Find yourself another meal."

He aimed his wind tunnel at the panther master, but before he could fully open the Wind Tunnel, something happened. An energy pulsed through him, and Miroku's eyes widened before blanking as he lowered his hand and he fell to his knees.

"Miroku!" Sango gasped, hurrying to his side worriedly, even as the panther master continued to reach for them.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed, his mind focusing back on the fight and he braced himself to at least try launch an attack on the barrier – though he doubted it would break even under Tokijin – when a voice yelled: "Kagome!"