With the sun rising higher and everyone's expressions growing darker, a suffocating pressure settles around the great tree.
This "pressure" is not metaphorical, but is unconsciously released by Asahiko into the surroundings, forcing the weaker ones like Kagome and Shippo to stay away.
"Uh… We have to do something. I thought Inuyasha would be the problem, but he's even worse."
"And who is going to do it, Miroku? Surprisingly Inuyasha is on his side, and they beat each other up all night!"
Responding with his shrill voice from Kagome's arms, since he is actually the most affected due to species suppression, Shippo shakes his small head.
"Maybe I should try… Asahiko doesn't seem to be a bad person, and Inuyasha is not a problem."
"You can't, Kagome. You barely managed to get out when he started, look how your legs are trembling."
"I know, Sango. But I'm not going to just stand by—. What's happening?"
Looking around with her brown eyes almost identical to Kikyo's, only filled with a youthful fire, Kagome clenches her hands and trembles slightly due to the sudden wind.
It was a single gust of soft and icy wind, brushing the green grass with a fleeting touch and making the perfect leaves of the great tree sway from side to side.
"Hahaha, good morning, were you perhaps waiting for me?"
"Naraku!" x3
"Behind me, Kagome!"
Responding at an absurd speed, if we consider that before he was almost biting the tree, Inuyasha stands in front of Kagome and points Tessaiga at Naraku. Meanwhile, Sango and Miroku also surround him from the sides, thus eliminating any possible escape.
However, Naraku does not show surprise or react negatively, but instead adjusts his cloak made from the skin of a white baboon that covers his entire body, and then speaks mockingly again from behind the mask he wears.
"What a warm welcome, especially from your side, Asahiko."
"You are… some kind of puppet?"
"In fact I am one, but perhaps we could talk without your sword at my neck?"
Touching with his right palm in front of his neck, a place that previously remained empty just like his back until Asahiko began to speak, Naraku calmly comments on being threatened.
And he was right, because after his words Clouded Fang slowly reveals itself to everyone present, surprising more than one due to how incredible the moment is.
"If you're not the real one, what are you doing here! Did you come to mock Inuyasha and Asahiko!"
"You said it yourself, Kagome. But not only that, although I certainly enjoy it, I also come with a deal for you."
"What deal, I'm sure it's a damn trap! We already know all your methods, Naraku."
"Obviously, monk. But what other option is left? Besides, even if you don't go, I'm sure those two will gladly do so."
Strutting as if he had everything under control, Naraku, or rather his puppet, lets out a dark laugh and begins to slide across the ground thanks to a current of miasma.
It was a clear sign for them to follow him, but are they really going to do it? Go to a place obviously rigged and full of possible traps, risk everything for a possibility… Apparently yes.
"You three stay here, I will go with Asahiko."
"You will not, Inuyasha!"
"Kagome, you—"
"Let me finish. He helped us before with Sango's miasma, so it's time for us to help him too… Right, guys!"
Raising her fist to the sky while her brown eyes shine, Kagome instantly mobilizes the team's fighting spirit, making everyone share a determined look and go after Asahiko.
"You are… Strange."
"Hahaha, debts must be paid, Asahiko!"
"Your excellence?"
"Ahem, the personal ones… Those I do pay, Sango."
Coughing to the sides with an embarrassed look, Miroku keeps his head held high and his arm around Asahiko. This was not only for "manly companionship," but also to prevent Asahiko from throwing himself headfirst into the problem, something Inuyasha does very often.
Yes, it seems Miroku is the responsible adult of the group… With his obvious flaws, but the most functional after all.
"Are you done?"
"Lead the way, Naraku."
"Hahaha, then let's go… Straight into a trap."
…Some time later…
After advancing until the afternoon sun gives way to a crimson sunset, everyone arrives at a deep forest. It was dark due to the branches covering the sky, while a thick and unnatural fog crawled along the ground, creating a ghostly atmosphere.
Such details matter little to Naraku, perhaps it is all even part of his plan, so he is the first to enter without looking back and disappears into the dark depths of the forest, while the others first stop at the edge.
"What! Why are we stopping? We're going to lose him!"
"It's fine that we are willingly walking into a trap, Inuyasha. But we can't act like idiots, he will obviously try to separate us in there."
"His excellence is right… Just look at how the fog moves, it is not remotely natural."
Supporting Miroku's words, who is wrapping his arm around Inuyasha's neck, Sango keeps a prudent distance from the forest, observing every possible detail.
Thanks to their cautious words everyone becomes more vigilant, but that does not make the main problem disappear, which is, do we go in or not?
"Here, keep this with you and you'll be fine."
"…A bracelet?"
"It isn't, Kagome. It looks somewhat like my Spinning Top transformation, I think it's something similar."
Burning his brain trying to explain what he feels, in the end Shippo just gives up and puts the bracelet around his arm, securing it well.
The others did the same, except for Inuyasha who still remained skeptical, although with a brief explanation from Asahiko that this way he could track them, and from Kagome, everything was resolved.
"Alright. Let's go in."
"Finally, I was getting tired of standing still."
Walking ahead without interest in the scolding being given to poor Inuyasha, who gives up without even fighting, Asahiko acts as the spearhead and enters the forest first.
Inside, the air seems stagnant even though the fog continues moving along the ground, and not even a ray of the sunset light manages to penetrate the branches, creating an area of artificial darkness that does not allow one to see more than a few meters.
"This place is scary… Kagome."
"It really is, Shippo."
"Are they always like this?"
"Unfortunately yes… They don't understand the aftertaste they leave on those who are alone. But thanks to you now I'm not al—. Wait, you are in the same group as Inuyasha!"
Raising an eyebrow at Miroku's sudden outburst, who seems to have been betrayed without even knowing it, Asahiko stops looking at Kagome clinging to Inuyasha's arm and suddenly halts.
Something was moving along the ground, no, it was crawling… Until nothing, just silence. Of course, no one let out a sigh of relief, instead they raised their guard even higher, mainly Inuyasha and Asahiko who have the best senses.
"It's… Below!"
Along with Asahiko's shout, who quickly grabs Miroku since he is beside him, dozens of black roots emerge from the ground to ambush everyone present.
But fortunately it was less effective than expected, mainly because Inuyasha carried Kagome and Shippo away with a jump, while Sango mounted Kirara who soared into the sky.
Yes, that two-tailed cat/nekomata, besides being truly cute, can also grow to the size of a horse and fly freely through the air… An exceptional mount, it must be admitted.
"Miroku do your thing!"
"Understood! Wind Tunnel!"
Unwrapping the Buddhist beads that surround the hand where his "Wind Tunnel" ability resides, Miroku points downward and a powerful suction rips the roots completely from the ground, clearing the area in a few seconds.
Once done, everyone lands back on the now safe ground, but they quickly notice that in the group previously made up of six individuals, there are now only five.
"¡Sango!"
"How could she disappear? A moment ago she was flying beside us with Kirara… Asahiko, can you feel her?"
"Yes, she is moving… And fast!"
Noticing how strange the situation is, Sango is moving deeper into the forest instead of upward. Asahiko shares a brief glance with the others and they all run in that direction.
Along the way they were constantly attacked by dry and half-withered roots, but thanks to the strength of Asahiko and Inuyasha it was not a big problem, and Miroku's ability is perfect for clearing pests.
Even so, and to show that this is a place personally prepared by Naraku, little by little his poisonous insects begin to appear around them, effectively neutralizing the Wind Tunnel that until now had been the MVP.
"I'm sorry… I didn't see them in time, guys."
"You did more than the two of us combined, Miroku. You've been nerfed by the plot, so—. Tsk, they're everywhere."
"Then stop talking so much and start cutting things already, Asahiko!"
Erasing several roots from existence with a slash of Tessaiga, Inuyasha is forced to step back due to nearly being drowned in a sea of them, finally understanding that they are completely surrounded.
Asahiko also understood it with a single glance, his previous words were not empty, Miroku was truly the one holding the line with his overpowered ability for dealing with crowds… But now? Now they are completely exposed to them.
"I'm going to open a path for you, take Miroku and go."
"Asahiko you…"
"What do you think you're thinking, half-dog? I'm just going to draw their attention so you can escape and then I'll do it myself, which will be much easier without all of you being dead weight."
Mocking Inuyasha with a small smile on his face, which had been constantly frowning since Kikyo's disappearance, Asahiko grabs Clouded Fang with both hands and a reddish energy instantly surrounds the blade.
It was a fast slash, no, dozens of interconnected slashes released at a superhuman speed, shredding the roots in front of them instantly, opening a passage through the immovable barrier.
"You just need to keep going forward and you'll meet Sango!"
"… Understood."
"Don't die, we'll come back for you, Asahiko!"
"Shippo says the—"
Putting on a smile as he watches them disappear into the thick fog, Asahiko takes a second deep breath and spins 360°, tearing apart all the roots surrounding him, reducing them to chest height.
However, this does not stop them, instead the roots become more aggressive, launching their attack as even more of them join the fray. This gives rise to an unstoppable wave that devours anything in its path, burying Asahiko and a section of the forest with him.