"It's amazing, even being the reincarnation of Kikyo... I never thought I could purify the pearl completely without even knowing how to do it right."
Holding up the pure pink colored pearl, Naraku who wears his baboon robes watches it carefully before speaking.
"Naraku, damn you, you were the one who orchestrated all of this!"
Shouting with overflowing fury in his tone of voice, Inuyasha extends his hand towards Steel Fang, though he is stopped by Asahiko.
"Come, come, Inuyasha. Let your good friend Asahiko handle this."
"What do you say, Asahiko? I'll... Do it your way."
"Thank you, thank you~"
Something was clearly wrong with Asahiko, so much so that even a sentimental rock like Inuyasha took the first opportunity to escape and never looked back.
Basically Asahiko is gone from Hitomiko's anti-stress effect, plus he just saw in front of him what was stolen from him because of his idiocy... In short he's angry, very angry.
"Now then Mr.Stalker, why don't we talk business?"
"Oh, I expected you to go straight to fisticuffs, just like Inuyasha, but I see you have a head on your shoulders."
"What can I say, he hasn't infected me with his idiocy yet. Hahaha, so what do you say, you want to make a deal?"
Expressing himself fluently and as if they were friends for decades, Asahiko doesn't seem angry with Naraku, there's even the odd joke flying here and there.
"I suppose you might consider me interested, so what could you give me for this valuable sword, Asahiko?"
"The fragments, all the fragments of the pearl in my possession. I think that might interest you, but even more so to avoid direct conflict... You wouldn't want me to be a hindrance, would you?"
Asahiko is certainly proposing a barter, though it seems more like he's telling her:Take what I offer you quietly and give me what I want, otherwise I'll break your mother.
Too passive-aggressive Asahiko was being, making it clear that he can bargain, though he doesn't much mind having to go fisticuffs with Naraku right here.
"I see, what a pragmatic demon you've come out to me... But it will be that I'll have to refuse."
"Tsk, why make everything harder than it has to be... You're not just refusing because I'm traveling with Kikyo, are you? Nothing personal, but I don't see you as someone full of loyalty for a mate."
Stroking his chin with one of his many furry tails, Asahiko glares at Naraku and speaks without any anger or rage.
"Hahaha, I like him... Agh."
"God, why do second rate villains always talk so much."
Twisting the sword made of flames that pierces Naraku's body from behind, Asahiko lets the illusion that was talking to Naraku fade away and with a smile takes Clouded Fang.
The smile was short-lived, for just as Naraku is merely a puppet, that Clouded Fang is only a copy or imitation, causing Asahiko to twist the sword with more sadistic gusto.
"It's useless, but still, when did you realize?"
"Since when do rats like you appear head-on? Already the moment I saw you coming from the front, it was clear that I was just a puppet... But this is real."
Extending his free hand, Asahiko slowly moves closer to the Pearl of Shikon, causing Naraku's puppet to move strangely.
The strange movements lasted only a few moments, but in reaction to them, the puppet quickly inflates and explodes into a corrosive dark purple mist.
"Cof, cof... Aghh, what a disgusting smell."
"Farewell, Asahiko... We'll meet again, though I don't think it will be the same with your sword."
A last laugh of triumph on Naraku's part spreads around, causing Asahiko to stand rather angrily amidst the remains of the puppet.
...Christopher/Asahiko pov….
After calming down, beating the poor fox summoned by that priestess, we talked to Inuyasha and decided to go back to Kaede's village.
It wasn't a bad decision, Kagome was exhausted from enduring the curse all night, Miroku and Sango from the ongoing fight, while Inuyasha was running away from Kagome under control of the dark priestess.
"Where are you going, Asahiko?"
"Tsk, you shouldn't be sleeping along with the others, Miroku. Anyway, I'm going to get my sword... And Saya."
Once the anger subsides, clarity comes, and along with it, things you haven't thought about... Such as Saya.
It's not that you've forgotten him, but that he's the kind of person who appears only at exactly the right moments, making you not notice his lack until the moment he's gone.
"Asahiko, you fucking idiot, you were going to leave to fight and without warning."
"First of all stop choking me, Inuyasha."
"That you're a child that you're leaving without telling anyone, only because you're going to get revenge or something."
My god how come all of a sudden they are all up, literally a few minutes ago they were all snoring like logs.
"You helped us save Kagome, you can count on me for whatever you have to do."
"Um, um, Sango is right, and even if you hadn't we would still give you a hand, since we are friends and they help each other."
Luckily the one who said those embarrassing things was Shippo, otherwise I'd be punching someone by now... Damn, ahh, this feels weird... I'm not getting sentimental, OK!!!.
"Hey, I think his eyes are brighter."
"It's just raining, Shippo."
"But we're inside a house, Your Excellency."
What the heck? I might be a little sentimental about his very direct actions, but not enough to cry or anything. Thinking about that, which is obviously the truth, I focus my eyes on Miroku, only to see his big smug grin.
"I've been cheated on? Even you, Sango!"
I had fallen flat on my face, but in my defense, I hadn't expected even Sango to join them and work against me.
"It was strange to see you so depressed, Asahiko."
"Sango is right, even though little Shippo is our mascot... You're like the team's sub-mascot, so it's too weird to see you in such a state."
"Who are you calling a mascot, you depraved monk!"
Watching everything go to hell in a few moments, unconsciously a smile forms on my face, while a bit of warmth spreads through my body... Aghh, they're some... some... some really good friends.
"Inuyasha, down!"
"Kagome, you mustn't force yourself so soon."
"Ahhh, let go of my hair you little imp."
"Not that it was a pet, Miroku. Come and tell me now if you dare."