Kaede's gaze fell to the shards of the Shikon Jewel resting in Kikyo's palm. Then she looked up, meeting her sister's calm yet unwavering eyes.
A faint ache stirred in her chest.
She could not deny it,she bore some responsibility.
As Kikyo's younger sister, Kaede understood better than anyone how the Shikon Jewel lured demons like moths to flame. And yet, she had entrusted the jewel to Kagome when the girl had possessed no spiritual power to defend herself,without fully explaining the danger it carried.
That single decision had set everything in motion.
Steadying herself, Kaede began to recount the entire story,how the Shikon Jewel had reappeared in the world, and how Kagome had accidentally shattered it with a single arrow.
When she finished, Kikyo did not accuse anyone.
She simply exhaled softly, her voice tinged with quiet melancholy.
"In the end, it was the greed awakened by the Shikon Jewel that gave birth to all of this… Naraku's creation. My death."
"Sister Kikyo…"
Kaede looked at her and, for a fleeting moment, saw once more the composed and powerful shrine maiden who had protected the village long ago.
She opened her mouth. "Sister, you,"
"Kagetsu."
Kikyo turned instead toward Kagetsu, who stood behind her, silent, as though lost in thought,though he had been listening to every word.
"Do you have a way to find Naraku?"
She knew this man possessed strange and dangerous abilities. If anyone could flush Naraku out, perhaps it would be him.
Naraku was far too dangerous to ignore.
Kagetsu shook his head.
"No. That bastard's like a rat in the shadows. His true body stays hidden. He won't show himself unless he's certain he has the upper hand."
"You've encountered him?" Kikyo asked, slightly surprised.
"Mm." Kagetsu nodded casually. "Before I met you, I ran into one of his puppets. It popped up out of nowhere, spouting nonsense about destiny and despair. I cut it down in one strike."
"…"
Kikyo was briefly at a loss for words. Then she shook her head faintly.
Yes. That did sound like him.
"However," Kagetsu continued, lips curving into a faint smile, "if you want to lure him out, it's actually simple."
Kikyo waited.
"He has two obsessions. The Shikon Jewel… and you."
His tone was calm, almost analytical.
"If you carry those shards openly and move about instead of hiding away like before, Naraku will sense it. Once he confirms your presence, he'll come."
Kikyo shot him a sideways look. Instinctively, she wanted to argue.
But after a moment's thought… it was indeed the most direct method.
After a brief silence, she nodded.
"Very well. We'll do as you suggest."
Her expression hardened slightly.
"But you must accompany me. I cannot face Naraku alone. Fifty years ago, I died because of him. My spiritual power has not fully recovered. As I am now… I would not win."
"No problem," Kagetsu answered readily.
He knew full well that someone as cautious as Naraku would never reveal his true body so easily. Still, this was the fastest way to force a reaction.
"Sister… Naraku is too dangerous," Kaede said, worry lining her voice. "You must take care."
"I will," Kikyo replied gently. "Farewell, Kaede."
"Farewell, Sister."
Kaede's gaze shifted to Kagetsu, her expression solemn.
"I entrust her to you. Protect Kikyo."
Kagetsu waved a hand casually. "Leave it to me."
Then he lifted the reed curtain and followed Kikyo into the night.
Early the next morning, in the treehouse they had previously used as shelter, Kikyo and Kagetsu finished preparing to depart.
After leaving Kaede's village, they returned here using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Kikyo slung her bow over her shoulder and adjusted the quiver at her back.
"Let's go. If we move quickly, we might reach the Demon Slayer Village before nightfall."
Kagetsu finished sealing their belongings into the Kamui dimension and glanced at her.
The night before, Kikyo had revealed her next destination: the Demon Slayer Village,the place where the Shikon Jewel had first been entrusted to her for purification.
She wanted answers about its origin.
Kagetsu, of course, already knew the truth.
The Shikon Jewel had been born from the fusion of the shrine maiden Midoriko's soul and countless demon souls during their final battle. And the cave where it had formed lay near that very village.
But he said nothing.
He had no pressing matters of his own. Following Kikyo to the Demon Slayer Village meant meeting Sango eventually,the final member of the group.
The renowned demon slayer.
Beautiful, strong, and no less striking than Kagome or Kikyo.
"Before that," Kagetsu added lazily, "we should buy a horse. Walking's too slow. Though I could carry you if you want."
Kikyo ignored the latter half of that suggestion.
"We'll stop by the nearest castle town and see if any are for sale."
"Works for me."
Kagetsu stepped beside her, placed a hand on her shoulder, and activated the Flying Thunder God Technique.
The scenery shifted.
They landed in the forest below. Kagetsu pressed a hand against the trunk of the treehouse, infusing it with chakra.
Moments later, as they walked away, the structure behind them groaned, then collapsed from the tree with a heavy crash, scattering dust into the air.
No loose ends.
Unfortunately, their trip to the nearby castle town did not go as planned.
Horses in this era were valuable commodities, rarely sold to strangers. After inquiring around, they came away empty-handed.
But Kagetsu was not one to be inconvenienced for long.
Shortly afterward, he returned from the forest dragging a massive black bear demon.
Now thoroughly subdued beneath the crimson glow of the Sharingan's illusion, the creature lay obediently at their feet.
Moments later, Kikyo and Kagetsu sat astride its broad back as it bounded swiftly through the forest, massive limbs crushing undergrowth with ease.
With a demon serving as their mount, their speed increased dramatically.
Before long, the outline of the Demon Slayer Village appeared in the distance.
As the black bear leapt from the treeline, the mountain-top settlement came into clear view.
Thick walls of interlocked timber reinforced the cliff's edge. A winding mountain path led from the base up to the main gate. Watchtowers stood guard, vigilant over the surrounding forest.
"This is the Demon Slayer Village?" Kagetsu asked, glancing down at Kikyo beside him.
He remembered what would eventually happen here,Naraku manipulating demons into slaughtering nearly everyone.
But for now, the village stood intact.
"Yes."
Kikyo gazed at it quietly.
"This is where the demon slayers entrusted the Shikon Jewel to me… asking me to purify it."
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"Who would have thought…"
It was here she had accepted the Jewel.
And because of it, she had walked the path toward her death.
In a way,
This was where her tragic fate had first begun.