"A priestess… and a man dressed like a samurai?" Sango's father asked, his brows knitting.
"Yes. That's them. They were riding a bear demon," Sango replied, urgency sharpening her voice.
"Oh? You crossed paths with them?" The village chief looked surprised at first, then nodded in understanding. "They were guests of the Demon Slayer Village. They left not long before you returned. It's only natural you would have met them on the road."
Seeing the tension in his daughter's face, he frowned. "What happened, Sango?"
"During this extermination mission, I obtained a shard of the Shikon Jewel… but it's gone." Sango clenched her fists tightly. "I think those two took it. The shard disappeared right after I met them!"
As she spoke, she grabbed her hiraikotsu and turned toward the door. "I'm going after them. I'll get it back."
"Wait. Don't go."
Her father's voice carried no alarm,only calm certainty.
"If they truly took it, there's no need to retrieve it. In fact…" He gave a faint smile. "If you still had that shard, I would have ordered you to catch up and hand it to them myself."
Sango froze. "Why?"
"Because that priestess is Kikyo," the chief said solemnly. "Fifty years ago, the elders of our village entrusted the Shikon Jewel to her for purification."
Sango's eyes widened. "Kikyo? But she died fifty years ago! And she still looks… that young?"
"I cannot explain how," her father admitted. "But there is no doubt. She is Kikyo. And she alone has the power to purify the Jewel."
His expression darkened. "Keeping the shards here is too dangerous. I have already entrusted the pieces our village gathered to her."
Sango slowly lowered her hiraikotsu. "…I understand, Father."
"Go and rest," he said gently as she turned to leave. "There will be work soon."
Then his gaze shifted to the boy beside him.
"Kohaku. Prepare yourself as well."
Kohaku blinked in surprise. "M-Me?"
"You're eleven now," the chief said, his tone firm. "It's time you joined a real extermination."
"…Yes!" Kohaku straightened, nodding with determination.
Kagetsu was unaware of this conversation in the Demon Slayer Village, but he didn't need to hear it to guess what would happen.
If events followed the original course, Sango would soon return with the Demon Slayers to exterminate demons at Hitomi Castle,only to be manipulated by Naraku into clashing with Inuyasha, eventually joining the main group.
But things had already changed.
Kikyo had taken the Shikon shards from the village. And before leaving, Kagetsu had even warned the Demon Slayers.
Would the village still meet the same tragic fate?
If the plot shifted too far, Naraku might decide Sango was no longer useful,and eliminate her outright.
After all, in the original course of events, Sango's mission to Hitomi Castle had been orchestrated by Naraku. Even the young lord, Hitomi Kagewaki, had been replaced by him after Sango left the village.
Kagetsu's eyes narrowed.
He formed hand seals swiftly. "Shadow Clone Technique."
With a soft burst of smoke, an identical clone appeared on Kuro-Maru's back. In the next instant, it leapt off and vanished into the mountain forest in a blur.
Kikyo turned her head slightly. "That was your clone. What's wrong?"
"Yes. A Shadow Clone." Kagetsu answered calmly. "I think I sensed Naraku's demonic aura earlier. He may be targeting the Demon Slayer Village for the Shikon shards."
It was, of course, a convenient lie.
"Even though we've already taken the shards, I'll have my clone investigate. If it finds one of Naraku's puppets, it'll eliminate it."
He couldn't very well say, I know the village is supposed to be destroyed, so I'm going to check on it.
"Naraku is nearby?" Kikyo's eyes sharpened instantly. "Will your clone be enough?"
"It should be fine." Lie waved a hand dismissively. "The Naraku puppets we've seen before were weak. A Shadow Clone has a physical body. Even if it isn't at full strength, it's more than enough to deal with one of those."
"Where?" Kikyo asked after a brief pause. "I'll go as well. It's time Naraku learned that I've returned."
"There's no need." Lie shook his head. "If it's just a puppet, your going would be meaningless. And if he learns of your resurrection too soon, he might hide himself even deeper. That would only make him harder to track down."
Kikyo turned abruptly, her long black hair brushing lightly across his cheek. The faint coolness of it lingered.
"We can't hide forever," she said quietly, though dissatisfaction edged her voice. "That wasn't our agreement."
Lie rubbed his nose where her hair had tickled him, then slowly curved his lips into a mischievous smile.
"If we're going to let him know you've returned," he said lazily, "we should make it unforgettable."
Kikyo narrowed her eyes. That smile never meant anything good.
"What are you planning?"
"Heh…" Kagetsu gave a low chuckle.
He had only laughed twice before Kikyo drove an elbow into his side, cutting him off.
"Enough of that. Speak plainly."
He coughed once, suppressing his theatrics. "How is your soul recovering?"
"It has stabilized somewhat. It should be fully restored soon." She studied him carefully. "Why?"
"You remember I told you the resurrection technique requires a sacrifice."
"I remember. You said you had someone suitable in mind."
Her gaze sharpened as she recalled his earlier grin. "…You don't mean,"
"Exactly."
This time, Lie didn't laugh. His tone turned cold.
"Naraku was the one who killed you. So I intend to use him as the sacrifice for our resurrection."
For a brief moment, Kikyo stood utterly still.
Then, slowly, a faint, icy smile curved her lips.
"That," she said softly, "is a fitting choice."
After a pause, she asked, "Will he die?"
Kagetsu considered it honestly.
"I'm not sure. The technique consumes the caster's entire life force to restore the target. Under normal circumstances, the caster dies once it succeeds."
He glanced toward the distant mountains.
"But Naraku is an amalgamation of countless demons. Even if his main body perishes, he might not truly 'die' in the conventional sense."
His eyes hardened.
"Still, even if he survives… he won't survive intact."
Kagetsu's voice turned indifferent.
"It doesn't matter whether he lives or dies. As long as we are resurrected."
Silence fell between them.
After a moment, Kikyo gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment.
A faint glimmer of vengeance flickered in her eyes.
Naraku had taken her life once.
Soon, he would repay it,with his own.