"What?! The Shikon Jewel shard was stolen?!"
Kagetsu stared at Kagome, who sat in front of him with an awkward, guilty expression. DisbeKagetsuf was written all over his face.
How long had it even been?
And Naraku had already managed to snatch the shard from her?
He and Kikyo had just arrived in Kaede's village. Originally, he had only intended to ask Kagome to help him commission a batch of custom kunai from the modern era. But the matter with Kanna had delayed him. After releasing her, he decided to make the trip anyway.
When Kikyo heard he was going, she chose to accompany him. Since her resurrection, she had never returned to visit her younger sister, Kaede. This was a rare opportunity.
But upon arriving and meeting Inuyasha's group, they learned that Inuyasha was currently recovering from injuries.
And the moment Kagome saw Kikyo,
Her embarrassment deepened.
Then she dropped the bombshell: the Shikon Jewel shard had been stolen.
Unlike his stunned reaction, Kikyo quickly grasped the likely cause. A cold smile curved her lips.
"Naraku must be desperate for the Shikon Jewel's power," she said calmly. "Kagetsu's technique is still affecting him. Otherwise, he wouldn't be in such a hurry to steal Kagome's shards."
"Kikyo, you mean… Naraku's injuries from being used as a resurrection sacrifice haven't healed?" Kagome's eyes widened in sudden realization. "That's why he's so anxious?"
She had seen Naraku's condition when he retreated,his hair gray, his body withered.
"If that's the case," Kagetsu nodded thoughtfully, "then it makes sense."
He turned back to Kagome.
"How exactly were the shards taken?"
Kagome scratched her cheek, looking increasingly sheepish.
"They were stolen by… a white-haired little girl."
"…A white-haired little girl?"
Kagetsu froze.
Kikyo's eyes sharpened instantly. She exchanged a glance with him before pressing further.
"Was she holding a mirror?"
"Yes!" Kagome nodded quickly. "You've seen her?"
"We have," Kikyo repKagetsud. "Kagetsu captured her yesterday. Her name is Kanna. She's one of Naraku's incarnations."
"Kanna?" Inuyasha shot up slightly despite his injuries. "You captured her? Is she dead?"
"No," Kikyo answered calmly. "We questioned her. Since she didn't appear hostile, we let her go."
"You what?!" Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, and Sango all stared at them in disbelief.
Kagetsu nodded without elaborating.
Instead, he shifted the conversation.
"Tell me exactly what happened."
Kagome took a breath and began recounting the events.
A few days earlier , they had stormed Naraku's castle. There, they encountered another incarnation,Kagura.
Just like before, Naraku manipulated events so that Inuyasha clashed violently with Kōga. After sustaining injuries, he had to immediately face Kagura.
But this time, Kagura hadn't acted alone.
She had worked together with Kanna.
Kagura engaged Inuyasha and the others head-on, keeping them occupied. Meanwhile, Kanna waited for the right moment.
And when Inuyasha unleashed the Wind Scar,
Kagome, momentarily unguarded,
Had the shard taken right from under her nose.
Kagura herself had nearly been killed by the Wind Scar. In that moment, she likely realized Naraku had sent her to test the technique's power.
Enraged, she didn't linger.
She retreated with Kanna,and the stolen shard.
By the time Kagome finished, Kagetsu understood.
With Kanna's "Nothingness," stealing a shard from an unsuspecting Kagome was almost effortless.
"Alright," Kagetsu said quietly. "I understand."
Kagome looked dejected.
"If they're stolen, they're stolen," he said reassuringly. "We'll just take them back later. Kanna's ability is too abnormal. It's not your fault."
"Kagetsu, you know about her ability?" Sango asked.
"I have a general idea," he replied.
"Her core trait is 'Nothingness.' No demonic aura. No scent. She can even bypass many barriers meant to detect demons."
He glanced at Inuyasha.
"For someone like you who relies on scent to track enemies? She's practically invisible."
Inuyasha clicked his tongue but didn't argue.
"And that mirror she carries," Kagetsu continued, "Kikyo believes it contains the power of a Mirror Demon. It can likely steal souls,and possibly reflect attacks. If you encounter her again, don't underestimate it."
Just then, Kaede entered.
"Sister," she said gently to Kikyo, "will you stay for a meal?"
Kikyo paused.
"It has been a long time," she said softly. "Yes."
She stood, then added, "I'll help prepare it."
As she walked past Kagetsu, she turned back slightly.
"Give me the deer we hunted earlier."
"Right."
Kagetsu retrieved a storage scroll from the Kamui dimension and unfurled it.
Bang!
A puff of smoke burst forth as chakra flowed into the seal.
The fresh carcass of a sika deer appeared before them.
Kagome's eyes widened.
But Kikyo casually tossed a small wooden carving shaped like a bear onto the ground.
The carving swelled instantly, transforming into a smaller-sized black bear.
Kuro Maru.
Her shikigami.
The bear padded forward obediently, hoisted the deer onto its back, and followed Kikyo outside.
Kagome stared.
"It… it turned into a bear!"
"That's a shikigami," Miroku explained calmly.
Seeing everyone's curious looks, he elaborated.
"There are generally two ways to create one. The first is to bind a demon's soul with demonic power to create a combat-type shikigami. It retains much of the demon's original abilities,so practitioners usually choose powerful demons."
He folded his hands within his sleeves.
"However, such shikigami are dangerous. If the master lacks sufficient strength, they may suffer backlash."
He glanced toward the door where Kikyo had left.
"Miss Kikyo's black bear clearly emits demonic power. It was likely created using that method."
Shippō shuddered.
"That's terrifying…"
Inuyasha snorted.
"Relax, runt. You're so weak no one would bother turning you into a shikigami."
"Kagome!" Shippō immediately protested, tears welling in his eyes.
The tension in the room eased slightly.
But beneath the surface,
The theft of the Shikon Jewel shard marked something far more dangerous.
Naraku was moving again.
And this time,
He was desperate.