"Hmph."
At Kagura's defiance, a chilling smile curved across Naraku's lips.
With a casual flick of his wrist, a beating heart materialized in his palm.
Thump. Thump.
The sound echoed faintly through the dim chamber.
Naraku's fingers slowly tightened around it as he fixed Kagura with an icy stare. "You don't have to go," he said softly. "But if you refuse… I'll kill you here and now."
"Naraku,!"
Kagura gasped, clutching her chest as searing pain tore through her body. Hatred flared in her eyes. She gritted her teeth, forcing the words out between breaths.
"…I'll go."
"Very good."
Naraku dismissed her resentment without a second glance and stowed the heart away as though nothing had happened.
"Do not overestimate him," he added indifferently. "Kanna returned safely even after being discovered. That alone proves he is not as dangerous as you imagine."
Kagura let out a sharp, mocking laugh.
"If he's not so dangerous," she shot back, "then why don't you manipulate him the way you toy with Inuyasha?"
Naraku's expression darkened.
Before he could respond, Kagura continued mercilessly, "Or are you afraid? Afraid that if you provoke him directly, you'll be killed on the spot? After all, that miko by his side can shatter your barriers without effort."
Her words cut straight through the silence.
Ignoring Naraku's glacial glare, Kagura turned on her heel and strode out.
Ever since Naraku had used her as bait to test Inuyasha,nearly costing her life,her desire to escape his control had only grown stronger.
Through Kanna, she had already learned everything about the man named Kagetsu,the one who had forced Naraku into his current state.
Behind her, Kanna followed soundlessly.
Once they were far enough from Naraku's chamber, Kanna spoke in her quiet voice.
"Kagura. Our lives and deaths are in Naraku's hands. Do not provoke him."
Kagura stopped walking and looked back at her.
"We are merely tools," Kanna continued.
"Don't worry," Kagura replied, a faint curl of mockery tugging at her lips. "Naraku won't kill me,not yet."
Kanna watched her silently.
Kagura crouched down so they were eye level, her tone tinged with bitter self-awareness. "That man's life isn't in his own hands right now either. As long as he remains trapped in this state, he needs me to hunt demons for him. Without me, he can't sustain himself."
She rose to her feet, laughing softly at herself.
"Isn't that why we were created in the first place?"
She flicked her wrist, summoning her feather. "I'm going out. If I end up dying while following you to monitor that terrifying man without even seeing more of this world… that would be such a waste."
To Kagura, this castle was nothing but a prison.
She had no intention of lingering.
"You won't die, Kagura."
Kanna's voice came from behind her.
Kagura paused mid-step and turned back, startled.
"What?"
For a brief moment, something shifted in her expression,as if a realization had dawned on her.
Without another word, she scooped Kanna into her arms and leapt onto her feather. The massive plume carried them skyward, swiftly distancing them from Naraku's looming castle.
Only when the fortress had shrunk to a distant speck did Kagura speak again, her tone urgent.
"Kanna… were you captured?"
"I was," Kanna answered calmly.
"What did he do to you? Why did he let you go?"
"Nothing."
A faint ripple passed through Kanna's glass-like eyes,gone before Kagura could notice.
"How did you escape, then?"
"He released me."
Kagura stared at her in disbelief. "You're saying he discovered you… did nothing… and simply let you leave?"
"…"
Kanna offered no further explanation.
A dull ache formed at Kagura's temples.
"Kanna," she tried again, changing her approach, "does he know you're one of Naraku's incarnations?"
"No. He only knows I serve Naraku."
"He knows you belong to Naraku, but not that you're an incarnation?" Kagura frowned deeper. "Then why didn't he kill you?"
Silence.
Kanna's pale gaze remained fixed on her.
Kagura exhaled sharply in frustration.
"That man… does he not care about Naraku at all?"
Shouldn't he react like Inuyasha,catch Naraku's scent and immediately draw Tessaiga without hesitation?
If her own heart weren't trapped in Naraku's grasp, she would be even more decisive than Inuyasha in striking him down.
"Why…?" Kagura muttered, unable to make sense of it.
"I don't know," Kanna replied softly.
Unaware that the two sisters were discussing him, Kagetsu sat quietly on the grass.
His gaze rested on the clearing ahead.
Kagome and Kikyo stood side by side, both clad in miko attire, bows drawn as they aimed at a straw target in the distance.
Earlier, Kikyo had intended to leave after the meal. But Kagome had stepped forward at the last moment, asking for guidance in archery.
Thus, the current scene.
It had to be said,Kagome's talent was remarkable.
Even without formal knowledge of archery, Kagetsu could clearly see her rapid improvement. But this was no surprise.
In the original course of events, Kagome had started as a complete novice. As a modern middle school student, she could barely draw a bowstring at first. Yet during her journey to gather the Shikon Jewel shards, her skills had grown swiftly. By the later stages, her archery was formidable.
And she had achieved that while constantly traveling, fighting, and searching for shards,without steady, professional instruction. Aside from occasional guidance from Kaede, she had largely relied on instinct.
Such growth spoke volumes about her natural talent.
Under Kikyo's calm direction, the spiritual power flowing through Kagome's arrows became increasingly refined.
Kagetsu understood what Kikyo was doing.
She was teaching Kagome how to properly control the vast spiritual power within her body.
As Kikyo's reincarnation, Kagome possessed immense spiritual energy. Yet in battle, she often seemed less stable than Kikyo,who relied on spirit souls merely to maintain her physical form.
In truth, Kagome's power was extraordinary.
It simply lacked discipline.
Most of the time, it erupted only in desperate bursts.
Within the group, Kagome usually stayed behind Inuyasha, acting as a "radar" for the Shikon Jewel.
Fifty years ago, when Kikyo fought alongside Inuyasha, their roles had been clear.
Inuyasha held the front line.
Kikyo was the primary damage dealer.
Her Sacred Arrow devastated demons.
Now, Kagome had shifted from "marksman" to "support," her Sacred Arrow serving mainly as a trump card when the group faced a crisis.
But if she truly learned to wield her power with precision,
Kagetsu's eyes narrowed slightly.Then the balance of future battles would become far more interesting.