The moment Inuyasha heard the name Kikyo, his expression changed.
He rushed forward, grabbed Master Harumi by the collar—completely ignoring the wound on the man's chest—and growled,
"If you're spouting nonsense, I won't forgive you!"
The young monk hurried to steady Harumi and tried to block Inuyasha.
"W-We're not lying! That priestess—she was surrounded by wandering souls!"
"That's not what I'm asking about!" Inuyasha snapped. "I'm talking about her name!"
Seeing that Harumi was indeed badly injured, Inuyasha released him and instead grabbed the young monk.
"Why did you call her Kikyo?!"
"I-It's what we heard in the village last night!" the monk stammered, trembling under Inuyasha's burning glare. "The children called her that too! It's definitely her name—Kikyo!"
"The one collecting wandering souls… is really Kikyo?"
Beside them, Kagome's heart sank. The words slipped from her lips without her realizing.
"Kikyo… You're… still in this world? You didn't die back then?"
Inuyasha urgently demanded the location where Kikyo had appeared. Before anyone could react, he shot off like an arrow, chasing after her trail.
"Is it really alright to let Inuyasha go alone?" Miroku asked quietly after the two monks had left.
Kagome sat on a fallen log, staring blankly at the ground.
"He ran off faster than a bullet," Shippo said seriously, spreading his tiny hands. "We couldn't stop him even if we tried."
Kagome lowered her head.
"Inuyasha… he must still love Kikyo," she said softly, unable to hide the heaviness in her voice. "So maybe… we shouldn't interfere."
"Why shouldn't we?" Shippo blinked in confusion.
At that moment, Miroku adopted a grave, thoughtful expression.
"I can understand his feelings.
"The woman he once loved deeply… might no longer be the same as in his memories. If that's the case, one wouldn't want others to see her like that."
Shippo scratched his head.
"What are you even talking about? What if things aren't as bad as you think? What then?"
Miroku stroked his chin and replied without thinking,
"If it were me… I'd probably reconcile with her."
The instant the words left his mouth, a bone-chilling cold swept over him.
A voice, icy and deadly calm, followed.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Miroku stiffened.
He slowly raised his head.
Kagome was already on her feet, pushing her bicycle forward without a word. The pressure around her was terrifyingly low.
"Just now… I think I was pierced by an extremely cold glare," Miroku muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"I don't think that was your imagination," Shippo said earnestly.
They hurried after her.
"M-Miss Kagome, wait for us…"
"What?!" Kagome snapped, spinning around to glare at them.
"Maybe… we should go after Inuyasha?" Miroku suggested cautiously.
"I'm not going!" Kagome shot back, hurt and frustration evident in her voice. "Why should I be the one chasing after him?!"
Just then, a wave of demonic aura swept through the air.
All three stiffened.
Looking up, they saw countless glowing white Soul Collectors drifting past them in the dim sky, carrying wandering souls as they flew into the distance—like silent guides pointing the way.
"Demonic energy! They're carrying souls! Let's go!"
The trio immediately gave chase.
Ahead, in the direction of the Soul Collectors, Kikyo sat quietly upon the branch of a tall tree.
Her lashes lowered slightly, long hair swaying in the breeze.
Retsu's questions echoed endlessly in her mind.
"Kagome is your reincarnation. Which one of you is the real you?"
"If Kagome ends up with Inuyasha, is that you continuing your fate—or has he already fallen in love with someone else?"
"If I revive you, will you fight her for him, or let go?"
Suddenly, Kikyo's gaze sharpened.
She sensed something approaching.
"At last," she murmured.
A loud thud followed, accompanied by the rustling of crushed grass—and then a girl's pained cry.
"Ow! That hurt!"
Kikyo looked down.
Kagome had stumbled and fallen, rubbing her aching knee in disarray.
Watching Kagome skid in clumsily, Kikyo spoke with faint disdain.
"I don't believe my reincarnation could be this foolish."
She truly struggled to accept that this careless girl was her reincarnation—someone who not only competed with her for a man, but had even succeeded.
"Where… am I?"
Kagome stood slowly, still rubbing her knee. When she heard Kikyo's voice, she looked up instinctively—
And met Kikyo's openly critical gaze.
Surrounded by countless Soul Collectors, Kikyo looked otherworldly.
"K-Kikyo…"
Seeing Kagome staring at her blankly, Kikyo felt an urge to deny the connection altogether.
Yet when she had been revived by the demoness Urasue, her soul had clearly recognized Kagome as her reincarnation.
"Don't stare at me with that vacant expression. Come here," Kikyo said coolly.
"Kikyo, you…" Kagome hesitated, but still walked forward.
"You were able to pass through my barrier to reach this place. You must know I called you here for a reason," Kikyo interrupted calmly.
"B-Barrier? Was there one?" Kagome blinked, looking around in confusion.
"…If you didn't notice it, then never mind," Kikyo sighed faintly.
Ever since Retsu's chakra replaced the wandering souls within her, there seemed to be one more person capable of exhausting her patience.
She paused.
Since the chakra had taken root in her body, nurturing her soul—
Her emotions had grown richer.
Before, aside from her resentment toward Inuyasha, little stirred her heart.
But now…
She found herself troubled by Retsu's words.
Annoyed by Kagome's recklessness.
Even faintly… irritated.
"Chakra…" Kikyo murmured, pressing a hand lightly to her chest, feeling her soul steadily strengthening under its nourishment.
Kagome's voice pulled her back.
"You're the one gathering those girls' souls, right, Kikyo? If it's really you… please let them go."
Kikyo looked at her hopeful expression.
Without hesitation, she lifted a hand.
The Soul Collectors released their hold.
The girls' souls turned into streams of white light, soaring upward and vanishing along the path toward their resting places.
"I no longer need them," Kikyo said calmly. "I gathered them to draw you here."
"M-Me?" Kagome blinked, stunned.
Instead of answering directly, Kikyo changed the subject.
"You and Inuyasha… aren't together?"
Kagome's gaze dimmed instantly.
"He… he said he was coming to find you."
"And you?" Kikyo's eyes sharpened. "What are you to Inuyasha?"
"I… I…" Kagome faltered, unable to answer.
"Yes. You."
Kikyo inclined her head slightly, then glanced toward the distant forest.
"Inuyasha has already arrived outside. My barrier is holding him back."
She looked back at Kagome.
"Tell me… should I let him in?"
A pause.
"Do you think he came to save you… or to see me?"
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