"What? The shard of the Shikon Jewel was stolen?"
Uchiha Kasage stared at Kagome, who sat awkwardly in front of him, his face filled with disbelief.
How could the shard in her possession have been taken so quickly?
He and Kikyo had only just arrived at Kaede's village.
Originally, he had planned to ask Kagome to help commission some kunai. But the situation with Kanna had interrupted that plan. After releasing her, he decided to come here instead.
When Kikyo heard his intention, she chose to accompany him. Since her resurrection, she hadn't returned to Kaede's village. This was a rare chance to see her sister again.
However—
Upon arriving and meeting Inuyasha and the others, they learned that Inuyasha was still recovering from injuries.
And when Kagome saw Kikyo…
Her expression became even more awkward.
Then she told them—
The shard had been stolen.
Unlike Kasage, who was clearly stunned, Kikyo quickly grasped the situation. A cold smile touched her lips.
"…Naraku must be in urgent need of the Shikon Jewel's power."
Kasage glanced at her, understanding immediately.
"It seems the effects of the jutsu you used on him are still lingering," Kikyo continued calmly. "Otherwise, he wouldn't act so hastily to steal Kagome's shard."
Kagome blinked, surprised.
"Then… you mean Naraku's injuries from being used as a sacrifice haven't healed yet?" she asked, a hint of realization in her voice.
She recalled his pale, withered appearance when he retreated before.
Kikyo gave a slight nod.
"If that's the case," Kasage added, his tone steady, "then his urgency makes perfect sense."
He then looked back at Kagome, his eyes sharpening slightly.
"So—how exactly was your shard stolen?"
Kagome scratched her cheek, visibly embarrassed.
"…It was taken by a small girl with white hair."
Kasage paused.
"A white-haired girl?"
Beside him, Kikyo's expression shifted slightly.
The two exchanged a glance.
Then Kikyo asked quietly, "Was she holding a mirror?"
Kagome's eyes widened.
"Yes! Exactly! You've seen her?"
"Yes," Kikyo confirmed. "Kasage discovered her yesterday and captured her. Her name is Kanna—one of Naraku's subordinates."
"Kanna? You captured her?!" Inuyasha suddenly spoke up, startled. "Is she dead?"
"No," Kikyo replied calmly. "We questioned her. She showed no hostility… so we let her go."
"…You let her go?!" Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, and Sango all reacted at once, disbelief clear on their faces.
Kasage simply nodded, offering no further explanation.
Instead, he redirected the conversation.
"Kagome, tell me everything that happened—step by step."
Kagome took a breath and began recounting the events.
"A few days ago…"
—
As her story unfolded, Kasage gradually pieced everything together.
Not long ago, Inuyasha and the others had infiltrated Naraku's castle.
There, they encountered another incarnation—
Kagura.
Just like before, Naraku had manipulated events, provoking a fierce clash between Inuyasha and Koga. After sustaining injuries, Inuyasha was forced into another battle—this time against Kagura.
But this time, things were different.
Kagura hadn't come alone.
Kanna had been with her.
Kagura created a distraction—pressuring Inuyasha into combat.
Meanwhile, Kanna moved unseen.
Silent.
Untouchable.
The moment Inuyasha unleashed the Wind Scar and struck Kagura—
Kagome, completely unprepared—
had the shard taken from her.
Cleanly.
Effortlessly.
Kagura, having nearly been killed by the Wind Scar, immediately realized Naraku's intention.
He had used her as a test.
Fury burned within her—but she didn't linger.
She retreated instantly, taking Kanna and the shard with her.
—
"…That's what happened," Kagome finished, her voice tinged with frustration.
Kasage nodded slowly.
"I see."
Everything made sense now.
With Kanna's ability, stealing the shard from an unsuspecting Kagome was almost trivial.
He looked at Kagome, noticing her downcast expression.
"It's fine," he said calmly. "If it was stolen, then we'll just take it back later."
His tone softened slightly.
"Kanna's ability is too unusual. Anyone would have been caught off guard. This isn't your fault."
Kagome blinked, a bit surprised by his reassurance.
"Kasage… you know about her abilities?" Sango asked, curious.
"I have a general idea," he replied.
"Her core trait is 'Nothingness.' No Yōkai aura, no scent… she can even bypass most barriers designed to detect Yōkai."
His gaze flickered briefly toward Inuyasha.
"For someone like Inuyasha, who relies heavily on scent, detecting her is nearly impossible."
Inuyasha frowned but didn't argue.
"And there's more," Kasage continued. "That mirror she carries—Kikyo identified it as having the abilities of a Mirror Yōkai. It likely can absorb souls… or even reflect attacks."
His expression sharpened slightly.
"If you encounter her again—be careful."
At that moment, Kaede entered the room.
"Sister, will ye be stayin' for a meal?" she asked, her gaze resting warmly on Kikyo.
Kikyo paused, then nodded gently.
"…Yes. It's been a long time."
She stood up.
"I'll help prepare it."
As she walked toward Kaede, she suddenly turned back.
"Kasage. Give me the deer we caught earlier."
"Alright."
Kasage reached into the Kamui dimension and retrieved a storage scroll, unrolling it across the floor.
With a pulse of chakra—
*Poof!*
A cloud of smoke burst forth.
When it cleared, a freshly killed sika deer lay before them.
Kagome's eyes widened in surprise.
Kikyo, however, simply took out a small wooden carving shaped like a bear and tossed it onto the ground.
The moment it landed—
It began to grow.
Expanding rapidly, its form shifted—
Until it became a black bear, slightly smaller than normal.
Kuro-Maru.
Kikyo's shikigami.
The bear stepped forward, lifted the deer effortlessly onto its back, and followed Kikyo outside without a sound.
"…What was that?" Kagome asked, astonished.
"A shikigami," Miroku answered calmly.
Seeing everyone turn toward him, he continued,
"There are generally two ways to create one. The first is by binding a Yōkai's soul with spiritual or Yōkai power, preserving its original abilities. Stronger Yōkai are typically chosen for combat purposes."
His expression grew slightly serious.
"However… that method is dangerous. If the creator isn't strong enough, the shikigami can turn on them."
He glanced toward the doorway where Kikyo had left.
"Kikyo's black bear clearly carries Yōkai energy. It was most likely created using that method."
Shippō shrank back, visibly nervous.
"That's… kind of scary…"
"In your case," Inuyasha said bluntly, glancing at him, "no one would bother turning a weak little Yōkai like you into a shikigami."
"Hey—!"
"Kagome!" Shippō immediately ran to her, complaining loudly.
The tension in the room eased slightly.
But beneath it all—
The loss of the Shikon shard still lingered.