"Inuyasha, don't bully Shippō!"
Kagome held Shippō close, gently comforting him before turning toward Miroku with curiosity in her eyes.
"Then… how is the other type of shikigami made?"
Both Kagome and Sango leaned forward slightly, clearly intrigued.
Miroku glanced at their eager expressions and continued,
"There is another type. It's created using one's own hair as a medium—forming paper doll shikigami. They are sustained by the user's spiritual power and act as semi-sentient puppets. They can assist shrine maidens or monks in battle… or in setting up barriers."
Sango's eyes lit up.
"Can you make that kind, Miroku?"
"…Ah…" Miroku scratched his head awkwardly. "I'm… not very skilled at creating shikigami."
"If you can't do it, just say so!" Shippō popped his head out from Kagome's arms, exposing him without mercy.
Miroku froze.
An awkward silence followed.
Seeing this, Uchiha Kasage stepped in smoothly to shift the topic.
"Kagome," he said, pulling out a kunai and handing it to her, "when you return to your world, could you make a few of these for me?"
Kagome blinked and took it, examining it closely.
"…A kunai?"
It resembled a dagger, but its structure was simple enough.
After a brief look, she nodded confidently.
"No problem!"
"Thank you," Kasage said. Then, reaching into his pouch, he took out a small oval object and placed it in her hand. "Here's your payment."
Kagome looked down—
And froze.
"…Is this… gold?!"
A small gold ingot rested in her palm.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Earlier, Kasage had come across a caravan destroyed by Yōkai. The merchants had all been killed, and among their belongings, he found a small box filled with gold ingots—likely currency.
He had taken them without much thought.
And as a small courtesy, he had buried the bodies.
Now—
He was using one as payment.
"No, no, I can't take this!" Kagome said quickly, flustered, trying to hand it back. "It doesn't cost much to make these—you don't need to give me something this valuable!"
"Keep it," Kasage said calmly. "I picked it up on the roadside. I still have more."
"…Picked it up?" Kagome repeated blankly.
Miroku, standing nearby, also froze.
He, who worked tirelessly exorcising Yōkai for a few coins…
Suddenly felt a deep sense of defeat.
In truth, earning money wasn't difficult for them.
But gold… was different.
In the end, under Kasage's insistence, Kagome reluctantly accepted it.
"When you're done, just leave them with Kaede," Kasage added. "I'll pick them up later."
Kagome nodded.
---
Meanwhile—
Kanna had already returned to Naraku's castle.
As she walked through the dark corridors, a figure stepped out from the shadows.
"Kanna."
Kagura approached her, folding her arms casually.
"Did Naraku send you out to capture Yōkai again?"
"No," Kanna replied calmly, stopping in her tracks.
Kagura raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Then what were you doing?"
"Monitoring Uchiha Kasage."
Kagura's expression changed instantly.
"That man?" she said sharply, frowning. "Naraku sent you to watch him? If he notices you, you'll die."
"He won't," Kanna replied softly, her gaze steady.
Kagura clicked her tongue.
"That man is the reason Naraku ended up like this. His jutsu is dangerous… far too dangerous. You should be careful."
She studied Kanna's blank expression.
Of course—
There was no fear there.
"…Tch."
Letting out a quiet sigh, Kagura turned away.
"I've already captured the Yōkai Naraku wanted. I'm going to report."
"Kagura…"
Kanna watched her back.
For a brief moment—
The hand bearing Kasage's seal moved slightly.
Then stilled again.
Silently, she followed behind Kagura as they made their way toward Naraku's chamber.
—
The door creaked open.
Moonlight spilled faintly into the dim room.
At the far end—
Naraku sat in silence.
His body had returned to a seemingly normal state, no longer withered or frail.
But—
His expression was dark.
Strands of white hair mixed among the black.
Fine lines traced his cheeks.
To ordinary eyes, he appeared recovered.
But to Kagura—
It was clear.
His body was still decaying.
Slowly.
Relentlessly.
"Naraku," Kagura said coldly, long accustomed to this sight, "the Yōkai you requested has been sealed within the barrier."
"…Good."
The moment his voice fell—
The window behind him shattered.
Shrill screams filled the room as numerous Yōkai surged inward, their forms twisting as they were dragged into Naraku's body.
His flesh shifted.
Recovered.
Reconstructed.
In moments, he appeared whole again—youthful, flawless, eerily handsome.
But Kagura knew.
This was only temporary.
Even with the power of the Shikon Jewel—
Naraku's life force was still draining.
He had to devour Yōkai again and again, replacing parts of himself just to maintain this illusion of vitality.
The creation of Kagura and Kanna—
Splitting his body—
Had been an attempt to escape the lingering effects of Kasage's jutsu.
But it had failed.
The damage remained.
"Kanna," Naraku spoke, his gaze turning toward her, "I instructed you to monitor Uchiha Kasage. Why have you returned so soon?"
"I was discovered," Kanna replied plainly.
"…Even you?" Naraku's expression darkened, a trace of killing intent surfacing in his voice.
Kanna did not respond further.
She simply stood there.
Silent.
After a brief pause, Naraku spoke again.
"For now, remain in the castle. Do not provoke him."
His eyes shifted slightly.
"After some time… Kagura will accompany you."
"…Naraku."
Kagura's voice turned sharp.
"Are you trying to send me to my death?"
Her eyes burned with restrained anger.
"Kanna may be able to escape with her abilities—but I…" she clenched her fist slightly, "I have no confidence in escaping from that man."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Tension thickened in the air.