"Alright, it's done."
Uchiha Kasage withdrew the chakra from his hands, finishing his role as a "human hair dryer." His tone was calm as he added, "Eat quickly, then get some rest."
"Hold this for me—I'm going to tie my hair."
Kikyo handed him a hairband. She quickly combed through her long hair with practiced ease, then took the band back and tied it into a neat, loose ponytail that flowed down to her waist.
In an instant, she shifted once more—from a valiant warrior clad in armor back into a serene and graceful shrine maiden.
A faint smile appeared on Kasage's lips as he watched her.
The two finished their meal quietly. Just as they were about to begin cultivating before resting—
Kikyo suddenly froze.
Her expression turned serious.
"There's something wrong with the Shikon Jewel."
Kasage's gaze sharpened immediately.
Kikyo turned toward a corner of the room. There, a small shrine wrapped in sacred shimenawa ropes held two fragments of the Shikon Jewel—one from the Peach Blossom Village, the other obtained during one of her yokai exorcisms.
In the dim light, the fragments emitted a faint glow.
But within that glow—
a dark, ink-like curse was slowly spreading.
Kasage frowned. "What's happening?"
Kikyo stepped forward without hesitation. She picked up the shards, and spiritual power surged into her palm. With a swift motion, she purified them—the dark curse dissolving instantly under her touch.
She placed the fragments back, reinforcing the barrier around them before turning to him.
"This is a curse cast through the Shikon Jewel," she said, her voice steady but grave.
She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly in thought.
"The target… is likely Kagome."
A brief silence followed.
"It must be Naraku."
Kasage's eyes flickered. He immediately understood—this was the work of the black priestess, Tsubaki.
"I'm going to check on it," Kikyo said, already slinging her longbow across her back.
"I'll come with you," Kasage replied without hesitation.
Kikyo shook her head gently.
"No. I can handle this."
Her gaze grew distant for a moment.
"This aura… it's familiar. Someone I've faced before."
Then she looked at him again, her tone softening slightly.
"There won't be any danger."
Kasage studied her for a moment before nodding.
"…Alright."
He reached into his sleeve and handed her a small wooden kunai.
"Take this. If anything happens—crush it. I'll come to you immediately."
Kikyo accepted it with a slight nod.
"Understood. You should rest. I'll return soon… don't wait for me."
With that, she turned and stepped outside.
Moments later, she mounted Kuromaru.
The massive creature surged forward, becoming a streak of black that vanished into the night.
—
Elsewhere, Miroku and Sango were already tracking the sinister aura of the curse.
Their search led them to a cliffside—
where a spherical barrier pulsed with dark energy.
"Master, can you break it?" Sango asked, looking down at the barrier below.
Without replying, Miroku began chanting immediately.
"Yunmu—go!" he suddenly commanded.
"ROAR!"
Kirara leapt forward, carrying them straight toward the barrier.
**BANG!**
The impact was violent.
The barrier didn't even tremble.
Instead, Kirara was thrown back midair, barely regaining balance before crashing again.
Miroku exhaled sharply, frustration evident.
"…I can't break it."
Just then—
"Master, look!" Sango suddenly pointed ahead.
A shadow raced through the night.
"Kikyo…?" Miroku murmured in surprise.
Kikyo, riding Kuromaru, approached swiftly—her presence calm yet resolute.
"Kirara, head over there!" Sango said quickly, relief in her voice. "Kikyo might be able to break it!"
They landed near her just as she stopped before the barrier, observing it closely.
Without turning, Kikyo spoke:
"If you're here… Kagome has already been cursed, hasn't she?"
"Yes, Lady Kikyo," Miroku replied quickly, explaining the situation.
"Kagome was bitten near the Bone-Eater's Well earlier today. She collapsed suddenly at night."
"Lady Kaede believes a black priestess used shikigami to attack her… and placed a curse."
"We followed the trail of yokai energy and ended up here."
Kikyo listened silently.
A faint chill passed through her gaze.
"A black priestess who uses curses…"
Her eyes narrowed.
"…Tsubaki."
Sango's expression changed instantly.
"You know her?!"
Kikyo gave a small nod but didn't elaborate.
Instead, she raised her hand. Kuromaru transformed back into a small wooden figure, returning to her grasp.
"Let's go," she said simply.
She stepped forward.
Miroku immediately called out, "Be careful! That barrier is—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
The moment Kikyo's hand touched it—
the barrier opened.
Silently.
Effortlessly.
As if recognizing her.
"…What…?" Miroku stared in disbelief.
"Now's not the time to stand around!" Sango snapped, already moving forward. "Let's go!"
Miroku quickly followed, still stunned.
Kirara shrank down in a flash of flame and leapt onto Sango's shoulder.
Together, the three of them passed through the barrier—
following Kikyo into the darkness beyond.