"An old woman that no one wants."
Kikyo's voice remained calm, completely unmoved by Tsubaki's mockery—as if she were simply stating a fact.
"You—!"
The words struck directly at Tsubaki's deepest insecurity. Her eyes widened, and her face flushed red with anger.
She had always been jealous of Kikyo.
Jealous of her talent.
Jealous of her overwhelming strength.
Jealous that Kikyo had been chosen to guard and purify the Shikon Jewel.
And most of all—
jealous that Kikyo, despite being a priestess, could be loved like an ordinary woman.
While she…
no matter how hard she tried—
had always lived in Kikyo's shadow.
Suppressing the urge to lash out, Tsubaki clenched her fists tightly.
"Kikyo," she said coldly, her voice trembling with restrained fury, "what are you doing here? That half-yokai has already abandoned you. Kagome's life or death has nothing to do with you… does it?"
Her eyes scanned Kikyo from head to toe, mockery flickering again.
"…Don't tell me you came here to beg for that girl?"
A smug smile spread across her face.
"If you beg me… I might be in a good enough mood to let her go."
"They've arrived."
Kikyo suddenly turned her head, looking beyond the barrier. Her voice was calm, almost indifferent.
Tsubaki froze.
She immediately looked down at the Shikon fragment in her hand—
and her expression changed.
The dense, malevolent energy within it was being purified.
"…Impossible."
She looked up sharply, disbelief filling her eyes.
"Was it… Kagome?"
Kikyo glanced at her coldly.
"I already told you, Tsubaki."
"With your power… you cannot curse Kagome."
She lifted her chin slightly, her gaze looking down upon her.
"Kagome is my reincarnation. Fifty years ago, you couldn't defeat me."
"And now—your curse cannot harm her either."
Her tone was calm—
but every word struck like a blade.
Tsubaki's mind flashed back to that moment fifty years ago—
her carefully planned ambush… crushed effortlessly.
Her expression twisted.
"Don't joke with me!" she shouted. "If you hadn't interfered, Kagome would already be dead!"
The moment her words fell—
the barrier surrounding the area trembled violently.
Then—
it shattered.
Countless particles of spiritual light scattered into the night sky.
"My barrier…!" Tsubaki stared in shock.
Through the fading light—
a figure descended.
Inuyasha landed heavily, Kagome on his back.
Kagome held a longbow, her fingers still glowing faintly with spiritual energy.
It was her arrow—
that had broken the barrier.
"…Heh."
Kikyo let out a soft chuckle.
To Tsubaki, it sounded like a resounding slap.
Her face flushed even deeper, nearly bleeding with anger.
"…She's really good at getting under people's skin," Sango whispered to Miroku.
"…Indeed. Tsubaki is no match for Lady Kikyo," Miroku replied quietly.
"Kikyo…"
Inuyasha's voice sounded as he stepped forward.
He froze when he saw her, his expression turning complicated.
"Inuyasha! Kagome!" Miroku and Sango called out as they approached.
"You're here too?" Inuyasha snapped back to himself.
"Miroku… Sango…" Kagome raised her head weakly, her voice strained with pain. The curse was still affecting her.
Her eyes found Kikyo.
"…Kikyo…"
Tsubaki clenched her teeth.
"…She missed?" she muttered in frustration.
Kikyo's gaze turned sharp.
"You tried to use Kagome… to kill Inuyasha?"
Tsubaki smirked, her expression turning mocking once more.
"What's wrong? Kikyo… does this remind you of fifty years ago?"
Her smile widened.
"That's right. I made Kagome shoot an arrow at him—just like you did back then."
She expected anger.
But—
Kikyo simply smiled faintly.
"…Naraku's doing, isn't it?"
Her tone was indifferent.
"A cheap and predictable trick."
Tsubaki's expression darkened.
"You really are infuriating," she said through gritted teeth.
Kikyo ignored her completely.
She turned her back to Tsubaki—without the slightest guard—and walked straight toward Kagome.
That alone spoke volumes.
She didn't consider Tsubaki a threat at all.
"Tch…"
Tsubaki ground her teeth.
She wanted to strike—
but couldn't.
The memory of being utterly defeated fifty years ago resurfaced, crushing her intent.
Kikyo stopped beside Kagome and placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Inuyasha… what are you doing here…" he muttered, lowering Kagome carefully.
"I sensed something wrong with the Shikon Jewel," Kikyo replied simply.
A soft, radiant light gathered in her palm.
It flowed into Kagome's body.
The curse dissolved instantly.
A clear, crisp sound rang out—
**ting.**
The Shikon shard that had been used as the curse's medium was expelled from Kagome's body, falling to the ground.
"…Thank you, Kikyo!" Kagome said quickly, relief flooding her voice as the pain vanished.
Kikyo looked at her quietly.
"As my reincarnation, you possess strong spiritual power… yet you were cursed by someone like her."
A faint hint of reproach entered her tone.
"…It's disappointing."
Kagome lowered her head, embarrassed.
"I'm sorry…"
Kikyo sighed softly.
"…Forget it."
Then, almost casually:
"It's also that foolish Kaede's fault for not noticing sooner."
Kagome blinked, slightly startled.
Though her words sounded harsh—
there was no real blame in them.
Kikyo understood.
Kagome had power—
but not the training.
And considering that—
she had done well enough.
**Whoosh!**
Suddenly—
the sound of something slicing through the air.
Tsubaki froze mid-step.
An arrow passed right beside her ear—
cutting a few strands of her hair, which drifted slowly to the ground.
"Don't move."
Kikyo's voice was cold.
She stood with her bow drawn, the arrow aimed directly at Tsubaki.
"Next time… it won't miss."
Tsubaki's body stiffened.
A chill ran down her spine.
Looking into Kikyo's eyes—
her anger vanished, replaced by fear.
That same fear from fifty years ago.
"…What do you want?" she asked, forcing herself to remain calm.
"Kagome's curse is broken. Why won't you let me leave?"
Behind her back—
her hand tightly gripped the Shikon fragment she had hidden.
Feeling its power, her thoughts surged wildly:
With this… I can become stronger.
Next time—
Next time, I will defeat you, Kikyo.