"Ying,!"
Kirara, who had been crouched at Sango's feet, suddenly perked up the moment she saw Suiko.
With an excited cry, she leapt lightly into the air and landed on Suiko's shoulder. Her nose twitched as she caught the familiar scent, and she began nuzzling Suiko's cheek affectionately.
"…So this is Priestess Suiko, the one who created the Shikon Jewel," Miroku murmured, his gaze lingering on her face as he sighed in admiration. "Even in death… she's still breathtaking."
"Miroku."
Sango's voice dropped dangerously.
"Ah,! I was just admiring her beauty!" Miroku quickly took a step back, forcing a stiff smile.
"Tch. Perverted monk," Inuyasha snorted, shooting him a look of disdain.
Kagetsu, however, remained focused on Suiko.
No one was supporting her,
Yet she stood there, moving faintly as she followed Kikyo and Kagome.
And still,
Her eyes remained empty.
No reaction.
No awareness.
He waved a hand in front of her face.
"…Kikyo. What's her condition right now? Does she have a soul?"
"No."
Kikyo shook her head gently.
She reached out, taking Suiko's hand and slowly opening it.
A faintly glowing Shikon Jewel shard rested in her palm.
"…But it seems that when her body is near a shard, it can move on its own," Kikyo explained as she closed Suiko's hand again.
"…So it's being influenced by the fragment," Kagetsu said, nodding thoughtfully. "Or more precisely… by Suiko's soul inside the Shikon Jewel."
"Then what do we do?" Kagome asked, looking at Suiko's lifeless eyes. "We can't just leave her like this…"
"I have a way to stabilize her body," Kagetsu replied. "But before that… we need to give her something else."
He turned to Kikyo.
"…Did you retrieve it?"
"Yes," Kikyo nodded. "It should arrive any moment."
"…Huh?" Inuyasha frowned. "What are you two talking about?"
Before anyone could explain,
He suddenly turned his head.
A streak of white light approached rapidly from the distance.
"…That's,Kikyo's Soul Collectors?"
The glowing forms drifted closer, carrying a cluster of shimmering white light between them.
A dead soul.
Seeing them again, Inuyasha froze briefly,then looked at Suiko.
"…That's for her?"
"…Yes."
Kikyo watched quietly as the Soul Collectors gently guided the dead soul into Suiko's body.
"This is the residual soul I gathered from her remains," she explained. "It contains the power she retained before death. I sent the Soul Collectors to retrieve it when we began preparing the clay vessel."
She turned to Sango.
"I'm sorry. The barrier in the cave… it has disappeared. All of its remaining power was used to form this soul."
"It's fine," Sango said quickly, shaking her head. "That power belonged to her in the first place."
"…But nothing changed," Shippō said, tilting his head as he stared at Suiko. "She still looks the same."
"Of course," Miroku replied calmly.
"Her true soul,the four souls that make up her being,are still sealed within the Shikon Jewel."
"This 'dead soul' is only a remnant. It can sustain the body… but it cannot restore her consciousness."
"…Then what's the point?" Inuyasha frowned.
"Not entirely useless," Kagetsu said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"As long as her body can move… and is fueled by a soul that once belonged to her…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…it should still be capable of wielding a portion of Suiko's power."
"What are you planning?" Kagome asked, curiosity rising.
"I have an idea," he replied. "Whether it works or not… we'll find out soon enough."
As he spoke, Kagetsu gently lifted Kirara off Suiko's shoulder and returned her to Sango.
Then he took the Shikon Jewel shard from Suiko's hand and handed it to Kikyo.
The moment the shard left her palm,
Suiko's body went limp.
She began to fall backward.
Kagetsu was already prepared.
He stepped forward and caught her by the waist, steadying her.
"I'll store her body in the Kamui dimension for now."
His Mangekyō Sharingan activated.
A swirling vortex formed,
And Suiko's body was drawn into it, disappearing from sight.
"Alright, then let's get moving," Inuyasha said immediately. "We've already lost enough time,let's head to Mount Hakurei."
"Agreed."
Kagetsu nodded.
Then turned to Enju.
"But first,I'll send you back."
"…Back?" Enju blinked in surprise. "Where?"
"To the shrine," he replied calmly. "We're heading into dangerous territory next. I won't be able to protect you properly."
"I… I understand," Enju said hesitantly. "But will it trouble you?"
"It won't," he reassured her. "You'll be there in an instant."
"…Alright."
She nodded, then turned to the others and bowed politely.
"Thank you for everything. I hope we meet again."
"We will!" Kagome said with a bright smile. "Once we deal with Naraku, we'll come visit!"
Sango, Miroku, and Shippō echoed their farewells.
Enju finally turned to Kikyo and bowed deeply.
"Lady Kikyo… please take care. I'll be waiting at the shrine."
Then she faced Kagetsu.
"I'm ready."
"Stay still."
The vortex opened once more.
In the next instant,
Enju vanished.
"She made it safely?" Kagome asked, glancing at the empty space.
Kagetsu chuckled lightly.
"She's already there. If you want to see her again, just visit the shrine."
Meanwhile,at the shrine
Kagetsu's Wood Clone stood guard in the courtyard.
The moment he sensed the Kamui space activate, his Sharingan spun to life.
A vortex opened before him,
And Enju emerged.
Her vision blurred for a moment.
One second, she had been surrounded by darkness,
The next,
She stood inside a quiet wooden room.
"…L-Lord?" she blinked in confusion, looking around. "Where am I?"
"Welcome to the shrine," the Wood Clone said calmly. "This is where Kikyo and I live."
He gestured toward himself.
"And I'm a Wood Clone. The original is still with the others."
He turned and motioned toward the door.
"Come. I'll show you around,and introduce you to someone else staying here."
"…O-okay…"
Still dazed, Enju followed him, her eyes wide as she took in her new surroundings.