"My shikigami!"
Carried through the air by a swarm of demons, Tsubaki had intended to witness Kagome's death with her own eyes. Instead, she watched in horror as her white serpent familiar was reduced to ashes in a single strike.
Rage churned in her chest, but she didn't dare linger for even a heartbeat. She immediately urged the demons to accelerate her escape.
Buzz—
The sharp tremor of a bowstring suddenly cut through the night, followed by a piercing whistle of wind.
Tsubaki turned back in terror.
In the distance, Kikyo stood with bow in hand, her posture steady and unshakable.
A single arrow, overflowing with vast spiritual power, shone with blinding white radiance. Dragging a long comet-like trail, it tore across the night sky toward her.
"Block it!"
Sensing the terrifying power within the arrow, Tsubaki's face drained of color. She frantically commanded every demon around her to shield her body.
But the purifying arrow did not slow in the slightest.
It streaked forward like a blade of light, piercing through every demon in its path.
In an instant, it passed straight through Tsubaki's chest.
The arrow burst out from her back without losing momentum, flying deep into the night before dissolving into a fading point of light.
"Th-this…"
Tsubaki trembled and clutched her chest—only to find no wound, no blood, as though the arrow's penetration had been an illusion.
She opened her mouth to sneer—
But suddenly her entire body convulsed.
"No! My demonic power! My demons!"
The demonic energy fused within her was draining away at terrifying speed.
At the same time, every demon around her lost its aura instantly. They dropped from the sky like dead leaves and crumbled into ash before even hitting the ground, scattering in the night wind.
Bang!
Tsubaki crashed heavily onto the earth.
The fragment of the Shikon Jewel she had hidden slipped from her grasp, rolled across the ground, and came to a stop a short distance away.
"It's not over…"
Though her demonic power had nearly vanished, her eyes locked onto the fragment, a glimmer of desperate hope flickering within them.
She struggled to her feet and staggered toward it.
"I still have the Shikon Jewel… As long as I obtain its power…"
Buzzing filled the air.
Just as she was only a few steps away, a swarm of Naraku's saimyōshō—venomous insect demons—burst from the darkness.
They swiftly scooped up the Jewel fragment and shot into the sky.
"My… my Shikon Jewel!"
Tsubaki stumbled after them for a few steps, but without demonic support her body quickly failed her. She collapsed again, powerless.
Watching the saimyōshō disappear into the night, realization struck like lightning.
She had been played.
"Naraku! You deceived me!"
Fury ignited in her eyes.
"Naraku, you dare toy with me? I won't forgive you!"
Clenching her teeth, she struggled to her feet and staggered away from Inuyasha's group.
Only now did she realize—
Kikyo's arrow had indeed pierced her body, yet it had not harmed her flesh.
It had only erased every demon within her.
But without their power sustaining her, her body began to age rapidly.
After only two steps, her strength gave out. She fell once more.
"Damn it… damn it!"
Lying helpless on the ground, she watched wrinkles spread across her hands.
"My youth… my beauty…"
Rustle.
Footsteps brushed against the grass.
Tsubaki struggled to turn her head. The first thing she saw was a pair of white tabi socks and red-thonged straw sandals.
A priestess's attire.
A bitter smile curved her lips. Using her last strength, she rolled onto her back.
As expected—
Kikyo, clad in red and white, stood above her, gazing down calmly.
"Kikyo… you've won. Kill me."
Tsubaki looked at her once, then turned her gaze toward the star-filled sky. A distant memory flickered in her dull eyes.
"I just don't understand… where did I go wrong?"
"Your obsession," Kikyo replied, her voice cool as moonlight.
"The moment you became obsessed with the Shikon Jewel's power, you had already lost."
"Obsession… with the Jewel?"
Tsubaki laughed weakly.
"No. I only wanted to prove to my master that he was wrong. I was the strongest priestess!"
Her voice rose with sudden force.
"I'm not reconciled! Why was the Shikon Jewel entrusted to you and not me? Why not me? What did I lack compared to you?!"
"The strongest priestess…"
Kikyo paused slightly.
For years she had never understood why Tsubaki, whom she had met only a handful of times fifty years ago, had fallen into darkness and attacked her.
Now she knew.
"I would rather… I had never been chosen back then…"
A trace of sorrow flickered in Kikyo's eyes.
The Shikon Jewel had not only taken her life—it had also dragged Tsubaki into the abyss.
She shook her head gently.
Regret was useless now.
With a flick of her wrist, she tossed a serpent-like demon she had been holding toward Tsubaki.
"…You're not going to kill me?"
Tsubaki stared in disbelief at the demon that landed on her.
Kikyo said nothing.
Though confused, Tsubaki had no intention of refusing a chance to live.
Her right eye flared with a strange violet glow. She absorbed the serpent demon into her body.
Demonic energy surged back into her veins.
Wrinkles smoothed away before the naked eye, and her youthful beauty returned.
She lifted her hand, admiring the smooth skin, touching her face with near ecstasy.
"Stand up."
Kikyo's calm voice shattered her reverie.
Though uncertain of Kikyo's intentions, Tsubaki rose to her feet. She brushed the dirt from her robes, smoothed every crease, and restored her appearance meticulously.
"Speak, Kikyo. You didn't kill me—what do you want?"
Her eyes were wary.
Earlier, Kikyo had spared her in exchange for using her demons as Kagome's training.
Now she had spared her again.
Tsubaki refused to believe it was kindness.
"Kikyo!"
At that moment, Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, and Sango cut down the remaining demons and rushed over.
"That dark priestess Tsubaki is still alive?!"
Inuyasha immediately spotted her beside Kikyo. Alarm flashed across his face as he raised Tessaiga.
"Kikyo, be careful!"
Standing beside Kikyo, Tsubaki glanced at Inuyasha's guarded stance.
A provocative smile tugged at her lips.
"It was Kikyo who chose not to kill me," she said loudly on purpose.
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