"I wish to meet an old acquaintance… to settle some past grievances."
Kikyo stood by the window, her gaze resting on the swaying shadows of the trees outside. A distant look flickered in her eyes as she broke the quiet inside the treehouse.
"Inuyasha?"
Uchiha Kasage raised an eyebrow, his curiosity immediately surfacing.
"Speaking of that," he continued, his tone turning thoughtful—yet dangerously casual, "I've always wondered something."
He leaned slightly against the wooden wall.
"Inuyasha is with Kagome now… and Kagome is your reincarnation. So tell me—do you think he's always been devoted to one person?"
He smirked faintly.
"Or did he just… move on and start playing both sides?"
"…"
Kikyo turned her face slightly away, casting him a brief glance. Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she said nothing.
The silence itself was an answer.
Unfortunately—
Kasage didn't notice.
Instead, he continued, completely unaware he was stepping deeper into dangerous territory.
"Then which one of you is the real you?" he went on, now genuinely curious. "If Kagome ends up with him, does that count as you rekindling your love after reincarnation… or is it just him forgetting you and falling for someone else?"
Still no answer.
Kikyo's expression darkened almost imperceptibly.
"And if I revive you," Kasage added, tilting his head, "what then? Do you fight Kagome for him… or let it go?"
He paused—then delivered the final blow without realizing it.
"Though honestly… fighting your own reincarnation over a man sounds like fighting yourself."
Silence.
A dangerous kind of silence.
Kikyo's fingers tightened slightly.
Her knuckles turned faintly pale.
For a brief moment—
She seriously considered hitting him.
But in the end, she exhaled slowly and restrained herself.
Instead, she raised a hand to her forehead, gently pressing against it as if soothing a headache.
Without another word, she stood and walked toward the door.
At that moment, several pale Soul Collectors drifted in from the forest, gathering beside her. They lifted her body effortlessly into the air.
Kasage finally seemed to realize the mood had shifted.
"…Do you want me to come with you?" he asked.
"No."
Kikyo paused mid-air and glanced back at him.
Her voice was calm—but firm.
"This is something between him and me. I will settle it myself."
She held his gaze for a brief moment.
"Stay here. I will come find you afterward."
Then—
She turned away.
The Soul Collectors carried her into the forest, her figure fading into the darkness.
Kasage watched her go.
Then—
A slow, mischievous smile appeared.
"…Going to meet Inuyasha and Kagome without me?"
He chuckled softly.
"That won't do."
Something in his eyes shifted—playful, but calculating.
After spending time with her, he had come to understand just how tragic Kikyo's story truly was.
And perhaps—
Without realizing it—
He had grown fond of her.
"To save Inuyasha from the pain of choosing…" he muttered lightly, "maybe I should just… interfere a little."
He recalled the events he knew.
That encounter.
The barrier.
Kagome walking in by mistake.
The confrontation between the three of them—
And how it ended.
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"…That ending was too unfair."
He straightened.
"But no rush."
A faint smirk returned.
"When I brought her here last night… I already left a Flying Thunder God mark on her."
No matter where she went—
He could reach her instantly.
Even through barriers.
He had originally planned to explore the surroundings, but now—
"…The situation has already changed."
Kikyo no longer needed dead souls.
The story had already deviated.
Which meant—
The future was no longer fixed.
Without hesitation, Kasage leapt from the treehouse.
His body moved swiftly through the forest, silent and precise, like a shadow weaving between trees as he followed her trail from a distance.
As he ran, a random thought surfaced.
"…A flying mount would be useful."
He recalled the image of Kikyo being carried through the air.
Then—
Another memory.
"That cat yokai… Natsuarashi."
He frowned slightly.
"I forgot to ask if she can fly. If Sesshomaru—a dog yokai—can, then logically a leopard cat yokai should be able to as well."
He paused mid-motion, imagining it.
Standing on her back… flying through the sky…
"…No."
He shook his head immediately.
"That would look ridiculous."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"Better to find a more cooperative flying yokai later."
---
Meanwhile—
By a river clearing, Kagome, Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shippō rested together.
The atmosphere was calm.
But not far away, along a narrow path, a young monk struggled to support the injured Master Harumi.
After the events of the previous night, they had been taken back to the village. Their wounds were treated as best as possible, and by morning, they had set out toward a nearby town to seek proper care.
As they passed by the clearing, the young monk glanced briefly at the group, assuming they were ordinary travelers.
But then—
He looked again.
His face drained of color instantly.
"T-that woman—!"
His body trembled.
"Ah—!"
The sudden scream shattered the calm.
Kagome flinched and instinctively pulled Shippō into her arms, retreating behind Inuyasha.
Miroku immediately raised his staff, his expression turning sharp.
Inuyasha frowned.
"…What's wrong with them?"
Without hesitation, he chased after the fleeing monks.
"Hey! Why are you running?!"
Burdened by the injured Harumi, they didn't get far.
Inuyasha quickly caught up and blocked their path.
The young monk collapsed to the ground, dragging Harumi down with him. His entire body trembled uncontrollably.
"D-d-demon…!"
"Inuyasha, let me handle this."
Miroku stepped forward calmly.
With some effort, he managed to calm them down and uncover the truth.
Soon, everyone sat together again.
Inuyasha crossed his arms.
"You said you encountered yokai?"
"Yes…"
Master Harumi took a slow breath, his gaze falling onto Kagome.
His expression grew complicated.
"One of them… looked very much like this young lady."
"…Me?"
Kagome blinked, startled.
"A priestess," he continued. "But surrounded by a powerful aura of resentment. It was… deeply unsettling."
Kagome's heart skipped a beat.
"A priestess… that looks like me…"
Miroku leaned slightly forward.
"Were your injuries caused by her?"
"…No."
Harumi shook his head.
"It was one of her subordinates."
His voice grew heavier as he recalled the scene.
"A man dressed like a samurai… incredibly powerful. I was defeated almost instantly."
A faint tremor ran through him.
"He was no ordinary human. Most likely a shikigami… or something under her control."
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes.
"Then why are you still alive?"
Harumi paused.
"…He was about to kill me."
His gaze darkened slightly.
"But the priestess stopped him."
He seemed to remember something important.
"…Ah. Yes."
He looked at them all.
"Her name is…"
A brief silence.
"…Kikyo."