"This is… spiritual power from a miko! It's purifying the evil aura!"
As the surrounding yokai aura receded at a visible rate, a faint white glow spread across the area. Kagome's eyes widened in shock.
She knew this power well.
Pure… gentle… yet overwhelming.
It was the spiritual power unique to a miko.
"…Kikyo… and Kasage!"
Realization struck instantly.
And as the two figures approached through the fading darkness, Kagome clearly saw them—Kikyo, dressed in her familiar miko robes with bow and arrows at her back…
And beside her—
Uchiha Kasage.
---
Soon, the two reached them.
Kasage glanced at the group, his expression calm as ever.
"So you're here too," he said casually. "Kagome… and the demon slayer I met before."
His gaze shifted slightly.
"…And you—Shippō, right? The little fox."
Shippō froze.
"Ah—y-yes! That's me!" he stammered, his tail puffing up instinctively as he shrank behind Kagome.
The pressure he had felt from this man before…
He hadn't forgotten it.
Not even a little.
---
"Are you… the two who came to our village before?"
With Kikyo's spiritual power purifying the surrounding yokai aura, Sango felt her strength slowly returning. Recognizing them, she spoke with surprise.
"Yes," Kikyo replied softly, nodding.
Her gaze lingered on Sango for a moment.
She remembered clearly—
The shard of the Shikon Jewel Kasage had taken from her back then.
Without another word, Kikyo stepped forward.
Sango blinked in confusion—
Then stiffened.
Kikyo had gently placed her palm against her chest.
A soft white glow emerged.
Warm.
Soothing.
Yet powerful.
A purifying force flowed steadily into Sango's body, driving out the lingering yokai aura that had been tormenting her.
Bit by bit—
The pain faded.
The heaviness vanished.
Color returned to her face.
When Kikyo withdrew her hand, Sango immediately understood.
"…Thank you," she said sincerely, bowing deeply. "I feel much better now."
Then, as if remembering something important, she turned quickly toward Kasage and bowed even lower.
"And… thank you for your warning before. Because of you, many people in my village survived."
Kasage raised an eyebrow slightly, feigning mild surprise.
"Oh? Your village was attacked by yokai?"
"Yes," Sango replied, her voice steady but heavy. "Thanks to your warning, the non-combatants were gathered in advance. The village was destroyed… but most of the people survived."
She bowed again.
"Truly… thank you."
Kasage waved his hand lightly.
"You don't need to thank me. I only mentioned it in passing. The one who truly protected your people… was your father, and his decisions as their leader."
Sango paused, then nodded slowly.
"…Still, I won't forget it."
Then she straightened.
"My name is Sango. I never properly introduced myself before."
"Uchiha Kasage," he replied simply. "Just call me Kasage."
---
As the two spoke, Kikyo's brows furrowed slightly.
She stepped forward, positioning herself subtly between them.
Her gaze shifted toward Sango and Kagome.
"…How did you come to be traveling with Kagome and Inuyasha?" she asked calmly.
The moment the question was asked—
Sango's expression changed.
Pain.
Then anger.
Deep, burning hatred.
She took a slow breath before speaking.
"Not long after you left the village… my father led us to Hitomi Castle to exterminate yokai."
Her voice trembled faintly.
"But it was all a trap. Naraku's trap."
Her hands clenched.
"He controlled my younger brother… and forced him to kill our father… and everyone who went with them."
Silence fell.
Even the air seemed to grow heavier.
"I was deceived," she continued, her voice low and strained. "I believed Inuyasha was the enemy. Only later did I learn the truth… and join Kagome and the others to take revenge on Naraku."
Her hatred was unmistakable.
"…Naraku…" Kikyo repeated softly.
A faint trace of sorrow crossed her eyes.
Another victim.
Another life ruined by him.
"…I understand," she said quietly.
Then she turned toward the cave.
"Don't stay here. Let's go inside together. This place… was likely created by Naraku to restore himself."
---
"…Naraku!"
Kagome and Sango exchanged a glance, immediately rising to follow.
"Shippō, Kirara—come on!" Kagome called.
The group moved into the cave.
Kikyo's spiritual power spread around them like a moving barrier, shielding them from the suffocating yokai aura within.
---
"Is Inuyasha inside?"
Kikyo's voice echoed softly through the cave.
Kagome flinched slightly at the sudden question.
"Y-yes… he is," she replied, a little too quickly. "Inuyasha and Miroku went in earlier, but they haven't come out yet… we don't know what's happening."
Kikyo stopped walking.
Then slowly turned.
Her gaze settled on Kagome.
Calm.
Unreadable.
"…You seem nervous around me," she said quietly.
Kagome froze.
"N-No! Not at all!" she blurted out instantly, her voice rising as she avoided Kikyo's eyes.
---
"…?"
Sango blinked, confused by the reaction.
Before she could ask—
Shippō leapt onto her shoulder and whispered into her ear.
"Sango… that miko is Kikyo. Kagome is her reincarnation."
"…Reincarnation?" Sango's eyes widened.
Shippō nodded seriously.
"She died fifty years ago. Then a witch revived her… using Kagome's soul."
Sango barely had time to process that—
Before Shippō added, almost eagerly:
"And she and Inuyasha were in love. But because of Naraku's scheme, Kikyo sealed Inuyasha for fifty years before she died."
"…What?!"
Sango couldn't stop herself from gasping.
Her eyes immediately darted between Kikyo and Kagome.
Then widened even more.
Now that she looked closely—
They really did resemble each other.
A lot.
And suddenly…
Everything made sense.
Too much sense.
---
Their quiet conversation echoed clearly through the cave.
Kagome heard every word.
Her entire body stiffened.
She wanted to run.
Desperately.
But her pride wouldn't allow it.
Come on, Kagome… don't panic…
She clenched her fists internally.
You already faced her once. You can do it again…
But—
It wasn't the same.
Not this time.
If Inuyasha were here…
Maybe she could stand her ground.
But now—
It was just her.
And Kikyo.
And for some reason…
That alone made everything feel far more overwhelming.
---