Uchiha Kasage had assumed that after Kanna and Kagura left, they wouldn't return anytime soon.
But unexpectedly—
Only three days later…
A gentle breeze swept through the shrine courtyard.
And with it—
Kagura appeared.
Dressed in her elegant pink and violet kimono, she stepped lightly onto the grounds, her figure emerging from the fading wind.
It was the night of the new moon.
The shrine lay in silence, wrapped in darkness. Only a faint candlelight flickered through the window of the main hall, casting soft shadows across the courtyard.
Inside—
Kasage and Kikyo sat on the tatami, facing each other over a low table.
They were playing cards.
A rare moment of leisure.
Kasage had gotten the deck from Kagome out of sheer boredom.
The moment Kagura crossed the barrier—
His hand paused slightly.
"…Oh?"
He raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.
*Kagura?*
"What is she doing here at this hour?" Kikyo murmured, sensing Kagura's presence as well.
Her gaze shifted subtly toward the entrance.
Then—
Without hesitation—
She tossed her cards back onto the table and casually shuffled them with her sleeve.
A small sigh of relief escaped her lips.
Kasage stared at her.
"…Kikyo."
"You were about to lose."
His tone was flat.
"You're cheating."
Kikyo froze.
A faint blush crept onto her face.
"That's not true," she said quietly, though her voice lacked conviction.
Then, quickly turning—
"Kuromaru, put the cards away. We have a guest."
Beside them, the large black bear yokai lifted its head with visible resignation.
With surprising dexterity, it began gathering and organizing the cards with its thick paws.
If it could speak—
It would definitely complain.
Being dragged into card games.
Forced to make up numbers.
And then made to clean up afterward.
Kasage clicked his tongue softly but didn't argue further.
After all—
If the deck was lost, there would be no more games.
---
"Come in. The door isn't locked."
Kasage spoke calmly, sensing Kagura lingering outside, hesitating.
Outside the door—
Kagura stood still.
The candlelight filtering through the paper window flickered across her face.
Her thoughts were in turmoil.
But hearing his voice—
She let out a quiet breath of relief.
*Good… he's here.*
That alone meant half her purpose was fulfilled.
She steadied herself—
Then gently slid the door open.
---
The room was dimly lit by candlelight.
But it wasn't what she expected.
No elaborate altar.
No imposing sacred relics.
Only a simple shrine deeper inside, wrapped in sacred rope.
A low table stood in the center.
Kasage and Kikyo sat across from her.
Watching.
Quietly.
Beside them—
A black bear yokai sorted cards with practiced ease.
On the left wall, rows of medicine cabinets lined the space, each drawer labeled with herbs.
On the right—
Simple furniture.
Ordinary.
Lived-in.
Warm.
It didn't feel like a shrine.
It felt like a home.
"…Kagura."
Kasage's voice broke her thoughts.
"What brings you here so late?"
Kagura stepped forward and sat across from them.
"I want to make a deal."
She raised her hand.
In her palm—
Two shimmering fragments of the Shikon Jewel glowed faintly in the candlelight.
"I'll give you these."
Her voice tightened.
"But in return…"
She locked eyes with Kasage.
"You must help me kill Naraku."
---
Kasage paused.
Then—
His expression shifted slightly.
*The new moon…*
So that was it.
He remembered.
There had been a similar moment before—
Kagura had once sought help from Sesshomaru.
And was rejected.
But now—
She had come here instead.
Whether as a second choice…
Or her first—
Didn't matter.
---
"You intend to betray Naraku?" Kikyo asked softly, her gaze resting briefly on the jewel shards before returning to Kagura.
"I want freedom!"
Kagura's grip on her fan tightened, her knuckles paling.
"I want to escape his control!"
Her voice trembled—not with fear, but with suppressed fury.
"You're collecting the Shikon Jewel, aren't you?" she pressed urgently. "If Naraku dies, everything he has will belong to you!"
"With your strength—"
"You can kill him!"
---
Kasage said nothing.
He simply watched her.
Silently.
That silence—
Pressed down on Kagura like weight.
Her teeth clenched.
Then suddenly—
She lowered herself completely.
Her forehead touched the tatami.
A perfect **dogeza**.
"Please!"
Her voice trembled.
"I can't escape him… no matter what I do!"
"Tonight… for some reason… his power weakened."
"That's why I could come here!"
"So please—help me!"
---
Kasage looked down at her.
Then glanced at Kikyo.
She met his eyes.
And gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.
She wanted to help.
Kasage exhaled softly.
Then spoke.
"Killing Naraku… isn't difficult for me."
Kagura's body stiffened—
Hope surged—
"But," he continued calmly, "I won't do it."
Silence.
"…What?"
Kagura slowly raised her head, disbelief filling her eyes.
"You won't?"
"Are you… afraid of him?"
"No."
Kasage's gaze was steady.
"His existence is tied to too many threads."
"He must die."
"But not by my hand."
"And not now."
---
"Then whose?!" Kagura demanded, her voice sharp with frustration.
Kasage shook his head.
"I can't tell you."
"If Naraku learns of it, things will become… troublesome."
---
Kagura froze.
Then—
Her expression hardened.
The fragile hope in her eyes shattered.
"…I see."
With a cold snort, she stood abruptly.
"So that's your answer."
She turned to leave—
"Wait."
Kasage's voice stopped her.
She paused.
Slowly—
Turned back.
"There's still a deal to be made."
---
Hope flickered again.
"…What kind of deal?" she asked quickly.
Kasage leaned forward slightly.
"When you're by Naraku's side…"
"You'll give us information."
"His plans. His location. The movements of his subordinates."
"Anything useful."
He watched her carefully.
"That shouldn't be difficult for you."
Then—
He added:
"In return…"
"I'll place a technique on you."
Kagura's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…What kind of technique?"
Kasage's voice lowered.
"Once you reclaim your heart from Naraku…"
"It will activate instantly."
"And in that moment—"
"You'll be taken away."
"Far beyond his reach."
---
Silence filled the room.
Kagura's breathing slowed.
Her heart…
Her freedom…
All depended on one thing.
Taking it back.
---
Kasage met her gaze directly.
"So," he asked,
"Do we have a deal?"