"Kikyo-sama… where are we going now?"
Sitting on Kuromaru's back and leaning lightly against Kikyo, Yuzuki watched the sunlight filter through the leaves above. Golden rays wove through the forest like threads, casting a warm glow around them.
Tilting her head, she asked curiously.
"We're going to find the yokai sealed ahead," Kikyo replied softly, one arm wrapped gently around her waist to keep her steady.
"It's at Lake Motosu. We're almost there."
"…Are we going to fight a yokai?" Yuzuki looked up at her, her clear eyes filled with quiet determination.
Kikyo gently stroked her head.
"…Yes."
"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."
Yuzuki shook her head firmly.
"I'm not afraid!"
Her hands tightened slightly.
"I'm just worried… I might become a burden to you, Kikyo-sama."
"…You won't," Kikyo said gently.
"Kid, just stay put and don't overthink it."
Uchiha Kasage's voice came from the side as he walked beside Kuromaru, hands casually at his sides.
"I—" Yuzuki started to respond.
"You're way too slow! I've been waiting forever!"
A sharp, impatient female voice suddenly cut through the air.
Yuzuki flinched, startled, and quickly looked ahead.
Beneath a large tree stood a woman.
She wore an elegant purple robe patterned with intricate designs. In her hand was a delicate folding fan, which she tapped lightly against her palm.
Her pink eyes were fixed on them with clear impatience.
Her beauty—
Almost unreal.
"Kagura…" Kasage muttered, his gaze settling on her.
"You're here for the Buddha's Stone Bowl, right?"
Without hesitation, he took the stone bowl from Kikyo—
And tossed it toward her.
Kagura caught it effortlessly.
She weighed it in her hand, then gave a small, careless shrug.
"Thanks."
"I was planning to retrieve it myself, but that entire village got wiped out. Humans really are fragile."
Her tone carried mild annoyance.
"Luckily, Kamikuya can sense these items. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known you took it."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"I finally shook off Naraku's surveillance and came here to wait for you… and you took your time."
"…My apologies," Kasage replied flatly, with no real apology in his voice.
Kagura scoffed lightly but didn't press further.
"We've gathered everything."
Her tone turned serious.
"The seal can be broken tonight."
She looked directly at him.
"Don't be late."
Kasage nodded once.
"We'll be at Lake Motosu before sunset."
"…Good."
With that, Kagura flicked her fan.
A sudden gust of wind surged around her, lifting her form effortlessly.
In an instant—
She vanished into the forest.
Leaves drifted down slowly in her wake.
Kikyo watched them fall.
"…Let's move. We need to hurry."
"…Yeah."
Kasage agreed.
Things had already diverged from what he remembered.
In the original flow—
Kaguya would act later.
Now—
Everything was accelerating.
---
### At Lake Motosu
"…It's beautiful…"
Yuzuki's voice was filled with awe.
Before them stretched the lake—
Bathed in the golden hues of sunset.
The surface shimmered like liquid gold, reflecting the fading light of the sky.
A thin mist drifted across the water, its edges glowing softly—
Like something out of a dream.
Even Kikyo paused for a moment.
And Kasage—
Silently observed.
His eyes scanned the lake carefully.
But—
There was no palace.
*Not yet…*
*So it only appears under the full moon…*
Time passed.
The sun dipped below the horizon.
Darkness slowly claimed the sky.
And then—
The moon rose.
Full.
Bright.
Cold.
Kasage, seated cross-legged by the lake in Sage Mode, suddenly opened his eyes.
At that exact moment—
Something changed.
At the center of the lake—
A palace appeared.
Silently.
As if it had always been there.
Its structure shimmered under the moonlight, its glazed tiles reflecting a cold, ethereal glow.
Magnificent.
Otherworldly.
Like a residence belonging to something… not human.
But Kasage's gaze didn't linger.
Instead—
He turned sharply toward the forest.
"…Kagura's moving."
Her aura was approaching.
Fast.
"She's about to break the seal," he said quietly.
"Hm…?"
Kikyo suddenly frowned.
Her senses sharpened.
"…The Shikon Jewel."
Her gaze shifted deeper into the forest.
"I can feel it… approaching."
"And not just that—"
"There's another presence…"
Kasage stood up, stretching his shoulders slightly.
"That's Inuyasha and the others."
"What you're sensing is likely the shard Kagome carries."
He paused briefly.
"…Kagura is probably at Lake Kawaguchi now, preparing to complete the ritual."
He hadn't expected this.
In the original story—
Inuyasha's group arrived later.
Now—
They were already here.
The unnatural full moons must have drawn their attention.
Kasage turned to Yuzuki.
She was clutching Kuromaru's fur tightly, clearly nervous.
He took out a kunai and handed it to her.
"Keep this."
"Don't lose it."
"If anything happens—I'll find you immediately."
Yuzuki nodded, gripping it carefully.
"…Yes."
"Shadow Clone Technique."
A puff of smoke burst beside him.
Another Kasage appeared.
Without a word, the clone nodded—
Then vanished into the forest, heading toward Inuyasha's group.
Kikyo glanced at him.
"…What are you planning?"
"The Heavenly Robe should be with them," Kasage replied, pulling out another kunai.
"If Kaguya breaks free—she'll go after it."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"So I'll bring it here first."
He flicked his wrist.
The kunai flew—
And embedded itself into a tree near the lake with a sharp *thud*.
"If she goes after them…"
His voice lowered.
"I'll use Flying Thunder God to pull her here."
He turned to Kikyo.
"That's when you strike."
Kikyo met his gaze.
"…Understood."
Then—
Suddenly—
Kasage's expression changed.
"…She's here."
A vast, oppressive aura surged into his senses.
Cold.
Ancient.
Filled with overwhelming malice.
Kikyo stiffened instantly.
"…Such power…"
Her voice was tense.
"I can feel it—"
"The moment she appeared…"
Kasage turned toward the forest.
His eyes narrowed.
"She's heading for Inuyasha."
"And she's fast."
Very fast.