"Alright… let's place everything here."
Kikyo stepped back slightly, examining the neatly arranged items on the wooden table. A soft, satisfied smile appeared on her lips.
At the top of the altar rested the cracked Mirror of Life.
Beneath it lay the delicate hagoromo, thin as a cicada's wing.
Below that—
A golden, diamond-shaped hairpin.
And finally, the Buddhist stone bowl, which had been returned to Yuzuki… and then offered back in gratitude.
"As long as you're satisfied."
Uchiha Kasage stood off to the side with his arms crossed, his tone relaxed.
After returning to the shrine, they had first settled Yuzuki in the village at the foot of the mountain.
Only then had they come back to the main hall to decide what to do with the spoils of their battle.
In the end—
After asking Kikyo's opinion—
Kasage agreed to enshrine the items here.
Though he felt it was somewhat wasteful to leave such powerful artifacts unused…
At the moment, they had no real purpose.
And Kikyo had explained that the shrine's barrier would slowly nourish and stabilize them.
So he didn't object further.
---
Still—
He had taken time to study them.
The hagoromo, in particular, contained an immense amount of nearly materialized natural energy.
To Kasage, it was obvious—
This was the core of a celestial maiden's power.
In the original events, it had been able to heal Kagome's injuries.
But that was only a passive effect—
A mere overflow of the power belonging to an immortal celestial being.
No wonder—
Kaguya had required the hagoromo to activate the Mirror of Still Water Technique.
Without that energy—
She would never have been able to sustain such a large-scale time-stopping ability.
---
At the same time, Kasage learned something else.
Activating the Mirror of Still Water Technique was extremely demanding.
It required not only the hagoromo—
But also five sacred artifacts:
* The Dragon's Neck Jewel
* The Hourai Jeweled Branch
* The Buddhist Stone Bowl
* The Fire Rat Robe
* The Cowry Shell
Together, they represented the five elements:
Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
And even then—
The technique could only be used by a celestial maiden.
Kaguya had only gained access to it after devouring one.
All of this—
Had been extracted from her during a rather… "friendly" interrogation inside the sealing space.
---
As for Kaguya herself—
She remained sealed.
A mass of dark, mist-like yokai energy, bound tightly to the great tree at the center of the sealing space.
Though she no longer possessed a physical body—
The celestial power she had stolen had not fully faded.
If she found a new vessel—
She could still use fragments of that power.
---
The Mirror of Life was equally intriguing.
Aside from its ability to fire beams of light—
There was an entire world hidden within it.
In the original events, the Castle of Dreams existed inside that world—
Floating within a vast lake.
And beneath its waters—
Lurked a massive, six-headed serpent.
This was the yokai Kaguya had once controlled to attack Inuyasha—
Eventually defeated by him and Kikyo together.
Its true role…
Was likely that of a guardian.
Kasage could observe this world using Sage Power—
But he couldn't enter it.
Even Kaguya couldn't provide a method.
After devouring the celestial maiden, she had only gained the ability to control the mirror—
Opening passages under specific conditions, such as a full moon.
Since there was no clear method—
Kasage didn't push further.
---
Still…
That discovery made one thing clear.
The reason the six-headed serpent hadn't appeared during their battle—
Was simple.
Kaguya never had the chance to summon it.
Her body had been destroyed too quickly by Kikyo.
The Mirror of Life had fallen into Kasage's hands—
And everything had ended before she could act.
Thinking about it—
Her defeat had been almost frustrating.
Like being completely locked down in a battle—
Defeated before even using her strongest ability.
---
"Kikyo… did you forget something?"
Kasage's voice broke the quiet.
A faint hint of amusement lingered in his tone.
Kikyo looked up, slightly confused.
"…Hmm?"
She turned toward him, thinking.
"…What do you mean?"
Kasage took a step closer, a small smile forming.
"During the River God festival…"
"You promised to perform the Kagura Dance for me."
Kikyo froze.
"…Now?"
A faint blush instantly spread across her cheeks.
Her gaze flicked around the empty hall before returning to him.
"…Tonight… would that be alright?"
She lowered her voice slightly, clearly embarrassed.
She had completely forgotten.
With everything that had happened involving Kaguya—
It had slipped her mind.
And now—
Being asked so suddenly…
The thought of dancing in front of him made her cheeks burn.
"I want to see it now."
Kasage's tone was light—
But firm.
His eyes didn't waver.
Kikyo hesitated.
She knew that look.
There was no escaping it.
She was just about to agree—
"Lady Kikyo!"
Voices suddenly called from outside.
Kikyo blinked—
Then let out a quiet breath of relief.
A small, playful smile appeared on her lips.
"A villager needs me."
She stepped past him, light on her feet.
"I'll go see what happened."
As she passed—
She paused.
Then quickly leaned in—
Pressing a soft kiss against his cheek.
"I'll dance for you tonight."
Her voice was gentle—
Almost teasing.
Before Kasage could respond—
She had already disappeared outside.
Kasage touched his cheek, smiling faintly.
"…I'll hold you to that."
---
That Night
Under the quiet glow of moonlight—
The shrine courtyard was still.
Silver light spilled across the ground, illuminating fallen leaves.
Kikyo stood at the center.
Dressed in her miko attire—
A kagura bell in her hand.
She began to move.
Slowly.
Gracefully.
Though her steps carried a slight stiffness—
There was a quiet elegance in every motion.
The soft chime of the bells echoed in the night air.
Her sleeves swayed.
Her long hair shifted gently with each turn.
There was a sacred beauty in her movements—
Calm.
Refined.
Unreachable.
Kasage watched in silence.
Completely drawn in.
Unable to look away.
---
But—
After only a short while—
Kikyo faltered.
Under his unwavering gaze, her composure cracked.
Her face flushed deeply.
"…That's enough."
She abruptly stopped.
Dropping the kagura bell—
She turned and hurried away.
Leaving him standing there.
Kasage let out a quiet laugh.
"…So she ran after all."
---
"Still laughing?"
Kikyo's voice snapped from nearby.
Her cheeks were still faintly red.
She stepped closer—
And lightly struck him twice in irritation.
"Stop daydreaming and get to work."
Kasage raised his hands slightly in surrender.
"Alright, alright."
He exhaled, regaining focus.
Then—
His expression turned serious.
He reached inward—
Toward the Inner Four Symbols Seal.
Carefully—
He opened a small gap.
---
In the next moment—
A black sealing formula spread across his body.
Expanding outward—
Forming multiple Four Symbols inscriptions in the air.
*Clatter—!*
A mass of severed Yokai limbs poured out—
Piling into the center of the courtyard.
A dense, suffocating aura of corruption spread instantly.
But—
Before it could escape—
The ground lit up.
Brilliant white formation scripts activated.
A hemispherical purification barrier rose—
Sealing everything inside.
The corrupt energy slammed against it—
But couldn't escape.
---
"Kikyo."
Kasage glanced at her.
"We can begin."
"…Alright."
Kikyo nodded firmly.
She knelt slightly—
Placing her hand against the formation.
Her spiritual power flowed outward.
Pure.
Radiant.
In the next instant—
Brilliant white light filled the barrier.
The yokai energy began to dissolve—
Melting like snow under sunlight.
The limbs trembled—
Then fell still.
Completely lifeless.
---
These remains—
Were what was left of Naraku after his self-destruction.
Kasage had no intention of leaving them sealed alongside Kaguya.
Because Kaguya—
Still possessed the ability to devour.
If she absorbed Naraku's power—
The consequences would be unpredictable.
And dangerous.
So instead—
They removed the remains.
And purified them completely.
Erasing every trace.