"The little girl Kohaku was carrying?"
Hearing Kagome's words, Inuyasha's expression changed instantly.
"This is bad!" he said urgently. "That girl is a hostage Naraku captured to threaten Sesshomaru! If we don't catch up to Kohaku, Sesshomaru—after being manipulated by Naraku—might actually kill him!"
"Inuyasha, I'll go after Kohaku!"
Sango had just arrived, and upon hearing this, her face turned pale. Without hesitation, she prepared to give chase.
"Sango, Inuyasha and I will go!" Kagome suddenly said, stopping her. She quickly jumped onto Inuyasha's back and urged him, "Hurry! There's still time—I can sense the Shikon Jewel shard nearby!"
Inuyasha didn't argue. He adjusted Kagome on his back and nodded firmly.
"We'll go ahead. Don't worry—I'll stop Sesshomaru!"
"Inuyasha… I'm counting on you!" Sango said, her voice tight with concern.
"Yeah!"
Without wasting another second, Inuyasha dashed forward, following Kagome's guidance at full speed.
Sango watched them disappear into the distance. Gritting her teeth, she lifted her Hiraikotsu and turned her fury toward the remaining yokai.
The massive boomerang spun through the air with a sharp whistle.
"Slash—!"
The yokai in front of her were instantly torn apart, their bodies scattering under the force of her anger.
Not far away, Miroku was striking down yokai with his staff. Seeing Sango's fierce expression, he instinctively shrank back slightly and quickened his pace.
Before long, the remaining yokai left behind by Naraku were completely eliminated.
---
"Lady Kikyo, did you and Inuyasha come here from Naraku's castle?"
Sango landed beside Uchiha Kasage and Kikyo, jumping down from Kirara. Her tone was urgent.
"…Did Naraku escape again?"
"We did encounter him at the castle," Kikyo replied with a slight nod. Then she turned her gaze toward Miroku, who had just arrived.
"Monk Miroku… is your Wind Tunnel still there?"
"…What?"
Sango froze, disbelief filling her eyes.
"Could it be… Naraku is dead?"
"He was already severely injured by Sesshomaru and Inuyasha," Kikyo explained calmly. "As he fled, Kasage and I struck him together. His aura disappeared completely."
She paused slightly.
"But the Shikon Jewel's aura vanished as well. That's why I wanted confirmation."
Sango immediately turned to Miroku, her eyes filled with hope.
Miroku remained silent for a moment. His expression grew heavy as he slowly removed the seal from his hand.
He raised it toward empty air.
The Wind Tunnel opened instantly, a powerful suction stirring up a violent gust.
The answer was clear.
"…It's still there," Sango whispered, her shoulders dropping in disappointment.
"He really didn't die," Kikyo said quietly. She had expected this, and her expression remained composed.
"Sango," Kasage spoke calmly, breaking the silence, "go find your brother. Don't let Sesshomaru kill him."
"…Right. Kohaku!"
Sango clenched her fists, regaining her focus.
Miroku resealed the Wind Tunnel and offered a reassuring smile.
"Even if Naraku survived, this proves he can be defeated. Next time… we'll finish him."
"…Yes."
Sango nodded, lifting Shippō onto her shoulder before mounting Kirara.
"Monk, hurry—we need to catch up to Inuyasha and Kagome!"
"Of course."
Miroku climbed on behind her, then turned slightly.
"Kasage, Lady Kikyo—thank you."
"You're welcome," Kasage replied with a faint nod.
Kirara leapt into the air, carrying them swiftly in pursuit.
---
"Let's go too," Kasage said.
"…Mm."
Kikyo nodded and summoned her shikigami, Kuro Maru. The creature appeared silently, and she stepped onto its back before turning toward him.
"It's almost dawn," she said softly, extending her hand. "Let's take it slow on the way back."
Kasage smiled faintly and took her hand, sitting behind her. His arm naturally wrapped around her waist.
"Alright… back to the shrine."
Kuro Maru soared into the sky, gliding smoothly above the forest.
In the distance, the first light of dawn painted the mountains in soft shades of red.
---
Leaning lightly against his chest, Kikyo spoke again.
"Sesshomaru is different from Inuyasha… he's a full Great Yokai, not a half-yokai. Does that mean his mother is also a Great Yokai?"
"That's right," Kasage replied. "Sesshomaru's mother is a powerful dog yokai. Inuyasha's mother, on the other hand, was human."
Kikyo blinked slightly.
"So… Inuyasha's father had two wives?"
Kasage nodded.
"Yes. Inuyasha's father—Inu no Taisho—had two wives. One was a noble dog yokai, Sesshomaru's mother. The other was a human princess, Izayoi… Inuyasha's mother."
"I see…"
Kikyo absorbed this quietly. Then, after a brief pause, she turned her head slightly, her eyes carrying a subtle hint of curiosity.
"…And you?"
Kasage raised an eyebrow.
"Do you also intend to have two wives?"
He paused, then met her gaze directly, a faint smile forming.
"If my wife is you, Kikyo… then I swear I'll only have one in this lifetime."
For a brief moment, something warm flickered in Kikyo's eyes.
She didn't argue.
Instead, she shifted the topic.
"That girl Naraku used to threaten Sesshomaru… Rin. She's human, right?"
"…Yes."
Kikyo tilted her head slightly, thoughtful.
"You once said Sesshomaru despises humans. But earlier… he clearly cared about her. Why?"
Kasage chuckled softly.
"He just hadn't met someone he cared about before."
He continued, his tone calm but knowing.
"Sesshomaru inherited his father's nature. Don't forget—Inu no Taisho himself fell in love with a human."
Kikyo seemed momentarily surprised, then a faint, curious smile appeared.
"…Are you suggesting something about Sesshomaru and that girl?"
Kasage raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't it obvious? He claims to despise humans… yet ends up attached to a human girl."
Kikyo blinked.
"…She's only seven."
A trace of disapproval flashed across her face.
"…That's questionable."
Kasage laughed quietly.
"For a Great Yokai, time passes differently. By the time she grows up, it'll feel like a moment to him."
Kikyo sighed softly, still unconvinced.
"A proud Great Yokai who despises humans… yet becomes attached to one—and a child at that…"
She shook her head slightly.
"…It's hard to understand."
"It's not that strange," Kasage replied gently. "It's in his blood."
He added with a small smile:
"His father loved a human. And besides… dogs have always been close to humans."
Kikyo paused.
Then, unexpectedly, she smiled.
"…When you put it that way… I suppose I can't argue."