"Little, we're friends of Lady Kikyo! My name is Kagome—this is Inuyasha, and these two are Sango and Monk Miroku."
Seeing Yuzuki aiming her bow at Inuyasha, Kagome quickly stepped forward, introducing everyone with a calm but slightly urgent tone.
"And me! I'm Shippō!"
Perched on Kagome's shoulder, Shippō popped his head out and waved energetically.
"Kagome… Inuyasha?"
Yuzuki froze for a moment as the names registered.
Kikyo's instructions immediately surfaced in her mind—
A strange-looking miko… a half-yokai with silver hair and dog ears, dressed in red…
Her eyes moved to Inuyasha's ears.
"…Is he really a half-yokai?"
"So what if I am, brat?" Inuyasha snapped, clearly annoyed.
"I—I'm sorry!" Yuzuki quickly lowered her bow and bowed deeply. "That was rude of me!"
Now certain their appearance matched Kikyo's description, she hurriedly stepped aside.
"Lady Kikyo told me you might come. Please, come inside!"
---
After everyone settled on the tatami, Yuzuki served tea, then sat properly, hands folded neatly.
"My name is Yuzuki… and I am Lady Kikyo's disciple."
"Kikyo's disciple?!" Kagome and Inuyasha exclaimed at the same time, both visibly surprised.
Sango, Miroku, and Shippō also looked at her with curiosity.
"I'm not official yet," Yuzuki added quickly, puffing her chest slightly, determination shining in her eyes.
"But Lady Kikyo said I have natural spiritual power! When she returns… she'll personally train me."
Before they could process that, Kagome leaned forward slightly.
"Yuzuki… is Kikyo not here right now?"
Yuzuki shook her head.
"Lady Kikyo and Lord Kasage left two days ago. They told me to guard the shrine until they return."
"In other words—they've already left?" Inuyasha stood up abruptly, tension rising in his voice. "Do you know where they went?"
"They were tracking a powerful yokai," Yuzuki replied after a brief pause.
Kagome and Inuyasha exchanged a glance.
"…Naraku."
"Did Kikyo find his trail?" Inuyasha pressed, his tone sharper now.
Yuzuki nodded.
"She told me that if you came, I should inform you—Naraku's aura appeared on the northeastern border of Musashi Province."
"Northeast?!"
Everyone stood up at once, shocked—but also relieved.
Finally… a lead.
"Let's go!" Inuyasha gripped Tessaiga, urgency flashing in his eyes. "Kikyo must already be close to him!"
"Right!" Kagome nodded firmly.
They wasted no time.
After confirming directions, they hurried out.
At the torii gate, Inuyasha glanced back.
"Take care, brat."
Kagome and the others waved as well.
"Be careful!" Yuzuki called out, waving until their figures disappeared into the forest.
Only then did she turn and quietly return inside.
---
*BOOM!*
A sacred arrow streaked through the air and struck a massive yokai.
The instant it hit—
Spiritual power erupted violently, tearing the creature apart in a burst of light and blood.
Before the remains could scatter, **Uchiha Kasage** flicked his hand.
A gust of wind surged outward, sweeping away blood and debris, keeping both him and Kikyo untouched.
The lingering evil aura dissipated slowly.
Kasage exhaled lightly.
"Ever since Naraku disappeared, all the yokai that used to hide from him are coming out."
"They were afraid of being devoured," Kikyo replied calmly, lowering her bow.
"Now that he's gone… they're free."
Kasage frowned slightly.
"Let's move. This place stinks."
Without hesitation, he reached out and took her hand, pulling her along.
"This whole area smells like rot… it's suffocating."
They had already left Musashi Province and had been traveling for a full day, following the direction Naraku had fled.
Their method was simple—
Where yokai gathered densely, clues would follow.
So they fought their way forward.
---
"Wait."
Kikyo suddenly stopped.
Her gaze shifted ahead, sharp and focused.
"…There's a Shikon Jewel shard nearby."
Kasage blinked, slightly surprised.
"A shard? Out here?"
They were far from where the jewel had shattered.
Closing his eyes briefly, he focused his senses.
A moment later, his lips curled faintly.
"There's a human ahead… barely alive."
He opened his eyes.
"The shard is with him. At this rate… he won't last long."
"A human?" Kikyo's brows furrowed.
This place was remote—no villages, no temples.
For an ordinary human to survive here while carrying a Shikon shard…
It was almost impossible.
"Let's go," Kasage said, his tone lighter now. "It's on the way anyway."
He took her hand again, leading forward.
---
Just as they approached—
A figure suddenly staggered out from behind a tree.
An old man.
He raised a short blade with trembling hands, pointing it at them.
"L-Leave your money… or I won't be polite!"
His voice shook, but his eyes were strangely fierce.
Kasage paused, staring at him in silence.
Then… his expression turned utterly speechless.
The man looked half-dead—
Skin pale, body thin as a skeleton, hair patchy and white.
Even the hand holding the blade trembled uncontrollably.
"…You've got to be kidding."
Kasage studied him carefully.
Then he sensed it—
The Shikon Jewel shard.
So this was the one carrying it.
"Old man," Kasage said flatly, "if you want to die, go find a quiet place and wait for it. Don't come looking for trouble."
"J-Just hand it over!" the man shouted stubbornly, ignoring the warning, his blade shaking even more.
Kasage's eyes darkened slightly.
His hand moved to the hilt of his sword.
Patience was running thin.
But before he could act—
The old man's face suddenly twisted in pain.
His hands flew to his chest.
His body collapsed.
*Thud.*
The blade slipped from his fingers.
Kasage instinctively stepped back, eyes narrowing.
"…What now?"
He frowned, raising his voice cautiously:
"Hey! Old man—I didn't touch you! Don't try anything funny!"