"Why… is the mark still there?"
Lan stared with wide eyes, her voice filled with confusion.
Her small face had gone completely blank.
"It's the Cauldron of Resonance… it must be connected to the Cauldron of Resonance!"
Asagi reacted instantly. As the next hanyō chosen for sacrifice, her voice trembled slightly, but her reasoning was clear.
"Yes! Every time a sacrifice is made, the Four War Gods grow stronger!" Moegi added quickly, nodding with urgency. "It has to be because of the Cauldron!"
"Then… can you take us to it?"
A calm voice suddenly came from above.
"Ah!"
The children gasped and looked up in shock.
Above them—
Uchiha Kasage sat atop Entei, the flames beneath its hooves flickering steadily.
Beside he stood a familiar figure.
Blazing Hoof landed smoothly.
Kasage stepped down first, then helped Kikyo descend.
Kikyo approached the group and slowly knelt down, her movements gentle, her expression soft and warm.
"It's been a long time… Asagi, Moegi, Green, Orange, Aster, Blue."
The children froze for a moment.
Then recognition dawned.
"Y-You… Kikyo-neechan?" Asagi asked, her voice hesitant but hopeful.
Memories from fifty years ago resurfaced.
That same gentle shrine maiden.
That same calm presence.
Lan was the first to move.
"Kikyo-neechan!"
She ran forward and threw herself into Kikyo's arms, holding her tightly.
"I thought… I'd never see you again…"
Kikyo smiled softly and embraced her.
"I'm here now."
She stood, still holding Lan, and looked at Asagi with a more serious expression.
"Asagi… can you take us to the Cauldron of Resonance?"
Asagi followed her gaze toward the distant, mist-covered mountains.
She hesitated briefly.
Then nodded firmly.
"…Alright. Follow me."
She turned and began leading them deeper into the forest.
"Kikyo, let's go," she said softly.
Kikyo walked beside her, while Kasage followed behind at a relaxed pace.
Along the way, the children kept glancing back at Kasage.
Their eyes were filled with awe… and curiosity.
They wanted to speak, but didn't dare.
Kikyo noticed and gently introduced her.
"This Uchiha Kasage. You can call he Kasage."
Asagi immediately stopped, then bowed deeply.
"Kasage… thank you for defeating the Four War Gods."
The others followed, bowing with sincere gratitude.
Kasage waved her hand lightly.
"No need. I had my eyes on this island anyway. They were just in the way."
She paused briefly, then added,
"And Kikyo defeated the turtle yokai outside."
"That was Gōra!" Moegi said quickly. "One of the Four War Gods!"
Lan lifted her head from Kikyo's shoulder, looking at Kasage with bright eyes.
"Kasage… are you going to stay on Hōraijima Island?"
Kikyo answered gently instead.
"We plan to settle here… but we may not always be present."
Lan's face lit up instantly.
"Kikyo-neechan is staying too? That's great!"
She hugged Kikyo tighter, clearly overjoyed.
Then, tilting her head slightly, she asked,
"Kikyo-neechan… where's Inuyasha? The one who came with you before?"
The others leaned in, equally curious.
Kikyo paused for a brief moment.
Then she smiled gently.
"…He has his own path to follow."
"Oh… I see."
Lan accepted the answer easily.
Then she asked again,
"How did you get into the island?"
"We passed through the barrier," Kikyo replied simply. Then her expression became more focused. "Tell me more about the Cauldron of Resonance."
Moegi, walking beside her, spoke with a serious tone.
"The Cauldron was originally something sacred… protected by humans, yokai, and hanyō together."
Her voice hardened.
"But the Four War Gods corrupted it. They used it to steal power from us… to turn it into their own yokai energy."
Her fists clenched slightly.
"So many people… became sacrifices."
Green lowered her head, her voice quiet but heavy.
"Our parents… our siblings…"
Aster gently pointed at the glowing fireflies drifting around them.
"These… are their souls."
"All of them jumped into the Cauldron."
Her voice softened even more.
"Including our families."
Shion, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
"Every fifty years… when the island connects to the outside world… the Cauldron demands a sacrifice."
Kikyo's expression darkened.
"Fifty years…"
Her gaze moved across the thin, fragile children.
"This time… who is it?"
"Asagi-neechan," Green answered calmly.
Then, after a brief pause—
"…and after that, it will be me. Or Orange."
Her tone was steady.
But the fear in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
At that moment—
Kasage suddenly spoke.
Her voice carried a hint of curiosity.
"You've lived here for at least fifty years, haven't you?"
The children looked at her.
"You met Kikyo and Inuyasha back then. That means you should be much older."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why do you still look like children?"
It was something that had been bothering her.
Hanyō had long lifespans, yes—
But their early growth should still resemble humans.
Yet these children hadn't changed at all.
It was unnatural.
"…It's because of the Four War Gods."
Asagi answered without turning back.
Her voice carried suppressed anger.
"When the barrier strengthens, their power weakens."
"So before that happens… they seal us away."
Kasage's eyes sharpened slightly.
"And when their power returns… they release you."
"Yes."
Asagi clenched her fists.
"They never give us time to grow."
"Or to learn how to use our own yokai power."
Silence followed.
Kasage let out a faint breath.
"…So that's how it is."
Her expression turned thoughtful.
Fifty years—
More than enough time for these children to grow strong.
Even if they couldn't defeat the Four War Gods—
They could have resisted.
Or escaped.
But by keeping them frozen in time—
Weak.
Dependent.
The Four War Gods ensured only one thing.
That these children…
Would remain sacrifices forever.