"Don't worry. I've already revived Kohaku. You'll see him once we reach the shrine."
Uchiha Kasage noticed the anxiety in Sango's eyes and spoke in a calm, reassuring tone.
"…Thank you. Thank you so much."
Sango's tense expression softened instantly, her eyes filling with gratitude.
"That brat already thanked me," Kasage replied casually, waving it off.
"…Kohaku…" Sango hesitated, her voice lowering slightly. Conflict flickered in her eyes. "Has he… remembered everything?"
She wanted him to remember—
to remember her, their bond, their life together in the Demon Slayer village.
But at the same time…
she feared it.
Feared that he would remember the pain—killing their father, slaughtering his companions—and be consumed by guilt.
Kasage glanced at her briefly.
"He's regained his memories."
"…I see…"
Sango's voice trembled.
"Then… what does he think about what he did?"
"I don't know," Kasage replied evenly. "You should ask him yourself."
Silence fell over Sango as she lowered her gaze.
Kagura, watching her from the side, idly twirled her folding fan.
"Humans really are troublesome," she said with a faint smirk. "So bound by pointless emotions."
Her tone turned sharper.
"It's exactly because of those emotions that you were all so easily manipulated by Naraku… especially that half-yokai."
Kasage glanced at her, then spoke thoughtfully,
"Kagura… what do you think Kanna would feel, now that you've escaped Naraku?"
"Kanna…?" Kagura paused, slightly surprised by the question.
After a moment, she shook her head.
"She's always expressionless… like nothing matters to her. I don't think she feels much of anything."
Kasage's gaze sharpened slightly.
"If Naraku had killed you… do you think she would feel nothing?"
Kagura fell silent.
She actually considered it this time.
"…Probably not," she said after a pause, though there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "I've never seen her sad… or angry."
"That may not be true," Kasage said quietly, a faint, knowing smile forming. "You're the only one she has. If you were gone… she would feel it."
"…Who knows?" Kagura replied lightly.
Her tone remained calm, but something subtle flickered in her eyes.
"Yokai aren't like humans," she added flatly. "Why should that be strange?"
"…I suppose," Sango murmured, still distracted.
Given how different yokai could be, something like that wasn't impossible.
"Alright. We've arrived," Kasage said, breaking the silence. "Let's go down."
Sango snapped out of her thoughts immediately.
They passed through the shrine's barrier and landed smoothly in the courtyard.
"Kohaku!"
The moment her feet touched the ground, Sango called out, unable to hold back her voice any longer.
The door creaked open.
A familiar figure appeared.
"Sister!"
Kohaku's eyes lit up the instant he saw her, and he ran toward her without hesitation.
"Kohaku!"
Sango rushed forward and pulled him into a tight embrace, tears spilling from her eyes.
"I thought… I'd never see you again…"
Kohaku buried his face against her, his voice breaking as long-suppressed emotions finally overflowed.
"I thought I was gone forever…"
In that moment, he was no longer the calm, determined boy who faced death under Naraku's control—
Just a child… clinging to his sister.
Sango held him tightly, as if afraid he might disappear again.
"…I'm here," she whispered. "You're safe now."
From the side, Kagura watched the scene with her arms crossed.
"…They really are close," she remarked quietly.
Kasage's gaze lingered on them for a moment.
"…That's exactly why Naraku enjoys destroying things like this," he said softly, a trace of disdain in his voice.
At that moment, Kikyo returned.
Having sensed the disturbance in the shrine's barrier, she had come back from the village below.
She paused briefly, taking in the sight of Sango and Kohaku embracing—
But chose not to interrupt.
Instead, she walked toward Kasage.
"…Kagura?" Kikyo asked, her gaze shifting to the wind user. "What is she doing here?"
"She was nearly killed by Naraku," Kasage replied simply. "She came here for refuge."
"I was set up by him!" Kagura snapped, glaring at Kasage. "He told me to take Kohaku's Shikon shard to Naraku, and because of that, Naraku found out everything. I almost died!"
Kasage raised an eyebrow.
"I helped you more than I harmed you," he replied calmly. "Look at the result—you got your heart back. Once Naraku dies, you'll be truly free."
Kagura clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed—but didn't argue further.
"…He's not wrong," she admitted reluctantly, then looked at Kikyo. "Kikyo, I don't have anywhere else to go. If I stay alone, Naraku will find me sooner or later. So… I came here."
"I understand," Kikyo said with a small nod. "It would be dangerous for you to wander alone. You may stay here for now."
"Kikyo-sama!"
At that moment, Yuzuki ran up the stone steps, slightly out of breath, with Tendo Akane following behind.
They had been helping treat villagers when Kikyo suddenly left, and hurried back after finishing their work.
Kagura's eyes widened slightly as she looked at Akane.
"…What is this?" she muttered. "Another Kikyo?"
"Her name is Tendo Akane," Kasage explained. "She has a connection to Kikyo, but they are not the same person."
Kagura studied her carefully, then nodded.
"…I see. She's different. A bit… dull."
At that moment, Akane's Rinnegan was no longer active. Her eyes had returned to their natural amber color, lacking the depth and presence Kikyo possessed.
Though their appearances were nearly identical, the difference in their expressions made it easy to tell them apart.
Akane simply glanced at Kagura without reacting, her gaze distant and unfocused.
"…This one's strange," Kagura added under her breath.
"By the way," Kasage continued, placing a hand lightly on Yuzuki's head, "this is Yuzuki. She's Kikyo's apprentice. You've met her before."
Yuzuki had been quietly observing Kagura. When their eyes met, she immediately smiled shyly.
"Kikyo's disciple…? I think I remember," Kagura said, tapping her chin lightly with her fan.
"Yuzuki, this is Kagura. She'll be staying here for a while."
"Kagura-neechan, nice to meet you!" Yuzuki said brightly, bowing politely.
Unlike Kagura, she remembered her very clearly.
"…Yeah, I know," Kagura replied casually, waving her fan.