"The wound was caused by miasma poison. It spread from the Wind Tunnel… all the way to his heart."
Kikyo's eyes fixed on Miroku's right hand.
Without hesitation, she reached forward and opened his robe.
A collective gasp followed.
The corruption had already spread across his chest.
Dark, vein-like marks crawled outward like twisted spider legs, pulsing faintly with a sinister aura.
Kikyo's expression turned grave.
"If it spreads any further… his life will be at risk."
"Can he still be saved?!"
Sango's voice trembled as tears welled in her eyes. She clutched Miroku's hand tightly, as if afraid he might slip away at any moment.
"Yes," Kikyo replied steadily. "It's serious… but not beyond saving."
She raised her hands and hovered them above his chest.
"I'll purify the miasma first."
A soft white glow gathered in her palms.
Her spiritual power flowed outward—
gentle, yet overwhelming in its purity.
Like a stream of light, it poured into Miroku's body.
Moments later—
Thick, dark-purple miasma began to seep out from his wounds.
It twisted violently in the air, clashing against Kikyo's power—
before dissolving completely.
"Incredible…" Kagome whispered.
"Please… save him," Inuyasha said, his voice tense.
Kikyo remained focused.
"This isn't enough," she said calmly.
"He inhaled a large amount of miasma. His internal organs have already been damaged."
"My power alone cannot fully heal him."
She slowly withdrew her hands.
"We need to wait for Kasage."
"He's not here?" Kagome asked, surprised.
Kikyo shook her head.
"A yokai appeared at a nearby lord's castle. Kasage went there with Yuzuki to deal with it."
"They should return soon."
Not long ago, a retainer had come to request help.
Kasage had left without hesitation.
After a few moments—
the last traces of miasma were purified.
Kikyo stood up.
"The poison has been removed. He's no longer in immediate danger."
Relief spread through the group.
Sango lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.
"…Thank you, Kikyo…"
"Let's move him inside," Kikyo said. "He needs rest. I'll prepare medicine to remove the remaining toxins."
Together, Sango and Kohaku carefully lifted Miroku and carried him into the shrine.
They laid him on a bed beside the medicine cabinet.
"I'll prepare the medicine!" Sango said immediately.
Kikyo handed her the herbs.
"Boil these carefully."
Sango nodded and hurried away.
"Kohaku, stay with him."
"I will."
Kikyo then turned to the others.
"Come. Sit."
She led them toward the tatami area.
That's when they noticed—
a figure sitting quietly at a low table.
A girl.
Wearing red and white miko robes.
She was drawing.
"…Wait," Inuyasha muttered.
The girl turned.
The moment he saw her face—
he froze.
"Kikyo?!"
His eyes widened.
He looked at the girl—
then at Kikyo beside him—
back and forth in disbelief.
"What the hell is going on?!"
Kagome leaned forward, stunned.
"…Is this like Kasage's Shadow Clone Jutsu?"
Kikyo shook her head gently.
"No."
"She is not a clone."
She stepped beside the girl.
"Her name is Deva Akane."
Now that they looked closely—
the resemblance was unmistakable.
Almost identical.
Deva Akane glanced at them briefly with calm, amber eyes—
then lowered her gaze and continued drawing.
Her paper was filled with simple, childlike sketches—
people, trees, animals, strange creatures.
Unrefined.
Yet sincere.
Inuyasha frowned.
"…Why does she look exactly like you?"
Kikyo's expression softened slightly.
"She is… connected to me."
Then she looked at him.
"You should remember."
"…Me?" Inuyasha blinked.
"Fifty years ago," Kikyo said quietly, "we went to Hōraijima together."
Inuyasha's expression shifted instantly.
"…The Four Shitō Gods."
Kikyo nodded.
"I was attacked by Gōra. He took my blood."
She glanced at the girl.
"…She was created from it."
"Kasage and I found her on Hōraijima and brought her back."
Memories resurfaced in Inuyasha's mind—
the island, the battle, the wound Kikyo had suffered.
Kagome looked surprised.
"Hōraijima…? You went there?"
"Yeah," Inuyasha muttered. "I even tried to find it again later…"
Shippo nodded eagerly.
"He said he wanted to defeat the Four Shitō Gods!"
Inuyasha suddenly looked at Kikyo again.
"Did it reappear? What happened to them?"
"It did," Kikyo replied. "Not long ago."
"But now… it has disappeared again into another dimension."
She paused briefly.
"The Four Shitō Gods are dead."
"Kasage killed them."
Silence fell.
"We stayed on Hōraijima until the barrier reformed," Kikyo continued. "To prevent other yokai from taking advantage of it."
"There were minor disturbances… but nothing serious."
She glanced once more at Deva Akane.
"In any case… that is her origin."
"She is a being created from my blood."
"Her mind is still immature. She is… like a child."
Deva Akane remained focused on her drawing—
completely absorbed in her own world.
Kikyo then turned back to the group.
Her expression became serious again.
"Now tell me."
Her gaze shifted toward Miroku.
"For him to be in this condition…"
"It must be related to the Wind Tunnel."
She looked directly at Inuyasha.
"…What exactly happened?"