Kagome hurried down the stone steps. The mist behind her gradually thinned, and Kikyo's figure at the foot of the mountain became clearer and clearer.
Holding the Sacred Bow tightly in her hands, Kagome couldn't suppress her smile. Just as she raised it, ready to wave and call out—eager to share her joy and tell Kikyo she had succeeded—
A familiar figure suddenly emerged from behind a nearby tree and walked straight toward Kikyo.
"Inuyasha…? What is he doing here?"
Kagome froze. Her raised hand stopped mid-air.
Unconsciously, she bit her lower lip. Her heart tightened for no clear reason. Almost instinctively, she stepped back and hid behind a tree beside the stone staircase, even her breathing growing faint.
"Kikyo… how could I ever leave you and let you stay with someone like Uchiha Kasage?"
Inuyasha's voice carried clearly to Kagome's ears.
Her face went pale instantly. Her fingers dug deeply into her palms. She wanted to turn and run—but her feet felt like lead, rooted to the ground. Her gaze was drawn uncontrollably toward the two figures below.
"It's already impossible for us, Inuyasha," Kikyo replied calmly, though her tone carried a faint distance.
"What would Kagome think if she saw you like this?"
"…Inuyasha… what should I do…?"
Kagome tightened her grip on the Sacred Bow until her knuckles turned white. Her heart pounded violently as she stared downward, desperate to hear his answer.
"I don't care what she thinks!" Inuyasha's voice suddenly rose, filled with firm resolve.
"The only one I belong to is you!"
Before his words had fully faded, Kagome saw him pull Kikyo into his arms, holding her tightly.
"Inuyasha—what are you doing!" Kikyo's voice rang out, flustered and angry, yet she couldn't break free.
Kagome's hand trembled slightly as she gripped the Sacred Bow. Her chest tightened with a surge of anger and bitterness.
Several times, she almost rushed out to stop them—
But she held herself back, her lips pressed tightly together, as if something was stuck in her throat.
"Kill them."
A voice suddenly echoed in her ears.
Kagome stiffened. A strange chill ran down her spine.
"Just use the Sacred Bow in your hand… and kill them."
The voice came again, soft yet deeply seductive, carrying a dangerous pull.
Kagome's eyes gradually lost their clarity.
Her fingers moved on their own, reaching toward the quiver on her back. She drew out an arrow, its cold gleam reflecting faintly in the mist, and placed it against the Sacred Bow.
Spiritual energy flowed from her fingertips, wrapping around the arrow.
Slowly, she drew the bowstring, aiming steadily at the two figures embracing below.
"That's right… just kill them…"
The voice whispered again, urging her on.
Whoosh—
The moment the bowstring trembled, the arrow shot forth, slicing through the air—
—and struck a figure not far from her.
It was the Spirit of Mount Azusa she had seen before, still in the form of Inuyasha.
The arrow pierced straight through its chest.
Its face, identical to Inuyasha's, was filled with disbelief as it stared at Kagome.
"Why…?"
Kagome's eyes had already regained their clarity.
She slowly lowered the Sacred Bow, her tone calm, with a trace of frustration.
"Why? You mean that illusion down there?"
She wiped away the tears that had slipped from the corner of her eyes.
"It was too fake. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
Her voice softened slightly.
"I believe Inuyasha wouldn't do that. Since he chose me… he would never hurt Kikyo like that."
"And I also believe… he would never act that way toward her either."
"…Is that so?"
The spirit's voice returned to its original ethereal tone.
The arrow in its chest dissolved into specks of spiritual light. Its face gradually faded, returning to its blank, featureless form.
"This illusion was born from the deepest fear within your heart."
It paused briefly, then nodded.
"You may now leave with the Sacred Bow."
As soon as those words were spoken, its body dissolved into mist and vanished completely.
Kagome stood still for a moment.
Then she looked around—and realized she was still standing on the stone steps of Mount Azusa. The base of the mountain lay below, wrapped in light mist. Kikyo stood beside the Flaming Steed, waiting quietly.
Kagome lowered her gaze to the bow in her hands.
"So… that was the trial…"
She looked up toward the Spirit Temple hidden in the mist above.
"…Even if that illusion made me a little angry… thank you, Spirit of Mount Azusa."
With that, she tightened her grip on the Sacred Bow and ran lightly down the steps.
"Kikyo! I got the Sacred Bow!"
As soon as she reached the foot of the mountain, Kagome waved the bow excitedly, her voice full of joy.
Kikyo's gaze fell upon the familiar bow. A gentle smile formed on her lips, her eyes filled with quiet approval.
"Well done. I knew you would pass."
Seeing Kikyo's genuine happiness, Kagome's cheeks flushed slightly. A sudden sense of guilt rose in her heart.
The spirit had said the illusion came from her deepest fear.
Did that mean… deep down, she still feared that Kikyo might take Inuyasha away from her?
Embarrassed by her own feelings, Kagome unconsciously looked away.
"By the way, what did you see in Mount Azusa?" Kikyo asked, noticing her reaction.
Kagome stiffened.
"I—I didn't see anything special!" she replied quickly, her eyes darting around, unable to meet Kikyo's gaze.
"Nothing?"
Kikyo observed her flushed ears and unnatural expression, a faint knowing glint appearing in her eyes.
"Y-Yes!" Kagome nodded rapidly, forcing herself to stay calm.
"Didn't you say I'm simple? There wasn't any complicated trial!"
As she spoke, she quickly climbed onto the Flaming Steed.
"Let's go back! If we take too long, Inuyasha might start looking for us again!"
Kikyo studied her for a few seconds.
Just as Kagome was about to give in, Kikyo suddenly let out a soft chuckle and nodded.
"Alright. Now that you have the Sacred Bow… let's return."
She didn't press further.
Turning, she mounted the Flaming Steed and gently patted its neck.
The steed stamped its hooves, flames flaring as it rose swiftly into the sky.
Kagome looked back at the lush Mount Azusa below.
"Kikyo… what exactly is Mount Azusa and the Spirit Temple for? Why did you place this bow here fifty years ago?"
Kikyo's voice drifted softly through the wind.
"This is a place where the power of priestesses and spiritual practitioners is passed down."
"The Spirit Temple preserves weapons entrusted by them before their deaths. These weapons carry their spiritual power… waiting for a worthy successor."
She turned to Kagome, her expression calm and distant.
"Fifty years ago, I felt that I might die. So I sent this bow, which I forged myself, to Mount Azusa."
"Kikyo… did you know Naraku would kill you?"
Kagome's eyes widened.
"No," Kikyo replied, shaking her head slightly.
"I simply had a feeling… that I might die."
Her tone was calm, as if speaking of something unrelated to herself.
Looking at Kikyo's serene profile, Kagome felt a sudden pang of sympathy. She wanted to ask more—but held herself back.
Instead, she raised the bow in her hands.
"Then… does this bow contain your spiritual power?"
"Yes," Kikyo nodded.
"After being nurtured by Mount Azusa, it has become a true Sacred Bow. The spiritual power I placed into it has been permanently fixed."
"A Sacred Bow…?"
Kagome gently ran her fingers over it, sensing something different. It almost felt… alive.
"Just like Inuyasha's demonic sword Tessaiga holds yokai power," Kikyo explained,
"this bow has developed its own spiritual power through years of reverence."
"It contains strong spiritual energy. Even if the user's power is weak or sealed… they can still draw upon the bow itself to fire purifying arrows."
Kagome looked at the bow again, her grip tightening slightly.
This weapon… was now truly hers.