"Alright, let's just place these things here."
Kikyo carefully arranged the recovered items on the kamidana, a gentle smile playing across her lips as she nodded in satisfaction. At the top sat the cracked Mirror of Life. Beneath it lay the thin, cicada-wing-like robe of the four souls. Below these rested the golden diamond-shaped hairpin and, finally, the Buddhist stone bowl returned to Yuzuki and offered as a tribute.
"As long as you're happy," Kagetsu said, arms crossed, leaning casually to the side.
After settling Yuzuki back in Kikyo Village at the foot of the mountain, they returned to the Main Hall to consider their spoils. Kagetsu asked for Kikyo's opinion, and together they decided to enshrine the items. Though it felt slightly wasteful to leave such miraculous artifacts unused, there was no immediate need for them. Kikyo also noted that the shrine's barrier would nourish the items, so they followed her guidance.
Kagetsu briefly studied the items. The robe of the four souls contained nearly materialized natural energy; he suspected it was the core of the celestial maiden's power. In the original story, it healed Kagome's injuries, a mere trickle of the immortal maiden's energy leaking out. No wonder Kamihime needed the robe before activating the Clear Mirror Water State technique,a time-stopping ability of vast scale. Beyond the robe, the technique required the collection of five treasures representing the five elements: the Dragon's Jewel, Hourai Jeweled Branch, Buddhist stone bowl, Swallow's Cowrie Shell, and fire rat robe.
Kamihime had obtained this magic by devouring the celestial maiden. Though she no longer had a body, her dark mist form retained a portion of that power. If she devoured a new body, she could still barely wield the celestial maiden's magic.
The Mirror of Life was equally fascinating. Beyond firing light beams, it hid an entire world. The Dream Castle from the story lay at the center of this mirror world, surrounded by lake water, and beneath it lurked a six-headed giant serpent,the guardian that Kamihime had used to attack Inuyasha. Kagetsu could observe this world with Sage Power but could not enter it. Even Kamihime, with all her stolen powers, could only open a passage to the Dream Castle under a full moon.
Seeing the giant serpent now, he understood why it hadn't appeared during his previous battle: Kamihime had been destroyed before she could summon it, and he had recovered the mirror. Her defeat this time was absolute,a "crowd-controlled" loss without the chance to unleash her ultimate.
"Kikyo, have you forgotten something?" Kagetsu's tone carried amusement as he watched her set up the protective barrier for the kamidana, her face serene in prayer.
"Hm?" Kikyo blinked, a hint of confusion on her face.
He stepped closer, lips curling into a smile. "During the River God Festival, you promised to perform the Kagura Dance for me."
"…Now?" Kikyo froze, cheeks instantly crimson. She glanced at the empty Main Hall and whispered bashfully, "Tonight… you mean tonight?" The memory had been delayed by the Kamihime incident, and she hadn't expected him to remember.
"The dance is a skill for shrine maidens. I learned it," she thought, cheeks burning at the idea of performing for him.
"I want to see it now," Kagetsu said, persistent, gaze unblinking.
Kikyo realized she couldn't avoid it and was about to nod…
"Lady Kikyo!"
A villager's shout from outside interrupted her. Relief washed over her as she gave Kagetsu a sly smile. "A villager is looking for me. I'll go see what's happening."
She hurried past him, planting a quick peck on his cheek. Her soft voice drifted back: "I'll definitely dance for you tonight."
Kagetsu chuckled, left waiting, but his anticipation only grew.
That evening, the shrine courtyard was bathed in moonlight, silvery and serene. Kikyo, dressed in her miko outfit and holding the Kagura bell, began to dance. Her movements were slightly unfamiliar but carried holiness and grace. The bell rang clearly, her skirt fluttering with each motion. Kagetsu couldn't look away.
After a short time, Kikyo's face flushed under his burning gaze. She dropped the bell and ran, leaving him alone to savor the scene, chuckling softly.
"Still laughing!" Kikyo's voice rang out as she turned back briefly, hitting him twice in embarrassment. "Stop daydreaming and get to business!"
She knew exactly what he was thinking,last night's scene replayed in his mind, and under his focused gaze, she had barely finished performing before embarrassment forced her to flee.
"Alright, alright," Kagetsu said, regaining focus. He concentrated on the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing within his body, carefully opening a small gap.
The black sealing formula appeared, spreading outward. Several Four Symbols arrays appeared in the air.
Clatter! Broken demon limbs poured out from the seal, piling in the courtyard, and a dense evil aura began to spread.
Before it could escape, brilliant white array symbols lit the ground. A semi-spherical purification barrier rose, enclosing Kagetsu and the demon remains, completely containing the malevolent energy.
"Kikyo, you can start now," he shouted.
"Okay!" Kikyo injected her pure Miko Spiritual Power into the ground array. White light burst forth, filling the barrier. Under its power, the evil aura melted away like snow, leaving only lifeless demon wreckage,the remnants of Naraku's self-destruction.
Kagetsu had deliberately separated these remains from Kamihime. If left together, her devouring abilities could absorb Naraku's evil aura, growing more dangerous. The barrier ensured purification without risk.