"That's right." Kagetsu nodded and summarized calmly,
"So I suspect Kagome's world and ours are actually two independent worlds,not a timeline separated by five hundred years."
"The Bone-Eater's Well is more like a gateway… allowing her to travel from her world into ours."
"And that also explains why Kagome was able to come here in the first place."
A flash of understanding lit up Kikyo's eyes as she followed his reasoning.
"In other words, there has only ever been one Shikon Jewel,and it is the one Kagome carries."
"After I died fifty years ago, my soul didn't reincarnate five hundred years into the future… it went directly to Kagome's world."
"That would also explain why neither Urasue's necromancy nor your Edo Tensei could locate my soul here."
"So that's how it is…" Kagome murmured, her previous belief completely overturned.
"Kagome," Kagetsu said with a smile, "once you return, try breaking the plaque I gave you. That should give us the answer."
"Okay! I'll do it right away!"
Kagome tightened her grip on the plaque, determination flashing in her eyes as she turned and walked toward the Bone-Eater's Well.
"I'll wait here for your summon," Kagetsu said, raising a hand casually as he watched her disappear into the well.
The moment she vanished, his expression sharpened slightly. His hands came together in a seal.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof!
A puff of smoke burst forth, and an identical copy of him appeared at his side.
"This is…?" Kikyo asked, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"Just in case," Kagetsu explained. "If I get summoned and can't return, that would be troublesome. So when the summoning activates, the Shadow Clone will respond instead."
Inuyasha, who had little interest in their theories about worlds and time, frowned and asked bluntly:
"Why do you even want to go to Kagome's world?"
"I'm curious," Kagetsu replied with a faint smile. "I want to see what her world is like."
Inuyasha thought for a moment before snorting.
"The people and things on Kagome's side are all weird."
Kagetsu wasn't surprised by that assessment.
To Inuyasha, a half-demon from the Sengoku era, Kagome's modern world must feel like an entirely different civilization,almost like a poor boy from a remote mountain encountering a wealthy young lady from a bustling city.
Still, Kagetsu cast him a meaningful glance.
"Inuyasha, you'd better hope Kagome succeeds in summoning me."
"Otherwise… don't come crying later when you can't see her anymore."
"Huh? Why wouldn't I be able to see her?" Inuyasha scoffed. "I can just go through the Bone-Eater's Well."
"Oh?" Kagetsu raised an eyebrow slightly. "Have you forgotten what allows Kagome to travel through it in the first place?"
"…What do you mean?" Inuyasha frowned.
Kikyo's gaze sharpened instantly as realization dawned.
"It's the Shikon Jewel," she said quietly.
"Inuyasha, Kagome can pass through the Bone-Eater's Well because of the Shikon Jewel."
"If we defeat Naraku and the Jewel is resolved, Kagome's purpose in this world may end. At that point… she could return to her own world and never be able to come back."
Her words struck like a hammer.
Inuyasha's expression changed instantly.
"If that happens… you'll never see her again."
"…!"
The color drained from his face.
Ever since Kikyo and Kagetsu had clarified their relationship, Inuyasha no longer wavered between the two as he once did. His feelings for Kagome had deepened rapidly,so much so that they had already promised to stay together once she graduated.
And now,
The possibility of losing her completely stood right in front of him.
"Do… do you have a way?" Inuyasha grabbed Kagetsu's arm tightly, his voice urgent.
"A way for Kagome to keep coming back?"
"No," Kagetsu said simply.
Inuyasha's eyes dimmed instantly.
"But," Kagetsu added calmly, "if I can reach her world, I might be able to find another method,either to bring her here without the well, or send you there."
Inuyasha's eyes lit up again.
"Really? What method?"
"I don't know yet," Kagetsu shrugged. "I'll only know after I get there."
"…Tch."
Inuyasha fell silent, pacing restlessly, glancing repeatedly at Kagetsu and his Shadow Clone.
"Why hasn't anything happened yet?" he muttered impatiently.
"Either the summoning failed," Kagetsu said calmly, "or Kagome got delayed."
"Let's wait a bit longer."
Kikyo remained composed, simply observing.
Only Inuyasha grew more and more anxious, arms crossed as he paced endlessly.
"Kagetsu… if Kagome breaks the plaque, will you feel it immediately?" he asked again.
"If the connection works, the Shadow Clone will be summoned instantly," Kagetsu replied.
"If nothing happens, it means the distance is too great,or the technique failed."
He paused, then added reassuringly:
"Don't worry. There's a high chance it will work."
"The fact that you and Kagome can travel through the Bone-Eater's Well suggests the two worlds aren't far apart."
"Of course," he added thoughtfully, "if it really is just one world separated by five hundred years… then it definitely won't work."
Summoning across worlds required a connection,or at least proximity.
Just like his summoning contracts from the ninja world had become useless after arriving here.
But Kagome's situation was different.
Between the Bone-Eater's Well and the strange space-time power within the sacred tree, there was clearly a link.
As long as it wasn't true time travel…
…the summoning should succeed.
Time passed.
Still nothing.
Inuyasha's impatience reached its peak.
"Something's wrong," Kagetsu muttered, frowning slightly. "Either my theory is off… or something happened on Kagome's side."
"Kagetsu, are you sure you didn't feel anything?" Kikyo asked.
"That's it,I'm going to check!" Inuyasha snapped.
He turned and strode toward the Bone-Eater's Well, preparing to jump in.
Kagetsu didn't stop him.
He also found the delay strange.
But just as Inuyasha reached the edge,
Poof!
A burst of smoke suddenly echoed behind them.
Inuyasha spun around instantly.
The spot where the Shadow Clone had been standing…
…was empty.
The clone had vanished.