The moment the name "Kikyo" left the monk's lips, everything changed.
Inuyasha's expression froze.
Then it twisted.
Before anyone could react, he lunged forward and grabbed Master Harumi by the collar, lifting him slightly despite the bandages wrapped around the man's chest.
"Say that again!" Inuyasha roared. "If you're lying, I won't forgive you!"
The young monk panicked and rushed to steady his master.
"We're not lying!" he cried. "That priestess is surrounded by wandering souls!"
"Who cares about that?!" Inuyasha snapped. "I'm asking about her name!"
He shoved Master Harumi aside and seized the young monk instead.
"Why did you call her Kikyo?!"
The monk trembled under the fury burning in Inuyasha's golden eyes.
"That's what the villagers said! The children call her that too! We heard it clearly! Her name is Kikyo!"
Silence followed.
The name lingered in the air like an old wound reopening.
Behind them, Kagome felt her heart sink.
"Kikyo…" she whispered.
Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
"You… you're still here?"
Inuyasha was already moving.
He demanded directions.
The moment he got them, he dashed into the forest without another word.
Leaves scattered in his wake.
He didn't look back.
---
After the monks were sent on their way, the clearing grew quiet again.
Kagome sat on a fallen tree trunk, staring blankly at the ground.
Miroku stood beside her thoughtfully.
"Is it really alright to let him go alone?" he asked gently.
Shippō spread his small hands with a serious expression.
"He ran faster than an arrow. There was no stopping him."
Kagome lowered her head further.
"Inuyasha…" she murmured. "He must still love Kikyo."
Her voice trembled.
"So maybe… it's better if we don't disturb him."
Shippō blinked in confusion.
"Why is it better if we don't go?"
Before Kagome could answer, Miroku suddenly sighed deeply.
"I understand his feelings."
His tone turned solemn.
"The woman he once loved might not be the same anymore. If that is true… he probably doesn't want others to see her like that."
Shippō scratched his head.
"What are you talking about? What if things aren't bad at all?"
Miroku rubbed his chin and spoke without thinking.
"If it were me… I would probably reconcile with her."
The moment the words left his mouth—
The air turned icy.
"Oh?" Kagome's voice cut through like a blade. "Is that so?"
Miroku stiffened instantly.
He slowly turned his head.
Kagome had already stood up.
Her eyes were calm.
Too calm.
She grabbed her bicycle and began walking forward without another word.
The ground seemed to tremble under the weight of her mood.
"I think…" Miroku whispered nervously, wiping cold sweat from his forehead, "that wasn't an illusion."
Shippō nodded vigorously.
"Definitely not."
They hurried after her.
---
Suddenly—
A surge of demonic aura filled the air.
All three stopped instantly.
Above them, countless Soul Reapers drifted across the dim sky, glowing faintly white.
Soul Reapers
They carried shimmering spirit lights as they moved deeper into the forest.
"It's the scent of demons!" Inuyasha's voice echoed faintly from afar.
Kagome's expression sharpened.
"Follow them!"
They gave chase.
---
Deeper within the forest—
Kikyo sat quietly on a high tree branch.
Kikyo
Her long hair fluttered in the wind.
Her eyes were lowered in thought.
Uchiha Lie's questions echoed in her mind.
"Which one of you is the real you?"
"If Kagome ends up with Inuyasha, is that you continuing your bond… or him loving someone else?"
"If you are resurrected… will you fight her?"
She closed her eyes briefly.
For the first time in years, her heart felt unsettled.
Then—
Her gaze shifted.
She sensed something.
"You're finally here," she said softly.
A heavy thud followed.
"Ouch! That hurts!"
Kikyo looked down.
Kagome lay sprawled on the ground, rubbing her knee awkwardly.
For a moment—
Kikyo simply stared.
"I refuse to believe my reincarnation would be this clumsy," she said coolly.
She truly struggled to understand how this girl could be her other self.
Kagome slowly looked up.
Their eyes met.
"K-Kikyo…"
Kikyo was surrounded by drifting Soul Reapers, her presence ethereal and distant.
Kagome felt her breath catch.
"Don't stare at me like that," Kikyo said calmly. "Come here."
Without fully understanding why, Kagome stepped forward.
"You crossed my Barrier," Kikyo continued. "That means you know I wanted to speak with you."
"Barrier?" Kagome blinked. "Was there one?"
Kikyo paused.
"…If you say there wasn't, then there wasn't."
She rubbed her forehead lightly.
Something felt different within her.
Ever since Uchiha Lie's chakra had replaced the spirit souls sustaining her body, her emotions had grown sharper.
More vivid.
Before, resentment had dulled everything else.
Now—
She felt confusion.
Irritation.
Even faint amusement.
"Is it the chakra?" she murmured softly, touching her chest.
Her soul felt warmer.
Stronger.
More human.
Kagome's voice pulled her back.
"You're the one who gathered those girls' souls, aren't you?"
There was hope in her eyes.
"If it's really you… please let them go."
Kikyo looked at her quietly.
Then she raised her hand.
Without hesitation—
She gave the command.
The Soul Reapers released their hold.
The trapped souls turned into brilliant ribbons of white light and soared back toward the village.
They disappeared one by one.
"I no longer need them," Kikyo said calmly.
Kagome stared at her in surprise.
"You… don't?"
"I gathered them only to draw you here."
"Me?" Kagome pointed at herself, stunned.
Instead of answering directly, Kikyo asked:
"Are you and Inuyasha together?"
Kagome's expression dimmed instantly.
"He said… he was coming to find you."
Kikyo's gaze sharpened.
"And who are you to him?"
Kagome froze.
Her heart pounded.
"I… I don't know."
"Then I'll ask differently."
Kikyo turned her head slightly, looking toward the trees.
"Inuyasha is already here."
Inuyasha
"He is being held back by my Barrier."
Kagome's breath caught.
Kikyo turned back to her.
Her eyes were calm.
But piercing.
"Tell me," she said slowly.
"Should I let him in?"
The wind grew still.
Leaves rustled faintly.
Then Kikyo delivered the final question—
"Guess."
"Is he here to save you…"
"…or to see me?"
The present and the past stood face to face beneath the forest moon.
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