Tsubaki thought she had hidden the Shikon Jewel very carefully, but what she didn't know was that, as priestesses entrusted with guarding the Shikon Jewel, Kikyo and Kagome had already formed a natural connection with it.
At this distance, both of them could clearly sense its presence. To Kikyo, Tsubaki's little trick was nothing more than self-deception.
However, Kikyo didn't bother paying attention to the shard Tsubaki had hidden.
She knew very well that this thing was extremely important to Naraku. He relied on the Shikon Jewel to maintain his life. Letting Tsubaki use it temporarily to increase her strength was one thing—but letting her take it for herself was absolutely impossible.
There was no need to remind Tsubaki of that.
Kikyo raised her bow and aimed it at her, her voice cold and sharp.
"You cooperated with Naraku and cursed Kagome. As my reincarnation, she was attacked by you for no reason. You can't just walk away without paying a price."
Tsubaki's body stiffened. She understood that if she wanted to leave alive, she had to give something up.
"What… what do you want from me?" she asked tensely.
"It's simple."
Kikyo looked her up and down, her gaze sweeping over the faint demonic aura surrounding her.
"I know you're raising demons inside your body. Release them and let them fight Kagome. They can injure her—but they are not allowed to kill her."
"Kikyo, you—!"
Tsubaki suddenly looked up, fury surging from her chest. She instantly understood that Kikyo was planning to use the demons she had painstakingly nurtured as sparring partners for Kagome.
She glared at Kikyo in rage.
"Don't go too far!"
Kikyo said nothing.
She simply kept her bow steady, the arrow aimed straight at Tsubaki's head.
The meaning was obvious.
Die, or obey.
Seeing the icy killing intent in Kikyo's eyes, Tsubaki took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed her anger. She fell silent.
"Kikyo, no!"
Inuyasha panicked and hurriedly spoke up.
"That's too dangerous! What if she tries to kill Kagome? That's too risky!"
"Shut up."
Kikyo cut him off without even turning her head.
Instead of backing down, Inuyasha stepped forward and firmly blocked Kagome behind him.
"I won't agree to this, Kikyo. It's too dangerous for Kagome."
Kagome stared at his back in surprise.
Warmth welled up in her heart. She hadn't expected Inuyasha to stand up to Kikyo for her sake.
Seeing him standing resolutely in front of Kagome, protecting her, Kikyo slowly withdrew her gaze from Tsubaki.
She lowered her bow and looked at Inuyasha with faint surprise.
"Inuyasha… you really have changed. Kaede was right. Kagome truly is an incredible girl."
"Kikyo, I…"
Inuyasha looked conflicted, but his feet never moved. He continued to stand firmly in front of Kagome.
"I'm glad you've changed," Kikyo said softly.
"But…"
Her lips curved into a faint smile, and her tone suddenly shifted.
At the moment Inuyasha was distracted, her clear voice rang out with a hint of mischief.
"I remember Kagome's word seal is… Sit!"
The instant the words fell, the prayer beads around Inuyasha's neck flared with light.
His expression changed drastically. Before he could react—
Boom!
With a loud crash, his entire body was slammed into the ground. His face pressed against the cold earth as he grimaced in pain.
"W-Why… why?"
Lying on the ground in a daze, he finally recovered and looked up in shock at Kikyo.
"Kikyo, how… how can you do it too, just like Kagome…?"
Behind him, Kagome stared wide-eyed at the scene, equally stunned as she watched Inuyasha collapse under the beads' control.
Nearby, Sango and Miroku were completely dumbfounded.
They knew very well that only Kagome's commands were supposed to work on those beads.
"Poor Inuyasha… Miss Kikyo can even make him 'sit,'" Sango whispered to Miroku.
"Kagome is Miss Kikyo's reincarnation. If you think about it, it does make sense that her spiritual power could activate the beads," Miroku muttered thoughtfully, stroking his chin.
"You're wondering why I can activate the word seal too, right?"
Kikyo met Inuyasha's shocked gaze and spoke calmly.
"Yeah!"
Kagome helped him up. Inuyasha rubbed the beads around his neck and nodded irritably.
"Didn't Kaede give these to Kagome?"
"Where do you think Kaede got them from?" Kikyo asked lightly, a faint smile in her eyes.
"Could it be… you made them, Kikyo?" Kagome asked hesitantly, remembering that Kaede had never explained their origin.
"Yes. I made them," Kikyo admitted calmly.
She smiled at Kagome.
"Pretty useful, right?"
Kagome nodded instinctively.
"Kikyo… y-you…"
Inuyasha's face turned bright red, as if he were constipated. He pointed at Kikyo, unable to form a complete sentence, his eyes full of grievance and shock.
Seeing his reaction, a trace of mischief flashed in Kikyo's eyes. She curled her lips into a slightly wicked smile.
"I originally planned to give this to you as a gift. Unfortunately, that incident happened later."
Her gaze swept over Kagome and Inuyasha standing together, and her tone became tinged with melancholy.
"In the end, it was Kagome who put the beads on you. If I had given them to you back then, maybe none of those tragedies would have happened."
Kagome immediately understood her meaning.
If Kikyo had given Inuyasha the beads back then, Naraku wouldn't have been able to disguise himself as Inuyasha and attack her. All the misunderstandings and tragedies might have been avoided.
After all, the beads could easily expose Naraku's disguise.
Looking at the silent Kikyo and Inuyasha, Kagome didn't want to continue this topic.
She looked up at Kikyo and asked curiously,
"Kikyo, what was the original word seal you set back then?"
Kikyo's eyes flickered with memories. She looked deeply at Kagome and replied with double meaning,
"I don't remember. Besides, my word seal no longer works. The one on the beads now is yours."
Kagome froze, instantly understanding the deeper meaning.
The past was already gone. Now, the one who bound Inuyasha and was closely connected to him was herself.
She glanced at Inuyasha beside her, pressed her lips together, and said nothing.
"Hey! How long are you going to keep chatting?"
Tsubaki, who had been ignored for a long time, finally lost her patience.
"Kikyo, are you letting me go or not?"
"Oh?"
Kikyo turned back to her.
"So you've agreed?"
"Hmph!"
Tsubaki's face was flushed with anger. Her chest heaved violently. She took a deep breath and forced herself to nod, grinding her teeth.
"Hurry up!"
In her heart, she swore:
Once she gained the full power of the Shikon Jewel, she would make Kikyo pay for this!
Seeing her agree, Kikyo nodded in satisfaction and turned her gaze to Kagome.
Kagome immediately tightened her grip on her bow, drew an arrow from her quiver, and nocked it skillfully.
When she looked up again, her eyes were firm.
"I'm ready too."
"Kagome!"
Inuyasha looked worried and tried to dissuade her again.
"Don't worry, Inuyasha."
Kagome turned to him, then glanced at Sango and Miroku beside her.
With a steady voice, she said,
"Everyone's here. I want to try."
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