" We are Kikyo's friends! My name is Kagome, this is Inuyasha, and these two are Sango and Monk Miroku."
Seeing Yuzuki pointing her bow at Inuyasha, Kagome quickly stepped forward and introduced the people behind her.
"And me! My name is Shippō!" The little fox demon, perched on Kagome's shoulder, poked his head out and waved.
Kagome's introduction seemed to register with Yuzuki. "Kagome? Inuyasha?" she said, stunned. Kikyo's instructions before her departure immediately came to mind: a miko in unusual clothing might come to the shrine accompanied by a half-demon with long silver hair, dog ears, and red clothing.
Her gaze fell on Inuyasha's ears. Hesitantly, she asked, "Is he a half-demon?"
"So what if I am, you brat!" Inuyasha curled his lip in annoyance.
"I… I am very sorry! I was being rude!" Yuzuki immediately bowed, realizing Kagome's clothing and Inuyasha's features matched Kikyo's description. "Lady Kikyo specifically mentioned before she left that you might come. Please, come in!"
She stepped aside, leading the group into the Main Hall. After they sat on the tatami and Yuzuki served tea, she folded her hands and introduced herself with a mix of shyness and seriousness:
"My name is Yuzuki, and I am… I am Lady Kikyo's disciple."
"Kikyo's disciple?!" Inuyasha and Kagome exclaimed in unison, their eyes widening as they sized up the small girl in her miko outfit. Sango, Miroku, and Shippō exchanged curious glances as well.
"Although I'm not a formal disciple yet," Yuzuki continued, puffing out her chest, "Lady Kikyo said I was born with spiritual power and have the potential to become a miko. She promised to personally guide me in my training when she returns!"
Before anyone could recover from the shock that Kikyo had taken a disciple, Kagome quickly seized the critical information:
"Yuzuki, does that mean Kikyo isn't at the shrine right now?"
"Yes." Yuzuki nodded. "Lady Kikyo and Lord Kagetsu left two days ago. They asked me to watch over the shrine until they returned."
"Kikyo is already gone?" Inuyasha stood abruptly, voice urgent. "Brat, do you know what they went to do?"
Yuzuki tilted her head thoughtfully. "It seems they went to track down some powerful demon."
"Tracking a demon?" Kagome and Inuyasha exclaimed simultaneously. "Naraku!"
"Brat, did Kikyo find Naraku's trail?" Inuyasha asked urgently.
Yuzuki nodded. "My Lady specifically instructed that if you came, I should tell you that Naraku's aura appeared on the northeast border of Musashi Province."
"The northeast?!" The group stood abruptly, surprised. They hadn't expected such concrete news. Clearly, Kikyo and Kagetsu had already set out to find Naraku.
"Let's go!" Inuyasha gripped the hilt of Tessaiga, urgency flashing in his eyes. "We'll follow Kikyo. She must have found a clue!"
"Yeah!" Kagome nodded vigorously.
After confirming the general direction with Yuzuki, the group rose to leave.
"Brat, we're leaving now. Take care of yourself!" Inuyasha called under the Torii Gate, waving. Kagome, Sango, and Miroku also bid farewell.
"Take care, everyone! Be careful on the road!" Yuzuki waved back. Only when their figures disappeared into the woods did she turn back toward the shrine.
"Boom!"
A demon-slaying arrow carrying pure spiritual power struck a massive demon, blowing it into pieces. Kagetsu casually used Wind Release to scatter the blood and severed limbs aside, keeping their clothes clean.
Watching the evil aura dissipate, he said to Kikyo, "Since Naraku vanished, all the demons hiding in fear of his aura have crawled out."
"These demons were all hiding because they feared Naraku consuming them," Kikyo noted calmly, slinging her longbow over her shoulder.
"Now that they're dealt with, let's move quickly." Kagetsu took Kikyo's hand, frowning as he complained, "This area around the demon's nest is bloody and foul. The smell alone could choke someone."
By now, they had left Musashi Province, tracking the direction Naraku had vanished using clues from the monk. Their search method was simple: demons are naturally drawn to Naraku's evil aura, so clearing the densest clusters would lead them straight to him.
"Wait, I sense a shard of the Shikon Jewel." Kikyo suddenly stopped along the forest path.
"There's a shard here?" Kagetsu was surprised. "We're far from where the jewel shattered,yet there's one here?"
Carefully sensing ahead, his eyebrows arched with interest. "There's a human with a faint aura. The shard must be on him. Judging by his state, he won't last much longer."
"A human surviving with a shard in this remote forest?" Kikyo's expression mirrored surprise. There were no villages, shrines, or practitioners nearby. For an ordinary human to carry a shard without being killed by demons was extraordinary.
"We'll see once we get there. It's on the way anyway." Kagetsu smiled, taking Kikyo's hand. She followed without question.
Suddenly, a stooped figure lunged from behind a tree, holding a shimmering short sword. "Leave all the money you have! Or don't blame me for being ruthless!"
It was another robber blocking their way.
Even though they were armed,Kagetsu in samurai armor with a katana at his waist, and Kikyo with bow, arrows, and a katana,the robber attempted to exploit the situation, likely hoping a lone woman would be an easy target.
Yet this robber was particularly ridiculous: thin as a rail, ashen, trembling, and clad in tattered armor. His hand shook so badly it was a wonder he could hold the sword.
Kagetsu sized him up. Did he rely on the Shikon Jewel shard he carried? Indeed, this trembling old man was the human with the shard.
"Old man, if you want to die, go find a secluded spot and wait. Don't stage an ambush here," Kagetsu said, frowning at the pitiful figure.
"Cut… cut the crap! Hurry and hand over the money!" The old man ignored him, still holding up his sword with a trembling voice.
Kagetsu's face darkened, hand on his katana hilt, impatience flashing in his eyes.
Just as he was about to act, the old man's face turned pale. Clutching his chest, he collapsed, and the short sword hit the ground with a "clang."
"Huh? Still staging an accident?" Kagetsu instinctively stepped back, shouting warily, "Hey! Old man, I didn't even touch you! Don't try to scam me!"