Kikyo had already guessed what Kagetsu intended to do.
She smiled softly and gave Enju a gentle nudge.
"Go on. It's for your own good."
Still confused, Enju stepped forward. Her wine-red eyes were uncertain as she spoke in a quiet voice.
"… what do you need me to do? My body is made from grave soil… I can't eat. To keep moving, I have to rely on wandering souls…"
Kagetsu nodded.
Of course he knew.
Kikyo had once been the same,her clay body sustained only by fragments of resentful souls gathered by soul collectors.
Enju's situation was slightly different. Her soul was intact,but even so, she still needed to absorb wandering spirits to maintain her body.
That was also why Wamaru had been so obsessed with war.
Without the dead, they could not exist.
"Stand still. Raise your hands."
Enju hesitated, then obediently lifted both arms above her head, stiff as a statue.
"Good. Don't move."
Kagetsu 's hands began forming seals.
Watching Enju's posture, Kikyo's lips curved into a faint smile.
A flicker of memory passed through her eyes.
Back then… when she had first been revived, trapped in that hollow body,
He had done the same.
And now…
Everything had changed.
Her gaze drifted toward him, warm and gentle.
"Sango… look at Kikyo."
Kagome leaned in, whispering mischievously.
"That's exactly how you look at Miroku."
Sango froze.
Then, following Kagome's gaze,
She saw it.
That quiet affection in Kikyo's eyes.
Her face flushed instantly.
"I-I do not!"
Her voice faltered as she glanced at Miroku,only to grow even redder.
"T-Then what about you?! Don't you look at Inuyasha the same way?!"
Kagome blinked.
Then,
Her face turned bright red.
"…S-So what if I do?!"
She clenched her fists and blurted out,
"I like Inuyasha! So what?!"
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Even Kagetsu paused mid-hand seal, looking over in surprise.
Kagome's brain short-circuited under the sudden attention.
"Inuyasha, you,"
"SIT!"
"THUD!"
The Kotodama beads activated instantly.
Inuyasha slammed face-first into the ground.
Ignoring him completely, Kagome covered her burning face and bolted into the wooden house,
BANG!
The door slammed shut behind her.
Kikyo blinked.
Her reincarnation… really was a bit impulsive.
Kagetsu glanced at the door, then at Inuyasha groaning on the ground.
"…What are those two doing?"
Shaking his head, he turned back.
"Focus. Don't move."
Before Enju could respond,
His palm struck her abdomen.
"Four Symbols Seal!"
"Ah,!"
Enju gasped, her body arching instinctively.
She tried to move,
"Don't."
His voice dropped, firm and commanding.
She froze instantly, forcing herself still.
Moments later, he withdrew his hand.
"…Done."
Enju blinked, still standing stiffly.
Then,
Points of pale light began drifting out of her body.
Her eyes widened.
"The souls,!"
Panicking, she tried to grab them, pushing them back inside,
But more emerged elsewhere.
Again and again,
Like an endless game she couldn't win.
"…Stop."
Kagetsu sounded mildly exasperated.
"Just let them go."
He paused.
"Try moving. See how your body feels."
Enju hesitated.
Then slowly… she let the souls drift away into the night.
She closed her eyes,
And sensed it.
A steady, warm energy flowing from her abdomen, spreading through her entire body.
Replacing everything.
"…I… I don't need them anymore?"
"I sealed my chakra inside you," Kagetsu explained. "It'll sustain your body in place of those souls."
He added casually,
"As long as it doesn't run out, you're fine. If it does,come find me."
Enju's eyes trembled.
Then,
She bowed deeply.
"Thank you… Lord Kagetsu !"
He waved it off.
"If you're traveling with me, I'm not letting you run around collecting souls."
"Alright," he said, turning to the others. "I'll take first watch. Inuyasha, you take second."
"Got it," Inuyasha replied, climbing back up with a grunt.
"Lord Kagetsu ! I can,"
"No."
He cut Enju off without hesitation.
"You wouldn't even notice if something got through the barrier."
"…Yes…"
She lowered her head, dejected, and followed the others inside.
"Kikyo?"
Kagetsu glanced over.
"You're not going to rest?"
She walked over quietly.
Then sat beside him.
Close.
Very close.
Her head leaned gently against his shoulder.
"It's nothing…" she murmured. "I just… want to stay like this for a while."
He paused.
Then wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.
She didn't resist.
The faint scent of her lingered in the air.
The night grew quiet,
Only the crackling fire and distant chirping insects filled the silence.
After a long while,
"…Kagome."
Kikyo's voice broke the stillness.
"…Why did she say that?"
Her tone was soft.
But beneath it,
Something complicated.
Kagetsu looked down.
She was trying to hide it.
But he saw it.
That subtle unease.
That hesitation.
He understood.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
Leaning close, he whispered by her ear,
"I love you, Kikyo."
Her entire body stilled.
Then,
Color bloomed across her cheeks.
Her lips curved, unable to stop.
Her eyes shone.
He understood now.
Kagome's sudden confession had stirred something in her.
Because unlike Kagome,
They had never said it so plainly.
That was why she stayed.
Why she hesitated.
"Your turn," he whispered.
Kikyo's ears turned red.
But she didn't hesitate.
"I love you too… Kagetsu ."
Her voice was soft,barely audible.
She buried her face into his shoulder, warmth spreading across her cheeks.
Something warm settled in his chest.
He leaned down,
But Kikyo suddenly lifted her head, dodging with a small smile.
"…No."
Her eyes flicked toward the wooden house.
"They're watching."
Kagetsu extended his senses.
And sure enough,
Several silhouettes were crammed by the window.
Peeking.
Watching.
Very intently.