"Lord … where are we?"
Yuzuki huddled close to Kagetsu, her small hand clutching the edge of his sleeve. Her voice trembled slightly.
The cave was dark and damp. Pale bones lay scattered across the ground, and a cold, clammy air brushed against their skin.
Aside from their footsteps, the only sound was the faint, rhythmic dripping of water echoing from somewhere deep within.
"This is where the Shikon Jewel was born," Kagetsu's Wood Clone replied gently, reaching out to pat her head. "Don't worry. Before she died, Priestess Suiko left a barrier here. It's safe."
"The place where the Shikon Jewel was born…?"
Yuzuki blinked in surprise. She recalled the story Kikyo had told her,the Shikon Jewel, a dangerous artifact capable of amplifying a demon's power.
"My lord… why are we here?"
"To retrieve something."
Kagetsu continued leading her deeper into the cave.
This Wood Clone had been left behind to guard the shrine before the main body departed. Leaving Yuzuki alone had been too risky,this was the only way he could ensure her safety.
Yuzuki clung tightly to his sleeve, curiosity and unease mixing in her eyes.
Not long ago, he had suddenly called for her at the shrine and brought her here without explanation.
As they walked, a faint light gradually appeared ahead.
Step by step, the darkness receded.
And then,
They arrived.
Sunlight streamed down through an opening high above, illuminating a massive mound of remains.
Countless demon corpses, long since petrified and fused with stalactites, were piled together like a grotesque mountain. Under the shifting light and shadow, the scene looked eerily solemn.
"W-what… is this…?" Yuzuki whispered, her eyes wide.
"The place where the Shikon Jewel was born."
Kagetsu raised his hand, pointing to the very top of the mound.
"And that… is the one who created it. Priestess Suiko."
At the peak stood a lone figure clad in ancient armor.
Though her body had long since petrified and been encased in mineral deposits, her features still carried a quiet, timeless beauty.
Yuzuki stared at her, stunned.
"…Why did she create the Shikon Jewel?"
"Long ago, she fought these demons here for an extended period," Kagetsu explained. "In the end, before she died, she extracted the souls of the demons and fused them with her own. That fusion gave birth to the Shikon Jewel."
"…I see…"
Yuzuki's expression softened into reverence.
"Lady Suiko… was incredible…"
She stepped forward, pressing her hands together in prayer, offering silent respect.
After a moment, she turned back, curiosity returning.
"My lord… what exactly are we here to retrieve?"
She looked around again, but aside from the petrified remains, nothing stood out.
Kagetsu lifted his gaze toward Suiko's body.
"…Her."
"…Huh?"
"Forgive the offense, Priestess Suiko."
With a quiet murmur, he drew the katana at his waist.
Wind-attribute chakra wrapped around the blade, emitting a low, sharp hum.
In the next instant,He leapt.
A flash of steel cut through the air.
The blade sliced cleanly through Suiko's petrified waist.
Before the body could fall, Kagetsu caught the upper half midair, landing lightly beside Yuzuki.
"L-Lord… y-you… what are you doing…?"
Yuzuki stared in shock, words stumbling out in disbelief.
"Don't worry," he said calmly, patting her head again. "I know what I'm doing."
With that, he opened the Kamui dimension and carefully stored Suiko's remains inside.
"…That's done."
He reached down, grabbed Yuzuki by the collar, and activated the Flying Thunder God Technique.
In an instant,
They vanished.
"What? You and Kikyo are staying behind?"
By the time Inuyasha and the others had cleared out the demons in the cave and rescued the captured villagers, Kagetsu and Kikyo had already finished dealing with the remaining demons outside,collecting a considerable number of imitation Shikon Jewels in the process.
After escorting the villagers home and resting for the night, the group was preparing to head toward Mount Hakurei the next day,
When Kagetsu dropped his decision.
"What are you planning?" Kagome asked, puzzled. The others turned to him as well.
"Nothing complicated," he replied casually. "I just need Enju's help to resurrect someone using her clay technique."
They stood in the courtyard near the cave as he spoke, his eyes scanning the area as if searching for a suitable place.
"Ritō's resurrection?" Inuyasha frowned. "Who are you bringing back?"
"…Her."
As Kagetsu spoke, his Mangekyō Sharingan spun into existence.
A vortex formed in the air.
The Kamui dimension opened,
And from it, a petrified figure slowly emerged.
"…What is that…?"
Everyone froze.
Even Kikyo, who already knew his plan, stiffened slightly at the sight.
"…Priestess Suiko's remains!" Kagome exclaimed, the first to recognize it.
Though only the upper body remained, and it was encased in mineral deposits, the features were unmistakable,the same figure she had seen before near the Demon Slayer Village.
Kirara padded forward immediately, rubbing gently against the remains before settling beside them, her eyes filled with quiet nostalgia.
"That's right," Kagetsu confirmed. "I had a clone retrieve it from the cave where she died."
He continued calmly,
"Even though her body has become petrified, it's still suitable. With Enju's technique, it can be reshaped into a vessel for resurrection."
Enju nodded.
"As long as there are remains and grave soil, it's enough. Even partial remains are acceptable. Petrification won't affect the process."
She paused, then added thoughtfully,
"Even if the body has fully decayed into soil, the technique can still work."
Unlike Edo Tensei, Ritō's clay resurrection worked differently.
Edo Tensei required genetic material and a summonable soul.
But this technique,
Only required remains and soil.
Even if the soul had already reincarnated, a suitable vessel could be prepared first, and the soul could be retrieved later,just as Kikyo had been.
In that sense, the two methods complemented each other perfectly.
"But…" Kagome hesitated. "Doesn't this still require the soul to exist? Suiko's soul should already,"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Realization dawned.
"…Exactly," Kikyo said quietly, picking up where she left off.
"Suiko's soul has neither vanished nor been reborn."
Her gaze shifted toward the Shikon Jewel.
"…It has been trapped inside it all along."