Grandmother Kaede stood quietly inside the dim wooden hut, her aged fingers trembling slightly as she looked at the small shard of the Shikon Jewel resting in Kikyo's pale palm. The faint purple glow of the shard reflected in Kikyo's calm but distant eyes. Kaede's heart felt heavy. There was a guilt she had carried for years, and now, facing her elder sister once more, that guilt pressed down on her harder than ever.
She had always known the danger of the Shikon Jewel. As Kikyo's younger sister, she understood better than anyone how the jewel attracted demons like blood in water. It stirred greed in every creature that laid eyes upon it. Even humans were not spared from its temptation. The jewel never brought peace—only conflict.
And yet, years ago, when the jewel reappeared, she had allowed Kagome to carry it without fully explaining the danger. Kagome had been inexperienced, unaware of how deeply the jewel could twist fate. Kaede had hoped things would somehow settle peacefully.
Instead, everything had spiraled out of control.
Taking a slow breath, Kaede began recounting the truth. She explained how the Shikon Jewel had returned to the world. She spoke of Kagome's arrival from another time, of the chaos that followed, and of the moment when Kagome's arrow accidentally shattered the jewel into countless fragments that scattered across the land.
Each word felt like reopening an old wound.
When she finished, silence filled the hut.
Kikyo did not show anger. She did not raise her voice. She only lowered her eyes slightly, her expression distant and filled with quiet sorrow.
"In the end," she said softly, "it was the greed born from the Shikon Jewel that created all of this. Naraku's existence… my death… everything."
Her voice was calm, but the weight behind it was undeniable.
"Sister Kikyo…" Kaede's voice cracked slightly. For a moment, she saw not the resurrected woman before her, but the powerful shrine maiden who once stood at the village gates, bow in hand, protecting everyone without hesitation.
Kaede wanted to say more, but Kikyo gently interrupted.
"Lie," she said, turning slightly.
Uchiha Lie had been standing quietly near the doorway, appearing distracted but listening to every word. His expression was unreadable, yet sharp.
"Do you have a way to find Naraku?"
The name itself seemed to darken the air.
Naraku was not just a demon. He was a schemer who hid behind layers of deception. A being born from twisted desire and hatred. Finding him was never simple.
Lie shook his head slightly.
"No. He hides well. Like a rat in the shadows. His real body stays concealed. He never shows himself unless he's certain he has the advantage."
Kikyo's eyes narrowed slightly. "You've encountered him before?"
"Something like that," Lie replied calmly. "Before I met you, one of his puppets blocked my path. It talked too much. I cut it down."
Kikyo was silent for a moment. That sounded exactly like something he would do. Reckless, direct, and without hesitation.
Still, Naraku would not be so easily eliminated.
Lie's lips curved faintly.
"But if you want to lure him out… that's simple."
Kikyo turned fully toward him.
"Naraku has two obsessions," Lie continued. "The Shikon Jewel… and you."
The air felt colder.
"If you carry the shard openly and travel instead of hiding in one place, he'll sense it. And once he senses you, he'll come."
Kaede stiffened at those words. The idea sounded dangerous—almost like walking into a trap willingly.
Kikyo glanced down at the shard in her hand. She knew Naraku's fixation. She knew the hatred and twisted attachment he held toward her.
After a long pause, she nodded.
"Very well. We'll do as you say."
Then she added firmly, "But you must come with me. I cannot defeat Naraku alone. I died by his hand fifty years ago. My spiritual power has not fully returned. I will not underestimate him again."
Lie gave a small shrug. "Fine."
Though deep down he knew Naraku would never face them directly so easily, he accepted. For now, moving openly might force Naraku to make a mistake.
Kaede stepped forward, worry written across her face.
"Naraku is dangerous. Sister, you must be careful."
"I will," Kikyo replied gently.
She turned toward the doorway.
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye… Sister."
Kaede then looked at Lie, her one good eye sharp and serious.
"Protect her."
Lie waved lightly without looking back. "Don't worry."
And with that, they stepped out into the fading light.
---
They did not remain in the village that night. Instead, using Lie's space-time technique, they returned briefly to the old treehouse they had once used as shelter.
Early the next morning, the forest was quiet except for the sound of wind through the leaves.
Kikyo adjusted the strap of her bow over her shoulder. The quiver rested firmly against her back. She looked ready—not like a wandering spirit, but like the shrine maiden she once was.
"We'll head to the Demon Slayer Village," she said calmly. "That is where the Shikon Jewel was entrusted to me. I want to learn more about its origin."
Lie already knew the truth of the jewel's birth, but he did not speak of it. Sometimes, understanding had to come from one's own steps.
"Walking will take too long," he said instead. "Let's find a horse."
Kikyo gave him a flat look. "You simply dislike walking."
"You walk too slowly," he replied without shame.
After a moment, she sighed. "We'll stop at a nearby castle town and see if we can purchase one."
They set off.
Before leaving, Lie placed his hand against the trunk of the massive tree supporting the treehouse. Chakra flowed quietly from his palm.
Moments later, as they walked away, the structure collapsed behind them with a heavy crash, dissolving into splinters and dust.
They left no trace behind.
---
The nearby castle town was busy, but horses were rare and expensive in that era. After searching and asking around, they found none available.
Kikyo folded her arms slightly. "It seems we must walk."
Lie looked toward the forest instead.
"Wait here."
Without another word, he vanished into the trees.
Some time later, the ground trembled.
Branches snapped.
Birds scattered into the sky.
Then, from the shadows of the forest, emerged a massive Black Bear Demon. Its body was enormous, muscles thick beneath dark fur, claws sharp as blades.
Yet its eyes were empty—calm and unfocused.
Lie walked beside it casually.
The Sharingan's illusion had taken hold.
The beast lowered itself obediently.
Kikyo stared silently for a moment before stepping forward.
"You captured it… as transportation?"
"It's faster than a horse," Lie replied simply.
After a brief pause, Kikyo climbed onto the demon's broad back. Lie followed.
The bear rose and leapt forward, moving with powerful strides through the forest. Trees blurred past them. The wind rushed against Kikyo's sleeves.
Traveling like this was far quicker.
Within a short time, the outline of a mountain village came into view.
The Demon Slayer Village stood firmly atop a mountain cliff. Thick wooden walls made from massive tree trunks surrounded it. Watchtowers rose high, standing guard against threats from the forest below. A winding path led upward toward the main gate.
Kikyo's eyes softened slightly as she looked at it.
"This is the place."
Years ago, she had walked that same path.
It was here that the demon slayers had entrusted her with the Shikon Jewel. They had believed in her power to purify it. They had believed she could protect the world from its corruption.
Instead, the jewel had drawn darkness closer.
It had led Naraku into her life.
It had led to betrayal.
It had led to bloodshed.
And ultimately—
It had led to her death.
Standing there now, alive yet not fully alive, Kikyo felt the weight of fate pressing against her chest.
"This," she said quietly, "is where everything began."
Lie looked at the village thoughtfully. He knew what would one day happen here—the tragedy, the destruction, the tears.
But for now, the village still stood strong. Smoke rose peacefully from its chimneys. Life continued, unaware of the storm waiting in the future.
Kikyo tightened her grip on the Shikon shard.
This time, she would not run from fate.
This time, she would face it directly.
And somewhere in the shadows, Naraku would surely feel it.
The moment Kikyo stepped once more into the place where her fate began, the threads of destiny began to move again.
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