Grandma Kaede looked at the shard of the shikon jewel in Kikyo's palm, then met her calm yet serious gaze. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt in her heart.
She did bear some responsibility for this matter.
As Kikyo's younger sister, she understood better than anyone the danger of the shikon jewel attracting hordes of covetous demons.
Yet, she had still entrusted its safekeeping to Kagome, who had no power at the time, without even explaining the jewel's perilous nature.
It was precisely this that triggered the subsequent chain of events.
She steadied herself and recounted everything: the reason for the shikon jewel's reappearance in the world, and how Kagome accidentally shattered it with an arrow.
After hearing the whole story, Kikyo did not blame anyone. She merely sighed softly, her tone tinged with melancholy:
"In the end, it was the greed incited by the shikon jewel that created all of this, including Naraku's birth and my own death."
"Sister Kikyo..."
Grandma Kaede gazed at the Kikyo before her and suddenly felt as if she had become that composed and powerful shrine maiden who once protected the Village.
She couldn't help but speak: "Sister, you..." but was interrupted by Kikyo.
"Retsu, do you have a way to find Naraku?"
Kikyo turned to look at Retsu, who stood behind her, seemingly lost in thought but actually listening in.
She knew this guy always had some strange yet useful abilities. If he could find Naraku, it would eliminate a major threat.
That guy was far too dangerous.
"No. That guy is like a rat in a sewer, his true body hidden in the shadows. He won't show himself easily," Retsu said, shaking his head.
"You've met Naraku?" Kikyo raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Mm-hmm," Retsu nodded, recalling, "Before I met you, I encountered a puppet he was controlling. It suddenly popped up and blocked my way, babbling some nonsense, so I cut it down with one slash."
"..." Kikyo didn't know what to say after hearing his words. But considering his personality, he would indeed do such a thing. She could only shake her head helplessly.
"However, if you want to lure Naraku out, it's actually quite simple," Retsu changed tack, saying with a smile.
"That guy has only two obsessions: one is to obtain the shikon jewel, the other is to obtain you."
"All you need to do is carry the shard of the shikon jewel, not hide in a small Village like before, but move around. Once Naraku detects your trail, he'll definitely come looking for you."
Kikyo shot him a sidelong glance, wanting to argue, but upon careful thought, it seemed like the most direct and effective method. She could only concede helplessly:
"Fine, we'll do as you say."
Her tone then turned serious:
"But you must accompany me. I can't handle Naraku alone. I died by his hand fifty years ago, and my power hasn't fully recovered yet. I'm no match for him."
"No problem," Retsu agreed readily.
Although he knew in his heart that a schemer like Naraku would never easily face Kikyo with his true body, Retsu still agreed.
"Sister, Naraku is too dangerous. You must be careful!"
Listening to their plan, Grandma Kaede urged with a face full of worry.
"Don't worry, Kaede, I'll be careful," Kikyo nodded, rising to leave. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye, sister," Grandma Kaede bid farewell to Kikyo, then looked at Retsu and said solemnly, "I'm counting on you. Please protect Sister Kikyo."
"Don't worry," Retsu waved his hand and followed Kikyo out, lifting the door curtain.
---
Early the next morning, in the treehouse where the two had stayed previously, Kikyo and Retsu were packed and ready to depart.
After leaving Kaedes Village last night, they had returned here using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Let's go. I wonder if we can reach the Demon Slayer Village today," Kikyo said, slinging her bow and quiver over her back and watching as Retsu stored everything in the Kamui Dimension.
After returning from Kaedes Village last night, she had revealed her next plan: to go to the Demon Slayer Village, where the shikon jewel had been entrusted to her for purification, to inquire about its origins.
Knowing the plot, he was well aware that the shikon jewel was formed from the fusion of the soul of the shrine maiden Suiko and the souls of countless demons after their final battle.
And the stalactite cave where the shikon jewel was born was right outside the Demon Slayer Village.
However, he didn't say anything. He had nothing else to do anyway, so he might as well follow Kikyo to Sango's Village for a look.
He would also get to meet the final member of the main group—the beautiful Demon Slayer Sango, whose beauty was no less than Kagome's or Kikyo's.
"But before that, let's go buy a horse. Walking is too slow," Retsu suggested. "Of course, I could carry you. It's mainly that you walk too slowly."
"...Let's just stop by the nearest Castle Town market on the way and see if there are any horses for sale," Kikyo thought for a moment, still deciding that riding a horse was more appropriate.
"Alright," Retsu walked to her side, placed a hand on her shoulder, and activated the Flying Thunder God Technique. The two instantly landed on the ground.
Retsu placed a hand on the tree trunk, infused it with Chakra, and then set off with Kikyo.
After walking some distance, accompanied by the creaking of wood and a heavy thud, the treehouse behind them collapsed and fell from the trunk, raising a cloud of dust.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. The two arrived at the nearby Castle Town market on their way but failed to buy a horse.
In this era, horses were not common goods; they weren't easy to acquire.
However, they ultimately found a suitable means of transportation: a large, burly Black Bear Demon.
This was something Retsu had specifically ventured into the forest to capture after leaving the town.
Now, firmly controlled by the Sharingan's illusion, it lay docilely on the ground, allowing the two to ride on its back as it sped swiftly through the forest.
With a demon as their vehicle, their travel efficiency increased greatly. Before long, the outline of the Demon Slayer Village appeared in their sight.
As the Black Bear Demon leaped out of the dense forest, a Village built atop a mountain came into clear view.
The Village walls were constructed from thick tree trunks, firmly standing at the edge of a cliff. A winding path led from the foot of the mountain to the Village gate at the summit. Inside, several tall watchtowers could be seen.
"This must be the Demon Slayer Village, right?"
Retsu looked down at Kikyo beside him, curiosity in his eyes.
He remembered that this Village had been slaughtered by demons driven by Naraku before Inuyasha arrived. Of course, it was still intact now.
"This is the place," Kikyo gazed at the familiar Village before her, complex memories flashing in her eyes.
"It was here, years ago, that the Demon Slayers entrusted the shikon jewel to me, tasking me with purifying it. Who would have thought..."
Here, she had taken on the shikon jewel, and ultimately, she had died because of it. One could say this was the place where her tragic fate began.
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