Izu Province.
It was the main region where the story of Inuyasha took place.
At its easternmost edge was Ito, where Maple Village and the Bone-Eater's Well were located.
It was also where Kagome's Higurashi Shrine would stand five hundred years later.
Maple Village was peaceful at this moment, with blue skies, white clouds, and green mountains surrounding it.
Birdsong rang out crisp and sweet.
Paddy fields gleamed beneath the brilliant sunlight like smooth mirrors.
If one ignored the Yoma problem—
It truly was a beautiful place, well suited for living.
"Shippo, are you looking at that well again?"
Wearing red-and-white shrine maiden robes, Old Lady Kaede held a wooden basin full of vegetables as she helplessly looked at the tiny figure crouched beside the well.
The little one had a fluffy pale-yellow fox tail and the build of a young child. He was an adorable little fox Yoma.
Ever since Inuyasha had helped him kill the Thunder Beast brothers who had murdered his father—
Shippo had followed him, Kagome, and the others on their travels and adventures.
A few days ago—
Sesshomaru had awakened Bakusaiga and driven back Kyūrei, after which they had returned to the village with Rin and Jaken to rest.
Who would have thought Kagome would suddenly say she needed to go home to prepare for something called "high school entrance exams"?
No one knew what exams were, so they guessed it might be some kind of Yoma.
Today was the day she had promised to return.
That was why Inuyasha had jumped into the well early in the morning to fetch Kagome.
Shippo had remained here ever since, staring down into the well with desperate anticipation.
But Old Lady Kaede felt that Kagome's return would be of no use.
The "purifying spiritual power" within her