"Kagome? Wasn't she at... the shrine?"
The beautiful priestess stood where she was, a trace of uncertainty on her delicate face. It seemed she really had not seen Kagome today.
Could it really have been her?
Of course, Kagome Higurashi herself... probably would not do something like that. But there was still a dangerous presence lurking within Kagome's body. Thinking of that, even Kikyo could not help feeling suspicious.
No demons had broken in, and no one else had come... so it could only have been one of their own. Aside from herself and Yae Sakura, there were only Kaede, Tanihara Natsu, and Kagome Higurashi among the four of them.
Clearly, Kagome Higurashi was the most suspicious.
"She's not at the shrine. Let's go look for her."
She sensed the area around the shrine but detected no trace of Kagome's presence.
"Alright, but what exactly is that stone bowl for?"
Even now, Kikyo still did not understand what the stone bowl did that made so many people and demons care about it.
"We can talk as we walk!"
Turning toward the exit of the shrine, Yae Sakura felt that things had gone somewhat beyond her expectations, though she was not especially worried. Kaguya was quite powerful and possessed a spell that could stop time, but it came with many harsh conditions.
Her own strength was still within the range of a great demon, and she was not even among the strongest of them. What made her formidable was the innate gifts of her celestial maiden body and those two treasures: the Mirror of Life, which reflected all attacks, and the Heavenly Feather Robe.
In particular, her most terrifying curse, Mirror Stillness, could not be cast at will. It had to be used within Castle of Illusions, together with the Mirror