Naraku, who had left ahead of the others, walked slowly through the dim depths beneath the castle, with Kagura and Kanna following close behind.
"Naraku, why is your heart in such turmoil?" Kagura gently waved her paper fan, abruptly needling him. As an incarnation of Naraku who had spent so long serving under him, she easily discerned his unsettled mood.
"Enough, Kagura. Shut up." Naraku turned his head and glared at her.
"Hmph." Kagura pursed her lips and moved away from him with a graceful sway.
"Let's go," Naraku ordered coldly.
"Wait. What about Kohaku and that little girl? Are we leaving them?" Kagura asked with a frown.
"Yes, for now. Whether they stay with Inuyasha's group or... either is fine." As for the little girl, surely neither Inuyasha's companions nor Kikyo, nor even Sesshomaru, would make trouble for her. Even if Yan Luo had some scheme involving her, as long as Kohaku remained at her side, he could receive news at any time.
Watching Inuyasha and the others depart, Kikyo sighed softly. How could feelings that had remained unchanged until death, unwavering through life and death alike, be so easily withdrawn? Inuyasha could return to his companions, but she no longer had anywhere to return to.
"Kikyo..." Han softly called her name.
"Yes." Kikyo's gaze settled gently on the girl. "Han, your injuries... are you all right?" She was not unmoved by the girl's feelings for her, and she understood better than anyone the agony of being burned by those flames.
"I'm all right." Han shook her head. The fire poison was fierce and difficult to cure, but she could temporarily suppress it with her innate water spiritual power until she found a spiritual medicine. "Kikyo, will you come with us?"
"No." Kikyo shook her head. She had