Every day after that, it heard the bandit calling the miko's name in the empty cave. Clearly, this domineering bandit had fallen in love with the miko he could never have.
Heh heh, things were getting very interesting.
It followed its web out of there.
A hoarse voice drifted intermittently through the hollow cave.
"Kikyo... Kikyo..."
Once it understood the bandit's desires, it came up with a plan. Although the miko's spiritual power had waned, she was still very capable. With its current body, it had no hope of seizing the Shikon Jewel. It could only seek other monsters to cooperate with, planning to use the art of gu poison to combine a human soul with a multitude of monsters. That would allow it to become a monster with a human body.
The bandit was in the throes of anguish. After the humans left, it crawled onto him and said, "Human, your wicked desires have drawn my attention. I can grant your wishes."
Wrapped entirely in bandages, with only one eye and his mouth exposed, the bandit answered in a harsh, hoarse voice, "Oh? A monster? Why would I ever trust you?"
"Don't you like that miko? She's with that half-demon right now. Do you think you're worthy of her, lying there completely paralyzed?"
The bandit's pupil contracted. "Kikyo..."
The spider continued, "You can't even stand. All you can do is watch helplessly as she stays with someone else. Admit it, Onigumo. You've fallen hopelessly in love with a woman. Just offer me that soul of yours, brimming with evil, and I can give you what you want."
Onigumo's emotions stirred. Had he fallen in love with Kikyo? He wanted her body.
Under its patient coaxing, the bandit finally voiced his wishes. "I want a body that can move freely.