Integration

The earth trembled, and the clouds scattered as a giant ball of light rose from the ground. The blinding radiance eclipsed the sun's brilliance, causing the entire sky to dim in sharp contrast. Even thousands of miles away, the rising 'new sun' could be easily seen. The booming roar rode the heatwave across vast distances, and a violent storm swept outward. Trees nearby were leveled instantly, while the leaves of those further away were scorched dry.

Under this divine strike, beasts and yokai within the forest fled in terror. In distant human villages and towns, people looked toward the horizon and knelt in worship before the celestial glow. Every yokai lord across the Kanto region could not help but feel dread at such heaven-toppling power. When the light finally faded and the sky returned to blue, the foul monstrosity that had occupied the land, along with the tall castle, had vanished. In their place remained only a crater dozens of times larger than the original castle. At its edge lay a desolate wasteland; further out, the trees were all pressed outward in a radial pattern. At the bottom of the crater lay glittering crystals reflecting the sunlight.

Above that massive crater, the dark mechanical giant stood tall. Upon its shoulder armor, the priestess silently looked down at the terrifying scene of divine punishment.

"Yes. Together with the Shikon Jewel... our enemy from the beginning was never Naraku, but the jewel itself. Onigumo... perhaps he was merely a puppet trapped within the Shikon Jewel's snare of desire all along," the priestess responded indifferently to another consciousness within her soul.

Onigumo had originally been a bandit whom Kikyo saved fifty years ago. Severely burned and paralyzed, he had been tended to by her in the wilderness. His foul desires for his savior had attracted countless yokai to devour him, eventually merging with them to become Naraku—the culprit behind the tragedy between the hanyō and Kikyo five decades past.

"Is this... such power... is this the power of a god? It truly is difficult to believe." Looking at the scene below, Kikyo's voice whispered in wonder within the priestess's consciousness. This level of power far exceeded her understanding of 'strength.' Though she had traveled as a wandering priestess throughout the Sengoku era and witnessed countless powerful yokai and skilled humans, their power seemed minuscule before this heavenly might.

This was the power of a god, a power that mortals could never touch. Even the mighty Shikon Jewel, which had merged the demonic power of ten thousand yokai, seemed fragile and pathetic before it.

"This is power that was meant to be forgotten by this world. If it weren't for the fact that this body struggles to use Demon-Slaying Power on such a large scale, I wouldn't have wanted this power to reappear in this world," the priestess replied to Kikyo. Kikyo let out a sighing murmur. Power that shouldn't appear in this world...

"That is true. After all, this world has already suffered too many disasters because of such power."

At that moment, a light female voice suddenly spoke. The voice responded to Kikyo's murmur—but she should have only been able to speak within the priestess's consciousness.

'Who is it?!' Kikyo asked in shock. The priestess timely turned her gaze toward the source of the voice. There, perched on the other side of the shoulder armor, sat a small grey-white fox. Seeing this fox, Kikyo felt a wave of bewilderment.

A fox?

"Yes, I am a fox. At least, that is the appearance you see for now~" The grey-white fox, an avatar of Miketsu, responded nimbly to Kikyo's thoughts. Kikyo's soul was even more astonished.

'A fox... can hear my voice?'

"Yes. As long as my priestess can hear you, I can hear you. That includes your voice, Kikyo," Miketsu answered with a hint of a smile.

'Your priestess... could you be...'

Amidst Kikyo's shock, the priestess slowly turned and bowed respectfully.

"Rise. My true body is not here. We can observe the proper rites when you return—back to the era where I officially awaken," Miketsu said in an indifferent tone as she looked at her priestess of old.

In fact, the moment Miketsu's avatar arrived in this world, she had already established a faint connection with the priestess through the soul causality formed long ago. This connection had strengthened over time until she could finally convey her thoughts. This was why the priestess had not been surprised to see Miketsu.

Obeying Miketsu's words, the priestess stood up solemnly. Miketsu then looked down at the scarred and broken earth below, letting out a soft sigh of relief. She then placed a paw onto the dark armor, connecting her will to the five-hundred-year-old body and passing the Mandate's check.

Causality severing. The damage was erased, and everything quickly returned to how it had been before the great battle. Aside from Naraku and the evil within the Shikon Jewel, everything was restored. Miketsu sent the dark mechanical giant back into the Mandate space. Then, she and the priestess slowly descended from the sky, landing within the city where Naraku had once presided.

In this empty city, they saw a shining, transparent spiritual form. It was a priestess in the guise of a warrior, wearing armor with her hair unbound and a long sword in hand. Miketsu knew who she was. This was the priestess who had created the Shikon Jewel, named Midoriko.

Hundreds of years ago, ten thousand yokai had besieged this powerful priestess. In the heat of battle, her soul and those of the ten thousand demons had merged, becoming the Shikon Jewel. Thus, the jewel contained not only the souls of demons but also the soul of a priestess. When the Shikon Jewel was vaporized by the ancient god mecha's firepower, all the souls within had been reduced to ash. When Miketsu repaired the world, she selectively restored only the soul of the priestess Midoriko. Because the demonic souls were no longer there to entwine with her, Midoriko's soul was liberated, becoming an independent, ordinary soul.

Midoriko's reborn soul looked around in confusion. When she saw the priestess and the little fox descending from the sky, she froze for a moment before bowing deeply in respect. While inside the Shikon Jewel, she had clearly seen the battle outside and knew the heavenly power summoned by this priestess. She had expected total oblivion and had not thought she would have a chance to return to the world.

Facing Midoriko's soul, Miketsu spoke calmly, "Go and be reincarnated. You can finally rest. In your next life, experience a peaceful era and live well."

Hearing Miketsu's words, Midoriko paused. Then, after a heavy nod, she vanished from the spot.

Sengoku era, Kanto region.

Within a relatively prosperous town, people bustled about, and merchants called out to passersby. On this crowded street, a red-clad youth with bare feet and a headband was running quickly. His expression was determined, and he carried two large bundles of rice on each shoulder. The red-clad youth moved like the wind. The heavy load, which would have been impossible for an ordinary person, seemed like nothing to him. He carried the heavy rice with the grace of a swallow, weaving through the many pedestrians with light and fast steps.

"Make way, make way!"

Shouting as he went, the red-clad youth squeezed a path through the crowd. He leaped over various obstacles and ignored the gasps of surprise, heading straight for his destination.

Still carrying the heavy rice, the red-clad youth used his powerful legs to leap over a small two-story building, landing directly in front of a rice shop.

"Oho, isn't this Inutaro? You're early today. Let me see if any rice spilled..."

"Agh, there's no need to look, old man! Hurry up, hurry up—where's my pay!"

"Tsk, look at you in such a rush. Young people need to be more patient. Since you did all the work, would I not pay you?"

"Then hurry up! I have important things to do, old man!"

After a brief exchange in the rice shop, the red-clad youth stepped out weighing several copper coins in his hand. He didn't stop for a moment, continuing his journey until he arrived before a shrine. The stone marker at the entrance clearly bore the name 'Inari.' Without hesitation, the youth entered through the fresh red torii.

After washing his hands and waiting in line, the youth soon reached the front of the Haiden. Taking a deep breath, he threw all the wages he had earned today into the saisen-bako. Hearing the clatter of copper coins falling into the box, the youth began to pray deeply. An elderly shinkan standing nearby saw this and couldn't help but show a kind smile.

"My, my, Inutaro again. You've offered so much today. Such piety is truly rare among the youth. Your deep faith will surely be felt by Lord Inari."

"Ah, I hope they can feel it. I don't want to have worked for nothing," the youth said, scratching his head. The elderly shinkan continued to respond kindly.

"Of course, Inutaro. You come every day regardless of wind or rain to make offerings and pray. Your faith is clear to heaven and earth. The sound of your offering coins falling into the box surely reaches the ears of even Uka-no-Kami herself."

"Hmm... hopefully."

Under a large tree, the youth pulled off his headband, revealing fuzzy dog ears. He then crouched down and began digging in the dirt. Soon, he unearthed a battered tachi. Holding the sword in his hand, the youth took a deep breath. Then, gritting his teeth, he reached out and gripped the hilt.

Seeing that he could hold the hilt without being repelled by an electric shock, Inuyasha was first stunned, then a look of joy spread across his face. He immediately pulled the tachi from its scabbard. Accompanied by a surge of demonic power, the battered sword transformed into a massive blade.

"Great! I can use Tessaiga again! I never have to do that damn labor again! I don't have to be bossed around by those humans anymore! With Tessaiga, I can finally start collecting the Shikon Jewel again! With the jewel, I can become a full yokai—even a Great Yokai!"

Holding the demonic sword, Inuyasha spoke with visible delight. Just then, a voice called out from afar.

"Inuyasha—!"

Hearing this call, Inuyasha was startled. When he turned his head, he saw Kagome Higurashi in her high school uniform running toward him from the distant forest.

"Kagome? Ha! Perfect timing! I can finally use Tessaiga! Let's hurry up and collect the Shikon Jewel shards! We can leave right now!" Inuyasha shouted as he saw Kagome. When Kagome reached him, she leaned over with her hands on her knees, panting for breath, before slowly speaking.

"Inuyasha... I'm afraid... we don't need to look for Shikon Jewel shards anymore."

"Huh? What did you say? We don't need to look for shards?" Inuyasha asked in bewilderment. After she finished catching her breath, Kagome stood up straight and looked at him.

"Yes. A shikigami just visited Granny Kaede. It was from—from my very, very powerful past life! She said she has already collected all the Shikon Jewel shards and purified them."

Kagome spoke solemnly. Inuyasha stood frozen on the spot.

"What? The Shikon Jewel has been purified? By that past life of yours named Hata?"

"Mm. According to her shikigami, that is indeed the case. Anyway, it's wonderful! This way, no more yokai can use the Shikon Jewel to cause trouble."

Kagome spoke with relief. Inuyasha's mouth twitched, and his eyelids jumped wildly.

"What's so good about it? If the jewel is gone, how am I supposed to become a Great Yokai?! That woman... did she do it on purpose?!"

"Eh? Becoming a Great Yokai? Why would you want to change? Isn't this fine just as you are, Inuyasha?"

"What does a mere woman know of my ambitions! Anyway, I don't believe that person could really collect all the shards so quickly. Kagome, we—hm? Kagome, what's wrong?"

Inuyasha turned his head, only to see Kagome standing beside him with a dark look on her face, head bowed, emitting a dangerous aura.

"Oh... so in your eyes, I'm just a 'mere woman,' are I? Heh..."

"Hey, wait... Kagome, what are you doing?"

"Sit!"

With a loud thud, Inuyasha's entire body was slammed face-first into the ground by the power of the Kotodama necklace. His body continued to twitch.

"Hmph. That's what you get for being rude. Now you know better... hey, come on, Inuyasha." Kagome spoke. Just as Inuyasha was about to get up indignantly, he suddenly clutched his waist and fell back down.

"Ugh... no, this is bad. I did too much work today... that fall just now seems to have hurt my back..."

"Eh, hurt?! No way, I didn't mean it! Where does it hurt, let me see—"

"Hiss, don't just move me around!"

Beneath the large tree, the hanyo youth and the human girl bickered and interacted. In the distance, from behind a tree, a pair of eyes watched them earnestly.

The priestess in her red and white robes stood behind the tree, silently gazing at the distant scene. At that moment, a voice spoke in her mind.

'I have given you control of the body. Are you not going to say goodbye? No matter what, he was once the one you loved.'

Hearing the words from within, Kikyo, who had finally gained control of the body, took a deep breath and let out a sigh.

"Thank you for being willing to give me this chance. But I think it's better to leave it be. After all, in their hearts, the will awakened in this body is you. I am still the person from fifty years ago who died."

'Have you come to terms with it?'

"More or less. Now that Naraku is destroyed, the Shikon Jewel no longer exists, and the misunderstanding with Inuyasha has been cleared, all my long-cherished wishes are fulfilled. I think it's best not to create extra causality at a time like this. I am someone who has already died; we are destined to merge. And Inuyasha has his own life now. Let the past be the past," Kikyo said with emotion. She had originally intended to see Inuyasha one last time as Kikyo, but she abandoned the idea after seeing Kagome appear.

Seeing this, the priestess also felt that this was for the best. After all, this life is this life, and the next life is the next life. "We who belong to the next life should not interfere too much. Farewell to this time and space; a new life is waiting for us in another era..." the priestess said softly. This life is this life, and the next life is the next life—this was the advice Miketsu had given her back in the Heian period, and she now had a profound understanding of it.

Hearing the priestess's words, Kikyo paused for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Yes... our life... has just begun..."

As she spoke, Kikyo placed her hand over her heart and continued to murmur with a faint smile.

"Yes..."

With a smile, Kikyo began to feel her consciousness grow hazy. Memories overlapped, and perceptions interlaced. The two consciousnesses within the priestess's soul began their integration at this moment.