The Homecoming

Sengoku era, Kanto region.

Faint trails of smoke drifted from the chimneys of the houses toward the sky. In a quiet field beside a village, within a lush forest, two young women walked slowly beneath the shade of the trees.

The two were identical in height and appearance. The only differences were their clothing and hairstyles: one wore a modern high school uniform with her long hair flowing freely, while the other was dressed as a miko with her long hair tied behind her in a red-and-white ribbon. Beyond that, there was a stark difference in their temperament and demeanor.

Walking across the verdant grass, Kagome looked at the red-and-white figure ahead of her with a hesitant gaze. Her expression betrayed a hint of unease and hesitation. She wanted to say something, but for a moment, she didn't know how to speak. After all, most people never experience taking a stroll with their own past life.

"So, uh, are you... are you going back to the modern era soon?" After a long silence, Kagome finally spoke to the priestess who was half a step ahead of her.

"Yes. After all, I don't belong to this era to begin with, do I?" Without stopping, the priestess merely turned her head slightly to look at Kagome from the corner of her eye.

"Yeah. That's true. Neither of us belongs here..." Hearing the priestess's words, Kagome paused for a moment before scratching her head. A trace of sorrow flickered in her expression. The priestess, keenly sensing this emotion, continued in a calm voice.

"So, are you going to return to your own era as well?"

"That... well, I probably should. Since the Shikon Jewel is gone, I shouldn't... stay here. But..." Kagome's words were slightly disorganized. As she spoke, the image of a certain dog yokai youth appeared in her mind. Without the mission to collect the Shikon Jewel, the time-traveling girl had no reason to stay in this era. However, at this moment, she seemed to have developed other thoughts—thoughts she couldn't yet define. She wasn't sure if she truly should go back.

Seeing the distress on the face of the girl who shared her countenance, the priestess gave a slight smile and spoke serenely.

"In fact, you don't need to be in such a hurry to return. There are still places in this era that need you."

"What? There's still... a need for me?" Kagome's face filled with bewilderment. Just then, another soft voice drifted down from above.

"Yes~ There are still places that need you in this era. It wouldn't be very good if you just left like that."

Hearing the voice, Kagome looked up and saw a small grey-white fox with a wagging tail standing on a branch. Seeing this familiar fox, Kagome couldn't help but cry out, "Lord Deity!"

With a nimble leap, Miketsu jumped down from the branch and landed precisely in the priestess's arms. After rubbing against the priestess's chest, she turned her head toward Kagome.

"Although the Shikon Jewel has been destroyed, its influence hasn't been completely erased. The yokai who were once exposed to the radiation of its shards are showing signs of turning violent. Leaving them alone isn't an option. I think it would be best for a miko capable of using Demon-Slaying Power to stay in this era and periodically clear these negative influences. Since the priestess needs to serve by my side, how about I leave this task to you?"

Looking at the stunned girl, Miketsu tilted her head. Kagome blinked as she fully processed those words, her confusion turning into a sudden flash of joy.

"Is that so? So the influence of the Shikon Jewel hasn't been completely erased! Oh dear! This... this is all my fault! I was the one who accidentally shot the Shikon Jewel into so many shards and scattered them! It's my responsibility if those yokai are turning violent. If I just leave it like this, wouldn't that be irresponsible? Right? Right, Lord Deity!" Kagome said, her voice brimming with excitement.

"Mm~ It is only right to take responsibility. Use the power contained within your soul well. Develop your abilities, fulfill your duties, and become a powerful miko." With a smile, Miketsu continued, and Kagome nodded earnestly.

"Yes! Don't worry, Lord Deity! I will definitely become an excellent—uh?" Suddenly, Kagome cut herself short. She recalled that when she had met this deity in the modern era, she had adamantly declared her grand ambitions—wanting to attend a prestigious university and having no interest in the path of religion. Now, she was making a miko declaration right in front of the same deity!

Isn't this just slapping my own face? Ahhh, how embarrassing!

Realizing this, Kagome's voice grew quieter and quieter as her face flushed deep red. Miketsu, in her fox form, gave an even more meaningful smile.

"Ambition and potential are good things. I believe you will be an excellent miko, Kagome. Don't you agree, priestess?"

"As my successor, being a miko is the most suitable profession for you. If you wish for miko training, you can find me in the future at any time," the priestess said slowly while holding the little fox. Kagome quickly nodded, her face still red.

"Y-yes! Thank you... I will definitely come if I need help."

"Lady Uka, are the shards of the Shikon Jewel truly that strong? Even after the jewel itself is destroyed, its radiated power still drives yokai into a frenzy?" the priestess asked. As the miko who once guarded the jewel, she knew its nature better than anyone. Instead of answering directly, Miketsu rolled around in the priestess's arms and took a long stretch before speaking.

"Mmm~ Who knows? Since she's willing to believe it, then that's that. I'm not sure if there are yokai still influenced by the Shikon Jewel, but there are certainly plenty of violent ones. She'll find a target regardless." Miketsu spoke casually. After all, Kagome just needed a reason to convince herself, and whether that reason was reliable didn't really matter. At that moment, Miketsu suddenly thought that if things continued like this, Kagome would likely become an Inari miko. If she ended up with Inuyasha in this Sengoku era... wouldn't that mean, in a sense, she would become in-laws with Toga? Well, if you stretch the connection, it counts. Thinking this was quite amusing, Miketsu found herself looking forward to the wedding sake.

Inside a house in the village, Kagura and Kanna were sitting solemnly in simple kimonos. Kagura's expression was grave, while Kanna wore a large mask beneath her indifferent eyes, completely covering her nose and mouth. Across from them sat a small grey-white fox wagging its tail.

"En, it looks like you've recovered well. You're already able to move freely so soon."

Miketsu spoke plainly as she looked at the two yokai women. Kagura nodded quickly.

"Thanks to the care of the Lord Deity. We are yokai, after all—and yokai created by Naraku. It's only natural that our recovery power is stronger."

Kagura spoke respectfully to the grey-white fox, and Kanna, sitting beside her, gave a silent nod.

To stop the erosion of the smirking energy, Naraku had severed the link between himself and his incarnations, Kanna and Kagura. However, this had also caused them to lose the connection to their hearts, leaving them on the brink of death until Miketsu saved them. By now, they were mostly recovered. Kagura was almost entirely healed, while Kanna, having been too deeply eroded by the smirking energy, required a longer detoxification period. Thus, she wore a mask to suppress the energy; otherwise, she would still suffer from various uncontrollable facial expressions.

Although, theoretically, Kanna would eventually be able to clear the smirking energy and be cured, she had been so deeply affected that no one knew if there would be lasting side effects. Miketsu hoped that if there were, they would be mild—ideally not ruining the white-haired emotionless girl's aesthetic.

"It's good that you've recovered. So, what are your plans for the future?" Miketsu asked Kagura. Kagura hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"That... we don't know yet. We were originally yokai controlled by Naraku, born because of him, his pawns, and his tools. Although we both longed for freedom, we are, in the end, yokai created from filth." Although Kanna and Kagura had gained the freedom they desired, they were momentarily lost. They didn't know what they should do in the future.

"If you don't know where to go, perhaps you could take an exam." Miketsu spoke as she faced Kagura and Kanna. Kagura froze in place upon hearing this.

"An exam? You mean..."

"Yes. If you pass the Inari Divine Messenger Exam, you will have a worry-free life in the future. Moreover, this exam is not easy to pass. Passing it can serve as a goal for you for a very long time." Puffing out her chest slightly, Miketsu spoke plainly to Kagura. After a moment of shock, Kagura spoke in wonder.

"The Inari Divine Messenger Exam? That means... Lord Deity, you are actually an Inari god? You want me and Kanna to become divine messengers?"

"Mm~ It's not that I hope for it. It's just providing a path of choice for those of you who are lost. After all, getting a job is never a bad thing, no matter how you look at it." Miketsu spoke this way because, when in doubt, take the civil service exam—this logic held true even in the world of yokai.

"I see. But I've heard that the Inari exam is incredibly difficult. Kanna and I are newly born yokai; is it really okay?" Seeing Kagura's hesitation, Miketsu added a supplement.

"Mount Inari has the most Inari foxes in the country. It would be a shame not to go see them."

"Cute foxes?" Hearing Miketsu's words, Kagura felt a jolt of excitement, and her spirits lifted instantly. She turned to Kanna with interest. "So, Kanna, since the Lord Deity has suggested it, and we have nothing else to do anyway, why don't we go to Mount Inari and try our luck? Maybe we really can become messengers of a god!"

In response to Kagura's words, Kanna, still wearing her mask, gave a silent nod.

In the early morning schoolyard, warm sunlight bathed the earth, and students flocked through the gates to begin a new day of school life.

"Uwaaa~"

In the classroom of Class 1-B, Miketsu, wearing her high school uniform, lay across her desk and took a massive stretch. Just then, Hayakawa Rin, who had just entered the classroom with her bag, happened to pass by her side.

"That's rare. Inaba, you're actually at school this early today."

As she sat down at her desk, Hayakawa Rin spoke to Miketsu in surprise. Usually, the girl in front of her walked into the classroom leisurely just as the final bell rang. Occasionally, they would run into each other on the way and arrive together, but Rin had never seen Miketsu arrive before her.

"Couldn't be helped. I wanted to sleep more, but I was woken up..." Miketsu said listlessly while lying on the desk. Hearing this, Hayakawa Rin couldn't help but feel curious.

"Woken up? Inaba, don't you live alone?"

"Well... a nanny arrived recently. Someone kindly made breakfast and waited for me to wake up, so I couldn't exactly stay in bed, could I? Uuuh~" Miketsu spoke while yawning. The "nanny" she referred to was, of course, Kikyo, who had just come over from the Sengoku era. For the past few days, she had been living at the Kagami-oboro Inari Shrine in her capacity as a miko.

Although a miko by title, Kikyo had indeed taken on the role of Miketsu's nanny in their actual daily lives. While this saved Miketsu from relying on store-bought meals for three meals a day, her original lazy and casual lifestyle was now restricted to a certain extent.

Playing games a bit too late resulted in her being persuaded by way of prayer. Every morning, breakfast was invariably prepared along with a wake-up call. If she ate too much junk food, she would still be admonished through the form of a prayer. Sometimes, Miketsu felt like the person who had moved in wasn't a miko, but a parent.