Hanyo of Snow

Ch62 Of Snow and Souls

(Inuko POV - Daimyō Manor - An hour later)

"They are starting to clear up already." Y/N, looking at the injuries underneath his bandages including the blisters from the ink.

Wouldn't be surprising considering he has been getting better at using his powers to heal others, he had spent the better part of the past hour making sure not to freeze his bandages.

Even his remaining injuries from Mittsume Jōrō from two days ago were cleared up, all that remained of those was some scratches on his and those had been the worst of them.

"Most of them will probably be gone by tomorrow, guess that is the one positive of tonight.

" I said, gesturing to my own bandages with a grin.

I could probably just take them off with mere scratches left within the hour.

"One of the few benefits I consider of sharing blood with my bitch of a sister.

Not sure about yuki-onna, but I assume they have something similar? "

"A bit, but it can easy be overwhelmed. Especially with heat, not something I can count on or intend to." He sighed out, getting me to nod.

Honestly I wasn't expecting anything less from him.

Granted I could worry a bit less about Y/N with this, but not much. He attracts far too much trouble between his appearance and that blasted shard.

"Thought as much, learned the hard way many times not to rely on it. Part of why we could take down Yura, she grew too dependent on her immortality." I said, jabbing a thumb at her.

"Sadly it's true. Think I truly learned that lesson after getting fried with lightning." Yura said with a shudder.

Not that I blame her, Hiten aside dealing with the pain from healing is probably the worst part sometimes.

Tried my best not to show how much it truly hurt at the time, but Sesshōmaru gouging my fucking eye out was definitely one of the worst experiences in my life. It regrew back in a day, but stung like all Yomi the whole time.

I'll be the first to admit I'm reckless in a fight, but unlike the rest of them I can actually take more of a hit and then get back up.

"Perhaps, maybe with some practice healing myself with this I could improve on healing others." Y/N mused out, looking lost in thought for a moment.

"Hopefully." Kagome said, letting out a sigh.

"I would like to see this ability myself one day, don't think I've heard of a yuki-onna actually using their abilities to heal others wounds like how you described.

Nursing others back from being ravaged by the cold, but not actually reversing and easing injuries.

" Miroku said as she entered the room, finally switching back to her true voice.

"Please just try to be careful." Kagome said, all of us but Y/N giving her a pointed look as he just sighed.

Won't put it past her let herself be injured to feel his hands on her.

Miroku only looked amused as she sat herself down around the table.

"I have my pride as a hoshi to consider, but I always try to be considerate of my safety and those around me.

" Miroku said, her hand trailing on her nenju before looking at both Shippō and Takechiyo passed out on the tatami mats.

Both curled up nest to eachother. "They're both well and truly asleep. "

"Crashed about half an hour ago." Kagome said.

"You wouldn't stop trying to gush about their cuteness for a bit afterwards." I said, smirking as her face flushed a little bit.

"Didn't stop you from doing the same for Shippō." She shot back as my ears twitched.

"I was only making sure he was sleeping comfortably." I said with a shrug. "You're getting better with your barbs."

"Learned from the best." Kagome said with a smile, getting me to hide a smirk.

She had been improving quite a lot over the past few weeks. Felt almost proud there for a moment. Girl had it from the beginning, but has been improving greatly.

Really has come a long way since falling into this era, took ripping out Kikyō from her souls before I'm seeing more a resemblance if just a little. Way she snapped at me about my injuries was just like her too...

But there was more than enough differences between the two, certainly worked for her and Y/N. Hopefully better than what happened to us...starting to see a lot of myself and Kikyō in them these days....

Even seeing...

Nope, shoving those thoughts off a cliff!

From the corner of my eyes I thought I saw Yura quickly shift, her attention focused on Y/N and Kagome. For a moment thought she was looking at me there...

Must be too tired for this shit from that damned ink.

"So how are things with the daimyō?" I asked Miroku with a grunt, silently thankful everyone else turned their attention to her.

Miroku returned to the manor about a few minutes afterwards, not that long afterwards the daimyō of the town had came charging from his negotiations.

Hearing the danger the danger of Kōtatsu and Miroku having the foresight to send out a messenger on horseback he came charging with at least 20 soliders.

Only to find Kōtatsu dead, a good chunk of his men battered and bruised, some burnt from the uwabami, and those two that were killed earlier when a painting ransacked the manor. Other than them everyone else was alive, he did seem more concerned and relieved his daughter was fine.

Thanking us before discussing what happened.

We just let Miroku do it herself, mainly because of how exhausted Y/N, the kit, and the cub were.

Plus he was eyeing me and Y/N wearingly, between my features and the fact Y/N couldn't so much as take a step without leaving a small patch of frost on the floor at that point.

"Fine for the most part aside from some gratitude and some of his men they are having doctors checking up through the night." Miroku said with a sigh before turning to Yura. "If anyone tries to break into the rooms tonight, feel free to leave them strung up from the manor's entry way bald."

"Would have done so anyway." She said without a care as Y/N and Kagome frowned.

"You think he would try something?" Kagome asked, getting Miroku to nod.

"Not sure, he did seem interested in the shards. But knowledge that a corrupted shard corrupted ink and devoured its user and his own daughter telling him off dissuaded him of the potential benefits. Didn't even need to point out how bad it will be." Miroku said, getting me and Y/N to sigh.

"Still better to be cautious." He said while shaking his head.

"Other than that issue I discussed our fee." Miroku said, now getting all our attention on her.

During the wait Yura had made it quite clear what this monk had pulled on the last daimyō she 'collected her fee from' before we meet. Honestly depending on the mood I might actually approve, but tonight I was too tired for that nonsense.

"I only requested enough for six people to buy lodging for two or three nights alongside some paper and silk to mend some of my robes.

" Miroku said as Y/N and Kagome seemed to relax a bit more.

"You both have made clear your homeland is quite near alongside the village of this Kaede, making it clear to get back home soon. "

"Yes, and maybe we can figure out where to stay.

" Y/N said, looking like he was thinking of something for a moment.

"One option is there is a small Buddhist temple outside of the village, it had been abandoned for quite a while.

Last it was used for was a hideout for a group of bandits on the day the Shikon no Tama shattered.

If not maybe we can figure something else out or if it can be restored or not. "

Miroku looked at him for a moment, before smiling.

"Sounds like it might be a small abandoned shukubo, often enough bandits tend to lurk there if there is no activity. You're asking because of this Nazuna." Miroku asked, getting him to nod as Kagome smiled.

"Figured he would ask that two." Kagome said with a smile.

"No need to ask, I probably would have investigated upon spotting it anyway.

I'll investigate it on my own time if we are to take a rest." Miroku said before growing serious.

"With that out of the way, how sure are you this a Magatsuchi you're calling for now in the Shikon no Tama is a composite yokai? "

"Positive, definitely the strongest type. Its body formed a shape like a dragon or a serpent with only the barest traces of Kōtatsu. Its soul and the soul of Naohi who sealed it are the presences in the jewel." Y/N said.

"So a far more dangerous version of Naraku." I said, Yura only shook her head.

"If only, I heard whispers of them. Imagine a giant version of a yokai or animal whose body forms a mishmash of parts. Large enough to tear apart hills easily." Yura said, getting Kagome to shudder.

Alright, definitely far more dangerous.

And something like that had been used to create the Shikon no Tama...

"You still have no idea on who might have been used to create the Shikon no Tama?" I asked Y/N, he just shook his head.

"No, composite yokai are rare but a completed one are even rarer.

Those that are recorded are usually the ones that did the most damage.

But without even muddling from various stories and tales with details lost to time there are records of such powerful yokai being lost from only just forming and immediately being put down.

Worse if they are stricken from history or altered just from how bad they or the circumstances they were formed. " He said.

"Y/N's right on that, my grandfather recovered a scroll for one such case.

Around 500 years ago a large oni attacked Kyōto unleashed by an onmyoji for being kicked out of his clan, ravaging the surrounding towns before being stopped by one of his former students.

" Miroku said before looking at Y/N. "They never said anything about which clan. "

"The Ashiya have had several incidents using oni that I've seen records off, nothing as large scale as that or that specific time period from what I've seen." Y/N sighed out.

"Just how many incidents your clan has been involved with outside of Ashiya Dōman?" Kagome said, only to get an irritated sigh from him and her to wince. "That bad."

"Yes, and I assume I only know the tamer aspects." He sighed before recomposing himself. "But I believe I know what you're talking about, the former student was of the Abe or Asakura clans right?"

"The latter, but what he discovered was the scroll was written by the student.

The composite yokai was formed from another of his fellow pupils tricked into becoming the human core.

Believing that it will make it more resilient to reiryoku and shikigami.

..sadly it worked. Quite a few lives were lost, worst was the onmyoji was one in service to the imperial family of only a lowly position in their court. " Miroku said.

"It happened right under their noses and they thought it would be better to mark it as just a rather powerful oni and let the rest lost to history." Yura said while crossing her arms.

"Well that's just great, you aside from what Kaede told you it might be impossible to narrow down what yokai and miko whose souls created the jewel." I said, feeling a little irritated.

"Yes, but it would be for the best to figure out just what exactly we are dealing with from the shards aside from finding more." Kagome sighed out.

Once again another goal in mind, but one we really needed to get answers for soon. If this Magatsuchi really used the jewel shard to create that damned suzuri no tamashii from Kōtatsu's ink to manifest a temporary body, then we need to know what we were dealing with.

Speaking of which.

"What little we know is from a yokai taijiya village from where Kikyō was sent the jewel from, Kaede doesn't remember the location yet. Do you have any ideas on what village she might be talking about?" I asked while turning to Miroku.

For a few moments she brought her hands to her face, before nodding.

"I don't know the location, but the village you described sounds like the oldest one on Honshū.

And the last one currently standing east of the capital, any others are focused west more towards and on Shikoku and Kyūshū.

All I know aside from that there is actually a smaller encampment that split off from the village years ago far to the north, but it has been all but wiped out.

" Miroku sighed out with a frown. "A yokai taijiya is a rare sight on eastern Honshū for the past few years.

They are usually considered the best in their field, but all the activity from yokai or human conflict has dwindled their numbers greatly. "

"Not that much different from what I know." Yura mentioned. "Master it seems like if we have nothing from your records, than the old miko is our best chance of finding the truth."

"Maybe if she remembers it..." I said, getting everyone's attention. "Between myself and Kikyō's resurrection might be drawing more memories from that time...that cave she wished to investigate, it might be related to Naraku..."

I was practically digging my nails into my fist, silently cursing my anger.

Could have realized this last night if I didn't, Kaede knew something about Naraku or at least suspected it!

"How sure you are about this?" Miroku asked, her tone deadly serious.

"Deathly serious, at least I suspect she might've known who Naraku was as a human. That's all I know." I said, getting Kagome and Y/N to look at each other.

"This cave, do you think it could be Naraku's kodoku?" Kagome asked.

"Everything seems to be pointing towards it." He said before turning towards me. "Do you know anyone in the village 50 years ago would have been willing to make such a deal with yokai?"

"No, all of them adored Kikyō and probably would rather be dead before hurting or betraying her. A rarity back then among smaller villages." I said.

Honestly traveling with all of them over the past few weeks it seems like a quiet period of this era was going on before the Shikon no Tama shattered.

Same trouble with yokai, bandits, armies, and anyone squabbling over the tiniest bit of territory to rule.

But things had seemed a bit more relaxed even with the looks we got.

Such a rarity among the decades I traveled since mom passed away, I suppose Kikyō's village was a blessing. My time there with her and Kaede made it so easy for me to consider actually going through with Kikyō's plan...

The thought of anyone back then from that village actually betraying her was something I refuse to believe.

Whatever human had been foolish enough to turn themselves into Naraku had to have come from somewhere else.

Only Kaede seems to have the answers we all were seeking.

"Then I suppose we have a plan then for when we get back to the old miko's village. I'll go with master and Kagome back to their homeland to investigate what could possibly be in the jewel." Yura said, before turning to me. "You and the monk can find what she knows around the village."

Before I could say anything, Kagome nodded with a smile.

"Alright, I think that is a good idea." She said before looking at us all. "We try to figure out what we can and meet back in two or three days?"

Y/N looked at them both before nodding as I frowned at Yura, before sighing.

Something else was going on here, but I'm too tired to give a damn about whatever the hairy bitch has been planning. I'll figure it out tomorrow.

"Alright seems like we all have more or less come to an agreement." He said, getting me and Yura to nod.

"A decent plan, all things considered." Miroku mused with a nod before her expression turned serious. "But before we settle things for tonight, I believe I might have an answer to the effects of Y/N's shard on souls aside from his imbalanced Shikon."

Silence reigned in that room for a few moments before all our attention fell on Miroku as she shook her head.

"Honestly it would have possibly slipped my mind of I hadn't seen this Magatsuchi go after him or this Naohi providing Kagome the additional reiryoku." She said, her gaze turning directly on him. "Y/N, how much do you know about the yuki-onna's ability to manipulate souls?"

Again silence ruled the room for a few moments as he stared blankly at Miroku, palming his face with a groan.

"Master/Y/N?" Both Yura and Kagome asked him as he regained his composure.

"So you do know something?" I asked as he shook his head.

"Somewhat, what little I do know is records of my father getting mom to admit to some truths of magic between the hundreds of legends of yuki-onna.

Unlike my normal abilities it can only be taught by another yuki-onna to another to fully realize them.

One notable example she did show was the creation of a yukinko, making them look like a young child with a soul instead it's more of an animated doll made out of snow.

" Y/N said while shaking his head. "Yuki-onna magic is based around subtlety deceiving other's senses, disguise appearances, or just making snow unbelievably heavy.

My father only recorded what my mother showed him and their effects, just not the how.

But what I know there is one ability relating to soul manipulation, just with their own soul and nothing like what we encountered from this acursed shard so far. "

That actually aligns with all the stories I've heard about yuki-onna before even meeting Y/N. Even heard about yukinko before, mom told me if I ever ran into a woman with a child on a snowy mountain at night to just hold onto it she returns.

Saying with my strength I should be okay, just had to mind the cold.

Refuse and she'll push you off a cliff.

Thought they were type of yokai, but just something else entirely.

She used to tell me a lot of such stories especially towards the end of her life, guess just one of the ways she tried to prepare me for the world when she was gone...

Shaking my head to clear those thoughts as Miroku hummed to herself.

"So what was it Y/N?" Kagome said, sounding a little concerned.

"The ability to split their soul apart to create a guardian of sorts, according to what mom knew it seemed to an ability one in three or four yuki-onna are just born with. Though being technical it is actually a form of omokage." Y/N said, getting Kagome totilt her head.

"Kind of like Naraku's kugutsu?" She said, getting him to shrug and Yura to shake her head.

"Similar but not quite Kagome, a kugutsu are nothing more than puppets while an omokage is an independent as close to a copy or as close to the original as possible, right to having their own soul.

All you need is some blood to create them but it's far more difficult to create or maintain under control as they can break free and act on their own. " Yura said, getting Kagome to shudder.

"She is correct, worst part is that humans can be used to create omokage as well.

Creating a yokai copy of the original one.

However they are far more tricky and while they can replicate the abilities they can never fully recreate the soul.

And it takes far longer to recreate a fully independent copy than a yokai for reasons no one is unable to figure out.

" Miroku sighed out. "Honestly I'm not even certain an omokage's soul can cross over to the afterlife. "

Kagome looked even more disturbed and I don't blame her.

Thank Amaterasu from the sounds of it was more difficult to make one than a kugutsu and control, but still a dreadful prospect.

I can barely imagine what I would do if some had made an omokage of Kikyō.

At this point I probably wouldn't have the heart in me to put a fight against her...

"As I said can be considered similar to a omokage, but this guardian is split from the yuki-onna's soul. The split happens just once in a lifetime and the guardian is essentially a yokai with a body of snow and ice with their own soul." Y/N said as I nodded.

"You did say they were similar cases to what happened with Kagome and Kikyō, so something similar happens to yuki-onna." I said with a frown. "Anyway to tell when the split happens?"

"No, usually random or under threat but the chance is random.

And the guardian at best usually has the intelligence of an animal or not that bright by human standards.

Some of them can parrot their yuki-onna's thoughts with their voice.

And their appearance and powers vary. My mother had heard stories of them looking like walking snow piles, animal and yokai like, or actual clones of their yuki-onna or something that can generate more of them.

And their powers can in some cases greatly eclipse their yuki-onna and difficult to control or practically powerless.

What is clear is all have a form of immortality like Yura minus being completely evaporated and fiercely protective of their yuki-onna.

" He said before turning to Kagome. "You remember that crazy blizzard that hit Nerima last winter? "

"It was practically buried in snow..." Kagome said before realization dawned upon her. "That was a yuki-onna's guardian causing that?"

"Maybe, only got rumors of a yuki-onna wandered into the area and her guardian chased her down.

Causing said blizzard in an anxious attempt to find and ensure her safety.

Supposedly it was too strong for her to reign in normally, but that's all I've heard from an acquaintance in the area.

They left just as suddenly as the blizzard hit.

Got no way to confirm it, but it lines up with my mother's accounts. " Y/N said, sounding a little sullen.

Didn't take long for me to guess he was probably looking forward to meet a yuki-onna. If there actually was one and not just some freak snowstorm.

Kagome scootled closer to him and patted his shoulder in an attempt to cheer him up. Smiling at him as he sighed and regained his composer.

"One thing that does and completely differs from Kagome and Kikyō, the guardians soul is ultimately the same as the yuki-onna's.

So if they are killed, the soul returns the yuki-onna.

Initially I thought of this regarding the imbalanced Shikon, but the split would fall under the yokai part of my soul.

" Y/N said as he turned to face Miroku. "So what is this other ability they have to manipulate souls? "

"An ability you all have already seen, supposedly rarer than splitting one's soul but perhaps just as common among them.

Not many yuki-onna actively use it or try to figure out if they have it.

" Miroku said, her tone turning deathly serious.

"Ultimately it is the absorption and twisting of wandering souls, possessing them into their body to perfectly mimic their appearance and voice.

They can only hold one primary soul and appearance at a time but any other souls absorbed are used as little but fuel for their magics, enhancing them to better disguise or creating barriers.

The primary soul is the only one aware of what is going on outside of the yuki-onna.

..now tell me does that not sound vaguely familiar? "

...Izanami damn it!

Y/N's ability, it was actually something he was born with!

Twisted and enhanced by it that damned shard!

Both he and Kagome seemed especially shaken by this and I don't blame them.

But it all too well aligns with what we've seen happen...

"Master." Yura said, snapping everyone out of their stupor. "It could be like your reiryoku, something that you were born with but the shards drawing it out."

"Yura is right, the ability only affects human souls.

Or at least the souls of other yokai are too dangerous for them to possess.

I lack that knowledge, but it seems like you might've had the potential but it was twisted by your shard.

Very much like how it turned a simple weasel into an itachi. " Miroku said.

"Or altering the Ne no Kubi to spawn Hitōkon from its own body or offshoots. Altering what is possible into another ability aside from enhancing everything. Naohi and Magatsuchi has made it so it can affect both human and yokai, anything tied to the Shikon no Tama." Y/N sighed out.

"With both of them and Kikyō as the primary soul, each shard making them stronger. That explains too much of tonight." I snarled out.

Both souls were inside the Shikon no Tama and Kikyō had it burned with her to ashes before reincarnating. All three had their souls tied to the damned thing through death.

Requiring a fourth soul in Y/N to make them more aware and active. So much so Naohi and Magatsuchi can influence anything connected with them of imbalanced enough...all at the cost of his human side being chipped away with each shard...

I swear to Susanoo that if I didn't need the blasted thing for mine and Y/N's wishes I'd finish what Kagome started and grind the damn thing into dust!

Let's see if it can pull itself back together in another 500 years after that!

At the very least Kikyō is free from that damn thing now...I hope...

"Inuko are you okay?" Kagome asked, breaking me from my thoughts to see everyone looking at me.

"I'm fine, just grateful it's no longer affecting Kikyō. Honestly if there is one thing I'm glad about this is seeing her again is she was at least somewhat aware. If she wasn't I can only imagine how pissed she would've been." I said, letting out a little laugh at the thought.

Seriously, knowing her there would have been absolutely no reasoning with her and things could have gotten way worse.

Kikyō always tried to help me mind my temper, when she herself was much scarier than I could ever be when truly pushed beyond her limits. About the only thing in this damned situation I'm thankful for.

"Just wish it didn't happen at all." Yura sighed out before she faced Miroku. "Monk, is there anything else to know about this."

"Hardly much more, I only found out as part of my training far to the north of here years ago where yuki-onna are occasionally spotted.

From a small temple with a monk who had long since passed.

He only encountered one such yuki-onna, a rather ancient one and mistaking her as a restless spirit possessing an elderly woman and was shocked to find a yuki-onna who released the woman's soul.

It turned out the woman passed several weeks before and drifted to the mountains, the two struck a deal and the yuki-onna took her soul to care for her husband until he finally joined her.

The monk agreed and kept vigil until the husband passed, both souls finally moving on.

From the yuki-onna he learned about the ability.

The only way a yuki-onna can release those souls are by willing to release them or their death.

Most yuki-onna who find they have it either very rarely use it and keep the spirits for short periods or never are willing to use it. " Miroku said.

"And some of them abuse that ability to their fullest I take it." I finished, figuring where this was going as she nodded.

"If you hear a tale of a rather violent yuki-onna raiding villages it is likely a good chance it is one of them. They are not welcome by others of their kind at all." Miroku said.

"I wouldn't be surprised, while there are cases of yuki-onna attacking humans they prefer to keep to themselves or living with families or in clans.

One slaughtering humans on the oft chance they could reap their souls would be less than welcome.

" Y/N sighed out as he shook his head. "Thank you for telling me this Miroku, it's given me quite a bit to think.

Just more questions, but just as many answers. "

He seems to be taking it better than I thought.

Not sure if he was hiding it or not be Y/N definitely looked a little better then when he first heard that news.

"Of course, I was just hoping to help anyway I could. Honestly there are a few answers to your shard I can't figure out, finding the origin could be the answer to everything." Miroku said, getting us all to nod.

Suppose one thing has become apparent after tonight.

Finding out who Naraku, Naohi, and Magatsuchi truly were after tonight has just become a priority over collecting the shards. Perhaps looking away from them will offer some relief to Y/N and not make the other two or his ability even stronger for a bit.

Can't believe I'm thinking this, but the longer we try to avoid the shards the better it will be until we figure out what is going on!

Of course if we find one along the way we would have to take it.

Leaving them out will only make Naraku or whatever other yokai and humans crawling out of the wood work to claim it.

Claiming the shard would only chip away at Y/N's humanity even more and strengthen the other two presences with Magatsuchi seemingly going for his shard and Naohi actively trying to make sure it didn't happen.

Our hunt for the shards just keep on become a more tedious balancing act...but one I can't allow it to come crashing down. Least we could lose Y/N to it...

I've already lost Kikyō, I'm not going to lose him as well...

"We can all figure it out after we make it to Kaede's village after tomorrow, it's been a long day and I think we should all get some rest. Including you too Yura." Kagome said, in tone I was familiar with.

Kikyō used to do the same to Kaede to get her to bed when she wanted to get some stuff off her chest or figured there was something really bothering me.

Every damned time she saw through me no matter what I tried to hide...

Shaking my head me, Yura, and Miroku shared a glance as the monk nodded, both me and her getting up from the table. Seems like we all three of us agreed on one thing.

"Quite true, I need to get up early tomorrow." Miroku said as she stretched before looking at Y/N. "I'll be heading to my quarters, and I hope my words were able to put some of your worries at ease."

"I'll just find some tree to crash in, that ink took a lot out of me. I can go another century without smelling anything as horrid again." I said before looking at the others. "See you both in the morning and if anything happens..."

"I'll be sure to ruin your beauty sleep." Yura said smugly as I smirk.

"More than welcome it." I said as me and Miroku started to walk out of the room as Kagome and Y/N shook their heads.

"Good night Inuko, Miroku." Y/N said as we walked into the hall, I gave them a brief wave before we turned the corner.

Taking a few steps before I let out a sigh.

"So was that story really the truth or something you made up?" I asked.

"Truth, would you really think so little of me?" Miroku asked as I gave her an annoyed glance.

"Yes, though I suppose I don't fully trust your silver tongue." I said rather bluntly before seeing her smirk. "Don't you dare say what I think you are about to!"

"Whatever could you mean? Though I have been complimented on my oratory skills. Have diffused many a tension in the past with them." Miroku said with a smile, her lips twitching into a smirk as I bristled.

Damn it, really put my foot in that one!

"But it was the truth, I was hoping to answer his question. Though I did leave out one small detail." Miroku said as I frowned.

"What would that be?" I asked her, holding back a growl.

"Something that we will never have to worry about, those yuki-onna who abuse and absorb those souls ultimately lose their sanity after consuming too much.

There is only so much they can take before going fully insane with all the wandering souls they take into themselves and attack everything in sight.

" Miroku said as I sighed and shake my head, feeling my frustration leaving me a little.

She was right on that part, even if he knew how to control it.

Especially with Kagome with him.

"Fair enough, yet you still could have told him." I snapped, getting Miroku to shrug.

"True, I will once his mind clears up a bit more in a few days. This week has been especially taxing for you all from the sounds of it." Miroku said as I let out a grunt in agreement. "But I do have one question for you Inuko if you are willing to answer it?"

"Depends on the question." I said, giving her an annoyed glare.

Miroku closed her eyes and took in a deep breath as she stopped her pace.

"How certain are you that Kikyō and you could have truly purified the Shikon no Tama?"She asked.

"Bet my life that it would have worked, she was far more certainly of it working and two of us spending our lives together as normal humans than anything else I've seen.

" I answered honestly. "If Naraku didn't interfered and ruined all chances I'd be living with her and Kaede and looking like a third of my actual age right now!

That damn thing would essentially be purified or gone! "

Once again spending 50 years in statis was pretty much a massive annoyance, especially with that arrow in my chest. Despite not losing that time or aging I could have spent it looking after Kaede. She had to take on her sister's role thanks to them at a young age.

Despite what I was lead to believe I would have looked after Kaede even at a distance, if only for the time I spent living with them or if she hated me.

Naraku robbed us off all of a chance of a normal life!

Kikyō wanted it more than anything during our final days...a dream that died 50 years ago thanks to them!

I don't care how many parts I will have to rip and tear apart to find whatever Naraku calls a core and crushes it before their eyes for what they did! Especially to make sure Y/N and Kagome never experience something like this pain for themselves!

Taking a breath to calm myself I just shook my head and flexed my claw.

"But it seems you're keen on getting rid of that damned jewel after we get every last shard." I said, getting Miroku to nod.

"Figured you were having similar thoughts considering your anger towards how it's been affecting Y/N." Miroku said with a smirk before shaking her head. "Not in the first place, but after tonight it has become a priority. So you are willing to give up your wish for its destruction?"

"No!" I growled out, surprising Miroku. "I've clung to that wish for around for half my life! I swear to Amaterasu I will not give up on it! But it won't be me making it."

Miroku looked lost in thought as I tried to calm myself.

"You intend to replace Y/N with Kikyō in place of the original plan. That would purify the Shikon no Tama, but are you certain if this will get rid of it?" Miroku asked as I shrugged.

"Hopefully, if not it will be safer in their place than anywhere else on Honshū or maybe wish it out of existence of something." I said bluntly, getting Miroku to nod before she turned and walked out of the hallway.

I walked into the courtyard and jumped onto a roof before finding a tree and immediately find a place and finally letting the exhaustion take a hold of me.

(Kagome POV)

"I'll be taking my leave. The damned painter might be gone, but I'm not taking any chances. Especially with the daimyō incase he goes back on his word." Yura said with a smirk as she got up from the table. "Good night master, Kagome."

"Good night Yura, and don't rough them up too much if you're right." Y/N said with a resigned sigh as she smirked.

I just waved as she gave me a subtly nod. Silently letting out a sigh as Y/N got up and moved over towards Shippō and Takechiyo, looking like had quite a bit on his mind and I don't blame him.

To think that yuki-onna were among the type of yokai to manipulate a soul like that...

Mostly it was the opposite like I saw with Tsukumo no Gama.

Usually there are stories with yokai like kappa, tengu, kitsune, and tanuki possessing a human body and subsuming the human soul too. Pretty sure both Shippō and Takechiyo can't do that either. Maybe I'll ask Y/N or Miroku more about that tomorrow.

But the ability to actually possess the souls themselves and absorb them into their body, honestly I would expect that kind of power from an oni or ungaikyō not a yuki-onna.

I guess part of the reveal he even has the potential to do this was a bit of a shock.

The ability to manipulate and twist another's soul like that could be considered nothing short of heresy by Shintoism, I suspect Buddhism too given Miroku's reaction.

Perhaps there was a bit of shock in that, but that's not what is eating him up on the inside is it?

"How are you holding up Y/N?" I asked as I sat next to him.

"I'm fine, just quite a bit to take in. No wonder mom didn't tell dad about this, aside from the rareity.

The implications of manipulating a human soul like that would not have gone well, perhaps there are little to no records of it anywhere in human hands, if it has than they are just stories that got passed down like with Miroku and probably lost." Y/N said before looking down at his shard with a frown.

"It explains so much about this accursed thing. "

"It does." I admitted with a sigh before smiling. "The real problem is what it has done to this ability of your's. Seems like you have already a good idea on what to do before all of this."

"True, and I don't even know how to use it. Especially with how things are now, don't want to take that risk." He said with a shrug.

Given Magastuchi probably used his ability and Kōtatsu's suzuri no tamashii to manifest a body even if a shoddily created one it will be far better that we don't explore it until we got a better idea of what we are dealing with.

Or better yet find a way to limit both of them from interfering from the shard. While I do appreciate Naohi or whoever she truly is for helping us tonight and Y/N with Kikyō, we can't exactly chance it as he absorbs more shards and Magatsuchi tries something else again.

Aside from that, he seems to be following exactly how Miroku described using that ability.

"We'll figure it out together." I said, noticing his frown. "There's something else bothering you about this?"

"Can't get anything past you." Y/N said with a small smile which I mirrored before he shook his head. "I'm just worried how it will affect your soul Kagome, even with Kikyō gone."

...Dang it, he has a point.

I was literally born with the Shikon no Tama in my body.

Not counting Y/N himself, I could qualify as the fourth soul affected by his ability and the shards...but I didn't feel anything so far.

Maybe it was like with Kikyō, it will take a few shards to feel the effects...

Yet it only took his own and Yura's shard before Kikyō started to stir. And since the split we've gotten through five shards and him absorbing the Midori Pearl with nothing.

So I guess there is no way to tell for sure...wait a minute...

Faking a small wince as I moved a hand to my side.

"Kagome are you alright?" Y/N asked worriedly.

"Nothing, but I think I just got another phantom pain there again. Do you think you can apply some ice there if you feel like it?" I asked as he looked at his hand and nodded.

He bought it...and now I have a real one thinking about Mukade Jōrō again.

Shuddering as I tried to banish that memory away.

Y/N generated a small amount of ice and mist on two fingers pressed together as I lift the side of my shirt a little. He applied it and I tried not to lean in forward. I swear every time he does this it, the cold feels more soothing.

Maybe I should try faking this, no not the time for those kind of thoughts!

I grabbed both of Y/N's wrists to his surprise, placing one hand fully on my side and the other where he keeps Yura's comb.

"Kagome-""Y/N do you remember the same feeling you had with Hiten and Yura?" I asked with a smile, interrupting him. His eyes widening in realization as I felt his grip tighten. "Do you feel anything?"

He closed his eye, I guess concentration on the link between. Shoulders slumping a little as his posture relaxed a little. Sighing in relief as I removed my hands before he leaned forward and hugged me.

"Nothing, I feel nothing." Y/N as I hugged him back. "Your spiritual connection to the Shikon no Tama must've been almost severed when Kikyō's soul split off. We probably would have noticed something earlier."

"We had plenty of other things to worry about this week. It's not completely gone, I'm not sure I could sense the shards. Otherwise I'll tell you if something happens." I said with a smile. "So please don't worry about it anymore, just one less thing to worry about."

"Yet so many troubles left to prepare for, but I suppose since when did we stop us." Y/N said, getting me to nod as I leaned in forward in his embrace and just enjoying this moment.

That and silently thanking Urasue in whatever pit in Yomi she calls home now.

While there is still some connection to the Shikon no Tama, whatever was left is seemingly one Y/N can't affect or detect now.

I'm just hoping it stays that way for a while, but I'm not going to tempt it.

There is still so much to do over the coming days even once we got back to our era, but all I want to do right now is enjoy this one moment and pray to Amaterasu for a quite night tonight.

(Chapter 62 ends)