"Ohhh! Look at that huge pot of soup...!"
"There are so many ingredients!"
Back in the familiar village, everyone had gathered beneath the wide, sheltering branches of the sacred tree to rest. Shippo stared at the bubbling pot, which was filled to the brim with rare and exotic delicacies, his mouth watering uncontrollably. As a small fox demon, he had never even dreamed of seeing so many high-end ingredients in one place.
"Um..."
Rin blinked, looking at Kirinmaru and the young girl standing beside him. She wasn't quite sure how to address them.
"Consider this a small part of my debt of gratitude," Kirinmaru said, his usual air of overbearing authority replaced by a soft, enlightened smile.
"Thank you very much for your help... Rin-sama."
The girl standing beside him was about the same height as Rin, but her presence felt far more ancient. She wore elegant white robes and had striking, emerald-green eyes.
Rion.
This was the daughter Kirinmaru had lost centuries ago. For reasons of his own, he had selfishly sealed her soul away on [Mount Musubi], but now, thanks to the miracle of the wish, she was fully restored. Seeing her standing there, alive and breathing, had forced Kirinmaru to reflect on his failures as a father.
As Toga had pointed out, he had been a miserable failure in that regard. But now, he had a chance to set things right.
'Father doesn't need to fight anymore. I want you to live a quiet, peaceful life.'
Faced with his daughter's simple request, Kirinmaru had agreed without hesitation. In the past, he had been too stubborn to understand her feelings, but after his duel and conversation with Toga, the old king had finally seen the light.
"It's no problem at all. I only did what I thought was right," Rin replied with a shy shake of her head.
"It's true what they say... there are truly kind souls among the humans," Rion said, her voice melodic. "It's thanks to you that my father was able to change."
No one interrupted the quiet exchange. Kirinmaru turned his gaze to Toga, who was approaching from the other side of the clearing.
"Great Dog Demon... I heard you don't intend to rebuild your kingdom?"
"Ah. The era of nations and borders is over for me. These days, I'm content being a peaceful dog demon in my old home."
"That sounds like you... but you're right. In five hundred years, we'll be in the modern era Kagome speaks of anyway."
The two legendary demons shared a look of mutual respect, two titans acknowledging the end of their time.
"COOOOME ON!!!"
"TOAST!!"
Cu Chulainn and the demon-formed Rikuo were already deep into their cups. To make the celebration feel authentic, the Lancer had traded a few minor treasures to Kagome in exchange for some high-quality modern alcohol from her era.
"Why do I only get juice?"
"Rikuo said that for youkai, thirteen is the age of majority!"
Moroha stared at Rikuo's cup with a pout, her tail twitching in annoyance.
"Absolutely not!" Kagome's voice was like iron, leaving no room for negotiation.
Moroha could only slump her shoulders and stare grumpily at her glass. Sometimes, having parents around was a real drag.
"This feeling... I've never experienced anything like it," Miroku said, sitting with Sango and Kohaku. He looked out at the diverse group of humans and demons celebrating together, marveling at the peace he had once thought impossible.
Munch! Munch!
Gulp!
Nearby, Akame was eating with a ferocity that defied her human physiology. Her appetite was a spectacle in itself, drawing a few bewildered glances from the locals.
"Stupid dog! If I hadn't stepped in, you'd be toast by now!"
"Shut it, Skinny Wolf! You're getting too big for your boots!"
The familiar bickering of Inuyasha and Koga brought a wave of nostalgia to the group.
"But... isn't this nice?"
"Yeah. No more Naraku, no more worrying about [Shikon Shards]... we're finally free."
"I'm telling you... my brother has lost all his demonic power, can't you help out a little?"
Byakuya of the Illusions complained, lugging a stack of firewood toward a newly built wooden house. He had been the one to buy the food, and he was the one hauling the building materials. Ever since they'd been freed from Naraku, he felt more like a "slave" than an "incarnation."
The Mirror Demon, Kanna, tilted her head as she carefully placed a piece of timber, watching Byakuya's complaints with a blank expression.
Kagura was perched on a windowsill, looking entirely relaxed, acting for all the world like a supervisor.
"It's almost done," Kanna said, her voice a soft whisper.
"I know it's almost done... that's not the point," Byakuya sighed, unable to express just how much he hated his current workload.
Whoosh--!
A sudden gust of wind caught the logs Byakuya was carrying, lifting them effortlessly and placing them neatly by the front door.
"Honestly, even if you lost your youki, you still have a demon's body," Kagura called out. "Stop acting so pathetic."
"If I don't act like this, you won't help," Byakuya smirked, his "exhaustion" vanishing in an instant.
WHISH--!
CRACK--!
"Hey! That was my new outfit!"
"Then you can sleep naked outside tonight!"
"That's so cruel! Is that how an older sister should act? You're never going to get married like that!"
"SHUT UP!"
As Kagura and Byakuya chased each other around the clearing, Kanna looked back at the house, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching her lips. The three of them, unchanged by the war, were going to live here together.
"Kagome, it looks like you can finally go back to your studies in peace."
"Ugh... don't mention that. It's a nightmare!"
"I've missed so many classes!"
At Sango's comment, Kagome slumped into a state of "academic despair."
"Sorry," Sango said, covering her mouth with a chuckle.
Kagome could already feel the weight of the endless make-up lessons and cramming sessions. Her future felt very grey indeed.
'Aaaah... if only someone could help me with my homework.'
She sighed, but eventually pushed the thought aside to enjoy the food.
"Yo!"
"Let me tell you, my Master is actually--"
"Hey! Don't you dare!"
"Hahaha..."
"Jaken, you're too careless!"
"Shippo, you brat! My Staff of Two Heads--!!"
"EEEEK!"
The air was filled with laughter and shouting. Toga watched the scene with a genuine smile. This kind of atmosphere was something you'd never find among demons alone. The celebration lasted well into the night.
Chirp. Chirp.
The sound of birds heralded the morning. Harsh sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the small room.
Kagome sat up, rubbing her bleary eyes as she looked around the unfamiliar interior.
"Should I be saying... it's time for school?"
She spoke in a low voice, staring out at the garden with a sense of profound displacement. She remembered the previous night--how she had mistakenly drunk some of the exotic "juice" Kirinmaru had brought, which turned out to be quite potent. She'd been carried back to the house by Inuyasha and hadn't woken up until now.
But as she spoke, her tone was different. More mature. More... ancient.
The girl who had been erased... had returned.
Rin's wish for "Everyone's beautiful future" had been a miracle that spanned the boundaries of life and death. And it had reached the one who was supposed to be gone forever.
Kikyo.
Inside Kagome, a second soul had awakened.
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]