After escaping the problem that bronze-skinned cat yokai left in their hands, well... They actually did lend a hand in fixing the situation, mainly by freeing the prisoners in the carts and healing the wounded.
Which, by the way, did not take as long as one might think, since there were two very marked extremes in the actions of those yokai, ranging from killing those who resisted to capturing those who did not, leaving behind only people who were lightly injured and traumatized.
Thanks to all that, the city was able to return to "normal" rather easily, only marked by the scar left by the loss of hundreds of soldiers now dead and dozens of captured villagers.
"So where are we going now? It seems you have a destination in mind."
Standing upon the broad back of the golden bird with a mastery gained solely through practice, Kikyo perfectly controls the barrier around herself, thus avoiding any kind of unforeseen incident that might occur.
Among those possible unforeseen incidents, the main one is clearly the force of the wind, which can change from a light breeze to a powerful gust from one second to the next, sending her off the bird if she lets her guard down with the barrier.
"To Totosai's house, young lady."
"... ¿?"
[Hahaha, I see that staying in your burrow is taking its toll on you, little cowardly spirit. We're heading to the house of a Hanyō, another cowardly subordinate of Inu no Taisho, just like the spirit beside me]
Answering while floating erratically from side to side but always staying close to Saya, the old man-shaped spirit who lives within Clouded Fang's seal and who had spoken first, Souga makes his presence known.
Apparently Souga is currently in a particularly good mood, so much so that he even gives Kikyo a better explanation than Saya, who had simply thrown out the answer without providing the slightest bit of context.
"And who do you think is to blame for that, Souga? If you didn't want to break the seal every time you had the chance, I wouldn't have to stay locked up. It's all your damned fault."
[Absurd. Just admit you're a coward and are afraid that your tiny soul will merge with the world if you don't remain inside the seal]
"If I were that afraid of dying, I wouldn't stay so close to you. You're the greatest predator of wandering spirits like me."
[Hahaha, true, true... Oh, what's wrong, woman?]
Watching Kikyo's sudden approach with suspicion, as she seems to have Clouded Fang as her objective, Souga unexpectedly becomes cautious about her future actions.
And understandably so, because if Asahiko, who has a "neutral alignment," can occasionally sense how dangerous Kikyo is, Souga, who is completely "chaotic and evil," can sense the danger even more clearly.
From his point of view she is... dazzling. He had truly never seen a human with so much positive spiritual power, enough to frighten even a high-ranking yokai, perhaps even a lesser demon.
But even with everything previously mentioned, Asahiko does not seem to feel threatened at all. It is only when she directs her "aggression" toward him that he senses danger, while the rest of the time he does not seem to feel anything.
Which is strange beyond belief, because according to what Souga remembers, positive and negative energy repel each other at the slightest contact. But perhaps it is because Kikyo has astonishing control over her energy? Or perhaps Asahiko still hides more secrets that even he himself does not know?
"An interesting seal, but one that could be improved, mainly the part where it does not directly affect the sealed target. Though I suppose I don't need to tell you that since you made it yourself?"
"At my best, and I understand your doubts, but what you see is the most that can be done, since Souga is far too powerful to be sealed directly."
[HAHAHA, that's right, I'm incredible. Even before your ancestors were born, I was unleashing a massacre in hell with my claws and fangs]
"Really? It doesn't seem that way."
Raising an eyebrow briefly at the sword's arrogant behavior as it moves away from her hand, Kikyo searches through her memories and quickly recalls every time Asahiko has used Clouded Fang near her.
In which, by the way, there is nothing particularly special or impressive. Certainly the reddish energy it releases is repulsive and worthy of belonging to a cursed sword, but nothing extraordinary enough to justify the careful way in which it is treated.
"Don't let your guard down, Priestess! Souga may currently seem like a proud and idiotic dragon, but he is no inferior to the one called Naraku when it comes to schemes behind the scenes! He may even be worse because of his advanced age and experience!"
[You make me sound worse than I really am. Besides, his body... Let's just say it's not the best option at the moment if I want to achieve my goals]
"And Asahiko is the best option?"
[Of course, his body is perfect... If only I could get my hands on it. What's with that look? Are you angry, woman?]
Stopping the drooling sounds that seem to come from the gem in which he lives, the one embedded in Clouded Fang's hilt, Souga laughs darkly.
Truly a poor choice, because Kikyo does not hesitate and takes Clouded Fang by the scabbard, the place where Saya's seal has been applied, before sending a pink flash of positive energy through the entire sword.
[AAHGH, damn ignorant wom-]
"Be quiet, we've arrived, you bunch of idiots!"
"Asahiko..."
"Not you, my beautiful and beloved Kikyo."
["Tsk, men."] x2
Complaining about Asahiko's obvious favoritism but disappearing from the golden bird's back all the same, Saya slips back into the seal while Souga simply stops speaking, reducing his presence to the minimum.
While all of the above was happening outside his field of vision, Asahiko repositions his body and gently glides out from the gray clouds, beginning a controlled descent toward the steep volcanic mountain range visible on the horizon.
This place is where Totosai's residence is located, built atop an inactive volcano and found thanks to Saya, because Asahiko had already forgotten where it was. But that blatant betrayal is not really important right now. What matters is that the golden bird finally reaches its destination.
"Here we are, volcano, sweet volcano!"
Returning to his human form and raising his hands toward the sky, obviously after Kikyo had climbed down from his back, Asahiko grandly presents the surroundings despite being on someone else's property.
The worst part is that there is really nothing to present, aside from the suffocating heat, the hardened volcanic ash, and the enormous corpse embedded in the rock that reveals only its head. By the way, Totosai uses the inside of that corpse as his home.
Does that mean Totosai is actually some kind of gastrointestinal vermin? No one knows, but what is certainly true is that he lives like one. However, considering his great skill in the art of blacksmithing, we'll leave that topic aside.
"Yeah, there's not much to see, but Totosai's hospitality more than makes up for it. Oh, are you alright? Since we're on the surface of a volcano and all."
"A little late to notice that, don't you think?"
"I have a life of my own too, I can't spend all my time... I'm sorry, I'll be more attentive from now on."
Bending over as if he were a sheet of paper the moment he meets the shrine maiden's eyes, Asahiko demonstrates that a sharp survival instinct runs through his blood, quickly apologizing as he discreetly walks away.
The direction he takes is naturally toward the empty mouth of the enormous yokai, where, by the way, there is not even a door or anything separating the inside from the outside, making Totosai seem not only like a gastrointestinal vermin but also an exhibitionist.
Setting aside that small detail, the two begin descending into the volcano's depths through the creature's dried-out throat, arriving moments later in a small, rather disorganized and empty room.
"Again... TOTOSAI, IF YOU DON'T COME OUT RIGHT NOW I'LL-"
"Stop shouting, he's behind that wall."
"Alright... How did you know?"
"Hah, I think you're the only one who couldn't sense such an obvious and clear presence."
Shaking her head at the "ineptitude" displayed by Asahiko, which immediately reminds her of his true origin and his connection with a certain imitator, Kikyo reaches her pale hand toward the quiver on her back and removes an arrow with her pale fingers.
If before it was only going to be a warning shot, now she is genuinely considering using Totosai as target practice, since her mood has soured far too much in a very short time.
Fortunately for everyone, before Kikyo could become a murderer or Asahiko lose his informant, Totosai emerges from a hidden opening behind the nearby wall with his hands raised.
"Sto, stop, stop, don't shoot!"
Kicking one of the many objects scattered across the floor with his foot, due to fear and because he had stumbled out of his hiding place, Totosai's bald head quickly kisses the floor.
One second passes, one minute... Two minutes, and still nothing happens. Totosai does not seem to want to get back up.
"You killed him, Kikyo! And only with your gaze. I think this is even a new record for your abilities as a Priestess."
"He's only unconscious."
"Uh, wasn't he acting?"
"No... He's truly unconscious, even though he's a Hanyō and merely hit his head."
Sharing a look that seems to convey the disbelief they both feel at that very moment, both Kikyo and Asahiko finally fall into suffocating silence.
...Off-screen...
Among the steep ravines and mountain slopes surrounding Totosai's dwelling, a small red-and-white dot can be seen, one that stands out like a sore thumb because of the surrounding color palette.
If we take a closer look, that dot quickly transforms into the figure of a young man with long white hair and dog ears, who simply uses the claws on his hands and feet to climb the mountain at high speed.
But while doing so with strangely professional skill, an enormous shadow momentarily covers his vision and forces him to raise his head. It was a huge golden bird, a very recognizable one, and likewise the woman traveling upon it.
"Kikyo!"
Raising his voice in a futile attempt to contact the shrine maiden, Inuyasha grits his teeth and begins climbing the mountain at full speed, forgetting that the terrain here is rather fragile... Thus causing a landslide and sending himself tumbling downward.