Crossover: A Different Inuyasha

A clear, ethereal voice drifted from the side, and Shen Wu spoke.

"See, the older sister is more sensible." Under Kagura's piercing gaze, Inuyasha walked over, bent down, and hugged the soft, small Kanna in his arms.

Shenwu didn't struggle or make a sound; she simply nestled obediently into his arms.

Inuyasha turned his head to look at Kagura, "Don't look at me like that, after all, I'm not some kind of demon."

"I have no interest in treating you as mere tools. Leaving my mark on you, besides my personal perverse pleasure, is also to tell you—who you belong to."

With that, he snapped his fingers again, relieving the cursed seal from its effect on Kagura.

Kagura's legs went weak and she almost fell to the ground, but fortunately the wind helped her straighten up and prevented her from embarrassing herself on the spot.

She pursed her lips and didn't say anything.

"besides--"

Knowing that Inuyasha could use both soft and hard tactics, he changed his tone and became cheerful again.

"I'll give you a two-month long vacation first. Go travel around and see the sights, go to the East Country, go to the affiliated world, wander around as you please. When you've had your fun, come back and I'll take care of your business."

"Don't leave the land while you're on land; I can't guarantee you won't be in any danger."

Kagura blinked, not expecting this turn of events, and asked in astonishment, "...That's it?"

"Otherwise what?" Inuyasha laughed, "Lock you all up and use you as Star Fury?"

His smile faded, and his expression became serious. "You are the 'gems' I created with a lot of time and resources. You are not women that can be found on an assembly line outside."

"Have some self-awareness, will you?!"

Even though she was scolded, Kagura found that she couldn't get angry at all.

That feeling was strange.

It's like punching cotton; the cotton doesn't break, but your own strength is bounced back and scattered.

She wanted to say something but didn't know where to begin, yet silence wasn't in her nature.

After standing quietly for only a few breaths, Kagura's gaze drifted to Kanna, who was being held by Inuyasha. Her eyes flickered, and she couldn't help but speak up, "Kanna, say something too."

Kanna raised her eyes and said expressionlessly, "Kagura can say it."

"Tsk."

Kagura was taken aback by those three light words. She lifted her clothes and took two steps forward, reaching out to pick up Kanna when Kanna spoke calmly, "Kagura, are you jealous that your sister is being held by Inuyasha?"

His clear, black and white eyes gazed at her quietly, like a mirror reflecting the depths of her heart.

Kagura's heart skipped a beat, and she involuntarily withdrew her hand. Turning her head, she met Tsubaki and Kagami Kuya's teasing gazes.

She felt uncomfortable under his gaze, and her cheeks flushed even more. She retorted stubbornly, "I just don't want you to be taken advantage of. After all, you're my sister in name only."

"Oh?

Kaguya pressed her fingertips against her chin, seeing right through Kagura's heart.

"Yes, the older sister was being held by 'Father,' while the younger sister was being lectured. She felt embarrassed and naturally wanted a hug from 'Father' as well."

Chun joined in the commotion, looking at Inuyasha, "This is a case of not worrying about scarcity but about inequality. Inuyasha, you can't be biased."

"So that's how it is."

Inuyasha pretended to suddenly realize something, then moved Kanna to his left leg and patted his right leg, saying, "Kagura, come here."

"Come on, you bastards! You're all talking nonsense, I don't want to believe you!"

Kagura's cheeks flushed instantly. She reached out and snatched the composed Kanna from Inuyasha's arms, then grabbed her and rushed outside.

Behind her, Chun called out softly, "The door's over there—!"

"You're so verbose! I know that!"

Kagura turned around on the spot, then, carrying Kanna, disappeared into the light and shadow behind the doorway.

"Let's arrange Kagura and Kanna like this for now. I'll burn the black egg for a few more days to make sure it's completely burned inside and out, leaving no room for error."

Naraku is like a cockroach in a sewer; we must not be careless and must eradicate him completely.

Inuyasha looked at Kaguya and Tsubaki, his gaze softening for once.

"Thank you for your hard work these past few days."

"The postponement and adjustment of the formation, the selection and proportion of materials—without any one of you, this matter would be difficult to complete smoothly. If you want any reward, just say so."

To be honest, the two women didn't hold much weight in Inuyasha's heart, and the methods he used to win them over were hardly honorable.

Although it doesn't matter how you treat a bad woman, once feelings develop over time and the other person reciprocates those feelings genuinely, looking back on that past relationship, which was more intense than superficial, will still make Er Gouzi feel guilty.

But despite his guilt, Inuyasha's approach to dealing with bad women will remain unchanged; if he did, it just wouldn't feel the same.

The two women exchanged a glance, stretched, revealing their curvaceous figures, and let out soft moans from their bright red lips. Their charming gazes fell on Inuyasha simultaneously.

The latter leaned back on the soft couch, meeting the spring-like gaze in her eyes, and smiled, "You all want magic? Then show us your true abilities."

Several days later, Inuyasha walked out of Naraku's laboratory alone.

Behind him, the laboratory, densely covered with magic arrays, fell completely silent. The walls, engraved with array patterns, returned to their pristine state, like an old house that had been cleaned up, awaiting another purpose.

As for Kagami Kuya and Tsubaki, they left satisfied after receiving their rewards.

Inuyasha looked down at the heavy bead in his palm, which was formed from Naraku.

Its color is chaotic, a hazy gray, like an uncut lapis lazuli stone, with very faint flowing lines slowly moving inside, sometimes like surging clouds and sometimes like starlight appearing and disappearing.

The bead was slightly warm in his palm, with a living, warm sensation.

“I hope that in the future you can devour all things and give birth to all things…” Inuyasha held the bead up to his eyes, and sunlight refracted through the grayish texture, creating tiny rainbows inside the bead. “I’ll call you the Chaos Bead.”

He put the bead into his pocket, stepped out of the area that had been shrouded in shadow for too long, and stepped onto the sunny stone steps on the back mountain.

When the sunlight fell, his shoulders were bathed in a warm, golden glow.

Inuyasha looked back—Ruri Shrine had more than doubled in size compared to three years ago, with a newly built main hall, additional side halls, longer corridors, and wider approach, like a large tree that had taken firm root and was sending out new branches in all directions.

Of course, there are also those shrine maidens, some cute and some aloof.

The wind travels through the mountains, bringing faint, crisp sounds, brushing against the budding branches, and caressing his cheeks, carrying the scent of earth and grass, making him feel refreshed and relaxed.

Inuyasha stood on the stone steps for a moment, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. The tension that had accumulated on his shoulders over the past few days was mostly relieved in the gust of wind.

He continued walking up the stone steps.

Not far ahead, beside the stone steps, a figure was holding a bamboo broom, sweeping the fallen leaves that had settled on the steps.

Her light blue hair shimmered with a soft sheen in the sunlight, the ends curling slightly like a stream that hadn't fully thawed in early spring.

She was wearing the shrine's uniform plain-colored robes, with the belt tied neatly at the waist and the cuffs rolled up twice, revealing a slender wrist.

Hearing footsteps, Bingli looked up. The aloofness characteristic of the Snow Maiden clan was not noticeable on the girl; it was completely overshadowed by her lovely and bright face.

She bowed slightly and greeted him, "Your Excellency, greetings."

"Cleaning."

Inuyasha stopped beside her, glanced down at the pile of fallen leaves she had already swept up, and asked, "Are you settling in alright?"

"I'm used to it."

Bingli straightened up, her tone natural.

"I was a little uneasy when I first arrived, but now I'm used to it—it's much more lively here than the Nura Clan area, there are more people, and I have things to do every day, which is great."

"Is it just fine?"

Inuyasha asked softly.

He was genuinely surprised when he learned that it was Bing Li, along with a white snake named Rinko who could bring good fortune, who had sent them.

According to the original storyline, after being captured by Tsuchigumo, the loyal Hyōrei chose to end her own life to prevent Nurarihyon from taking risks.

If that affection, which accumulated from the smallest everyday moments and transcended even life and death, hadn't left a mark on Hyōri's heart, Inuyasha would never have believed it.

As for forcefully breaking up the romantic relationships of his subordinates, he disdained such a thing.

The order was given to Gyallo on a voluntary basis.

When Inuyasha was all alone, he had the idea of ​​collecting them, but now that he is surrounded by beauties, that idea has faded.

Unless he's the kind of disgusting gigolo who forces a harem, that kind of guy doesn't deserve the female lead, so it's no big deal if he steals her away.

The wind blew down from the mountaintop, passing through the roof ridges and eaves of the shrine, stirring the strands of hair on Bingli's forehead. The scattered shadows of hair fell into the girl's yellow eyes, revealing a hint of hesitation.

"Bingli".

Inuyasha spoke, his tone casual and relaxed, "Do you think I look like a bad person?"

"Do not."

Bingli shook her head.

The harmony between yokai and humans in the shrine, and the peace and prosperity and bountiful wheat fields that one occasionally sees when going out for training with the head priestess, are all genuine.

Without a doubt, a god who can bring smiles to everyone's face is a good person.

"Then tell me what it is." Inuyasha reached out and stroked the Yuki-onna's head. "Maybe I'll agree?"

So gentle...like an older brother.

Bingli lowered her head, a suppressed thought rising in her heart, and whispered, "Lord God, I want to go back to the Nura Clan."

"Huh, that's it?" Inuyasha asked, puzzled. "The shrine has monthly and yearly holidays, so you can leave anytime."

"Can I go back?"

Bingli raised her head, her round eyes gleaming with surprise. "I thought... I was your concubine... Ah!"

Realizing she had said something terrible, the Snow Woman quickly covered her mouth, her face turning bright red.

"A concubine?" Inuyasha withdrew his hand, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Did someone say something to you?"

"No, I just guessed." Bingli quickly shook her head.

"Is that so?" Inuyasha sensed a lie coming from the Yuki-onna, but he didn't press the matter and simply changed the subject.

"Do you want to have a child with me?"

"Huh?!"

Hit by this direct question, Bingli's brain seemed to have crashed and restarted.

It took her several breaths to regain her voice, and she managed to stammer out a few words, "Then...I...I don't know..."

Not knowing how to answer, the Snow Maiden lowered her head, gripped the broom handle tightly, and said in a trembling voice, "Please punish me."

"I'm willing to do anything, just please don't punish the Nura Clan."

"Hey, do I look like the kind of ruthless killer?"

Inuyasha patted the girl on the shoulder and smiled gently. "Pack your things, go home, and find out what's in your heart."

Bingli stood there, watching Inuyasha walk away into the sunlight, and after a long while, she nodded heavily.

"I will definitely make sure it's correct!"

Inuyasha stood before the sacred tree, and with a slight thought, the air in front of him cracked open, its edges shimmering with a faint blue light.

He stepped in, and the crack closed behind him, revealing an alternate dimension.

Located at the heart of the sacred tree, this is an independent space that naturally formed due to the spatial and temporal attributes inherent in the ancient tree itself.

Inuyasha drew the void behind the Wind Cave to this place, and then used a spatial barrier to bind and shape the two together, which is now taking shape.

The area is about the size of a football field, and the ground is as smooth as a mirror, like a stone countertop that has been polished by man.

All the light sources around us come from the soul of the sacred tree.

The spirit of the ancient tree took root in the ground at the center of the space in a form exactly like its physical form in the outside world.

The roots penetrated deep into the boundary between reality and illusion, the trunk was thick and upright, and the branches stretched and extended upwards into the void, penetrating both the upper and lower ends of this small space.

Norse mythology tells of the World Tree—a giant tree that spans the nine realms, with roots reaching deep into the Well of Fate, and branches supporting the heavenly kingdoms, bearing the birth, death, and reincarnation of all things.

Inuyasha secretly hoped that one day, this sacred tree, whose soul he controlled, might be able to grow from an ancient tree of time and space into a great tree that could support a whole world if it had a bit more good fortune.