Early in the morning, Inuyasha, Shippo, and Akari returned to the village. They found that Kikyou's grave had been stolen by a witch.
Akari saw that Inuyasha remained pensive and told him. "We should recover her bones." Inuyasha pretended to be indifferent, but Akari knew he was listening.
"It doesn't matter how your relationship ended. At least because of your previous feelings, you should help." Akari knew she was being hypocritical. But this was something that would happen sooner or later.
Inuyasha suddenly said, agitated. "What do you mean by previous feelings? What are you talking about?" Akari saw his clumsy attempt to evade the truth and chuckled.
"I'm not blind, Inuyasha. It was obvious." Akari saw him speechless and said. "It is not necessary to react like that; being in love with someone is not a crime. You can do whatever you want as long as you don't regret it."
Eventually, Inuyasha's feelings won, and they all headed out to search for Kikyou's bones. When they got closer, the witch attacked them, and they were separated.
Inuyasha saw Akari running in a different direction and felt a bad feeling. He was right. Akari needed to prove something, so took another path to find the witch.
"Oh, what is that? The soul I was looking for came on its own." Akari saw the inanimate body of Kikyou and told the witch.
"Yes, Kikyou's spirit was bothering me, so I couldn't help but come." The witch was delighted. She thought Kikyou's soul wanted to live again. So she didn't question why Akari volunteered to enter the bathtub with the necessary items to separate the soul.
Akari took a deep breath, but it hurt as if her soul was being torn apart. She bit her lips until she tasted blood. She saw many fragments of memories in a few seconds. She felt the emotions of Kikyou, too. She felt anger, hatred, rage, and pain; these emotions were overwhelming. For an instant, she almost couldn't find the difference between herself and Kikyou.
"Akari!" Akari pulled herself together when she heard her name. She was Akari Yoshiri, no one else. Not Kikyou and not Kagome. Akari resisted the terrible pain and separated her soul from the others. Her mind went blank, and Akari felt as if she were flying. She opened her eyes and observed the sky. It was beautiful. For a second, it was as if all her concerns had disappeared. But then, she focused her mind; she couldn't let her soul be erased, she had died once, so death held no fear for her anymore
Akari looked down and saw Kikyou fighting with Inuyasha. She saw her own body, too. After all, she was right. Akari had been thinking for a while. She was sure that she wasn't 'Kagome' even if she had her powers and soul. Akari was not her. But she was brought here to become her, to replace her. But at that time, a thought came to her mind. If Akari weren't Kagome or Kikyou, her soul could be unique. Perhaps she was different. The original female lead's soul was completely made of Kikyou's. But she was different. She was an independent person; she didn't even belong to this world.
So, Akari thought of something mad. She thought of a way to verify her theory, and there was only one opportunity to do it. She could lose herself in the process. But it was a risk she was willing to take. Fortunately, she was right.
Akari walked away and discovered something as she reflected. Her appearance was the same as in her previous life. She had almost the same features. Although it was curious that, even though her soul was more like that of her previous life, her body was more like Kikyou's.
Akari smiled, she was sure it was because of the world consciousness's influence. Possibly, if she managed to escape its influence, she could return to her normal features.
Akari observed Kikyou almost killing Inuyasha and thought it was time to return. Luckily, she had a better understanding of how a soul worked, so it was not difficult to enter her body and recall the soul inside Kikyou.
Akari heard Kikyo's suffering and apologized to her in her heart. She promised to repay it someday. While she was thinking, Inuyasha, Shippo, and Madame Kaede were around her, asking if Kikyou's consciousness remained.
Akari opened her eyes. "Akari..." Inuyasha said.
Akari smiled and told them. "I'm okay, I'm not her." Madame Kaede and Shippo sighed in relief. Meanwhile, Inuyasha looked at her with complicated feelings.
"Do you remember something?" Inuyasha asked dubiously.
"Yeah." Inuyasha got nervous, but he was stunned when Akari told him.
"I saw her memories. However, Inuyasha, I hope that you won't be confused. Even if I have Kikyou's soul and memories. I'm not her." Inuyasha was speechless; he didn't know what to say. How could he not be confused with that similar face in front of him?
Akari knew that it was too much for him, now. But she wanted to be clear.
"Don't worry about it now, you will see her again. I promise." Inuyasha asked.
"How are you so confident?"
"It is a hunch." Akari raised her eyebrow as she asked, 'When have I made a mistake?'
Inuyasha chuckled with resignation. He had no other option but to believe in her.
"There is another thing you should be worried about." Inuyasha looked at her questioningly.
"You have to find the person who tricked you two." Inuyasha clenched his teeth with anger. Of course, he will do it. Whoever it was would pay the price for Kikyou's and his suffering.