The moonlight was slowly fading.
A faint grey was creeping over the eastern horizon, gradually thinning the ink-black of the night sky.
The fight was over.
Shinji and Kikyō stood facing each other, both of them a complete mess.
Most of the demonic aura armor encasing Shinji had shattered, revealing the grey hemp clothes beneath, soaked through with blood.
Dark blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, trailing down his jaw to drip onto the blue-grey bricks.
Kikyō wasn't in much better shape.
Her white shrine maiden robes and red hakama pants were covered in dust. Her usually neat black hair was loose around her shoulders, sweat plastering the strands at her temples to her pale cheeks.
Her legs were trembling slightly.
That final arrow had drained every last drop of her spiritual power. All that kept her standing now was sheer willpower.
[PIC]
"…"
They looked at each other.
Neither spoke.
And then
Kikyō's knees gave way.
On instinct, Shinji reached out and caught her arm.
"Careful," he said.
Kikyō didn't pull away.
She just leaned against his arm.
At this distance, Shinji could clearly make out her scent, clean incense mixed with the faint, warm musk of a woman who had just pushed herself to the limit.
His gaze drifted down, almost involuntarily.
Kikyō's chest rose and fell softly with each shallow breath. Her white kosode, damp with sweat, clung transparently to her body, the thin fabric outlining the full, rounded swell of her breasts.
Further down, the curve of her waist was so narrow he could have encircled it completely with both hands, flaring out into the soft, womanly swell of her hips.
Her red hakama had ridden up slightly in the struggle, revealing the smooth, pale skin of her inner thighs where they pressed together.
Shinji forced himself to look away.
"Can you walk?" he asked.
Kikyō didn't answer right away.
Her eyes held none of their usual cool distance. In its place was a vulnerability he'd never seen there before.
She didn't respond to his question right away. She just studied him for a long moment. So long that Shinji started to wonder if he had something on his face.
"…Thank you," she whispered at last.
"No need," Shinji replied, brushing it off, "I was really doing this for myself, too."
To earn more favor with the Shikon Jewel, and yes, to earn the favor of the shrine maiden in front of him.
He pressed on. "And not just now. Anytime you need help, I'll be there for you."
Kikyō's movements stilled.
She lifted her head, surprise flickering in her cool eyes.
"You're a demon," she stated.
"I'm a shrine maiden," she added.
A demon and a shrine maiden were supposed to be mortal enemies.
But even as she said the words, recalling the events of the past few days, they sounded hollow, lacking conviction.
Shinji just smiled.
"I know," he said, his tone earnest.
"But the pure spirit trusts me."
"And you trust me."
"So..."
"That's enough."
Silence.
Another long, heavy silence stretched between them.
It went on so long Shinji was starting to feel awkward about what he'd said… when Kikyō finally spoke.
"Mmm."
It wasn't much. No long speeches, no big display of emotion.
But for Shinji, it was enough.
[Shikon Jewel · Pure Spirit: Affection +5]
[Current Affection: 39 (Trust)]
[A message emanates from it: 'She acknowledges you.']
['Not just as an ally.']
['But…']
The words on the system panel stopped right there. Shinji waited, but nothing else appeared.
Why did this jewel always have to talk in riddles, leaving things half-said?
He looked at the woman leaning against his arm.
Her pale face, her weary eyes, and the way she just let herself lean on him.
This was the strongest shrine maiden of the Sengoku era.
A shrine maiden who had been lonely for who knows how many years.
And now, she wouldn't have to be lonely anymore.
A sudden impulse struck him, and he spoke from the heart.
"From now on, we're friends."
The corner of Kikyō's mouth twitched slightly.
It almost looked like a smile.
Very faint, very subtle, just the barest upward curve.
But Shinji definitely saw it.
"There's a sleeping platform in the shrine," Kikyō said.
"You need rest."
"You do too."
Shinji glanced around at the destruction, the collapsed pillars, the shattered bricks, the demon corpses littering the ground.
"This place is a mess. Not fit for resting."
Without waiting for her reply, he bent down and scooped her into his arms.
Kikyō's body went rigid.
"What are you—"
"You can barely stand. You think you can walk on your own?"
Shinji cut her off and headed toward the shrine.
Kikyō wanted to struggle, but found she had no strength left.
The consequences of exhausting her spiritual power were worse than she'd imagined.
All she could do was lie stiffly in his arms at first.
Then, slowly, she relaxed.
Shinji could feel every inch of her.
She was lighter than he'd expected, but warm, so warm. Her breasts pressed fully against his chest, soft and heavy.
Her slender waist fit perfectly in the cradle of his arm, the curve of her hip nestling against his palm.
He forced himself not to think about it.
But the faint scent of her body, clean sweat, incense, and something unmistakably feminine, clung to him like a shadow, insistently drifting into his nose.
"…Where are you looking?"
Kikyō's voice came from above him.
Cold.
Shinji realized his gaze had wandered to the open collar of her robes, where the soft inner curves of her breasts were clearly visible, rising and falling with each breath.
"At the path ahead," he said, his expression unchanged.
Having the naturally stoic face of a demon warrior was really convenient sometimes.
Kikyō didn't call him out on it. She just turned her head away and fell silent.
But Shinji could have sworn the tips of her ears were a little redder than before.
Probably just his imagination.
…
The shrine interior was quiet.
Shinji laid Kikyō down on the sleeping platform and settled himself against a pillar by the entrance.
He didn't go in.
After all, there were boundaries between men and women.
Even if he was a demon now.
"You're not coming in?" Kikyō's voice came from inside.
"I'll stand guard out here," Shinji replied. "In case any stragglers show up."
Kikyō was silent for a moment.
"…Suit yourself."
Shinji leaned back against the pillar and closed his eyes.
His demonic energy was completely drained. He needed rest to recover.
But he didn't actually fall asleep.
He was feeling the world around him.
Through his Spirit Sight, he could see the drifting spiritual light particles slowly flowing through the air between heaven and earth.
Some floated toward the shrine, drawn into the hovering Shikon Jewel.
Others drifted far away, dissipating into the sky as dawn approached.
They looked like countless fireflies dancing.
The eastern sky grew brighter.
Golden sunlight pierced through the thin mist, spilling over the shrine's roof.
A new day had begun.
…
"Sister! Sister!"
Kaede's voice echoed from the stone steps below.
Shinji opened his eyes.
It was fully light now.
He glanced down at himself most of his wounds had healed.
The effect of Bloodthirsty Immortality was indeed excellent. Bathing in demon blood last night had sped up his recovery far beyond normal.
"Sister, are you okay? I heard there was a huge commotion around here last night—Eek?!"
Kaede's voice grew closer, then cut off abruptly.
Shinji looked up.
The little girl stood in front of the shrine, mouth hanging open, eyes wide as saucers.
What was she looking at?
Shinji followed her gaze.
The shrine door was open. He hadn't noticed when.
Kikyō stood in the doorway, wrapped in a thin robe, her black hair still slightly tousled, her face carrying that lazy look of someone just woken up.
And he himself was leaning against the pillar right next to the door.
Less than a foot separated them.
Kaede's eyes darted back and forth between the two.
Then—
"I knew it!"
She suddenly jumped up, her little face flushing bright red.
"I knew sister Kikyō and big brother were perfect for each other!"
"They spent the night together after all!"
"…"
Shinji and Kikyō fell silent simultaneously.
Shinji thought to himself, this kid's thought process was disturbingly similar to his own.
"It's not what you think," Kikyō said, actually bothering to explain for once.
"No way!"
Kaede planted her hands on her hips, wearing an expression that said she knew exactly what was going on.
"I don't care about adult stuff! But big brother!"
She pointed at Shinji, her face serious.
"You have to take responsibility for sister!"
Shinji glanced at Kikyō.
For the first time, a faint blush appeared on the shrine maiden's face.
Just the barest hint of pink.
But Shinji definitely saw it.
"…Alright," he said.
"I'll take responsibility."
Kikyō whipped her head around to stare at him.
Shinji was amused.
It was rare and precious to see this expression on Kikyō.
"Responsibility for protecting the Shikon Jewel, together with you," he added. "We're partners now, after all."
Kikyō's expression softened slightly.
And then, she nodded.
[Shikon Jewel · Pure Spirit: Affection +2]
[Current Affection: 41]
[A message emanates from it: 'Did you do that on purpose?']
Shinji looked at the panel, completely unruffled.
He always believed in taking things step by step.