Morning light grew stronger.
On the open ground behind the mountain, the demon's ashes had not yet scattered. Under the rising sun, they stirred up a few wisps of smoke.
The faint scent of blood lingered in the air.
Several trees around had been broken in the fight, lying haphazardly on the ground.
And now, Kikyō stood there. Ten paces from Tsubaki.
White robes, red hakama, longbow in hand, arrow already nocked.
The arrowhead pointed at Tsubaki.
Spiritual energy coiled around her, radiant.
"The duel. Let's begin, Tsubaki." She spoke again, repeating herself. Her voice seemed calm.
So calm, without any inflection.
But Shinji could hear the displeasure hidden beneath.
He looked at Kikyō's profile.
Yep.
Though her expression was still that cool, detached one, those dark eyes clearly held a chill.
This girl was angry!
Tsubaki still hadn't caught on.
She stood frozen, bewildered. She thought Kikyō hadn't heard her.
"W-Wait!" she called out hurriedly. "Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"I said I'll give up the Shikon Jewel, just give me that familiar—"
"Tsubaki." Kikyō cut her off. Her voice was still calm.
But the bowstring was pulled tighter. "Draw your weapon."
"What?" Tsubaki was stunned.
"Aren't duels supposed to be contests of spiritual arts?"
"Why would I need a weapon and besides, I said—"
For the first time, a hint of emotion entered Kikyō's voice. But Tsubaki would rather not have heard it.
Because that voice was cold. Frighteningly cold. "Draw your weapon. Let me see the results of your training all these years."
Tsubaki's expression changed.
She finally understood. Kikyō didn't want a contest of spiritual arts.
She wanted a contest of… martial arts?
No, this was clear… she wanted to hit her!
"Kikyō! What do you mean by this!" Tsubaki panicked. "I just want your familiar! I'm giving up the Shikon Jewel!"
"Is that worth getting upset over!"
Shinji stood to the side, watching.
He had to stop himself from laughing.
This shrine maiden Tsubaki really had no sense of the room.
The way she'd spoken just now, so confident and righteous.
Didn't consider his feelings at all.
He could understand why Kikyō was angry.
If it were him, and someone came up and confidently demanded something of his, he'd be upset too.
And besides, he wasn't a 'something.'
He was a proud demon warrior. Fmiliar to the strongest shrine maiden of the Warring States period. Ally. Partner. Someone who had fought alongside her multiple times… a demon.
Cough.
Even if that identity was made up on the spot, it was still legitimate.
Think you can just take him away?
Who did she think he was? And who did she think Kikyō was?
"Kikyō." Shinji spoke.
Kikyō didn't turn, but her body paused slightly.
"What?"
"I think," Shinji said slowly, "that a duel should follow the rules."
"After all, it's a contest between shrine maidens. Using a bow might not be appropriate."
"It might cause injury."
His tone was very earnest.
But the look in his eyes was clearly that of someone watching a show.
Kikyō finally turned to look at him.
Her gaze was exasperated.
As if asking: Whose side are you on?
Shinji's expression was calm. Unmoved.
"Of course, if Lady Tsubaki insists on a contest…" He suddenly smiled. "That's a different matter."
Tsubaki's expression grew even darker.
She wasn't stupid. She had witnessed the entire fight just now.
Kikyō's arrow, without relying on its purification property, had blasted the upper body of that immortal monster apart.
She hadn't killed it, but the power was terrifying enough. If that arrow was aimed at her… Tsubaki shuddered.
"I…" She opened her mouth to speak, but meeting Kikyō's cold eyes, the words died in her throat.
Years had passed.
This woman before her had grown far stronger than when they first met.
Though she too had grown stronger.
Compared to the other… she was still not in the same league.
"I concede." Tsubaki gritted out the words. They came out heavy, forced through her teeth. Resentful.
"What?" Kikyō asked, knowing the answer, her bow still raised.
"I said, I concede!" Tsubaki's voice rose. "The Shikon Jewel is yours."
"Forget the duel. Forget what I said!"
"I'm leaving!"
With that, she turned to go.
But after two steps, she stopped.
She looked back at Shinji. There was still unwillingness in her eyes.
But more than that, fear. Fear of Kikyō.
"That familiar…" She started, as if wanting to threaten.
"Mm?" Kikyō's bowstring twanged.
Tsubaki immediately shut up.
"Nothing." Biting her lip, she hurried away.
Her white-and-red figure disappeared into the morning light, leaving only a low murmur.
"Looks like it's time to go back to the temple…"
Clearly, the shrine maiden Tsubaki hadn't given up.
She could give up the Shikon Jewel, she never really cared about it anyway. She just couldn't accept being inferior to Kikyō.
But that demon warrior covered in bone spurs.
As a shrine maiden from the Tahōtō, skilled in familiar arts, she really, really wanted such a powerful 'familiar'!
Shinji was somewhat disappointed.
Why hadn't that woman flown into a rage and attacked?
It proved that fishing for a reaction didn't always work.
…
After confirming Tsubaki had left, Kikyō slowly lowered her bow.
Her expression was still calm.
But Shinji felt something beneath that calm. A hint of… satisfaction?
No, more like contentment.
"Let's go." Kikyō spoke.
"Where?"
"Back to the village. Say goodbye to the demon slayers, we're done here. Time to leave."
She started walking.
After a few steps, she noticed Shinji wasn't following.
She stopped and looked back at him.
"What?"
"Nothing." Shinji caught up. "Just thought that scene was pretty interesting."
"What do you mean?"
"The strongest shrine maiden, protecting her familiar, even turning against her colleague."
"If this story gets out, it'd be quite something."
Kikyō's steps faltered.
She didn't turn back.
But Shinji could see the tips of her ears… faintly reddening.
"Nonsense," she said. "I was just maintaining order. What she wanted to take didn't belong to her."
Shinji raised an eyebrow.
"What if she wanted to take something else, not me?"
"Say, a sword?"
"A rock?"
"A tree?"
Kikyō was silent. She walked faster.
Her back was straight.
Her black hair gently swayed in the morning breeze.
[Shikon Jewel · Pure Spirit: Affection +2]
[Current Affection: 54 (Trust)]
[It sends you a message: "She won't admit it."]
["But you should understand."]
Shinji looked at the prompt on his panel.
A smile curved his lips.
Of course he understood.
It was just...
Understanding it was one thing. Saying it out loud ruined it.
Some things were better left unspoken.
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