"I think letting you experience it firsthand is the most straightforward explanation," Kagetsu said, spreading his hands. His tone was utterly casual, as if blowing someone's head apart moments ago had been nothing more than a trivial demonstration.
"I'm very sorry," Kikyo said with a helpless glare at him before turning to Tsubaki's master with an apologetic smile. "He means no harm,his methods are simply… unconventional."
"No need to apologize. This method…" The master reached up and touched his newly restored head, laughing awkwardly. "It was certainly effective."
"Since the matter is settled, we'll be taking our leave." Kikyo glanced up at the sky and beckoned to Kuro-Maru, who was waiting a short distance away.
The demon bear immediately trotted over. Kikyo leapt lightly onto his back, then turned to bid the others farewell.
"I'm truly sorry," the master said apologetically. "Everything happened so suddenly that I couldn't properly host you."
He made no attempt to keep them. Having only just returned from the Netherworld, he had many matters to deal with.
"It's fine," Kikyo replied gently, shaking her head. "If anything, we're the ones who disturbed you by summoning you back from the afterlife."
As they prepared to descend the mountain, the master finally noticed his surroundings. At a glance, his eyes fell on the heap of rubble nearby.
Though badly damaged, he immediately recognized what it had once been,the Precious Pagoda used to seal demons.
Shock filled his face.
"That… is the demon-sealing pagoda, isn't it?" he asked in disbelief. "Did the demon inside escape?"
"That demon is already dead," Kagetsu replied calmly as he walked beside Kuro-Maru. "I used it as the sacrifice for Edo Tensei. Incidentally, the remains you're currently using as a vessel are its body. When the technique is released later, you should see them."
"Dead?" The master was stunned.
His gaze swept across the battlefield,the shattered earth, the lingering traces of combat, and the foul-smelling demon blood staining the ground. The thick miasma in the air confirmed the truth immediately.
A century ago, it had taken the sacrifice of countless monks and shrine maidens to seal that demon within the pagoda.
Yet now, it had been killed like this.
"Thank you, sir, for eliminating that monster." The master bowed deeply to Kagetsu, his voice filled with sincere gratitude.
"It just happened to be suitable as a sacrifice," Kagetsu said with a dismissive wave. "The stronger the sacrifice used for Edo Tensei, the more of the deceased's power can be restored."
Before long, Kikyo and Kagetsu reached the temple gate.
Looking at the group who had come to see them off, Kikyo spoke once more.
"Master, I leave Tsubaki in your care."
"Rest assured," the master said solemnly. "During this month, I will discipline her properly and help her atone for the mistakes of the past."
Then he bowed again.
"I truly apologize for causing you so much trouble."
"Please don't worry about it." Kikyo smiled gently before turning her gaze toward the two young shrine maidens.
"Momiji, Botan,practice diligently and become full-fledged shrine maidens soon. I'll come visit you again someday."
"Yes! We will!"
The two girls nodded enthusiastically, their eyes shining.
They then bowed deeply to Kagetsu.
"Thank you very much for your help. Please take care!"
Kagetsu simply gave a faint nod.
"Tsubaki," Kikyo said calmly, her gaze settling on the silent miko, "stay here and behave yourself. I'll come see you again."
"Hmph. Don't bother!" Tsubaki snorted, fiddling with the prayer beads around her neck. "I have no interest in seeing a woman like you."
Her tone remained unpleasant, but the hostility that had once burned in her eyes was gone.
"I consider you a friend now," Kikyo said with a faint smile. "I'll visit when I have time."
"Friend…"
The word made Tsubaki's expression flicker. A strange feeling stirred in her chest.
In the end, she only muttered quietly,
"Do whatever you want."
"Take care, everyone."
Kikyo waved one last time. Once Kagetsu had seated himself behind her, she gently patted Kuro-Maru's neck.
Understanding the signal, the shikigami immediately burst forward, racing through the forest.
The temple quickly vanished behind them, swallowed by the dense woods.
Sitting behind Kikyo, Kagetsu could clearly smell the faint fragrance drifting from her,an elegant blend of herbal medicine and the subtle scent of freshly washed hair.
It was surprisingly pleasant.
Thinking back to what she had said to Tsubaki earlier, he asked curiously,
"I didn't expect you to treat Tsubaki as a friend. I remember you saying she cursed you before… and even tried to steal the Shikon Jewel."
"Yes," Kikyo replied quietly.
There was a trace of melancholy in her voice.
"She is indeed a dark miko. And she truly did attack me. Back then… I disliked her very much."
She paused for a moment before continuing, her tone carrying a hint of loneliness.
"But after I was resurrected, I realized that everyone I once knew has changed."
"Family… friends… even lovers."
"They've all moved on and started new lives."
Her voice softened.
"Only I appeared again fifty years later,completely alone."
Kikyo slowly turned her head. In her eyes flickered a trace of confusion and desolation.
"To me, it feels like I simply fell asleep… and woke up fifty years later."
"All the familiar people in my memories have become strangers."
"In their world, there is no longer any place for me."
She sighed softly, her voice as gentle as the wind rushing past them.
"When I was first revived, I was consumed by resentment and bound to that clay body. I didn't think about these things."
"But after truly returning to life… I gradually began to notice them."
"And the loneliness only grew stronger."
She smiled faintly.
"So when Tsubaki appeared in front of me,looking just like she did back then,and called me 'that pretentious woman' exactly the same way she used to…"
"I wasn't angry."
"In fact… I was a little happy."
"Her presence made me feel like I wasn't the only one left behind in this world fifty years later."
"At least one person was still the same."
"That's why I didn't kill her. I even brought her here to reunite with her master."
Listening to Kikyo's quiet explanation and seeing the loneliness she couldn't quite hide, Kagetsu finally understood.
That was why she had spared Tsubaki.
Why she had specifically asked him to use Edo Tensei to summon Tsubaki's master from the Netherworld.
It was all because of that loneliness.
Looking at Kikyo's slender, solitary back, Kagetsu suddenly leaned forward.
His arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"You…!"
The sudden contact made Kikyo stiffen instantly, her cheeks flushing crimson.
Instinctively, she tried to pull away.
But Kagetsu tightened his arms, leaving her no room to escape.
After struggling briefly, Kikyo slowly stopped resisting.
She quietly leaned back against him.
"What are you talking about?" Kagetsu murmured, lowering his head until his nose nearly brushed against her hair.
His voice carried a hint of helplessness,but it was also firm.
"Have you forgotten that I'm still here?"
"How can you say you're all alone?"
He gently rested his chin against her shoulder, studying her flushed profile.
"You're not planning to sneak away from me and disappear on your own, are you?"
"N-No…"
Meeting his gaze, Kikyo felt her heartbeat quicken uncontrollably.
She quickly looked away and answered softly.
"I won't leave."