"I was just joking… how do you even remember that so clearly?" Uchiha Kasage said, his face flushing slightly as he tried to explain himself, clearly embarrassed.
He recalled a fox yokai they had encountered while exorcising yokai together. Back then, he had been full of anticipation, thinking he would finally meet the legendary, beautiful fox spirit—something like a graceful girl with animal ears.
But when they found it…
It had been a massive fox with blood-red eyes, a mouth full of sharp fangs, and a suffocating aura of malice.
Not to mention the overwhelming stench that kept both him and Kikyo at a distance. In the end, Kikyo had purified it with a single arrow.
Afterward, he had complained in disappointment that it wasn't a cute fox-eared girl with a tail.
He hadn't expected Kikyo to remember that comment until now.
"And what if this time it really is a proper kemonomimi?" Kikyo said lightly, completely ignoring his explanation as she continued teasing him.
"Forget beast-eared girls!" Kasage replied quickly, unwilling to let her hold that over him. Then, without thinking too much, he added bluntly, "I think… a shrine maiden would be perfect."
"…"
Kikyo suddenly stopped.
For a brief moment, her reaction was visible—subtle, but unmistakable. Then she composed herself and resumed walking as if nothing had happened.
However, she fell silent.
Kasage, of course, had no intention of letting it go so easily.
Walking closer, he continued, a faint grin tugging at his lips, "Actually, shrine maidens seem far more beautiful than girls with animal ears. I definitely prefer them. What do you think?"
"…According to the villagers, a group of defeated soldiers once lived in these mountains."
Kikyo changed the subject abruptly, her tone calm and composed—as if deliberately steering the conversation away.
Kasage watched her for a moment, a small amused smile forming. He understood what she was doing… and decided not to push further.
"Among them was a princess," Kikyo continued. "The soldiers protecting her all died in battle, and not long after, the princess herself passed away. Since then, yokai have begun appearing in these mountains. It is likely the manifestation of her lingering resentment."
Kasage nodded slightly, following her lead. "So you're saying… this yokai could be that princess, consumed by resentment after death?"
"Mm." Kikyo gave a small nod, a faint sense of relief in her expression now that the topic had shifted. "Considering it only targets men, it is highly possible."
Kasage rubbed his chin, frowning thoughtfully. "But why would a resentful princess only target men? Could it be… she had some kind of aversion to them in life?"
"Aversion?" Kikyo stopped and turned to him, curiosity evident in her eyes. "What do you mean?"
"It's a psychological state," Kasage explained simply, "where a woman feels disgust, rejection, or even fear toward men."
"Hmm…" Kikyo lowered her gaze, considering his explanation carefully. "Perhaps."
Judging by the yokai's behavior, it did seem somewhat similar.
"Or," Kasage added with a faint smirk, "maybe this princess has a regal personality and is abducting young men to build her own harem."
He gestured lightly. "Think about it—the missing villagers are all young and strong men, right?"
"…"
Kikyo turned and shot him a sharp glare.
What kind of nonsense was that?
"Hmm?" Just then, Kikyo suddenly stopped, her expression turning wary as she looked ahead.
Kasage followed her gaze.
A faintly glowing barrier stretched across the mountains and forest ahead, isolating everything beyond it.
"This must be the barrier created by that yokai," Kikyo said quietly. She then extended her hand toward him. "Take my hand. Once we cross it, we may be forcibly separated."
"…Alright." Kasage wasn't particularly skilled in barrier techniques, but Kikyo was. Trusting her judgment, he reached out and took her hand.
Her fingers were soft and warm.
For a brief moment, he was caught off guard.
This was only the second time he had held her hand.
The first time had been when he transferred chakra to her, back when her body had still been made of clay.
Back then, her touch had been cold.
Now, it was warm… alive.
The contrast made his heartbeat quicken slightly.
Kikyo tightened her grip, steady and firm, and stepped forward toward the barrier.
"Wait." Kasage snapped back to his senses. With a swift motion, he flicked a marked kunai—engraved with the Flying Thunder God formula—into the trunk of a nearby tree.
"Let's leave a marker. If we can't get out, I can use the Flying Thunder God to teleport us back."
"…Good idea."
Without hesitation, Kikyo tightened her hold on his hand, and together, they stepped through the barrier.
The moment they crossed it, they were swallowed by a dense white mist.
Despite the thick fog, movement itself wasn't obstructed. Kasage walked forward with ease.
But Kikyo—
Each step she took was visibly heavier, as if an invisible force was pressing against her, making even the simplest movement difficult.
"…It seems this barrier deliberately suppresses women," Kikyo said calmly, though her breathing had already grown slightly strained.
Kasage's eyes narrowed, irritation flickering within them as his hand instinctively moved toward the katana at his waist. "Should I break it?"
"No." Kikyo shook her head gently. "Once we pass through, the resistance will disappear. Destroying it now could alert the yokai."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"Before we find the missing villagers, we must avoid unnecessary risks. If the yokai panic and kill them, the consequences would be severe."
"…Understood." Kasage nodded.
Back in his days as a shinobi, he had handled many rescue missions.
In situations like this, one rule always came first:
Ensure the target's survival.
He tightened his grip on her hand and slowed his pace, matching hers as they moved forward together.
To avoid detection, Kikyo refrained from using her spiritual power, relying purely on her physical strength to push through the barrier.
Fine beads of sweat quickly formed on her forehead.
"…Do you want me to carry you?" Kasage asked, unable to ignore her condition.
"No… it should end soon." Kikyo shook her head, pressing forward.
Just as she said—
After a few more steps, the invisible resistance suddenly vanished.
But the sudden release caused her strength to give out.
Her body tilted forward uncontrollably.
Before she could fall, Kasage reacted instantly, pulling her back.
She lost her balance—
And fell straight into his arms.
Kasage looked down.
Her forehead was damp with sweat, her breathing slightly uneven, her chest rising and falling as she tried to recover.
Crossing the barrier had clearly taken a toll on her.
"…You could've just said you were tired," Kasage said with a quiet sigh. "Carrying you wouldn't have cost me anything."
He gently guided her down, letting her sit while supporting her against his shoulder.
At the same time, he gathered chakra in his palm and carefully channeled it into her body, helping her recover.
During the brief rest, Kikyo lifted her gaze.
She looked at the thick white mist surrounding them… then slowly turned to glance back at the barrier behind them.
Her expression changed.
As if—
She had suddenly realized exactly where they were.