"…Tsubaki, I remember clearly."
Kikyo's gaze rested steadily on her, doubt flickering in her eyes.
"Back then, you cursed me… saying that if I ever fell in love with a man, I would die a violent death."
A brief pause.
"And yet now, you keep pushing me toward Kasage."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"Are you trying to curse me again?"
Tsubaki let out a soft chuckle.
"I'm just curious, Kikyo."
Her eyes locked onto her, sharp and probing.
"If you truly fall in love with a human… how much of your power will remain?"
A faint smirk tugged at her lips.
"Can you really guarantee… that man won't become your weakness?"
"…Kasage? My weakness?"
Kikyo almost laughed.
She looked at Tsubaki as if the very idea amused her.
"To be honest, I don't know how much of my power I would retain."
Her tone was calm—yet filled with quiet certainty.
"But I do know one thing."
Her eyes softened slightly, a faint smile appearing.
"If I were to die again because I fell in love with him… he would drag me back from the underworld without hesitation."
Tsubaki's expression stiffened slightly.
"Heh… Kikyo, you once said you would never fall in love with any man."
Her tone turned mocking again.
"And yet, you fell for a half-Yokai."
She leaned forward just a little.
"And now you place that much trust in a human?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Aren't you afraid… of dying again?"
"What I said is the truth."
Kikyo's smile deepened.
Seeing that Tsubaki still didn't understand, she spoke plainly.
"Otherwise… how do you think I'm standing here now?"
"…Wait."
Tsubaki froze.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"You… you mean…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"You really died back then? And that man—Kasage—brought you back to life?"
"That's right."
Kikyo nodded.
For a fleeting moment, something bright passed through her expression—
a quiet, almost unconscious pride.
Even she didn't fully realize it.
"…What exactly is he?"
Tsubaki stared at her, unable to hide her disbelief.
She could clearly sense it—
Kikyo was no longer a wandering soul sustained by magic.
She was alive.
Truly alive.
"Ninja," Kikyo replied simply, a faint, mysterious smile on her lips.
"…."
Tsubaki fell silent.
A ninja… bringing someone back from the dead?
She had never heard of such a thing.
Seeing that Kikyo had no intention of explaining further, she exhaled softly and changed the subject.
"…Fine."
Her gaze sharpened again.
"What do you want from me?"
Kikyo studied her for a moment.
Then—
a faint, teasing smile appeared.
"I happen to need a maid."
She tilted her head slightly.
"How about you stay and serve me?"
"…What?!"
Tsubaki's face flushed instantly with anger.
"Are you trying to humiliate me?!"
Her voice rose sharply.
"I would rather die than become your servant!"
"I was joking."
Kikyo turned away calmly, pushing open the door to the main hall.
"Stay here for the night."
She stepped inside without looking back.
"You'll know tomorrow."
"Tch…!"
Tsubaki glared at her retreating figure, realizing she had been played.
Grinding her teeth, she followed her inside.
"Kikyo… you've changed."
Her tone carried irritation.
"You used to be so proper… never making jokes like that."
A pause.
"Is this what happens after getting a man?"
"Perhaps."
Kikyo's voice drifted back, calm—yet faintly teasing.
"It's normal for someone like you… to not understand."
"…."
Tsubaki clenched her jaw.
This Kikyo—
was far more infuriating than the one from fifty years ago.
---
The next morning—
under the shrine's torii gate—
Kikyo finished seeing off the villagers who had come seeking treatment.
She turned to Kasage and Tsubaki, who were waiting nearby.
"Alright," she said. "Let's go."
With a light motion, she summoned her shikigami—Kuromaru.
The black bear appeared silently.
Kikyo mounted it smoothly, then glanced at Tsubaki.
"Get on."
Tsubaki looked at the creature without surprise.
Shikigami were common tools among priestesses.
She climbed up behind Kikyo without hesitation.
Kuromaru wasn't large, leaving no space for a third person—
so Kasage simply followed behind on foot.
As they passed through the village below the shrine—
villagers bowed respectfully.
"Lady Kikyo!"
Kikyo responded with a gentle smile.
This once-abandoned place was now filled with life.
Most of the villagers had been saved from Yokai by Kikyo and had chosen to settle here.
Over time—
it became known as **Kikyo Village**.
Some villagers turned toward Kasage as well.
"Shikigami-sama!"
They bowed respectfully.
Kasage didn't respond.
And in their eyes—
that was perfectly natural.
After all, he was believed to be a Yokai bound to serve Kikyo.
Once they left the village, Kuromaru accelerated through the forest.
Tsubaki watched Kasage leap effortlessly between trees behind them.
His speed matched Kuromaru's with ease.
"…Kikyo."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice slightly.
"Are you certain your man isn't a half-Yokai?"
"He's human," Kikyo replied calmly. "Just… unusual."
Seeing Tsubaki continue staring at him, Kikyo frowned slightly.
"…Have you realized where we're going?"
Tsubaki blinked.
She finally shifted her attention to their surroundings.
The forest—
the path—
felt increasingly familiar.
Her expression slowly changed.
Then suddenly—
she froze.
"…This place…"
Her voice carried uncertainty.
"…We're heading to my master's temple?"
"Yes."
Kikyo nodded.
Her tone turned respectful.
"He was a highly respected master."
"I visited him when I was young and received guidance."
She paused briefly.
"After I was revived, I went to see him again… but he had already passed away."
"…Master… is dead?"
Tsubaki's eyes flickered.
For a moment, emotion surfaced—
memory… and something close to sorrow.
Then she let out a cold snort.
"Fifty years have passed. Of course he's dead."
She quickly suppressed her emotions.
"…So why are we going there?"
Kikyo's voice remained steady.
"He passed too suddenly."
"His two disciples are still too young to fully inherit his teachings."
She looked ahead.
"That's why you will return."
A brief pause.
"Inherit the temple. Teach your two junior sisters."
"And pass on your master's legacy."
"…Heh."
Tsubaki sneered.
Her face was filled with disdain.
"You want me to stay there… and teach?"
She scoffed.
"I refuse."
"I'm not interested in something so boring."