The next day, early morning.
Before the sky had even brightened, Kagome was woken by Chiyo.
"Get up."
Kagome sat up, rubbing her eyes, and saw that Chiyo was already dressed and standing in the doorway, holding a cloth bundle.
"There are rice balls inside."
Chiyo handed her the cloth bundle.
"Eat them on the road."
Kagome took the bundle and held it in her arms.
The cloth bundle was still warm.
Before the morning mist had fully dispersed, Chiyo set out with Kagome.
They walked for roughly the whole morning.
"Chiyo... slow down..."
Chiyo slowed his pace.
"Your stamina is too poor."
"I'm human!"
"How am I supposed to compare to you?"
Kagome bent over, bracing both hands on her knees as she gasped for breath.
Chiyo stood beside her.
He looked at the mountain range in the distance, lit by the morning light.
"We're almost there."
"Is it still far?"
"Over that mountain ahead."
Kagome lifted her head and looked at the summit of that mountain.
At the top stood a very, very old tree, its crown like an enormous open umbrella, glowing faintly gold in the morning light.
"That priestess... lives there?"
"Mm."
"What's her name?"
"Kikyo."
When Chiyo said those two words, his tone was different from usual.
Kagome heard it.
It was an exceedingly soft gentleness.
She lifted her head and glanced at Chiyo.
There was no expression on Chiyo's face, but Kagome noticed something moving in his eyes.
Kagome did not ask.
She straightened up and took a step forward.
"Let's go. Don't keep her waiting too long."
Chiyo glanced at her.
Then he kept walking.
This time, his steps were much slower.
Just slow enough for Kagome to keep up.
The mountaintop.
That old tree was far larger than Kagome had imagined.
Its