Yui leaned close to Mikoto's ear and said with a smile, her voice low enough for only the two of them to hear, "Besides, these horns of mine aren't accessories!"
"They're real horns, growing right out of my forehead."
"Huh?" Yui's words startled a cry out of Mikoto. She hurried several steps back, her eyes wide with shock as she murmured, "What... r-real horns?"
Her mouth fell open in disbelief. How could a person grow horns? Was Yui teasing her? If they were real, that was just too strange!
At that thought, she raised her eyes and looked toward Yui again. But there was no one left there, only a few fallen leaves swept up in the howl of Wind Release.
"Yui..." Gazing after a figure she could no longer see, she felt an inexplicable reluctance to part. "We'll meet again someday, won't we?"
Late that night, Yui and Nai Hyuga slowly descended from the sky and touched down. Nai Hyuga looked around. The surroundings were safe and quiet, a good place to rest.
"Yui, why don't we rest here for a while tonight?"
She stretched and, without another word, leaped onto a treetop to rest. For some reason, ever since she had sealed the Nine-Tails inside herself, she had been growing more exhausted by the day.
She used to be able to stay awake for three days without feeling drowsy. Now, less than a day was enough to leave her body heavy with sleep.
Yui nodded, but just as she was about to say something, she realized Nai Hyuga had already fallen asleep. She could only sigh helplessly.
She stood there with her chin propped on her hand, turning a few things over in her mind. The cool night breeze brushed her face. After a long while, she shook