Traveling with a Dog (I)

The sun sank westward, its evening glow slowly fading.

Han packed the things everyone had prepared for her and said goodbye to each of them. None of them wanted to part. To the priestesses, Han was still so young, nowhere near ready to set out on a pilgrimage to train. As for Han herself, she had never imagined she would be the first to say goodbye. Though she was only leaving for a short while and would certainly return, she still found it hard to let go.

The priestesses of Kiyomori Temple did sometimes go out together to train, much like the pilgrimages of Buddhist monks.

Priestesses did not ordinarily undertake this sort of training or pilgrimage-like ritual, but their teacher wanted them all to truly understand the suffering of ordinary people in this age. She therefore encouraged them to go out and help those in need. Though their traditions did not share the same origins as Buddhism, there ought to be no disagreement on that point.

Although a priestess was ordinarily supposed to serve a particular shrine, most of those at Kiyomori Temple were orphans. If they reached a place on their pilgrimage where they wanted to stay, they would usually settle at the local shrine and become its priestesses.

Apparently, some of the older priestesses before them had been moved by the people they met elsewhere and had stayed there.

So, although Han had made this decision quite suddenly, the priestesses still supported her.

"Everyone, please go back. You don't need to see me off." Han felt a sting in her nose. Apart from Kikyo, whom she had met at the very beginning, these were the people she had spent the most time with. She had been ignorant and bewildered when she first arrived, yet they had been so accepting of her. Now they had to part...

"It's all right. Let us walk with you a little farther." By the usual rules of etiquette, they only needed to watch her leave.

"Gardenia!" Tears spilled down Han's cheeks as she threw herself into Gardenia's arms, and soft sobs gradually began to escape her.

"Yes, yes, I'm here." Gardenia smiled helplessly, but gently stroked the soft, long hair of the girl in her arms, feeling her gradually calm down. Though she knew this child was not human, she loved her just as the other priestesses did. In this age of turmoil, the priestesses were one another's closest family and most dependable support.

The other priestesses were swept up in the emotion, especially the younger ones close to Han in age who were particularly close to her. They could not restrain their sorrow at parting as the slightly older priestesses did. Quiet sniffles gradually spread among them.

"I don't want to leave you all. I don't want to go anymore," Han murmured, resting quietly against Gardenia.

"Going out to train is a good thing. Since you've made up your mind, you should see it through!" Gardenia composed herself as well and looked earnestly at Han. "Besides, we'll always be here. Just remember to come back soon."

"Yes." Han hugged Gardenia one last time, then embraced the other priestesses one by one: strong, independent Ran; stubborn, somewhat introverted Morning Glory; and Sayuri, normally so lively, who was now crying harder than anyone. Even Tsubaki, who usually seemed aloof, had made a point of coming to see her off.

Han gave Tsubaki a heartfelt hug. Unaccustomed to closeness, Tsubaki stiffened for a moment, then sighed softly and relaxed. "Stay safe on the road. If you run into something you can't handle, or anyone who bullies you, you must come back. I'll curse them for you!" There was still something childish about her final words. In truth, Tsubaki and Han were quite close in age.

"Mm, thank you. I'll remember." Han could not help smiling as she gave Tsubaki her earnest promise.

At the very end of their farewell, seeing that none of them had gone back, Han bowed, and they returned the gesture. Every time she looked back, she could still see the priestesses watching her with smiles. Then, gradually, they disappeared from one another's sight.

When she reached their meeting place and saw the silver-haired demon's back, her heart gradually settled.

Even though she still did not know what lay ahead, or even whether she could return safely, Han thought she would still agree to go with this demon if she had to make the choice again. He was the first demon she had met who bore her no hostility.

Even at Kiyomori Temple, no matter how kind everyone was, the feeling that she was not truly human remained so distinct.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Sesshomaru turned his head slightly and looked at the little priestess before him, dressed in a white robe and red hakama.

He was actually a little puzzled himself. Merely to determine what kind she was, he had decided to take her along. This was not how he usually acted. Still, if something troubled him, he would simply resolve it. That was Sesshomaru: he never took a roundabout approach.

Neither of them was talkative, and even a long silence did not feel awkward. In the end, it was Sesshomaru who broke the stillness. He did not speak, merely turned and set off. This was the last chance he would give the person behind him to choose. If she was unwilling, she could simply leave. The girl behind him, however, firmly followed in his footsteps. Still, the difference in their heights was striking; his shadow almost swallowed her whole. Hearing her somewhat hurried steps behind him, Sesshomaru stopped without a word and waited for her to catch up before moving again. This time, however, the dog demon walked much more slowly.

"Where... are we going?" Han asked the unfamiliar demon beside her, her head lowered.

"To find Totosai. He may know what you are." Sesshomaru remained sparing with his words.

"Is Totosai a demon?" Apart from the demon before her, Han had never dealt with any others. Naturally, she did not know Totosai, the swordsmith renowned among demons. Hearing of an unfamiliar demon, she could not help being curious.

"Yes," Sesshomaru answered simply. "A swordsmith."

"I see." Han nodded, and the two fell silent again.

At some point, as he slowed his pace, the girl stopped trailing behind him and came to walk beside him instead. The way the petite girl stood at his side made her seem almost nestled against him, and he needed only to raise a hand to rest it on her head. They could hear each other's soft breathing, sharing an unspoken understanding.