A Miko's Resolve (I)

Han stood beside Sesshomaru, just as she always had, a companionable silence between them.

Sunset was near. The shadows of the trees fell over them, and Kiyomori Temple was already close by.

That also meant the parting they had long known was coming had finally arrived.

"Go." Sesshomaru broke the silence, his face as composed as ever.

"..." Han said nothing, but in the end, she gently bit her lower lip and nodded obediently. "All right."

She lingered for a moment, then finally made up her mind and began to walk away.

Sesshomaru stayed where he was, watching the small figure in plain robes and white hakama slowly recede.

Only after a long while did he gently close his eyes. This is enough, he told himself. He turned, ready to leave as well.

Ahead of him, Han abruptly stopped.

"Sesshomaru!" She turned and called loudly to Sesshomaru, who had been about to leave.

Sesshomaru looked back.

"Come back! You have to come back!" Han shouted, then stood where she was as silence settled between them again.

For the girl, this already took more courage than she usually possessed.

Beneath her seemingly resolute expression, she was still afraid-afraid they might never see each other again.

Her hand unconsciously clenched the hem of her robe, as though drawing from it the strength to remain there.

Hearing the excessive tension in her voice, Sesshomaru could not help feeling a little helpless.

"I will," he promised.

Han froze, apparently never having expected Sesshomaru to answer. She had thought a silent nod would be the most she could hope for.

Seeing the delight and surprise she could not hide, Sesshomaru's lips curved faintly.

Moisture glistened in Han's eyes, and she bowed to conceal it.

Beneath the setting sun, the two finally took different paths.

Yet this did not mean they were drifting apart.

Their brief parting was only so their next reunion could be all the sweeter.

Sharing the same feelings, their steps no longer heavy, they each set off in their own direction.

From far away, Han could already see the lofty spire of the Many Treasures Pagoda. Though Kiyomori Temple was still some distance away, she could feel the familiar spiritual power filling the sky, pure and powerful. It was the barrier her Master had raised.

"Han, I feel a little uncomfortable (╯﹏╰)," Yunai Rabbit whispered from her shoulder. Ever since joining the two of them, Yunai had been observing this place so different from Gensokyo. Coupled with Sesshomaru's intimidating presence, that meant the rabbit rarely spoke.

"What's wrong?" Han frowned slightly. "Is it the spiritual power?"

"Mm..." Little Yunai nuzzled pitifully against Han's chin.

Han soothingly stroked the little rabbit's white fur. "I'm not very good with barriers. Can you put up your own, Yunai?" Staying inside a personal barrier should make things much easier.

"No, I don't have a medium." Yunai was a little dejected. The earlier barrier had relied on the Bamboo Grove that actually existed there; creating one out of nothing was too difficult. "And the spiritual power here is too strong. A barrier made from demonic power would probably be destroyed in an instant."

"Then what should we do?" Han was a little troubled. Yunai was too weak. Aside from the ability to construct barriers and an innate gift for luck, the rabbit was little different from an ordinary one. If left outside, Yunai might be captured by a monster or a comparatively powerful human.

"It's all right, really," the little rabbit answered meekly. "I can bear it."

"All right." Han sounded helpless. "Please put up with it for now, Yunai. Once I get back, I'll ask Master. He's sure to know what to do!"

"Mm!" the little rabbit answered happily.

Han felt a little relieved, though she still thought Yunai was being put through too much. She apologetically smoothed the fur on the rabbit's back, then continued toward the home she had longed for so dearly.

"Han's back!" Sayuri, who had spotted Han approaching from a distance, cried out in delight. Beside her, Ran, who was also on gate duty that day, was much more composed, though the happy smile on her face was unmistakable.

When Han saw the mikos guarding the gate, she involuntarily quickened her steps and embraced Sayuri, who had run out to meet her.

The two little girls hugged tightly. After months apart, their longing for each other reached its peak at that moment.

"What took you so long to come back, Han?" The lively Sayuri finally released her, her words half complaint and half affection.

"It hasn't really been that long, has it?" As though infected by Sayuri's liveliness, Han's voice grew lighter too.

"Of course it has! Right, Ran?" Sayuri wrinkled her nose and pulled Han over to Ran.

"Yes, it has been a little while." Ran smiled, rested a hand on Han's head, and gave it two firm rubs. "Go see Master. Everyone's missed you."

Sayuri raised her eyebrows triumphantly at Han. "Then I'll take little Han inside, Ran. I'll be right back." Young and lively though she was, Sayuri still understood her duties.

Ran nodded and watched the two leave, chatting and laughing, before returning her attention to guarding the little courtyard.

"Han, is this rabbit your new shikigami?" Sayuri poked the little white rabbit on Han's shoulder. There was a clear demonic aura about the rabbit, but it carried no repulsive taint-the sort of aura a monster would have only if they had never committed evil. Sayuri had noticed this unusual rabbit earlier, but she had been too excited about Han's return to ask right away.

"Yunai isn't my shikigami. I suppose..." Han thought for a moment, then said firmly, "I suppose Yunai is my friend!"

To onmyoji, monsters were generally either enemies or shikigami. Few onmyoji could coexist peacefully with them, which was why Abe no Seimei, who could befriend monsters, was so remarkable. To mikos, however, monsters could be either friends or foes. Kirara, who had once served the miko Midoriko, was a powerful monster. Though mikos still remained wary of monsters, they were far more tolerant of them than onmyoji and spellcasters.

"All right." Sayuri smiled playfully. "Then, little rabbit, my name's Sayuri. It's nice to meet you. I hope we'll get along."

"Um..." Yunai Rabbit grew a little shy. "Likewise. My name's Yunai. I hope we'll get along too."

Sayuri happily petted Yunai and said to Han, "Master should be meditating in Morning Heart Hall right now. Let's go there."

"Mm." Han and Sayuri exchanged smiles and headed toward Morning Heart Hall together without another word.

"You're back, Han." "Yes."

"You're finally back." "Yes."

"What took you so long?" "Yes."

Along the way, they met several mikos. After exchanging bows and greetings, the women said they would not keep Han when they heard she was going to see Master. Meanwhile, Yunai received all manner of pokes, rubs, and strokes.

Han walked through the temple, so familiar yet so strange. The branches that had still been green in summer now held little clumps of white snow, and a thin layer of snow covered the halls' winglike, upturned eaves. Everywhere she looked was white. Though she knew perfectly well that winter had arrived and Kiyomori Temple could not look the same as it had in summer, a sense of estrangement still washed over her. It felt as though she had been away not for a single autumn, but for years.

"Han, are you all right?" Sayuri asked worriedly, seeing her expression suddenly fall.

At the sight of the genuine concern on Sayuri's face, Han let go of her unease.

Even if Kiyomori Temple had changed a little, everyone's feelings remained the same.

"I'm fine. Thank you, Sayuri." Han gently shook her head. "You should head back now. Ran might be getting impatient."

"Honestly..." Sayuri pretended to be annoyed. "Then hurry up and see Master. He's been worried about you too."

With that, she waved and briskly turned around.

"Yes, yes," Han said with a smile, nudging Sayuri's back. "Don't worry about me."

Though Master had always been gentle and forgiving, Han could not help feeling apprehensive. She had been gone so long, and she had never managed to send word back.

Master and everyone else must have been so worried.

Han took a deep breath and softened her steps. She removed her footwear in front of the hall, then entered Morning Heart Hall.

Following the familiar route, she made her way to Master's meditation room.

Through the hazy paper door, she could faintly make out two silhouettes, one tall and the other small, just as before.

"Come in." It was Master's voice, as gentle and refined as ever.

"Yes." Han slid the door open without making a sound, then entered just as silently.

"Did everything go well while you were away?" Master remained seated without moving, seemingly still cultivating his mind with his eyes closed. Tsubaki knelt to his left, her back as straight as his.

"Yes. Everything went well." Han knelt as well, taking her place to Master's right.

Tsubaki opened her eyes and turned to smile at Han. Han smiled back and gave her a little wink. Tsubaki's smile widened, then she immediately turned back to continue her practice, as though afraid Master might notice.

In front of them, Zhiyá felt a little helpless. While it was good that his young disciples got along, they should never behave this way during something as solemn as their practice.

"Tsubaki," Zhiyá said.

"Yes," Tsubaki answered at once, straightening her back even further.

"Leave us for now."

"...Yes." Tsubaki sounded reluctant. Though there was no anger in Master's voice, she still had no wish to disobey him. She discreetly shot Han a glare, though there was little anger in her eyes and instead a faint trace of amusement, then obediently withdrew.

"This rabbit..." Zhiyá hesitated. Though unquestionably a monster, the rabbit possessed none of the bloody, evil aura of the monsters of this era. Instead, its demonic aura was unusually pure.

"This is Inaba White Rabbit." Han lightly patted the rabbit's head, stopping Yunai from speaking. Then she carefully explained the rabbit's origins to Master. Though Master was trustworthy, for some reason Han did not mention the fact that Yunai had come from five years in the future.

"In that case, keep the rabbit with you. As for whether you wish to bind it as a shikigami, that is up to you."

"Yes," Han answered respectfully.

"Tell me in detail about what you saw outside tonight. The others will be there too. Everyone has missed you."

"Yes."

"You may go." Zhiyá sighed silently.

"Yes," Han answered again, then left the meditation room. She exchanged a smile with Tsubaki, who was waiting outside. As one headed out and the other went in, they bowed to each other and parted for the moment.

Once she finally left Morning Heart Hall, Han breathed a sigh of relief.

Facing Master this time had given Han a strange feeling. He somehow did not seem like himself, yet the man before her was undoubtedly her Master.

There seemed to be something more about him. It felt rather strange.

Han did not dwell on it, assuming she had simply been away too long and felt a little unfamiliar with him.

She looked back at the solemn, imposing hall. For some reason, a faint sense of foreboding spread through her heart.