The Miko and the Half-Demon (III)

"Kikyo!"

The wind swept past, carrying a distant voice with an unfamiliar familiarity.

The miko in a white robe and red hakama turned and saw a figure bounding toward her from afar.

Kikyo's eyes widened in surprise.

The young girl threw herself into her arms.

She wrapped her arms around her instinctively.

The girl nestled against her affectionately.

"Han..." Kikyo said softly.

"Yes..." Han hugged her blissfully.

Reunited with Kikyo after so long, Han had endless things to tell her, and Kikyo always listened with a smile.

She met Kaede, the younger sister Kikyo cherished and protected.

She also met Inuyasha, the half-demon bound to Kikyo by an inexplicable twist of fate.

The half-demon's fluffy dog ears were adorable.

With Kaede's encouragement and Kikyo's tacit permission, Han boldly reached for those dog ears. Inuyasha waved his fists, looking angry, but his eyes were full of tender affection when he looked at Kikyo.

This world was still far too unfamiliar to Han. Only by Kikyo's side did she feel completely safe, a feeling no one else could give her. At Kiyomori Temple, Master belonged to Tsubaki and everyone else, and the older mikos belonged to everyone too. Only Kikyo was someone Han could claim a share of. Though Kaede and Inuyasha were destined to claim larger shares, Han was already perfectly content.

To be honest, Han was very pleased with Inuyasha. At least when Kikyo looked at him, a happy smile would appear on her otherwise serene face, one neither Han nor Kaede could give her. So even though Inuyasha had come into her life later than Han, as long as he could always make Kikyo smile like that, then... anything was fine. Kaede felt the same way. She wanted her older sister to be happy.

Compared with Han, who moved along the boundary between humans and supernatural beings, the locally born and raised Kaede actually found it harder to accept Inuyasha. But Kaede's feelings for Kikyo were the same as Han's. Thus, even though Inuyasha was a monster, even though he was a half-demon born of a human and a monster, after her initial disapproval, Kaede still stood firmly beside Kikyo, supporting her with a radiant smile.

For Kikyo, once she had Kaede's approval, nothing else mattered. In the past, Kaede had been all she had. The sisters had shared hardship and joy, supporting each other as they grew up. Kaede's approval meant everything to her. Inuyasha, meanwhile, was Kikyo's future-the future she longed for as an ordinary woman. Inuyasha was sunlight breaking through that bleak past. His dazzling life burned so fiercely, illuminating not only himself but Kikyo as well.

As for Han, perhaps she had once been merely a life Kikyo had saved out of her duty as a miko, expecting nothing in return. But the moment she saw the young girl rushing into her arms, Kikyo was moved. Many people had been deeply grateful to her, but no one had ever felt such profound attachment to her. Kaede was strong. Though the two had grown up amid life's hardships, Kaede had relied on her without ever clinging to her. Later, Kikyo thought that perhaps she was something like a mother to Han. The first trustworthy person a newborn girl saw would be a mother figure to her. At that thought, Kikyo could not help feeling even more tenderness toward Han.

"Can you feel it?" Kikyo gathered spiritual power at her fingertips and let Han touch it herself.

"Yes." Han nodded delightedly and closed her eyes to feel it carefully. "Warm and calm. Kikyo's spiritual power." It was as gentle as water, yet possessed a sharpness that could pierce anything. Warm and enduring, it offered a faint glimpse of the vast spiritual power hidden beneath this tip of the iceberg.

Kikyo smiled at the young girl's delighted expression.

"This is my spiritual power." Imitating Kikyo, Han gathered spiritual power at her fingertips, forming a strand of blue light.

"As for your spiritual power, Han..." Kikyo pondered with a smile. "It's free and unrestrained." It had no sharp edges, yet its potential was boundless. Kikyo looked forward to the person Han would become, yet also wished she could remain as she was now, happy forever. Kikyo's power had awakened through one painful experience after another, carrying a sorrowful past in the hope of protecting the present and a beautiful future. If possible, she hoped Han would never need to undergo those repeated awakenings.

No two people in the world possessed exactly the same spiritual power, just as no two monsters possessed exactly the same demonic power. Even a reincarnation with the same face would still bear a different imprint of power.

At that moment, their spiritual powers mingled, as though each were committing the other's most unique essence to her own body, never to forget it.

Han and Kikyo exchanged smiles.

Two large tomatoes dropped from overhead. Han and Kaede each caught one neatly. Seeing Inuyasha's awkward expression, they waved their thanks. Inuyasha gave a smug huff and returned to Kikyo's side in a few leaps.

"So Inuyasha pesters Kikyo every day?!" Han asked Kaede with a frown.

"Yeah, I guess." Kaede shrugged and casually took a bite of her tomato.

"Ugh." Han stamped her foot unhappily.

"You'll get used to it," Kaede said calmly.

┭┮﹏┭┮ I can't!

"So, Han, why do you want to be a miko?" Kaede asked after finishing her tomato.

"Well, probably so I can protect myself better." Han hugged her knees and looked toward the distant riverbank. "What about you, Kaede?"

"Kikyo doesn't want me to become a miko." Kaede lay back on the grass, watching white clouds drift across the sky. "Probably because being a miko is too hard." She's probably already tired of fighting all the time.

"Huh?" Han turned back in surprise.

"But I still want to become an amazing miko like her." Kaede clenched her fists tightly. Then I could protect her.

"Yes, you can definitely do it, Kaede!" Han nodded in agreement. After all, she had such an incredible older sister in Kikyo.

"So, Han, are you going to stay here from now on?" Kaede asked casually.

"Mm, no. I'll probably go to Kansai." Han rested her chin on her drawn-up knees.

"Kansai is really far away!" Kaede sat up in shock. "By yourself?"

"It's not that bad. It's not especially far." Han thought for a moment. "I've arranged to travel with a spellcaster."

"Why?" Kaede asked in confusion. She had never left Musashi Province since she was born.

"...To see some different scenery," Han said evasively.

"...Hmm?" Kaede eyed Han suspiciously. "The scenery in the village is lovely too."

"..." Han lay down on her side and played dead.

"..." Speechless, Kaede poked her back, then poked it again, and again.

To Han, gentle Kikyo was someone who understood her heart without needing many words.

Han lightly pressed a hand to her chest. Whenever she was with Kikyo, it felt like being in water, comfortable and at ease.

Han stayed in the village for only a little over a month. During that month, Kikyo carefully taught her all sorts of things about being a miko, and let her observe whenever she went out to exorcise spirits. Having protected this land for so long, Kikyo was far beyond the older mikos at Kiyomori Temple, both in her personal cultivation and in her experience slaying monsters. She also had her own insights into spiritual power and had developed unique ways to use her abilities. Han's aptitude for learning truly astonished Kikyo, but she solemnly told Han that truly mastering her own power was not simply a matter of imitation and learning how to use it. It required deeper, personal insight and unique applications.

Han still only half understood, but as she watched Kikyo shine within the glow of her spiritual power, the barrier around her own power began to loosen. Han seemed able to feel the wellspring of power surging within her body. The power that had lain dormant in her awakened body gradually stirred.

Finally, on a warm spring day when flowers were blooming, Han hugged Kikyo and Kaede in turn, took one last look at the peaceful village, and waved goodbye. Inuyasha followed her for part of the way. Whether Kikyo had asked him to, she did not know. In any case, only after Han clearly and repeatedly assured him that she would be fine did Inuyasha, acting rather like an older brother, return to his home in that little human village.

Han gently stroked the prayer beads around her neck. Kikyo had strung them together and blessed them every evening for the past month. When Han told her she had a companion to train with and declined Kikyo's offer to see her off, Kikyo had given her these beads. They were the protection Kikyo had left her.

The Western Lands, in the dog demons' castle above the clouds.

Rinyō reclined against her spacious throne, studying Sesshomaru as he stood before her. His face was cold as ever, without the slightest trace of human warmth. He truly was her child.

"The Daughter of the White Fox has the ability to influence the destiny of this world. Are you still determined to give her up?" Rinyō asked with a smile. Her casual manner, soft voice, and indifferent air made it seem as though she were not the one who had specifically summoned Sesshomaru over this matter.

"..." Sesshomaru continued to refuse in silence. He had returned only because he had sensed a strange unrest among humans and monsters during his travels and had come back specifically to resolve it. It had nothing to do with his mother's summons or the Daughter of the White Fox.

Rinyō waved a hand. "In that case, I'll turn them down." Her child, the child of Rinyō, had no need to rely on other monsters to grow stronger, whatever motives a female monster might have for attaching herself to him. She had only asked on their behalf as a courtesy to the Fox Tribe of the Southern Lands.

Sesshomaru glanced at his mother, who wore a smile yet remained indifferent to everything, then turned and left without expression. Sometimes, even he could not understand what this woman was thinking. It was as though nothing in heaven or earth could leave a mark on her heart.

"Did you hear his answer, fox girl?" Rinyō addressed the young girl concealed in the room.

"Yes, my lady." The white-haired fox girl emerged from the room behind the throne, accompanied by four demon soldiers guarding her. "But I will never give up on Sesshomaru! He didn't explicitly refuse, did he?" Standing before Rinyō and looking into her eyes, she spoke with confidence.

Rinyō neither agreed nor objected. She merely chuckled and applauded softly. "Good, good. How wonderful." Could she not see Sesshomaru's rejection, or was she simply too confident in herself? Rinyō only smiled, saying nothing.

The fox girl smiled brightly. "At least you won't object, will you?"

"Of course not." Rinyō nodded readily.

She did not interfere with any of Sesshomaru's decisions. That was the path he chose for himself. A monster's heartless nature meant she would remain only a spectator, whether it was the Dog General falling in love with Izayoi or Sesshomaru choosing this fox girl in the future.

"Thank you." The fox girl nodded her thanks and left with her guards in a flamboyant manner.

Rinyō lounged on her throne, narrowing her eyes as she watched the Daughter of the White Fox leave. Another demon infatuated with Sesshomaru.

Beneath the blue sky, Han waved to the spellcaster approaching at a brisk pace. Wearing the same warm smile as always, the spellcaster walked toward her.

The spellcaster bestie is back with the party! =w=