Demons and humans were fundamentally different

"Huh? What?!"

At Hojo Akitoshi's words, which fit this era perfectly, Kagome froze before crying out in surprise.

Fortunately, she hadn't happened to have any porridge in her mouth, as Akechi Mitsuhide saw it.

Otherwise, the girl might well have sprayed it everywhere in her shock.

"Well, um!"

Clutching her bowl of porridge, Kagome flushed scarlet, utterly at a loss.

"Is something wrong?"

Feigning ignorance, Hojo Akitoshi asked in a puzzled tone.

"At your age, you should have married long ago. Have your responsibilities concerning the Shikon Jewel kept you from finding a suitable husband all this time?"

"So you needn't worry about the Shikon Jewel anymore. Leave it to our Hojo Army."

"Yes, the Lord is right."

Akechi Mitsuhide chimed in beside him.

"In this day and age, if a girl your age still hasn't married, she'll become an old maid if she puts it off much longer."

"Even if you're a priestess who cultivates spiritual power, unless you intend to devote your entire life to it..."

"If you wait another few years, you really won't be able to find a husband. The better prospects won't take an interest in you."

"What do you mean, old maid? I... um..."

Their matter-of-fact goodwill left Kagome completely bewildered. She had heard of parents pressuring their children to marry in the future world.

But at my age, surely I shouldn't be dealing with that already!

I'm still a young, beautiful schoolgirl in the prime of my youth!

But...

Staring into their sincere eyes, Kagome opened her mouth, but ultimately couldn't come up with anything else to say.

After all, as Akechi Mitsuhide had said, ordinary women in Japan during this era did seem to marry quite young.

"Is there anyone you fancy?"

While Kagome's head was still spinning, Hojo Akitoshi leaned closer again.

"If someone has caught your eye, tell me. As the head of Hojo, I could help arrange a match."

"No, there's no need. I appreciate the thought."

Nearly burying her little face in her porridge bowl, Kagome didn't dare look at Hojo Akitoshi.

Because when Hojo Akitoshi had just asked whether she had anyone in mind...

For some inexplicable reason, his face had popped into her thoughts!

Oh my god!

The girl scolded herself inwardly. How could I think of Hojo Akitoshi when I've only just met him?

Besides, he's a daimyo from the Warring States period!

"What's there to be shy about?"

Unaware of what Kagome was thinking, Hojo Akitoshi's eyes brimmed with amusement, but then he changed tack.

"Any fine young man from any family would do. But if it's the half-demon Inuyasha, I'd advise you to consider what you're getting into."

"Demons and humans are different."

"Hmm?"

Kagome lowered the bowl shielding her face. Blinking, she couldn't quite understand why Hojo Akitoshi would say that.

From her dealings with Inuyasha, although that dog wasn't very likable, aside from being arrogant, hotheaded, and unwilling to listen properly...

As she counted them off, Kagome suddenly realized that Inuyasha had quite a few faults.

Only after eliminating those faults could he be considered a good demon!

"The Lord is right."

Akechi Mitsuhide nodded in agreement, then elaborated.

"There are enormous differences between demons and humans, even leaving aside how demons kill people, eat people, and commit countless atrocities."

"Simply compare their lifespans. By the time your youth and beauty have faded, a demon's life might only just be beginning."

"Countless tales have already told us what happens after a human in love with a demon has enjoyed those sweet, happy days."

"When they grow old while the demon remains unchanged, how many can remain true to their hearts?"

"And how many demons can retain their original love when faced with a human in the twilight of their life?"

"We don't deny that genuine love transcending race exists in this world. But ultimately, that's the gold sifted from the sand."

"And beneath that gold, who could possibly count all those grains of sand?"

"Not to mention the fundamental differences in what demons are. Just imagine being with a dog, a wolf, or a spider..."

The art of speaking lay in knowing when to stop, and Akechi Mitsuhide handled that perfectly.

Sometimes, leaving a sentence unfinished and letting listeners fill in the rest was the most effective approach.

"Ugh."

Kagome had clearly understood the implications of Akechi Mitsuhide's words.

Once love was stripped of its sacred veneer, just thinking about what she would actually be romancing...

Her stomach cramped, and something sour rose in her throat.

Only through an immense effort of self-control did the girl avoid embarrassing herself in front of Hojo Akitoshi and Akechi Mitsuhide.

Waving her hand, Kagome signaled for them to stop.

She genuinely feared they might say something even harder to stomach.

Fortunately, a timely change arrived. Kaede and Inuyasha, who had actually stayed awake in the village all night waiting for dawn, had come.

A messenger came to inform Hojo Akitoshi and the others that Kaede and Inuyasha were waiting outside the camp gates for an audience.

This conversation had been well-intentioned, and its advice sound.

But it had been rather difficult to accept, and now it came to an end.

"Inuyasha, when we meet Lord Hojo Akitoshi, you mustn't say anything out of line."

Standing at the camp entrance with bloodshot eyes, Kaede carefully cautioned the half-demon beside her.

"I know. You're so annoying, old woman."

Never willing to concede anything verbally, Inuyasha answered impatiently.

Like Kaede, he had actually stayed awake all night, worrying about the Shikon Jewel.

Yet now that the moment had come, he refused to openly reveal his true feelings.

"You two, Lord Hojo Akitoshi has granted your request for an audience."

Kaede was about to offer Inuyasha a few more warnings when the messenger appeared and told them they could enter.

"Ah, please be careful."

Seeing that she couldn't say much more, Kaede suppressed her worries. Straightening the priestess robes she had just changed into, she gave him one final reminder.

"I know, I know."

Both

hands behind his head, Inuyasha followed closely behind the messenger.

Before long, the human and the demon arrived before the command platform at the center of the camp.

Kaede looked at Hojo Akitoshi seated on a folding stool atop the platform, then at the murderous-looking Hojo Army samurai seated nearby, and Akechi Mitsuhide, with whom she had had the most dealings.

She took a deep breath after making sure Kagome seemed perfectly fine, aside from a slightly flushed face.

Then Kaede lowered herself into a deep, formal bow.

As she paid her respects, she didn't forget to tug at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha couldn't have cared less. He simply stood there brazenly, staring at Hojo Akitoshi with wide eyes.

One might have thought some pretty flower bud had sprouted on Hojo Akitoshi's face.

"I am Priestess Kaede, a humble villager of Kaede's Village. I pay my respects to Lord Hojo Akitoshi."

"May you bring the realm under your rule through martial might, and may fortune favor you in battle."

Unable to control Inuyasha, Kaede could only hope for the best.

"Rise, Priestess Kaede."

"What has you so anxious that you've come rushing here first thing in the morning?"

"Is it the female demon coveting the Shikon Jewel?"

Raising a hand to indicate that Kaede should stand, Hojo Akitoshi delivered an enormous surprise with his words.

"Huh?"

Before coming, Kaede had considered how she might steer the matter of the impending female demon attack toward the Hojo Army.

She had intended to conceal the matter of the Shikon Jewel as thoroughly as possible.

But Hojo Akitoshi's words from the seat of honor completely disrupted her original plan.

"My lord!"

Before she had even fully straightened up, Kaede hurriedly dropped to her knees again.

"The stories about the Shikon Jewel are merely distorted rumors. In truth, the jewel's power is nowhere near as great as the legends claim."

"Otherwise, how could my elder sister have died from Inuyasha's attack all those years ago?"

At her wits' end, Kaede was forced to bring up Kikyo in her effort to conceal the truth about the Shikon Jewel.

"Hey, old woman, what are you talking about?"

At those words, Inuyasha lost his composure before Hojo Akitoshi or anyone else could speak.

As Hojo Akitoshi and the others watched as though enjoying a show, Inuyasha stamped his foot and shouted.

"Kikyo was the one who attacked me!"