Tsubaki was gone, but the tension she left behind lingered. On the demon slayer village square, everyone looked at each other.
"That shrine maiden… was really Lady Tsubaki?" someone muttered quietly.
"I've heard of her. They say she's a genius shrine maiden on par with Lady Kikyō."
"On par? I think she's nowhere near Lady Kikyō…"
"Shh! Keep your voice down!"
Shinji stood where he was, re-adjusting Hiraikotsu on his back.
The stocky man, apparently the young leader of the demon slayers, walked over, a look of embarrassment on his face.
"Lady Kikyō, and… Lord Shinji?" He clearly wasn't sure how to address a demon. "Our apologies for you having to witness that scene."
"Lady Tsubaki arrived this morning. Said she'd wait for you."
"We couldn't stop her…"
Kikyō waved a hand.
"It's not your fault." Her gaze fell on the old woman. "Elder, about the village chief…"
At Kikyō's words, the old woman's expression darkened instantly.
"I know." She took the cloth bag of ashes from Kikyō, holding it close. Her face was full of helplessness, her eyes red-rimmed. But she also sighed, as if she'd expected it. "You don't need to blame yourselves. When he left, he told me he was prepared not to come back."
The surrounding demon slayers bowed their heads.
Shinji watched the scene in silence.
He took Hiraikotsu off his back and gently placed it before the old woman.
"This was his," he said. "Returned."
The old woman looked up. She studied the massive bone boomerang, then looked at Shinji.
"You are…?" Her gaze lingered on his white hair, his pale face, and finally settled on his crimson, inhuman eyes.
"A demon. And Kikyō's familiar," he said. "Also the one who accompanied the village chief on his final journey."
"Before he died, he asked me to give the Shikon Jewel to Kikyō. Hiraikotsu was recovered later."
"There was some delay. Sorry."
The old woman was silent.
She reached out with withered hands, stroking Hiraikotsu's surface.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
"This thing has been passed down for over a hundred years, seven or eight generations," she murmured. "The first generation forged it from the bones of over a dozen demons."
"Every generation of demon slayers after added new demon bones to it."
"Heavier and heavier. Stronger and stronger."
"Now, the bones of over a hundred demons are fused within it."
"Ordinary people can hardly wield it"
Shinji didn't answer.
That wasn't his question to answer.
The stocky man beside him gritted his teeth. "Elder, the chief's grandson is still young. When they grow up"
"I know." The old woman wiped her tears and regained her strong composure. "Put Hiraikotsu away for now."
Only a grandson, no granddaughter?
So Sango and Kohaku from the original story really weren't born yet. The timeline now was indeed very early.
Shinji thought to himself.
"You two should rest in the village tonight." The old woman's voice interrupted his thoughts. "With that duel in three days, you need to be rested regardless, Lady Kikyō, please ensure you protect the Shikon Jewel."
Kikyō nodded.
"Thank you."
The old woman waved a hand.
"You brought Hiraikotsu back. You brought the old man's ashes back."
"We won't forget this debt."
She glanced at Shinji.
"Even though you're a demon I can see you're not the bad kind. And you're Lady Kikyō's familiar. In our village, no one will trouble you."
Shinji raised an eyebrow.
"However..."
The old woman's tone shifted.
"That blade you're carrying." She pointed at the Muramasa at Shinji's waist. "If possible, don't unsheathe it. The killing intent is too strong. It'll scare the children."
Shinji looked down at his sword.
Muramasa.
A blade that had slain at least a hundred demons, and humans too.
Yeah, the killing intent was a bit heavy.
"Fine."
The old woman nodded, satisfied.
"Follow me."
The demon slayer village's guest quarters weren't large, just a single wooden house with a small yard.
Considering Shinji's identity as Kikyō's familiar, not a person at all, they hadn't prepared a second guest room.
A familiar was a human onmyōji's partner, also a weapon.
Who separates a guest from their weapon?
The old woman said: "If you need anything, just tell the person at the gate."
Then she left.
Shinji stood in the yard, looking at the wooden house.
One room.
Just one.
He glanced back at Kikyō.
The shrine maiden's expression was still calm, but Shinji thought the tips of her ears seemed slightly pink. Clearly, she was thinking something.
"Go in." Kikyō stepped forward first, her white-and-red figure disappearing behind the door.
Shinji followed.
The room's furnishings were as simple as most in this era.
A tatami mat, an oil lamp, a low table. Slightly better than that toad-occupied village.
At least it didn't stink.
But the problem was, there was only one tatami mat.
And it wasn't big.
Shinji looked at the tatami, then at Kikyō.
The shrine maiden had already sat down by the low table and was sorting her bowstring.
Her movements were natural, as if she hadn't noticed the single bed at all.
"Um…" Shinji started.
"Mm?" Kikyō didn't look up.
"Only one bed."
"I know."
"Then…"
"You're a familiar." Kikyō's voice was calm. "Familiars don't need sleep."
"…"
Shinji was silent.
This reasoning was different from before?
His expectations were dashed!
Shinji thought, but didn't argue.
Because the reason was valid. He was a demon warrior. He really didn't need sleep.
And
He looked at the tatami.
Remembered last night in that rundown hut, sleeping back to back.
And in morning, waking up with that warm weight in his arms.
Kikyō probably didn't want to 'embarrass' herself again?
"What?" Kikyō's voice came. "If you need rest, I can give it to you. I'll keep watch."
That defeats the purpose.
Shinji grumbled internally, shaking his head.
"No." He walked to the wall and sat down against a pillar. "You're the boss. You call the shots."
Kikyō nodded slightly, got up, and went out into the yard.
"I'm going to wash up."
Shinji watched the shrine maiden's red-and-white figure disappear beyond the door, then withdrew his gaze, composed himself, and pulled the red comb from his robe.
Yura's true form.
Since they were staying here three days, he needed something to do.
[Demonic Artifact: Yura's Comb]
[Current Affection: -28 (Fear, Resentment)]
[It's playing dead. Hoping you'll forget it exists.]
"Stop pretending." Shinji tapped the back of the comb. "I know you're awake."
The comb didn't react.
"Keep pretending, and I'll soak you in hot water."
"Don't—!" The little skull on the comb finally spoke.
Compared to other truly inanimate objects, this artifact that had become a demon was convenient. Even without the system, he could talk to it directly.
"What do you want?!"
"Nothing. Just want to chat."
"About what?" Yura's voice was full of vigilance.
"Like, what kind of maintenance do you prefer?"
"…What?"
"Maintenance. You're a comb. You need maintenance, right?"
"…"
Silence.
"Oil or wax? Your material is mulberry wood. Oil probably isn't good…"
"Do you have some kind of mental illness?!"
Yura was frustrated.
Shinji was unbothered. "I just want to take good care of you."
"Care? You captured me as a prisoner, and you're talking about care?"
"Prisoner?" Shinji raised an eyebrow. "I prefer to think of you as… a cooperation partner."
"Who wants to cooperate with you!"
[Demonic Artifact: Yura's Comb]
[Affection +2]
[Current Affection: -26 (Confusion, Vigilance)]
Even though she said no, the affection still went up.
Tsundere, much!
Shinji nodded, satisfied.
He kept chatting.
Night deepened.
The oil lamp's flame shrank.
Shinji leaned against the wall, eyes closed, resting. The comb was exhausted from their conversation. Affection had risen to -20.
Still negative, but progress was significant.
He opened his eyes and looked at the tatami.
Kikyō had lain down.
Her white robes were off, leaving only a thin underlayer. Her black hair spread on the pillow, faintly gleaming in the dim light.
The curve of her hips, below her slender waist, was outlined by the bedding.
Her chest rose and fell steadily. Even breathing. She seemed asleep.
Shinji watched for a while.
Then looked away.
Some time passed.
Shinji felt something lean against him.
He opened his eyes.
Kikyō had gotten up from the tatami and was looking at him.
Her dark eyes were especially bright in the dimness.
"What's wrong?" Shinji asked.
"Can't sleep." Kikyō's voice was soft. "That duel…" She paused. "I'm a little worried."
Shinji raised an eyebrow.
With Kikyō's strength, she was worried about a duel with Tsubaki?
"Worried about what?"
"Not about losing." Kikyō shook her head. "Worried about… her."
"Her?"
"Tsubaki's obsession is too deep." Kikyō's gaze grew distant. "If she loses, I'm afraid she'll go down the wrong path."
Shinji was silent.
He thought of the dark priestess Tsubaki from the original story, the woman who fell because of jealousy.
And he thought of Kikyō's personality. Though she seemed cold and indifferent, at her core, she was actually very gentle.
And she and Tsubaki had once fought side by side. There was history there.
Of course Kikyō would worry about her.
"So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know." Kikyō said softly. "But I have to face it."
She looked at Shinji.
"Will you be there in three days?"
"Obviously." Shinji met her gaze. "I'm your familiar, right?"
"Would it be right for a familiar not to show up when his master fights?"
Kikyō looked at him. The corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
It seemed like a smile. Very faint, very shallow. But Shinji definitely saw it.
"Good," she said.
Then she lay back down on the tatami. Shinji returned to the wall and sat down.
The night deepened.
One sitting, one lying. Each quiet.
But somehow, the atmosphere in the room had softened.
[Shikon Jewel · Pure Spirit: Affection +1]
[Current Affection: 51 (Trust)]
[It sends you a message: 'She trusts you more and more.']
Shinji looked at the prompt on his panel.
A slight smile curved his lips.
Trust?
Good.
.
.
.
.
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