Chapter 122: The Threat of Bishamonten
The next day.
Morning sunlight streamed into the shrine of Kaede Village, carrying with it the fresh, clean scent of dew-kissed earth. The demonic horrors of the previous night seemed to have left little shadow on the small hamlet; from the fields, the hearty shouts of villagers already at their work could be heard.
Only in the open space behind the shrine did the atmosphere feel different—charged, yet serene.
A white-feathered arrow sliced through the air, burying itself firmly in the red bullseye fifty paces away.
Kikyo stood on the veranda, her posture a study in focused grace. She had just bathed, and the faint, clean fragrance of soap locust drifted from her person. Her white top was as pure as fresh snow, its wide sleeves sliding back as she loosed the arrow, revealing a forearm so pale and smooth it was nearly translucent in the morning light.
Because she was practicing at home, she hadn't tightened the collar of her robes. When she drew the longbow, the muscles in her shoulders and back pulled taut, causing the once-loose fabric to cling tightly to her body.
In that fleeting instant, the cloth outlined a stunning curve.
Though her priestess attire was designed for modesty and movement, its loose tailoring concealed an exceptional figure. The swell of her chest was full and rounded, trembling slightly with each controlled breath, casting subtle shadows beneath the white fabric. The red hakama was tied securely, cinching a slender, supple waist, while below, the powerful lines of her long, straight legs were discernible even through the thick material.
She was beautiful beyond compare, possessed of a cold purity that dared not be profaned.
...However, Kobe Hikaru dared. Because he was not human.
"Wow! A hit! Another hit!"
A cheer shattered the cold tranquility. Two figures sprinted toward the target. One wore the red and white of a priestess—that was Momiji. The other, clad in blue and white, was Botan. These twin priestesses of the now-defunct Tahoto sect were currently behaving like two diligent little servants, scrambling to pull the arrows from the target for their new mistress.
"Lady Kikyo's archery is truly amazing!" Botan chirped, running back with the retrieved arrows, her face alight with admiration. "You don't even seem to aim! You just lift your hand and it's a bullseye!"
Momiji, the quieter of the two, said nothing, but she followed close behind, carefully wiping each arrow clean before placing it back in the quiver, her eyes filled with a deep respect.
They hadn't left.
The Tahoto was gone, their master was dead, and the senior sister who had led them astray was no more. After crying their hearts out the previous night, the two homeless girls had made a decision—they would stay.
Their official, high-sounding excuse was: "To atone for our sins and repay the life-saving grace of Lady Kikyo and Lord Kobe Hikaru, we have decided to remain here and assist in guarding the Shikon Jewel!"
In truth, they were simply quicker to pledge allegiance than anyone else. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the two young priestesses were just looking for a new pillar of support, a new home.
Kikyo had not refused them.
And Hikaru couldn't be bothered to care.
Which led to the current scene.
At the same time, Kaede had brought a small stool and sat nearby, a plate of freshly washed wild fruits held in her hands.
"Big Brother Hikaru, Big Sister Kikyo, Big Sister Momiji, Big Sister Botan, eat some fruit!" the little girl beamed, her eyes curving into happy crescents.
She had been so lonely before. Though her older sister loved her dearly, Kikyo was always busy with demon extermination and her own spiritual cultivation. Her personality, too, was cool and distant, making it hard for a child to truly play with her. Now, with the sudden arrival of two lively older sisters who could even perform fascinating tricks with paper dolls, Kaede was simply overjoyed.
"Thank you, Kaede!" Botan chirped, grabbing a fruit and stuffing it into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out like a hamster's.
Momiji was a bit more reserved, but she couldn't resist reaching out to gently pinch Kaede's soft cheeks. The three girls huddled together, chattering away and filling the normally solemn shrine with a vibrant, youthful energy.
Leaning against a door pillar of the main hall, Hikaru watched the scene unfold, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly.
He had to admit, it was a nice picture.
A genuinely nice one.
Having two more pairs of hands would also share some of Kikyo's burden. For daily chores, clearing out low-level yokai, and maintaining the village's protective barrier, two properly trained shrine maidens were more than capable.
Kikyo finished shooting her last arrow, lowered her bow, and turned. Her gaze met Hikaru's.
The young priestess paused for a heartbeat, her eyes flickering toward the three girls making a happy ruckus in the courtyard. A touch of softness appeared in the depths of her gaze. She walked over to stand at Hikaru's side.
"They are very noisy," Kikyo said softly, though her tone held no trace of annoyance.
"A little noise is good," Hikaru replied. He reached out, a natural and familiar gesture, to smooth a strand of hair at her temple that had been ruffled by the wind. "It adds a sense of life."
Kikyo didn't flinch or pull away, allowing his fingers to brush against her cheek. "Mm," she replied.
The two of them stood side-by-side, a comfortable silence settling between them as they watched the lively scene in the courtyard. For a moment, it felt as if all was right with the world, a pocket of peaceful years stretching before them.
But Hikaru knew this was merely the calm before the storm.
The string of black prayer beads nestled in his robes still emitted a faint, persistent chill. He was attempting to use his own demonic power to wear away the resentment clinging to them, but it was a slow, grinding process.
What made him far more vigilant, however, was the wind blowing from the north.
When he had returned last night, he had deliberately taken a detour, extending his senses. He had caught a scent on the air.
The smell of gunpowder.
And something else—a hair-raising pressure that he could feel even from hundreds of miles away. The so-called 'power of a divine artifact.'
"What are you thinking about?" Kikyo asked, her perception sharp enough to sense the subtle shift in his mood.
Hikaru withdrew his hand, his gaze fixed on the northern horizon.
"Uesugi," he stated, the name a hard syllable on his tongue. "Their previous retreat was just a strategic regrouping. That warrior they sent, Kakizaki Kageie, may be dead, but that won't be enough to scare off the woman they call the 'God of War'."
"On the contrary," Hikaru's eyes grew serious, "it might just make her even more excited."
Kikyo's hand tightened on her bow. "Are you saying that the ruler of the Echigo region... Uesugi Kenshin, will come in person?"
"She definitely will," Hikaru said with certainty. According to what Imagawa Yoshimoto had told him, that woman, who styled herself as the living incarnation of Bishamonten and had raised the banner of 'yokai extermination,' could not possibly slink back to her province after losing a single general.
They were going to be very busy.
However...
"That's fine, too."
A grim, almost Shura-like smile touched Hikaru's lips. He was already prepared, with countermeasures in place. His current condition was better than it had ever been. His Thunder Muscle was completely stabilized, the Nekomata's Claws had unlocked the Soul Summoning ability, and his reputation throughout the Kanto Region was steadily growing.
He glanced at Kikyo beside him. Last night, her 'yang-borrowing' technique had once again given him a fresh appreciation for his lover's terrifying strength.
If this were before, facing an opponent of Uesugi Kenshin's caliber and the army she commanded, he might have considered a tactical withdrawal.
But now...
"Then let her come." Hikaru's hand came to rest on the hilt of the Muramasa at his waist. "I'm eager to see if the so-called Bishamonten..."
His voice dropped, laced with cold promise.
"...is truly a god."
If she insisted on making an enemy of him, then he wouldn't mind killing a god.
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