"I think letting you experience it firsthand is the most straightforward way."
Uchiha Retsu shrugged, his tone completely casual, as if shattering someone's head just now had been nothing more than a trivial action.
"I'm very sorry."
Kikyo shot Retsu a helpless glare, then turned to Tsubaki's master with an apologetic smile.
"He didn't mean any harm. His way of doing things is just… a little strange."
"No need to apologize."
The old man touched his newly restored head and chuckled awkwardly.
"That method… was indeed very effective."
"Since everything is settled, we'll be taking our leave now."
Kikyo looked up at the sky, then waved toward Kuro-maru in the distance.
When the bear spirit ran over, she lightly mounted it and turned back to bid farewell.
"I'm sorry for the suddenness. I couldn't properly receive you," the master said apologetically.
He had just returned to the world of the living and still had much to sort out.
"It's fine. We were the ones who disturbed you by summoning you back," Kikyo replied gently.
As they prepared to head down the mountain, the master finally noticed the surroundings.
His eyes landed on the ruins not far away.
Though badly damaged, he recognized them instantly.
"That's… the Pagoda that sealed the demon? Did the demon escape?"
"The demon is already dead," Retsu replied calmly as he walked beside Kuro-maru.
"I used it as the sacrifice for Impure World Reincarnation.
"Strictly speaking, its remains are inside your body right now. You'll probably see them after the technique is released."
"Dead?"
The master froze.
His gaze swept over the battle marks and the foul-smelling demon blood on the ground.
The lingering evil aura confirmed the truth.
He never imagined that the demon sealed at the cost of countless lives a hundred years ago would meet such an end.
"Thank you, sir, for eliminating this fiend."
He bowed deeply to Retsu, his voice full of gratitude.
"It just happened to be strong enough to serve as a sacrifice," Retsu waved it off casually.
"The stronger the offering, the more complete the summoned soul's strength becomes."
Soon, Kikyo and Retsu reached the temple gate.
Looking at those who had come to see them off, Kikyo spoke again.
"Master, I'll leave Tsubaki in your care."
"Rest assured. In this month, I will guide her properly and make up for my past mistakes," he promised solemnly.
Then he apologized again,
"I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble."
"Please don't worry about it," Kikyo replied with a smile.
She turned to Momiji and Botan, her tone gentle.
"Train well and become independent shrine maidens as soon as possible. I'll come visit you."
"Yes! We will!"
The two girls nodded vigorously, their eyes shining.
Then they bowed deeply to Retsu.
"Thank you very much for your help. Please take care!"
Retsu nodded in response.
"Tsubaki, stay here and behave yourself. I'll come see you later," Kikyo said calmly, looking at her.
"Hmph, don't bother! I don't want to see you anyway!"
Tsubaki touched the beads on her body and snorted.
Her tone was still irritable, but the hostility in her eyes was gone.
"You're one of my friends now," Kikyo said lightly.
"When I have time, I'll come visit you."
"Friend…"
A flicker passed through Tsubaki's eyes.
A strange feeling welled up inside her.
In the end, she muttered quietly,
"Do whatever you want."
"Take care, everyone."
Kikyo waved one last time.
After Retsu sat behind her, she gently patted Kuro-maru's neck.
Kuro-maru immediately understood and dashed into the forest.
The temple quickly disappeared behind them, swallowed by dense greenery.
Sitting behind Kikyo, Retsu could clearly smell her faint fragrance—
a hint of shampoo mixed with light herbal scent.
It was pleasant and calming.
Thinking of what she had said to Tsubaki earlier, he asked curiously,
"I didn't expect you to treat Tsubaki as a friend.
"I remember you said she cursed you and even tried to steal the Shikon Jewel."
"Yes."
Kikyo's voice drifted from ahead, carrying faint melancholy.
"She was a dark priestess. She did try to harm me. I used to dislike her."
She paused.
Then her voice grew quieter, tinged with loneliness.
"But after being revived, I realized… everyone I once knew has changed.
"Family, friends, even… lovers.
"They all moved on with new lives.
"Only I appeared alone in this world fifty years later."
She slowly turned her head, confusion and solitude in her eyes.
"For me, it was like I had just fallen asleep.
"When I woke up, fifty years had passed.
"Everyone I knew had become strangers.
"In their world, there was no place for me anymore."
"At first, when I was bound to that clay body by resentment, I didn't think about it."
She sighed softly, her voice as light as the wind.
"But after truly coming back to life, I began to notice it.
"The loneliness just kept growing."
"So when Tsubaki appeared before me, looking exactly the same, and still calling me 'that pretentious woman' like before…
"I wasn't angry. I was actually a little happy."
A faint smile curved her lips.
"Her presence made me feel that I wasn't completely alone in this era.
"At least one familiar person hadn't changed.
"That's why I didn't kill her.
"And why I brought her back to her master."
Listening to her words and seeing the loneliness she tried to hide, Retsu finally understood her true intentions.
That was why she spared Tsubaki.
That was why she even had him use Impure World Reincarnation.
It was all because of this.
Looking at Kikyo's cool yet solitary back, Retsu leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her tightly into his embrace.
"Y-You…!"
The sudden hug made Kikyo stiffen.
Her cheeks instantly flushed red as she tried to break free.
But Retsu held her even tighter, leaving her no room to move.
Feeling the warmth and strength of his arms, she struggled a few times, then gave up and leaned quietly against him.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Retsu lowered his head, his nose almost brushing her hair.
His voice was gentle yet firm.
"Did you forget? I'm still with you.
"How can you say you're alone?"
He lightly rubbed his chin against her shoulder and studied her blushing profile.
"Don't tell me… you were planning to leave me behind and disappear on your own?"
"N-No…"
Kikyo's heart raced as she met his gaze.
She quickly looked away and answered softly,
"I won't leave."
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