Seeing Midoriko suddenly attack, Kagura stumbled back in surprise and quickly hid behind Uchiha Kasage, though she still peeked out from behind him, clearly curious to watch what would happen.
Kasage cast an exasperated glance at Midoriko, who had attacked without hesitation. A pale azure Susanoo instantly materialized in front of him, and with a single swing, he deflected the attack effortlessly.
"Miss Midoriko, attacking so rashly isn't a good habit."
As her attack scattered into glowing particles in the air, Susanoo's skeletal hand continued forward, closing firmly around Midoriko and restraining her completely.
With Midoriko immobilized, Kagura stepped out from behind Kasage, staring at her with a helpless expression.
"This is exactly why I can't stand mikos and monks. The moment they see me, they attack without even giving me a chance to explain."
Then she quickly turned to Kikyo and added, almost hurriedly, "Of course, Kikyo, you're an exception!"
Kikyo smiled gently and waved her hand. "It's fine. I don't mind."
After all, Kagura's reaction was understandable—she had often been attacked on sight simply for being a yokai.
"Kikyo? Your name is Kikyo?"
Midoriko, still held within Susanoo's grasp, suddenly looked up. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at Kikyo.
"What is your connection to Kikyo, the miko who died fifty years ago?"
"I am Kikyo," she replied calmly. "The one who died fifty years ago."
"That's impossible!"
Midoriko's voice trembled with disbelief, her eyes filled with doubt.
"Lady Kikyo died fifty years ago. How could you still be alive… and unchanged?"
Kikyo stepped forward, stopping in front of her. She gestured lightly for Kasage to release her.
"I will explain everything," she said softly, yet firmly. "But in return, you must tell us what happened to you. Why did Naraku want to kill you?"
"…Naraku…"
At the mention of that name, Midoriko's expression hardened instantly. Rage and deep hatred surged into her eyes.
As the skeletal hand of Susanoo slowly dissolved, she took a steady breath and nodded.
"…Alright."
…
"I sincerely apologize, Lady Kagura."
Inside the room, Midoriko knelt respectfully, lowering her head in apology.
After their earlier conversation, she had learned that Kasage was the one who revived her—and that Kagura was a manifestation created by Naraku.
At the same time, Kikyo and Kasage had come to understand Midoriko's past.
"It's fine, I forgive you," Kagura said with a slight pout, her tone casual. After all, Kasage had blocked the attack, and she hadn't been harmed.
However, she added, "Even if I'm used to it… please don't attack me like that next time."
"I am deeply sorry!" Midoriko bowed again, her posture composed and respectful, clearly well-mannered.
Seeing that Kagura truly wasn't upset, Midoriko quietly let out a sigh of relief. Then she turned to Kikyo, her eyes suddenly shining with admiration.
"I can't believe… you're really the legendary Kikyo!"
"I'm just an ordinary miko," Kikyo replied softly, a little uneasy under such intense enthusiasm.
"No! When I was young, my grandfather often told me stories about you. I've always admired you as someone to look up to!"
Her voice was firm, filled with sincerity.
Kasage, sitting nearby, watched as Midoriko eagerly surrounded Kikyo, asking question after question, and couldn't help but curl his lips slightly in amusement.
He hadn't expected Midoriko to be such a devoted admirer of Kikyo.
Then a detail came to mind.
Fifteen years ago, when Midoriko was attacked by Naraku, her grandfather—before dying—had said that her spiritual power rivaled Kikyo's.
It seemed her grandfather had once known Kikyo personally.
Thinking it through, fifty years ago, her grandfather would have been around twenty-five—not much older than Kikyo, who died at eighteen. Perhaps, like Tsubaki, he had been someone from Kikyo's past.
According to Midoriko, her grandfather often spoke of Kikyo's deeds, clearly showing his deep respect for her.
…
"Have you sent Midoriko back to her shrine?"
Sitting beneath a tree at the shrine, Kikyo looked up as Kasage descended from the sky on his Flaming Hoof and asked quietly.
"Yes, she's back," Kasage replied with a faint, mischievous smile.
"Though… something interesting happened. It might give her quite a headache."
Kikyo tilted her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "What happened?"
"Well," Kasage said, suppressing a laugh, "she died once, and her body was manipulated and revived by Naraku, right?"
"Now that she's truly alive again and suddenly reappeared at the shrine, the villagers think she's turned into a yokai."
He chuckled softly.
"No one dares come ask her to exorcise spirits anymore. Even the nearby villagers are too afraid to approach the shrine."
"…What will she do? Leave?" Kikyo asked after a brief pause.
This situation was not unfamiliar to her. Long ago, she too had been forced to leave a village after her true state had been discovered.
"No," Kasage shook his head. "She's staying."
"That shrine was left to her by her grandfather. She refuses to abandon it."
He smiled faintly.
"But she's confident. She believes she can earn back the villagers' trust."
Kikyo fell silent for a moment, thinking, then nodded gently.
"She'll be fine. She is a properly trained miko. The villagers have trusted her for years. In time… they will understand."
"Mm. I left her a wooden tablet with the Summoning Technique. If anything happens, she can call for me directly," Kasage said as he sat down beside her.
As he looked at her, something caught his attention.
Kikyo was holding a needle and thread, carefully sewing a piece of bright crimson fabric.
He blinked in surprise.
"Kikyo… are you making clothes? Did your old ones get damaged?"
The garment in her hands was already taking shape—a deep red fabric, with delicate bellflower patterns embroidered along the collar, each stitch precise and elegant.
At his question, a faint blush appeared on Kikyo's cheeks. Her fingers tightened slightly around the fabric, and her voice softened.
"This… is a wedding garment."
"A wedding garment?"
Kasage froze for a moment, genuinely caught off guard.
"Mm." Kikyo lifted her gaze to meet his. Her clear eyes reflected him completely.
"It's not a miko's robe. It's a red kosode worn by ordinary brides."
Her voice, though soft, carried quiet determination.
"On the day of our wedding… I will wear this and become your wife."
Kasage looked at her—at her calm yet slightly shy expression—and felt a surge of warmth fill his chest.
He hadn't expected that, without saying anything, she had already begun preparing her wedding attire.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, gently pulling her closer. His gaze dropped to the crimson kimono in her hands as he spoke with deep sincerity.
"It's beautiful. I can't wait to see you wear it. You'll be… breathtaking."
He wasn't surprised that Kikyo had chosen a red garment instead of the white shiromuku often seen in later traditions.
Having lived in this era for so long, he understood the customs well.
In the Sengoku period, white garments were associated with mourning or worn by mikos and ascetics. Wearing pure white at a wedding would be considered inauspicious.
Red, on the other hand, symbolized joy and celebration.
Among nobles, brides wore a red kosode layered with an uchikake, while commoners wore a single red kosode.
Just like the bride Ruji from the tale of the Lord possessed by the Ninety-Nine Toad—her vivid kimono had been her wedding attire.
And now, in this quiet moment beneath the tree, Kikyo was sewing her own future with steady, careful hands.