After all, whether it was his physical body or his brain, he currently needed to rely on Demonic Qi to function.
Fortunately, the Blood Transformation was complete, and the bone transformation had been forged; even without Demonic Qi, they could circulate and recover on their own. If it were a regular Oni Samurai, it would be hard to say if they could even wake up from this—but if it weren't for these two transformations, Kanbe Hikaru might not have dared to gamble his 'life' like this.
"Two hours."
Kikyo's voice remained calm: "Your injuries haven't fully recovered yet, don't move around."
Kanbe Hikaru looked down at his chest.
It had already been bandaged with white cloth strips, with skillful technique.
But, Kanbe Hikaru wanted to say more... what was the use of binding these? He was a ghost, not a human, but he very emotionally intelligently did not blurt out these words; he still had a brain.
He just asked: "Did you bandage this for me?"
"Yes."
"...Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The conversation was very brief.
But the atmosphere between the two was not awkward.
Kanbe Hikaru tilted his head back up, looking at Kikyo.
Under the moonlight, that cold, clear face appeared exceptionally gentle.
Her eyelashes were long, casting faint shadows under her eyes.
Her lips were slightly pursed, that touch of cherry color appearing exceptionally moving under the silver moonlight.
The white shrine maiden top was dyed a faint silver by the moonlight, the neckline slightly open, revealing a slender collarbone and the soft curves vaguely visible beneath it.
Kanbe Hikaru's gaze moved downward.
Kikyo's waist was very slender, cinched by the red hakama pants, outlining smooth lines.
His head was resting on her lap.
Those legs were long and shapely, and even through the fabric, he could truly feel that elasticity and warmth.
"Have you seen enough?"
Kikyo's voice came from above.
Kanbe Hikaru withdrew his gaze and met her eyes.
"No."
He said it very frankly.
Kikyo's expression stiffened slightly.
Those pitch-black eyes seemed to flash with some fluctuation, like a stone thrown into the sea, creating layers of imperceptible ripples.
"You guy..."
Her voice carried a bit of helplessness.
But the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
...
Silence spread, but the silence was not uncomfortable.
On the contrary, there was a comforting tranquility.
At this moment, Kanbe Hikaru thought a lot, thinking of all the battles since he transmigrated, the countless times he had narrowly escaped death—although he was actually already dead, and instead was step-by-step recovering 'vitality,' with the Blood Transformation complete and his soul born from his bones.
But after going through hardships, exchanging them for this moment of peace and softness, it was not a loss after all.
So-called power, to him, was originally meant for chasing what he wanted.
In this process, Kikyo looked down at Kanbe Hikaru's pale face, and only felt that under the moonlight, Kanbe Hikaru's crimson eyes appeared exceptionally deep.
Clearly an inhuman color, but it inexplicably made her feel... it was very good-looking.
Her thoughts began to drift away.
She remembered the first time she saw him again.
Thinking of the vigilance and hesitation from the beginning, to the acceptance afterwards, then to trust, and naturally, it was a matter of course.
She couldn't deny it, nor did she want to deny it.
She had long been accustomed to his existence.
As long as he was by her side, she inexplicably felt at ease.
...During the time he was away, she was even more looking forward to his return.
Kikyo closed her eyes.
Just as mentioned before, as a shrine maiden, Kikyo had been taught from childhood to keep her heart as still as water.
She had turned herself into an isolated island, not needing anyone to approach.
But this monster—
This Oni Samurai named Kanbe Hikaru—he didn't break into her isolated island, but he had been inching closer, bit by bit.
With his sincerity, with his reliability, with every promise he kept.
By the time she realized it, he was already there.
In her heart.
He had landed on her island and taken root in her heart.
"Kikyo."
Kanbe Hikaru's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Hmm?"
"What are you thinking about?"
Kikyo opened her eyes and looked down at him. In the moonlight, those crimson eyes were staring straight at her.
No dodging, no probing, just simply looking at her.
"I was thinking…"
Kikyo's voice paused.
She took a deep breath.
In that moment, she made a decision.
She, Kikyo, had never been one to back down.
"Kanbe Hikaru."
She began.
"Hmm?"
"I—"
"Wait."
Kanbe Hikaru suddenly interrupted her.
Kikyo froze.
Kanbe Hikaru sat up from her lap, turned around, and faced her. In the moonlight, his pale face wore a certain serious expression.
"Let me speak first," he said.
Kikyo's brows furrowed slightly.
"You—"
"Kikyo."
Kanbe Hikaru interrupted her again.
He stared at her, his voice calm yet firm.
As if he could see the thoughts in the miko's heart, he spoke, suddenly saying:
"Let's be together."
Kikyo's body stiffened.
The young maiden looked at him, her dark eyes filled with shock.
And—joy.
Kanbe Hikaru also smiled, looking quite happy and taking it for granted. For someone he had liked from his past life to this one, his response was only natural.
"I know I am a demon," he said.
He continued: "I know there are too many barriers between humans and demons."
"But none of that matters."
"What matters is—"
He reached out and gently took Kikyo's hand.
The hand was a bit cold, yet it made Kikyo's heart skip a beat.
"At this very moment, I want to be with you."
"Kikyo."
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