Chapter 20: Better late than never

The sky was deep blue and dazzled anyone who stared at it, making them lose themselves in its immensity and immobility. Beneath such an irresistible sky lay one of the many villages scattered throughout feudal Japan. Wooden houses, dirt roads, a well and a small number of villagers running here and there giving life to the scene. 

Along one of the many paths that run through the village go two people clearly different from the average, the man wears a dark colored yukata, wooden sandals and his blond hair seems to reflect the sun, on the other hand, the lady following behind him wears a traditional miko costume with repairs on the sides, black hair tied with a white ribbon and every now and then she squeezes her hands as if she was uncomfortable. 

Christopher pov.

"So let me recap, you started an argument with a little girl?"

Yes, we are currently walking along one of the dirt roads in the direction of Akemi's house, all because a certain person got into a verbal fight with a little girl. 

"My emotional situation was not the best, but the important thing is to apologize quickly and keep your mind from creating wild stories."

"Personal experience with children?"

Kikyo's brown eyes cloud over as if some distant memories came to her mind, even a smile came on her face for a few seconds making her persona glow briefly, though then her frown turns into a frown and she turns her eyes away from me making the atmosphere fall into silence again. 

After walking in silence for a few minutes, we arrive at Akemi's house and how do I know where she lives? Let's just say she told me a lot of things during our talks. 

"We have arrived, I call her and you apologize to her or you are going to do it all on your own."

Without finishing listening to my words, he took a few steps forward and stood next to me before gently knocking on the door and although it seemed like he had everything under control, his continuous squeezes on his suit sleeves say otherwise.

*Steps* *Steps* *Steps* *Steps* *Steps*.

Every step seemed like a lunge in her chest, her hands kept squeezing her sleeves tighter and tighter and her skin was getting paler by every passing second, now that I see this she hasn't been more... Alive? Both in physical expression, feeling around her and even her voice now conveyed more emotions. 

"The bad woman and Onii-chan!"

Seeing Kikyo in front of her door, she inflates her cheeks making her look like a squirrel and her face starts to turn red in time. But before Kikyo can say anything to stop her tantrum, she looks towards me, resulting in her opening her mouth and letting out her classic scream. 

"That I'm not, it's okay just listen to what she has to say, okay?"

Cutting my words in half so she doesn't start crying, I pat her head a few times before turning her on her axis and making her look towards Kikyo at the same time I say a few words in her ear. 

"But she talked bad about Onii-chan, she tried to convince me that you were a fox demon and that you ate children."

"I'm sorry, that was my mistake. Your Onii-chan is a good person and as a peace offering she gave this to you."

Akemi's response caused her to look at Kikyo with judgmental eyes, to which she simply looks away before kneeling down in front of the girl and begins to give her a few words of apology. Her voice was soft and slow, showing that she has ample experience in dealing with children, though she seems to fail to convince her. He then brings his hand inside the miko outfit and follows by extracting a flower crown which he places on Akemi's head. 

"Hum, hum, this princess is going to forgive your offenses."

Nodding a few times to herself, Akemi approaches Kikyo who remains kneeling despite the forgiveness and gives her a hug, then says a few words that sound like something out of a fairy tale. 

"Thank you so much, Hime-sama."

Seeing the doubt blooming in Kikyo's brown eyes and her trembling arms reaching out as if she wants to return the hug, I give her a silent nod as she seems to need it to get out of her doubt. We stare into each other's eyes for a few seconds before she smiles slightly and returns the hug with some equally storybook words.