Chapter 47: Unease

With Hikari, the princess of the Kijin Clan, now part of the team, Akira and the others couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Despite her friendly demeanor, they couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something off about her.

Yori was the first to voice his concerns. "I don't know about you guys, but I can't help but feel like Hikari is hiding something from us."

Kumiho nodded in agreement. "I've been keeping an eye on her, and she seems to be hiding her true power. It's like she's holding back."

Sayuri, who was usually quiet, spoke up. "I don't sense any ill intentions from her, but I do agree that there's something strange about her."

Akira remained silent, deep in thought. He couldn't deny that he too had his suspicions about Hikari, but he also couldn't ignore the fact that she had saved their lives more than once during their travels together.

As they continued on their journey, Hikari proved to be a valuable member of the team. Her knowledge of yokai and her combat skills were unmatched, and she quickly gained the trust and respect of the team.

However, their unease never fully went away. They still couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something she wasn't telling them.

One day, as they were resting by a river, Hikari approached Akira. "Can we talk, just the two of us?" she asked.

Akira nodded and followed her to a secluded spot away from the others.

"I know you all have your suspicions about me," Hikari said, her voice calm and steady. "And I don't blame you. I haven't been entirely honest with you."

Akira listened intently, waiting for her to continue.

"I'm not just a princess of the Kijin Clan," Hikari said. "I'm also a spy. My clan has been sending me on missions to gather information about the other yokai clans."

Akira's eyes widened in surprise. "Why are you telling me this now?"

"Because I want you to know that I'm not here to harm you or your team," Hikari said. "I may be a spy, but I've grown to care about you all. I don't want to betray your trust."

Akira nodded, understanding her dilemma. "Thank you for telling me. I'll talk to the others and see how we can work this out."

From that day on, the team's unease towards Hikari lessened. They still couldn't fully trust her, but they were willing to give her a chance to prove herself. And as they continued on their journey, Hikari showed them time and time again that she was indeed on their side.