Chapter 24: Encounters and misunderstandings

The night once again takes center stage in the earthly world, its silver moon illuminating the sky and the earth, causing a thin layer of silver to be reflected all around. 

On a tree taller than most, but which was less leafy, are two people resting in its branches. 

At the topmost is a lady dressed as a priestess, with long black hair and in her surroundings eel-like creatures float gently. She stares down at the branch below, on which rests a young man wrapped in golden tails. 

...Kikyo pov....

Looking at her forehead in detail I can confirm my assumption, the two fragments have not been soiled and you can even tell that positive energy is slowly growing. 

It is not a purification per se, but an amplification of the energy itself, just like when a priestess has the pearl or is in a sacred place. 

Staring at it for a little longer, I unconsciously let the souls absorb into my body, thus managing to end the souls brought to me by the shikigamis for tonight.

"Shall we leave?

Hearing his voice, I blinked slowly out of the trance I was in, then gave a nod and jumped slightly from one branch to the other, until I was on the ground easily. 

"I've been wondering, we're going in the direction of your younger sister's village. right?"

There was no hesitation in his voice, but it didn't contain malice either, then it could only be that he had something to say about this. 

"Yes, as I had said, Kaede was with the group of... Inuyasha and my reincarnation."

At the mere utterance of Inuyasha's name, my whole body burns with anger. I hate him just for existing, it was irrational, but my soul is full of pain and this inhuman form won't let me forget that. 

Before I can continue to fall into that spiral of anger, hatred, self-loathing and many more negative emotions, a soothing voice pulls me back. 

"That's the first time you've said his name, Inuyasha, Inu-ya-sha... Umm from somewhere it seems to sound to me. Well, that's beside the point. The question at hand is that most likely he and your reincarnation are with Kaede. So how will you go about talking to her alone?"

Stopping my body in its tracks, I am hit in the back by a much larger body, which quickly moves away, although I had already lost my balance from the blow. 

Due to the surprise and slow reaction to its words, my body leans forward slightly, but before it can touch the ground, it is stopped by a tail around my waist. 

"I already have a plan for that situation... Will you help me?"

A plan formulates in my thoughts quickly, though this one needs help... His help. Who knew I would stoop so low as to need the help of a demon. 

Unable to sink any further into those details, my body is straightened by his tail, at the same time he appears at my side speaking seriously yet with a happy touch. 

"I thought you'd never ask, so what should we do?"

"You'll know when we get there."

Watching his dumbfounded look, I feel one corner of my lips lift slightly, almost imperceptibly before I turn around and keep walking. 

...Christopher pov…

We've been walking through the forest for a few days, in which at night we move around and during the day how, rest, talk about random things. But even with these advances, never getting to personal things, plus what did I have Saya show up, but apparently they already knew each other quite well. 

One dark night with a full moon, we finally arrived at their village, although it would be more accurate to say that we are on a small hill nearby, from which we can see the village. 

This situation is because Kikyo can sense the shards up ahead, easily confirming that they are there. 

"Time to talk about our next steps."

Leaning my body against a tree, which stands a little apart from the rest, and just lets the moon illuminate its surroundings. I speak to Kikyo, who stares admiringly at the village below the hill, while remaining lost in her own emotional world. 

"Simple, you're the bait..."

"I guess that confirms that I passed the test of that tree."

Giving Kikyo a knowing smile, I wait to see the slightest reaction from her, but she just looks me up and down and speaks coldly. 

"You can consider it so."

"What does that mean, Kikyo, what does that mean?"

Seeing her back straight, full of confidence if I may add, I only follow her with my gaze until she walks away and is devoured by the surrounding forest. 

"Oh, well... I guess I'll set the scene."

"Is this even necessary?"

Hearing Saya's voice, I think about my actions momentarily. Release ears and tails, ready. Climb to the highest branch, check. Position myself with the moon on my back, check. Iron the wrinkles out of my yukata, check. 

"You must know how important first impressions are, for both humans and yokais. Tell me if I don't look like someone who commands respect, just like those historical figures."

Ending this whole staging process, I look toward Saya, who upon accepting my answer falls into a period of deep thought. 

"I understand. It's like when master Inu no Taisho used to appear in the place with his imposing demonic form, giving fear and respect at the same time."

While conversing, I start to feel an aura rapidly approaching from the direction near the village. Considering that only normal humans live there, the answer to those who come is quite simple.