24 Chapter 24: Encounters and misunderstandings

Night once again takes center stage in the earthly world, its silver moon illuminating the sky and the earth, leaving a thin layer of silvery color reflected all around. 

Atop a tree taller than most, but which was less lush, are two people resting in its branches. At the topmost is a lady dressed as a priestess, long black hair and in her surroundings eel-like creatures float gently, she stares down at the branch below where a young man wrapped in golden tails lies sleeping soundly. 

Kikyo pov. 

Looking at his forehead in detail I can confirm my assumption, the two fragments have not been soiled and you can even tell that the positive energy is slowly growing, it is not a purification, it is an amplification of the energy itself. 

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

"Shall we go? 

Hearing his voice I slowly blinked 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 before looking up at the bright stars in the sky and started walking. 

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

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

"Yes, Kaede was with the group of... Inuyasha and my reincarnation."

Just uttering Inuyasha's name made a will go off all over my body. I hate him just for existing and my pain-filled soul 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, though I had already lost my balance from the blow, causing my body to lean forward slightly before being 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, I had fallen so low that I needed help from 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 though 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 turning around and walking on. 

Days later.... 

Christopher pov. 

We've been walking through the woods for a few days, during the night we move around and during the day how, we rest, talk about random things, though never getting to personal things and I make Saya show up, but apparently they already knew each other quite a bit. 

One dark night with a full moon, we finally reach their village, wouldn't it be more accurate to say that we are on a small hill nearby from which we can see the village, this is because Kikyo can feel the shards up ahead confirming that they are there.

"Time to talk about our next steps."

Leaning my body against a tree that stands a little apart from the rest and 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'll be right back."

Saying her words, she turned her face to look at me as if looking for some sort of discomfort, doubt or annoyance from me to which I stared back at her steadily until she said her last words before walking off into the darkness. 

"Mmm... 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, check, climb the highest branch, check, position myself with the moon on my back, check, iron the wrinkles in my yukata, check. 

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

Finishing with all this staging process, I look towards Saya who upon accepting my answer falls into a period of deep thoughts. 

"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 begin 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 simple.