"Miss Kikyo, it seems the shrine maiden has great trust in you—she actually sent you personally to deliver such an important letter."
Standing before Satsuki was Kikyo, whom she had once met briefly at the Katori Shrine.
She still wore the traditional attire of a shrine maiden—a white blouse paired with a crimson hakama skirt. A straw hat hung behind her back, giving her the look of a traveler journeying through the land.
Her beauty was not the most striking Satsuki had ever seen, yet her black eyes, oval face, and smooth, glossy black hair tied neatly in a hime-style cut exuded a quiet, soothing grace.
Her hair was fastened with a simple white ribbon; her refined features, pure and elegant. Dressed in the red and white of a miko, holding an ancient bow in hand, she stood quietly before Satsuki.
In this world, women born with spiritual power were almost destined to walk this path. Kikyo, born with exceptional spiritual potential, naturally became a miko as well.
Yet unlike most others, her talent was extraordinary—so much so that she was taken into the care of a local shrine's elder miko for formal training at just over three years old.
Under the elder miko's careful guidance, Kikyo's astounding aptitude soon became evident. However, her teacher—an ordinary village priestess of limited skill—could teach her little beyond basic archery, herbcraft, and elementary spells.
Unwilling to see such a gem buried, the elder priestess wrote a personal letter to the Katori Shrine, recommending Kikyo as a prodigious disciple worthy of advanced training.
As expected, upon entering the shrine, Kikyo's brilliance shone brightly. Alongside another talented girl named Tsubaki—who had also been recommended from afar—she quickly became one of the most celebrated new shrine maidens in Katori Shrine.
Within a few short years, she mastered barrier techniques, spellcraft, archery, shikigami summoning, and even onmyōjutsu—all disciplines that ordinary miko struggled to grasp. To her, they seemed no more difficult than children's lessons.
When Satsuki had first met Kikyo, the latter had just completed her training as an apprentice priestess and was preparing to take the shrine's virtue examination.
The exam was said to be extremely difficult, yet for Kikyo it was effortless. She passed with perfect scores, earning the certification scroll inscribed with the words Master of Secret Arts.
This title signified her official graduation—she was now a fully recognized Katori Shrine Priestess, permitted to take disciples of her own and teach even the most advanced techniques.
After all, few miko were ever qualified to learn the secret arts. Those who did were invariably gifted beyond compare. Even without Kikyo as their teacher, they could likely pass the shrine's own entrance trials.
Of course, within Katori Shrine, above the level of Secret Arts were the higher ranks of Ultimate Arts, Legacy Techniques, and the divine-level Kami Arts—reserved solely for the Saigū, the imperial priestesses.
...
All this Satsuki had seen through her brief use of the Three-Thousand Wisdom Eyes to glimpse Kikyo's past fate.
As for the miko's future, Satsuki had no desire to peer too deeply—for her, the unknown was the source of all delight.
"Lady Kurotsuki no Ihime."
Kikyo bowed respectfully. After the Emperor's assembly, Satsuki had been granted the same rank as a Saigū and bestowed the divine title Arehitome no Kurotsuki Kuntowatari no Ihime.
She had also received many material rewards, though she had redistributed most of them to displaced women and refugees in need.
"Kikyo, just call me Satsuki. Since you're a friend of the shrine maiden, there's no need to be so formal with me."
"Yes, Lady Satsuki."
Her voice carried a gentle, cool tone of determination—just like her presence, serene yet commanding.
Satsuki invited her inside. Once seated, Ruri came forward to serve them tea, while Kaguya, for the time being, was on the moon, studying the Gedo Statue within the Lunar Palace.
As the light fragrance of tea filled the room, Satsuki spoke softly. "From Musashi Province to Heian-kyō, the journey must have been long and difficult for you."
"This is the path of a shrine maiden—it is the road I chose." Kikyo's posture was graceful, her composure refined, like that of a noblewoman. Her clear gaze shone with quiet resolve.
She looked at Satsuki and said, "This is also the destiny that Lady Miko and all the predecessors have borne."
"Kikyo, you possess a steadfast heart and a precious faith. I can also see that you have a deeply compassionate soul…"
Satsuki felt an inexplicable fondness toward the miko before her. Thus, she gently offered a word of warning: "But you must understand one truth—purity is filth, and filth is purity. When one takes anything to the extreme, its nature may reverse completely. Your compassion, your faith, your conviction, and even your beauty could one day give birth to misfortune."
"Purity is filth, and filth is purity…"
Kikyo repeated the words softly to herself, her eyes glimmering as she regarded Satsuki closely. Then she smiled lightly. "If my appearance could bring misfortune, then Lady Satsuki's beauty could surely summon a calamity of the end times."
At those words, a faintly knowing expression flickered across Satsuki's eyes. She merely smiled and said nothing.
She knew that such profound truths could not be grasped through mere explanation. Ordinary people, even those with innate wisdom, rarely awakened to true understanding on their own.
This miko before her, though gifted with immense spiritual power, was still young and untested by the world. Only through the tempering of time would she come to comprehend such principles on her own.
As they continued to converse, Kikyo suddenly said, "Ah… that's right. Lady Miko also entrusted me to bring a gift for you, Lady Satsuki."
Saying so, Kikyo rose gracefully and retrieved a box from the bag she carried at her side.
The box appeared to be made of wood, yet its surface bore a black metallic sheen like forged iron. It was polished smooth, its interlacing lines so fine that they reflected the faces of both women.
Around the box were countless red sealing talismans—evidence enough that this was no ordinary item.
And the feedback from Satsuki's Tenseigan confirmed as much.
Though layers of seals and barriers covered the object, her eyes easily pierced through them, peering directly inside. Within the box lay a peculiar object radiating a powerful spiritual aura.
It resembled a small round lavender incense container typically used by shrine maidens, yet it emanated a profound divine grace and blessing.
Though it could not compare to a supreme artifact like the Yasakani no Magatama, it was still undoubtedly a rare and precious item.
A month passed quickly. Three days before the Miko's coronation ceremony was to begin, Satsuki finally pulled herself away from developing the ability of Six Paths Reincarnation (Saṃsāra).
There were still several variables that required experimentation for verification, but since such work could be handled through Ruri's Akasha records, Satsuki decided to depart ahead of schedule.
—Of course, part of the reason was that she would be traveling alongside Kikyo.
With a shrine maiden present, she could not freely display her more "out-of-spec" powers.
...
Because Katori Shrine's Saigū, Kagura Magenrou, remained in Kyoto to handle important affairs—after all, the decree to enshrine Shintō as the state religion was far more consequential than the Miko's Celestial Coronation Ceremony—Satsuki took her leave from the other priestesses. This time, not even Ruri accompanied her; only Kikyo joined her on the journey out of Kyoto.
Spring had already begun. Though traces of winter's chill lingered, many farmers were already busying themselves in the fields.
This region primarily worshiped Ukanomitama-no-Ōkami, the deity of rice and harvests. Thus, the farmers here possessed a more refined understanding of agricultural timing than those elsewhere.
The two women walked side by side across the green meadows, speaking of matters concerning the Miko.
Through her conversations with Kikyo, Satsuki gained a general understanding of the Celestial Coronation Ceremony.
At Katori Shrine, the ceremony was an exceptionally solemn event, symbolizing a miko's formal entry into the gaze of the gods—a rite that granted her a rightful place among the divine.
In essence, it was a ritual through which the shrine formally introduced a promising disciple to the deities, asking for their future guidance and protection.
To Satsuki, however, the ceremony held little real significance. The so-called gods themselves were far from powerful.
Still, it remained a tradition passed down through generations—a cornerstone of Shintō faith. Thus, even after the Wheel Yama King's invasion to seize the Shikon Jewel, Katori Shrine's spiritual flame continued to burn brightly.
However, the Miko was a demon-exorcising shrine maiden—one of the most perilous professions among mikos, both for the yōkai they faced and for themselves.
This could be seen from the fact that most of Katori Shrine's Saigū were Kuchiyose-type or Divine-Harmony-type priestesses.
The last exorcist-type miko to approach the rank of Saigū had been Lady Suiko, the creator of the Shikon Jewel.
This was not due to any prejudice against exorcist mikos—they were the unsung heroes of their era, bearing burdens and making sacrifices beyond ordinary comprehension.
However, to lead an organization, stability and sustained growth mattered most.
Moreover, Suiko's fate served as a reminder: even the most powerful exorcist miko could fall at any moment. Thus, over time, such priestesses gradually faded from the core of shrine leadership.
"So once Lady Miko dons the celestial crown, she will become the first exorcist miko in Katori Shrine to hold such a high rank in generations."
As Kikyo spoke, she swiftly drew her bow—fwish!—
A purifying arrow shot through the air, piercing the nearby forest and striking down a lurking insect-like yōkai, instantly cleansing it.
Throughout their journey, the young miko demonstrated extraordinary talent and skill.
Common lesser yōkai stood no chance against her. Her powerful spiritual energy granted her keen perception—she could sense malicious intent and demonic auras from great distances.
Her purifying arrows gave her formidable combat power, and in battle, she maintained composure, swiftly analyzing her opponent's movements and intentions. Her ability to discern schemes and react precisely made her a dangerous opponent.
During the entire journey, Satsuki scarcely needed to intervene; the gifted miko handled every threat with ease.
"Lady Miko made the right choice sending you," Satsuki said approvingly after watching Kikyo eliminate dozens of yōkai without breaking a sweat. "Among all the exorcist mikos I've encountered, your potential rivals even the shrine maidens of Yasaka Shrine."
"Compared to those senior priestesses, I still have a long way to go," Kikyo replied humbly.
Kikyo lowered her bow and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead to behind her ear—a casual motion that carried a striking, effortless grace.
At that moment, a familiar voice sounded from behind them.
"—Yo, isn't this the shrine maiden we met at the city gates?"
Turning around, Satsuki saw a group of familiar figures—the Seven-Man Squad.
At their head stood Bankotsu, wielding his massive halberd, the Banryū. Behind him were the other six members—though one face was new, clearly a replacement for the short one Satsuki had slain before.
Beside her, Kikyo glanced toward Satsuki. "They don't have any demonic aura… are they human?"
"To be precise," Satsuki replied coolly, "they're a band of mercenaries who take pleasure in killing."
"Hah! You're one to talk, shrine maiden in black," Bankotsu sneered, his tone laced with irritation. "I still remember the sight of Mukotsu's corpse—split clean in two by your blade."
"That's right!" shouted Renkotsu, his head wrapped in a bandanna and a cannon slung across his shoulder. "You're the real monster here—killing ordinary men without mercy!"
"Eh…?"
Kikyo turned to Satsuki, a trace of shock in her eyes. In her understanding, a shrine maiden must never harm ordinary humans—no matter whether they were good or evil.
This young and pure miko, perhaps shaped by her upbringing and ideals, had already begun to suppress her own individuality—attempting to transform herself into a vessel purely for the hopes of others.
It was the fate of many mikos in this era—'The world wounds me, and I answer with song.'
But Satsuki was not one of them.
To her, nothing in this world was more important than the self. Everything she perceived was merely the form of phenomena—nothing more.
She cared little for others' judgment, and even less for sacrificing herself to their ideals.
Drawing a folding fan from her sleeve, Satsuki gazed calmly toward the Seven-Man Squad.
The instant her Tenseigan eyes fell upon them, the mercenaries froze as though their throats had been seized—every word they meant to speak was strangled before it could escape.
"Humans never cherish what they possess by nature," Satsuki said softly. "I don't care whether you came here by your own will or under someone else's orders. But since you've come before me, I assume you're prepared to die here."
Her eyes lifted toward the sky as she spoke the final words: "Sesshōmaru—these ones are yours."