Night at Chitanda's Residence,
Kikyo knelt on a pristine white cushion, her dark eyes closed, her body poised in a meditative state.
She was practicing pranayama, focusing on her breathing and the flow of energy through her body. The courtyard outside was silent, shadows stretching long under the moonlight.
Suddenly, Kikyo's eyes snapped open.
"Is it really here?" she whispered, her voice low and taut with anticipation.
Her fingers wrapped around the bow and arrow that had been resting beside her.
Rising smoothly, she pushed open the sliding gate and stepped into the courtyard, her senses scanning every corner.
She had spent the entire night here, waiting for the mysterious presence that she sensed might come to Chitanda Eru's home.
And, as she expected, it did.
"Miss Kikyo, what's the matter?"
At that moment, Chitanda Eru stepped out from the house, holding a bowl of fruit in both hands.
Confusion creased her delicate face as she took a cautious step closer.
Kikyo didn't answer.
Her eyes glimmered faintly in the moonlight, filled with an almost predatory intensity.
Stepping back a few strides, she raised her voice sharply.
"Demon! Why are you still pretending to be here?!"
Eru froze, her eyes wide with shock.
"No, no, Miss Kikyo, I'm only here to deliver fruit," she stammered, her tone fraught with panic.
Her hands shook slightly, holding the bowl protectively, as though trying to convince the archer of her innocence.
But Kikyo's expression remained cold.
Without a word, she drew an arrow from her quiver, nocked it swiftly, and aimed at Eru.
"What's happening?"
A voice called anxiously from the house. Chitanda Tadayo, Eru's father, rushed into the courtyard, followed by his wife.
"Miss Kikyo, stop!" Tadayo shouted, alarmed at the arrow poised to strike his daughter.
He instinctively spread his arms to shield her.
Behind Kikyo, Eru's fake smile twisted unnaturally.
It was no longer the warm, gentle face of the girl they knew.
"Step aside, Mr. Chitanda," Kikyo's voice was ice-cold as she adjusted her aim.
"This is not your daughter," she said firmly.
"What?" Tadayo's heart lurched as he turned to face Eru, disbelief in his eyes.
"Otousan, don't believe her! I'm the real Eru! This Kikyo must be lying!" the impostor cried out, attempting to mimic the girl's familiar voice.
Tadayo's chest tightened at the sight of her—
Though the face and clothes were identical, the temperament, the tone—something was off.
He instinctively pulled his wife aside, squinting at the archer.
"Otousan!" the impostor Eru shrieked as Kikyo readied another arrow.
Both Tadayo's and his wife knew in their hearts: something was gravely wrong.
The subtle aura, the unnatural confidence in her movements—they were not their daughter's.
"Oh-ho-ho-ho," the impostor suddenly laughed, a sound that sent chills down the spine. The middle-aged, husky timbre replaced the familiar young voice entirely.
"I didn't expect to be seen through by a mere human! My disguise… is clearly deteriorating. I only meant to toy with you—it was supposed to be entertaining~."
"Devil!" Kikyo's hand tightened around the bow.
She whispered a spell, and the arrow crackled with concentrated energy.
With a sharp whistling sound, the arrow struck the impostor Eru squarely in the chest.
The arrow pierce through its body.
The Chitanda's flinched, instinctively covering their eyes, hearts constricting painfully.
Even though they knew this was not their daughter, the sight of their daughter being pierced caused unbearable anguish and sadness to them.
Yet, the demon's face remained unnervingly calm...No—it was grinning wickedly, as if it was enjoying it.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the courtyard.
Countless small black spheres floated into the air, spreading ominously around the space.
Even the ordinary humans could barely make out the tiny, shadowy minions contained within.
Kikyo's gaze hardened.
"What have you done to Chitanda Eru?" she demanded, her voice cutting like steel.
The demon tilted its head, an evil smile curling its lips.
"Naturally, I've killed her. Such vitality is… delicious. If I don't consume it, how else would I sustain myself for the New Year festivities?"
"You!!" Kikyo's face darkened with rage.
Tadayo's and his wife felt their hearts plummet, a wave of grief and disbelief washing over them — They sank to the ground, chanting under their breath, desperately trying to grasp the reality before them.
"My daughter… how is this possible?" Tadayo's whispered hoarsely.
"Die, demon!" Kikyo shouted, releasing arrow after arrow, her magical energy wrapping around each projectile.
The arrows pierced and shattered, but the demon's resilience was staggering. Limbs regenerated, flesh reformed, the assault barely slowing it down.
"Pathetic," the demon hissed, voice emanating from a grotesque, dog-like face atop a massive, three-meter frame draped in black robes.
"Humans are weak, even your strongest warriors are laughable," it sneered.
Kikyo froze.
The sheer intensity of this magic—the destructive power—was unlike anything she had ever encountered.
Suddenly, a massive, almost blinding light descended from the sky, forming an enormous protective barrier over the courtyard. Both Kikyo and the demon paused.
"What is… this?" Kikyo muttered, eyes wide.
The barrier shimmered as a calm, confident male voice rang out:
"Really ugly, aren't you, demon?"
The two turned to see Satoru Gojo stepping into view, holding the unconscious Chitanda Eru in his arms.
Even with her limp form, his grip was careful and gently.
"I wanted to see this for myself," Gojo said softly.
As, He gently placed Eru on the ground and turned to face the demon, his expression calm, almost serene.
"You again… humans are truly pathetic?" he asked, voice steady, betraying neither fear nor urgency.
Suddenly—
The demon froze, caught off guard by the sudden arrival of a new, overwhelmingly powerful force.
Kikyo's eyes flickered with relief, knowing that the reinforcements had arrived in time.