The white light dispersed.
Kibōmaru's figure staggered backward.
All that remained of his left shoulder was a patch of charred black, the arm bone snapped, flesh and blood a mangled ruin—even the bone had been seared to ash by the spiritual power of that arrow.
Indeed, had he not, in that hair's-breadth instant just now, still managed to shift his own position in time and dodge as best he could—
this single arrow might well have annihilated him body and soul, killing him once again.
"Shrine maiden..."
In that moment, Kibōmaru's voice was low and hoarse, carrying shock and fury.
The power of that arrow was simply too great; even an existence like himself could not withstand it at all.
Kikyō's Sacred Arrow truly lived up to its name.
So long as it struck, even a great yōkai would suffer for it.
The problem was that, until now, she had never been able to hit him.
Kibōmaru's speed was too fast; her arrows could not catch up to his shadow.
In a certain sense, an existence like Kibōmaru, who relied chiefly on speed, was precisely the bane of Kikyō; though Kikyō would not be defeated, she found it very hard to drive him back effectively, and could only maintain a stalemate.
But now things were different.
Kōbe Hikaru, using the power of that land, had held him fast.
Slowing his speed, making him... reveal an opening.
"Nicely coordinated."
Kibōmaru panted in a low voice.
The aged evil oni's gaze fixed upon them; though gravely wounded, the fury on his face instead gradually faded.
In its place came wariness.
And more than that—regard.
"A mere oni warrior, and a single human shrine maiden..."
he murmured. "And yet you could press me to such a point."
Kōbe Hikaru, this minor yōkai, went without saying; even though he seemed to have crushed those four high-tier yōkai, even though his strength was enough to rival a true yōkai chieftain, Kibōmaru still did not hold him in any regard.
Though he was not a true great yōkai, he who possessed twelve mutations and relied chiefly on the extreme Speed Mutation was by no means something those so-called high-tier yōkai of at most seven mutations could compare to—in speed, he was more than enough to rival a true great yōkai.
Being able to crush those high-tier yōkai chieftains did not mean one could threaten him.
And as for Kikyō, though Kibōmaru regarded her, he had not in truth taken her to heart either.
Powerful human mages—he had seen far, far too many of them.
As mighty as Minamoto no Yorimitsu of those years.
As mighty as Minamoto no Yoshitsune of days past.
Even as mighty as Midoriko of old.
These figures, the finest among humankind, had slain countless demons, and even many great yōkai; yet so long as a fleeting opening was seized, they too could be gravely wounded—could even die.
It was only that the present situation had truly exceeded his expectations.
The shrine maiden before him.
And... the oni warrior.
Kōbe Hikaru did not respond.
He merely stood there, the hand gripping Muramasa trembling faintly.
He looked perfectly at ease.
But only he himself knew how much that bout just now had drained from him.
Although this land was supporting him, the power flowing in without end, his body's capacity to bear it also had a limit.
The control of all that thunder, poison mist, and undead corpses—every one of them was draining his yōkai power dry.
He was already nearing his limit.
"You're forcing yourself on."
Kibōmaru saw through it: "Your yōkai power has already bottomed out, hasn't it?"
Kōbe Hikaru still did not answer.
But his silence itself was the answer.
"If I launch one more round of attacks—"
Kibōmaru's gaze turned cold and grim.
"you surely won't be able to hold out."
He raised that faint-blue longsword.
Though his left arm was already severed, he still had his right hand.
Though his speed had dropped due to the drain, it was still far faster than that of an ordinary yōkai.
Just one more Bladework · Boundless—
"Do you want to give it a try?"
Kikyō's voice came from the distance.
Her bowstring was drawn full once more, a second Sacred Arrow already gathering upon the string.
Kibōmaru's movements halted.
He looked at that figure in white robe and red hakama, looked at that arrow whose tip flickered with dazzling white light.
He had already tasted the power of that earlier arrow.
If he took another arrow...
Even if he could kill Kōbe Hikaru, he himself would likely be gravely wounded—might even, truly, die once more right here.
Was it worth it?
To fight to mutual ruin over a single Shikon Jewel, against two whelps who had not yet even come into their own?
No—it would be he who died, and they who lived.
The answer was self-evident.
Silence reigned for an instant.
Then, all at once, Kibōmaru sheathed his blade.
"Today's affair—count yourselves lucky."
His voice recovered that aged, cold and sinister flavor: "But don't celebrate too soon."
"You've only wounded one of my arms, nothing more."
"Next time——"
His figure began to fade, as if melting into the night.
"it won't be so simple."
As the words fell.
That aged figure vanished completely.
Together with the black mist that pervaded the surroundings, that ink-wash-like Reality Marble named Rashōmon all dissipated with his departure.
The battle was over.
Neither Kikyō nor Kōbe Hikaru gave chase.
They could not catch him.
And there was no rush, either.
Kōbe Hikaru only replied: "Next time, it may not be you who comes looking for me."
Since matters had already been stirred up.
Kyoto, Hagoromo-Gitsune—he would in all likelihood go and deal with them.
He would not stay forever in this same spot, waiting for the other side to come to his door.
He need only wait until his strength was sufficient.
Dōjigiri'... it was not as though he could never have one of his own either!
…
Afterward, the moonlight spilled down once more.
And after that, the region that had been shrouded by Kibōmaru's domain at last returned to normal.
Those motionless yōkai corpses began to dissolve into black smoke, the congealed air flowed anew, and the grass and trees once again swayed gently in the breeze.
Kōbe Hikaru still stood where he was.
But his body had already begun to sway.
His bone armor shattered, his blood-mist dispersed.
That crimson oni mask had also cracked, revealing the pale face beneath.
"I can't hold on any longer..."
he murmured.
No sooner had the words left him than his legs gave way, and his whole body toppled backward.
A warm body caught him.
It was Kikyō.
The shrine maiden in white robe and red hakama had, at some unnoticed moment, already come to his side, reaching out a hand to steady him.
"You've worked hard."
Her voice was very soft—so soft it was as though she feared to disturb something.
Kōbe Hikaru leaned into her embrace, able to feel the maiden's warmth coming through her clothes.
Very warm.
And very... soft.
"Your wound——"
Kikyō lowered her head to look at the wound on his chest, her brow knitting slightly.
It had been left by Kibōmaru's blade; though not deep, the dense yōkai aura kept the wound from healing for a long while.
"It's nothing."
Kōbe Hikaru's voice was somewhat weak: "I'll be fine after a little rest."
Kikyō said nothing.
She merely steadied him a little more firmly, letting his head rest upon her shoulder.
The night wind brushed past, lifting her black hair to sweep gently across Kōbe Hikaru's cheek.
That hair was very soft and smooth, carrying some faint fragrance.
Like wildflowers in the mountains.
And like morning dew.
"You..."
Kikyō's voice suddenly rose.
"Mm?"
"Why did you do this?"
Kōbe Hikaru tilted his head slightly, looking toward her profile.
Beneath the moonlight, that cool, aloof face wore a rare expression.
Not her usual composed indifference.
Nor the resolve of battle.
But rather—something softer.
"You didn't have to come back."
Kikyō said.
"Kibōmaru's target was the Shikon Jewel, not you."
"You only had to leave this region, and he wouldn't have pursued you."
"But you came back anyway."
"And in that way that cost you so dearly..."
Her voice paused.
"Why?"
Kōbe Hikaru was silent for a moment.
Then he smiled.
That smile looked somewhat forced upon his pale face, yet it also carried an unspeakable meaning.
"I said it before."
he said.
"I won't abandon you to face things alone."
Kikyō's body stiffened slightly.
These words—of course she remembered them.
Back at the demon-slaying village, on that interrupted night, he had once spoken these very words.
And now, he had truly made good on them.
Before that old oni, he had fought with all his might.
Not for the Shikon Jewel.
Nor for any grand cause.
Only—
so that she would not have to face it all alone.
Kikyō lowered her head.
Her black hair fell down, hiding her expression.
But Kōbe Hikaru could feel the arm supporting him tighten a little.
"Fool."
she said softly.
Her voice was very soft, yet it carried a slight tremor.
"You... fool."
Kōbe Hikaru did not answer.
He merely closed his eyes, savoring that warmth.
[Shikon Jewel — Naohi: favourability +2]
[Current favourability: 60 (Trust)]
[She's worried about you—but not only worried.]
The prompt on the panel flashed past.
Kōbe Hikaru saw it, but did not pay it much mind.
Because right now—
he only wanted to rest a while.
Just like this, leaning against her shoulder.
Savoring that reassuring warmth.
…
The barrier of Kaede Village remained intact.
The villagers were safe and sound within their dreams.
Kaede lay sprawled on the threshold of the Shrine, waiting for her sister to return.
She did not know what had just happened.
She had only faintly heard the distant thunder and seen the flashes of light.
Then——
Two figures came walking from afar.
One in white robe and red hakama, supporting another in gray robes with pale hair.
"Sister!"
Kaede sprang up.
"And the handsome big brother too!"
She rushed over and threw herself headlong into Kikyō's arms.
"Are you two all right? What happened to big brother? Is he hurt?"
"It's nothing."
Kikyō's voice recovered its usual cool composure.
"He's just too tired and needs to rest."
"?!"
Kaede looked at Kōbe Hikaru, held up by Kikyō, her eyes full of worry.
That pale big brother had his eyes closed now, a weary look upon his face.
But the corners of his mouth——
seemed to be turning up ever so slightly?
"Sister."
Kaede suddenly spoke.
"Mm?"
"Your face is red."
Kikyō's steps paused.
"...Nonsense."
She quickened her pace, supporting Kōbe Hikaru as she walked into the Shrine.
Behind her, Kaede tilted her head.
"It clearly was red, though...?"
She certainly couldn't have seen it wrong.
____
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