As Uchiha Kasage watched the children laughing, cheering, and jumping with joy, a soft, slender hand suddenly covered his palm. Their fingers slowly intertwined, holding each other tightly.
"Kasage… thank you."
He turned his head. Kikyo was watching the children, her eyes filled with a gentle warmth before she looked back at him.
From up close, Kasage could see her slightly trembling eyelashes. Her amber eyes were steady, sincere, and full of emotion.
"It was nothing," he said with a faint smile, his tone calm. "Just getting rid of the yōkai that took over your island. Nothing difficult."
"Even so… you saved them." Kikyo's fingers tightened slightly around his. Her voice softened, but her gaze grew more resolute. "I had to thank you. For them… and for myself."
Kasage studied her expression for a moment, then suddenly chuckled. He leaned closer, his voice dropping into a teasing whisper near her ear.
"If you really want to thank me… then how about giving me a child?"
"W-What…?"
Kikyo's face flushed instantly, like cherry blossoms in full bloom. Even her ears turned red.
Yet, to Kasage's surprise, she didn't pull away or refuse. Her eyes were flustered, uncertain… but not rejecting him.
Seeing this, his mood lifted immediately. Just as he was about to press further, a loud voice shattered the delicate moment.
"Kasage! Kikyo! Come here!"
Karan's excited shout echoed from the shore.
"There are so many crabs! And they're huge, they must taste amazing!"
Kikyo looked over and saw Karan standing in the shallow water, waving energetically while holding a large crab whose claws flailed wildly.
A small smile formed on Kikyo's lips. She glanced at Kasage, then gently released his hand.
"Asagi, let's go help Karan."
With that, she led the excited half-yōkai children toward the beach, leaving Kasage standing there, watching them go.
Night soon fell.
"Are the children asleep?"
Kasage sat on the terrace, listening to the soft sound of footsteps approaching. Without turning, he spoke quietly.
"Yes. They played all day, they were exhausted."
Kikyo walked over and sat beside him, naturally leaning against his shoulder.
Kasage wrapped an arm around her, pulling her gently into his embrace. A faint floral fragrance surrounded him, blending with the distant sound of waves, creating a calm and peaceful atmosphere.
"…Kasage," Kikyo spoke softly.
He turned to look at her.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but she gathered her courage.
"Once the Shikon Jewel is dealt with… I will no longer be a shrine maiden. Then we can…"
Her voice faded, almost lost beneath the sound of the sea.
Kasage smiled, his eyes filled with warmth and amusement. "Then you'll have to give me a whole family of Uchiha."
"Mmm…" Kikyo nodded softly. Though shy, she lifted her gaze and looked straight into his eyes, her expression serious.
Then, as if afraid of being misunderstood, she added quickly, "A shrine maiden must remain pure to preserve her spiritual power. If that balance is broken, her strength weakens…"
"No need to explain." Kasage gently interrupted her, his hand brushing through her hair. His voice was soft, steady. "I understand."
"I'll wait. Until the day we truly become husband and wife."
He knew well that a shrine maiden's spiritual power was tied closely to her heart. Love, attachment, and family could all affect it.
Even someone as powerful as Kikyo would not remain unchanged.
"Once everything is over… I will marry you as an ordinary woman," Kikyo said quietly, her eyes filled with tender affection.
Before her words fully faded, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gently kissed him.
Kasage responded without hesitation.
The moment deepened.
Perhaps it was her confession, or simply the quiet of the night, but his hands began to wander unconsciously, brushing along the fabric of her miko robes.
Kikyo's breathing grew uneven, her cheeks deepening in color.
Just as his hand began to move further, she finally pushed him away, her eyes filled with embarrassment.
"Kasage…"
"Sorry," he said with a soft laugh. "I got carried away."
"I'm going to sleep," she replied, shooting him a small glare before turning away.
But before she could leave, he caught her wrist gently.
"Ah—!"
She lost her balance and fell back into his arms.
"I won't do anything," Kasage said, holding her carefully. "I promise."
Kikyo struggled briefly, then, realizing she couldn't escape, gave him a small, helpless glare before settling down quietly in his embrace.
They sat together in silence for a while.
Then Kikyo spoke again, her voice softer, touched with apology.
"I'm sorry, I…"
"You don't need to apologize," Kasage interrupted gently. "I was the one being impatient."
He brushed lightly against her sleeve and smiled. "Besides… I told you before. I like shrine maidens."
Kikyo smiled faintly, but then her expression shifted slightly, a teasing glint appearing in her eyes.
"Really? Then what about that 'imposter' before?"
"And at the shrine… you often made me wear samurai armor. Do you like female warriors too?"
Kasage paused for a moment, then laughed softly. He leaned in, rubbing his cheek lightly against hers.
"I can't help it. You look good in anything. I like all of it."
Kikyo didn't respond immediately, but the warmth in her eyes deepened, her smile soft and genuine.
After a moment, she asked curiously, "Then… when will you turn that imposter's body into a puppet?"
"Let's do it now," Kasage said after a brief thought, standing up. "There's nothing else to do anyway."
He raised his hand slightly.
"Naraka Path."
Purple flames flared across the ground. From within them, the massive head of the King of Hell slowly emerged, its enormous mouth opening wide.
From within, the body of Kikyo's clone was pushed out.
"Oh, right," Kasage said suddenly, as if remembering something.
"Kikyo, there's someone I want you to meet."
As soon as he spoke, a sphere of emerald light floated out from the King of Hell's mouth, hovering before them.
The moment it appeared, the soul spoke anxiously.
"Where is this? What happened to the Four Shitō Gods?"
"This is the central village of Hōraijima," Kasage replied calmly. "The Four Shitō Gods are gone. Their souls were devoured by the spirits of the island."
Kikyo observed the glowing orb carefully. She could immediately tell it was a soul, similar to the firefly spirits they had seen before.
"Kasage… who is she?" she asked softly.
"She's the priestess the children mentioned," Kasage explained. "Her soul was sealed within the Cauldron of Resonance. She gave me the artifact used to seal the Four Shitō Gods. After that, I brought her out as well."
He turned toward the soul, then back to Kikyo.
"This is Kikyo…"
He paused briefly, recalling what she had said earlier.
"…my fiancée."
Kikyo's lips pressed together slightly, her cheeks flushing once more.
She didn't deny it.
Instead, a quiet, unmistakable smile appeared in her eyes.