Her words were the last thing heard in the room, it was a complicated question. She doesn't need a fake "I'm sorry" that conveys nothing more than feigned sympathy. Much less an "It's okay" when she doesn't know how she feels about the whole thing either.
"Anything she says now will be false and without depth. I think the only person who can judge you is yourself."
I didn't shy away from her stare, even when her brow started to furrow at my words, that was what I believed and what I thought.
"Mmm... Good night."
"Of course, Kikyo. I hope you have it."
Finishing the staring match, she got up from the zabuton she sat on and said goodnight before going to the futon to sleep.
I return the words, as a civilized person that I am, even more so now that I've gotten used to sleeping on the hard floor.
...Kikyo pov….
Waking up in the middle of the night, sensing the closeness of the shinidamachū, I open my eyes before lifting my whole body from the futon and start moving towards the door.
On my way, I rather carefully avoided the seven presences moving around the room, just like every other night.
Now with more souls and with a part of my power recovered, I can see them clearly despite their transformation, although it is only possible in the moments of being careless or too surprised.
They are seven golden-colored furry tails and a pair of ears that wiggle atop his head according to his emotions. If I couldn't tell the difference in the quality of energy he gives off, I would have considered him a hanyō solely because of his appearance.
"Shall we go again?"
"Yes, this will be the last time."
It was time to leave this village and search for Inuyasha to finish my purpose on this earth. I couldn't keep staying here, going through the days as if I was alive... I can't, I don't deserve to live happily.....
Shaking my head to clear it of those thoughts, I gave her one last look and advanced towards the sliding door, to step out into the hallway next to the spirit.
"Last one, you plan to leave without warning."
The spirit's question had no hint of judgment, it was merely a question you would ask an acquaintance without any imposed pressure.
As I pondered his words, we arrived at the courtyard outside the house and just at that moment, from the sky the shikigamis began to arrive along with the souls.
"Yes, despite the last few days... we are complete strangers to each other."
He doesn't know me and I don't know him, even with the help of the last few days... No, I must go and end Inuyasha's life for his betrayal, so I will be happy.
All the conflicts in my mind were eradicated, as soon as I thought all this was to end Inuyasha, because it is... Right? Ignoring my doubts about my actions, I start absorbing the soul fragments brought by the shinidamachū one by one.
"Then I take my leave Miss Kikyo and hope to see you soon."
Watching the spirit dematerialize, I stand still for a few moments, then start walking towards the exit of the village, only surrounded by the complete darkness of the night.
*Touch* *Touch* *Touch* *Touch*
My steps were heavy, I could notice it thanks to the noise generated by walking on the wood of the bridge, making me notice that with each passing second I got closer to the exit of this village.
A place where I acted like something I'm not, where once again the person called Kikyo existed... Heh, all a facade to avoid overthinking.
"Why are you following me?"
It was impossible for me to generate noises while walking, my sandals were flat and my steps were controlled to the detail, then there was only one option.
Turning around and looking back, I encountered a tall, blond haired young man wearing a faded black yukata with a sword at his waist.
"I'm not following you, you just happen to be going in the same direction as me."
Seeing that my expressionless face doesn't make him stop his following, I turn around and continue walking, managing to enter the periphery of the surrounding forest in a few minutes.
"So how long will I walk in the direction you're headed?"
I seemed to feel a disturbance in the energy from behind me, most likely if I turn around now I will manage to see it in its other form, though I ignore it completely in anticipation of its answer.
"Interesting question... Probably until I get bored or maybe forever, who knows... I'm very fickle."
The voice normally full of vivacity that characterizes him from my point of view, took a turn of uncertainty and I could even feel unawareness for the future... It was all so human.
"As you wish, most likely this will be over soon."
My journey will end soon with the death of me or Inuyasha, but in the meantime I'll let him do whatever he wants.
"Well then, which way is our destination?"
The liveliness returned to his words, though it felt a bit forced. But who was I to point that out?
"In telling you about my current situation, I've thought everything through more calmly and found minor incongruities in the situation."
Anger had blinded my thoughts during the last time, there are too many things that don't add up. Because Kaede was with them? How did pearls come back into existence? That reincarnation, how was it that she appeared?
"So?"
"I'm going to go visit my younger sister Kaede.""
Everything must have an answer, which I will get and only then will I act... I don't intend to be guided by this filthy form.
Fixing my decadent state of mind, even if it is merely a facade and may collapse again at any instant, I begin to walk guided by the stars.