*knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock*
The sound of the door being hit continuously or maybe the wood of its frame being hit, makes me open my eyes and stare at the floor for a few seconds.
Yes, just like always in the last few days, I'm sleeping on the floor and to be more precise, I'm sleeping on my stomach.
*Hit* *Hit* *Hit* *Hit* *Hit*
"I'm coming! Might as well open up... Yeah, better ignore me!"
Putting my tails away as I crawl on the floor for a few seconds, I stand up before I start rubbing my eyes and in passing give a quick glance around the room as I speak.
Saya is hovering in the corner as she watches Fang misty and Kikyo was combing her hair, though she stops when she hears my words, but stops again when she sees me heading towards the door.
"What 's wrong?"
Opening a small crack in the sliding door, he looks towards the person outside it.
It is a young lady with a slim build and short black hair, even if I stir my memories of yesterday, I seem to know her. Of course! She is the one who brought me to this room the night before.
"The Lord requests your presence along with your companion in the dining room. I will stay out here until your preparation so that I may serve as your guide."
God, I should have been more specific with my orders the other day, so these unforeseen events would not happen. Not giving this minor matter any importance, he placed a polite smile and seat towards the young woman before closing the door.
"Saya enter the sword, Kikyo are you ready yet?"
Entering the room again, he pointed towards the sword as I told Saya to get into it and pick it up to place it on my waist.
Finishing that, she spoke to Kikyo, who was finishing tying her hair with her white headband, then nodding in my direction before walking towards the door.
...20 minutes later…
"I will not make a big speech for the occasion. The die is cast and in the evening we will find out about the outcome."
Speaking with a deep voice and determined look, the feudal lord says a few words before proceeding to strike his hands.
Hearing the signal given by the feudal lord, from outside the main door, multiple ladies begin to enter to serve the dishes.
"This place is emptier than the day before. A few were already waiting for them. But were there really that many hustlers?"
Looking around the surroundings as I open my trusty fan and begin to gently take a breath of air, I notice that a large number of tables are empty, though no one seems to mind this situation.
"It would be strange if there weren't one or two of those hustlers, though it's likely that the reduction is also due to those who have retired after the first night."
Giving a more logical explanation than my radical thoughts, Kikyo withdraws her gaze from my direction before scanning the surroundings and having confirmed something, simply guiding her eyes to the plate on her side.
"Yum, yum, yum, glup. First mine and then I'll take care of yours."
Eating at a speed that could simply be translated as devouring, I reached out my arm towards Kikyo's plate and as she dragged it to my side, she left an illusion in its place.
"The same thing happened yesterday, but how come you don't drop anything?"
Hearing her serious voice and seeing her brown eyes showing no wave in them, for a few seconds I thought a serious topic was coming, though then I remembered that she almost always has that expression.
"The one who taught me this way of eating was my father's family - no matter the speed, only elegance and finesse! Or something like that. I still have nightmares about the eight pieces of silverware, three glasses, the transitions of the plates... Hehehehehehehehe."
Swallowing what I still had in my mouth and leaving the chopsticks on the bowl, I spoke without much thought. But then comes the traumas, which I have quite a few if it must be said.
"Bad family relationships?"
"Umm... Not really. Just that it wasn't an ordinary childhood, but one filled with control and obligations."
Answering naturally, as I have never tried to keep anything a secret, I notice the strangeness on Kikyo's face. Sure, I'm a demon now.
"Not unlike the life of the human elites."
"What can I tell you, noble blood runs through these veins."
It's partly true, as my family was quite privileged, so you can't say it's false.
"Now I understand where the haughtiness you let on sometimes comes from"
Coughing twice, I notice it's not working, so I grab the glass of water and gulp it down.
"Don't ever let go of your performance so suddenly again, you almost killed me with surprise. Who would believe it, the first demon killed by a grain of rice."
"What a pity, it would have been the easiest battle of my life. Plus that would have finally freed me from..."
Surprisingly Kikyo has a rather provocative personality, even a bit cynical, though it is well hidden under her mask.
Of course, I had also noticed where her words were going to end, but seeing her brief discomfort, I fixed any bad feelings."
"Relax, even if I had died, you wouldn't have been free of me. Clouded Fang, the sword I carry, can open a door between this world and hell thus bringing me back."
"Is that so?"
"I don't intend to drag anyone to hell, besides I've never tried it and who knows the consequences?"
Going into defensive mode as I remember who I'm talking to, literally a woman with a vendetta and a broken heart, I give her a warning look to stay away.
Thus with our unproductive talk, time was passing and the feudal lord reappeared.
"Seeing that everyone has finished eating, I will not occupy you here any longer. You may retire and do what is necessary for the night to come."
With his permission, we all begin to clear the dining room and leave to do our business.
...Some time later…
After leaving the living room half stunned and going back to the room for a few minutes, I forced myself out of that state before doing a few things that were extremely necessary. I'm talking about taking a bath, getting someone who can fix my clothes that were damaged yesterday and one or two other minor things.
"Saya where have you been going the last few days?"
Sitting on a zabuton looking at the horizon and enjoying the cold wind caressing my loose hair, I talk to Saya who floats beside me, while stroking his beard with his eyes fixed on the city below.
"While the confrontation against Inuyasha was happening, I reconnected with an old acquaintance named Myoga... Let's just say we caught up."
"Anything interesting to tell?"
Dark clouds begin to gather on the horizon, marking the possible onset of rain and the humid air only confirms it.
Taking his eyes off the clouds, he listened to Saya's reply, before looking towards the barely active city and asked her again merely for continuity in the conversation.
"Yes, you must have been able to sense that with each passing day Clouded Fang is more... uncontrollable. This is because with each yokai that Clouded Fang kills, the sword can release more power from the seal and that's where Totosai comes in."
"Consider me drawn."
Squeezing the hand with which he handled Clouded Fang, he watched as all traces of wounds had vanished. Yes, that sword is truly dangerous to use.
"Totosai is a great blacksmith, he was the one who forged Steel Fang and Sacred Fang for Inu no Taisho in addition to other artifacts."
"I see where your ideas are going. Something such as making another sword so we don't rely excessively on Clouded Fang and stop its uncontrolled growth, though. what materials do we need?"
Guiding my right hand to my chin, I think about his proposal. Clouded Fang, it still can't control my mind... yet, that's the point. It's a danger to let its power continue to increase. Putting my thoughts in order, I nod towards Saya and ask her about the materials needed which certainly won't be easy.
"One of your tails will be enough, don't look at me like that, are you currently even using a part of your power? Some might consider you to have great control, but I've noticed it these days... you can't use it.
It's so much that it collapses in on itself or maybe it's subconsciously controlled so as not to hurt you... never mind that and it may even serve as a way to force your power to flow."
Luckily he explained quickly, I was already thinking about testing if my tails can pass through the immaterial. Wiping those thoughts away, he stroked my chin before verbally admitting he has a good point there.
"Considering previous situations that have occurred, you certainly have a point. But we'll talk in more detail soon."
Turning away from looking towards Saya, I lifted my body from the zabuton and looked up at the sky which was completely overcast, leaving everything in complete darkness if not for the last rays of sunlight.