A few rays of light from the sun pierce through the thick clouds that are a remnant of the previous night, while the lush green grass is damp from the rain, causing a natural fragrance to fill the surroundings, relaxing the minds of those who can smell such a beautiful fragrance.
"New day, new adventure, right my mighty steed?"
Finding himself under the porch belonging to the ruined temple, Asahiko talks to the horse he borrowed from the bandits, at the same time gently stroking it with his right hand. Finished with that and seeing that the weather will not improve any further, she jumps on the horse, before lightly shaking the reins causing it to slowly start moving forward.
Christopher/Asahiko pov.
A few days passed as I moved towards the direction where I could feel the trace of my power, I even came to think that Kikyo had fed my hair to some wild animal and made it run off in a random direction, though now that mystery would be revealed thanks to me being a short distance away from the place.
"No, it's probably because with Inuyasha and his group we got quite far away."
Thinking of a logical explanation just like whenever I encounter any problem, I stroked my chin and with my free left hand increased the force on the horse's rein, getting my faithful steed to slightly increase its running speed.
I was moving along at a moderate speed for a few minutes, before some people entered my field of vision. No, these people were clearly trained soldiers, although the state of their equipment was deplorable, their physique as well with some having missing limbs and others slightly injured.
"Well, it's not my problem if they're deserters or something. Oh, I almost forgot, have you guys seen or heard anything strange about the surroundings?"
Stopping my horse just as I was about to overtake them, I use my great charisma called charm and elicit information from them about the surroundings to clear certain doubts that still linger in my mind.
"Nothing for your excellency to worry about, not that our little minds can know what you consider important though."
"As my companion has said, we can never know what your mind considers important, but some rumors say that in a nearby temple a priestess is healing people without distinction."
Listening to their responses full of praise and with a clear attempt at formal language, I begin to tie up loose ends, not that it is too difficult to know who this priestess they speak of is either.
"Okay, you can go now."
Waving for them to leave once and for all, I hit the horse with the reins to make it increase its speed and in a few minutes I can already see a well-preserved temple nearby.
The temple is right in the center of a small plot of land free of trees and weeds, almost as if it had been cleared with a purpose in mind. Its size was small, even smaller than the one I spent the night in the day I was attacked by that possessed statue. The tiles on its roof were a worn blue color due to the time they were at the mercy of the weather, its walls are white worn down by the passage of time and in the surroundings of the place there is the occasional injured person.
"Fiu~ What a field hospital that was set up here."
Trying to let out a whistle, though I'm still pretty bad even after all the practice I've done. Shaking my head and putting that aside, I took a closer look at the surroundings until I saw Kikyo attending to a specific person, not that I'm interested in the person, but this confirms that Kikyo is here. Yes, even managing to feel my energy from this direction and with the words of those defectors, I still had a little doubt.
Dismissing all those thoughts to some hidden place deep in my brain, I climbed down from my trusty steed and threw an illusion on himself before throwing one on me as well.
"Did you just look at me? Heh, I know you saw me. If you don't tell me, I'll have to make you~"
Just as I was about to stroke his face with the tip of one of my tails, to elicit a reaction from she no matter how slight, I stop dead in my tracks and rubbed my chin with my right hand. Entering a state of contemplation, my feet automatically carry me to the side of the temple, a place where I lean back and begin to put my thoughts in order.
"This is strange, my sense of humor doesn't have to be so humorous... Yes, it sounds strange I know. Rational moment."
Feeling the small breeze of wind caressing my face, plus the ground under my feet making me feel stable, I start mumbling under my breath, until I enter my serious and rational mode that dominates me when there is a problem.
"Well, you have to find the moment from which the problem went from being: Enthusiasm to calm nervousness to enthusiasm to be enthusiasm."
Finishing those muttered words, a number of memories appear in quick succession in my mind until I find the beginning of the problem. It was when I fought Inuyasha and my tail was injured. Yes, the problem is Inuyasha even when he is not around, he is a trouble caller I must say. On the other hand I came to that conclusion after noticing that despite going into serious mode after the battle, I didn't pay attention to it when we were lured by Naraku.
"Umm, now it all makes sense."
Nodding twice to myself, a slightly chilly breeze caresses my body, though I don't give it any importance and continue with my thoughts.
"So is it because of the energy seepage that made me more susceptible to mood swings? No, what the hell am I talking about, this is something even worse and it's been happening slowly... Instincts!"
"I had seen Shippo and his stupid pranks, who knew I would feel that urge to do them too."
Attempting to stroke my chin and noticing my numb arms, he let one of my tails do so, before speaking to myself again.
"But if it's the instincts of a fox demon, because I also have those thoughts of superiority and emotional detachment... Don't tell me it's something such that I'm royalty, understand your place trash!"
Holding back my laughter at the stupidity of my thoughts, I let out a sigh of self-criticism at how dark my future is and close my eyes to rest my eyes.