Me, a Savior and a Warrior Princess!? But I'm just a Graduate Student!

"IT'S ACTUALLY REAL! MIYAMURA-SAMA WAS RIGHT - I - !"

Kikyo blurted out as she sat there in the comfortable, lush field as she looked around. The land was just as Kazuo had described it: beautiful and natural, with a shining castle that was whiter than the moon, and in an instantly recognizable Japanese architectural style, with seemingly endlessly amounts of naturally yet still perfectly arranged cherry blossom trees all around! Kikyo couldn't believe it, but she knew that it was true and that it was real, all of it. All the same, she felt conflicted - the Graduate Student and Museum Studies Intern side of her being awestruck and joyful, while the other, simply human side of her, was really quite shocked and nervous!

"Oh my gosh - I should figure out how to find my way back home....."

Kikyo said to herself, being so caught up in taking in her surroundings, and the fact that what had been a normal day of classes and then her internship, had turned into a literally and figuratively colorful isekai adventure - that she didn't notice that the divine sword that Saotome had placed into her statue was now next to Kikyo, partly blending in with the cherry blossom petals on the ground, and the small, circular pyrite talisman with the carved oval pink diamond in the center, was being held loosely in her right hand!

"And I need to write this down for academic record - now where's my notebook......?"

Kikyo said to herself as she sighed, before she absent-mindedly put her right hand on her forehead in a bid to try and calm calm down, still too distracted to notice the talisman - which seamlessly fused and disappeared into her head, leaving only the small, carved and oval-shaped pink diamond showing in the center of her forehead. 

"WHAT HAPPENED!? OH NO - THE TALISMAN!"

Kikyo blurted out once more as she reached up to her forehead after feeling that sensation - feeling the pink diamond, before she started to blush and breathe hard, as she could feel more changes taking place all over her - from her hair to her clothes! As she looked around in desperation - she saw the divine sword and her notebook, both of which she gathered swiftly,, before she then ran to where she could see a small stream nearby! Kikyo figured that because her makeup mirror was with her belongings back in the museum's locker room that the interns and permanent staff shared - she wanted to see what was happening to her as soon as she could, and in any way that she could! 

A few seconds later, Kikyo was kneeling over the crystal clear stream, and she looked at her reflection with a combination of shock and reverence!

"NO, NO, NO, NO - THIS CAN'T BE - HOW!?"

Kikyo blurted out once more, which forced her to have to take a heavy breath, and accept what she saw in her reflection as shown in the stream: her school uniform had changed into what appeared to be a just above the thigh length pink and white kimono that had a cherry blossom and crane pattern on it, her hair had lengthened into a high and impressive, curvy pink ponytail that was held sedately by a crossed, white stick style kanzashi that seemed to be as durable as it was simple in its design, along with white thigh high stockings which seemed to be equally durable, and which also had lightweight, comfortable rubber soles for the undersides of her feet. 

Kikyo then sighed, gently feeling the small, carved, oval-shaped pink diamond that was in her forehead as she commuted to gaze at her reflection in the stream, gradually forcing herself to accept that this was really happening without any fear or doubt. Kikyo then turned her attention to the divine sword, feeling the wide, ornately etched side of its blade, and how the non-slashing side was relatively straight, while the more lethal side of he blade had several curves and holes. 

What shocked Kikyo the most as she stood up in a more concentrated state with the divine sword in her right hand - there being no real hand guard, just some sort of woven handle that was as solid as the metal of the blade itself, but the material of the former was unknown to her - was that the sword was exceptionally lightweight, and yer she was sure that that only had something to do with her henshin transformation. She then looked at her left hand, which was securely clutching her notebook, which elicited a smile from her. At least she carried something on her  from the other world that was both personal and familiar!

"Well - I may as well go to the castle, as I'm sure that I know what this means."

Kikyo said to herself, before she nodded and made her way there. The walk was really quite pleasant in her view, the lush meadow that was accented by fallen cherry made her feel comfortable both physically and aesthetically. The one thought that was pervasive however, was that she really and truly was Saotome's chosen successor, her champion, the next Warrior Princess - she had to be, as why else would this henshin transformation have taken place? Those were Kikyo's thoughts on the matter, and though the legend was rather vague regarding how one would be chosen to succeed Saotome - it was clear that this was no accident or coincidence. 

"OPEN THE GATES! THE WARRIOR PRINCESS HAS ARRIVED! HAIL AMATERASU, HAIL PRINCESS SAOTOME - OUR SAVIOR IS HERE!"

One of the guards along the main wall of the castle called out, as his peers moved quickly, all the while Kikyo stood in front of the main gates and/or doors to the castle. The doors themselves were shining, stained cheery wood, and vertically rectangular in shape, with the two doors meeting in the middle to form a spectacularly carved image: it showed the deities, or Kami, as well as Amaterasu and her divine peers, with the two halves of the full body visage of Saotome dressed in the same manner, and standing in the same position with the divine sword that she had been in the museum! 

"Wait - really, it's ok, my name is Kikyo and I got transported here! You really don't have to greet me with so much praise! I just need to sit down, have some tea, and figure this out!"

Kikyo said as calmly as she could while raising her voice so that the guards could hear her as the massive main doors that they called "gates", were opened for her. The guards themselves were each dressed in a simple yukata - all of them being white with pink accents, and they each carried what were essentially much simpler versions of the sword that Kikyo now carried. The guards also didn't wear a top-knot style in their hair, instead each of them had wither simple ponytails ,or otherwise short hair - thus signifying their shared commoner status. 

"Nonsense! You're the one that the spiritual essence of Princess Saotome has chosen, just as she had wished, and just as the prophecy has foretold!" 

One of the guards said as responded to Kikyo once she was safely n the castle's grounds, befog leading his fellow guards in a reverent bow to her, which Kikyo returned out of respect, despite blushing heavily while doing so. 

"Quickly - you must meet the High Priestess who has been the caretaker and stewardess of the throne that is now yours! Her name is Tojo-sama, and she told us that this day would come!"

The guard said as he walked carefully with Kikyo, as Kikyo looked around, taking in the sights of what was apparently her new home, at least for a while. The courtyard of the castle was stunning - with white and stained cheery wood patterned walkways and beautifully-accented shōji screen entrances and exits, as well as pearl white sand gardens that were overseen by beautifully manicured cherry blossom trees. Kikyo couldn't help but be enamored by the sights, feeling as if she was in an ukiyo-e or nishiki-e woodblock print! As Kikyo looked up, could see a few pairs of shachihoko made of pink opal, one at each end of rheumatoid arthritis most prominent and symmetrically rooftops of the castle. Not even a moment later, Kikyo was stunned by a different sort of beauty!

"The prophecy has begun, it is a true honor to grace your presence! I am the High Priestess, Tojo Asuka. It is a pleasure to meet you, my Warrior Princess and Savior."

Asuka said as she bowed reverently to Kikyo as the guard who'd escorted her, departed for his post once more. Kikyo blinked, seeing that she was standing in front of what was the throne room that faced the central courtyard, as evidenced by the fact that the shōji screen behind Asuka was open. 

"It's lovely to meet you, Tojo-sama - "

Kikyo said as Asuka, who was a bit taller than Kikyo and dressed in attire similar to that of a Shrine Maiden, albeit with pink and white color accents on her formal attire, with light skin and stunning black, flowing hair - held her hand up gently. Kikyo didn't mind being silenced so politely, in large part because she felt a sincere, yuri attraction to Asuka!

"San is the proper honorific when you address me, for you are sama when I am in your revered presence."

Asuka said as Kikyo blushed and smiled deeply, and Asuka nodded and couldn't help but blush slightly as well, despite fighting to maintain her composure. Asuka then gently bowed and waved for Kikyo to walk with her - and it was obvious that they had much to discuss!