Chapter 38

As to not be rude to the Banished, Kaede and Yurika quickly went through the ritual of praying at the altar before they hurried down the secluded stairs. They moved with a sense of urgency, partially out of fear of another illusion and partially to get away from the odd atmosphere that they had felt in Inari’s chambers.

“I can’t believe I lied to a priestess! And so easily, at that!” Yurika cried out as their boots crunched along the rocks, once they had safely cleared the last torii. Her hands were squeezing the back and sides of her head, shocked at her own audacity.

“For someone who didn’t want to cut down a torii for fear of invoking the wrath of the unseen gods, you certainly were quick with deceiving that saishu.” The Hound’s voice was no longer a whisper, as the two girls started to make their trek down the mountain path.

“Shut it, dog-boy!” Yurika snarled as a small black aura, shaped like a dog’s face, appeared over Kaede’s shoulder.

Kaede was keeping a few steps apart from Yurika as they descended. “You were so shameless about it too, Yurika-chan…”

“Not you too, Kaede-chan!”

Kaede giggled, but didn’t close the gap, taking extra care to avoid being collateral if Yurika was suddenly struck down for blasphemy.

“In all seriousness, Yurika, that was rather quick thinking.” The dog-shaped shadow was turned towards the island girl. “...what made you decide to lie on the spot?”

“I don’t know… there was something off the entire time we were with Inari…”

Kaede nodded emphatically, her hands gripping the cloth tied around her torso firmly. “I agree. There was the way she snuck up on us and the way she seemed to look at the bells was very suspicious…” The oiran’s hands squeezed the cloth even tighter as her voice trailed off. She was mentally scolding herself for being suspicious of someone so devout as to give their life in service to a higher power.

The Hound’s proxy turned to face Kaede, as if reading the hesitation in her. “Lady Kaede, you are right to be skeptical. As Kagura-sama’s chosen avatar, there is the potential for harm to come your way, even from the unlikeliest of sources. Prudence is an admirable trait to both protect yourself and those around you.”

Yurika nodded, before looking forward as they approached where they had confronted The Hound hours earlier. The sun was slowly making its descent towards the horizon so the island girl flicked the side of the orb lantern hanging off of her hip, the crystal inside illuminating in a soft blue light.

“For once, I agree with dog-boy here. Beating yourself up for being cautious, especially with someone who gave you the chills, is not good.”

The Hound’s little shadow seemed to glare at Yurika, but he didn’t argue back with her.

Kaede remained silent as they navigated around the gouged earth and reached the first bend of the path, before she stopped, as if realizing something.

“Say, Yurika-chan…”

“Hm?”

“Back when we were trapped on the stairs, you were about to say something about how there was no such tragic, heroic figure as The Hound in the story? Not only that, you said before that there were multiple thieves in the version you knew? Why is Tsuiraku’s version so different from the mainland’s!?”

“...” The Hound remained silent, his proxy looking between the two girls

Yurika put a finger to her lips as she stared up at the sky in thought. “I can’t answer the why about their differences, especially without knowing the one you’re familiar with, but I can safely say, there is no heroic figure who tries to protect the Princess or the Divine Serpent. The princess’ sacrifice is because there is no help coming.”

Kaede balled her hands into fists hearing that. “I don’t like that… Not one bit!” She stepped towards Yurika, kicking some of the dirt and rocks up as she thrust a hand out to the side. “There is no hope in that version! No chance for anyone to come help the Princess or the Serpent! They did nothing wrong and yet, in your version, they are forced to be imprisoned for eternity!? I don’t like it!”

“Kaede-chan…” Yurika said, trying to soothe her friend but the shadowy little Hound shook its head before speaking.

“I said before that ‘stories tend to change with the tides’ but that is only partially true.” He was floating in front of Kaede. “That only applies when it is passed down between tellers, but what if someone, or something, forced the omission?”

Kaede’s eyes widened before grabbing the floating shadow with her hand and squeezing it. “You removed it from the story here!?”

“How did you reach that conclusion so easily!?”

“Why would you do such a thing?” The shadow was squirming to free itself from Kaede’s firm grasp and she reluctantly let it go. It floated behind Yurika’s shoulder to continue.

“...because it is more accurate this way...” Yurika and Kaede looked at the shadow with puzzled expressions. “...and your interpretation is precisely why, Lady Kaede.”

Kaede pointed at herself as Yurika narrowed her eyes at the shadow. “Explain it properly, dog-boy!”

The shadow retreated far enough away from both of their grasps. “If there is a tragic hero who needs to redeem himself, then naturally, you can assume that the story would ultimately have a happy ending.” The Hound’s proxy turned away, looking up at the dusk-colored sky as if recalling its home.

“...yet, I failed. I couldn’t protect Kagura-sama. I couldn’t stop the Serpent’s rage. I could only prevent her treasures from being stolen. I don’t deserve to be mentioned in a way that inspires hope because I failed to provide it.”

Kaede and Yurika looked at each other with melancholic eyes before the shuffling of feet reached the proxy.

“I don’t think that’s fair to you.” Kaede said, standing behind the shadow. “Sure, you failed to protect them both, but you stopped the thieves from getting her treasures. Who knows what kind of problems they could’ve caused if they got their hands on one of the relics!?”

The Hound’s little shadow turned to look at Kaede, as she smiled softly at it.
“Besides, now that you’re helping us, you have a chance to repent for your failures, right? After this is all over, maybe you could change Tsuiraku’s version back to the real one!” Kaede gave the little dog shadow a pat on the head before turning back to Yurika.

“I think we should hurry back to Nagato. I’m sure your mother is worried about us and besides…” Kaede smiled at both of them. “...I’m sure Gakkun is also waiting on us.”

Yurika and the floating shadow glanced at each other before Yurika hurried ahead of Kaede, waving for them to follow her. The oiran hurried after her friend as the dog spirit looked at the sky once more.

“I don’t think I’m the implied hope, Lady Kaede.” The shadow muttered before floating after the two girls.