Settling Matters

Heian-kyo, Tsuchimikado Avenue, Seimei's courtyard.

Kagura sat beneath the eaves of the courtyard, her head tilted back as she gazed silently at the sky. Beside her, Little White was lazily basking in the sun.

"It’s so peaceful. I wonder if Lord Seimei has bought the rice yet? Little White is getting hungry..." Lying on the floorboards and enjoying the sunlight, Little White stretched like a puppy as he spoke.

"It should still be a while. To buy rice, one has to go to the East Market or the West Market, and both are quite far from here," Kagura said after a moment of thought. Since losing her memory, she hadn't just stayed in the courtyard; she occasionally wandered through Heian-kyo and knew the specific locations of several places.

"Ugh... honestly, having Lord Seimei go out personally just to buy rice... it’s so beneath a Great Onmyoji like him," Little White grumbled with slight dissatisfaction.

"It can't be helped. After all, this manor is run entirely by shikigami and lacks ordinary human servants. While it's usually very convenient, there's no way around it in situations like this," Kagura continued in a gentle voice. Little White began to roll around on the spot, complaining.

"Mm-hmm... seriously, with this sudden turn of events, my stomach is sticking to my ribs. I really miss Lady Yura; she always brings so much delicious food..."

Just as Little White was rolling about, the sound of the front gate opening echoed through the courtyard. Kagura and Little White turned to look and saw Seimei walking in, carrying two bento boxes.

"Lord Seimei is back!"

"Seimei? Weren't you going to buy rice? Was the trip to the market really that fast?" Kagura asked, tilting her head in confusion. She remembered that Seimei wasn't the type of Onmyoji who liked to be carried everywhere by shikigami.

"Haha, I'll go for the rice tomorrow. I have some business today and need to head out alone for a bit. I brought back some bento from the Izakaya for you both, so eat up for now." As Seimei spoke, he carried the bento boxes toward Kagura. Little White jumped up with excitement the moment he saw them.

"Ohh! Bento, bento! Thank you so much, Lord Seimei!"

"Seimei... you're heading out suddenly. Did something happen?" Unlike the excited Little White, Kagura took the bento with a trace of confusion flickering in her expression.

"Ah, it’s nothing. I’m just going for a simple walk to have a meal with a friend. I’ll be back before evening, so don't worry." Seimei smiled faintly as he watched Little White, who was already impatiently opening the lid to eat, and the puzzled Kagura.

"Then, Seimei, aren't you afraid you might suddenly get a flash of inspiration, solve Princess Kaguya’s riddle, and find that treasure?" Kagura continued. Previously, Seimei had insisted on staying home specifically to avoid accidentally finding the treasure. Why was he suddenly taking the initiative to go out now?

"About that..." Hearing Kagura's words, Seimei opened his fan and looked up at the sky, maintaining a mysterious smile. "I have already solved that so-called riddle, and the treasure is already in my hands."

"You have it? Whoa! Lord Seimei, when did this happen?!" Hearing Seimei's words, Little White looked up from his food, his mouth covered in rice grains, and stared at Seimei in shock. Seimei had only been out for a short while!

"Just now. Just as Kagura said, if certain things are ordained by fate, they cannot be avoided in the end. That spell which has always guarded me... I have found it." Seimei's tone carried a hint of profound emotion. Beside him, Kagura seemed to realize something; she nodded thoughtfully.

"So, Seimei, are you going to Princess Kaguya now to deliver the treasure?"

"No. Although I would like to go to the Asakura Residence to thank her in person if I have the chance, it is not for now. Besides, that treasure... isn't something that can be handed over to anyone else." As he spoke, Seimei turned with a smile and began walking slowly out of the courtyard.

"I wonder what kind of treasure Lord Seimei found? Little White is so curious..." Little White murmured as he watched Seimei’s retreating back. Kagura smiled.

"Don't worry, Little White. I think it won't be long before we find out exactly what that treasure is," Kagura said softly, her eyes following Seimei.

Heian-kyo, atop a wooden bridge.

Yura stood on the bridge, looking at the shimmering river water. Her expression was filled with unease, and her mind was a chaotic mess of thoughts.

"I said it... I finally said it... right to Seimei's face... I told him everything... and Seimei even..." Yura muttered to herself. She felt a severe sense of unreality, as if everything that had happened in the past hour was a mere illusion. Under the weight of this feeling, she reached out and pinched her own cheek.

"Hiss... that hurts..." Yura clutched her cheek in pain. After confirming this wasn't a dream, a clear look of joy blossomed on her face.

"It’s real, not a dream... Is this the protection of the gods? It all actually came true!" Thinking of the various causes and effects of the day, Yura began to truly thank the gods. Then, she suddenly thought of the upcoming meeting. After a moment of worry, she pressed her hands together and prayed silently.

'If a Lord Deity is truly watching all this, please protect me and let our meeting go smoothly.'

"Meow!"

Just as Yura finished her prayer, she heard a sharp cat's cry. She opened her eyes in confusion, only to see a black cat flying through the air from a distance, slamming straight into her head.

"Ugh! Ow!" Yura was hit in the head and stumbled back two steps. She instinctively caught the black cat, only to realize that this cat—thrown from who-knows-where—was exceptionally familiar. It was the very shikigami she had arranged to monitor Seimei’s house.

"Sayomaru? Why are you here? Are you okay!" After confirming that the black cat shikigami had only fainted, Yura breathed a sigh of relief. She looked around but saw no sign of whoever had thrown the cat.

"Strange, who threw him..."

"I'm here, Yura..."

As Yura held the cat in confusion, the sound of a voice made her entire body tremble. She turned toward the end of the bridge and saw Seimei standing there, looking at her with a smile.

Seeing this, Yura took a deep breath, bolstered her spirits, and walked forward. The wish she had harbored for so many years had finally reached the moment where it could be realized.

"Yes, Seimei..."

Heian-kyo, Asakura Residence.

Inside Princess Kaguya’s room, Miketsu lay on the tatami and let out a long sigh of relief. The tension that had been wound tight in her heart finally slackened.

"Whew... it’s finally over. From here on out, this lady is done. You two are on your own." Lying on the tatami, Miketsu grumbled. Thinking about how a certain someone had wanted her to work overtime, she couldn't help but feel a surge of annoyance.

If that insatiable fellow had been anyone else, it wouldn't have ended with just a simple cat-themed divine punishment...

Looking at Miketsu lying nearby, Princess Kaguya spoke with a smile.

"Mother has finally settled a matter weighing on her heart. That is truly wonderful..."