HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

"Gramps, can we set sail now?" Three young girls stood by the coastal fishing boat, tugging at an elderly ferryman who was securing it for the night.

"You want to go out to sea? I'd advise you not to," the ferryman warned them immediately upon seeing the trio before him.

"Why not?"

"Today is new moon night—the kind when the great Yokai Shiranui might appear. All villages near the coast have banned boats from venturing out." With that, he turned away without another word, leaving the shore behind as he headed inland.

-

"Ah, nobody dares to venture out on this night!" Yae Sakura watched helplessly as the fisherman turned and left.

"The new moon indeed keeps people from venturing forth," Tsuki explained, standing beside Kikyō. "Disturbing Shiranui during such times is seen as a grave insult. If she were to hold someone accountable, it could be catastrophic.

I've heard of an incident once where some fishermen ventured out on a new moon night. The next day, their entire village had vanished without a trace—save for burn marks that marred the earth. Everyone believed they'd angered Shiranui with their transgression.

That's why no one ever sails on these nights."

Yae Sakura looked at her doubtfully. "Is Shiranui truly so vengeful by nature?"

"No one knows for sure; it might just be rumors. But the fishermen firmly believe in them."

"Well then, let's continue searching for another boat," Higokumaru suggested. "If there aren't any other options, we'll have to rely on me to get us across."

Several days had passed since their last attempt, coinciding perfectly with the first day of the month—the new moon phase known as New Moon Night. On this eve, even Inuyasha, the half-demon, would transform into human form. And tonight, Shiranui herself might appear upon the sea...

-

As they walked along the coastline for some time, they finally spotted an old man sitting cross-legged on a small wooden boat. He gazed intently at the sea surface, lost in thought.

Only when Yae Sakura and her companions approached did he stir from his reverie.

"Grandpa," Yae Sakura called out, "can we set sail? I'm willing to pay well!" As she spoke, she produced a gold coin and offered it to him.

The elderly man examined the gold coin in Yae Sakura's hand, then cast a glance at Kikyō and the other figure accompanying them. To their surprise, he nodded once more. "Very well. Come aboard!"

"Many thanks!"

Yae Sakura handed over the gold coin and turned to address Kikyō and the others. "Let's get on board."

-

The small wooden boat glided silently across the sea, heading towards a distant island.

The four humans and one fox stood aboard, their presence hushed amidst the serene surroundings. They posed curious questions to the fisherman from time to time, but he offered only sparse replies.

At last, they approached a larger offshore islet.

Though now covered in wild grasses, faint traces of former structures could still be discerned—buildings that had once stood here before falling into ruin.

"We've arrived!" The boatman guided his vessel gently to shore.

"This must be the legendary Dokashima Island," Tsuki mused, gazing intently at the land before them. She followed Yae Sakura and the others as they stepped ashore.

"Dokashima... Island of Departure?"

"Legend has it that when Shiranui appears, flames will burn across the entire sea surface."

Having found a suitable vantage point, they waited together for Shiranui's arrival. Though she was most likely to appear on this new moon night, there was no guarantee she would materialize at all.

"Does Shiranui truly look like the story you told us?" Yae Sakura had barely finished her question when a burst of flame suddenly appeared on the ocean before them. In moments... more and more joined it.

Soon, an endless expanse of fire covered both islands and sea alike, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Despite its vastness, the flames were utterly devoid of heat.

"It's here!"

"This... is Shiranui? As magnificent as I imagined!"

Every pair of eyes was drawn to the awe-inspiring sight of Shiranui.

After several long moments, Kikyō voiced her curiosity tentatively, "Is it Ari?"

"I don't know," replied Yae Sakura, "but we won't find out unless we go take a closer look! Higokumaru." With these words, she tossed forth the little fox Higokumaru, who instantly transformed into a large one.

"Kikyō, Tsuki, stay here," Yae Sakura instructed cautiously. Unaware of Shiranui's true strength, she dared not risk bringing Kikyō along recklessly.

Kikyō showed no resentment; only concern as she offered a gentle reminder: "Be careful."

As Yae Sakura and Higokumaru headed towards Shiranui, Kikyō turned to study the elderly man beside her. "Then... Grandpa," she ventured, "who might you be?"

"Me?" He replied softly. "Just an ordinary fisherman—a soul adopted by an onmyouji long ago."

Kikyō fell silent. This was far from ordinary...

"What is your relationship with Shiranui?" she pressed.

The old man hesitated before responding:

"...A tale of fire and water, intertwined through time." His voice carried a hint of sorrow as he continued, "Once, we were adversaries—she a blazing inferno, I a tranquil pool of water. But fate wove our paths together in a dance of opposites, bound by the Sunny Clear Kikyo Seal. Now, we exist in symbiosis, each dependent on the other for survival. Our union defies logic; it is a paradox that only chaos magic can explain."

"Shiranui truly doesn't give off any heat..." As they approached her, despite appearances—massive flames blazing before them—not a hint of warmth could be felt.

It wasn't just that; as Yae Sakura gazed upon those flames from atop Higokumaru's back, she saw something more. Within the inferno, there seemed to exist an enormous yet beautiful woman, drifting effortlessly through the blaze like a wisp of wind.

"Freedom like the wind, huh..." She echoed the longing that had once consumed both herself and Naraku's incarnation, Kagura.

"Big Sister," Higokumaru asked, "should I summon her now?"

"Can you manage it?" Yae Sakura gazed helplessly at the blazing eightfold cherry blossom before them. If Higokumaru could indeed call forth Shiranui, then of course—after all, defeating this legendary figure was why she'd sought out Higokumaru in the first place!

"Of course. Watch me."

With those words, Higokumaru suddenly opened her mouth wide, unleashing a massive burst of fox fire directly towards the inferno before them.

Yae Sakura observed silently... Such brute force...

Though violent, the effect was undeniably impressive. Within the heart of that colossal blaze, a silhouette gradually emerged from afar, slowly becoming clearer as it approached.

It was a beautiful woman walking upon flames—a vision of ethereal grace amidst the conflagration.

Dressed in a white kimono embroidered with red patterns, reminiscent of attire worn by high-ranking courtesans known as oiran, she stood atop the raging fire. Her headdress matched the crimson hue, while long strands of pure white hair danced wildly through the air around her. In her hands, she held two folding fans intricately crafted.

As she hovered above the flames, they seemed to obey her every whim, subservient to their mistress who commanded them with an imperious authority.

The woman gazed at the fox spirit and Yae Sakura before her, her eyes narrowing slightly as if displeased by Higokumaru's actions.

"So you're Shiranui?"

"Yes... no, not exactly," replied the fox spirit hesitantly. "What brings you here?"

"What do you mean? Oh right, did you bestow life upon the Gashadokuro near Musashi Province's border?" Yae Sakura observed the woman closely; strangely, she detected not even a hint of demonic energy from her presence. It was as though this were no monster, but rather a sprite of nature itself.

"Gashadokuro... I suppose that's one way to put it!" said the woman lightly. "Creating a great yokai isn't easy, so I merely lent a hand where I could. Beyond that, my involvement ends. What seems to be the problem? If this is about the Gashadokuro, there's little more I can add."

"I've already slain it," announced Yae Sakura.

"Hm?" The woman seemed momentarily taken aback, failing to grasp the implications immediately.