The ashen world.

Yes. That was how the world was before my eyes.

Trapped within the endless stream of time, I stared with blank gaze as the world repeats before me.

I was bored.

"You have no where to run now! Why not you just surrender and come quietly with us?"

"Run? Aren't we misunderstanding something here?"

Bored of living.

Bored of my life.

"AAAAAAAAH!"

Everything within this world was nothing to me but toys.

"Weaklings shouldn't bare fangs. Otherwise…"

I raised my blood stained hand before my lips. My tongue stuck out, gliding over my fingertips as I tasted the disgusting fluid that smells of rusted copper. With a flick of my arm, the blood that coated my skin splattered against the bark of the tree that stood beside me. My smile was as wide as the crescent moon hung over my head.

"…You'll get bitten."

I wanted to perish.

To disappear from this world of nothingness.

To erase my very existent from this field of white.

That was what I had thought…until I met that man.

A mysterious man whom sparked my interest, an emotion I felt for the very first time of my life.

The man whom I met 10 years ago…

"Ho~ That's the famous grandson of Nurarihyon, son of Nura Rihan?" I mumbled as I sat upon the roof of a human's school, staring down to the field of student.

My eyes were glued onto on particular boy within the crowd. A boy with brown hair with rounded glasses. Since the moment I've entered this school area, that boy has been emitting a strange aura unlike any other humans.

"He seems different from the picture somehow." I mumbled.

I pulled out the photograph once again and gave it a good long stare. In the photograph stood a taller boy…seemly taller than the kid down there. And an extreme difference in appearance as well. Unlike the boy whom held a soft expression, the one within the photo gives out a more dangerous feel. He has long white and black hair flowing down his head with piercing crimson eyes. Shrugging slightly, I crumbled the photo within my hand before tossing it aside. I slowly shifted my gaze back to the boy…before my eyes began darting around the area. There were 2 youkai by his side…and some further away.

Most likely bodyguards.

"There's no mistake."

A smirk rose upon my lips as I slowly climbed onto my feet and smoothed the wrinkles off my dress. Giving one last glance to the boy, the white wings upon my back spread out widely. Then with one powerful flap, my body was thrown into the air as I vanished within the sea of clouds.

Yes…that was the beginning.

The beginning of the 8 years of hide-and-seek.

"You want to join the Hyakki Yakou...was it?"

The youkai who was brushing the leaves at the front gate of the Nurarihyon's manor spoke as I nodded in reply. The expression of shock and suspiciousness were written all over her face – but who wouldn't? After all, when someone dressed in layers of heavy coat with a wool hat over the head, a pair of sunglasses and scarf covering the face in the middle of summer, suspicion is a given.

"Tsurara, what's wrong?"

A husky voice spoke as two other youkai walked through the front gate. "Kubinasih! Kurotabo! Actually…." "Who's the fat guy here?" The largest youkai whom I assumed was Kurotabo considering the names, questioned with a glare. I said nothing. Dismissing the trio's existence, I walked past them and went straight through the gate.

"Hey! You can't go in like this!"

The girl shouted, but I ignored her and just did as I please. Upon my entrance, the other youkai all stopped what they were doing and glanced towards my direction. "Excuse me. But you cannot do as you like here. May I ask who you are and what is your purpose here?" This man in priest clothes said as he came over to me. Again, I gave no reply.

I had no obligation to answer him, or any of them.

"Hey are you listening?"

The girl called again as the youkai began to gather around me. "Guys, what's wrong?" A voice then called as I slowly turned to see the boy…Nurarihyon's grandson, coming towards us. "Rikuo-sama!" The neck-less youkai greeted as the girl – Tsurara I believed was her name – rushed to the boy's side. "Rikuo-sama don't go near him! He's an intruder!" She cried, holding the human boy back. "Eh?" The boy gasped as I smirked.

"Excuse me for intruding. I can assure you that I am not as suspicious as I may seem." I said before pulling off a layer of my coat.

"You must be Rikuo-sama." I greeted as I took off my wool hat, freeing my snow-white hair as they rolled down my back. I then tore the scarf off my neck before my sunglasses, revealing my face to them.

"Tsurara-san was it? Before you report your information to your leader, please get the detail right. I am not a guy."

I said almost in a mocking tone before I began to shed the layers of clothes off my body. "Nor do I consider myself fat. It's just that if a girl walks down the street with silver eyes, white hair…" I pulled off the last layer of coat, revealing the lavender dress I wore beneath.

"...and white wings, anyone would think–" I said before spreading my wings and fluttering them slightly, finally feeling relieved from the weight. "–that I am a cosplay freak, would they not?"

The group just stared upon me, speechless. Dazzled looks were written over their faces. I felt no surprise for that it was a reaction I was accustomed to to. My silver eyes slowly shifted to Nurarihyon's grandson before I did a low bow.

"I am a Doji*, name is Miu*. It is a pleasure to meet you, Nurarihyon Rikuo-sama."

I said with a smirk.

Yes, he will be my new toy.

A perfect toy that I could kill time with and at the same time providing me with a safe place to stay.

It was like hitting two birds with one stone.

And when I lost my interest…

I'll kill him.

"Go out? With you?"

I asked, leaning against the tree with a smirk as I stared down at the pathetic excuse of youkai kneeling before me. "I-I really like you!" The…who-cares-what-his-name-was-again, begged. "Sure." I smirked as the youkai suddenly looked up at me with a joyful look across his face.

"However there is a condition."

I immediately began as I fold my arms over my chest. I stared at those cat ears, then at his tail before examining his other features. "…You're a Gotokuneko* aren't you?" I said with a smirk upon my lips and my eyes gleaming in amusement. "Bring me 20 freshly roasted cat corpses." I spoke coldly as Gotokuneko flinched; his ears flatten down almost in fear. "What's wrong?" I asked, smirking wider as I leaned down. I slipped my finger beneath his chin and with a push; I pulled his head up so that our eyes could meet.

"You like me don't you? So your love doesn't even worth 20 little cat corpses, scaredy-cat?"

I asked with a chuckle, finding amusement within those wavering eyes and trembling lips that were struggle to find something to say. Before I could push it even further, a hand suddenly shot into my sight and grabbed me by the wrist. With a jerk, I was pulled back a couple of steps until I felt my back slamming against someone's chest. As though freed from my spell, the Gotokuneko seemed to regained his senses as he quickly turned tail and ran away.

At that, I narrowed my eyes in frustration before turning slightly to Rikuo who stood behind me. He was in his Night form. "What are you doing?" Rikuo questioned coldly, his crimson eyes almost glaring at me. "Does being in the Hyakki Yakou mean reporting what we do during our private time?" I questioned back before feeling the grip over my wrist tightening. "There have been strange incidents happening lately. You were behind those as well, weren't you?" He said as I glanced up at him before another smirk slid across my face. "So the boss knows. Then why bother asking?" I mumbled softly, but loud enough for him to hear.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Why? Do you always need a reason behind your actions, Rikuo-sama?"

I said with a soft chuckle. "But if I must give a reason…then I suppose…yes, I suppose the word boredom would do." Upon my word, I saw Rikuo's eyes narrowed almost in disgusted shock. "Please understand that I happen to be innocent, Rikuo-sama. They said they love me, so I merely gave them the condition. That is all. I have not laid a feathers on a single soul within your territory." I told him before tugging my wrist away from his grasp.

"Now then, Rikuo-sama…I will be excusing myself. Good night."

I waved at him before turning around and began to walk away. However, I wasn't able to get far when I felt that larger hand seizing my wrist once more. Then with a harsh tug, I fell backward; my back collided against the tree stump. "What–" I couldn't finish my sentence for that when I glanced up; I found a sake bottle right in my face.

"…What, may I ask, is this?" I asked softly, almost glaring at the bottle before my eyes.

"Sake." Rikuo replied before I watched him taking a seat next to me.

"I can see. What I meant was why are you holding a bottle of sake towards me, Rikuo-sama?" I asked, trying to regain my composer. However, Rikuo said nothing as I watched him pouring out the sake into a cup. "…I don't know what this is about, Rikuo-sama. If you are looking for someone to drink with you, you found the wrong youkai." I told him as I stood up and dusted my dress.

"It's a full moon tonight."

Rikuo spoke just when I was about to turn to leave. At that, I stopped as my glaze slowly trailed up to the sky for the first time of the night. He was right, tonight really was a full moon. "If you are bored, why not drink with me?" At that, I slowly glanced back at him, my eyes narrowed in suspicion. Why was he suddenly asking me to drink with him? Perhaps that bottle of sake was…

"I didn't poison it."

Rikuo said with a soft smile, almost as though reading my mind. At that, I quickly smiled at him. "Of course I know." I replied almost naturally. Although I was still suspicious at his sudden invitation, I decided to play along. Otherwise, my cover may really get blown. Taking a couple steps back, I slowly sat down and folded my wings so that the tree stump wouldn't scratch them. Seeing Rikuo holding a cup towards me, I slowly took it out of his hand before staring down upon it. I could see it…the reflection of the moon perfectly imprinted over the surface of the sake. I stared upon it for a moment before sneaking a glance at Rikuo who silently drank. I then slowly looked back to my cup of sake before raising it to my lips.

I then took a small sip.

"…It tastes disgusting."

I mumbled, feeling my tongue burning upon the touch of the liquid. I let it swirl around my tongue, tasting it a bit more. After I was sure nothing strange was mixed inside, I swallowed. "You've never drank sake before?" Rikuo asked, sounding slightly amused by my behavior. However, I just ignored him before brushing my lips against the edge of the cup and took another sip. I felt my throat burn. It was disgusting. I didn't like it at all…yet for some reason; I felt my thirst and desire mysteriously growing…

Since that night, I've stopped toying around with the other youkai's and ayakashi's feelings.

It wasn't because I was told to, but simply because I suddenly lost of enjoyment from tormenting them. The memories of that night haunted me. No matter how I spilled my thoughts into it, I couldn't find any answer. When I was drinking with him, there was an unfamiliar feeling flowing within me. A strange and mysterious feeling that I did not know what it was. The usual fast beating of my heart slowed for the first time that night. The usual restless me…was actually able to sit still. What was that feeling called–…perhaps…calm?

Yes, that was the word.

Calm.

For the first time, I felt at ease.

It was an indescribable pleasure. A pleasure far beyond tormenting any youkai and ayakashi. Hundred times more delightful than dipping my arms within the pool of crimson. I was so drunk upon the new emotion that I had let my defense fall despite the fact that my enemy was sitting by my side.

After that, Rikuo would seek me out every night, making me his drinking companion. I always detested doing favors for others. Even more when being ordered, constricted and used. I knew that Rikuo was only inviting me in order to prevent me from causing trouble within his territory. Under normal circumstances I would have rejected without a second thought. But I didn't turn him down. I wanted to feel more of the strange yet enjoyable emotion despite going against my moral.

Every proposal I got since, I quietly turned them away.

I didn't know why or when, but eventually, I became bored in mocking and bullying the members of the Hyakki Yakou. Everyday, I would sit on a tree and bath my pale skin beneath the torching sun. My silver eyes locked to the sky as I waited for the night. Until one day, I woke from my nap to the layers of cloud swirling above my head. I then saw him. Rikuo – in his human form – sleeping soundlessly within the garden, worn out from his training. The other youkai in the manor were strangely nowhere to be seen.

It was a chilly autumn morning with wind howling from the north.

I did not bother at first and just went on waiting for the night as usual. However, no matter what I did, my thought kept drifting back to the sleeping boy lying upon the grass. I was disturbed. I was pissed at him for distracting my attention. With a flap of my wings, I flew into the air before landing soundlessly beside him.

The poor kid didn't even sense my presence.

He was completely defenseless.

His bodyguards are nowhere to be seen.

I reached down my hand to him, towards his throat.

I can snap his head off right here, right now. It was just as easily as crushing a newborn's skull. I stared upon his innocent sleeping form. He was so stupid, so oblivious to the danger that's hovering over his tiny little body. The danger that he invited in. I stared at him for minutes; my body froze within the position. Just a bit more and I can strangle him. Just a bit more…and I can tear out his throat. I knew what I had to do, but my body didn't move. My hand was stiff, as though frozen by time.

I couldn't move.

My hand wouldn't move the inch I needed.

I gritted tightly in frustration. My hand slowly rolled into a fist before I smashed it down into the earth, missing Rikuo's head by a mere centimeter. Groaning in rage, I flopped down onto the ground beside him. I rolled to my side with my back facing him. I then slowly spread my wings as the blanket of feathers covered his little body. I didn't know why I bother, but I did. Strangely, I was able to feel it...his warmth, his heartbeat; through the tips of my feathers.

I felt my cold body beginning to warm…almost as though I was stealing away his warmth.

Again…that strange peacefulness spread through me as I soon found myself drifting into the darkness.

After that very day, the human form Rikuo began talking to me more often.

It wasn't like he never talked to me. It's just that every time he approached me, the youkai around him would stop him. I don't blame them. After all, they should be wary of me. However Rikuo thought otherwise, mislead by the wrong impression he gotten that day. And everyday, Rikuo would do whatever he could to speak with me despite what everyone else told him. I didn't pay him much attention to him. It started out as a one sided conversation. I would sit on a tree, dozing off while he by the stump under the very same tree, talking about his friends, what they did during school.

Eventually, I began talking back to him. I had nothing better to do anyways, so I decided to use him to kill the time of the sun. As we began to interact, the youkai around seemed to have loosened their defenses for me as well.

Soon…it was as though I truly became part of the Hyakki Yakou.

The other youkai began talking to me. I was even ordered with chores from time to time. And when I charmed a random ayakashi off the street into doing my works, the Hyakki Yakou would lecture and yell at me. They were mysterious…those lots. They spoke with me as though we had been friends since ages ago when in reality; I was tormenting them just until recently.

Autumn withered, and winter came.

The snow thawed and then bloomed spring.

Before I knew it, a year had gone by.

I had completely forgotten my purpose, of why I've entered the Hyakki Yakou in the first place.

It all felt so natural around them. I enjoyed it, the warmth I was able to feel every passing day. I came to enjoy some of the chores, I enjoyed it when I was lectured for being caught slacking off. If only everyday, this cycle would repeat…but it didn't. I knew it was an impossible wish. As days passed, I became wary of my own condition.

I had stayed too long.

The limit of my time had long expired.

"Miu!"

I heard Rikuo called as I slowly opened my eyes just as the door to my room slid open.

"What's this now? Rikuo-sama. Surely you have better manners to know to knock before coming into a lady's room." I whispered softly with a faint smirk.

"I heard you collapsed, are you alright?" Rikuo asked in concern as he gently closed the door behind him. When he turned around to me, his eyes widen almost in horror as he stared at the piles of feathers scattered over the floor. "What are…" He wasn't able to finish when his eyes trailed to my wings.

His eyes were glued to my left wing which was completely shed of feathers along with flesh and skin. What remains in my left wing was now nothing but bones and joints that are still keeping them whole.

The secret that I had hid by wrapping bandages around them was now exposed.

"What happened?" Rikuo nearly gasped as he rushed over to the futon where I laid. "What…What happened to your wing?" He whispered breathlessly as I stared at that frightened look upon his face.

"Ah…this?" I mumbled softly before moving my wing of bone along with my other wing that was still healthy…for the time being. "It's nothing. Just a little disease. It's common in my kin." I said before noticing liquids gathering within those large brown eyes. At that, I slowly picked up a feather off my blanket and raised it to his face. With a brush, the tip of my feather caught his tears just in time before it stains his cheek.

I watched silently as his droplet of tears rolled down my feather, down the quill before soaking the tips of my fingers. "Why are you shedding tears? It's not like I will die from this, Rikuo-sama." I informed before tossing my feather aside. "When did you have it?" Rikuo then asked as my eyes slowly shifted back to him.

"…Have what may I ask?" I knew what he meant, but I just played dumb.

"The disease. When did you have it? You lied about injuring yourself didn't you?" Rikuo demanded in a louder voice which was extremely rare coming from him.

"When now…Three months I do believe." I replied softly.

"Three months?" Rikuo nearly whispered in disbelieve before his expression suddenly became a look of anger.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!" He screamed. I saw it coming. I knew it was coming but even so, I was still shocked by his sudden outburst. Perhaps it was because I never imagine that he could scream so loudly. "You really do love going into other people's privacy don't you, Rikuo-sama?" "If you had said something sooner, we could have helped you!" Rikuo argued back. Upon his words, I felt a smirk sliding over my face.

He was a fool.

He has absolutely no idea.

"No, you won't. Only I know the cure for this disease."

I said softly as Rikuo's eyes widened. "What is it?" He eagerly asked. "Whatever you need, I'll get it for you." He pushed on, seeming more desperate than I am. "You really…want me to get better?" I asked softly as Rikuo gave me a strange look. "Of course!" Rikuo said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Everyone's worried about you. If you know how to cure this disease, tell me. I'll do whatever I can." Rikuo said in a hurry as I smiled upon how ironic his words are. I then slowly raised a finger up before pressing it against the edge of my paled lips.

"I…won't tell you~"

My condition grew worst.

True to my word, I never leaked even a bit of information about my disease to anyone. I ignored Rikuo's plead. I ignored all of the other youkai's words of concern. At times I sat idly beneath a tree, watching silently as they flipped through their library for every type of disease they could dig out.

But no matter how hard they search, they would find nothing.

After all, it wasn't possible for them to find something that never existed since the very beginning.

No matter who came to me, I would shut myself in silent until they were forced to leave empty handed. I knew that because of my selfish silence, I was making Rikuo's life miserable. I watched from the shadows as he researched everything he would find in the day, while roaming throughout the night seeking for information. I knew it was useless. He would never find anything and there was absolutely no way that I will tell him.

Four more months then passed.

And eventually…I had lost the power to go outside. My legs had become numb. I was unable to feel them, making me incapable of walking. I was unable to fly for that I was featherless. On my back where two large feathery wings used to be were now but bones of their remains. My skins were cracked, as though my body was made of glass.

My time isn't long now.

I could clearly feel the inside of my body beginning to crumble.

I knew that I won't last long at this rate. I knew that I must do something before my life is put in jeopardy. I knew it all so well. But even so…I did nothing.

Every passing day, my body grew frailer.

On the spring of the second year, I finally reached my limit.

"AAAH!"

I screamed as blood splattered out of the cracks that filled my body. I swallowed a mouthful of blood and carefully wiped the crimson liquid that leaked down my eyes. As I panted heavily as I heard poundings against my door.

"Miu!"

"Miu what's going on?"

"Something the matter?"

"Open up!"

It was members of the Hyakki Yakou, but I paid them no mind.

With all my strength, I slowly pushed myself up, wobbling slightly before I steadied my balance. I then began dragging my wrecked feet as I went towards my closet and slid the door open. Then with a punch, I smashed the wooden wall down, creating an exit for me. I slowly stepped into the night, ignoring the trail of blood I left behind. With the youkai gathered at my door, the other parts of the manor became abandoned.

I was easily able to get away by leaving through the back door.

"Just one last time…"

I want to see that person…just one last time.

I slowly closed my eyes as I felt my hair beginning to flutter within the windless void. My muscles tightened as a gust of wind slammed against me. My long hair burst apart, morphing into thousands of white weathers and leaving my remains of hair only at shoulder length. With a flick of my finger, the feathers began attaching themselves to my wings of bones. I clenched onto my wounds, gasping as I endured the pain that were gliding over the surface of my bones. I waited, almost impatiently as the last feather attached itself to place.

Without waiting for my pain to recover, I quickly stretched out my newly formed wings. When I did, I cried out as I heard a snapping sound emitted from my back. I could feel fresh crimson blood dripping down from the joints of my wings. However, I didn't care. I gave my wings another couple of flaps before shooting off into the sky.

I flew over the city until I reached a mountain. The mountain where I met that Gotokuneko…where Rikou had first offered drink to me.

Since that incident, it had become a special place that only the two of us would meet on every full moon's night. Once my feet touched upon the frozen earth, the feathers from my wings burst apart as I tumbled into the melting snow. My gasps filled the silent air as I lay there motionlessly. My eyes were locked to the sky, at the full moon that lit this night.

"Too bad…there's no sake." I mumbled to myself before feeling a smile sliding across my lips.

Perhaps I finally snapped and lost it…to suddenly want something I usually hated. Who ever heard of wanting to drink something they despised at the verge of death? I slowly gazed at the crimson snow around me. The colour of crimson under the night…and the pure colour of earth under the sun…both were the colours of his eyes.

The colours I've came to admire…

To love.

"He's probably…rushing back from his meeting."

I mumbled softly to myself before I began dozed off. I wondered when…Rikuo would arrive at his house. How would he look when he returned to see his subordinates running around in panic. How would he feel when he entered my room that was splattered with my blood. I wanted to know…what expressions he will have. What feelings he would feel when he sees the scenery I was so used to. I knew he would definitely feel differently than how I saw the colour of crimson through my eyes. I wanted to know…

But I want to see it even more…the expression he will have when we meet.

"Miu!"

I immediately recognized it, that torn voice that pierced through the dark silence.

I felt a pair of arms slipping under me as a forced pulled me out of the freezing snow. I felt my body being gathered into this comfortable warmth I did not hate.

"Miu! Miu!" That panicked voice cried as I slowly opened my eyes and found myself staring into two crimson orbs. The crimson eyes that were reflecting my wrecked body like mirrors. "You're…here." I whispered softly as I stared at that face that looked as though it would break down any second. "Hang on. I'll-" Rikuo wasn't able to finish what he intended to say for that with a sudden burst of energy, I grabbed him by the throat. With a twist of my body, I flew into the air. Using the weight of my body I slammed Rikuo right into the blood stained snow as I fell on top of him.

I tightened my grip over his neck, ignoring the fountain of blood that was rapidly escaping my hollow body. "Stupid." I mumbled before the feathers that were scattered around us suddenly began to move. With a snap of my fingers, my feathers hovered into the air, their quills all directed towards Rikuo's head.

"I suggest you not to move. My feathers…are sharper than any blades you'll find…" I warned him as I stared at my blood that were floating down my arm, drowning his neck. Yes, this is my purpose.

This was what I was supposed to do.

"…I know." I heard those two words mumbled out of those rosy lips.

I blinked in surprise.

That shocked expression that was over his face right now had disappeared completely. "You kno–…? Hey, I'm going to kill you here." I said, but he just started at me with eyes as though telling me that he knows that as well.

"You won't kill me." Rikuo said confidently as my feathers that were hovering within the air inched closer.

"Want to bet?" I whispered softly. However, Rikuo just stared at me with a stern and confident gaze. "If you had wanted to kill me, you would have done so long ago, right?" He said as my eyes widened in surprise at his words. "What…?" I whispered breathlessly. "You…knew?" He knew.

He knew what my intentions were…since the beginning.

"You knew I was…" I wasn't able to finish my sentence for that my own laughter cut me off.

"This really is the worst." I chuckled.

Not only could I not killed him, I was being played in his hand all along. But strangely, I wasn't upset or angered by the news. In fact, I felt strangely happy. "I see you aren't the heir of the Nura clan for nothing, Rikuo-sama." Hearing a soft crumbling sound, I slowly looked down to see my hands that began breaking down, revealing the hollowness of my inside.

"This is…?"

Rikuo whispered in shock as his widened eyes where locked upon my body that sat above him. I slowly glanced down at my own arm, at my shoulders, at my legs. My entire body was turning paler and paler by the second. When Rikuo's glaze trailed down my arms, his eyes widened more to see feathers beginning to peel off my skin at the wrists.

"What is this?" Rikuo whispered as I smirked softly. "Don't worry. I am simply letting go of this body. That is all." I replied softly when I noticed that concerned face of his. "What do you mean?" Rikuo quickly demanded as I slowly lift my hand up and held it against his cheek.

"Did you never…wonder why my body was so cold despite the blood running through my veins?" I whispered softly as I watched my fingers breaking down into feathers and blown away by the gentle breeze.

"This body…isn't my real body." I answered to my own question, not even waiting for his response.

"It is our Dojis' ability. We can clone ourselves with our feathers and transfer our spirit into the clone to move it. Through generations, this ability has been kept a secret so…be grateful. You are the very first outside of Doji to know of it, Rikuo-sama."

"What do you mean–…then your real body?" He then asked as I felt my smile faded.

"My real body right now is hidden in a safe place." I replied before quickly picking back my earlier smile. "What you see on me…will be what you see on my real body. I should be feather less and cracked like a pot right now." I laughed softly, trying to make a joke for the first time which perhaps wasn't as funny as I thought seeing how I didn't get a reaction from Rikuo.

Instead, he somehow looked even more worried than before for unknown reason. "So since the beginning your body was a clone?" Rikuo questioned, still seeming unable to get rid of his shock. I said nothing but replied with a silent nod.

"Then your disease-"

"Was a lie." I quickly said, knowing that he's already beginning to catch on.

"This is the side effect of the clone. It's a fake body after all so it normally breaks within a couple of months. I've already pushed this body far beyond its time limit. Once my spirit is transferred, the clone and my real body becomes connected. What I consume, what damage I get will be reflected upon my real body and vise versa. So naturally if my clone dies before I could transfer my spirit back to my real body, I too will die."

I told him before Rikuo's eyes trailed back to my body.

"I told you didn't I; That this disease won't kill me?"

"Will you come back?" Upon that question, I felt my body frozen stiff.

Almost as though knowing what my answer would be, Rikuo grasped my wrists. He then shot up, his arms wrapping around my body as I felt myself reeled in against his warmth. "You know…I'm someone who originally planned to kill you." I told him. However, Rikuo's expression only softened upon that.

"Then why did you stay for two years?" He then asked. "You said it yourself didn't you? Why did you stay for 2 years pushing yourself to your limit, enduring the pain and risking your life? Wasn't it because you wanted to stay with everyone?" At his words, I felt a faint smile slowly swept across my lips.

"Come with me, Miu. The real Miu." I heard his voice whispered, softly beside my ear as the arms around me tightened.

"That's impossible."

"Why?" Rikuo asked as I stared at the moon hovering over our heads.

"You wanted to stay don't you?" He said, reading my mind. "I didn't purposely use a clone to enter your Hyakki Yakou just to protect myself in case of danger." I began, my legs already gone, blown away by the wind as nothing but a trail of feather.

"I had been moving through my clones for five years now."

"Five years?" Rikuo whispered in shock as I saw the image of that gigantic talon flashing back into my head. That large…golden eye that illuminated the night…

"I had hidden my real body in a place that cannot be found. From there, I would clone myself and walk upon the surface to mislead him of my real location. When I entered your Hyakki Yakou, it wasn't solely for the sake of killing you. I was trying to hide myself from him."

"Him? Is someone after you?" Rikuo asked as my gaze slowly shifted back to him.

"Who is it? If you tell me I can-"

"Can what?" I nearly shouted as I cut him off. I stared at him for a while before my eyes slowly drifted away from him. The sadness plastered within my face, I could no longer hide it anymore at the memories.

"You can't beat him. He can't be beaten. You'll be killed before you can see him."

I snapped as I bit my lower lips, desperately trying to stop my own body that was trembling at the mention of that thing. "Where is your real body?" I snap my eyes back to Rikuo, glaring almost in disbelieve at him. "Didn't you listen to a word-" "Miu." Rikuo said sternly, cutting me off as we exchanged gaze. "You are now part of my Hyakki. If I can't protect you, how can I call myself the leader of all youkai?" Rikuo said as my eyes widened.

"Where is it, your real body?"

His words softly echoed within my ears as I felt something gathering within my eyes. It was tears. I was…crying. For the first time of my life, I was crying… "So…this is tears." I laughed softly as I gently clenched onto Rikuo's kimono.

"You know, I'm not part of your Hyakki Yakou. The one who exchanged sakazuki with you was this clone, not I."

"No. It was your spirit who exchanged sakazuki with me, wasn't it?"

Rikuo replied as I laughed even more at how fast he was catching on. "It's a beautiful night." I said before looking back up to the moon. "...You wouldn't happen to have some sake would you?" I joked after a moment of pause before turning back to Rikuo. I then slowly leaned up and brushed my lips softly against his marble smooth cheek. I planted down a kiss upon him.

"I don't hate you. So that's why…I won't tell you."

I whispered softly beside his ears as my eyelids began to slowly slide down my eyes.

"If you can find me then I will submit to you."

Those were the last words I told him. From the corner of my eyes, I saw his lips moved. He was speaking, trying to tell me something. I couldn't hear his voice. I couldn't hear anything but the sound of my crumbling body. I shut my eyes in pain as I felt a force suddenly drilled through my chest. The next second when my eyes reopened, I was staring into the abyss. I slowly looked down upon my cracked and bleeding body before around at the darkness. There was no sky, no trees…there was no moon.

Naturally, Rikuo wasn't here.

"I've returned…"

I mumbled softly before leaning back against the rocky wall. I slowly raised my wounded hand as my fingers slowly slid by my cheek. When I pulled away, I looked down to see the droplet of water that soaked my finger tips, glittering within the dark.

"What…did he said?"

I mumbled softly to myself as I slowly closed my eyes, remembering the form of how his lips moved. I felt my energy of my body draining away as drowsiness overwhelmed me. Now that my spirit was back, my body has started going into hibernation to recover from the damage.

"Looks like…one or two years of sleep wouldn't be enough to recover."

I whispered softly as I saw an image of Rikuo…both his human and youkai form, flashing back into my mind.

I wanted to see him, missing him already.

"Rikuo…sama…"

I whispered softly. I could feel my heartbeat gradually fading, my body beginning to harden.

Perhaps when I wake up…shall I pay a visit to Kantou again?

Doji – is a spirit with white wings, accounted in European mythology as being like an angel.

Miu – means Beautiful Feather

Gotokuneko - a cat Yokai who can breathe fire from a cut shoot of bamboo. His name means "Cat of Five Virtues".