Saving Soushi

I awoke with an eery feeling, as if something bad was going to happen. "Miketsukami?", I shouted but was instead answered with a strange silence. I jumped out of bed in search for him. He is always there for me whether I need him or not. I start to panic as the worst things that could have happened to him race through my mind. In my frantic search I find a note on the kitchen counter that read: *I went to Tokiya Forest Park to check on Roromiya-sans condition, Soushi.*

My racing heart calms down to its normal rate from this comforting sentence, but I still have this nagging sensation in the pit of my stomach telling me that something is off. I can't ignore this feeling, so I hurriedly get dressed to go check on Soushi. I know it isn't the time or place to do this but I still blush. I'm still getting the hang of calling Miketsukami by his first name. I shake my head and go back to the task at hand, quietly scolding myself at how childish I am being.

at Tokiya Forest Park

I can't believe how dark it is, even with it being so late at night. The sensation in the pit of my stomach is growing to the point where it hurts. I'm glad I came her after all because everything just seems so wrong. I know I should probably be worrying about Roromiya with her being my friend and all but I can't stop thinking about getting to Soushi. This new foreign feeling that I have towards him is something that I can't control anymore. This new feeling, I've been told, is love.

I never knew how dangerous and troublesome love can be and even after saying this I still would never give it up for anything in the world.

I would never give up Soushi.

I hear the growling of a wolf and other unknown noises and I start running. As I am running I hear Soushi's voice along with another, much younger sounding one, and run in that direction. I couldn't tell what they were saying yet but I could still make out a few words like the young voice saying something about incubation. I start my frantic panicking again at that one word and pick up my pace to a full sprint. Now I can hear every word they are saying but I still can't see them. I start searching all though the trees, hanging on to every word they say.

The young voice: "You will lose yourself soon and turn into a demon. Why don't you try to beg me before you change? Or will you try to kill me? But I can't confirm that the curse will disappear. Which will be faster? The curse to completely control you or for you to kill me?"

There was a pause after that and I stop to listen for any hint of their location when the young voice starts back again.

The young voice: "Well, well you don't have the time to be worried... turn into a beast who will devour your beloved master, doggie!"

My worrying dissipates and I am instead filled with a boiling rage. I change into my other form at this. That little twerp no matter who he is will not say such things to Soushi. I continue in my search. I know I'm getting closer because the voices are much louder now. I start to think of what I am going to do to that kid when I find him when all of a sudden, a familiar voice starts to talk.

Soushi: "I have decided. A beast that devours its beloved master, it certainly is a delicious thought but, as I am Ririchiyo-sama's secret service I will protect her. Even if I will have to give my life for it."

I move the branch of a tree as soon as he says this and there they are. I can see my beloved Soushi on his knees in his nine tailed, white fox form. He is across from a small boy who is dressed in a kimono with a stripped sash in the middle. But the people are not the only things I notice. Soushi has his sword held up to his neck, ready to end himself.

"No," I whisper to myself as I jump out just in time to take the sword from his hands. I turn my back to him so that he won't see the tears in my eyes. Before I can think of anything to say my bad habit gets in the way.

"As usual you enjoy hurting yourself," I tell the man I love and I regret it as soon as I say it.

"Ri-Ririchiyo-sama. You," Soushi stutters.

My thoughts are still racing and I am filled with too many emotions that I just can't handle it. "There are still some things that you haven't told me from yesterday," I blurted out. 'Why can't I ever tell him what I think! I have to be more brave. I can do this,' I thought to myself. I take a deep breathe in and let it out slowly.

"There are also some remarks that interest me and also, some things that I want to keep," I said the last part in a whisper that was hard even for me to hear, "and there's also that promise I made about a cup of coffee." By now I was standing right in front of him,

"That's why..." Tears start to swell in my eyes and I turn my face so he won't see.

"That's why..." I drop the sword I was holding and fall to my knees before Soushi.

"Don't leave me." My head is still dropped at this point. I'm to scared to see his reaction. I have been hurt too many times in my life and I don't know what I would do if HE rejected me like all the others.

"Hey are you sure you still have time," the little boy said in an oh so 'innocent' He crossed the line.

"I'm still trying to clearly understand the circumstances," Soushi said, his voice not sounding at all like the happy-go-lucky voice I'm used to. I couldn't take it anymore!

"Leave this inexperienced child to me," I said as I got to my feet to face this incompetent child, "I'm going to get rid of your curse!"

"How wonderful!",the child smirked.

"Ririchiyo-sama," Soushi said trying make me come back.

"Don't ever be this hasty again," I said making my voice stern so its message would come off clearly, "you don't have to be worried. If you go berserk I will stop you myself." I turn my head and look Soushi straight in the eye, "just think that if you die, we die togetheA small smile crossed his face and tears were in his eyes.

"Yes," he answered, barely above a whisper.

His reaction gave me the courage and strength I needed to end this little brat. And to think I thought that he would never want someone like me. He has always been there for me and after I finish the task at hand he always will be and I for him. I am pulled out of thought when I hear Soushi over the snarling of the wolf in front of me and the slicing sound of my sword making contact with the same wolf. I don't know how, but I can hear every word he says as if he were standing right beside me.

"Yes... we are always going to be together. I am so very glad to have met you. Ririchiyo-sama."

Before he said that the battle was starting to get harder to win and there was a chance of me losing, but as soon as he said those simple words I beat the little boy. I kicked his sword out of his hand and cut his head off before he even got close to his sword. I ran to Soushi as soon as it was over and dropped to my knees in front of him. He didn't even give me time to react when he pulled me onto him. I tried to back off, keeping his injuries in mind but to no avail.

I laid my head in the crook of his neck breathing in his scent. I missed it already even though he had been laying right next to me earlier that night. There are so many things that I would have missed had I failed; like his beautiful light blue and gold eyes or the way each of his nine tails curl around my finger tips as I pet each and every one of them. My head shot up when something cold and wet hit my shoulder. I craned my neck to get a better look at Soushi. My blissful high was shot down at the sight before me.

Miketsukami Soushi was crying and not the little sobs he usually has at any given moment. This time he was full out crying and only now did I notice the way his body was shaking with each breath. I sat back a little to where I was still in his lap but I would be able to see his face, as long as he lifted his head. I lightly grabbed his chin and lifted it to look him in the eyes. Again I was shocked at the sight before me.

Instead of a look of disappointment or sorrow was a look of pure happiness. A genuine smile spread across his face and shortly after mine did the same. Tears of joy started to trickle down my face and I brought mine closer to his. Soushi's smile went away and was replaced with a look of surprise.

Of course Soushi and I had kissed before but he was always the one start it so his surprised look was as expected. I took this opportunity for granted and laid him on his back with our lips still together. Right now I didn't care who saw what or what anyone would think. I has still shivering at the idea that he could have been dead right now, at this moment.

I straddled his waist and deepened our kiss. I am not wasting any moments that I have left with him, knowing now even more than before that this time we share is limited. I reach out beneath Soushi to rub my hands up and down the tails of his that I love so much. A soft moan escapes his lips as I feel a shiver rack through his body.

I feel his hands on my thighs as he rubs the back of his knuckles where my skin is exposed, which is a lot since my skirt hiked up. A trail of goosebumps are left where his hands slide. All of a sudden his hands stop and grab my waist so that he can sit up. He grabs my hands ,which were still petting his tails, and holds them to his lips. He places a gentle kiss on each hand then looks up to my eyes.

"Ririchiyo-sama," his voice catches a little as another shiver goes through him then he finishes, "trust me. I want to continue what we were doing but we should probably go back to the Ayakashi building."

"Okay," I say feeling a little down but I know why we have to go. In the heat of the moment I almost forgot about everyone else. A wave of guilt washes over me as I think of Novara, Roromiya, Watanuki, Kagerou, Sorinozuka, and Zenge. I get off of Soushi's lap and we stand up and head back the park's exit.

Soushi smiles back to me and offers me his hand which I gladly both switch back to our human form. A sad feeling overcomes me for a little bit at the action of changing into my human form, since I hardly ever get to be the real Ririchiyo. I guess there is nothing to be done about that since the world is full of humans.

outside Ayakashi building

We walked all the way to Ayakashi hand in hand. We didn't talk most of the way but I enjoyed the silence all the same. Right before I went to walk through the doors Soushi pulled me back to him and held me in his arms for a moment and placed a ginger kiss on my forehead.

Before he let go he whispered in my ear, "If you wish we can finish what we started, after we check on everyone else? All you have to do is ask." Then he walked into Ayakashi smiling back at me as if what he just said was nothing in the least. I waited for my face to cool down before I followed in after him.

Authors note: I hope that whoever is reading this liked my story if you didn't I'm sorry that I wasted your time. If I get enough people who review hat want me to continue wring this story I will try my best at it. If there is anything that you want me to put in this story just ask and if you didn't like it please tell me so that I can make it better to everyone's liking. Thank you for reading-Haybell