Hey I figured I already had it written why not go ahead and post it:) I see I have a lot of readers, please review as well, I would love to hear your thoughts! On with the story.

Aishiteru-I Love You

Chapter 2

"Kiku!" An older woman shouted towards the river. The young woman sitting on the water's edge stood up and started to walk back towards the village.

"What is it, Sumiko-chan?" Kiku smiled at the woman who had raised her.

"Kiku, you know that it is planting season. We need all the help we can get if we are going to finish before the rains come." She stood with her arms crossed and her brow furrowed. "But…" her face softened, "I will let you off today, just be careful near the river. You know full well the dangers of being washed down stream. Go and get your wanderings out of your system."

"Thank you Sumiko-chan!" Kiku shouted and ran off back towards the river. Since she had lived in the village, she had been almost everywhere in the surrounding area. The only place she was forbidden to go was to the west. Far up river was a cliff that was the border between her village and the lands of the Western Youkai Lord.

"Ten years I have obeyed." She ran in the direction of the cliff. "But no more." She smiled as she ran; her long hair flowed behind her and was blown back by the wind. "Never have I belonged in that village, my heart is wild. I feel like the wind, I long to be free like it."

She could not help but allow her mind to wander as she climbed. Her imagination took hold as she thought of what the youkai's lands might look like. 'Is it desolate or full of life? Are there flowers or corpses?' She laughed as Sumiko's face came to her mind. 'She would say I am a foolish child for even thinking of such things.'

Her hand felt the top of the cliff as she pulled herself up. Her eyes were met with a pleasant sight. All around her were wild flowers, mostly red chrysanthemum.

The view from the top of the cliff was breath-taking. She could see the smoke from the village and on the other side of the river she could see the tree she loved to sit in. She could barely see the fields where she had worked since she was a child.

Her body fell back into the flowers and she allowed herself to be engulfed by them. 'Surely this can not be the land of a youkai. It is perfect and my heart feels at home here.' She looked to her left and caught a glimpse of a small shrine just a few steps away.

Curiosity got the better of her and she approached the shrine. It was finely carved and appeared very expensive. Her hands grasped the small handles that were on the door. She slowly opened it to see two objects were inside, a piece of a kimono and a withered string of flowers.

The torn kimono piece was yellow and orange but most of it was the dark brown of dried blood. The pattern seemed almost familiar and she reached out to touch the old fabric. Her hand longed to feel its texture.

"What are you doing there?" a harsh voice spoke from behind her. She whirled around to come face to face with a tall man. His eyes were gold and his hair silver. He had numerous markings on his face and was very handsome.

"I…I am sorry." She sputtered as she stared in awe of the man before her. She knew that fear should be her only emotion but she did not feel it. She felt a strange comfort from him and her instincts told her to bow before him.

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Well there it is, chapter 2 all done. Let me know what you think.

Lady Elanya