"Here we are, my lady." Ryoma said, gently, offering his hand to Sakuno. They arrived at the Tengu village and she was amazed when going out of the carriage. She stopped for a while and looked around the trees filled with flowers on full bloom, even with spring already at its end.

"It is so beautiful!" she said, reaching the ground.

"Ryoma-sama." The serious masculine voice called their attention. A young strong man with short dark grey hair and purple eyes was kneeled in front of him. He had a pair of big wings, the same color of his hair. He had a very serious expression. "Welcome, my lord."

"It is a pleasure to see you, Ryuu-san." He made a hand gesture to Sakuno. "This is my wife, Sakuno-hime."

"Thank you for receiving us." She made a polite reverence and smiled gently.

"It is an honor to meet you, Hime-sama."

The princess was wearing a tomesode, a formal kimono with shorter sleeves, since she was a married woman now. It was black with sunflowers on its lower part. Sakuno's red hair was tight on a ponytail and she had discreet carmine on her lips. Her husband said she was stunning before they left his castle and she felt happy.

"Hello, Ryuu-san." Kunimitsu went with them and also greeted the young tengu.

"Kunimitsu-san, it's been a while." He stood up. "Please, come with me. My father is waiting."

"His father?" she whispered to Ryoma.

"He is the chief of the village."

Sakuno looked around and many tengu were looking at them with serious expression while they were crossing the path to the chief's house.
"They do not look very friendly, my lord."

"Tengus are never friendly."

"Kunimitsu!" the feminine voice made Sakuno to look ahead and there was a young female tengu flying to their direction. She had dark blue hair reaching her shoulders, purple eyes and her wings were glistering with the sunlight.

"Oh, Asami." It was the only thing the youkai said, before she held him tightly, rubbing her face on his chest.

"Kunimitsu, you are finally here!" she was so happy. "I missed you so much!"

"Who is that?" Sakuno asked to her husband.

"That is Kunimitsu's wife."

"Eh?!"

"She is Ryuu's san little sister."

"I also missed you a lot, Asami." It was the first time Sakuno saw him with a very subtle smile on his face and his dark eyes were filled with gentleness. "Are you well?"

"I am!" she held his hand. "I wanted to see you so much! There is something very important for us to talk about."

"Let's do it after the meeting with your father."

"Yes!"

##############

They were sitting inside the chief's house in the main room. The servants had bought tea and some snacks to them and were very gentle. She was sitting by her husband's side and Kunimitsu was sitting with his wife, that was still holding his arm tightly and looking at him with loving eyes.

Ryuu made a deep reverence when his father entered the room and his sister did the same.

The tengu chief had silver hair and a long beard with shiny black wings. He was wearing red robes and walked inside the room with a stern face. He sat in front of them and Sakuno was a little intimidating with his expression.

"Ryoma-sama." His voice was deep and serious just like his son.

"Katsuro-sama, thank you for receiving us in your home. This is my wife, Sakuno."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, my lord." She made a reverence.

"I could not believe when people told me you had married to a low human, Ryoma-sama. But you really had the nerve of bringing her in here. Is no wonder Nanjirouh-sama cut ties with you."

"Chichiue!" his daughter protested. "Do not say such things!"

"Be quiet, Asami." He looked at her with the corner of his dark eyes.

"Katsuro-sama, I came because I heard three humans were killed on the last couple of weeks here in the mountains. I wanted to talk to you and solve things peacefully, without the interference of the human lords and their warriors."

"Are you implying we are weak towards the humans?"

"Not at all, my lord. But is a conflict really necessary after everything we have been trough? We are finally achieving piece." Ryoma was so calm and proper. "You have plenty of resources on this wonderful home of yours. It is really necessary to eat human flesh still?"

"Asami, you did not inform them?" her brother asked, surprised.

She averted her eyes and was very tense.

"Asami, what is Ryuu talking about?" her husband asked, touching her hands.

"I am so sorry, Kunimitsu." She lowered her head, unable to face him.

"She is expecting." The tengu chief said. "She is already three months along and she had terrible cravings. Her whole body was aching in deep pain. There was no way I would let my daughter and grandchild suffer. So, I personally hunt the humans that invaded our mountains and feed her their flesh."

Sakuno was shocked. That beautiful, delicate woman had really eaten humans?!"

"Are you still feeling ill?" Kunimitsu asked, concerned.

"Not anymore." She placed her hands over her belly. "We are fine now."

"My lord, do you mind if I leave the meeting? I really need to talk to my wife properly."

"Of course, Kunimitsu, you can go." He showed him a kind small smile. "Congratulations to you two."

"Thank you, my lord." He said, before leaving with his wife.

"You are probably surprised, right, Hime-sama?" he looked at Sakuno. "What do you know about youkais so far? Do you think we are monsters?"

"Not at all, my lord." She was sincere. "But there is still a lot for me to know. I have only been Ryoma-sama's wife for a little time. I want to learn more, so I can understand better and be able to serve the youkais properly, along with my husband."

"To serve us?"

"Yes, my lord." The princess looked at Ryoma with a smile. "I am just a humble servant. First to my husband, then to his country. I want to be useful to both."

The oni king held her hand and looked at her gently before addressing the tengu chief.

"Can you see, Katsuro-sama? She is a wife I am nothing but proud of." The young lord showed him his fangs. This time, Ryoma was not smiling and it was a serious warning. "Please, think about your words next time. And, you have no right of speaking of my father. The situation between him and me is ours alone to deal with."

"Let's see how long is your lovely wife staying by your side after she sees you during the bloody moon." He scoffed. "If you do not devour her first, of course."

Sakuno looked at her husband. Ryoma had a deep frown on his forehead she was completely lost on that tense conversation.