*I still don't own them*

Chapter Eleven

Izyoi watched the peddles falling in lazy patterns on the gravel path outside the open screen. Her mind was a million miles away again. Any time she closed her eyes she could almost feel his arms around her, her lips tingled with the memory of their kiss.

The sun was rising lazily into the sky and Izyoi wondered if he was still out there. Did he wait for her in the garden even now? Could I spend the entire day with him without being missed? She wondered.

"Izyoi," Her sister said across the table from her.

"Hmm," She replied only half aware of the room around her as she filled her mind with fanciful daydreams.

"I asked you what you would wear tomorrow."

Izyoi mentally shook herself and gave it some thought. Did it matter what she wore? Was something happening tomorrow? she wondered.

"I thought," Her sister began, pouring some more tea, "That pink would be the most becoming on you." her sister finished, offering her the full cup.

Izyoi, taking the cup, again wondered why it mattered.

"Of course he may not favor pink, few men do." Amei admitted, "What about red?"

Izyoi, swallowing against the sudden lump that formed in her throat, only blinked a few times before she found her voice again. "Who?" she whispered. Did her sister know of Toga, did he make his presence known and now they were...

"Lord Takemaru's crest is red, he may appreciate the color." Her sister smiled blissfully unaware of Izyoi's sudden panic.

He's coming here...tomorrow. She thought she might be sick.

"I thought as your intended you might spend the day showing him the gardens you favor so much." He sister giggled but the smile dropped when she looked at the sister she was unknowingly torturing who managed a small nod.

"I have questioned father and so I know how traditional he is but what do you think about trying out one of those fancy hairstyles that are all up with combs and such?" Amei wondered tapping at her chin.

"I, um I suppose..." Izyoi mumbled, hands suddenly shaking she rubbed them together to fight the rising panic that threatened to overtake her.

"Izyoi are you well?" Her sister wondered, a crease of concern on her face.

Izyoi for her part was lost somewhere in her own mind that was shrinking in on itself. Takemaru was coming, he would be near her, he may even try and hold her. After last night she knew that for any other to touch her would never be right. "I, uh," She began, standing suddenly, "I just need," she mumbled.

"If you feel unwell you must rest!" Her sister waved to a nearby servant. "We cannot have you pale and ill when your betrothed comes!" She tutted, "Take my sister to her room at once." She demanded of the girl.

Izyoi felt her elbow taken as she was ushered toward her room.

She walked as though in a daze. Her samurai lord would come, he would claim her as his own and take her away. She would never see Toga again. Worse still if Takemaru knew he would try and kill Toga, might even try and kill her.

Izyoi took a deep calming breath, waving away the servant girl she hurried to her room.

As she neared her destination she saw her maid, Kamiko hurrying toward her. "Leave me Kamiko I need rest." She demanded. Tears were threatening and the last thing she wanted was a witness to her despair.

Her old maid shook her head, "Are you unwell my lady?" She tutted, following Izyoi around. "I can get-"

"Just leave me!" Izyoi bit out, shocking the woman with the venom in her voice. "I simply need to rest undisturbed." She added, guilty but glad when the old woman left the room and slid the screen shut.

o0o

Izyoi knelt at her small mirror and stared with unseeing eyes at her face. She was lost in her own despair. Felt it paralyzing her. She needed to do something but all the options available were unwelcome.

Toga, the great Inu-no-Tashio was not a Demon to cross, every one knew this. What would he do if she turned him away now?

His kind face flashed across her mind, he was not so unforgiving with her. He was quite kind to her in fact.

A tear slipped down her check and she watched it fall. "I can't" She whispered.

The thought of him gone hurt. Knowing she would never look into those golden eyes and witness that wicked smirk?

But to let this continue? To what end could she look? Memories of their kiss still burned in her mind. Would he have all of her, take as his wife? Did Demons do that? She didn't know of anything that showed they did. Her life would be forever changed should anything happen between them, she would be scorned at best, killed at worst.

Her fathers face rose up in her mind. He was a good man. He struggled from the lack of a son. Their home would be lost, their honor too. Her sister, while married, might still suffer from this.

She had to send Toga away. She must break contact with him.

Her heart ached within her chest, she didn't think she could do that. But somehow she had to, her families honor would suffer, lives could be at stake.

She had to tell him, had to send him away. Izyoi hated it but the truth was that they could never be together anyway she was, at best, a diversion. A conquest that once won he would move on. Her heart clenched at that thought, after last night surely not? Izyoi shook her head, even if that may not happen he would long outlive her.

"For the sake of my very life I must!" she heard herself say, really it was the best thing to do.

Mind set, as much as it could be anyway, Izyoi slid open the screen. When the long hall proved empty she cast a silent payer to whatever god might be listening and hurried to escape the house without being noticed.

Luck, or whatever god took pity on her, found Izyoi safe withing the edges of the garden without being seen. She needed to find him, unsure if he was even out there she crept along dodging gardeners and scanning for the pure white of his hakama.

She had almost convinced herself that he wasn't out there when a firm hand slipped around her waist pulling her into the shadow of the nearest tree.

Izyoi squeaked and struck out at the person in panic, only to be met with a sharp toothed grin and inhuman eyes. "Kami above, you...gah!" She hissed hand on her chest trying to calm her fast beating heart she glared up at him.

Toga just grinned, taking her hand he pulled her into him, "Come," He stated wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close until only her hands against his chest remained between them. "Wait I," She began, the reality of life pushing in reminding her that she needed to make him leave. "My lord-" she began.

His grin only grew into a full laugh "You are back-sliding woman." Toga said leaning into her neck.

Izyoi shivered at his closeness, at the rumble of his chest under her hands, the words she meant to speak fell from her mind. The smoothness of silk distracted her and she noted his lack of armor. "Where is your armor?" She wondered absently running her fingers over the pure white of his chest.

"It gets in the way." He shrugged.

"Of what?" She wondered a smile playing at her lips.

"You," Toga whispered. His eyes bore into her own, bright and shining like the sun. And like the sun she felt the power behind it.

His yokai sang around them. The feeling intensified, surrounded her as he picked her up and began to run through the garden. Izyoi payed no attention to his direction at first but when he didn't stop she became concerned. When he leaped the outer wall she panicked.

"Toga what!?" She began, but his stern glare silenced her. The open field around the home flashed by, then tree's passed them at an alarming speed.

When he at last slowed Izyoi looked around to find herself surrounded by tall ancient trees. The scent of the forest lay heavy in the air and the tranquil silence of the deep woods broke only by her own gasp and the gentle trill of some birds.

"You mentioned never seeing the forest so," Toga shrugged at last freeing her from his strong arms.

Izyoi slipped from his grasp to the earth and took a few small steps into a world she had never seen beyond the glimpses seen from the walls of her home and out the small windows of the carriages she traveled in.

The sting of tears threatened behind her eyes, emotions twisting and confused she scanned the scene around her. Plain and simple this was peace personified. It was beauty. It was the most wonderful thing anyone had ever done for her.

"Toga," She breathed unable to keep her tears away she wiped at then.

"Why do you weep?" He asked, voice full of concern

Izyoi laughed. He was so sweet. "Sometimes joy cannot be expressed any other way." She said looking up at him only to smile brighter at the look on his face, all scrunched up in confusion. He coughed under her gaze and looked away.

Izyoi, lost in the unexpected happiness forgot her purpose for seeking him out and wandered the small clearing. Picking a few random wild flowers she stood still within the small clearing. Eyes closed she breathed deep, the air filled with life and the earthy rot of leaves long fallen from the branches. Birds sang all around her while the wind whispered among the branches of the trees."Toga, its beautiful." she said basking in the moment.

Izyoi dared to glance over her shoulder at him. He scanned around them a smirk on his face, "It is a pleasant spot." He agreed, "Though I don't know what else one could do but enjoy the sight."

It must be done, tell him. Her mind insisted, knowing she needed to speak up, to tell him this could not be, they shouldn't be...

Izyoi nodded in agreement not only to him but also her own mind, "Thank you." she said turning back to him. Izyoi the good daughter opened her mouth and looked at him, the intention there.

The words died on her open lips.

He was stepping closer and with each step Izyoi felt lighter, yet more grounded in reality than ever before. This man, this demon of great power dominated her vision, her mind and though she should never have allowed it, her heart as well.

She could only stand still at his approach, could only look up into his face and wish for his touch, while fearing it at the same time. Memories of being in his arms, wrapped in warmth and starlight and the feeling of his lips pressed to her own.

"My lord," She began, trying to fight the desire that rose in her. Trying to remain a good daughter.

This great demon smiled down at her as he ran his hand beneath her hair along her neck, "Woman," He stated a gentle mocking in his tone at her formality as he leaned down to her face, "Will you not have me?" He asked.

Izyoi felt the walls of her resistance collapse, and in their place a wave of want pulled at her. She moved to hold him, to be as close to him as possible. On her tip toes she crossed the distance remaining between them and kissed him.

"To what end Toga?" She begged, desperate to hold him she slipped her hands behind his neck and ran a hand through his smooth silver hair.

He nuzzled into her neck his hot breath running over her skin as he sighed, "Why must there be an end?" He wondered placing small kisses along her neck and jaw.

Izyoi leaned into his touch, "Life is change." She managed to gasp in reply. "This cannot last."

Toga, stopping his kisses, ran one finger along her cheek and chin, tracing her face he nodded. "Why fear a future you cannot know?" He wondered, pressing a kiss on her forehead.

Why did she fear? To love and be loved was what she wanted, what she needed. Tomorrow she might loose him, or the next day or the next. If this was the only time she had she would not waste it.

Izyoi found his lips with her own again, what began as gentle became demanding on both their parts. And then his tongue was teasing her lips. One of his hands pressed into her back, holding her to him. He moved to his knees, pulling her with him she clung to his neck he pulled her onto his lap.

The lack of his armor was noted and she felt a wicked thrill at what it suggested. Without it their bodies pressed close, only silk and linen between them. That thought made her entire body flush in a way she had never known.

Izyoi was lost. She knew that now, the world be damned he was all she wanted. Them together was all she would ever need.

**End**