Story 1:
Chapter 11:
Farewell

It was at the end of the 2nd day's midnight when the female Nurarihyon finally opened her brilliant midnight blue eyes, taking in the sight of the beautiful moonlight casted down from the slightly opened window situated not far from the bed. There were clothes all over the floor, broken water vase holding water mixed with her blood, torn curtains and overturned tables. Overall, her chamber is now a total mess.

Then there was the very warm body lying right behind her, arms wrapped protectively around her lower abdomen and rhythmically breathed slow, warm breaths behind her neck, a notion she finds very calming and pleasant.

Then the warm breath started to shower the back of her neck with burning kisses that just made her want him again.

"I suppose it is appropriate for me to say good morning right now?" he whispered behind her back, moving a lock of her midnight hair away from her neck and proceeded to suck on them, leaving blooming love bites in his wake. Aya merely smiled and chuckled slightly.

"It's midnight, and I suppose it's alright. Good morning to you too, Kusuriuri-san," Aya said to him while turning around to meet him.

His hair is sprawled all over the pillow, the color of ash with a slight tint of purple mauve. His skin is as pale as hers, if not paler, and the moonlight from the open window shared its ghostly light with him only makes his skin looked as if they were glowing ivory.

"You're so beautiful," Aya murmured softly, admiring the man's beauty. He seemed surprised for a moment, before he smiled lightly and whispered back, holding a lock of her midnight locks in his hand, "The same goes for you, Nurarihyon-hime." Tilting his head forward a little, the Medicine Seller kissed the lock of hair in his hand lovingly, closing his eyes to appreciate the silkiness of her hair on his lips.

Both of them kept quiet after that, content by just admiring and marveled at each other's eyes, both lying side by side, limbs tangled together tightly, close enough to kiss just by a mere slight tilt of the head.

Aya no longer felt the burning pain from deep within her. The Medicine Seller had kept her alive by making love to her, satisfying her undying desire that could very well kill her with the amount of dose that Dakora had fed to Aya. She admitted, it had felt unbelievably good, and it had truly made her feel more alive than anything else she had done in the past. She marveled at the strong, strangely yet appropriately muscled men lying at her side, stroking her cheeks softly with his long lean fingers. She loved the way he look at her, she loved the way he kiss her, both wild and passionately gentle. She also loved the way he hold her in his arms, whispering for her to call his name in her ears and sucked on her earlobe, which made her feel so highly pleasured that she just couldn't help but to moan out his name, begging for more. She blushed at the memory.

Concern flitted across the Medicine Seller's handsome features when Aya suddenly turned red. Sitting up, which only further fueled Aya's embarrassment as the Medicine Seller is very much as naked as she was and when he sat up, he had dragged the quilt with him, which exposed everything that she could hide underneath the covers. In her panic, she had also sat up along with him, her smooth locks barely covered her nudity.

Turning fully towards him, the Medicine Seller started to check on Aya fully, touching her forehead and testing her temperatures. She is totally fine, except for the adorable red tinge coloring her cheeks ever so innocently. She looked guiltily at him, biting her lower lips nervously and embarrassingly, as if she had been caught doing something highly upsetting.

"Are you alright? Your face is red," asked the Medicine Seller, looking slightly downward at the much shorter Nurarihyon. One arm stroking her cheeks while the other lay protectively around her waist, the Medicine Seller suddenly felt the strange feelings of wanting to protect the rather small built Aya, who's hand were placed on his chest, having nowhere else to put them.

"I'm fine," said Aya, still red and feeling guilty over her dirty thoughts. "I'm just...recalling some pleasant memories."

The Medicine Seller knew what she is thinking to be able to make her blush so adorably and looking so guilty at the same time. Not wanting to embarrass her further, he merely smiled and planted his lips onto her forehead, kissing them softly and sighing gratefully, glad that she is no longer in pain.

But at the same time, the Medicine Seller is torn in between his duty and his desire to be by her side forever. In the mere two days, he knew his heart had grown to love her deeply, and he allowed it to grow despite it being able to bring him down to his demise.

Aya, somehow, felt so full with content at heart that she wished for the moment to last forever. She had lost count of how many times the Medicine Seller whispered his love into her ear during their lovemaking's, and each of them sounded just as sweet and sincere as the previous.

Her body is sore all over, but nonetheless, she knew she had to wake up. She had a land to govern, and there are also the rules that no decisions are to be made without her presence. Sitting up slowly, she gingerly placed her foot onto the floor and stand up.

Only to fall backward into the Medicine Seller's waiting embrace.

"Your body is still sore," said the Medicine Seller soothingly, covering her naked body with a silk kimono that has been hung up beside the bed frame, smiling slightly when he sees her flushed red from embarrassment. Gathering her gently into his arms, the Medicine Seller looked down on her flushed face and said softly, "Let me take you to wherever you want to go."

The Medicine Seller stayed for a few more days with Aya, making sure to treat and heal her thoroughly before deciding to tell Aya that it was time for him to leave. He can never forget the expression that Aya made that time; of her smiling calmly while her eyes betrayed the sorrows raging within her.

Which brings all to gather at the gate, where Aya and the rest of her people is to send the Medicine Seller off to continue his journey and duty.

"I'll be going, Nurarihyon-hime," said the Medicine Seller, eyes casted upon the female Nurarihyon's lovely visage, vowing to remember every contour and every expression she has ever made. He made a promise to himself that he won't ever forget her or the child she is now carrying within her.

Aya didn't say anything. Stepping forward, she placed a round golden medallion upon his neck, encrusted with red rubies while on one side of it is a mirror.

"This is my mother's family heirloom," Aya said softly, as if only wanting him to hear what she has to say about his leave, her fingers lingered on his chest. "It will protect you from harm throughout your journey, Kusuriuri-san."

Suddenly, he seized her up and wrapped her into his embrace as hard as he could and hold her tightly in his arms. He had promised himself that he won't show any emotions in front of a crowd, but his resolve wavered when he looked into Aya's eyes. Aya closed her eyes and, like the Medicine Seller, tried to remember everything about every moment with him.

"Even if I have given a part of me to you," the Medicine Seller whispered into her ear, his eyes casted down onto the ground and shadowed by his fringes. "I am still a hunter."

"I understand," said Aya from within his embrace, trying her best to control her voice from shaking.

The Medicine Seller tightened his hold on her. "I cannot stay."

Raising both of her arms and hugged him just as tightly as he did to her, Aya said tearfully as a tear slipped from her hypnotizing midnight blue eyes, her voice a pitch higher than her normal tone, "I know."

"And I cannot be the one to stand beside you as your husband for eternity."

Taking a deep shuddering breath, Aya replied in a shaking voice, "I know that too."

Kissing the side of her temple, the Medicine Seller whispered his apologies, "I am sorry."

Turning her head around to face him, Aya kisses him briefly on his lips, "I'm sorry too."

Calming down, both gathered themselves together and, after a final, passionate embrace and kiss, the Medicine Seller picked up his wooden pack and walked to the gates.

"Please don't worry," called out Aya to the Medicine Seller, who turned around to look at her, stopping him at his tracks, and this time, she is smiling at him. "I will raise our son to be a proper leader. He will not disappoint both you and me."

The Medicine Seller nodded once, a small smile grazed upon his lips. Turning around, he walked towards the gates.

Aya, once again, stopped the Medicine Seller by calling out to him. "Kusuriuri-san!"

Running towards him, Aya looked up into his eyes and said to him in a voice only he could hear, "If, supposedly, by the end of time, my plan to unite all youkais and leave the world of the living is successful, please, if you could, please come back to me."

The Medicine Seller is surprised. She had not only told him of her dreams, but had also wanted him to share that dream with her. He couldn't help but to feel his heart swell up in happiness. Smiling, the Medicine Seller gathered a lock of her hair which had fallen in front of her shoulders and kissed it lightly, "I will pray for that day to come."

"And please," Aya added, "Stay safe."

"I will," said the Medicine Seller, his lips now a wide smile.

Wrapping her arms around the Medicine Seller, Aya whispered to him softly and sincerely, "I know you might not believe this, but deep down in my heart, I love you, and will love you for eternity."

Caressing her hair, the Medicine Seller said knowingly to her, "I know, and I believe you. Like you said, Nurarihyons don't lie, right?"

Extracting herself from his arms, the female Nurarihyon said with a wide smile on her face. "Yes, and we keep our promises until the end of time."

Stepping away from him, Aya clasped both of her hands together and said to the Medicine Seller as he stepped over the gate, leaving the boarder of the hidden world. "We will see each other again."

Written on: 19th of July 2010

A/N: I'm sorry this came so late. I have tons of stuff happening this past few months, and it's been hard to squeeze an idea out of my head right now. I would appreciate it a lot if there is a review! Thank you for viewing and reading!