"My lord?" she poured him some tea. They were finishing having breakfast on their chambers.

"Yes?"

"I want to visit your mother's grave and pay my respects when we return home. Is that all right?"

"Of course." he said, before eating some grilled pork.

"I also want to meet your father."

"Oh, wife." He looked at her with a small smile. "That is impossible."

"Why?"

"First, he will not welcome me in his house. Second, he hates humans, aside from Shuichirou. Third, he is probably going to eat you and I am too young to be a widower."

"I am sure he will not do that!"

"He will." The demon lord said, after eating the last mushroom of his plate.

"If I just could talk to him, maybe…"

"Sakuno." His voice and expression were serious. "You cannot go. It would cause me a great deal of problems if my own father devoured you."

"I am sorry, my lord." She lowered her head, sadly.

His hand was on top of her head and he caressed her hair gently.

"I also do not want you to risk yourself. I know you want to help, but, there are things you cannot do."

"But, he is your family. Don't you miss him?"

The golden eyes were kind when looking at the scarlet ones.

"You are my family now." He kissed her cheek. "I am okay."

He stood up and Sakuno accompanied him with her eyes. That matter was not set yet.

#########

They were on the tengu's chief house again. Katsuro had offered a roasted deer to celebrate his first grandchild.

All the village was invited. Ryoma and Sakuno were sitting under a tree on the gardens, watching the party from afar. The other tengus were still uncomfortable around them, so the demon lord thought it was better to be distant from their glares.

Kunimitsu had to stay with his wife's family, but he would constantly go there and check if everything was all right with the oni king and his wife. They had plenty of food and drinks.

"Ryoma-sama, you do not need to be here with me, it is okay." She was worried. "I can go back to the house."

"And lose the opportunity to show you off?"

The princess was wearing an expensive dark blue kimono with starts embroided in silver thread. Her hair was tight on a long braid.

"Also…" he laid on the towel they were sitting on, resting his head on his wife's lap. "It is a beautiful day. It would be a pity to spend it indoors."

Sakuno smiled and started to caress his hair. He closed his eyes, enjoying the petting of his wife's fingers.

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

"They are so cute." Asami said, looking at them from afar. Kunimitsu was sitting by her side. "It is a good thing they are getting alone so well already."

The youkai remembered the night the princess was completely drunk and his king carried her to her chambers while she screamed, tossing and turning inside his arms.

"Yes, it is." He said, quietly.

"That boy has no shame." The chief complained. "Bringing that human to my celebration, making everyone witness this shameless union."

"Chichiue!" Asami scolded him. "Do not say such a thing about them!"

"Asami…" he was hurt. "Even you…"

"If you do not treat them properly, I will not let you meet your grandchild! You will never be called Ji-chan!"

"What?!" the tengu turned to his son-in-law. "Kunimitsu-san, are you going to allow such a thing?!"

He adjusted his glasses.

"I am, my lord. I also do not appreciate when you say bad things about Ryoma-sama and Hime-sama."

Ryuu was drinking sake by their side, completely silently, just watching the situation.

The tengu stood up and walked towards the couple, crossing the lawn while people stopped talking and paid attention to him.

"Asami."

"Yes, my love?"

"You just used our unborn child to blackmail your father."

"I know." She smiled at him.

"You are brilliant." Kunimitsu touched his wife's hand and kissed it.

"Such a weird couple." Ryuu thought to himself, continuing to drink and watching his father too.

###########

"Ryoma-sama?"

"Hm?" he responded with closed eyes.

"Katsuro-sama is coming towards us."

The oni king opened one of his eyes.

"Oh." He sat down and looked at the tengu with a half smile. "How can I help you, my lord?"

Katsuro sat down in front of them and made a deep reverence.

"I came to apologize for the way I talked to you two yesterday. It was very disrespectful."

Sakuno looked at Asami at the other side of the lawn and the female tengu waved a little at her.

"But!" he raised his face and looked at Sakuno. "I still cannot accept a weak human as our queen!"

"Weak?!"

"You have no powers and you probably do not have any talents! How can someone like you rule the youkai country?!"

The young lady stood up and looked at him like he was an insect about to be stepped on. She closed her wrists tightly and there was a deep frown on her face.

"I am not weak! I challenge you, my lord! Whatever the task is, I am going to beat you!"

Ryoma just looked at his wife with a satisfied smile on his face.