A Meeting and A Dream.

A K.N.M. Fan fiction.

I do not own Kannazuki no Miko, this story belongs to me however. Please respect the ideas of myself,

and others. Thank you.

NOTE: (No note, note)

Chapter 20: Reasons Given.

It had been a few weeks since the fight at the shrine and everything had returned to what constituted as normal for Himeko and Chikane. There were a few things still left to address but for the most part nothing too exciting was happening. Currently the two girls were in bed with their arms embracing one another and eyes closed, sleeping comfortably. It was a position they had been in a few times since they met, but today it felt even more important than normal. Chikane had become a lot more wary of letting Himeko out of her sight after the abduction, even with Himeko saying it was fine. There had been an argument, though short, about when they would have time together and Chikane's responsibility to keep the woman safe. It had ended, as it always seemed to, with the blond blaming herself for the events in the past and Chikane trying to convince her that it was okay. It was like a back and forth game of tennis where nobody really won but nobody lost either. Later they had talked with a calmer presence of mind and there had been an agreement to let Himeko be alone as long as she was not at home. Of course, this would mean that Chikane would get to do whatever she needed to keep the woman close when Himeko was home.

Mostly keeping the woman close involved so much cuddling that Himeko had started to get the feeling she was a comfortable pillow more than a person, not that she minded this. It was true what Chikane had said before, people do change and are always changing. Something had happened to her that made her realize her own mortality, something Chikane did not want to experience again. She had been cautious, heeding the doctors orders about her injuries after she had went for a check-up after the fight. Her hand had healed completely and the only evidence of her ever being frozen was a light scar that she was told would disappear in time. All of this Chikane had told her, but Himeko was sure there was something else she was holding back. The blond saw it every time they mentioned their future, a kind of regretful look passed over Chikane's face. These were all problems that were better left for the future.

Now was what mattered, now was laying next to Chikane and watching her breath in and out slowly. It was the only time in a while she had been calm. Himeko leaned in and was close to kissing her but pulled back at the last minute, afraid that she would wake the woman and shatter the calm. Chikane had so much to worry about, so much stress that was difficult for Himeko to comprehend. Even beginning to realize the things that stressed her lover could be enough to make her head spin. There was often venting about the hardships of work that involved words that Himeko had difficulty putting into context.

Instead of a kiss she gently placed a hand on the other womans face and moved a lock of hair out of the way, letting her hand caress it gently. Recently days had always started like this and ended with everyone so busy that there was no time to spend with each other. Himeko had school, Chikane had work, Souma also had to work, and Makoto was only ever seen while they were in class. The blond rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling as if she was blaming it for her problems. It was her fault for assuming that everything would return to "normal" after the curse had been lifted and the fox spirit had been dealt with. Defeated was the wrong word, they had all lost horribly.

It was hardest on Chikane, who seemed to think that Himeko getting kidnapped was her fault for some stupid reason. It was not as if she could have done anything about it. Of course Himeko knew that this fact alone was not enough to convince the dark haired woman that she was not responsible.

"Himeko?"

The blond turned to the voice, "Yeah, Chikane-chan?"

There was restless shuffling as the woman drew her head from underneath the covers of the bed. She had been sleeping that way ever since it had begun to get colder and it made her appear cute. Cute was something Chikane did not accomplish often, which made it even more so. As her head popped out from the blanket she rubbed her sleep-heavy eyes and blinked. Her hair was messy with strands doing whatever they wanted. This was not the normally sexy Chikane that the public knew. This was the cute Chikane-chan that only she was familiar with.

"Meany, you made me think you left."

"Don't act cute like that," Himeko said quietly.

Chikane dropped the act and her eyes narrowed into their usual sexy look as she crawled over to Himeko as if she was a wolf hunting her prey. Normally this would have registered average on the sexy scale. The fact that she was naked on top of that made it more of a superior sexiness. Himeko quickly put a hand to her nose as she felt blood rushing to her head. The blond cursed her perverted thoughts once again.

Chikane leaned in and gave her a kiss on the forehead with a low chuckle, "Himeko's a pervert."

"Who's fault is that," The blond protested a little too loudly, "Jeez."

Despite the protests of the blond woman she reached out and embraced Chikane around the neck, pulling her in for a kiss. This part was back to how it had been at least. The dark-haired girls hand traveled down to Himeko's breast and lingered for a second before continuing down towards her stomach and beyond. Gasps of pleasure escaped as Himeko felt her body spasm uncontrollably and she drew her tormentor into a tighter embrace, searching for some stability. This only increased the intensity and after a while Himeko was sweating and concentrating on holding her voice in, all other thoughts forgotten. Then it was over and the blond collapsed back onto the bed with a final gasp, totally dominated by her lovers caress. Chikane smiled and gave Himeko a deep kiss.

"Sorry, but I could not help myself," The woman said as she let her marine blue eyes stare deeply into Himeko's amethyst eyes.

The blond smiled and placed a hand behind Chikane's head and drew her in closer, whispering, "That's fine but I get to pay you back now."

Chikane blinked before she felt Himeko's sudden embrace and gasped, her mind going blank as she was rolled to her back. The blond continued to tease the woman and they both lost track of time. Time passed and both girls finished, laying gasping on the bed in each others arms.

"Chikane-chan?"

The dark haired woman looked at Himeko in the eyes with a smile, "What is it, my love?"

"I was just wondering if you feel lonely when I'm gone," Himeko said, "I know it's hard for you to be apart because we have had trouble in the past. It's just that I feel so glad to be near you and sad when we're apart. Do you feel the same?"

Chikane brought her hand up behind Himeko's neck and for a second the blond thought another kiss was coming until their foreheads hit lightly, "You are so funny, Himeko. Sometimes I don't know if you're acting like this on purpose or you really are that dense. Of course I'm lonely when you're gone and I worry about you more than anything in my life. If you're concerned about something I will do my best to solve the problem, because I can not see you in pain."

"Just promise me one thing," Himeko said as she closed her eyes and allowed herself to sink into her lover, "I won't ask you to tell me everything, but please try not to scare me. If you start to act distant please tell me what is bothering you."

Chikane smiled, "I will, I promise."

--(A Visit)--

Though they had left on business a few days ago, Chikane's parents did not take long to come back. They were worried about their daughter who had been hurt before they left, and seemed to be emotionally unstable. When they arrived they found the two women eating breakfast and Chikane was so surprised she nearly choked on the food she had been eating. The two adults scooped their daughter into their arms and left Himeko sitting in bewildered shock with a half-finished plate of food. The blond finished and quietly left the family to talk amongst themselves, her companion noticing but unable to comment with the smothering her parents gave her.

"I'm glad you're better," Her mother said, "how are you feeling."

"Fine, I'm doing fine," The dark haired woman said, "I actually do have something important to talk to you about. I need advice."

Her father lost his smile when he saw the look on her face, "What happened?"

Chikane took a deep breath and looked to make sure Himeko was still out of the room, "I don't think I can carry on the family line."

There was a pregnant pause before the older man sighed, "You mean because of your relationship."

"No," The woman found her legs shaking too much and sat slowly to make sure she would not fall over, "I got hurt protecting Himeko and cannot have a child. I also have to change my lifestyle so that I have less stress. My body was hurt and will take a while to recover from the wounds. Probably a couple years."

"I assume you told Himeko," Her mother said gently but firmly.

Chikane looked down guiltily, "No."

"Because you don't want to worry her," The older woman said, "My daughter is so foolish."

"You don't understand," The young woman said, "She would definitely blame herself for what happened. I can't do that to her."

Her mother said down next to her, "That may be true, but she will end up hurt even more if you try to keep it from her. As close as you two are it is impossible."

Chikane put her hands in her arms with a sigh, "I know, but I'm so confused. I never knew relationships were so hard. Can you help me tell her?"

"If that's what you want," Her mother replied, "Now that this issue is over with, we have to take care of the other problem."

"I accept that you will not carry on the family line as you are, but she can still do it," Her father stated.

"Are you telling me to make her have a child?" Chikane was livid.

The man held up his hands in a warding motion, "I'm not asking you to make her do anything. I just want you to consider it. I think you are too young as it is anyways."

Chikane looked horrified, "How could I do that to her? I need to consider her feelings also. I refuse to force my will on her this time."

"This time?" The woman's mother asked.

Nervously, Chikane waved her hand, "Never mind, its in the past anyways. I am not going to make her do what she does not want to do."

"I accepted your relationship, the least you can do is consider this as a possible outcome," Chikane's father said with growing irritation, "I never said to force her into the decision. The fact is that you can't have a child and if you do end up wanting one she can still accommodate such a decision. Consider it, that's all I ask of you, my daughter. I know well enough that neither of us can control you once you make a decision anyways."

The dark haired woman sighed and relented finally, "I get it. If it does come up I will ask Himeko about it and see what she thinks. If she says no, don't expect it to happen."

"I guess that's the best I can hope for," Her father said.

--(Oh boy)--

It had been quite the announcement when her parents finally helped her get up the nerve to talk to Himeko about her problems. It was not as if she could do anything about it, but the blond had reacted exactly as Chikane had predicted. Himeko's depression was quickly smothered by Chikane's mother as the older woman sat down next to the blond and comforted her. At length she was convinced that the injuries had not been her fault and they were able to move on to the more important matters between the two. Chikane started by telling the woman the little good news she could get out of the problems the injuries had caused. There was only one, but Chikane knew that Himeko would at least be happy because there would be more chance to spend time with her while she was going to school. It was when the dark-haired woman tried to tell Himeko the rest of the complications that everything started to fall apart and her mother decided that this conversation was going to a place she did not want to know. The older woman left the room quickly, leaving the two to talk.

"So you're saying that if you get into a stressful situation you could die?"

Chikane nodded hesitantly, "I know it is scary but I cannot do anything about it. The injuries will take time to heal. If we can continue a normal life there will be no problems. If there is another attack though..."

Himeko was suppressing her tears, "I don't want you to die!"

The dark-haired girl sighed, "I am not going to, I doubt there will be an attack in the future. The curse of the Orochi has been lifted from everyone and the burden of the sword has been removed from us. The only problem we have left is having to deal with the eternal cycle of rebirth we are caught in."

"I see," Himeko said when she calmed down a little, "That's good, as long as our life can stay normal then you will be able to live."

"Of course, this presents a problem for my other job as a musician," Chikane said as she moved to the bed of the room they were in and sat next to Himeko, "Though it is longer than planned I do not think it will be much problem, though."

The blond sighed, "Good," She leaned into Chikane and dried her tears, "You scare me so much, Chikane-chan, but as long as you don't leave me I'm fine."

Chikane wrapped an arm protectively around her lover, "I'm glad to hear that. I won't leave you as long as I have a choice," The woman paused and Himeko started to feel something wet fall on her head, "I'm sorry, Himeko, is it alright if I cry. I tried to stay strong for you, I'm sorry for worrying you."

The blond looked up and wiped a few teardrops away, "Everyone needs to cry sometimes. I don't mind, you've been strong enough for both of us. You're not alone anymore, Chikane-chan."

"I suppose you're right," Chikane said as she leaned into Himeko and let her tears flow into the woman's bosom, "I am not alone anymore."

"Chikane-chan..."

"Himeko..."

They both finished at the same time as they fell into each others embrace, "I love you."

Outside, the parents that had been listening smiled and closed the cracked open door, leaving the two girls alone in the room. There were sure to be complications in the future but that was true of any relationship where two people cared about one another. The bond was strong enough between the two women that it would take something with the force of an atomic bomb to tear them apart. Even then it would be a small chance of severing such a bond completely. Love can not change the laws of physics but it can make many things a lot easier to bear. It can also make the weak strong and bring happiness to even the most tragic lives. For Chikane and Himeko it worked its own little miracle and brought them together against the laws of the universe so they would be together and happy. Though nobody understands how it works, true love does exist in many different forms.

--(Hmmm.)--

That is it. The last paragraph may as well of been syrup as sappy as it was but I also think it was sweet, which is what I was going for. If someone were to take a bite of it their teeth would probably rot out immediately. This chapter is over and I might write another one as a kind of wrap up for the other characters. I still do not know for sure. Anyways, I finished the main story arch with Himeko and Chikane so officially this story is over. It may have a sequel but I'm not really planning as much as I left the ending pretty well wrapped up I think. The next story will probably be way different (I really wanted some fluffiness in this one) and I'm not sure if fans will accept it the same. I guess we will have to see. Oh, and I can't make any promises on the punctuality of the next story. Until next time...

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.