Disclaimer: I do not own the Kamisama Hajimemashita/Kamisama Kiss series or any of the characters who have been featured so far. I only own the right to entertain others.

Chapter 25: Meeting the parents

Nanami awoke to a warm, quiet room. The curtains were still closed, allowing only a thin gauze of daubed light to cascade over her. It must have been late afternoon. Why hadn't Tomoe ordered her to rouse at seven a.m. on the dot like usual? She jumped to her feet and felt dizziness overcome her. She stumbled and fell flat on her face. Why wasn't Tomoe there to catch her? Still dressed in her sleeping attire, she staggered through the Shrine to find Mizuki playing real-life snakes and ladders with the shrine spirits.

'Ohayo, Nanami!'

'Ohayo. Where's Tomoe?'

Mizuki's cheerful demeanour faltered.

'He's outside, Nanami-chan...'

The God muttered her thanks before sliding open the screen door and stepping onto the warm wooden porch. She allowed her gaze to wander before pausing at two figures beneath the arch. There was her beloved Tomoe, his chin-length silver hair fluttering in the lazy breeze, but there was another she didn't recognise. Her silky black hair reached far beyond her waist, a liquid shine to it as it rippled. Her eyes flashed gold and were framed by thick black lashes. Her ivory skin met the pink of her plump, full lips. Her tall, feline body was robed in a silk kimono, daubed with butterflies.

She was the personification of perfection.

She turned away from Tomoe and flashed her cold, hard eyes at Nanami. Her lips turned up at the edges and she granted her a subdued wave before fading into nothing.

Tomoe watched the place she disappeared for a while longer before switching his hurt gaze to Nanami.

He yanked the sleeves of his kimono down from his elbows and stormed past Nanami.

She was so pretty. Tomoe looked mad. Is he mad? Of course he's mad. She was beautiful.

Nanami sighed. She could never be as pretty as that woman. She was obviously not human, no mortal could look so flawless.

A knock sounded at the door and Nanami sat up on her futon. 'Come in,' she mumbled.

Tomoe uncertainly entered and sat beside her.

'Hey, Nanami?'

'Yeah?'

'Sorry about earlier.'

'It's okay.'

They sat in silence for a while, both looking at the floor awkwardly.

'Tomoe?'

'Mhm?'

'Who was that woman?'

Her familiar went pink, then white, then pinky-white.

'She's no one.'

'Tell me!' Nanami whined, and at once the order took place.

'Don't laugh but… that is my okaa-san.'

Tomoe's… MOM?!

Nanami spluttered. 'Whaaaaaaaat?!'

'It takes a lot of explaining.'

'I'm listening.'

'Well… I come from an incredibly old demon family. The most prestigious in existence. There is no trace of human blood in our ancestral line. Demons a long time ago liked to believe they would be more powerful that way, humans are weak and pathetic and would soil our bloodline. That's what they believed – and some,' Tomoe pursed his lips, 'still believe that. Well some marriages were arranged to keep the bloodline pure. My father was extremely powerful, a demon fox of such skill none dared approached him. His marriage was arranged carefully. She would have wealth at least equal to his own and beauty of such that would strike envy in the heart of any man. His marriage came as a shock to all however. She was beautiful of course, and wealthy, but she wasn't a demon.

'She was a human. As he had "soiled" the bloodline of our family, he was disowned, stripped of his wealth and his power. He was eventually killed by humans and burnt at the stake.'

'I'm sorry,' Nanami said softly.

Tomoe looked her in the eyes.

'His wife mourned. She was a frail human but she did love him. She accepted him. Her husband's death left her broken. She had been carrying his child but she couldn't carry on being. She visited a shaman and begged for help. Pleaded, even. He knew the family of demons well, they caused so much evil, torturing humans was a sport then. But he also knew of my father's demise and he wished to help my mother. He left her to rest and when she woke, her skin was pale, her eyes gold. She knew she was no longer human. For the first time, she worried about the infant inside her. The only remaining descent of our bloodline.

She left silently. She lived alone, when the child came, she named him after her husband, Tomoe. He looked exactly like his father except for his eyes. He had his mother's eyes. She raised him as best she could. He grew astonishingly quick but didn't age past his twenties. Then humans raided their home. They were no match for this child and he defeated them easily but his mother was gone. He took revenge on all humans from then on, his past was a blur of bloodshed and woe. He befriended another demon and they chose who lived and died.

'I'm not proud of my past, Nanami. I know you think I am, but I'm not.'

Nanami nodded and hugged him silently. 'I know.'

'Since then I sometimes see my mother. She visits the Shrine once every year, always when Spring turns to Summer. When my father died. I know she's not alive,' he assured Nanami, 'but it's nice to see her. She doesn't stay nearly long enough. Next year…'

'Yes?'

'I'd like for you to meet her.'

They were silent for a while before Nanami kissed him gently.

'I'd love to.'

A/N: :c Aw. Aw ;-; My Tomoe :'c And have you guys read the latest chapter of the manga? *-* *Will not spoil* JUST DO IT.

Messages:

Thank you for your awesome reviews! I love you all :p

Review pretty please with cookies on top :3

If you have the time, please check out my other story, a Harry Potter fanfiction called Marauders and Muggles? Thanks!

I accept anonymous reviews.

Any scenarios you want me to write, just tell me.

Any flames/criticism is accepted.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!