Fumbling with her simple kimono Ashi huffed swatting Tomoe's hands away when he tried to help for the fourth time. Scowling she finished rearranging the ridiculously light clothing, for this time of year anyway. "I told you I could do it and I did. Besides you're Kurama's familiar right now." Growling low the fox cast a glare at the smirking Tengu who had been watching them fuse over each other for the last 10 minutes.
"I will never be his anything. This isn't going to work." Smirking the fake land god waggled his finger.
"No, bad fox. Say you're sorry." Gritting his fangs the demon hissed pulling Ashi to his chest and inhaling deeply. Leveling the crow with a reddened stare he forced a weak apology out. Spinning the teen in his arms to face him Tomoe shook her for good measures.
"You must be careful, if anything happens get out." Knocking her knuckles gently against his forehead she snorted.
"Like hell, I know you two. If anything happens I'm the only one that can save your asses." Reaching up she tweaked his ears brushing her fingers over the tuft of fur that stuck out of them, he found it annoying, she thought it was adorable. "Besides nothing's going to go wrong. We'll be in and out before they know it." Nearing the gate she gave one last smile before following Botanmaru into the underbrush, she and him would take the back way and Kurama and his unwilling servant would make a grand entrance. Creeping along they ducked into an opened shoji door searching for the third chief.
"If you truly have become a god then you must know of the heavenly angel that was spotted under the 1000 year Sakura tree." Eyes flashing Tomoe clinched his fists.
'Those hands caused harm to Ashi. I should kill him for daring to even lay a finger on my-'
"Were you thinking of poisoning me with such weak sake?" Flexing his claws the demon rose, a mist surrounding his form. Running a hand through his now midnight black hair Tomoe smiled, clasping his hands together in a purely Ashi gesture he batted his eyelashes over sparkling teal eyes. Even the goddess didn't realize she did that, or maybe she just thought she was blinking either way he had been known to cave under the very look he was using now.
"If the sake isn't to your liking maybe letting an angelic maiden poor you a cup will make it worthwhile." Watching the dark tengu's gray eyes widen and a blush cover his face the fox wanted to ripe the crow's throat out for even looking at this form like that. Giggling he made his way over putting an extra sway to his hips before leaning against Jiro.
Growling, and sounding like a nearly perfect imitation of her favorite fox, the land goddess turned male tengu glared at the nearest wall deciding not to take her anger out on the tiny tengu that was supposed to be leading her around. With a tiny hiss Hikari leapt from her shoulder transforming before he hit the ground. "Kaa-san this place is covered in wards. Tomoe-dono has to break Jiro's train of thought before we can go any farther." The surroundings suddenly wavered and disappeared. Scowling the shikigami scrambled up her kimono and perched on her shoulder as they ducked into the inner garden directly across from the fourth chief's rooms. Peeking inside the land goddess sighed sensing an aura a little ways away but not detecting any others in this part of the temple.
"If we keep going we'll run into the main rooms where the chief normally stays." Nodding Ashi nudged the little crow forward following silently behind him.
Giving the dark crow the most disinterested look he could Tomoe smirked. "So even though you say you are unaffected, I can smell the lie in your scent. The truth is you find my form appealing." A thin layer of sweat broke out on Jiro's brow as his grey eyes darted around.
"What?" Smiling the fox demon leaned a little closer pressing his chest against the tengu's arm, mentally snarling when the bird demon blushed. "Fine I may like you, but that makes no sense. How could a women unsettle me so?" Leaning away the kitsune growled.
'This bird is pissing me off.' A sudden thought came to his mind and it took everything in him to keep from snarling his victory out loud. "If you're not man enough to look me in the eye, then I have nothing to say to you." Standing the fox tried to step away only for a hand to encircle his wrist.
"Wait a minute!" Finally giving in to the urge to snarl the wild fox spun around and caught him in the nose with a well-aimed upper cut, even though Jiro's nose had only just healed from where Ashi had broken it the day before. Letting his form melt away again Tomoe was seeing red.
"How dare you even attempt to touch Ashi's form with your vile hands." Clinching his fist the familiar sighed. "Looking at you is like looking at my past self, how infuriating." Slumped against the wall with a dazed look in his eyes the dark tengu blinked slowly.
"… Ashi? Her name is Ashi?"
"Jiro-sama! You've allowed the wards to fade and someone has broken in!"
Walking a circle around the frozen statue of Sojobo Ashi frowned placing a hand on his chest. "Are you sure this is him? I can't sense a soul within him at all." Climbing down her robe Hikari sniffed before shaking his head.
"Kaa-san if there is no soul, the peach pills won't work." Huffing the god looked around.
"I figured that. What are we gonna do now?" Tapping her chin she bent down to inspect a black feather.
"Kaa-san!"
"Ashi-sama!" A sudden blow to the head made her vision swim as she sank to the floor in unconsciousness. Fighting to pull her mind out of the darkness it was covered in Ashi hissed rubbing the back of her head, groaning when her hand came away covered in blood. Glancing up at the feral face of Jiro she yelped scooting away.
"You mean these weak boys are who got in the way?" Feeling Botanmaru and Hikari huddled behind her the marriage god hissed. "I never expected for you to be part of this Botanmaru!" Pushing Ashi out of the way Jiro swatted the tiny tengu into a wall. Watching the boy roll to a stop the girl felt something snap inside her. Stomping towards the smirking man the white winged goddess turned tengu snarled punching him in the face again. Moving between the two she planted her feet daring the dark haired male to take a step closer. "You would protect that weak child? Why?" Rubbing his cheek Jiro let his eyes wonder over Ashi's form. Crossing her arms the deity bared her fangs.
"Even you were weak at some point. Just because no one helped you doesn't mean others should die because they didn't become strong." Eyes widening the tengu grabbed her kimono pulling her forward.
"Bitch, thinking that you know how it feels!" Smacking his hand away she pushed him back giving a humorless laugh.
"To never know if you're going to survive the night? To wonder when your next meal will be? To hope someone feels enough pity to give you their hand-me-downs so you don't freeze to death? I've been on my own my whole life! Only I didn't become bitter and hateful! I choose to see the brighter side, I was alive." Gripping the front of his black robes she yanked him down to her level. "Now what the fuck did you do with Sojobo's soul?"
"Soul?" Bumping Jiro out of the way Yatori, the blond haired demon, smiled.
"Why don't you let me handle this while you keep an eye on the wild fox and Shinjiro?" Waving him away he continued. "Try not to be bewitched again, Jiro-san." Waiting for the crow to disappear from sight the blond rounded on them. "Now all I have to do is kill you and everything will be back on track." Retaking her stance Ashi shifted her weight and planted her feet gaze flickering to Hikari who nodded.
"Give it your best shot." Lunging forward a brilliant light surrounded the little shikigami and forced Yatori away. Blinking at the empty space in front of her Ashi groaned. "Crap I wanted to ask where he hid Sojobo's soul." Patting Hikari's head when the shikigami hopped to her shoulder the god clicked her tongue. "I think you went a little over board there, kit." Nuzzling her neck he yipped. "Thankfully we know how to deactivate Jiro's wards now so we should be able to find the soul we need." Scribbling on her sticky notes she motioned for Hikari to do his thing before letting the paper go and watching it fly after the silver and black fox. Picking the tiny tengu up she checked to make sure he was fine before passing him off to the first person she seen. "Please make sure he gets taken care of." Dodging a grabbing hand she smiled. "Nope can't touch me. I'm a girl! It's a sin." Flinching back they let her pass without trying to stop her.
Looking back at the silver trail they were leaving Ashi sighed rubbing her aching chest. A glowing trail wasn't too noticeable on a pale old wood floor right? Shaking her head she continued on. Hearing a shouting match from a few doors down she slid to a halt pushing the shoji open quietly. "These aren't the droids I'm looking for." Placing her hands on her hips she shook her head. "Really guys when I said I'd have to save your asses I didn't mean it. Hold on I'm almost done." Darting away she gaged feeling warm liquid coat the back of her throat. This was definitely the last run she was having for a while; if she kept her pace up she would end up in the hospital and dead before she graduated.
Wobbling into the room Botanmaru leaned against the cage telling the two demons everything they had found out after Jiro had left them, unaware that the adult tengu was standing in the doorway listening.
Staring at the Buddha statue Ashi wrinkled her brows. 'That can't be it… I don't sense anything in it.' Yelping as a hand passed right beside her cheek she jumped away seeing it was Jiro.
"Allow me to open it." Narrowing her eyes the goddess hissed.
"Like I'm gonna let you trick me with that shit. Stay back, ass wipe." Easily lifting the statue out of the way he shook his head.
"You are different then I thought a female would be." Eyeing him closely she bared a fang.
"I guess hanging out with demons will do that. Especially when they knock you out." Looking between her and the new hole in the wall he frowned.
"Stay here, I will apologize properly when I return." Gaping after him she huffed.
"I hate crows right now." Stomping after him she slowed when she reached his side. "Like hell I'm gonna let you do this alone. If you die I won't get to kill you myself." Pulling her sleeve up a bit she flashed it in the dim light of the cave. "I still owe you for this, jerkoff." Blinking slowly Jiro continued on, the angel had many strange sayings.
"Very well, then. If you do not wish to die stay on guard." Feeling a strong aura pulse beneath them Ashi's vision swam and she stumbled into Jiro's back clutching a hand full of feathers. They weren't as fine and silky as Kurama's but they were still soft and fluffy. Wrinkling her nose she sneezed and pulled away missing the look of wonder that crossed the dark tengu's face. No one had dared touch his feathers in years and this little female just tumbled into him. The land god wondered for a second what her feathers felt like, she hadn't touched them yet so she wouldn't know. Kurama on the other hand had been constantly running his fingers over the longest ends when Tomoe wasn't looking. The crow was missing Ami something awful. Ashi needed something to distract herself from the fact that she was following a demon to a pit that could likely be her death bed. Wait did she even have any powers in this form? Wrinkling her forehead in thought she scribbled another sticky note and tucked it beside the one that gave her wings. Twitching the newly grown tail and ears she nodded to herself. She at least knew how to defend herself in this form. Slowing when they reached the massive hole that kept the lightning lion in the mountain she whistled staring down at the darkness below.
"That's a hell of a drop." Narrowing tan orbs the tengu spread his wings.
"Stay here." Rolling her shoulders the goddess snorted, letting here snowy wings stretch out before she hopped off the cliff.
"Fuck that shit. I don't trust you, chicken brain." Dropping several feet she remembered to flap to slow her descent and stay air born. Blinking wide eyes Jiro dove off the ledge after her, startled by her courage and stupidity.
"Wait! You don't know what you're doing!" Tucking her wings back in when she landed the teal eyed female sighed. Sure now he was worried about her. Not when he was trying to kill her. A sudden gust of hot air tickled the back of her neck, jerking around she screeched. How could something that big get that close without her hearing it? Scrambling backwards the land god tackled Jiro out of the way throwing up a wall of black foxfire a spilt second before a bolt of lightning smacked into them. Panting she gagged rolling off of the much bigger crow. One more energy attack and she was done for. She had to make a snap decision, save herself or save Jiro when the electric demon moved in for another attack. Covering all of the tengu she could Ashi braced for the pain that would surely come, only for Jiro to push her off of him and take her place. She knew when the attack hit because some of it passed into her through Jiro's hands that gripped her shoulders harder than need be. Staring wide eyed at the man she grit her teeth easing him down off of her.
"You, asshole! Why would you do that? Why couldn't you just let me take the hit?" Wild Youki filled the air making it hard to breath, Tomoe was close by, he could handle this. Fumbling with the bottle of peach pills she forced one into Jiro's mouth sniffling. Dammit it was okay for her to die, she only had a few months anyway but for someone else to die in her place was unacceptable. Mizuki had been teaching her how to heal, maybe what little energy she had left would be enough to restore his wings. Tomoe and Kurama could find the missing soul by themselves. Her power pulsed through her hands into the body slumped on her lap. Blinking rapidly to keep from crying she froze when a rough finger brushed under her eye wiping a stray tear away.
"Don't cry, I made a choice and I have no regrets. I couldn't allow the female I care for to be injured." Ignoring the last statement she shook her head. Inhaling deeply Ashi gagged again for a completely different reason this time. Cooked flesh doesn't smell good, burnt feathers gave off an awful odor too. The pain this poor man was in was probably unbearable. Forcing the last of her power to heal what she could the goddess's world faded to black as fire and smoke invaded her senses. At least the fox was finally there, he'd take care of things.
A youkai can only take so much until he feels like burning everything around him down. Ashi wasn't waking up. His goddess had been unconscious for 3 days. He was going mad with worry and fury and he didn't know why. The annoying girl was his master, his friend, maybe even his companion, but the way he felt made him want to yowl. She was his! For three days he'd sit by her side watching every move she made, willing her chest to keep rising and falling. Her heart was weak, and her spirit was barely there. Her aura wouldn't respond to anything he did. Even the bastard tengu, both of them, had begun to steer clear of the room the kitsune had claimed as theirs. It wasn't any of their business if they couldn't tell him what was wrong. Why wasn't she waking up? Surely she'd had enough time to regain her strength. Ashi would be fine, they'd see, she'd wake up any minute now and call him a dork for doing nothing but sit in one place for 72 hours. So what if he couldn't get his youki under enough control to change back to his human form. Ashi would love to pet his ears and brush his tail, she was the only person he trusted to do it anyway. She only had to wake up, open her eyes and he'd give her anything she wanted. Unlimited ear and tail access, done. More trips to demon world, hell he'd even introduce her to his other brothers if she'd do anything but lay there like she was dead. Whining softly he licked her palm nosing the delicate skin with his snout. The pale appendage gave a slight twitch.
Ashi really had to talk to someone about this horribly stiff mattress she was sleeping on. Her body ached in places she didn't even know she had. Hissing when something nipped her fingers the teen cracked an eye open staring into glittering violet. What a pretty shade of purple. She knew that look from somewhere, didn't Tomoe have eyes like that…. Jerking up in bed the marriage deity cursed when every muscle in her body screamed in protest. That was a good way to start the day. She was light headed, sore, and in great pain. What the hell kind of party had she gone to? A gentle nudge had her looking up again as clawed hands smoothed over her face like she was made of glass. Why was Tomoe acting like she was going to break? She was made of tougher stuff than that. Wait when had he turned back into a humanoid? Blinking slowly she realized he'd been talking.
"-ever do that to me again!" Narrowing her eyes the teen nodded.
"Okay. Repeat that." Snarling the wild fox bared his lengthened fangs as his violet eyes flashed gold for a second.
"Don't you ever do that to me again, you stupid girl!" Frowning she yawned nodding faintly again. She was too far gone to start an argument right now. And she really didn't think Tomoe was in the mood to argue anyway. "So help me, if you ever do something so ignorant or selfish again I will kill you myself!" Leaning away from him she pressed her lips, mind quickly coming up to normal speed.
"Selfish? How was trying to save Jiro's life selfish?"
"You were going to leave me!" Both uniquely colored pairs of eyes widened. One because he hadn't meant to say that out loud and the other because she didn't know her death would be that hard on him in the first place. Tomoe wouldn't survive being alone again in the shrine. She had to find Mikage soon.
Sitting under the thousand year Sakura tree Ashi watched the petals float to the ground slowly, mindful of the feline eyes that never strayed far from her form. Tomoe wasn't letting her out of his sight anytime soon. Since she'd woken up yesterday the kitsune hadn't left her side, even when she'd gone to the bathroom. He'd stood right outside the door as annoying as that was. Her being a sleep for three days had really freaked the demon out. Feeling an energy spike inside the temple Ashi sighed. Jiro had made a full recovery thanks to her peach pills. Tomoe had been reluctant to let her see the crow though. Actually she hadn't really seen anyone but Hikari. Pushing to her feet she scowled when the fox hurried to her side.
"I swear, Foxy, I'm fine. I'm just going to see Jiro before we leave, okay?" Regardless of what he said the god was going to see the crow. Starting forward at a leisurely pace she grinned. With the chief back in health the mountain was a much happier place, and more beautiful too. Kurama was evening throwing a party tonight before they left. Ashi was going to terrorize everyone there because the older tengu were still ignoring her because she was a girl. Except Jiro the creeper had been watching her ever since she'd gotten out of the room she'd been in for 3 days. He wouldn't get too close because Tomoe would ward him away but he was there most of the time.
Imagine her annoyance when she couldn't find the damned crow anywhere when she wanted to talk to the bear-like man. But he wasn't getting away this time. He was surrounded by others and just disappearing would be disrespectful. Scowling behind his mistress the wild fox growled catching her bruised wrist in a gentle hold. "Are you sure you want to do this? You owe him you thanks." Turning her head to look up at her familiar Ashi grinned petting the fluffy tail that swiped at her leg.
"Foxy, he saved my life and nearly gave his own doing it. That deserves some form of gratitude even if he is an ass." Shuffling over and smiling at the white crow beside Jiro the god motioned with her hands, nodding Suiro stood and made an excuse. "You know for such a hard ass, you sure do enjoy dodging me." Choking on his sake Jiro coughed nearly killing over when the female whacked him in the back with her hand. "Geez, chill out. I'm not gonna eat you, chicken brain." Wiping his mouth Jiro patted the cushion beside him looking away pointedly.
"Sit by me, onna." Rolling her eyes the teen plopped down sitting crisscross drawing a look from the bigger male. "You are very strange." Ashi shrugged nibbling on a bun, ducking when the demon next to her stood and spun away she sighed.
"You're a weird one, too. I wanted to thank you for saving me, even though it was stupid and nearly killed you." Jiro slumped.
"I was returning the favor, I couldn't allow you to be hurt. My body just acted." She nodded lightly watching another demon leave.
"I know girls aren't supposed to be here but they could be a little more subtle about it." Jiro smirked setting his cup of sake down. Pulling her into his lap the tengu pushed to his feet before launching onto the air. Ashi faintly heard the loud snarl as Tomoe started to give chase. "Down Foxy, I'll be back soon!" The demon only got louder but stopped his pursuit. Wiggling around when the crow landed on one of the higher branches of the Sakura tree she slid from his arms smoothing her shirt and hair. Looking up she smiled realizing just how big Jiro actually was. The demon might even be considered attractive if she wasn't on a short time line. Ashi was never one to be feminine but sitting amongst the rose buds she stared in awe. It was so beautiful up here.
"Do you like the mountain's country side? The air is clean here and the little ones enjoy you." He sucked in a deep breath slowly letting it out. "You could stay here, forever if you wanted." Midnight eyebrows shot up in surprise, she wasn't expecting the dark tengu too be so forward about this. Damn now she had to let him down easy, or she could do it true Ashi style and tell it like it was. What the hell.
"I'm dying. I'm flattered that you asked me, but I have things I need to do before my body gives out. I'll be your friend if you'll allow me but other than that I don't have enough time to start a relationship, I'll probably be dead by the end of next year if not sooner." Taking in his wide eyed expression she laughed petting his wings like she did to Kurama's. "You can stop by the shrine and I'll see if I can point you in the right direction of your true mate, I am a marriage goddess after all." Sputtering he blushed. She was a god and he had asked her to stay here, and she was dying.
"Never mind then, the offer is always open." Reaching into his robes he pulled the bottle of peach pills out placing them on her hand. Blinking she raised an eyebrow before sighing and shoving them in her pocket.
"I was hoping I'd have to ask you to give them to me. I wanted to trade you one of your feathers for the ones you took to recover." Pulling Kurama's feather from her hair she smiled twirling it in her fingers. "I love collecting demon things." Reaching back the tengu pulled a feather free holding it out to her. It was several inches longer than the one already in her hand and a shade darker too. "Thank you. I only got Shinjuro's because it was already falling out when I was molesting him." Jiro blinked taking a half step back out of caution. Yes this little female was strange indeed. "Could you let Tomoe know that he can come up when you leave? I wanna stay here for a while."
Feeling a tick form over his eye the kitsune bared a fang at Kurama as he walked away. He knew what the crow said was true but that didn't make it any more helpful. Darting up the tree as soon as he saw the dark tengu leave without his goddess the fox perched behind her staring at the picture she made simply standing in a cherry blossom tree. There was something truly divine about this girl and he was going to take all the time he needed to figure it out. "Have a nice chat?" Humming lowly the teen nodded holding the two feathers out for him.
"Could you put this in my hair? I can never make them stay." Ears dropping he marched forward snatching them from her fingers before kneeling before her and running his claws through her glossy black hair.
"Why do you insist that you have tengu feathers? They are the plainest plumage in the demon world. If you wished I could purchase phoenix or griffon feathers next time we go to the market." She grinned enjoying the feeling of his hands weaving through her tresses.
"Because I'm not friends with a phoenix or a griffon. Each of my closest friend have a place in my heart." Smoothing the feathers she started. "Kurama and Jiro." Covering the tear drop necklace she always had close to her heart she rubbed a nail over the tip of his ear. "You." And the last was a scale bracelet that had a charm the swamp princess had given her upon seeing the present the snake familiar had given her some months ago when he'd moved into the temple. "Mizuki and Himemiko." Blinking the fox set back staring at the deity memorizing everything about her in this moment. She was something else to truly befriend so many demons and have them care for her just as much in turn. "I know it might sound stupid to you but each of these people have made my life better in some way. They've helped me through something. But you, you help me through every day of living by just being there. You mean the world to me, Tomoe. I hope you know that." Standing she tugged him to his feet. "Alright enough with the sappy bullshit, they had sake and I'm gonna get drunk!" Rolling his eyes the demon scooped the female up into his arms and jumped from the tree scaring some of the younger tengu when he landed suddenly. Letting his goddess hop from his hold the kitsune watched Ashi tackle Kurama from behind messy his hair and ruffling his feathers before trying to do the same to Jiro who only looked at her in amusement because she couldn't reach his head.
'You are my world, Ashi. Never doubt that for a second. I may not say it but I will someday.'
Oh my god I am so sorry to have left this story for so long. My laptop crashed and I had it fixed. Then it crashed ago before I could get anything off of it. So I had to buy a new one, after wasting the money on the old one. Thank god for flash drives though. Only my dog chewed mine up I'm surprised the light still works on it. Its basically just a usb end and a black chip. Anyway hopefully nothing happens to the next chapter.
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