The spider youkai had a concerned look on her face, while trying to see the oni king and the queen on the festival.

"They are going to be okay." The human said, gently.

She looked at him. Shuichirou offered Kaguya a cup of sake. They had plenty of food and drink on the plataform.

"There are so many youkais in here. I cannot be at ease." She drank a small sip of the liquid.

"Nothing will happen. Hime-sama is always locked inside the castle, she needs some time out too. I am sure Ryoma-sama only wants to see her happy."

"I think you are right." She looked at him kindly. "Did you see? She called him by his name." she looked at her reflection on the cup with a small smile. "They got really close."

"Kaguya."

"Yes?" she noticed he was serious. "What is wrong?"

"Do you still have any feelings for Ryoma-sama?"

"I have feelings of friendship and concern for his well-being, just like you and Kunimitsu." She put the cup down on the floor and held his hand. "But my heart is yours now, Shuichirou."

"I am so glad."

"Did you still have doubts? Don't we always sleep inside each other embraces since our first kiss? Just being by your side, it makes me happy."

"Kaguya." he looked at her seriously. "Let's get married."

"Married?" the blue eyes were big in surprise.

"I want you as my wife. I want to be with you forever and share my future. I promise I will make you even happier."

"Yes." She responded immediately, without any hesitation, showing him the sweetest smile.

Shuichirou felt his heart turned inside his chest.

They exchanged one small and quick kiss filled with love, before returning to sit side by side, their hands joined together, waiting for Ryoma and Sakuno to return so they could be the first to know about the good news.

########

"Are you not hungry, Sakuno?" Ryoma asked, when they were walking towards the temple. "You ate so little on lunch time."

"Not really. I am not being able to eat much lately." She smiled at him.

"What do you mean?"

"It's been a while already, but I am feeling a little nauseated sometimes."

"Did you talk to Kaguya about it? Why did you not say anything to me?"

"You were so busy; I did not want to worry you. I am sure it is nothing serious. Maybe I am just affected by the summer heat."

"I see. But, I would be more at ease if Kaguya examinated you when we return home. Please?"

"Yes, Ryoma." She smiled, trying to ease his concern.

##########

They arrived at the temple's front. There were many youkais offering flowers and fruits to the gods and praying.

Ryoma had bought a small bouquet of the last sunflowers of the season and Sakuno placed on the altar of offerings. Some youkai were surprised to see the human queen there, paying respect to their gods as well.

The couple reached the praying area and he had a small smile on his face while watching her with her hands together and eyes closed.

"What did you ask for, wife?"

"Happiness on your country. And that Asami-san's baby can be born safely and with health."

"Those are very good wishes." The golden eyes were kind. "Didn't you ask anything for yourself?"

She moved her head negatively.

"I already have everything I could ever wish for." She smiled, before holding his arm again.

Ryoma kissed her forehead, but looked at her seriously after.

"Is something wrong?"

"Your smell."

"Eh?" He sniffed his wife's hair. "Don't do that, it is strange! What is it? Do I smell bad?"

"Not at all." He had a puzzled look. Although his scent on her remained, there was a hint of something else. "You smell sweet. Like honey."

"Honey?" she looked at her own arms. "I did not use anything like that on bath today."

"Odd."

"Well, at least it is not something foul." She smiled. "Let's go back, Ryoma. Shuichirou-san and Kaguya-san are probably waiting for us already."

#########

"Here, Asami." Kunimitsu offered to his wife some yakitori he had bought. They were sitting on the food court, surrounded by other youkais while they were eating. "Thank you, my love." She smiled, before starting to eat the chicken on the stick politely. He started to eat his as well.

"Aren't you tired? You walked so much with me. Do you want me to take you to the platform and rest?"

"I am perfectly fine! I spent so much time in bed, it is good for my body to walk around. And, since I will be getting bigger soon, I will not be able to accompany you so often. So, I am really happy I am able to do it today."

He kissed her cheek and looked at her amorously.

"Thank you for your company, Asami." He looked around and there was a discreet smile on his face. "I am so glad the opening night is running smoothly. Our lord must be satisfied."

"I hope Hime-sama is enjoying herself too."

##########

They were almost returning to the platform when they heard loud music.

"What is it?"

"Ah, it is time for the odori. They dance and sing for the gods. It is very lively and it can drag someone inside, so let's avoid it. It could be dangerous." He held his wife's hand. "Let's go this way."

"Eh? I want to see it!"

"We can watch from the platform."

"But it would be more fun from here!" she stopped in front of him and looked at her husband with pledging eyes. "Please, Ryoma!"

He took a deep breath, defeated.

"All right. But, stay by my side, otherwise you will get lost."

"Yes!"

Syuusuke was standing high on a pole, watching the festival from above. He had a confused look when seeing his lord and the princess walking towards the big dancing crowd.

"What are they doing?" He moved quickly and was a few meters from them, watching from afar.

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

"Wow!" Sakuno was so happy. The youkai band and the dancers were coming close. She was still holding Ryoma's hand, but trying to look better.

"Wait a minute, wife." He picked her up and put her to sit on his shoulder. "Better?"

"Yes!" she grinned. Sometimes she forgot how strong her husband was.

In a few minutes the place they were was totally full and the youkais didn't even notice their king was there. As the band got closer, the pushing intensify and Sakuno was having trouble to sit still.

"Sakuno, let's go." He put his wife on the ground again, but before they could leave, the princess was pushed inside the mass.

"Ryoma!" she stretched her arm, trying to reach him.

"Sakuno!" the king was desperately doing his best to follow her, but there were many taller and stronger youkai in the way and he could not use his powers. It was a celebration and it could ruin it.

The golden eyes were wide in despair, when he could no longer see her in front of him, his wife gone inside a sea of youkais.

##########

"Excuse me, please, let me pass!" Sakuno was being pushed around for a while now and she didn't now how far she was from Ryoma.

Suddently she felt arms around her body and when she looked up, Syuusuke was carrying her on his arms, taking great leaps on the youkai's heads.

"Sorry, sorry, excuse me!" he said, when they complained. "The queen is passing!"

"Syuusuke-san!" she smiled at him.

"Do not worry, Hime-sama, you are safe." He smiled gently at her.

It took a while for them to be in a less crowded spot. He put her on the ground and checked her face.

"Are you all right, my lady?! Were you hurt?!"

"I am fine, Syuusuke-san, I was just afraid. Thank you so much for rescuing me!"

"That is my job, Hime-sama. But, why were you and Ryoma-sama inside the odori?"

"It was my fault." She said, sadly. "I was the one who insisted. Ryoma must be so worried, we must go back to the platform!"

"Of course, we will go at once!" before the kitsune could held his lady on his arms again and take her to her husband, a dart was thrown from one dark ally and hit his neck, making the fox demon to fall on the ground like a rock immediately.

"Syuusuke-san!" Sakuno kneeled by his side, touching his body. He had a painful look on his face and his whole skin was pale. "What happened?!"

His form changed to the one before, without the nine tails or the sharp theeth and he became shorter and thinner once more.

"What is this?" she noticed the dart and pulled from his neck, showing it to him.

"My powers… I cannot…" he tried to stand but all his body was paralyzed and his eyes were so heavy.

"Syuusuke-san!" she was on the verge of tears. The princess pulled him to rest his head on her lap. "Please, stay with me!"

The kitsune blue eyes were wide, when he saw the figure in back coming near his queen holding a shining blade. He made a great effort to move, but it was in vain.

"Hime-sama, be careful!" Sakuno turned around and put her arms in front of her face, trying to protect herself from the attacker.

Big blood tears stained the floor near them and Sakuno held her arm, close. He had cut her hand deeply and the blood was flowing.

"What…"

The attacker turned around and ran away, before she could complete her questions.

"I thought he was going to kill me…." She looked at her wound and the blood was dripping on her arm.

"Hime-sama, you must…leave. Go find Ryoma-sama! Now!"

"I will not leave you behind!"

"You must go! Your blood…"

His sentence was interrupted by the loud roar of many youkais that appeared around them. They had blank eyes and predatory expressions, their teeth showing while drooling was coming down from their mouths.

"Blood… it is human blood!"

Sakuno felt her entire body froze instantly and she was unable to breath.