Slow and steady flowed the sands of time, like a river which never knew its destination, passing by other lives in the blink of an eye. But even for immortals, time's flow gradually became overwhelming, as it carried away many precious memories which encompassed the core of their very being. How could one's sanity remain intact when they were stuck moving forward on a seemingly endless path?

These thoughts preoccupied Nekohana as she bathed in the lake, cleansing the foul smell of death which she had gotten from Shishima on the previous night. It occurred to her that she was rarely exposing her body, always opting for covering it with her rich flowery mane, a strange habit since only military youkai shielded themselves in armor. Did she have something to hide? Or perhaps she wished to distinguish herself from other females? Needless to say, her mane held sentimental value, for it was the one thing she had inherited from her mother.

Nekohana's oldest memories were those of mother's reassuring smile and warm embrace. She was a beautiful lioness youkai, her fur green as the dew-filled grass on an early spring morning, sprouted flowers covering her body. Mesuhana was her name, and like her ancestors, she had acted as the royal gardener. Although Nekohana could not recall much of her early childhood, she only knew that mother sheltered her and loved her greatly.

On the first day she set foot in the palace gardens, she felt at ease, as if the entire plant life welcomed her. The rustling of leaves and grass in the calm breeze was music to her ears. The multitude of colors which lay before her eyes seemed like a majestic painting. The sweet perfumes filled her nostrils and made her feel great delight. Mesuhana spent the following weeks exploring those surroundings with her daughter. She taught her about each plant they encountered and how to hunt on her own, the two of them practicing on small imps who proved themselves rather easy to capture. Protective, intelligent and loving, to the small cub, her mother was everything.

The same could not be said about her father. Yottakari was distant from both of them, he had always focused more on his military career. Nekohana recalled him returning home once every few years, when her mother would feed him and tend to his wounds. She had inherited his fur color, which was of a dark purple tone. Despite the similarity, he rarely paid his daughter any attention, opting to leave her entirely in his mate's care. Even to her young eyes, she could see the pain on her mother's face whenever he left home, for Mesuhana's only wish was for her family to be happy.

Then came the day her entire life changed. They had both set out on a trip in the desert, to find plants rumored to have survived in the inhospitable environment. The cub hated the constant sandstorms, she could barely see in the grey chaos surrounding her, but mother was there, protecting her from the persisting winds. Out of nowhere, a bright beacon of light fell from the sky, scattering the dunes around them. A faceless figure emerged, tall as a pillar, sharp-edged marble wings spread out. That was the first time Nekohana felt fear. She huddled behind her mother for safety as they both felt pierced by the angel's imposing presence. Reaching his hand into the light, he brandished a spear. Mesuhana grabbed the back of her daughter's neck with her fangs, got on her fours and quickly headed towards the palace. The angel followed suit, intent on pursuing the prey, his body's brightness emanating from behind them. As he approached, they could see their own shadows cast on the sandy ground, alerting the lioness youkai to hasten her steps. Cruel fate intervened and she tripped on a stone, crashing into a dune nearby. Above them stood the divine being, his weapon ready to enact justice. Petrified by the sight, Nekohana could do nothing but whimper. Her mother got up and went to shelter her. The spear struck down, and in that moment, Mesuhana knew no more. Watching the lifeless body of her mother slowly dissolve into thin air, the young one could do nothing but shriek out her sorrow. Ironically, the palace guards heard her in the distance and were quick to apprehend the angel before he had the chance to kill her.

When she finally returned home on that day, the terrible news had already reached her father's ears. Yottakari sat in silence on a rug, his legs crossed, a filled cup in his clawed hand. Although he felt his daughter step in, he did not acknowledge her presence. The cub took small steps towards him and reached her hand, patting him on the back. In that solemn moment, she wished for a sign, any sign, to show that he loved her. From the bottom of her heart she wanted to help him get through that tragedy. Alas, her hopes were shattered as soon as his fist collided with her cheek.

"Don't you dare touch me again!" Yottakari growled, hatred emanating from his drunken voice and cold glare. "This is all your fault! If it weren't for your stupidity, your mother would still be here right now!"

"I'm sorry…" Nekohana squealed as her eyes filled with tears.

"Oh no, you're going to be sorry!" His hand seized her ear and dragged her down the floor, tossing the young one in her own room. "Tomorrow morning I'll be leaving. Whenever I come back, I want this entire place to be clean and my dinner to be on the table. But until then, don't you dare come out, you hear me?!"

"Y-yes…" she fearfully nodded.

In response, he slammed the door shut, leaving his daughter all alone to drown in fear and sorrow. Yes, as she cried out her pain in that dingy room, it dawned upon her that she was truly alone. As she spent her formative centuries always with her head bowed down in utter obedience, memories of Mesuhana persisting day and night, said loneliness began devouring her on the inside.

Not long after growing up to her mother's height, a multitude of flowers bloomed out of her scalp, forming the beginnings of a mane which reached her shoulders. As the years passed, said mane would end up covering most of her front. One day, by royal decree, she was allowed to succeed as the palace gardener. Although most viewed it as a thankless job, she was grateful for being able to leave home and avoid father's presence, even if it were for only a couple of hours. While surrounded by that corner of nature, Nekohana felt at peace.

Despite the multitude of plant life surrounding her, she was not intimidated, for she had learned to commune with vegetation at an early age. Where most had to thoroughly inspect a tree's branches, a flower's leaves or even the coloration of grass, she could feel if the roots could not absorb the required nutrients, if the leaves could not properly perform photosynthesis or if there was some kind of illness. Therefore, her duties mainly consisted of watering, spreading fertilizer, trimming, and in rare cases, magical healing. Under her care, not one plant died, and she slowly grew attached, to the point of viewing them as her children. The flowers each bowed to her gentle touch and in return soothed her mind with their fragrances. During those few moments, when work was finished and she did not feel like returning home, she sat down in groves and admired the sights, all alone with her thoughts. And reflection soon turned into inspiration, prompting her to pick up quill and paper, where she could vent her entire inner turmoil to her heart's content.

Every night as she returned home, she could not help but be repulsed at the state of degradation in which the lowest level had been over the past centuries. Trash scattered everywhere, allowing small critters to roam the corridors like the annoying pests that they were, statues and paintings covered by dust and in a state of decay, showcasing the authorities' neglect, and at every corner stood lower youkai, of her rank, who unlike her did not always contribute to society. Among them was a group of females who did not take kindly to her presence. Whenever she passed by, they would openly mock her, and she would always try to ignore them.

"Look who crawled out of the gardens!" one shouted.

"If it isn't Nekohana, how's daddy doing this week? Did he give you a bruised lip yet?" another added.

"Of course he did, it's not like she'd ever need a normal one," the third remarked, catching a snicker from the other two.

"Why the long face? You scared he'll be pissed if you don't get dinner on time?" the first asked as the flower youkai passed them, her eyes fixated only on the floor.

"That's a no brainer, she's a submissive little bitch," the second one sneered.

"Hey Nekohana, hope you find yourself a winner mate, just like your mom did!" the latter concluded as they all ironically waved at her.

Although some of those words hit hard, she attempted her best to stay calm and not lash out at them. The last thing she wanted was for her father to find out that she had caused trouble. As humiliating as it was, her humble attitude was the only way to ensure the number of his beatings lessened. But sometimes when he longed for his wife, he would resort to alcohol, and then no amount of modesty would spare her from his sorrow-induced rage.

One night, she entered the small apartment to stumble upon Yottakari having a drink with a tall wolf youkai dressed in a black military uniform with a katana hung by his waist. As they turned to greet her, she saw that there was a noticeable scar in the spot where his left eye should have been.

"Ah, Nekohana, I'm so glad you made it on time!" her father greeted in an unusually cheerful manner.

"So this is your daughter, the one who has been carefully tending to our rich gardens." The wolf inspected her from top to bottom. "On first impression, I must say that for a young one, she is very gorgeous."

The lioness remained in the doorway, unsure of what was happening before her very eyes. Noticing her attitude, Yottakari was quick to get up and gently pull her inside, closing the door behind.

"Darling, I'd like for you to meet my superior, general Rufu. Upon returning from the frontlines, I decided to bring him here in our humble shelter. I expect you to treat our guest with utmost respect!" Although his tone was pleasant, she could easily sense the implied threat.

"Yes," she muttered and made her way to the kitchen. "Shall I bring you something to eat?"

"Go ahead, sweetheart!" her father instructed, then he returned his attention to their guest. "So what do you think, sir?"

"I must say, she is as obedient as she is attractive." Rufu once more regarded her from behind, admiring the lusciousness of her body. "Who knows, if all goes well tonight, you might become colonel sooner than expected."

"I would be most grateful. And if our arrangement is met?"

"Then, my friend, your career's future will be a most promising one, that I guarantee!"

Nekohana paid little attention to their conversation, focusing more on preparing a good meal for their unexpected guest. She did so out of fear, for she was certain that if the good general would have shown even the slightest hint of dissatisfaction, her father would have punished her dearly. The night went on and the two males consumed even more alcohol, thus becoming louder. Once she was certain that they had enough food and drinks, she was quick to retreat in the safety of her room.

As she prepared for sleep, she heard the door faintly creak behind her. Dismissing it as the wind, she resumed grooming herself. All of a sudden, she felt someone grab her from behind in a tight hug, a pair of hands rubbing on her chest and a nose greedily sniffing her flower mane.

"Mmm, your scent perfectly matches your look!" moaned Rufu's voice from behind.

"General, what are you doing?!" she exclaimed and turned back, only to be assaulted by the strong smell of alcohol coming from his breath.

"Don't worry, your father allowed this."

"Excuse me?!"

"Did he not tell you the great news? You are to become my lovely wedded wife!" Nekohana gasped and stared at him, stunned by what she had heard. "Trust me, I am as excited as you are! Countless millennia have passed since I had a beautiful demonic mistress, and you, my dear, are the perfect match!"

"I don't understand, why would my father allow such a thing?"

"Because he is a failure of a soldier who will never advance amongst our ranks without some… proper aid. And in return for said aid, he was willing to do me a favor."

"He sold me to you…?" the lioness asked, shocked by the act of betrayal.

"If you choose to view it that way." The wolf shoved her on the bed and was quick to pull away the mane to savor the view of her body. "Now how about we spend some proper time together, my dearest Nekohana?"

There was only so much she could endure. She managed to cope with the sorrow she felt over her mother's death, she mostly ignored the constant verbal abuse that other youkai threw at her, and she had endured each of her father's fits of anger with the patience of a saint. But now there she was, at the mercy of an old lecherous youkai, sold by her only remaining family member. If there still was something she did not want to lose, that was her dignity.

As Rufu leaned in to kiss her, she slapped him so hard that he fell over, his back crashing against the brick floor. Nekohana got up and dashed out of her room and the apartment, Yottakari's protests a mere echo she left behind. Unfortunately, she would soon learn that the gardens were not the safe haven she had once thought them to be. The guards easily found her and dragged her back home, where a harsh physical punishment awaited. Despite her bold rejection, the two were not swayed in the slightest. The general kept visiting their apartment and tried pushing himself onto her, while her father's beatings only got worse every time she denied their plan from taking place. Even the hours she spent taking care of plants ended up being scrutinized, taking away whatever glimpse of freedom she still had.

And yet, despite the harsh hand which life had dealt her, fate still had a few surprises in store. It happened on a night like any other, Nekohana was in the garden, fulfilling her duties. Out of the bloom, she saw something crash from the sky in a bush not too far from her flower field. Despite being startled by the sudden noise, she mustered the courage to inspect the area. Unexpectedly, the one who had taken the fall was none other than prince Shishima! She recalled seeing him together with the queen at a few public meetings, from afar he seemed like a very aloof noble, a completely different youkai from the one who lay before her. His shoulder and wing were wounded, fresh blood spilled over his fur. The pained expression on his face showed that he was not as cold as the public persona he displayed. With such serious wounds, he probably would have spent a few years in recovery, therefore he needed urgent treatment. Not wasting any time, Nekohana grabbed his legs and dragged him to the lakeside, leaving him under the cherry tree where she would frequently spend her short free time writing and composing songs. She then went to pick mint leaves and pieces of aloe, pouring their liquids into a small bowl, after which she added some spices with healing properties in the mixture to create an ointment, one she constantly used to heal her own bruises. Once the medicine was ready, she dipped the tips of her fingers and approached the fainted lion.

The entire situation was awkward. She was invading the prince's personal space by daring to touch his skin. If a mere commoner were caught in such an act, they would have landed in prison with a sentence bordering eternity. Regardless, he was in dire need, so she reached her hands and began massaging the open cut. As soon as the bleeding ceased, she fetched a pair of bandages and wrapped them neatly around his shoulder and wing. Still, he would need to eat and drink in order for the wound to properly heal. She took her leave and hunted down some imps, cooking their small tender flesh at a small bonfire. As she returned with food and water, Shishima suddenly sprung awake with a snarl, claws out, fangs barred, eyes glowing red. He must have sensed some kind of danger, so Nekohana kneeled down, forehead pressed against the ground, to prove she was not a threat.

"My prince, I apologize for disturbing your sleep!"

Only silence followed as she witnessed him inspecting the bandaged area. She pushed the food and water closer to him and sat down at a comfortable distance. In order to ease the tension between them, the lioness fetched a flute out of her flower mane and began playing some of her compositions, fully aware of their magical healing properties. Although Shishima acted as distant as he was in public, she could see on his sharp face that her music did soothe something inside him.

As she felt the break of dawn approaching, Nekohana returned home to fetch a bowl with medicinal herbs. Although not entirely necessary, those would have further hastened the prince's healing process. Much to her shock, Yottakari was not asleep. He had been sitting in the living room, reading a parchment and enjoying a cup of wine. For how long was he awake, waiting for her?

"Staying out late at night?" he asked, fully turning his attention towards his daughter.

"I had some plants that needed special care. I came back to get some medicine, I promise I won't take long!" she explained in a nutshell, rushing in the kitchen to fetch the bowl she needed.

"Oh, is that all?" Yottakari got up and followed her, getting eerily close. "I smell some lies out of your mouth, Nekohana."

"There's no lies, I swear! My job needs m-" She was interrupted by a punch in each of her cheeks, knocking her against the wall.

"Just don't take long," he instructed, walking into his lonely bedroom. "I wouldn't want to give general Rufu a bruised bride."

After so many years of enduring it, she still could not get properly used to the physical pain. She fought back the sobs as she made her way back to the gardens. For once she hoped that her father would just leave her alone and not punish her for every little independent action that she took. For once she wanted to just live her life without any fear for her harmless actions. For once she wanted to be free. By the time she returned to the cherry tree, she found Shishima already back on his feet, with no bandages on his now-healed shoulder and wing. Most certainly his daiyoukai nature must have played a role in the healing process.

"Why did you get up so early, my prince?" she asked, making her presence noticed.

"I don't need anything from you anymore," he dismissed her and stretched both his arms and wings to prove his point.

She sighed and stared down in disappointment. Although she should have expected the royal heir to return to his duties, somewhere deep down, she had hoped that maybe he would stay and spend just a few more moments with her. What a foolish idea, why would someone like him even waste another moment near her? Just because she had nursed him back to health, that did not mean he owed her anything. She was but a commoner, weak and disposable.

"Are you hurt?" Shishima casually asked. She was taken aback, this was the first time someone had been concerned about her well-being. "I'm merely curious," he added in his usual dismissive manner.

A warm smile grew on the lioness's face, a single bloody tear falling out of her right eye. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she no longer felt alone, if only for a few moments.

"Please, sit down," she invited him and he obliged. "I am sorry for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Nekohana."

It felt so liberating, to share everything with someone else. Shishima proved himself a patient listener, and despite his stoic attitude, he gave signs of empathy through his replies. When the time came for him to leave, she felt relieved, at long last there was someone with whom she was connected on an emotional level. Still, life's constant obstacles taught her to be cautious with hopes and dreams, for the pain of witnessing them shattered was sometimes too unbearable.

Nekohana was unprepared for her father's attitude on that day. His suspicions had only grown worse, therefore he worked her to exhaustion with an interminable list of chores, and if she even seemed slightly tired, he was quick to verbally reprimand her. Either he had grown paranoid over his daughter spending more time at her job, or he wished to indirectly torture her until she gave in and married Rufu. Up until then, she would have complied with her head bowed down, but after getting the slightest taste of independence, she knew there was more to life than what others had in store for her. As such, she decided to prepare such a copious dinner that Yottakari would have fallen in deep slumber on that night, allowing her to spend as much time as she wanted out there. Little did she know that her father's paranoia had gotten the best of him, so much so that he was sniffing the food she gave him and choosing what to eat. As midnight approached, sensing that the coast was clear, she attempted to sneak out, only to find the door locked. Her heartbeats hastened as she saw a tall shadow cast down upon her. The physical pain which soon followed was unlike anything she had endured before. In those agonizing slow moments, Nekohana was so certain of her demise. But she no longer feared the prospect of her body dissolving into nothingness and her consciousness becoming one with the Abyss. At least she would not have to endure any more suffering or loneliness upon ceasing to exist…

A sudden noise startled her and caused the pain to stop. There were other presences in the apartment, there were shouts, but she was unable to process what was going on. She was only aware of her father's angered face, and that was enough to fuel her fear and force her into the fetal position. But no more pain followed, just silence and the soothing touch of a hand healing her headache. She opened her eyes only to be greeted by the image of a concerned Shishima, and right then she was certain that fate had gifted her with a second chance.

Serving and living alongside the prince was much easier than it seemed to outsiders. Contrary to the public persona he had built, in private he was patient and reasonable with his demands. Most importantly, in the moments she spent dabbling into his current studies, as well as reciting poems or playing the flute and lyre for him, she no longer felt alone. When together, they could both drop their respective façades and truly be themselves, indulging in their passions. And although she was unsure of how he felt towards her since he had a harem which he visited daily, Nekohana was certain of her growing feelings for him.

The lioness awoke from her recollection as she felt a strange presence approaching. She rushed out of the lake, shook her body to dry the wet fur and kept her guard up. The faint sound of footsteps pressed against the grass reached her ears, and soon enough she saw a succubus walk out of the forest, a confident smile on her black lips, those emerald-green eyes ever so seductive, her skin red as the most precious and beautiful ruby, black hair flowing in the wind like a raven's flapping wings.

"What do you want?" asked Nekohana, who tried to not sound aggressive.

"I thought I felt it, and my nose didn't lie; it turns out that you have it," the demon of lust mused, more to herself. "Tell me, small youkai, why do you carry prince Shishima's scent?"

"Prince Shishima? You must be mistaken, I am just a gardener."

"You can try to wash it away as much as you want, water and pretty flowers cannot mask the obvious stench of death which he carries. I will ask you once more, why do you smell like him?"

Despite the accusing tone in her voice, she also seemed to have the same foul scent of rotting corpses.

"Before I answer, may I ask what is your relationship to him?" Nekohana shot back, more so out of curiosity.

"If you so wish to know, I am Okuna, the head of Shishima's harem, and his most favored among succubi and incubi." The red-skinned demon did an introductory bow, spreading her wings to emphasize her importance. "I bear his smell because on a daily basis I am between those who enjoy the physical pleasures his body grants us. Your mind cannot imagine the sensations he puts us all through, he is a noble of exquisite taste."

"So I have heard. It was a pleasure meeting you."

Just as the flower youkai was about to go on her way, the succubus dashed straight into her, the two rolling on the ground until Okuna managed to pin her down, hatefully uttering, "Not so fast, you cowardly bitch, we're not done here! I'm more than certain that you're spending time being close and personal with Shishima, there's no other way you could have that scent."

"Please, there must be some mistake…" the gardener reasoned.

"Oh no, I've seen how he's been acting over the past months. He's grown aloof, he no longer pays attention to us, it's as if his mind is always preoccupied with something else! Would that happen to be you?"

Nekohana blushed and looked away. Though she was touched by yet another confirmation of his feelings, she was well-aware that their relationship had to be kept a secret. But she would not let anyone patronize her ever again, so a lesson had to be taught. Mustering her strength, she pushed Okuna off of her and then she mentally called the plants around them for aid. The succubus did not crash, instead her limbs were suddenly tied by spiny vines coming from the forest's depths, suspending her in the air.

"My connections to Shishima are none of your business. I would appreciate it if you returned to his harem and left me alone," Nekohana demanded, her tone surprisingly cold.

"Just wait till he hears of this, he'll have your sorry weeds burned to the ground, you never mess with the prince's concubines!" the other female threatened with spite.

"Why would he burn the very gardens he and his parents cherish so much? You may have slept with him countless times, but you do not seem to know much about him."

"And you do? Oh, I see it now, you want him to fall in love with you so he'll make you the new queen. Ha ha ha, you fatuous damsel! The daiyoukai would sooner pick a sex slave in their harem over a worthless commoner. Your foolish dreams are for naught."

"Maybe they are, but be assured that I have no desire for the throne. As far as I am concerned, Koushishi can keep it forevermore."

"Then what is it? Don't tell me you actually love him," Okuna sneered, but she could easily read the determination on Nekohana's face. "Oh no, you do! Fool, if any kind of demon were to genuinely care for another, their power would greatly diminish. You must surely have a death wish!"

"You do not seem to comprehend the situation you are in." The vines tightened around the succubi's limbs, spines slowly tearing into her flesh. "The only one with a death wish is you. I could have you torn to shreds and Shishima would not care in the slightest."

"How are you so sure about that? In the end we're all expendable! What makes you think you're so irreplaceable to him?"

"He spends more time with me. If I were the expendable one, I would be with you in the harem." Nekohana then snapped her fingers, freeing the succubus from the vines. "Now be gone and never set foot here again, this is the only time I will spare you."

"Mark my word, these weak emotions will only spell your demise!" Okuna threatened before flying off.

The lioness took a breath of relief. That confrontation was anything but pleasant. However, she finally managed to stand up for herself, and more importantly, she came out of it unharmed. As much as she detested violence, sometimes it was required to defend that which she stood for. And if Shishima would resort to murdering the incubus who had spied on them on the previous night, then perhaps she would have to do the same to their kin.

These thoughts preoccupied Nekohana as she left the palace gardens and set foot in the unwelcoming chaotic desert surrounding her home. Although she rarely went back into the place where she had witnessed the death of her mother, this time around she was willing to brave the sandstorms if it meant crossing that inhospitable environment and reaching the other side. According to Fukurokuju's maps which she had studied on that morning, a vast forest lay ahead in the South and East. The possibility of encountering new plant life was thrilling, not only would she learn more, but she could bring those species into the royal gardens for variety. Therefore she fought against the strong wind pushing her back and the sand which blew into her face.

After what seemed like countless hours, she could finally see the shapes of trees in the vast distance. Not wasting any time, she hastened her steps, and in a matter of minutes she was breathing clean air once more. Day's clouds were slowly leaving the sky to make way for night's crimson moon. Time no longer mattered, for she had finally reached her destination. Thus she began exploring the new kinds of trees, herbs, shrubs, flowers and whatever else she could find. Her searches soon brought her into a small moonlit grove inside which a circular object of a pale blue color was glowing brightly. As she approached it, she saw that it was roughly her size. Never before did she such a weird contraption, it seemed so beautiful and alluring. Curiosity pushed her and she reached a hand inside. All of a sudden, the portal dragged her in, transporting her across dimensions until she ended up in another forest.

While trying to understand what had happened, a different scent of fresh air entered her nostrils. It did not smell only of healthy plants and fresh water, but it lacked the subtle corrupting stench of her kin. A strange light filled the clear pale blue sky, seemingly vanishing in the reddening horizon. Perhaps the most peculiar aspect of this world were its trees, their stature was much smaller, around her height. Blending in with the shadows and vegetation, the lioness wandered around in those woods, fascinated by each new life form she encountered. The animals were diminutive in appearance and resembled many kinds demons from back home, but unlike them they were mortal and had small mental capacity. Surely this was a primitive place, yet she could not deny that there was a peaceful aspect to it which the Twilight Kingdom definitely lacked.

"A youkai!" shouted a womanly voice from behind.

Startled, Nekohana turned around. Two dwarfish females donning simple robes stood behind her, herb baskets in their hands, one seemed much younger than the other. She had never seen anything like them before, at most she could compare them to succubi. Were they afraid of youkai? As she sniffed the air, she caught the scent of their flesh, it felt so tender, so succulent, like that of butchered meat ready to be grilled. Drool fell out of her fang-filled mouth and her stomach began to growl, reminding her that she had not eaten since morning.

The older female grabbed the other's arm and both ran away. The lioness got on her fours and pursued them, her flowery mane flowing behind. As she approached, her shadow fell upon the two, alerting them to hasten their steps. Cruel fate intervened and they both tripped on a stone, ending up on the ground. The monster stopped and bared out her claws and fangs, ready to enjoy a well-deserved meal. Petrified by the sight, the younger one could do nothing but whimper. The older one got up to shelter her, looked the fiend in the eye and spoke loudly, "Do anything you want to me, but I beg of you, let my daughter go!"

Nekohana gasped as she heard those words. Immediately she recalled that fateful day in the desert when the arrogant Purgatory angel took her mother's life right before her young eyes. Was she going to become that which she had feared and despised her entire life merely to fill an empty stomach? No, she would not, for no child deserved to endure the same pain she had gone through. Bowing her head in shame, she picked a flower from her mane and gently placed it in front of the two.

"Forgive me," she whispered before retreating in the forest's depths.

How could she have done such a terrible thing? Was she really as much of a murderer as the Twilight Kingdom's fiercest hunters and warriors? She wished to be better than those who spilled blood for its own sake, yet being a youkai meant that she had to fend for herself, she had to be violent, it was her only way of survival in the unforgiving world that was her home. But what if she wanted to cease being violent? What if she wanted to find a new home? What if she no longer wanted to be a youkai? It was preposterous, yes, but perhaps not unattainable.

"There it is, the monster who attacked our villagers!" a male voice echoed from afar.

"Quick, we must deal with this fiend at once!" another added.

Nekohana soon found herself surrounded by a dozen of the same dwarfish beings, but these all wore black robes and pointed straw hats, each of them brandishing a wooden staff topped with metal rings. That was strange, how did they manage to find her in such a short time? Did word of her presence spread that quickly in this world? They ran in circles around her, tossing salt on the ground and muttering incantations under their breaths.

"Wait, you are mistaken, I mean no harm!" she pleaded, but soon the circle began to glow with a strange light, causing her an enormous amount of pain.

"We will not be fooled by your slick lies, youkai. Men, let us begin the exorcism!" ordered the oldest of them.

"Yes, master!" A few others nodded and chanted even louder with their hands clasped in prayer.

Whatever enchanted words they spoke seemed to drain her very own life force. The lioness kneeled down, her breathing heavy, her sight blurry. Had her time finally come? After all those centuries of suffering and a few months of happiness, perhaps she had paid her dues. If she were to die, her last wish was to see her prince once more…

"Let her go," a familiar voice growled from behind.

"What was that?" asked one of the dwarfs, unaware that he had broken concentration.

A foul breeze blew through the trees, disturbing the circle of salt. With the ritual abruptly ended, Nekohana regained her vitality and was able to get back on her feet. A clawed hand came out of the woods and killed three of those beings in one move. The others screamed in terror and backed down as trees fell in the wake of Shishima.

"Be strong, men! We have to exorcise them both!" demanded the older one.

"You don't know who you are dealing with, please leave!" begged Nekohana, much to the surprise of everyone.

"There's no reasoning with these ignorant beings," Shishima added with venomous disdain in his voice. "Only fear puts them in their place, and fear I will gladly give them!"

In the span of a moment, he reached both hands and grabbed three more in each, squeezing them tight as if they were toys. A satisfied grin appeared on his face as he cherished the screams of agony which those puny bags of flesh gave.

"Use the sacred salt!" their master ordered, and his two remaining disciples did as told, tossing handfuls of salt from their bags right into the lion youkai's legs.

The prince shrieked in pain, his claws piercing the bodies he held right before dropping them. The duo kept pouring that foul powder which began to burn his skin, while their master moved his staff in circles and uttered more prayers. Nekohana had not seen him in such a vulnerable state before. He was suffering, just like her a few moments ago. In the end, Okuna's words were wrong, for their rigid hierarchy ultimately did not matter in front of death's eyes, where all were expendable. As much as it pained her, she had to make a choice. Connecting with the plants around, she made a few branches move to her will and impale each of the small beings, ending their confrontation.

"Shishima, are you alright?" she asked while approaching him. "Those burns, are they severe?"

"I'll live," he shortly replied and got back up. "What happened to you? Why did you come here?"

"I discovered the woods beyond the desert on your mentor's maps and I just wanted to see if I could find some new plants. I don't know how, but I found this strange circle of light which brought me here."

"That was a portal to the human world."

"Are you serious? You mean to tell me that we had encountered actual mortals…?"

"Yes, now let's go home, Nekohana. I owe you an explanation."

She nodded and allowed him to grab her from behind, his arms around her belly, then he spread his wings and flew her with great speed all the way back into the portal which led them to the Twilight Kingdom. Once home, he resumed his flight out of the vast Southeastern woods, crossing the desert on their way to the capital palace. Never before did she get to experience flying, and being up there in the sky filled her with so much energy, it all felt so liberating.

"You mean to tell me that Fukurokuju wishes for the portal to remain open so we could come in contact with humans?" the lioness asked, taken aback by the revelation.

"Yes, he claims that if more of them believed in our existence, that would strengthen our powers and allow us to finally defeat the forces of Purgatory," the prince said. "I still have my doubts in regards to his plan, but I chose to trust him."

"How did you find me, though?"

"When I was unable to feel your scent in the palace's vicinity, I grew worried, so I kept looking for you. The trail of footsteps in the sand and your fresh scent in the forest were quite helpful."

Shishima winced, trying to fight the pain his body was still enduring. Nekohana was quick to take notice and spoke, "Are you alright? It's those burns that sacred salt gave you…"

"Worry not, I've faced worse," he dismissed her concerns.

"This is all my fault," her voice cracked as she came to realize the weight of her guilt. "I have been careless and got us both in great danger."

"Don't be harsh on yourself, you had no idea of what would happen."

"You are too kind with me when I am so undeserving!" Nekohana burst into tears, sobbing away years of pent-up frustration, her body trembling harder and harder. She lowered her head in shame, trying to hide her face.

The prince softened when he noticed that outpouring of emotion. Ever since he had known her, she emanated strong feelings of sorrow, guilt, longing, and a strange warmth. She always had a calm and welcoming attitude, giving the impression that she was balanced on the inside. After enduring her mother's death, serving an abusive father and dodging a lecherous general, it seemed like nothing could truly break her, but in the end, she was just another female.

He landed them both in the palace gardens, by the lakeside, beneath the cherry tree. As Nekohana cried, Shishima reached his hand and gently patted her head, causing her to look up, their eyes locking. In that light, she seemed much more frail and bare, begging for forgiveness and acceptance. Out of instinct, he pulled her into a hug, his protective wings wrapped around her.

"Nekohana, I don't want to see you suffer anymore. I swear I will do anything to make sure that from now on you are happy."

"Shishima, why…?"

"Because deep inside you make me happy. I… I think I love you…"

After his confession, nothing else mattered in that moment. Her hands slowly grabbed his shoulders and she moved her head closer until their lips locked. He closed his eyes and allowed them both to savor the taste of their mouths. The lake's water mirrored the image of their entwined bodies beneath the crimson moonlight, a hidden painting of an affection rarely seen in their cold warmongering world. All of a sudden, an explosion of lights filled the sky, indicating that Purgatory's gate had finally been torn asunder. Free at last, countless souls fell in the night like shooting stars, seeking relief from the purifying flames. Despite being an omen that the Twilight Kingdom's conquest was reaching its end, the sight was both wondrous and terrifying.


Sayo sighed as she stared at her human reflection in the lake. The past thousand years had been nothing but a burden of masks and lies, all built to conceal the hurt spirit who merely longed for a happy life with her beloved. How many humans had she inadvertently hurt on her quest to regain a past she had long lost? How many innocents had she condemned with her action of concealing Shishima in the human world? Only after being fully exposed to Hajime did she begin to feel the weight of her guilt. In his heartbreak, the blond may have been right: she truly was a terrible person, for she had let her selfish dreams guide her actions, which led the human world to the current predicament it was facing.

"Why did you do all of this, Nekohana?" asked a hissed voice which woke her back to reality.

Demon Subaru appeared in the grove, a serious look on his face. Sayo turned to him and could do nothing but stare at her former lover, her hardened heart racing.