Hello,

this story has been in my heart since 2014 and it was my first attempt at fanfiction. The updates were long-winded and sporadic and you will appreciate some of that in the first two chapters Prologue I and Prologue II. I've retaken it now, with a lot more experienced (and finished fics) under my belt, with a relatively-slow-paced but committed intention to see it through.

Thos is a rewrite from another story that is available, but the pacing in this will be significantly different. You are welcomed to reading it though I admit it currently stands upon a cliffhanger and you will definitely spoil yourself.

So, thanks for giving this version your trust :D

It was utterly impossible. Master Rihan had never looked as happy as he did when he announced that Lady Yamabuki was expecting. It was perplexing to all of us. Main house youkai know the story of Hagoromo-Gitsune's defeat after all. The curse seemingly coming to an end… It raised so many questions. In the end, no one really asked. You're not supposed to question miracles.

- Kubinashi

Rihan stares unblinkingly with searching eyes. His mind is in an insistent turmoil. He's been unable to understand the words, incapable of processing the compound syllables that have come out of Yamabuki Otome's mouth. He must have heard wrong.

Comprehension plunges his mind into chaos.

Questions, phrases, outcomes, theories, fears; they all demand his conscious processing of them at once. Ruthlessly, they vie for his attention. To enhance his confusion, refusing to be ignored is the scene that has less than a few seconds from having played out.

The words uttered bounce and run circles through his mind, against his skull, behind his eyes, dizzying him from inside… Though they might as well have been in some ancient foreign language with Rihan's non-existent understanding of them.

"I'm pregnant," she has softly confessed. Her voice has been barely above a whisper. Meticulously mindful of speaking softly to not disturb the ethereal atmosphere, the setting sun has bathed into the scene. Thinking that if this is a dream, she has no interest in waking up, Rihan knows.

All the while, his eyes cannot quite manage to focus entirely on Otome's beaming face. Even in this circumstance, alone the two of them in the hall, steps away from the shallow water pond, their only company a rapidly chilling tea, with his mind probably broken beyond repair, he has time to wonder. Wonder as he has done millions of times before, because really, what deity has he gallantly pleased to have such a beautiful wife?

It may be her crimson eyes that usually reek of meekness and enigmas. They hold abundant mysteries, which Rihan is still uncovering every passing day. It can be the way her long midnight hair covers her as if shielding her from the world. Making her unreachable, untouchable.

As if the long tresses provide a wall between the world and her own reality, a cocoon of impossibilities that only a few ever discover. Though it can also be her voice, so charmingly sweet and small. Really, what is imperfect in Rihan's wife? She is his, after all.

Tentatively, thoughts enter his mind. He marvels at the rare lack of composure currently being shown by his wife. Otome's face is commonly adorned with a tender smile. Rarely does grace fly out the metaphorical window, allowing her to not smile but give him a silly full-toothed grin.

Her face gets this look… Cheeks flushed, pulse high, while her midnight hair hangs around her face like a dark halo. It all adds up to leave Rihan breathless. And it has never been so marvelous to be without breath. That is his wife for him, making him see things in so many different ways… When she looks his way, Otome smiles so openly, so unabashedly… nothing can compare.

Matching perfectly with the description of his thoughts is the Flower Youkai's current expression. While Rihan won't be caught dead admitting it, his heart does this weird thing whenever she gives him that look. That look is the physical manifestation of his dreams. He makes her happy, and nothing is more significant than that.

In reality, Rihan knows that there is nothing he loves or needs more in this world than seeing her happy. As happy as she is right now. He will do anything to do so every day. Today's ecstasy, though, is unparalleled. And if what she says is true… How could she not fall into bliss? Her greatest dream has come true!

At that moment, when Rihan knew she had lost all hope. When he feared she had decided to move on and free Rihan of the burden, she thinks herself to be… Fortune has apparently smiled down on her! On both of them! Rihan's gaping mouth shows how surprised he is as well. Though shocked seems much more accurate.

"Are you sure?" he asks warily. For what has to be the sixtieth time. In his mind, he still cannot believe it. He has given up this particular dream so long ago. Always remembering when his parents had sat down and revealed to him of their curse. Of the vindictive reminder of the evil his father had defeated left them. He had tried to shrug it off at first. Marrying Otome had made him realize all that he'd lost, all that she is missing because of the damn fox.

"Otome, you know about the curse… It is impossible, I… I cannot father a child…" He pleads, remorse, and guilt sickening his words. He doesn't dare believe. Not to have it ripped away. They have been together for almost three hundred years. There has not been a single false alarm. Nothing to give them the hope of even a possibility. (Mischievously, Rihan thinks to himself that it isn't for lack of trying.)

A traitorous voice reaches the conclusion that perhaps it isn't, in fact, his child. Rihan is quick to dismiss it. He won't sink that low. No matter how far-fetched Otome's confession seems. The Flower Youkai wouldn't do that to him. She wouldn't be this happy if it is to be somebody else's child.

She had been aware of the issue previous to the marriage. Rihan knows her and loves her enough to see the type of person she is. He has to trust that she loves him the same way she trusts him to love her. It reminds Rihan of the essence needed for Matoi. How could it not? When his love for her has inspired the technique? Total trust.

"Apparently, Yohime's trial and error must have worked. She must have done something right! It may just be a bit harder for us due to the circumstances, so it took some time!" She sounded so happy, so enthralled by the idea of carrying his child that it melts Rihan's heart like only she's able. The one thing he thought beyond his reach is at his fingertips. Fatherhood. And the prideful youkai side be damned! Rihan will be lying if he says the thought doesn't make him giddy.

Suddenly, his wife looks frail, so fragile, more so than ever before. Otome has never been much of a warrior. Often preferring to tend the flowers and the home. Though Rihan knows her past betrays a different story, to him, she shall forever be a treasure, meant to be protected.

Even though she's not quite a pushover, she's certainly not a high-level youkai. Maternity will only make her more vulnerable and… So many things could go wrong! She could lose the baby! Or she could die giving birth… Or…

Rihan's mind goes from bliss to pandemonium faster than his subordinates can go from bloodthirsty warriors to harmless drunks. He feels himself being sucked in by all kinds of insecurities and possible outcomes. Some so ridiculous, he is a bit put off and some so horrifying that he doesn't even dare discover their ending. In a moment, this entire baby dream seems much more complicated than it appeared in all his fantasies.

Despite his age, he wonders to himself if he is really ready. The frightening possibility that his wife could be wrong and there is no baby at all… It is scarier than any enemy he's had to defeat before. Rihan knows that he loves that growing child more than his own life already. Accepting the fact that there is even a slim chance of it not existing, of it not surviving… is too daunting to contemplate.

Absent-minded, Rihan asks himself if Otome or himself will ever be able to move on from such a blow.

A grabbing of his face demands his attention. Pale hands are warm against his cheek. They bring him softly out of his worried mind, out of his fear. Otome's in bliss. A smile big enough to hurt adorns her rose-tinted cheeks. Eyes twinkling in mirth but soft enough to let Rihan know, she knows too.

She is aware of all worrisome things this will entail. But she's ready, and they will do their best, together. Her courage eases Rihan's worries, and at that moment, he allows himself to breathe. He allows himself to rejoice, to hold Otome close. So close that he fears, he may never let go. He smells her scent while imagining what it will be like to hug her when her belly starts to swell.

"I can't believe this. I just… Otome, I can't. So many times, I had this phantom pain, this masochist wondering of the one thing I would never know, and as always, you give more than I can ever repay." At this, he smirks. Gaze shining with his default amusement. All his previous preoccupations are no longer primordial. Only the fuzzy happiness remains and the excitement for the coming party. One cannot forget the party. "You are amazing, Otome. I love you."

It would have been a sin to not kiss her right then. She just looked… she just gives him the look. Rihan knows he's too in love with this woman. So set on her happiness is he that the world could burn away, and he will be holding the matches if she is to so desire. There never would be quite the same glint of happiness in her eyes, not until seven months later. And it is then, kissing her as the sunset slips away that Rihan feels authentic joy sink into his muscles, slither along into his veins and join the calcium in his bones.

When the sun disappears, his human guise falls away, and still, he kisses her. What is time when he has love? What is night or day when she is there? Irrationality has never been so sweet. And never before has he been able to feel so complete. Not when he is made up of halves.

The moment is subsequently broken by the arrival of the King of Mischief himself. None other than Rihan's father, Nurarihyon, has made his appearance. Silently stepping into the scene with his meikyoushisui. His golden eyes are full of riddles and full of questions. They are a paler gold than Rihan's, Nurarihyon's much more honey-like. They are the only remnants from his days as a youkai, a characteristic that hasn't faded like his physique has.

He allows for his coat of fear to wash away, expecting a sudden turning from his son. Right now, the same eyes crinkle in laughter as Rihan continues to devour his wife. Not a care in the world regarding his father's presence. If Rihan is even aware of his presence, that is, Nurarihyon thinks with a chuckle. Bored with the scene, the Supreme Commander of youkai decides to cough. Loudly.

"Aren't you two aware that my house has plenty of rooms? You should find yourself one." He fakes surprise as he turns around towards the shogi doors. "Oh, but isn't this the door to your room, Rihan? Couldn't you walk a few steps before eating poor Otome alive?"

Only then, forcibly interrupted, does a satisfied Rihan and a blushing Otome end their small celebration, panting and out of breath and glowing in happiness that has no words. Neither of them looks as terribly embarrassed as they could. Nurarihyon sighs. Remembering the times in which he had teased this particular pair of newlyweds. Time has steeled them against his insinuations, it seems.

"Hey, Dad," the younger Nura says calmly, emotion underlining his voice. His hands are firmly set around Otome's waist. Head tilted down to stare his father in the eye. Daring and arrogant, oh, Nurarihyon has raised him well all right.

"Supreme Commander',' Otome acknowledges with a curt bow. A salutation made to show off her impressive kimono. It is white underneath all layers, though the overlay is a pale pink with red kerrias at the hems. The soft colors contrasted greatly with her black hair and matched perfectly with the red of her eyes. She looks healthy and lady-like, as the Lady of the House should. She is Lady Nura, after all, the matriarch of the greatest Yokai Yakuza Clan.

Rihan, on the other hand, only wears his usual green and striped yukata. The lower half of his hair tied. He is casual and cocky. Showing he's not one to uphold traditions and has a distinct dislike for protocol. Although not quite the rule abider, Nurarihyon had been much more dramatic in his own time.

He upheld dressing codes and forbade the use of western clothing to members of the Nura Clan. It was his own way to rebel against the westernization that had befallen Japan after the fall of Tokugawa. (Decidedly ignoring his hand in helping Tokugawa fall). In his younger days, Nurarihyon was seen sporting colorful haoris of different textures, but never amiss was his fox scarf. His son is much more practical. Preferring only traditional clothes with no accessories whatsoever.

"You have no need to do that, Otome," the old man chides. Secretly pleased at such admiration. What an educated daughter he has! He never gets bored of her immaculate manners, if only Rihan was to learn a thing or two from her…!

"So have you told me, Supreme Commander," The Flower Youkai replies with a smile. Nurarihyon has vaguely attempted to make her lose all traditional etiquette with him, but it has been for naught.

"Father," Rihan calls enigmatically. A smirk slowly appears on his face. "Otome is pregnant." The old man promptly almost falls, but he manages to catch himself in time. He has to be kidding! Rihan? A father?

"She's what?" Nurarihyon repeats, faux calm coating his words. In truth, the Lord of Pandemonium is trying no to shake. Did Rihan just say what he thinks he said? He hasn't been so baffled in four hundred years! Not since laying eyes on Yohime, or when she delivered the news of Rihan's coming arrival.

"Pregnant, my Lord. I am expecting a child," Otome confirms gaily. Although she usually does not join in teasing the former Nura Commander, this opportunity is too good to pass up. Nurarihyon's eyes went wide as a very uncool expression took over his features.

"YOU ARE WHAT?!" The rest of the household will come to share his feelings.