Beginning Note: *I do not own rights to Kamisama Kiss or Inuyasha.
This is an alternate universe crossover of Kamisama Kiss and Inuyasha. I'm using canon from both as well as common themes from other fan fiction writers. Let me know what you think in the comments. Thanks for reading.
P.S. Nanami, Kei, and Ami will be 18 in this story.
~ 500 years and two months in the past in Izumo...
The golden hall glimmered with opulent grandeur. Columns of jade accented the high walls, carved with reliefs of fantastic beasts climbing towards the ceiling, which featured swirling clouds of gold. The white stone walls were covered in gold leaf paintings of glorious landscapes from towering mountains to quiet meadows. Every god who cared or dared to be present sat within the hall anxiously. At the head of the room on his golden throne sat Ookuninushi, the god of wealth and ruler of the earthly gods. His bright green eyes were locked on the two yokai bound and knelt before him. It had taken powerful weapons and an army of gods to subdue the brothers. The gods lost many during the battle, but at last, the brothers' murderous rampage was over.
Akura-ou, the Oni King, and Tomoe, the Great Kitsune, were bound in enchanted golden chains with their arms splayed open, barely moving aside from their shallow breaths. Their heads hung limply, their chins resting on their chests as red and white hair fell over their bodies in blood-soaked clumps - not all of it their own. Pools of crimson gathered on the white marble floor. Akura-ou bled profusely from a deep stomach wound that was slowly attempting to heal. The spell inflicted by Ikusagami's newly forged blade slowed Akura-ou's regenerative ability but did not stop it completely. The rest of his injuries had long healed, leaving no trace of their existence. The energy it took to combat the damage inflicted by the war god's blade left the oni king exhausted. Tomoe had fared no better. A deep shoulder wound cut down past his right pectoral muscle. His blood seeped through his haori and kimono before pooling on the floor. His arms and face were littered with minor cuts and bruises from the battle and their capture.
Neither would die from their wounds. Ookuninushi would not allow it. Even though the gory sight repulsed the refined kami, he knew the brothers were easier to control in their near-death conditions. The brothers faded in and out of consciousness as one kami after another approached Ookuninushi to make their case against the duo. Assault against the gods, mass destruction of all the realms, mass murder, arson, looting, the list went on and on. Ookuninushi sighed heavily, their punishment was his to decide, yet he found himself struggling with the suggestions of other high-ranking gods and his conscience.
"They will never change, Ookuninushi! They are wild, dangerous yokai. I doubt they have the brains to do more than act like mindless killers. They are consumed with bloodlust!" Ikusagami yelled from his place a few seats from Ookuninushi. The god of wealth winced at the booming noise then brushed a long strand of his pale blonde hair from his eyes.
"But Ookuninushi, they are the last of their kind. If you kill them, the last drops of daiyokai blood vanish with them. We did nothing when the human's wiped our ancient allies and the grandest of all yokai from our world. How can we willingly execute the last of their offspring? Is it not our fault these yokai acted out as they have? If we had not turned our backs on the daiyokai's plight, they would have had others of their caliber to keep them in check. There must be another way to punish their behavior without ending their lives." A petite goddess argued even as she trembled beneath Ikusagami's icy glare.
"I will take them as my familiars," Mikage called out. Ookuninushi's eyes widened as the room erupted into protests and gasps of shock. "Our sister is right. We abandoned them to run wild. We owe it to them to try to rehabilitate them."
"You cannot be serious, Mikage! They will kill you!" Otohiko hissed, trying to pull his partner back down. Ookuninushi raised a hand to hush the room, then turned his attention back to Mikage.
"Mikage, you are a powerful god, but even I would struggle to control them both as familiars." Ookuninushi watched as Mikage squared his shoulders, preparing to protest. Ookuninushi sighed heavily. "I have decided their punishment. I've taken everything said here today into consideration. I have chosen not to execute the accused." Ikusagami snarled from his seat. "We cannot destroy Akura-ou's immortal body. We can slow his regeneration, but we cannot stop it completely. Tomoe is not as invincible as his partner, and according to the testimony given today, Tomoe did not participate in the worst crimes. I believe Mikage's suggestion of rehabilitation is worth exploring. Therefore Mikage," Ookuninushi looked at the blonde god, who perked up instantly. "You shall be responsible for the rehabilitation of the kitsune known as Tomoe. Once you have made him your familiar, he must not be released from his contract unless permitted by me. Given how stubborn yokai can be, I shall give you 500 years to prove that Tomoe can be a responsible and compassionate member of yokai society. Due to their overwhelming distaste for humans, I will include compassion and the acceptance of humans along with those previsions. Which brings me to Akura-ou..."
"Are you insane, Ookuninushi?! You can't possibly believe that oni can be rehabilitated." Ikusagami yelled again, pointing at the bound oni.
Akura-ou stirred slightly, a deep chuckle emanating from his torn chest. "Damn right. I'll never change," Akura-ou said in a strained, weak growl. Ookuninushi gripped his rose tighter, refusing to show any fear in front of the terrifying yokai. Instead, he reminded himself, the chains would hold, the oni would not escape again.
"Akura-ou, I sentence your body and soul to be separated and imprisoned in the darkest corners of the Netherworld. I suggest you use that time to reflect upon the wasteful and violent life you have led. If Tomoe is successfully rehabilitated, then and only then shall we consider doing the same with you. This trial is dismissed."
~ Present day, somewhere near Takayama...
Sesshomaru walked through his garden silently with one Bluetooth headphone connecting him to his granddaughter in Tokyo. He strolled without purpose, simply enjoying the beautiful afternoon warmth of spring. The gurgle of water from the small waterfall spilling into the koi pond and the song of birds was the only sound between them. He preferred when she was at the Western palace in person, but he loved these walks when they had time to spare, even on the phone. A rarity, it seemed these days compared to the past. Despite all the advances in technology, there was less and less time to spend with his pack.
His pack, he smiled at the thought. Once, hundreds of years ago, he would have balked and even raged at the idea of a pack, let alone a pack like the one he now treasured. He was Sesshomaru, son of Toga Inu no Taisho, destined for glorious conquest and the pursuit of ultimate power. He had nothing to protect, nor did he want such weak, sentimental ties. Such things were beneath a mighty daiyokai. How shortsighted and naive he had been. He had been close-minded and foolish to believe that only the great daiyokai's deserved respect and that love was simply a human emotion. It all changed with a brave little, brown-eyed girl who stole his heart, taught him to love, and became the first member of his beloved pack.
Sesshomaru listened to the soft sound of his granddaughter's breathing. The sound was soothing to him, whether it came from his mate, children, or grandchildren. A simple sign they were alive and well. His granddaughter was lost in her thoughts. He knew what she was thinking about, and he knew why it caused his heart to ache. She was a sensitive and loving woman with a fierceness that came from nature and from nurturing. She wore her heart on her sleeve no matter how many times she had been shown the cruelty of the world. She was as delicate as a cherry blossom and as resilient as steel. As the first-born child of his pack, Sesshomaru had pushed her harder than any other child in the pack. He had asked so much of one so easily broken because he knew she would rise just as quickly. Still, he worried about the day she wouldn't rise again when his requests would be too much for her. He promised himself he would stop asking her to take on such enormous challenges each time he watched her crumble to the ground only to fight her way back up to meet his lofty expectations. Yet here he was asking of her again because he knew she would never say no.
"Have you come to a decision?" Sesshomaru asked, finally breaking the silence. Another moment of silence stretched between them, and Sesshomaru could hear a siren blare down a city street somewhere near his granddaughter. He knew she was walking through the park near his company building. She always took her lunch breaks there.
"There's no decision to be made. The answer was always yes. You know I'd never say no to something like this. When do we leave?" Her voice was light, but he could hear her anxiety. Mentally he could picture the slight furrowing of her brow and the stiffening of her shoulders as she spoke. She knew what she was about to face. He was always honest with her about what he was requesting. She had all the information he did, but it didn't matter how daunting the task, she would never say no.
"Be here by noon tomorrow." He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I am asking much of you. More than I ever have before. I worry that I may be asking too much this time." She remained silent as he paused again. It was rare for him to express his misgivings and emotions; she wouldn't dare stop him. "You must tell me honestly if it is too much. Remember, you are not alone in this. The pack stands with you."
~ Present Day, Kawagoe...
Nanami sat on the veranda, sipping tea with Mikage. It was a pleasant spring day, warmer than average for early spring, but Nanami wasn't complaining. The air smelled fresh with blooming plum blossoms and lingering rain. Being a Sunday before Nanami had a week off from school, no one was in a mood to rush. Until a sudden thundering boom shook the whole shrine.
"What was that?" Nanami squeaked, looking around frantically. Mikage put his tea down calmly before standing and offering Nanami a hand.
"Mikage, we've got a visitor," Akura-ou grumbled from the doorway a second later. Whoever it was had set the oni on edge; his shoulders and jaw were tense even as he tried to keep his posture nonchalant. Nanami smiled at Akura-ou softly in an attempt to reassure him. Akura-ou gave Nanami a tiny lopsided smirk before turning to lead them inside. After everything they had been through, even after he had taken most of her life force to sustain Kirihito's human body, she could not find it in herself to hate him. He wasn't the greatest guy in the world. He had been juvenile, cold, heartless, and more than a little sadistic. Still, Nanami believed in second chances even for an arrogant, brutal redheaded oni. She knew he was worth forgiving after he chose to throw himself in front of Kirihito's mother to save her soul in the underworld. With Kirihito's body gravely wounded, he turned on Yatori to prevent the deranged yokai from obtaining his immortal body and its power. Akura-ou's body and soul reunited, the oni made the shocking choice to submit himself to Ookuninushi's judgment once more in exchange for returning Kirihito's mother's spirit to her body. The former Oni King had shown he could learn to cherish life and was willing to change, if only for his mother's sake. Instead of punishing Akura-ou, Ookuninushi gave him the same time as Tomoe to prove he could be rehabilitated as Mikage's familiar.
Akura-ou led them to the sitting room and slid the rice paper door open for them. There sat Ookuninushi with Tomoe and Mizuki watching him coolly from across the room. "Ah, Ookuninushi, to what do we owe this visit? If you have come to check on Akura-ou. He is behaving perfectly and doing his best to learn from Tomoe and Mizuki," Mikage said as he took a seat opposite the other god. Hope bloomed in his heart as Ookuninushi remained silent. "Are you here with news about Nanami's condition?" Mikage tried to gauge Ookuninushi's expression for a clue that he had come with news that would save Nanami. Uncharacteristically, however, the decadent god wore a stoic mask that gave nothing away while he continued to sip his tea. Then Mikage took in his friend's attire. Gone was the opulent kimono and hoari; instead, Ookuninushi donned a cream-colored suikan with purple hakama lined with gold filigree and tied with a gold obi. The outfit was practical in its elegance.
"I cannot say, but I do need to speak with you about a crucial matter. Please have your familiars wait outside." Ookuninushi took another sip of tea calmly. Mikage turned to Tomoe and Mizuki as they began arguing their desire to stay at Nanami's side, but one look from the god had them both quiet.
"Go, I'll be fine." Tomoe and Mizuki gaped at Nanami for a moment but reluctantly did as she said. They had grown hyper-protective since learning she only had months to live. A paper cut could send the two men into a panic at this point. Mizuki coddled her until she thought he would wrap her in blankets and carry her around like an infant if she let him. Tomoe, on the other hand, was more scathing than ever. Nanami was scared to make a cup of tea in front of the fox lest he found fault with the way she placed the teabag in her cup. In the end, he would simply ban her from the kitchen and make it for her since she was not capable.
Once the door slid shut, Ookuninushi pulled an ornate silver orb from his robe. It looked like Mizuki's time-turning incense burner, but there were no holes for the smoke to escape. Embossed bats and waves decorated the silver orb. Ookuninushi then touched the center of the device, and it glowed with a soft white light.
"This is an Orb of Silence. It creates a barrier through which sound cannot escape. Only those near it can hear, but anyone outside the barrier cannot. This information must stay between us for the time being." Ookuninushi folded his hands in his lap gracefully. Nanami felt the prickling of anxiety on the back of her neck. She felt out of place and unworthy of hearing this secretive information.
"Are you sure you want me here for this?" Nanami asked.
"Yes, since this information concerns you, Lady Nanami." Ookuninushi looked down into his teacup, suddenly looking strangely uneasy. "Lady Nanami, what you have accomplished as a land god has far exceeded any of our expectations. We honestly didn't expect much from you. Mikage chose you because of your open heart and mind. He believed you could reach Tomoe in a way he couldn't, and amazingly, he was right. We didn't expect you to also create bridges of love and understanding between gods, yokai, and humans. You've shown us that not all humans will see yokai as something to fear and hate. You've won the hearts of yokai and gods alike despite their aversion to humans. What you've done has gone against everything we believed to be true and has shown us a different path for the future. One that has suddenly become vital to our survival." Nanami blushed a deep crimson as Ookuninushi spoke. Recognition and accolades had never been her goal. She just couldn't understand a world that would punish love and cultivate beliefs of hate where peace could thrive. She was an idealist, after all.
"Our survival? What do you mean?" Mikage's expression shifted from one of pride to concern instantly.
"Mikage, you're aware that our world has been losing spiritual energy at a steady pace for centuries. What you may not know, and what I only recently found out, is that our own ancestors are to blame. But first, perhaps I should explain, so Lady Nanami understands the gravity of this situation." Turning to Nanami, Ookuninushi smiled softly, "Lady Nanami, you probably don't know this, but a very long time ago, there was a class of yokai called daiyokai. They were the most powerful of all yokai. Some were almost as powerful as the celestial gods. This is why the gods allied themselves with the daiyokai to maintain order over lower-class yokai and powerful humans. This mutually beneficial agreement lasted until the daiyokai started taking humans as mates and binding their souls together. This bond, known as a soulbond, was common among mating daiyokai, especially if their mates were lesser yokai. The soulbond ties the shorter lifespans of lesser yokai and humans to their immortal mates. As you can guess, the creation of immortal humans angered some of the gods who felt the daiyokai were overstepping their bounds. To these gods, the daiyokai were wielding powers only gods should possess. As punishment, these gods forbad unions between yokai, gods, and humans. They also forbad the creation of the soulbond even among yokai."
"So that's why ayakeshi and humans can't be together?" Nanami's fists clenched in her lap as anger burned in her chest. She couldn't understand how the gods acted so petty over who held power to extend a human's life. Well petty in her mind, at least. Power meant nothing to her. Oblivious to Nanami's inner thoughts, Ookuninushi nodded before taking a sip of his tea.
"But the story does not end there." There was a solum note to Ookuninushi's voice as he spoke, "the actions of our ancestors only got more spiteful."
"What does this have to do with the declining spiritual energy of our world?" Mikage asked, trying to figure out where the god of wealth was going with this ancient tale.
"Everything, actually. You see, the gods once served two worlds. Two nearly identical planets that once were connected through the spirit realm. Like two oceans connected by a river, spiritual energy flowed between and around the worlds in an infinite cycle of renewal. At first, only the gods crossed between worlds, but over time daiyokai were allowed too as well. Each soul, whether yokai or human, is reflected on the two worlds. The corresponding daiyokai would battle until one would slay the other, gaining their strength and becoming more useful to the gods. When the daiyokai resisted the forbidding of yokai/human unions, a group of shortsighted gods decided that by sealing the two worlds apart, the most powerful daiyokai would eventually be killed off without the gods' support on the other world. On our world, they turned on our former allies. They helped powerful fanatic humans to wipe the daiyokai from existence. We have always believed our ancestors just sat on the sidelines and watched. Now, I know the ancient ones gave humans the power to slaughter hundreds of daiyokai." Ookuninushi paused, letting Nanami and Mikage absorb all the information he gave them. Nanami felt like her head was spinning. It was almost too much to wrap her mind around.
"I'm guessing this seal is still in place, which is why our spiritual energy is declining. Can we remove the seal? Would that restart the flow?" Mikage looked at Ookuninushi with hesitant optimism. As most gods knew that if something was not done, one day, there would not be enough spiritual energy left to sustain life. Every living thing existed because of this energy, and without it, the world would waste away. Not even the gods could escape this end.
"We can, but it will not be easy. You see, the daiyokai did not die off on our sister world as expected. This is probably why the seal remained in place. The daiyokai may not be as powerful as they once were, but they are still mighty beings. Far exceeding some gods." Ookuninushi chuckled wryly.
"How do you know this?" Mikage asked, looking perplexed.
"Oh, I've been there. In fact, I just returned from the other world and came straight here," Ookuninushi said casually like he had just returned from a trip to the mainland instead of another planet. Mikage once again took in Ookuninushi's attire, now realizing it was probably his preferred traveling outfit. Nanami just gapped at the god in disbelief before turning to Mikage to see he wasn't shocked at all. Now she was even more stunned. Apparently, this was normal, and she was alone in her astonishment. "There are still pathways that connect the two worlds, and one of them is in Izumo. Thankfully the Southern Lord was very welcoming and introduced me to other daiyokai lords interested in opening the seal since their world is dealing with the same issue."
"If they're friendly and want to help, why will removing the seal be difficult?" Nanami asked, still feeling very out of place in the conversation, but she tried to participate as best she could. Ookuninushi sighed, and Nanami instantly wondered if she had asked the wrong question.
"Because while it is considered distasteful by some elite daiyokai, others continue to take human mates, and the practice of the soulbond still exists. In fact, the most powerful of all daiyokai lords mated a human. Other gods may be okay with imposing our beliefs and rules on the other world, but I can't do something like that in good faith. Especially after what I've seen on their world and what Nanami has proven is possible. I plan to bring this daiyokai lord here with some of his pack to show the other gods how wrong our ancestors had been. He's already agreed to come to the summit I will be announcing this evening."
"What do you need from us? I'll help in any way I can." Mikage said quickly, astounding Nanami, her mouth going slack. While Nanami thought of Mikage as a kind and open-hearted god. He had been clear with her about his beliefs on humans and yokai falling in love. Like Tomoe, Mikage believed it was a curse that could only result in grief and agony for the long-lived yokai after their human love perished. Mikage gave Nanami his god mark to teach Tomoe to view humans compassionately. All of Mikage's previous attempts had failed. Nanami was his last-ditch effort to prove Tomoe had been fully rehabilitated. The last thing Mikage expected was for Nanami to fall in love with the short-tempered wild fox. As far as she knew, Mikage did not support her feelings for Tomoe. Now, Nanami began to wonder if Mikage had unexpectedly changed his mind or if the loss of spiritual energy was that dire.
"Your support. That's all." Ookuninushi said with a wide smile.
"That's all?" Mikage and Nanami said simultaneously. After all that, they both had been expecting Ookuninushi to ask for more than just their support.
"Well, that and a decision from Lady Nanami."
"What decision?" Mikage's eyebrow rose in confusion. He looked at Nanami, who shrugged and shook her head just as clueless.
"Her decision on whether or not to live. As I said before, each human soul exists on the two worlds. In a way, human souls are eternal and are reborn many times over. Each time a soul is reborn, it is first cleansed of its previous life so that each life is unique and precious. While I was on the other world, I was introduced to the woman who carries the reflection of your soul. My daiyokai friend has agreed to allow this woman to create a soulbond with you, which would save your life. Most soulbonds are of the mating variety, but there are other versions that are shared between family and friends. The only requirement for creating a soulbond is a deep connection. Obviously, you don't have enough time to create a deep connection with a stranger, but thankfully you are born with a natural connection to your soul reflection. If you choose to take this path, I plan to make you an official god as Mikage's co-kami. You'll be the goddess of interspecies love and relationships," Ookuninushi said with a wink.
"Ookuninushi, if that's your plan, why not just make her a god yourself? Which I fully support, of course, but of all the earth gods, only you have that power to make a human a true god. Why go through all this hassle when it is not necessary?" Mikage questioned, earning an elfin grin from Ookuninushi as he lifted his tea to take another sip. Nanami had to admit she felt relieved she was not facing this news alone. Mikage's protective fatherly presence soothed her anxiety while his knowledge of the kami world helped her ask the questions she did not know to. Then an insistent thought shouted in her mind, and she couldn't help blurting it out.
"Lord Ookuninushi, you said that a soulbond is created by daiyokai to connect their lifespans to their shorter-lived mates or, in my case...friend? So, the woman who has the reflection of my soul isn't human." Nanami heard Mikage gasp softly, absently putting his hand over his mouth, while a slow smirk appeared on Ookuninushi's.
"We underestimate you, my dear Lady Nanami. Yes, you are correct. She is not human...well, not entirely. She is the offspring of a daiyokai/human mating. What they call a hanyo. She has a human soul, but her body is immortal. Which means you will be immortal after you bond with her. If that is what you choose, of course." Ookuninushi beamed at her. Nanami's body suddenly felt cold and heavy. It wasn't like she was looking forward to dying, ever, but the idea of living so long was daunting and alien. While some people dreamed of immortality, it wasn't something she had ever thought to wish for herself. Nanami accepted the idea of a life spent working, maybe dating but never marrying, growing older, and eventually dying an old, wrinkled woman. She was still coming to terms with the idea of her life ending in five months. The offer of immortality and godhood seemed like too much. In reality, she did not feel worthy of such gifts. Still, she had to admit it was nice to have a choice. Even if her options were to live five months or as long as a half-human daiyokai. Which was probably a very long time. Mikage looked over to Nanami. Noticing her distant stare, he put a comforting hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Now Mikage understood why Ookuninushi was playing the long game instead of making Nanami a god and saving her life himself. "So, this is about politics and perception. Making Nanami immortal through a soulbond to a half-human daiyokai would create an alliance between kami and this hanyo's family. Which I'm guessing includes this powerful daiyokai lord. It would also cement her role as goddess of interspecies relationships since she would literally be bound to a child of such union. Oh, Ookuninushi, can you ever do anything simple?" Mikage sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. Mikage felt like Ookuninushi was using Nanami to get what he wanted, which was not unheard of for the god of wealth.
Still, Mikage admitted to himself that if it meant Nanami would live, he didn't care how it happened. Nanami had become like a daughter to him as he watched her bond with Tomoe. The thought of losing her was almost too much to bear for the sensitive kami. Then there was Tomoe. Mikage knew how his former familiar felt about his lady and mistress, no matter how much Tomoe denied it. It broke Mikage's heart to know Tomoe would never tell Nanami he loved her because he believed their love was forbidden. In the end, it didn't matter whether Tomoe kept his secret or not. Nanami's death would break Tomoe's heart beyond repair. Saving Nanami was the only way to protect Tomoe. If what Ookuninushi was saying was true about their sister world, then Mikage wanted Tomoe and Nanami to have the freedom to love each other openly. Still, he knew Nanami would need time and space to think. "Does she need to decide tonight? This is a lot to take in."
"No, of course not, but we will need to know your answer before the end of the summit. The woman will be attending, so you will be able to meet her then." Ookuninushi moved his hand to turn off the Orb of Silence, pausing just before touching it. His hand hovering over the orb, Ookuninushi took a deep breath. Discomfort and sadness were plainly written in his expression. "Lady Nanami, I know this is a lot to absorb and decide in a short amount of time, but aside from being vital to the future of our world...I personally would like to see you become immortal. I find I'd miss you should you leave us, and I know I am not alone in that sentiment. Many have come to adore you, dear girl. Please remember that. Now I should return to Izumo and prepare for the summit. You'll receive my summons sometime this evening and remember mum's the word until we meet again in Izumo." With that, he turned off the Orb of Silence and rose to his feet. Mikage and Nanami did the same, bowing as the god of wealth left the room.
Once Ookuninushi left with another earth-shaking boom, all three familiars ambled into the room where Mikage sat with Nanami silently thinking. "So, what did goldy locks want?" Akura-ou asked, putting a tray with tea between Mikage and Nanami.
"Akura-ou..." Mikage said in a half-hearted warning. The oni gave a quiet apology with an indignant frown as he handed Mikage his tea.
"What did Ookuninushi want?" Tomoe asked, taking a seat next to Nanami as she stared at the floor deep in thought. She looked like she was struggling with something difficult. Whatever it was, it made Tomoe concerned. His fingers itched to run soothingly through her silky chocolate brown hair, but he had to restrain himself. It would only confuse Nanami, and Mizuki would jealously make a scene. Neither would help the situation.
"We are not at liberty to discuss it just yet. Please do not pressure Nanami for information behind my back, either. She has a lot on her mind and needs space. I expect everyone to give her that." Mikage made a point of looking at Mizuki for several long seconds. Mikage knew Tomoe would hate not knowing, but he would not go against Mikage's request. Akura-ou could be pushy when he wanted something, but Mikage was not above word binding the oni. He didn't think that would be necessary as Akura-ou had shown a tenderness towards Nanami that he hoped meant Akura-ou would respect her needs. It was Mizuki he worried about.
"Why are you staring at me? What did I do?" Mizuki asked innocently.
"If anyone is going to harass Nanami for information, it will be you, snake," Tomoe said in a biting tone. Nanami sighed as Mizuki began to quarrel with Tomoe. If she became a god, they would probably still be her familiars, which would mean living her long life with their constant fighting. It did not matter what they fought about. They always found a reason to disagree. Could she live with their endless hostility towards each other? Was it worth it? As she continued to watch them bicker, she decided it was. She hated their fighting, but if she died, she would never get to see them again. Nanami would prefer to watch them bicker for eternity than lose them. Then a thought hit her right in the heart, making her redden. If she became immortal, would that make Tomoe's reason for rejecting her nonexistent? If he did have feelings for her, maybe they could be together.
Mikage watched Nanami as she observed Mizuki and Tomoe. Usually, she would intervene in their quarrels, but he could tell she was lost in thought. Mikage took note of the way she was looking at Tomoe. A warm, dreamy expression settled over her features, and Mikage knew he needed to slow her down. He wanted her to live, but he also wanted her to choose to live for herself, not for the chance to be with Tomoe. Even if she was immortal, Tomoe could still oppose a yokai and human mating. Mikage simply could not know everything. He worried how another rejection would affect her before and after the bond was created. As the god of matchmaking and relationships, he knew well the damage a broken heart could inflict on a normal human. Nanami had not been normal since the moment he kissed her forehead, giving her his kami mark.
"Nanami," Mikage whispered, then waited patiently for her to acknowledge him. When she turned to look into his soft brown eyes, he whispered into her ear so softly Tomoe and Mizuki's bickering almost drowned him out. "Do me one favor. Wait until you have met her at the summit to make your decision. Perhaps you should even write a list of questions to ask her." Nanami's blush darkened. There were times she swore Mikage could read her mind. She nodded silently, earning a warm smile before they both turned back to see Tomoe staring at them even as Mizuki continued his verbal assault.
"What's this about a summit?" Tomoe asked, shoving Mizuki in the face away from him. Mikage paled. 'Darn fox hearing,' Mikage thought as he sighed. Now that Tomoe had said something, there was no point keeping the summit a secret. Not that it would have been one long.
"We will be receiving a summons to attend a summit in Izumo this evening. Which reminds me, Nanami, it may be difficult to secure a reasonably priced plane ticket this late. You will have to ride in the Night Fog Carriage." Nanami let out a soft groan but didn't argue, knowing it was pointless. The cost of plane tickets this time of year would be expensive.
"Fine, but can I at least bring some cushions to sit on. Sitting on a hard mat gets old fast." Mikage chuckled but agreed with a nod.
Later that night, as Nanami dressed after her bath, she heard a soft knock at the front door before hearing a rush of footsteps and Mizuki's voice answer the door. A moment later, Mizuki was shouting down the hallway, "Nanami-chan, I got the summons for you." Stepping into the hall, she saw Mikage reading the letter with a pouting Mizuki standing next to him.
"The summit starts Tuesday morning, but there will be a banquet held on Monday evening. You and I are to attend the banquet. It's a formal event, so I will ask Otohiko to pick something out for you to wear. We will leave in the morning with enough time to arrive before sunrise. It will give us time to have some fun in Izumo before the summit starts. Sound good?"
"Yeah, I can sleep in the carriage on the way there," Nanami said, already planning to bring a blanket with her cushions. She had to fight back a sigh. There went her week of relaxation and girl time with Ami and Kei. Kei was not going to be happy with her. She would have to call and cancel their shopping trip tomorrow. Mikage was still reading the summons with a look of stunned confusion, which stopped Nanami's thoughts short.
"What is it?" Nanami asked hesitantly. Mikage raised his gaze from the letter to give her a coy smile. 'This can't be good,' she thought, feeling apprehension creep up her neck.
"Well...Ookuninushi is really breaking barriers this time. He's invited yokai leaders to the summit as well."
"What?!" Mizuki sucked in a sharp breath, making him choke before sending him into a coughing fit. While he tried to catch his breath, Tomoe appeared in the hallway with a cynical expression.
"What is Ookuninushi thinking? How does he plan to keep all those gods from vaporizing any yokai that looks at them wrong? And what about the yokai? Can they be trusted to behave and not attack a god? I was locked up for not being under the familiar contract last time I was in Izumo," Tomoe sneered, watching Mizuki continue to cough while Nanami patted his back softly.
"I think that had more to do with you cracking Ikusagami's head open than being a wild fox," Akura-ou said as he whopped Mizuki between the shoulder blades hard enough to stop his coughing and send him crashing to the floor. Mizuki gave a pained muffled "thank you" from the ground. He would have started another fight if Tomoe had hit him, but Mizuki was wary of the oni. Akura-ou gave the water spirit a sharp toothy grin, "you're welcome." Then he turned back to Tomoe, his grin turning devilish. "I wish I had been there to see that. That arrogant bastard needs a good smack on the head every once in a while."
"Yokai have never been invited to Izumo before?" Nanami asked, helping Mizuki up off the floor.
"Don't be foolish, Nanami. If a yokai eats the heart of a god, they gain their power. Why would they invite them for a visit?" Tomoe snapped, making Nanami's cheeks flush.
"Well, how was I supposed to know." She had to bite her tongue not to add, 'they were once friends with the daiyokai. They probably got invited to Izumo.'
"So how does Ookuninushi plan to have all those gods and yokai together without any problems?" Mizuki asked, his voice strained from coughing. Mikage swallowed hard, knowing this bit of knowledge would not go over well.
"Certain gods known to be friendly towards yokai have been assigned a group to put under a temporary familiar contract for the duration of the summit." All three familiars were gaping at him, stunned into silence.
"Let me guess, we are among those gods," Nanami said, feeling an uneasiness bubble in her stomach. "How many familiars can a god make?"
"Well, it really depends on how powerful the god is and how much control that god has to exert over their familiars. We each have a group assigned to us, but I think we should trade a few individuals. Let's see..." Mikage read down the list of names, carefully considering each choice.
"Wait...I have to kiss all of them!" Nanami wailed, feeling lightheaded and blushing a deep crimson. Tomoe was seething. His mind was playing images of Nanami kissing male yokai he knew on a continuous loop; Kurama, Aotake, Nishiki, Ryou, Jiro each face making him clench his fists and jaw harder. Akura-ou wasn't helping, a smirk playing on his lips.
Leaning closer to Tomoe's ear, Akura-ou said, "You know you could always just-"
"Not a word, Akura-ou. Not a single word." Tomoe said through gritted teeth. Nanami was utterly oblivious to the exchange between the two males as her embarrassment of kissing multiple yokai was currently sending her into a spiraling panic.
"Yes, but that should not be a problem. We did not get too many names since you already have two familiars, and I have Akura-ou." Mikage tapped his lips for a second before speaking again. "Well, I think that the Third Soujoubou and Mizutama will use representatives given their age..."
"Mizutama? Why would she be invited to the summit?" Tomoe asked, stunned. She was the head female of the house, making her the leader of the tanuki women under her care. But to be invited to Izumo? It seemed odd to invite anyone from the Red-Light District of Over Yonder. It was not a place kami frequented.
"It says here she is the official representative of her district, and every district leader in Over Yonder is being invited." Mikage continued as if what he was saying was routine, and no one in the room was alarmed by the turn of events. "So, they are both allowed two representatives...Nanami, since you know the tengu, how about you take the tengu representatives and Princess Himemiko. I'll take the representatives for Mizutama and Princess Himemiko's retainer Aotake. If the tengu are not comfortable being kissed by a woman, we can deal with that later." Mikage smiled softly at Nanami. He could tell the situation was bothering the modest, reserved girl. Nanami's head was spinning. It had been too much on top of an already overwhelming day. "Okay, sounds good. I'm going to bed," she said, dazed. She headed for her room, hoping things would be less overwhelming in the morning.
"Goodnight," Mikage called down the hall as he watched Nanami wave silently before disappearing into her room. Then Tomoe's intense glare caught his eye, and he tried to ignore the pulsating dark aura around the familiar. Tomoe was beyond seething, knowing that one of the tengu representatives would most likely be Jiro. The tall, burly, handsome tengu who had professed his love for Nanami only months ago. The mental image of Nanami kissing Jiro had his stomach in his throat. Then there was Kurama. While he no longer lived on the mountain, he was still in line to be the Fourth Soujoubou. It would only make sense to send him to Izumo as a representative. In the past, Kurama had made multiple advances on Nanami. Tomoe didn't care whether Kurama had been serious or not. It did not matter that Nanami suspected Kurama had feelings for Ami either. 'I will roast those tengus if they try anything with Nanami. I am her familiar. I am the one who takes care of her and protects her. I am the one she has feelings for. Damn you, Ookuninushi. Jiro better not smile about this, or I will turn him into a giant ostrich, and this time I will make ostrich hamburger,' Tomoe thought, clenching his fists until his claws dug into his palms.