*Yes, we are still at the banquet. I did this on purpose. We are ending the night, and what happens next will build into the rest of the events at the summit. I contemplated putting this out but decided why not. A bit about me personally; I'm neurodivergent. I have ADHD, dyslexia, and anxiety, so I sometimes skip words or put them in the wrong order when I'm writing. To combat this, I listen to my work on text-to-speech programs. In other words, if you want to listen to this story rather than read it, this story is accessible friendly. Meaning the pacing and delivery should sound pretty decent in audio. Also, please let me know if you have any questions or comments about the accessibility or which programs I use. I'm always happy to share.
Random Character Info:
*I should have mentioned this last chapter, but Azami's coloring, black/red, is based on the cross fox. While I cannot find articles describing its natural occurrence in Japan, that does not mean it doesn't happen. It occurs naturally more often than black, silver, or white color morphs, so I went with it. Plus, it allows for a blending of Rin's black hair and Shippo's copper. That being said, Azami is still a red fox, like Shippo.
*The animal yokai I am including are more specific to Japan or Asia. So far, this includes Usuri, who is named after and is a yokai version of a Ussuri brown bear (Ursus arctos lasiotus). Tancho is a Japanese Red Crowned Crane (his name had a tie-in, but I forgot to write it down and forgot what it is). Master Sansho is a Japanese Giant Salamander or Ōsanshōuo (giant pepper fish), which is where I got his name.
Definitions of uncommon words/ Japanese words and their meaning:
*Eft is the larval stage of salamander. I've seen nymphs too, but I chose to go with efts.
*Byobu: Japanese folded screen used to partition rooms. They were often painted or featured poetry and stories.
* Oiran: Upper class/elite courtesan. I made the mistake of using geisha before, but that is a Western misconception. Geishas were never courtesans and even men could be geishas. Basically, geisha were entertainers. Geisha could become concubines to high-ranking shogun, but again that is different than being a courtesan. I have edited my mistake in previous chapters. I try my best to be accurate but sometimes slip. I also used oiran rather than yuujyo for the tanuki because of their education level and the status Tomoe and Akura-ou had before they were captured would have allowed them to seek the service of oiran.
Sorry lot's of notes but I promise future chapters will have less notes :)
The banquet went on so late into the night Nanami and Himemiko fell asleep leaning on each other snug beneath Tomoe's haori. Most of the other gods and yokai had left when Ookuninushi, Inuyasha, Master Sansho, Kurama, and Mizuki started a drinking contest. Tomoe watched with mild amusement as the males tested the strength of the bottle of sake Master Sansho brought against Mizuki's.
"It looks like we are about to lose another one," Mikage whispered, leaning over to Jiro. They watched Azami struggle to remain awake before her head bowed forward, and her breaths became even. The position she fell asleep in looked uncomfortable, sitting with her legs to the side, her chin resting on her chest and her hands resting on her lap. One second, she looked locked in her sleeping position, and the next, she swayed once before falling to the side, her cheek hitting black silk.
"Hmm, warm," Azami mumbled, hugging the arm of a stunned Akura-ou. The oni's body had gone ramrod straight the moment she touched him. Tomoe covered his mouth to keep his laughter from waking the sleeping girls. The wide-eyed startled expression Akura-ou gave him made him feel like he was about to explode with laughter. Azami inhaled deeply before nuzzling into his shoulder with a contented sigh.
"Get it off me," Akura-ou hissed at Tomoe, his hands balled into fists clutching his kimono tightly. The feeling of the hanyo leaning against him and holding his arm tightly made him incredibly uncomfortable and jittery. Tomoe's body shook with repressed laughter, his eyes moist from tears. The look on Akura-ou's face reminded Tomoe of when a bug would land on Nanami. When his brother didn't help him, Akura-ou lifted his hand, fingers straight like a dagger, black claws gleaming. He paused to growl, "get it off, or I will."
Tomoe's laughing immediately stopped while Tanuko and Sakurako sucked in a sharp breath. "Akura-ou, behave yourself. If you do not want her to touch you, wake her gently and ask her to move." Mikage's voice was gentle, but there was a hint of warning to it. Akura-ou growled under his breath, but he didn't have to wake her.
Azami shot up with a quick breath, her eyes wide, then with an embarrassed grin, she turned towards Akura-ou. "I'm sorry. I didn't drool on you, did I?" She giggled with a slight blush, rubbing her neck. Akura-ou narrowed his eyes at her, but she was already getting up to leave. She paused to bow. "Thank you for allowing me to enjoy your company this evening. Please give my regards to Princess Himemiko and Lady Nanami. Have a lovely evening." Everyone except Akura-ou bowed back to her before she dashed over to where the drinking group had descended into boisterous singing.
"It seems your reputation proceeds, you brother," Tomoe commented, watching Akura-ou wipe off his hoari with a sneer plastered over his lips.
"Akura-ou, your rehabilitation includes treating females of all species with respect, compassion, and tolerance. That means you need to treat other women as you do your mother and Nanami. Perhaps Azami is perfect to practice with as she will soon become a permanent part of our lives," Mikage calmly explained before taking a sip of his sake. Tomoe shook his head as he caught the oni's indignant eye roll. He knew that being respectful towards females would be one of the hardest parts for Akura-ou to learn. His brother still had moments when he struggled not to be rough or disrespectful with his mother and Nanami. And there was no doubt in his mind how much Akura-ou cared for both women.
"Lord Mikage, you believe Nanami will accept the bond?" Unari asked, giving Nanami a soft look. She was impressed by Nanami's bravery and spirit, but she also worried about how this change would affect Mizuki. It had been clear that evening something was already bothering him.
"Yes, I do. I can feel the natural bond Ookuninushi mentioned is strong between them. I believe it will benefit both of them," Mikage said, watching Shippo drape his jacket over his daughter's shoulders before putting an arm around her to let her rest against him. Then the drinking group began to disperse, most of the participants struggling to stand gracefully.
"How sweet. What a good father," Sakurako cooed, fanning herself. "It is lovely to see such a caring male."
"I have heard that is typical of kitsune fathers, right Tomoe?" Tanuko said, beaming at him, making his cheeks tinge pink.
"I would not know from personal experience, but I have heard kitsune parents are very caring and affectionate with their children. I believe it is a trait shared by dog and wolf yokai as well," Tomoe replied, feeling a fluttering in his stomach as she continued to smile in a way he had not seen before. It made him feel uneasy, something he had never experience in Tanuko's presence. She usually made him feel relaxed and comfortable. It was one of the reasons she was his favorite oiran. A nearly inaudible growl vibrated next to him, making him tear his eyes away from Tanuko to look at his brother. Akura-ou's eyes were narrowed and focused on the ground, his brow furrowed and his shoulders tense. No one else appeared to have heard him, but it made Tomoe confused. Before he could ask his brother about it, Mizuki and Kurama returned, shouting at each other loudly.
"I tolly beat chu," Mizuki slurred as Kurama tried to hold him up despite his swaying gait.
"At least I beat Inuyasha. Look at him. He can barely stand," Kurama said with a boozy laugh. Inuyasha was hugging Shippo and Azami drunkenly, and his head was resting on Azami's while she and Shippo were holding him upright. Tomoe could not help finding amusement as Inuyasha grabbed Azami and planted a sloppy kiss on her forehead just before Sesshomaru pulled him off. Turning Inuyasha around roughly, Sesshomaru lifted his brother over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He resisted for only a moment before allowing himself to be carried.
Watching the older brother carry his inebriated younger sibling gave the intoxicated Mizuki a brilliant idea. With a wide lopsided grin, he turned to Tomoe with his arms held out and cried, "Hey, Big Brother shinshi. Carry me!" Tomoe opened his mouth to scold Mizuki, but Akura-ou growled louder, his yellow eyes boring into Mizuki, making the snake spirit jolt and cling to Kurama.
"What's wrong, Akura-ou?" Nanami asked, rubbing her eyes sleepily as she and Himemiko began to wake. Akura-ou looked at Nanami's concerned drowsy expression, immediately softening. He gave her a small smile.
"I'm just tired, woman, and I'm ready to get back to the suite," he said, trying to hide his irritation. Before anyone could pry further, he stood and, to everyone's surprise, especially Mizuki's, lifted the snake onto his shoulder none too gently. Mizuki squeaked from a mixture of shock and his stomach hitting the hard-muscled shoulder of the oni. "I'll carry you, little brother shinshi. Just don't throw up on me." Mizuki chose not to resist, deciding it was safer to let the oni have his way.
"I'm so glad I'm not that drunk," Kurama whispered to Tomoe as both men stared wide-eyed at Akura-ou holding Mizuki as he waited for the rest of the group to stand. Tomoe nodded slowly. Then a tiny smirk built on the tengu's lips. "We are never letting him live this down, are we?"
"No, no, we are not," Tomoe whispered back, mirroring Kurama's expression. Inwardly he was chuckling as he thought, 'I won't let either of them live this moment down.'
"Well, then shall we retire for the evening?" Mikage said with an astonished chuckled before standing and leading the group over to say goodnight to Ookuninushi.
"I see one of yours lost the battle to remain upright as well," Shippo joked, seeing Mizuki slung over Akura-ou's shoulder.
"Efts, can't hold their drink," Master Sansho said, swaying even more than usual. As he walked, he nearly crashed into Azami, but she reached out to steady him. "Thank you, young one. These old limbs are not what they used to be...Not that they ever were much good," he said with a giggle that ended in an amused hum, smacking his lips absently.
"Will you be alright returning to your suite?" She asked with concern.
"Are you offering to escort me?" Master Sansho winked at her but then patted her hand, "No lovely girl, I am not so old I cannot find my way back to my room. Even if I have to crawl, I shall be fine." Azami nodded reluctantly. She watched as he walked towards Otohiko but stopped as he got a mischievous glint in his beady eye. A moment later, he put his arms around Tomoe and Kurama. "Hello, darlings. I believe our suites are in the same direction. What do you, two beautiful ladies say to helping an old man back to his room?" They both instantly jumped away from the salamander.
"Dude! What the hell? We aren't women!" Kurama gasped. Master Sansho narrowed his eyes, blinking blindly at them as he swayed unsteadily.
"...Nope. Still look like women to me. If you are men, then you are the prettiest men I've ever seen." Kurama and Tomoe exchanged a look of incredulity.
"You know very well we are men. You have been around us all night!" Tomoe scolded haughtily, then something clicked. "Wait, aren't you blind?"
"Completely," Master Sansho replied, not missing a beat. "Who are you?"
"I'm Tomoe!" He bellowed, running out of patience.
Master Sansho hummed as he nodded, "Who?" Akura-ou nearly dropped Mizuki as he laughed at Tomoe's frustration even as he held him back by the back of his kimono.
"Master Sansho, that is enough mischief for one night," Tancho said, speaking up for the first time all evening. "We all have a long day ahead of us, and it is time we retired to our rooms and prepared for tomorrow's meetings. Lord Ookuninushi, we thank you and bid you and your guests good evening." He bowed low then turned to Master Sansho once more, "Come, old friend, before you get any wilder ideas with which to pass the night."
It was sometime later that evening when Tomoe lounged on the walkway outside his room smoking his kiseru. The nearly full moon bathed him in soft blue light as he watched the koi fish swim gracefully. Occasionally he glanced at the room where Nanami was sleeping soundly, or at least he thought she was.
Nanami, however, was finding it difficult to sleep. Her mind kept her awake, replaying the banquet and her meeting with Azami. Despite promising to wait until the end of the summit to decide, her mind was hellbent on choosing before it would allow her a moment of peace. But as she started to narrow in on a solid answer, the sound of silk and delicate footsteps in the nearly perfect quiet of the night caught her attention.
"Tomoe..." Tanuko's voice twinkled melodiously, breaking him out of his thoughts.
"Hmm?" He looked up from the pond to find her in a white sleeping yukata with pink cherry blossoms hanging off her shoulders temptingly. In the moonlight, it was nearly see-through. He knew the yukata well; she often wore it during his visits to the tea house after he had expressed a fondness for it. The uneasy feeling returned to his stomach, and he felt awkward staring at her even though he had seen far more of her than what the yukata allowed.
"What are you doing sitting out here all alone?" She asked in a sultry tone barely above a whisper. Tomoe swallowed hard as she knelt in front of him, a light blush playing on her cheeks.
"I was thinking," he said, sitting up so that he would not be eye level with her chest. The same chest he still felt guilty comparing Nanami's to in an effort to keep the truth of his feelings hidden. How many times had he told Nanami she paled in comparison to the woman kneeling before him with longing in her eyes?
"About what?" She asked, taking his kiseru and pulling a slow drag from it, her soft, brown-eyed gaze not breaking from his. There were only two people in the world who could take a sip of his sake or drag from his kiseru without inciting his instant wrath. Tanuko was one of them. A voice in the back of his mind told him he would never allow Nanami the same liberties with his person he had allowed those two.
"The future," he answered honestly as the realization was making his stomach twist with an unnamed feeling. What did that mean for their future? The one he had been fantasizing about only seconds ago. Tanuko hummed as she turned the kiseru around, holding it delicately for him to take a drag before he blew smoke rings into the air. A playful light flashed in her eyes, and he knew her mind was replaying those nights they had laid together smoking and drinking until the early morning hours.
"I have been thinking about the future too," Tanuko semi-teased before taking another drag.
"Have you?" He allowed a subtle playfulness to enter his voice. He found it both comforting and anxiety-inducing how easily they slipped back into their well-practiced ease. As if they were in her room at the tea house and not among kami in Izumo. Tanuko hummed her response while ghosting her fingers over the edge of his ear the way she knew he liked. It sent a shiver down his spine while simultaneously making him feel nauseous with guilt as if he were betraying Nanami. His heart raced until it thundered in his ears, something told him he should walk away from the situation, but his body remained unmoving.
"Do you remember that night a little over a year ago when you said you were tired of waiting for your master to return?" Tanuko giggled seductively, in a way Nanami had never heard before. Laying in her moonlit room, Nanami could barely breathe. A knot of ice and dread twisted in her stomach as she contemplated staying quiet or letting them know she could hear them. She wondered if she would be able to listen to them if she had not left her door open a tiny bit so she could fall asleep to the sound of the tinkling waterfall. Maybe. The rice paper was thin enough she could make out their silhouettes. She closed her eyes tightly, not caring as tears raced down her cheeks. She just couldn't stand watching Tanuko stroking Tomoe's ear anymore. It was too much.
Outside Tomoe was giving Tanuko a confused expression, so she continued much to Nanami's dismay. "We were laying in each other's arms, and you asked me to run away with you. I laughed, thinking you were just being silly since you were still in rehabilitation, but I started to wonder if I would have found it so silly if you had asked after you were freed."
'Shit...' Tomoe thought, suddenly remembering that night. He was drunk on sake and sex after yet another week passed without any sign of Mikage. For twenty years, he waited for the land god to return, but he had no idea Mikage had been searching for the perfect human to teach him compassion. Mikage had been searching for Nanami. All he knew at that moment was he was lonely, and Tanuko was beautiful, sexy, and familiar. "Do you know what my answer would have been?" She teased while Tomoe swallowed hard. Outwardly he appeared calm, perhaps even interested, but inside he was a jumble of emotions all screaming for his immediate attention. He didn't get a chance to answer as she leaned in closer, her fingers tracing down his face to his neck. "I'll follow you anywhere, Tomoe."
'Shit!' He thought again, cursing his past self for being so thoughtless to ask such a question, especially one he never truly intended to act on. There was once a time he thought he could love Tanuko, but he never did, and now he never could. Maybe he would never let her get as close to him as others had, but the only woman he loved was Nanami. He sat up to explain himself just as she leaned down to kiss him. The image of their shadows meeting and the smacking sound that followed was like a knife to Nanami's heart, but before a sob could escape her, Tomoe's voice caught her attention. "Tanuko..." Tomoe started his voice soft and apologetic as he pushed her away gently after narrowly avoiding her kiss, which had landed safely on his cheek.
Panic gripped her heart as she believed her effort to rekindle their old relationship had put him off. It had been a year since he had visited the tea house. She needed to tell him she wanted more than to share his bed. "Wait, Tomoe, please. I know that Nanami is the only one who can ask you for anything, but just this once, can you grant me the same privilege?" She didn't wait for his answer. "I am so jealous of Nanami for being able to call you hers, but the way I want you is different. I grew up hoping I'd be an oiran one day. Love was something I never thought to dream about until I met you. I love you, Tomoe. I want to retire and belong only to you. Your five hundred years is over. You're free, Tomoe. We could be free together. You don't have to be a familiar anymore, and now that there is a way to save Nanami, you don't need to protect her anymore. She has Mizuki and Mikage has Akura-ou. You can live your own life now. We could be together. I know my kind doesn't live as long as kitsunes, but you are powerful enough to learn to create the soulbond for us. You don't want to be Nanami's familiar forever, do you? What do you think? Will you run away with me?"
Tomoe opened his mouth to answer, but Tanuko's words had struck something deep inside him. That voice that told him he would never allow Nanami to get too close to him, to be truly free with him, was getting louder. No, he did not want to be Nanami's familiar forever. He didn't want to be anyone's familiar eternally, but that was the crux of the whole situation. To be with Nanami meant being her shinshi, her butler, her bodyguard, her caretaker, her everything but the one thing he wanted to be. And here was a female willing to love him freely. Who wanted him to be free. "No, I don't want to be a familiar forever." Nanami buried her face in her pillow to muffle the sounds of her heartbroken whimpers as she held her breath, praying they wouldn't hear her. "But neither can I promise you forever. Not tonight. I... need time to think. Can you give me that? Give me until the end of the summit to decide."
"Of course," Tanuko said, her smile returning. Tomoe smiled back at her before bidding her goodnight, unaware of the hope that shattered in two hearts listening in the dark, even as it blossomed in Tanuko's.
The following day Nanami woke exhausted. She cried most of the night. She could still feel the headache from sobbing into her pillow. By the time Tomoe knocked on her door to wake her, she was resolute in her decision to let him go should he wish. After several hours of sorrow, she had concluded that it was selfish to want to keep Tomoe if he wanted to leave. He was only hers as far as the familiar contract allowed, and he had made his feelings for her very clear. But most of all, she realized she would let him go because she loved him. More than she wanted him to stay with her, she wanted him to be happy. Even if that meant she never got to see him again. She swallowed hard as the thought made her eyes sting with fresh tears, but she wiped them away quickly before he could see them. Enough tears had fallen through the night, and none of them would stop Tomoe from doing as he pleased.
Tomoe opened her door to find Nanami, surprisingly already dressed in a pink kimono. "My, my, you are eager to start the day, I see. But your obi is a little loose. Allow me to assist you," Tomoe commented, stepping towards her. Before his hands could touch her, she shrunk away from him. The action made his heart skip a beat uncomfortably. "Nanami..."
"It's okay. You help me so often. I should ask Mizuki to help me instead. I should...rely on him more than I do. I'm always burdening you with requests. It's not really fair," Nanami quickly explained while backing out of the room. The wounded, confused look on his face tugged at her heart agonizingly, but she was afraid of crying again if he touched her. She wanted him to know that she would be okay if he chose to leave. Tomoe watched her leave the room with a sense of foreboding. There was no way Nanami could have heard his conversation with Tanuko. The rooms were enchanted with sound seals that activated when the doors were shut. Yet, Tanuko's words were coming to life right in front of him. Dread washed over him in a cold blast as he thought, 'Have I waited too long? Does she not love me anymore? Just when I was beginning to contemplate what it would be like to...Perhaps...it is for the best. Even if she were immortal, she would still be a god, and I would be her familiar.' He had spent hours trying to dislodge Tanuko's words from his mind, but there was a part of him that wanted his freedom. Still, the thought of leaving Nanami was too excruciating to entertain. Was his freedom worth more to him than her? That was the question he needed to answer for them both.
An hour later, Nanami found herself sitting in a golden hall lined with jade columns. Each one was intricately carved with ancient beasts ascending towards the cloud-painted ceiling. The other kami and all the yokai she had seen from the night before milled into the room slowly. Her focus was on the beasts trying to remember seeing them or hearing about them in Shinto legends, but nothing came to mind. As she moved from one column to the next, she found herself looking at the front of the room. On a raised platform sat Ookuninushi on his throne with Sesshomaru and his pack to his right. Azami caught her eye with a smile and little wave, which she returned.
Akura-ou suddenly snorted. "Now I remember where I've seen this place before." He nudged Tomoe in the ribs and pointed towards Ookuninushi. "Do you remember, Tomoe? This is the hall where they had us chained up and bleeding all over their pretty floor while they sentenced us to five hundred years of hell and torture." As he grinned haughtily at all the kami he knew had probably wanted their heads that day, his eyes met Ikusagami's deathly glare. The oni gave the war kami a wink and blew him a kiss, making the kami's head look like it was about to explode.
"Stop taunting, Ikusagami. He's going to be enough of a handful after Ookuninushi makes his announcement. Besides, my five hundred years were not so bad," Tomoe said sternly. Akura-ou pouted, crossing his arms in annoyance. He looked at his brother and thought back to when he had first started living with Mikage as his familiar. The first few years had been rough learning to be domestic, but Tomoe had enjoyed his work after that. It was humans he struggled to understand and empathize with. In his mind, humans remained weak and pathetic for 499 and a half years, give or take a day. It took falling in love with Nanami to change his mind. Part of him wondered if it would take falling in love with a human woman to teach Akura-ou the same lesson. He looked over to his brother, who was giving Princess Narukami a wolfish grin making her fidget uneasily. 'Gods, help Mikage, and that woman should it ever come to that,' he thought before flicking the oni's pointed ear hard and giving him another stern look.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?"
"Behave yourself, brat. You are supposed to be representing Mikage, and you're not making a very respectable image. Maybe act a little less like yourself-"
Tomoe's lecture was cut off when Akura-ou leaned in close to whisper. "And what? Act more like you? No, I think I'm better off being myself. At least people can rely on me to be consistent." Tomoe stared at his brother, wide-eyed. He felt like he had missed something important. He didn't get the chance to question his brother as Ookuninushi stood to begin the meeting. As the god of fortune announced the purpose of the summit, the kami, not present at the banquet, gasped in horror, or glowered in outrage at Ookuninushi's audacity to not simply bend the other world to their will. Tomoe heard none of it. His ears were full of cotton as his world fell away into a hazy backdrop to his cold despair. He realized with certainty Akura-ou had heard his conversation with Tanuko. Suddenly Tomoe was 500 years in the past, in a mountainside castle, sneaking through quiet halls as the cold draft stole the lingering warmth of lush furs. He should have remembered how Akura-ou felt about tanuki, how hearing Tomoe consider Tanuko's offer would make him feel. Maybe if he had stopped to think about Akura-ou's feelings back then or even considered his brother had feelings, things would have been different between them. Akura-ou might not have known what he was feeling or how to communicate his emotions properly, but Tomoe knew he had them. He knew that sometimes the oni felt too much, and it was during those times he was the most volatile.
Tomoe's thoughts were shattered when Ikusagami rose from his seat and bellowed, "Lord Ookuninushi, have you truly lost your mind this time? What is to keep these daiyokai from attacking us? By all means, bring down the seal, but we must bring these yokai to heal as well. I have heard what happened last night. An insult was all it took to cause your ally to act out against all those present. What is to stop them from attempting to overthrow us?" The room erupted into supportive cries from several kami. Ookuninushi opened his mouth to answer, but it was Inuyasha who spoke first.
He barked a laugh, "Anyone with a half-decent sense of smell knows my brother is wound tight since his mate is pregnant." Sesshomaru shot him a furious glare that would have made most cower in fear. Inuyasha just looked at him with a shit-eating grin. The last time he was afraid of Sesshomaru, he had been little more than a child. Even when Sesshomaru had tried to kill him in the past over Tessaiga, fear had not been the strongest emotion he felt. His brother could desire his death all he wanted. Inuyasha knew Sesshomaru loved Kagome more than to risk upsetting her by killing her best friend. Then there was the part where they had learned to love each other despite still acting like they didn't most of the time. "You'd have to be a fucking idiot to poke at an inu papa's pups when there's a bun in the oven. Yet, that moron calls my niece a toy while asking us to hand her over like that's not going to set a hormonal alpha into kill mode. Either his sense of smell is dead, and he really had no idea, or he was pushing buttons to see what would happen. I'm going with the second one because he stinks of that kind of stupid. You're not gonna find an alpha in this room who would have acted any better in the same situation. Probably worse." Several male yokai grinned and nodded knowingly.
"How dare you speak to a god in such a manner, you little vermin," Ikusagami shouted, grasping his sword's hilt and crouching slightly in an offensive pose. Inuyasha jumped to his feet, but Shippo grabbed the back of his kimono, yanking hard enough to bring him crashing to the floor. He growled at his old friend, not missing the part where Shippo muttered "sit boy" under his breath before pulling him down. The kitsune gave him an innocent look while inwardly giggling. "I demand retribution for that insulant whelp's tongue!" Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed at the kami prepared to argue or fight for his brother's sake despite wanting to punch him in the face.
"Sit down, Ikusagami!" Ookuninushi bellowed before taking a deep breath and continuing in a calm voice, "Every time we have a meeting, it is always you who screams the loudest in opposition. I'm beginning to think you do it simply out of amusement. Unless you have any evidence to back up your claims, I suggest you stay quiet the rest of the summit. Now, we are moving on to legitimate business. If you have any further comments Ikusagami, you will present them in a calm respectable manner, or I will have you removed." The war god huffed before taking his seat once again. Ookuninushi waited a moment longer before nodding to two rabbits who unfolded a massive, eight-paneled byobu. The panels depicted the spirit realm, Over Yonder, and the human world in gold, green, and blue painted on white silk stretched between black lacquered frames. "Master Sansho, please proceed."
The salamander waddled up to the map, slowly smacking his lips, then turned to the room. "According to the journals of my former sensei and the records Lord Ookuninushi has allowed me to access the seal is located somewhere in the Red-Light District of Over Yonder." Tanuko and Sakurako covered their mouths as they exchanged a look of horror. "While every mention of the portal describes it as a large stone doorway, the exact location remains a mystery. Once the representatives of the Red-Light District permit us, my pupils are ready to begin excavating the area we feel holds the most promise." Tomoe's mouth fell open as he realized that was the reason Ookuninushi had invited Mizutama. They wanted her cooperation in finding the seal. They didn't need it, of course. Ookuninushi could march on the district with a force of armed kami, but that could have spelled war. Many yokai leaders frequented the Red-Light District for one thing or another, and they would defend it if needed. Others would run into battle for the chance to fight the gods.
Ookuninushi turned his attention to the two tanukis who stared at him wide-eyed. "What do you say, representatives of Miss Mizutama? It is not just our future that hangs in the balance but yours as well." He flashed them his most dashing smile.
Sakurako snapped out of her shocked daze. She stood tall as she addressed the kami of fortune. "We say no." The room buzzed with tension but quieted when she began to speak again. "Lord Ookuninushi, you have failed to notify us before this meeting of the purpose for our presence and then expect us to blindly agree to an excavation that could endanger the livelihood of many in our district. We will need a full report of what Master Sansho plans to do on our lands, as well as your assurance, Lord, that the removal of the seal will negatively impact none in our district. Then and only then shall we consider agreeing to this excavation." Ookuninushi's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Master Sansho had warned him not to underestimate the oiran, but he figured his charms, and the element of surprise would save them the messy business of appeasing the Red-light District.
Regaining his composure quickly, he inclined his head ever so slightly, not missing the look he was getting from the salamander, "Of course, Master Sansho will have it prepared for you this evening. We shall postpone discussing the excavation further until you have had a chance to go over our findings." Sakurako bowed in thanks before taking her seat.
The rest of the meeting was spent discussing the various ways in which kami would take on the added responsibility of both worlds. Ichigo gave a detailed description of the religious practices of their world, both among yokai and humans, which allowed many kami to see their need on the other world. Mikage was incredibly excited about integrating yokai mating into his matchmaking. He was so giddy Akura-ou scooted away from him with a groan of annoyance as Ichigo took his seat next to Azami on the stage, and they exchanged a discrete fist bump. Ookuninushi stood once more to address the meeting, "If there are no pressing questions, I will end this meeting here, and we will resume tomorrow morning." No one spoke, so the meeting ended with Ookuninushi leaving the hall with Master Sansho on his heels.
"Looks like I better go save Ookuninushi from my familiar's wrath. That old geezer does not look happy," Otohiko said with a heavy sigh. "I'll see you all later. Come on, you three."
"Lord Otohiko, if you would not mind, I would like to speak with Lord Sesshomaru and Lord Shippo for a moment," Tancho replied, looking paler than usual. Otohiko nodded quickly and took off after the salamander, with Unari and Ryou following reluctantly behind him.
"I shall come with you. There is something I wish to ask Lord Shippo about as well," Tomoe said, getting to his feet. "Mizuki, take Nanami back to the suite. I ordered lunch to be waiting for her at the end of the meeting." Mizuki opened his mouth to question but thought better of it when Tomoe shot him a glare.
"I will see you at the suite, Nanami. Ladies, please go with Nanami and the tengu. Come on, Akura-ou, I'm curious to know more about the yokai matchmaking ritual Master Ichigo described," Mikage said, getting to his feet with a subtle bounce making the oni groan in annoyance again.
"Okay, come on, Nanami-chan, let's go eat. I'm sure you're starving." Mizuki helped her stand as she watched Tomoe walk away with a pang of heartache. She began to mentally prepare herself for Tomoe to ask her to let him go that evening, and the thought made her nauseous. Any appetite she may have had quickly dissipated as she followed Mizuki mechanically. Jiro and Kurama exchanged a look of concern walking behind her.
On the platform, Tomoe and Tancho cornered Shippo. Sesshomaru had disappeared with Inuyasha immediately after the meeting ended. "Lord Shippo, may we ask you some questions?" Tomoe asked, catching Shippo just as he was about to follow after Sesshomaru and Inuyasha.
"Of course," Shippo said with a small smile. "What can I do for you, gentlemen?"
Tomoe didn't wait for Tancho to speak up. "I was wondering if yokai on our world can be taught to perform the soulbond?" He didn't miss the way Akura-ou's head snapped in his direction or the chill that suddenly permeated the air.
"Well, it takes a certain amount of power, but a yokai of your level should be able to learn. Unfortunately, it also takes a basic knowledge of aura manipulation." Shippo waited for Tomoe's reaction. His hunch was correct as a look of confusion spread over the other kitsune's face. "I would be willing to teach you both, but it will take time. Maybe seven months at the least. Do you still wish to learn?"
Tomoe thought for a moment, then smiled warmly, "Yes, I would be most grateful. Thank you, Lord Shippo."
"No need to thank me. We will start this evening after dinner." Shippo then turned to the crane yokai. "And what may I help you with, Lord Tancho?"
"May we speak in private? It is of a personal matter," Tancho said, looking paler by the moment. A bead of sweat ran down his face, and Shippo took in the scent of fear mixed heavily with guilt, grief, and heartache wafting from the crane. Shippo hesitated for a moment, so Tancho leaned in close to whisper. "I believe my half-human child is in danger. Please help me." Tancho's voice shook, betraying the tears he managed to hide.
"Right, come with me. Usuri, Ichigo escort the ladies back to the suite." Then he was rushing from the hall with Tancho on his heels.
"Alright ladies, you heard our lord. I'm in charge so let's go," Usuri ordered, gesturing towards the exit, but no one moved. "Azami, help me out...Azami?"
"She's been gone for the past five minutes," Ichigo answered without taking his attention away from Mikage. "Lord Mikage, perhaps you would care to continue this conversation at our suite? I am interested in the way in which you answer relationship prayers." Mikage nodded with a smile.
Usuri looked around for Azami for a moment. "Well, she will find her way back. Let's go." Ichigo took Shiori by the arm and led everyone towards the exit. As soon as they left the hall, Tomoe took off at a quick pace back to the suite. Mikage noticed the way Akura-ou watched him. The oni's shoulders were tense, and he seemed lost in his thoughts.
"Akura-ou, why don't you go back to the suite as well. I can manage without you for a little while," Mikage said with a slight nod in the direction Tomoe had gone. Akura-ou hesitated only a second before taking off after his brother. Mikage sighed as he watched him go, knowing the oni needed to work through the past before he could begin to embrace his future.
Nanami sat in the living room, picking at her plate. She ate a few bites here and there, but every time Tanuko giggled in the garden at one of Kurama's crazy fan stories, she had to fight down the lump that formed in her throat. "Nanami-chan, are you feeling alright?" Mizuki asked gently.
"I'm not that hungry. I have a lot on my mind," Nanami said, poking at her chicken katsu.
"Is it that fox?" He asked, pouring her more tea. His biting tone caught her attention, and she stared at him for a moment.
"Mizuki, is something wrong? Did Tomoe do something?" Nanami asked softly. They were always fighting, but occasionally Tomoe would hit a sensitive spot that left Mizuki bitter for days. Putting the teapot down slowly, Mizuki looked at her for a moment.
"I'm fine…." He lied, giving her a forced smile before looking away quickly. Mizuki hated lying to her, but he'd promised to be open to her decision. He hadn't thought it would be so hard. He was afraid of upsetting her with his feelings, but the emotions refused to go away. Mizuki dared to look up when she remained silent. Nanami's soft gaze told him she saw through his lie. It drew him in until it crumbled his resolve. Looking at his hands, he sighed before speaking. "I saw Lady Azami in your room yesterday." He couldn't meet her eyes as his chest felt tight. "I know I promised to support your choice but seeing her with you...made me nervous and irritated," Mizuki said, his voice small.
"Why does she make you feel that way?" Nanami asked, putting her hand on his gently. He looked at her hand resting on his as a blush spread over his cheeks. He swallowed, then worried his bottom lip, unsure how Nanami would react. She leaned forward to catch his gaze, then smiled comfortingly while squeezing his hand. "It's okay, you can tell me. I won't get mad. We are in this together. I want to know if something is bothering you."
He nodded slowly with another deep sigh. "I'm afraid she will take you away. If you bond with her, you would be immortal, but you could choose not to be a god anymore. She has a huge pack, and you could finally have a real family. If you decide to join her pack and live on their world, I wouldn't be your familiar anymore and...I'd never get to see you again."
Nanami squeezed his hand again as she spoke, "Mizuki, I'm not going anywhere without you. If I choose to live as just an immortal human and leave Mikage shrine, I'll take you with me. You're more than my familiar. You are my family. As long as you want to stay, you'll always have a place with me. I think Lady Azami and her pack would welcome you too. Lord Shippo said their pack was more like a zoo, and I'm sure they would welcome a divine snake spirit to that mix." She squeaked as he hugged her suddenly. A warm smile spread over her face as he laid his head against her shoulder.
"Thank you, Nanami-chan. I will stay with you forever then. Even if I have to live with a bunch of deceptive foxes." Nanami shook her head with a laugh but continued to pat his.
"Maybe you should try to like foxes more. Lady Azami and Lord Shippo seem very nice. I know you don't always get along with Tomoe, but he cares about you in his own way," Nanami soothed, squeezing him tightly for a moment.
"Okay, I'll try. Lady Azami is kind of cute, and she's half-human, so maybe she's only half bad. Plus, she is the copy of your soul, so it would be like having two of my favorite person. Do you think she likes plum blossoms?" Mizuki asked, tapping his chin in thought.
"That's not what I meant," Nanami said under her breath but let it go. She just hoped Unari was not the jealous type.
A light knock pulled them out of their moment as Azami called into the living room, "Hello? Lady Nanami? Master Mizuki?"
"Come in," Nanami called, releasing Mizuki with a pat on the head. Azami stepped into the living room with a warm smile. "Have you come to join us for lunch?"
"No, but it does look delicious. I thought we could hang out and get to know each other. I can wait until you finish eating, of course."
"Yes, that sounds fun. I'm not very hungry, so we can go now," Nanami said, moving to stand but paused. She looked at Mizuki for a moment to gauge his reaction, but he beamed brightly at her.
"You should go. It will be good for you to get some fresh air," he said, starting to clean up her lunch.
"Are you not coming with us, Master Mizuki?" Azami asked quickly. He turned to her, still smiling.
"No, I think I can trust you to take care of my mistress." She didn't miss the command in his voice.
"You have my word. I will not leave her side unless you or Tomoe comes for her," she said with a bow. Nanami giggled, wondering if Mizuki's smile could get any wider. "Shall we, Lady Nanami?" Nanami nodded, then shot Mizuki a brilliant smile as she followed Azami out of the suite. He watched them go, a part of him still feeling weary of the new fox in Nanami's life, but he could see himself warming up to her.
Azami led Nanami to a wooded area of the grounds where round targets were hanging from trees. Nanami then noticed the three bows and quiver of arrows leaning against the tree a fair distance from the targets. "Archery? Are you going to teach me to fire a bow?" Nanami asked, perplexed by the situation.
"Hn," Azami answered, picking up one of the bows and handing it to her. "Lord Hachiman has allowed us to use his spare equipment and his practice range for an hour. I noticed you were tense at the meeting, and this is how my grandmother taught me to de-stress. After every shot, we ask a question of the other. It can be about anything. So basically, we shoot and talk until the quiver is empty."
"But I'm not good at archery. Every time we had to do it for gym class, I never hit the target. It's really embarrassing," Nanami admitted as she accepted the bow. Azami's eyebrow rose then she picked up her bow.
"I have never understood the human belief that everyone is born all-knowing and that someone is either naturally good at something or they're not. You have to practice something to be good at it. Knowledge requires learning and experience. Therefore, you are neither good nor bad at archery," Azami said, giving Nanami a toothy grin. "You are simply untrained." Nanami nodded as she smiled brightly. Azami handed her an arrow and helped her set up the bow. Patiently correcting her stance and hold before stepping back. She took a steadying breath as Azami instructed, aimed for the nearest target, and fired. The arrow flew for a few feet before it lost momentum, striking the ground nowhere near her target. Nanami groaned, but Azami didn't let her wallow. "That was good for someone learning. Okay, so ask your question and don't hold back."
Nanami thought for a moment before asking, "How did you become a champion?"
Azami sighed heavily as she pulled an arrow from the quiver. "When I turned fifty, which is the human equivalent of six or seven, my grandfather decided I should be trained in every form of martial arts. I was taught to be proficient with every weapon and almost all forms of kitsune magic. I never understood why but it was important to him, so I did my best. I was proud to be able to help defend our home alongside my family. Then when I was 252, the last champion and my martial arts sensei announced his retirement. Grandpa announced me as his successor immediately after. I've been the champion of the West ever since. I was the first hanyo and only the fifth female champion to compete in the tournaments." Azami aimed and fired, hitting the middle target dead center.
"Wow, you're really good at this," Nanami murmured.
"Grandma and I do this a lot," Azami laughed with a warm smile. "So, tell me, what upset you today?" Nanami blushed while looking at the ground. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," Azami said as she handed Nanami an arrow.
"Well, you see, I sort of love someone," Nanami started, hesitant to tell Azami she was in love with Tomoe. Azami waited patiently, so Nanami continued, "Last night, I overheard someone confess their love for the person I love. I'm worried I'm going to lose him, but I feel selfish for wanting to keep him if he wants to be with her. I can't stop myself from hoping he would want to be with me someday, but now, I feel like I should just let him go." Nanami sighed heavily before raising the arrow and, without thinking, fired, hitting the target on the outer edge. Her eyes widened in shock as Azami chuckled softly.
"Don't overthink it. Sometimes we get closer to our goal when we allow ourselves to let go a little."
"Yeah, um, I can see your point," Nanami said, still staring at her arrow. Then she shook her head and quickly asked, "So, do you like being champion?"
Azami pursed her lips in thought. "No," she answered after a moment. Nanami thought for a second that was all she was going to say, but she began to speak again, choosing her words carefully. "I am proud to be of service to my alpha, my pack, and the West, but...I have never enjoyed combat. I don't like hurting others. I enjoy feeling strong and capable of protecting my loved ones. I just wish I didn't have to. My last tournament is next week, and I am looking forward to the day after. Even though it means I must mate once I retire. It is a small price to pay, never to have to fight like that again. Don't get me wrong, I will always defend my pack, but I won't have to fight unless it's necessary." Azami aimed and hit the same target a little off-center. "Have you told the man that you love him? Has he said he loves this other woman?"
"That's two questions," Nanami scolded bashfully, blushing deeply.
"Hn. So it is, but they are closely related. They can count as one," Azami said with a wink handing her another arrow.
"Why do I have a feeling you're making these rules up as you go?" Nanami mumbled under her breath. Azami smirked, and Nanami reddened, forgetting how sensitive her hearing was. "I-I told him a long time ago, but he rejected me." She decided not to mention the part where Tomoe accidentally let go of her in his shock, and she nearly fell to her death from a building. "You see, he's...well, he's sort of a yokai, and he says he won't fall in love with a human woman, but I never gave up hope he would change his mind until last night. He didn't say he loved her, but he didn't reject her either. Still, she's a yokai, too. I don't know a lot about yokai, but I don't think her kind lives as long as kitsunes." As soon as it was out of her mouth, she paled, realizing Azami would figure out who she was talking about.
"It's okay, Nanami. I already knew it was Tomoe. The dreamy look on your face when you look at him gave it away," Azami giggled, watching Nanami turn an even deeper shade of red. "Breathe, Nanami. I'm only teasing about the dreamy gaze, but your scent does take on the smell of roses when he's around you."
"Wait, so...does that mean every yokai knows how I feel about him?" Nanami's voice shot up an octave in her embarrassment.
"No, only those who know what those subtle changes mean. From what I've noticed of the yokai on your world, the art of scenting has long been out of practice," Azami said, gesturing for Nanami to shoot. Nanami opened her mouth to ask another question, but Azami stopped her. "I'm sorry, Nanami, I can't tell you what you want to know. It would be wrong of me to reveal the secrets of others." Nanami pouted but didn't push. Instead, she aimed and fired, hitting the tree a few inches from the target. She huffed but took it as a win.
"Why do you have to marry...uh, I mean mate once you retire? You're still young-looking, so shouldn't you have plenty of time to find someone. Unless...are you in love with someone? I won't tell anyone." Nanami smiled warmly.
Azami blew out a small puff of air then smirked. "You are not holding back." Nanami started to redden again, but Azami waved her hands with a wide grin. "No, no, it's okay. I told you not to, and you haven't. I'm glad." She gave her another toothy grin, and Nanami couldn't help smiling at how similar Azami looked to her father. "I... No. I'm not in love with anyone. The truth is, as the eldest child in Lord Sesshomaru's pack and the only unmated child currently of mating age, the Yokai Council is itching to mate me off. I've had many mating proposals already, but all of them have been politically motivated...I want to mate for love like my grandparents and my parents, but I'm sure once I retire as champion, the council will choose for me rather than wait for me to find some imaginary prince charming," Azami said, trying to hide the bitterness in her voice. She aimed at one of the higher targets trying to control her breathing as her mind tried to run away with her. The arrow released from the bow hitting another target dead center, then she sighed heavily before blinking away the sadness from her eyes. "Now that Tomoe has been "rehabilitated," have you talked to him about what he wants for his future?"
Nanami kicked the grass as she said, "I'm scared to ask him. I want to, but I'm worried he will say he wants to leave. He's..." Nanami swallowed as a lump formed in her throat, making her unsure if she wanted to tell Azami everything about her past. She didn't want her to look at her the same way her classmates did, knowing her dad was a deadbeat. Azami's family seemed perfect. She had parents, grandparents, and a whole pack that would never abandon her. Nanami had no idea what that was like. She doubted whether anyone would ever really stay, including Azami. One of the questions that had been burning on her mind was how much more would it hurt when Azami disappeared from her life if they went through the soul-bonding process.
Sensing Nanami's distress, Azami tried to guess where her mind was going while holding out another arrow, "He's family? Just like Mizuki." Nanami nodded, gently taking the arrow. "I won't pry, but I sense there is something deeper around the idea of him leaving and not just because you love him. When you're ready, I'm here to listen if you ever need someone to talk to about it."
The words tumbled out of Nanami's mouth before she could stop them. "When you go back to your world, will I ever see you again? If we bond, I mean," Nanami asked hesitantly. Azami's eyes softened as she looked at her soul reflection.
"You can blame my instincts, but I feel protective of you the same way I feel about my sisters. Even if we don't create the soulbond, I would be honored if you would consider becoming a pack sister." Azami smiled tenderly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "I hope you will accept the bond, but even if you don't, I'm afraid you're stuck with me. As long as you want me around, of course." She reached over and ruffled Nanami's hair playfully, making her squeak in protest before pushing Azami off with a bashful smile.
"Nanami!" Tomoe's voice called from the trees. Nanami turned in his direction a second before he came into view. Azami waved, but even from a distance, they could see he was upset. He stopped several feet away, glaring at Azami.
"I think I'm in trouble," Nanami groaned, watching him impatiently tap his foot, waiting for her to join him. Azami watched the other kitsune carefully, but despite the distance he kept, nothing else felt off. "I'll see you later?"
Snapping out of her focus, Azami smiled, "Oh, yeah, of course. You can blame it on me if he gives you a hard time for leaving, and maybe we can get our groups to have dinner together tonight. I'll send word later." Nanami nodded before quickly making her way to Tomoe, whose patience was wearing thinner by the moment. Azami watched as Nanami reached his side, and then waved one more time before watching them disappear into the trees.
Azami turned away to clean up the range when the wind shifted, blowing the scent of pine, creek water, and Nanami. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up when the scent of a male kitsune hit her nose. It was not Tomoe. Grabbing a bow and a handful of arrows, she ran into the forest just as Nanami's scream cut through the air.
Dun, dun, dun... Sorry, couldn't help myself. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 were supposed to be one chapter but I hit 18 pages for just this section and decided to split it into three. If you thought this was going to be a relaxed, romantic story you're in for a ride. I can't wait to get the next chapters out. I took an extended break from school for health reasons and I plan to get this story done before I return. We have a long way to go. Also, I don't want to beg but PLEASE comment what you think. I don't want praise, it's nice but not necessary. I'm more curious about what you think is going to happen, what your theories are, what you like, and what you might like to see happen. I have the skeleton of this story written down but I'm always looking for inspiration. Also, I drew Azami. I'm sure that's like a fan fiction sin or something but I've already committed one by making an OC a main so why not go all out. Check out the image for this story to see my rough attempt at what I see in my head (not loving the hair...design subject to change [I haven't drawn in like 10 years but this story got me back into it]). I am going to start a drawing of Nanami and Azami together soon but I'm also doing Inktober soooo it might be a minute. Okay, enough rambling, thanks for reading, please comment, and I'll be back soon.