A True Lover's Embrace

Tomoe held his lover in a close embrace and rubbed her head gently as she cried softly into his hakama. After a couple minutes went by, she lifted her head and wiped her eyes and cheeks with the back of her hand.

"Thank you, Tomoe." She smiled brightly at him

"You're welcome, Nanami. If you ever need me, I'm here for you. Always." Tomoe gently grabbed her hand and kissed it.

Nanami's cheeks became bright red. Even now they're lovers, his sweet words always made her heart pound roughly against her chest. Sometimes she wonders if he says them, just to make her blush. Tomoe smirked at her reaction and released her hand.

"Now, Nanami, did that snake feed you or was he just being lazy again?" Tomoe asked as he stood up.

"Oh, yeah. I had some rice and eggs. I wasn't all that hungry."

"Oh?" Tomoe's eyebrow rose with his questionable tone.

"Yeah, you know I don't eat all that much in the morning."

"I see. Well, hopefully for dinner you eat a little better. I'm making crab stew."

"Crab stew!?" Nanami rose to her feet quickly. "Really?!" Her excitement made Tomoe smile.

"Indeed. I figured we needed to celebrate."

"Celebrate?" Nanami's thoughts were filled with even more questions. "Celebrate what? Maybe to celebrate him being better?"

"Nanami?" Tomoe asked, bringing her out of her daze.

"Yes?"

"It's time to practice your talisman writing." Tomoe smiled as she held her hand, taking her out of her room, back into the main hallway.

"Oh, right!" Nanami had totally forgotten about that. She walked into the garden with blank talismans. She was determined to make at least one of them bloom.

Tomoe smiled as he watched over Nanami in the garden, looking so determined, and yet so beautiful. Seeing her trying her hardest at everything she did, it made him lucky to be his lover. He looked at the sun, and sighed.

"Time to get dinner started. I hadn't realized how late it had gotten." He sighed to himself as he walked away from the garden and into the kitchen.

"Tomoe." Mizuki called out to Tomoe as he walked into the kitchen.

"What now, snake?"

"Just what were you doing this morning? You made Lady Nanami worry, again."

"That is none of your business." Tomoe's blood was starting to become hot again.

"It is my business, if you keep wondering off, you're going to keep Lady Nanami worried. And I cannot allow that." Mizuki growled quietly.

Tomoe started chopping up some vegetables, quickly and precisely. He won't have this stupid snake ruin his concentration. This dinner is going to be perfect.

"Why do you insist on making Nanami worry so much?!" Mizuki growled.

"I don't intend on making her worry, she does it by herself. That's just who she is. She worries about everything. That's not a bad thing, but it's not a good thing either." Tomoe glared at the angry snake. "Now, do you intend on standing there and getting in my way, or do you want to help? Tomoe sighed heavily as he started to boil the crabs.

"Why are you making crab stew? It's not a holiday or anything." Mizuki huffed.

"It's Nanami's favorite." Tomoe stated as he brought the boiling crab into a bigger bowl.

"I know that! But like I said, it's not a special occasion."

"It is. You just don't know it yet." Tomoe smirked. "Stupid snake."

Mizuki huffed as he helped set the table with bowls and chopsticks. Nanami sighed as she looked at all the unbloomed cherry blossom trees. She would write more, but she was afraid of passing out again. And without her, Tomoe and Mizuki might kill each other. Nanami picked up her blanket and remaining talismans. As she stepped into the shrine, she smelled the succulent crab stew. She put the blanket into the closet and walked into the dining room. She smiled as the dusk colored sky peeked through the window.

"It smells yummy!" Nanami sat down at her spot at her bowl.

"Thank you." Tomoe smiled as he came into the room, holding the pot of crab stew, while Mizuki was holding a small pot of rice.

Tomoe placed the pot in front of her and fixed her a bowl. Mizuki fixed himself a bowl and one for each of the spirits. Tomoe sat beside Nanami and fixed himself a bowl.

"Thank you for the meal." They all said in unison before they dug into their meal. Nanami smiled as she tasted the crab meat and miso broth. Tomoe smiled as he watched her eat it hungirly. I watched the sunset as he ate his bowl. Tomoe stood up from the table shortly after they began. Nanami looked up at him.

"Where are you going?"

"I forgot something in the kitchen. Please excuse me for a moment." Tomoe smiled as he left the room for a moment.

Tomoe came back moments later with a pear tart and he placed it in front of Nanami.

"Wow! For me?" Nanami smiled up at him. "Thank you, Tomoe."

"Nanami, I have one more surprise for you this evening." Tomoe smiled as he placed his hands in his hakama sleeves.

"A surprise?" Mizuki and Nanami asked in unison.

Tomoe sat beside her once more, but grabbed her hand gently with his left hand and hid his right hand from her sight. Mizuki looked around Tomoe and narrowed his eyes. 'Was he...?' Tomoe smiled at Nanami's slightly blushed face.

"Nanami, I care for you, more deeply than I can describe. So, instead of me explaining how much I care for you, allow me to spend my life with you." Tomoe revealed a small black box. He opened it up to her, showing her a beautiful diamond ring. Nanami's eyes swelled with tears. He was proposing! Tomoe looked at her face and smiled softly.

"Will you marry me, Nanami?" He asked in his sweet tone.

"Tomoe..." Nanami smiled brightly and let the tears flow freely. "Yes! Of course!" Nanami wrapped her arms around Tomoe's neck.

"Congratulations, Lady Nanami!" Onikiri and Kotetsu cheered and threw small rice into the air.

"How is a familiar supposed to marry his god?!" Mizuki snapped.

Nanami's happiness was stopped in her tracks. How was she supposed to marry her familiar? Was that even allowed?