A True Lover's Embrace

Nanami looked at the diamond ring on her hand. It glimmered oh so beautifully in the moonlight. 'What a day...' She thought to herself as she laid down on her futon. She had been proposed to and had a heart to heart with Tomoe. Nanami felt uneasy in her futon as the moon crept across the sky. How was she supposed to marry Tomoe when he was her familiar? Would he simply quit being her familiar? How he could he do that? Every time they kiss he would become her familiar. Then the thought hit her.

'Would I have to give up being the land god to marry him?' She sat up as she had this revelation.

Of course, that would make the most sense. How was she supposed to be a land god while being married to an ayakashi or human? She could up from her futon and sat on the porch and looked up to the crescent moon that was above her. The cold mid winter wind blew quietly, sending a chill through her body. How was she supposed to leave Mizuki, Onikiri, Mamoru, and Kotetsu? They are very dear to her heart. They are her family. What would happen to them if she left? She didn't want them to be sad. She didn't want them to be alone. She knew that feeling all too well.

"Lady Nanami?" A voice called out, pulling her out of her daze.

"Mizuki? What are you doing up?" Nanami looked at the pale faced familiar that was standing a few feet away from her.

"I felt you stirring. I was worried you had a bad dream..." Mizuki said as he sat down beside her.

"Oh. I'm sorry to wake you up. No, I didn't have a bad dream. I'm just thinking." Nanami looked up the moon. "The moon is beautiful tonight."

"Indeed." Mizuki's voice was quiet. "Lady Nanami, are you thinking about how to make everyone happy?" Nanami looked into his bright green eyes, that shone a certain tone of sadness in the moonlight.

Nanami sighed quietly before smiling at Mizuki warmly.

"Yes, but I don't know what to do. I want to marry Tomoe. I want to be with him. But...I don't want you guys here at the shrine to be sad...I don't...I don't want you guys to be alone..." Her voice trailed off as the wind blew once more.

"Nanami..." Mizuki pulled her into an embrace. His skin was warm, even though it was cold outside. Nanami wrapped her arms around Mizuki and trembled slightly. Not because of the cold, but she was holding back her tears. She hated to cry in front of Mizuki. She hates to make him worry. Mizuki rubbed her back gently as he held her.

"Mizuki...I'm sorry...I don't know what to do..." She sniffled quietly.

"It's alright. I know you want everyone to be happy, but Nanami, sometimes...we can't all be happy. As your familiar, I don't want you to go, but also as your familiar, I want you to be happy. That is my one goal in my life. If marrying Tomoe will make you happy, I cannot ask you to stay for our sake. If this is what your heart desires, I'll make sure as my final duty, I'll make this a beautiful wedding." Mizuki made her look into his eyes, that showed his forming tears along with his warm smile.

Nanami hugged him tighter and started to cry into his chest. How could she do this to them? They had given so much for her and this is how she repays them? By running off with one of her familiars and leaving them all alone?! 'I'm a horrible land god...' She thought to herself as she cried softly into Mizuki's hakama.

"Nanami?" She heard the door slide open.

"O-oh, Tomoe!" Nanami quickly wiped away her tears and smiled up at him as he approached them both. "Did something wake you?" She asked as cheerfully as possible.

"I heard you crying.." Tomoe stated calmly as he sat on her right side.

Nanami should've known he could hear her. No matter how stifled it was, he could always hear her. Her smile faded slowly and Mizuki looked up at the moon as Tomoe sat down.

"I didn't mean to cause you distress, Nanami." Tomoe spoke as he looked at Nanami's saddened face.

"Tomoe, it's not you. I just want everyone to be happy. That's all I want. I want to be happy with you, but I don't want them to be sad of me leaving. If I marry you, that means I have to give up being the land god, and Mizuki and the others will be without a god again...I don't want them to be sad."

Tomoe sighed as he looked at Mizuki for a moment before looking up at the sky.

"Indeed. I know how it feels to be without a god to serve. It's like a piece of your soul is missing. Even when Mikage left the shrine, I felt saddened by it. I wouldn't wish that upon anyone, not even a stupid snake like Mizuki."

"Hey! If that was supposed to make me feel better, it didn't! Stupid fox." Mizuki grumbled.

Tomoe chuckled before smiling into the moonlight.

"I know, but eventually, they would move on. Like I did when you appeared, Nanami. I didn't think in a million years I would learn to respect you or care for you, even with a contract in place." Nanami huffed silently under her breath. 'There better be a good point after that, Tomoe.'

"But, once I realized you were my master, my bitterness towards Mikage went away after a while. I knew you make a much better god than he would, once you got the hang of it, of course." Tomoe chuckled as Nanami punched his arm.

"But, I know no one will replace Mikage's place in my life. So, I know they will be sad, they will always hold you dear to their hearts. But, that doesn't mean they're going to be sad forever." Tomoe looked at Mizuki. "I know it will be hard, Mizuki. Watching another god leave you, but it does get better."

"I know that, stupid fox." Mizuki's voice was shaky as he looked away from Nanami and Tomoe. "But it doesn't make it hurt any else." Mizuki brought his right arm towards his face and wiped it quickly and sniffled.

"Mizuki..." Nanami went to hold him for some comfort, but he shot up from his sitting position and sighed shakily as he spoke.

"It's late, you need sleep, Lady Nanami. If you excuse me." He left into the house and closed the door behind him.

Nanami looked at the door for a moment, before turning back to Tomoe.

"I hate to see him like that." Nanami spoke softly.

"Nanami, what do you think will happen to the shrine?" Tomoe asked.

"Well, someone needs to take over being the land god."

"I've spoken with Mikage. He said he will take back the shrine from you when you are ready. He knew I was going to ask you to be my wife and spoke to me about how to go about this." Tomoe stated.

"Really?" Nanami asked.

"Yes. And he's willing to let you visit. That way you don't have to say goodbye to everyone."

"Wait, if he's going to let me visit then why did you go through,"

"Mizuki needs to grieve while you're still his god. That way it makes the parting hurt just a little less. Knowing that it's going to happen and grieving before it happens is better than just letting it happen without warning." Tomoe interrupted.

Nanami nodded in agreement. Just before her mother died, she had told Nanami that she was probably going to have to be a big girl and keep her father and herself safe. It did make it slightly easier knowing that.

"Nanami, am I making things too difficult for you? I don't mean to cause you so much sadness." Tomoe asked quietly.

"I knew it wasn't going to be easy loving you. So, no. I still you love you, no matter what. I just wish I knew how to make it easier on everyone else." Nanami looked into Tomoe's violet eyes. Tomoe smiled warmly at her as he pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Thank you." He whispered into her ear.

Nanami's cheek grew red as he spoke to her.

"For what?" Nanami whispered softly.

"For loving me." He pulled away from her ear and kissed her passionately and yet, gently.