Disclaimer: I do not own Kakuriyo bed and breakfast for Spirits. All credit goes to the writer/creators of the show/manga

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Chapter Two

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Ginji stood there shocked at Master's request. His mind raced as he tried to understand. "Master? Why? Why send her away?"

He turned from Ginji as he explained himself. Usually, he would expect his employees to do as he asked without question, but he'd known Ginji would ask, and decided he deserved the truth. Otherwise, he would fight him on this. After giving his explanation Ginji sat, with a heavy sigh.

"So, to save her, we have to send her away? Wouldn't she be in danger there too?"

"She will always be a target. No matter where she is, However, Masami will not stop until Aoi is dead if she stays. This is the only thing I can do for now."

"Why don't you give her a choice? What if she would rather marry you…"

"I don't want her to marry me so she can stay. It's unfair to both of us."

"But you were going to have her marry you before, what's changed?"

Master shook his head. He wasn't going to answer that. Ginji nodded and stood as if he understood.

"She will be unhappy leaving."

"We will give her no choice but to go. I want her gone before noon." Because if she stayed too much longer, he wouldn't be able to let her go.

"Will we ever see her again?"

The master closed his eyes as his heart broke. "I don't know, but I do know that we will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. I want her to be happy, too. She likes the apparent realm, I'm sure she will be pleased with going back."

With a heavy heart, Ginji nodded. "I'll do as you ask, Master." He didn't agree. Aoi wasn't going to be happy about choices being made for her. Still, he would do what was asked of him. Even if it hurt.

Aoi woke to find Ginji sitting beside her. "Ginji? Is something wrong?"

"Morning, Aoi," he replied, his tone dull.

"What's wrong? Oh no! Did I sleep in?" she said this as she hurried up. "Just give me a moment, I'll get everything going."

"No, sit." he waited for her to do so. "You have become very important to me, Aoi. I just want you to know that you will always be important to me."

"Ginji? Is something wrong?"

He looked at her now, tears swimming in his eyes. "I have to do what is required of me. I hope you can forgive me."

"Forgive you for what?" she moved closer to him, confused. What had she missed?

Ginji took her arm, pulling her to his chest. "I will miss you, Aoi."

"Huh?" she replied, but before she could say anything else she felt the sensation of being sucked away. It felt this way when she had been brought here by the master. Just when she thought she would suffocate, she found her feet on solid ground again, Ginji by her side.

"Your debt with the master has been paid. You are now free to live your life in the apparent realm." Ginji handed her two bags. "I wish you all the best, Miss Aoi."

"What? Wait, I don't understand!" she called out as he disappeared. She stood there, her head spinning and heart racing. What was this? Why had he brought her here? "Ginji! Ginji!" she called though she knew it was in vain. Dropping to her knees she held in the sob.

Her heart ached as she sat there, the morning sun beating down on her. She must have looked odd to anyone who might see her, though she was sure she was alone here. "Why?" she said, as the tears fell. "Please come back. I didn't want to leave. I…I wanted to stay."

One year later

"You still want nothing to do with me?" Masami said, sitting on the Masters's desk. "Why do you look so displeased?"

"I have paperwork, and you're sitting on them."

She tisked as she put her legs on either side of his chair, blocking him in. "What does the human have that I don't? Sure, she was cute as a button, but Kitten, you and I both know how great we are together. Both in and out of the bed." she winked at him seductively.

"Masami…"

"Come on, Kitten." She dropped into his lap, moving her hips to grind on him. "We make magic, do we not?"

"I have no time for this, Masami. Please, excuse me." He stood, dropping her out of his lap and making his way to the exit, only stopping after Masami hit her fist on his desk with a loud cracking sound, no doubt that was the wood giving out. "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't ruin my things."

"How dare you act so indifferent to me!" she yelled hysterically. "I am Masami! I am a great Yokai and I could have anyone I want!"

"Then why don't you go and bother them?" Master replied, annoyed. She went on these tyrants often these days and he was growing impatient. Why couldn't she just leave already? She got her wish, didn't she? She was always selfish and always pushed woman away from him. It was who she was. It was like this every time she showed up. Before, the woman she pushed away meant little to him, but Aoi had been, no, still was, important, and he was tired of the little game she liked to play. She wanted him to choose her, and if he'd managed to make her believe that he did truly want her, she would be gone. He'd been down that road far too many times with her.

Ever since they were young it was like this. A constant push and pull that he'd allowed to go on. He would keep her at arm's length, she would push her way in and when she finally convinced him that this time would be different, she would push away and it would be him trying to push his way in, and she would take off. It went one like that for many years until he found Katori, and he really understood what it was to love someone. Now he wished she would stay in the past where she belonged.

"Because it's you who I want. Don't you know that? It's always been you." She pouted, jutting out her bottom lip like a child.

"You had your chance to have me many times, Masami. I am far too old and far too wise to head down that road with you. I no longer feel that way about you. Give up on me."

"Why? So you can call your human toy back and live happily ever after? I think not!"

Master sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're tiring. I sent her away. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"Yes." She went to him, taking his face in her hands. "But this time I really mean it. I'm ready to be loved by you for always."

Mater grabbed her hands, taking them off his cheeks. "You may not have me. I put up with you because you're an old friend and a force to be reckoned with, but do not mistake my allowing you to stay here anything other than obligation."

"You fool!" she said as she slapped him across the face. "How dare you treat me so! I am not someone you can toss aside." with that, she stormed out. She would make him see! She would make him pay!

Aoi was running late. Not that she was at all surprised between not only being a bridesmaid, but she was also the caterer. Sure, her friend had hired people to help Aoi during the wedding, but she had still been responsible for cooking everything in the first place and while Mya was a pretty good helper, she seemed to get in the way a lot.

So now here Aoi was, frantically getting everything in the van to be transferred to the reception site, praying that everything, cake included, made it to the destination safely. She did one more "please please please drive carefully," before running into the house to change.

She couldn't really complain though, she mused as she took off her yoga pants and t-shirt combo she wore during cooking. She had enjoyed making such a large feast and with the exception of a few minor things and getting everything heated up, her cooking duties were all finished meaning she could give Yuri her full attention.

It took some time for her to decide to keep her hair down and do a basic makeup job. She studied her reflection and decided she would do. She had to look around for the purse that went with the dress because it had the jewelry she needed to wear in it.

It seemed funny to have a purse to go with a dress she'd probably never wear again, but Yuri had insisted that they each get one so they could put whatever they need for the wedding in it. Who was she to argue? Especially when she wasn't paying.

Taking one last look around her small apartment, she did a mental checklist to be sure she had everything she needed.

Aoi looked down at her phone when it chimed with a notification that her taxi was here. She looked around once more before heading out the door.

Once she was in, she gave the driver the address and turned to put on her seatbelt. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she'd seen the master, but the cab took off and she chalked it up to wishful thinking.

She looked beautiful Master mused as he watched her from afar. It had been a year since he'd laid eyes on her, but he had to see her. Had to see for himself that she was alive and well. After the fight with Masami, he had to be sure.

Her dress, which hugged her like a glove was a light lavender color, and look magnificent on her. Her hair, which was now almost down to her bottom was gently curled, and the ribbon around her neck completed the look beautifully. She looked a little flustered as she made her way over to the waiting car.

Earlier he'd seen her in casual clothing, putting food into a van with the help of a few men. He could easily assume that she was attending an event, likely a wedding, and she probably prepared the food as well. She looked tired before, but as she walked to the car she looked refreshed and ready to take on the world. That was so like her.

He wanted to go to her. To hold her. Tell her how beautiful she looked. Tell her how much he and everyone missed her. He wanted to tell her the inn just didn't feel like home with her not there and every time he looked down from his favorite place and saw moonflower's windows dark, he felt a loneliness he'd never felt before. How he longed to see moonflower's lights on and know that she was there, bringing happiness to anyone she made contact with.

He hadn't realized he'd moved closer to her as he thought. He had to quickly hide as the car took off and it looked as though maybe she saw him. He sighed as he closed his eyes. It was foolish of him to be here. Even more foolish that he couldn't stay away. If she did see him, it would be the last time. He'd promised himself not to bring her back, and he intended to keep it. Even if it meant the rest of his days would be desperately lonely.

It was a beautiful ceremony and the reception was going down without any problems. Aoi watched as people laughed and danced, feeling a little out of place among Yuri's higher class friends. They were all so elegant and seemed to carry an air of being untouchable.

As she watched, she couldn't help but think of the master. Their wedding was likely to be a bit more traditional than this one, or perhaps there were traditions in the hidden realm that were different altogether. She had never thought to ask because she never planned to marry him.

She shook her head, trying to get that thought out of it. No, if she started thinking of that now, she would spiral into sorrow. She grieved the loss of the hidden realm and the friends it kept from her. And she felt anger and hurt that the master would simply throw her away, and she was sure she knew why.

Even though he'd said all those sweet things the night before and told her she was precious to him, he simply tossed her aside. Maybe Masami was willing to marry him. He had been big on the idea of marriage, so maybe the who wasn't really that important.

She stood, frustrated with herself. She'd managed to not think of them most of the time, but being at a wedding kinda threw the whole situation into the spotlight in her mind. She couldn't help but feel hurt by the whole thing. She had been fine before the master kidnapped her and exposed her to the hidden realm, but now she knew what she was missing and wanted to go back.

As she poured herself a drink she thought back to her first few weeks back here. She'd gone to the place where the master comes through in hopes that he'd change his mind. She'd spend all day there, feeling pathetic as she begged for them to come for her. She didn't get to say goodbye! Chibi was there! How could she so easily be cast aside?

Once she realized they weren't coming for her, or more accurately, once she accepted the fact they weren't coming for her, she never went back to where the master comes through. If she were to see him now she'd deck him.

Surprisingly, readjusting to this realm was harder then she thought it would be. Luckily she still had her apartment, however, the college dropped her, not that she was wanting to go back anyway.

For a while, she worked in a fast-food restaurant, but she moved up to a better-paying restaurant just a few months back. It had taken her some time to get used to cooking for the average human, but it turns out she was just as good at cooking for human taste as she was for Ayakashi.

"Aoi!" Yuri called as she made her way over. The bride was beaming with joy, and Aoi couldn't help but smile. "The food is amazing! Thank you so much for all that you did." She hugged her before getting pulled away by her husband who wanted to dance.

"Thank you!" Aoi called after them while laughing.

Soon after, she dragged to the dance floor by her fellow bridesmaids and surprisingly ended up having a lot of fun. She even danced with a couple guys, one of which ended up sticking with her for the rest of the night.

She laughed as he walked her outside after the reception was over. It seemed odd to her to laugh so happily. Sure, she's laughed during the past year, but Eric was actually really funny and since he grew up in America, he had a lot of interesting things to say.

Currently, he was telling her jokes that were so cheesy you had to laugh. "Oh man, I'm glad I met you. I wouldn't be here if it weren't my cousin getting hitched. I thought the night would be boring."

"I'm glad to help," Aoi replied. "I'm glad I met you too, actually. I don't really know anyone there but Yuri. But how does one turn down the offer of being a bridesmaid?"

"I guess that wouldn't be polite to decline." Eric

replied.

"I didn't think so. Besides I also got to cook the food, so that made me happy."

"Yes, your cooking was amazing! You should open your own catering business. Or a restaurant."

Aoi laughed. "Yes, I've been encouraged to do that in the past."

"Why didn't you?"

Aoi shrugged as she thought of moonflower. Not that she could tell him about it. He would probably ask too many questions that she couldn't really answer. "Just haven't done it yet. But I hope to someday."

"Well, I will be your first customer."

"That's sweet, thank you."

"Here," Eric said as he handed her a card. "Why don't you give me a call? I would love to go on a date if you're free."

With that, he got into the cab that was waiting for him. "I hope to hear from you!"

She waved him off, blushing a little that he'd given her his number. She was going to call a cab for herself but it was a nice night so she decided she'd walk down to the bakery and call the cab from there. She wanted some of their sweet rolls for breakfast anyway.

She imagined herself calling him as she walked. He really was an interesting person, and going on a date with him couldn't be any worse than the few dates she'd been on. She seemed to draw in the odd people. And not odd in a good way either. Or maybe her friends just set her up with the odd people. Only once did she go on a date that wasn't instigated by someone else.

She slowed her walk, looked around as she got the prickle of being watched. She saw no one but picked up her pace just in case. She gripped her purse, not to save it from snatching hands, but to use it as a weapon if need be.

She turned the corner, looking over her shoulder and bumped into someone. She apologized as she looked up, and gasped.

"Hello, Aoi."

Aoi woke with a headache. Like, someone literally bashed her over the head, so it hurt. She opened her eyes to a room she'd never seen before. Slowly she sat up, putting her hand to the sore spot on her head. She was bleeding. Or more accurately, she had been bleeding.

Her vision wasn't blurry, and she took that as a good sign. It was a little chilly, and when she realized the missing part of the wall she could only assume that was why. This room was a prison. There was a table and chair, and the futon she was currently sitting on, but that was it. She didn't even have a pillow or blanket.

Carefully she stood, glad that she wasn't dizzy and went over to the missing wall. Though it was dark, the moon was bright enough to illuminate the angry waves below crashing against the cliff. She would surely die if she were to try to escape that way.

"It's a long way down," A familiar voice said, causing her to gasp and turn. Her heart leapt into her throat as her fears were confirmed Raiju, the thunder beast. He was casually leaning against the door that would lead to her freedom. "I don't recommend it."

"Why am I here?" she asked. How did he know where to find her?

"I haven't been able to stop thinking of you, Aoi," he said as he went to her, taking her chin in his fingers and forcing her to look up at him. "Something about you makes me want to get closer." He kissed her, holding her still when she tried pulling away. "I'm so very bored you know." His hands traveled down her side to her hip to give it a squeeze.

She pushed him away, knowing well that he pulled away because he allowed it, not because she pushed him. "Don't touch me!" she spat when he let her go. Childishly she wiped at her lips as if that would take away the feeling and the fear it settled into her.

He laughed, throwing his head back. "Oh yes, this is what I love most about you. Such courage from a creature who is practically helpless."

"What do you want from me?" she asked, doing her best to keep the fear from her voice.

"Your company and anything else I desire from you. As well as the satisfaction of seeing that Ogre of yours losing his mind when he realizes you are missing. Oh, how frantic will he be? And just what will he do to see you returned? How positively delightful this little game will be."

"Wait!" she called out as he left, slamming the door closed behind him. "Please! Don't do this! Don't keep me in here!"

She turned to look out at the night sky as tears blurred her vision. She was going to be okay. Really, she could manage this for some time. After all, she was an adult. Not to mention it wasn't exactly the first time she'd been kidnapped and she managed just fine the other times too. She would be okay. Really.

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I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Reviews and comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks :D