i'm not going to americanize anyone, but the vibe of 'women ruining things' is fun so let's go

The clouds tonight are soft and pearly, and Inukimi flies within them, the chilly mist distracting her from thoughts of him, and the girl. She knew Toga would inevitably take concubines—it was his right—but no one expected a human. Or maybe they just hate the changing times, how wars rage on and dynasties fall and lovely princesses fling themselves at great daiyoukai's feet. And Inukimi knows that mortality has its limits, that in fifty years she will remain a great beauty and that girl's face would cave like fruit rotting beneath the plum tree.

This truth brings little comfort.

Inukimi drops beneath the cloudline and the midnight ocean stretches beneath her gaze, glassy and clear as crystal, the scent of salt drifting up into her nose. Four hundred years back, after a battle so fierce she could smell the blood from her throne, Toga met her at the entrance to her sky-palace, his fine silks stained green from grass and grime. He'd raked his claws through her hair and pressed his mouth to hers like it was the last thing he'd ever taste. She'd giggled and commanded him to strip before granting entry, palace guards and servants turning in embarrassment as the sounds of armor dropping rang throughout the clouds.

He has a habit of loving things he shouldn't, and trusting too much in the things he should. Inukimi doesn't like the earth that much, too much bitter stench, but even she can admit that the shoreline is beautiful when washed in moonlight. And it's here beneath the stars she picks up the scent of someone trailing her like a veil. She'd love nothing more than to ignore it. So she only flies, skimming the fragrant treeline, never looking back at the presence on her tails.

The princess' estate is grand by human standards. Inukimi curses the feel of soil beneath her feet as her pursuer lands a yard away.

"It's unlike you to be jealous." The Inu no Taisho, bright beneath the moon, finally speaks. He steps in front of Inukimi, not angry, he'd never hurt her, but she'd have to swallow the sourness building in her throat if she wanted to continue.

"I'd only like to see."

"Mere curiosity, then?"

Toga is amused. Inukimi is annoyed. She brushes past her husband. He follows in silence until they reach the estate's interior. There beneath a sand-pear tree sits the prettiest pink teardrop of a human, black eyes screwed up in confusion at the two approaching silver daiyoukai, lover and lavender stranger, realization lighting her features only when Inukimi speaks.

"So it's you, is it?"