Well, here I am again. It's been a while since I've worked on this fanfic. The last chapter just kind of left me at a blank, you know? But I'm back and no one noticed, because I'm so far ahead of chapters in this fic that it's truly unbelievable. Everyone's just now reading 23 or 24 and I'm just about to write chapter 28.

Oh, if you want to see the progress of my fanfics, please see my authoress page on ff.net.

Chapter 28: Release of Hidden Emotion

(Edited Version)

Hiten gazed at the small figure that he had held in his arms. She sat there, so beautiful. She was his, his mate. Akina was the one who would be with him forever, the one who would live on and, if she had wished, she would bear his child.

"Akina...." Hiten spoke, barely above a whisper.

"Yes, Hiten-sempai." She looked up at her mate.

"Domo arigato, for helping me. You're the only human to have ever done this for me. I have no idea what compels you to commit such an outstanding show of emotion towards me, but no matter what, you've always believed in me. I'm so blind....I couldn't see it before. It wasn't because you were afraid of me, granted you may have been at first. " The young man sighed, before returning his gaze to Akina. " I don't know why you love me, not that I'm in any condition to question your decision anyway. "

"I love you for you, and that's all you need to know. No matter how arrogant you were and no matter how violent you were, I knew you wouldn't hurt me. You might hit me or something, but I know you'd be too blinded by rage to know what you're doing." Akina sweetly smiled at the youkai, who, in turn tightened his grip on the young girl.

"I would never harm you, not even out of rage, besides...You'd have to do something to really piss me off for my rage to that bad. Akina...."

"Hai? Nani?" The girl questioned.

Hiten slowly lowered his head and gently and gave her a small nuzzle, and the young girl rested her head into his, enjoying the warmth that the two had shared.

Soon afterwards, Hiten produced a small hissing noise and flinched a bit in pain. The young man drew his hand up to his chest and felt the wet texture of the bandages. When he brought his hand back up, it was covered in blood.

"Damn it to the seven hells..." He muttered while observing his hand, which was glazed in the crimson substance.

"Oh, you're bleeding again..." Akina put her small, pale hands on either side of his wrist, then, with a heave, she helped the youthful youkai up to his feet.

"I should be getting you inside."

The two walked in the dreary looking building and once again, Hiten was lain in the futon.

Akina slowly took his upper clothing off, then she began to rip off pieces of the yukata that had been given to her by Hiten.

"What are you doing?" Hiten seemed to bit peeved that she'd destroy what he had given her as a gift.

"I'm sorry Hiten, there aren't any more bandages. I have to use something." She replied as she bandaged his side using the scraps of yukata. "That should hold out for a while."

Hiten's eyes went wide as he saw the fiery haired maiden begin to make the yukata shorten in length. It took several bandages to cover the wound, taking the yukata's length up to her mid-thigh. The braided man's eyes widened at the shortness of the yukata.

"But Akina-sempai..." He said incoherently, in an almost inaudible whisper.

"Hush now, you must rest." Akina told the youkai.

"But, Akina." He replied.

Only to get a finger put to his lips.

"Rest now." Akina replied. "I don't want to lose you again."

Understanding silently, Hiten slowly began to settle into a restful state for the youthful youkai.

Hiten fell into a deep sleep, resting his much needed rest.

The youkai rested for what seemed to be hours at a time, all the while Akina was going about the cleaning the abandoned hut, making it more presentable to live in. She had picked up the stray objects, including the dead body and any spare tools that happened to be laying around.

She drug the dead carcass outside and began to dig a hole with one of the many farming tools. Once she had dug a suitable hole, large enough to encase it in, she had buried the body and placed a few lonely flowers on the grave. Soon after, she had said a prayer, then departed for the hut once more.

The red haired maiden then began to look for any food that would be left to fix Hiten a suitable meal.

She looked about in all directions for food.

There was a few herbs and vegetables in the shelves and a few hanging out back to be dried. She gathered them up and put them in a safe place, where she'd remember where they were stored.

She pondered on what she could make with the few objects, and wondered if there were any money to get more, or buy something a little different at the market.

After having all of that done, she walked back to where the youkai was laying, this time, he was in a more of a fitful sleep.

He began to breath rather heavily, and clutched his chest, the center of the pain must be getting the best of him.

Poor guy, he's in so much pain. Akina thought. He's getting worse.

Hiten lay there, a single bead of sweat trickled down his right temple, soon to be washed away by a wet, cold cloth. The red haired maiden gently wiped the remaining sweat from him, opening his kimono a bit, to let him cool down.

She sat back upon her knees, watching the young man below her.

It seemed as if the youkai had been slowly growing worse over this amount of time.

Perhaps it would pass though. Youkai never got sick that easily, and if they did, it was surely a bad sign. Hiten often went through these sort of changes during his whole time of recovery. He would have a spell of going through immense pain, and then regaining himself and calming down.

But...

Akina had a bad thought about this one...

What if Hiten wasn't going to get better?

She would have to keep a positive attitude on this one.

But things looked grim for Hiten...

Well, I'm finished with the edited chapter. There is an alternate chapter, it's not posted on any of the websites yet. When I get the chapter posted, I'll link you to the chapter that's alternate, but be forewarned it has adult content and a lemon scene.

This is the edited version, since ff.net won't allow NC-17 material.

Anyway, please be sure to review this chapter, even if it is a 'good job'. I love the reviews and I am really surprised at how well this fanfic has done. Thanks guys!

R&R