Chapter 2
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Kitsunes are one of the well known demon species. Throughout history kitsunes have been well known for their protective nature of those who are dear to them and they are excellent tricksters.
"Hm," Kirei thought aloud as she read over the pages. "Protective of their loved ones." She repeated with a soft smile.
They are also said to be one of the noblest of demons. Despite their rough behavior they are very nurturing to their whelps, both males and females make excellent parents.
"Well I guess that explains why Youko is such a good father to Murasaki, Mayonaka and Gin." She said with a slight laugh.
"Kirei,"
Kirei jumped, tossing the book she was reading over her head and it landed in the hands of the demon who had just spoke. "Yes?"
She slowly turned and then the blood rushed to her face when she saw Mayonaka standing behind her with her book in his hands. Crap...
"The Mysterious Kitsune?" Mayonaka read off then glanced up slightly at Kirei. "Why are you reading about kitsunes?" He asked curiously as he started toward her, a slight smile came as he noticed the pinkness on his childhood friends face.
"I...er...I mean,"
"What's wrong, Kirei?" Mayonaka asked as he laid the book down on the table near her.
"Noth-" Kirei started but stopped suddenly as her chair flipped back since she was leaning backwards a bit.
"Kirei!" Mayonaka yelled and reached for Kirei but she slipped just out of his grasp.
"What just happened? Did I die? Aw, crap there is no way a demon can die from falling back in a chair!"
"Kirei?"
"Huh?" She asked softly, turning to look at the person who had spoke her name. "Mayonaka?"
"Yes?"
"What just happened, Mayonaka?" She asked in a dazed state. "Didn't I fall?"
"Fall? No, you didn't fall." Mayonaka said and glanced down toward a book in front of him.
"Daddy!"
"What?" Kirei asked confused and stared at a small boy, his coloring was mostly all black, even dark eyes like her and her father's. "When did you mate, Mayonaka?" She asked confused.
"Kirei, are you feeling ok?" Mayonaka asked and leaned across the table enough to place his clawed hand up to her forehead. A worried expression showing on his features.
"Mommy are you ok?" The small boy asked and tugged lightly on Kirei's kimono.
"M-mo-mommy!" Kirei yelled in shock and backed away from the boy, almost tripping as she did.
"Kirei? Kirei are you ok? Hey Kirei, answer me." Mayonaka's voice echoed through Kirei's mind as she fluttered her lashes a bit. Trying to come to her senses.
"Mayo-Mayonaka?" She asked weakly. Slowly she opened her eyes enough to make out a blurry image of Mayonaka.
"I'm here," His voice calmed her until she remembered her short dream. "No!" She yelled in panic as she shot up to a sitting position, sweat now dripping down her face.
"Kirei what is the matter?" Mayonaka asked worried as he kneeled down besides her, one of his hands on her back and the other touched her cheek.
Kirei just stared at him for a moment. She was surprised at how soft his touch was. "Mayonaka," She spoke softly.
"Are you all right?" He asked once again. Rubbing his thumb gently against her cheek. He leaned in a bit, checking her closely for any injuries.
"Ye-yes, I'm ok." Kirei's voice was a bit shaky as she moved away from Mayonaka.
"Are you sure?" He asked a bit confused by her certain hint of 'fear' toward him being so close.
"Yes, I'm sure." Kirei said quickly, standing up leaving Mayonaka kneeling. "I-I better be going." She said in a rushed manner and quickly ran out of the room. Leaving a confused Mayonaka still kneeling on the floor.
"What has got into her all of a sudden?" Mayonaka asked himself, in a complete state of confusion.
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"You do know that Mayonaka is a bit dense. He may not understand Kirei's feelings until someone plainly tells him." Fitaria stated as she glanced over at Karana.
"Well, Kirei isn't one to just up and hug a male either." Karana sighed, "I think we have a problem though. If neither one ever confesses to loving the other then they both will go through life with that on their shoulders. Both wondering what could have happened if they said this, or done that." She said with a gentle, reserved sigh. "Maybe you should have a talk with Kirei, Youko and I talked to Mayonaka. But it didn't seem to have any effect except making him upset."
"Well I think the best thing to do is just drop the subject for a while. After all they may figure out their feelings without our interference." Fitaria said as she crossed her arms lightly and leaned against her legs. "I knew this would happen since you had a boy and I had a girl." She said and placed a hand up to her forehead, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.
"My father wants him to mate with Tsubaki from another royal family, but you remember her don't you?" Karana asked and gave her friend a side glance.
"You mean the boar demon?" Fitaria asked in a state of shock.
"Yes, their union will mean less fighting throughout Makai." Karana stated with a soft sigh. "But I know Mayonaka does not like nor love her."
"Then tell your father that." She said and watched Karana carefully. Knowing that this was not only hard for Mayonaka but Karana as well. She knew her friend was trying her best to give her children the life they wanted, which was hard since she herself was royal, causing her children to take on a burden. "Karana, he will be fine. I'm sure."
Karana slowly turned to look at her friend, a weak smile on her lips. "I suppose you're right."
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This is just too much to even think about. Kirei thought as she ran through the front court yard. Her heart beating rapidly as if it was about to explode. "That dream," She breathed. "That little boy."
I don't want to ever dream something like that again. Mayonaka and I are friends! Just friends! She closed her eyes as she came to a sudden stop and sighed. "Just friends." She said breathlessly, her face pale and her heart beating.
"Kirei?"
Kirei's eyes shot open. No, I don't want to face him right now. Go away! Her mind raged on as she clenched her fists trying to keep herself from starting to cry. All the emotions were overwhelming her. She didn't understand how just talking to Mayonaka became so complicated and complex. They had grew up together, played together.
"What is the matter, Kirei?" Mayonaka asked as he walked up behind her, reaching slowly he placed his hand on her shoulder. Giving it a light squeeze to show her he was there for her, what ever it was.
"Mayonaka," Her voice was weak and hoarse.
"Yes, Kirei? What is wrong?" He asked confused and then was taken back as Kirei just spun around and before he knew it her arms were wrapped around him and her face buried into his chest. "Kirei," His voice asked, softly.
She-she's crying. What is wrong? I've never seen her like this before. Mayonaka thought but still he laid his hand on her back, embracing her gently.
"I don't know what to do," Kirei mumbled, " I'm so confused." She cried into his chest, her eyes closed as she finally seemed to just break down and cry.
Mayonaka stared at Kirei still confused. He didn't understand anything that she was talking about. "Kirei, what is wrong? I don't understand." He said and stared down a bit then sighed when he noticed she was pulling herself closer to him.
"Neither do I, Mayonaka." Kirei said softly, her voice muffled due to her face against his chest.
He stared at her and blinked once. Either I'm to dense to understand what she's talking about or she doesn't even know what she's talking about. Mayonaka thought but just sighed and laid his cheek down against Kirei's head, trying to comfort her as they stood in each others embraces.
He's so sweet and polite. He would be any girl's dream...but I couldn't see myself with him. Kirei thought and sighed against his chest. As if it had just struck her her eyes shot open and she leaned back enough to just stare into Mayonaka's eyes.
This time Mayonaka thought it best not to say anything, to let her speak first. So he only smiled warmly down at her, his arms still around her in a slight embrace.
I'm standing here...hugging him. Oh no...I have to get away from him. She thought and tears started to well up in the corners of her dark eyes as she just stared at him. "I-I have to go..." She said rudely and shoved herself away from him and turned and ran away from where Mayonaka was still standing.
"Ki-Kikei," Mayonaka said gently. His voice soft and barely above a whisper. His ears lowered a bit showing his sadness. "She must hate me...but why?"
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Kikei sat at the base of a tree, her hands cupped up against her eyes. Tears dripping now and then from her hands. I'm so stupid! She yelled mentally.
"Kikei?"
The voice of Mayonaka's twin sister jarred Kikei from her thoughts. "Murasaki?" She asked and tried to hide the trace of her tears as she looked at her friend. "What are you doing out here in the forest?"
Murasaki stared a bit worried at Kirei then sighed, "I was just going for a walk and caught your scent." She said with a bit of a shrug.
"O-oh," Kirei stuttered a bit, knowing that Murasaki probably caught scent of her tears as well.
"So, do you need someone to talk to about why you were crying?" Murasaki asked as she sat down next to Kirei, her bright eyes staring at her.
She just shook her head and wiped away a few stray tears. "Its nothing, really Murasaki."
"People don't cry for no reason, Kirei. Now come on you know you can always confine in me." Murasaki said and smiled over in a sisterly way at Kirei.
She had always seen Murasaki as an older sister. Someone who would always be there for her and help her with anything. But how could she talk about this with her? How could she talk about her strange feelings for Mayonaka with his own twin sister, she couldn't even talk about him with her mother.
"Really, I promise Murasaki. Its nothing at all." Kirei said and forced a weak, yet convincing smile.
"Ok, well your mother has been looking for you. She said something about reading and study." Murasaki said then smiled. "Do you want me to just tell her I didn't find you?"
Kirei laughed a bit at Murasaki's words. She always had something to say that would bring a smile to anyone's face if they were down. "No, I think I'll go willingly to my studies this time." She said through her slight giggles.
"Alright, well I'll see you back at the castle then." Murasaki said through a smile as she stood and started back the way she had come.
Kirei just sat for a minute, watching Murasaki leave. "Well," She said and smiled. " Time to go listen to my mother continue her teachings. That I already know." She had to laugh then stood and slowly started back toward the castle.
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"Dear?"
"Hm?" Karana asked as she glanced back over her shoulder to see her father staring at her. Then her gaze fell over to a young woman standing next to him. "Yes, father?" She asked confused.
"I have someone here who would like to spend some time with Prince Mayonaka." Kuro said as he moved a bit so Karana could see the young woman.
Karana stared for a minute then almost fell back at seeing who the woman was finally. "Zeitaku? Father we need to have a talk. Privately!" She said in a stern voice and motioned her father to walk over to her, her arms crossed.
"Yes, dear?" He asked with a hint of confusion in his voice.
"Why did you bring that...that...thing here!" She asked and gestured over toward Zeitaku. "You know to well how her species are!"
"Sweetheart calm down. I thought that since Mayonaka is now in his teens it is time for him to start considering himself a mate prospect and Zeitaku is a very well brought up female, she would be great for him." Kuro said and glanced over at Zeitaku.
The woman has long, flowing brown hair. Her trimmed bangs fall just above her eye brows, showing off her blue with a bit of a sparkle.
"But father she is a dog demon," Karana stated and looked at her father and then Zeitaku. "I don't want her near my son!"
"Karana," Kuro started showing he was being more serious now. "Mayonaka may be your son but once he was born as your son he also became a Prince of these lands and kingdom. He was born with certain things set out for him, and I will see to it that he chooses the proper mate. A female like Zeitaku or Tsubaki." He said and stared at his daughter.
His serious tone was far more than Karana had ever seen from her father. He was more one to be pushed around then to do the pushing. "Fine," She said softly and turned her gaze away from her father. "I'll go look for him."
"Very good," He said and smiled at his daughter. Then turned to Zeitaku. "He will be he shortly, Princess Zeitaku. In the mean time why don't you sit and make yourself comfortable." Kuro said politely and gestured toward a few chairs near a rather large table.
Zeitaku nodded and smiled at Kuro as she made her way over to the finely carved chairs and sat down, her long hair draping over her shoulders gently as she looked toward the beautiful flower arrangement in the middle of the table.
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Fitaria sighed as she waited for Kirei to arrive for her afternoon studies. "I swear," She said and rubbed her forehead a bit. "If that girl doesn't show up in a few moments I will drag her here by force."
"So which book is it?"
Kirei's voice confused Fitaria. Did her daughter really want to read this afternoon? Was she sick? Or was she simply seeing things?
"Uhm, get the book on element control." Fitaria said as she just stared at her confused. Alright, something is really wrong with her. She wouldn't under any circumstances just come here freely. She has always put up a fight about studies...ever since she could say the word. She thought and stared at her daughter as she sat down on the opposite side of the table, the book she had told her to retrieve in hand.
"Well? Are you going to teach or stare, mother?" Kirei asked and opened the book then glance up at her mother.
"I...Um, yes." She said then sighed. "Alright lets start out with the element fire and heat." Fitaria said and flipped a bit through the book she had in front of her to find the proper page. Something is wrong. And as her mother I will find out what!
AN: Hiya! Here is the second chapter to the sequel. I hope you're really enjoying this story so far. Oh and to answer the question as to why I named Youko and Karana's daughter, Gin. Is because translated 'Gin' means silver and since she looks almost like Youko except with a few streaks of black hair she is almost all silver in her coloring, so I thought it would be sort of cute. Well I hope you enjoy this chapter and I'm working on the next chapter! It should be up within a few days.
