A/N: Alright guys! Here it is! I am SO sorry this took so long! Moving into my house turned out to be more of a hassle than I ever thought. A recommendation from me to you: NEVER move out on your own four days after graduating high school! (it's not really bad at all, but I just HATE unpacking.) Anyway, here's chapter three. Chapter four might be up by the end of the week, but I'm visiting the parentals. No guarantees.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! YOU KEEP ME GOING! MUAH!

Anyone that wants to contact me (no harassing, please), can IM me at

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Disclaimer: Pretty soon I will get to buy book 6. But then I will only own that, not the characters.

Mizu  Three

"When a Tengu mates, it is forever body and soul." Akira calmly explained to his confused wife.

"But, you and I, we pledged to each other, body and soul." Keiko said

"And I will keep my pledge to you. But a Tengu has no choice. Right now Mahiru has part of Mitsuru inside of her. He hasn't spoken to her in a while, he's...detained. She's starting to feel the pain of him being gone."

"So, wait, start over. What's with this intent claim?"

"Well, when two Tengus decide they love each other very much—"

"Oh cut the crap Akira! Tell me!"

"When two Tengus are in love, Keiko, they discuss the possibility of mating. And, if they decide to spend their lives together, the male Tengu will place a claim of intent on the female, and they will be bound to each other. She will not be able to look at any other male, and he no other female. According to tradition, the intent claim is laid in place three days prior to the actual claiming. Both of these ceremonies are very private and very intimate."

"So when the claiming never takes place, that's when they grow mad."

"Yes, when the intent claim lies dormant for a long time, in their case, three years, the pair tend to be driven to madness. Placing a claim of intent on another is a very thought out action. He must have been desperate. She was not of mating age at that time, and he was forced to wait. We all noticed hen she began to smell like him, but said nothing. Now I wish we would have."

"Akira, I have to go to her. She's all alone in her room."

Keiko dashed out of the chamber she shared with her husband through the halls and to Mahiru's room. She slid the door open a notch. Mahiru was not in her bed.

Mahiru was trying desperately not to turn around. She knew he was behind her, and she wanted him to go away. She clenched her fists, feeling her long fingernails pierce her soft palms.

"Mahiru." He said.

She ignored him.

"Mahiru."

His voice was bliss to her ears.

"Mahiru."

Her resolve was withering away.

"You damn girl, turn around and face me!"

She turned to him, her eyes glowing a bright red color. "What do you want, Tengu?" The familiar burning in her chest met her. She embraced it. Pain kept her from going numb.

"Stop all this lying around and doing nothing. Get your skinny ass out of bed and eat something!"

"And what do you care? Where have you been this last week, Mitsuru? Obviously not with me! What kind of mate are you?" Mahiru charged him, slammed him against the wall, and glared at him with her glowing crimson eyes.

"I'm not your mate!" he spat. This was not turning out right at all. He just wanted to make sure she was healthy. How did it turn out like this?

"But you want to be, don't you Mitsuru? Admit it. You want me and you can't do anything about it, because the Emperor has decided to make me his Empress." Mitsuru's eyes began to glow a little. He growled and flipped them over so that she was against the wall.

"You are mine, girl. Don't you ever forget it." He whispered his nose touching hers. He crashed his lips onto her hers. A savage motion. He moved to her throat, licking and biting. He stopped at the base of her neckhe could feel her pulse racing. He smirked. He began to nibble her earlobe. "Tell me, Mahiru, tell me that you're only mine."

"I'm yours." She panted. She was enthralled with the feeling she felt whenever he touched her. It was like ice, cooling her burning body. She sighed when he once again began to nuzzle her neck.

Keiko watched all of this, her face becoming more and more red. She had never seen Mahiru act with such passion and madness before. She had never known Mitsuru to be so possessive and demanding. Watching them was beginning to be like watching a pornographic film. She slid the door shut and walked back down the hall to her husband.

Mahiru sighed. Mitsuru was kissing her roughly on the mouth. She had wanted this for so long. She could feel the madness draining from her. She felt her boiling blood cool. She grabbed Mitsuru's shoulders and forced him to look her in the eye. His dark eyes were wide with shock. Her soft brown ones were welling up with tears. Mitsuru kissed them before the tears could overflow before backing up. "Mahiru," he whispered, "I can't love you." He turned to leave.

"Mitsuru," Mahiru grabbed him from behind, "Tell me you're mine."

"I'm yours, stupid girl. Always."

Mitsuru left. Mahiru crumbled. She began to cry softly. The searing pain was gone—dissipated with her anger.

But once again she felt as if she could face the world.

Mitsuru sat in his office the following day. He thought of the previous night. Of what a mistake it was. He couldn't take her sadness anymore. It tore him apart: her hating him. H remembered when she was younger, a girl of sixteen smiling at his scowl and forcing him to be cheerful. He remembered her older, nineteen, of mating age, glowing in the moonlight floating into his arms from the ornate church altar, kneeling next to him, relieving the blessing of the people—their blessing to be their queen.

Nozomu stared at the Emperor. He was sitting in his chair behind the oak desk, staring off into space, the pearly mask giving him the appearance of a statue. Mitsuru obviously hadn't noticed him walk in. Nozomu smirked as sat upon the edge of the desk, his legs dangling close to his friend's. "Girl troubles?" he asked.

"What are you talking about, vampire?" Mitsuru grumbled. He didn't have girl trouble. Everything was under control.

"When I am trying to woo a girl, I buy her flowers." Nozomu said. Mitsuru didn't reply. Nozomu sighed and got up to leave.

When he had gone, Mitsuru looked to the guard and said, "Bring the servants Subaru and Mika to me." He settled back in his bed. This would make her warm up to him.

Mahiru rose that day, happier than she had been in over a week. It was a warm, sun-shining Wednesday morning. She lifted her head from her pillow and gazed around her room. She found herself surrounded by white flowers. Roses, lilies, carnations. They were everywhere. She heard giggling in the back corner of her chamber and slowly made her way to the source of the noise.

"What is going on here, girls?" She asked.

"These are to you, with love, from the Emperor." Mika said. Mahiru paled. The Emperor had carpeted her room with the most beautiful blossoms she had ever seen. She had to thank him.

"Let us prepare you for lunch, mistress. The Emperor wishes to eat privately with you." Subaru said. They set to work, weaving some of the small rosebuds into Mahiru's hair and dressing her in a long pearl kimono. Mahiru couldn't help but feel excited. Private lunch with the Emperor was an honor. Her maidservants led her to the Emperor's garden, where a small table had been set out for the two of them to eat.

Mahiru took her place at the table and waited for the Emperor to join her. In the meantime, Mitsuru watched her from the porch of his chamber. She was stunning, with those flowers woven into her long blond hair. Her face was glowing with happiness. He hadn't seen her so serene in such a long time.

Mitsuru approached her slowly, as if any sudden movement on his part would scare her away. He touched her lightly on the shoulder. She snapped to attention and brought those warm brown eyes to meet his. She blushed slightly and rose from her chair. She bowed to him, "Good afternoon, Your Majesty" she said. The Emperor lifted her chin with his index finger.

"You do not need to bow to me, Ms. Shiraishi. In my eyes, we are equal." Mitsuru grimaced under his mask. He hated being so formal with her. He wanted to talk like they normally did, but his position would not allow it. Mahiru was blushing slightly, the Emperor tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. He beckoned for her to sit. He took a seat opposite her.

"Thank you for the flowers," she said, "They are beautiful."

"You are welcome, my lady, anything to see your precious smile." Blech. This sappy bullshit was making him gag. Mahiru was eating it up, though her blush was growing. Maybe he should have listened to the vampire before. He might not be in this predicament.

"Please, Your Majesty, do not flatter me. How is everything at the palace? I trust you are making us proud."

"I no nothing about ruling a country. I only know what Oboro tells me. I hope I can do well." He said, his face falling and looking into his lap. Mahiru grabbed his hand.

"Everyone has to start at the beginning. You won't be good at everything on the first try. This month you just have to be the best you can be. You're not going to get much done with no one knowing who you are. Just do you best, let Oboro and the others help you. You will be just fine." She smiled at him. His heart wept. She was such a kind person.

"Mahiru. I would like to spend time with you, every day, just like this. I would like to send you flowers and make you smile." He looked at her. She let go of her hand as if something had burned it.

"I-I'm sorry?" she said.

"I know your heart does not belong with me now. But I hope that you will learn to admire me."

"Your Majesty, I—"

"Please, Mahiru. Say you will spend time with me, every day. Just like this." The Emperor pleaded. Mahiru thought she heard another plea within his words. 'Say you're mine, Mahiru. Say you're only mine.' She quirked an eyebrow but nodded her head.

"I would be honored, Your Majesty." She said.

That afternoon, after her meeting with the Emperor, Mahiru scoured the palace for Akira. She needed answers, and she knew he would have them. She waited outside the advisors' meeting room for him, and tackled him from behind as he left.

"Yamabuki Akira, you will talk to me. Now." She growled. Her eyes were glowing red again.

"Ah! Mahiru! I haven't seen you so well in a long time! Glad you're out of bed! Have you been to see Keiko yet? She's worried sick about you!" Akira said, his dog ears popping out of his chestnut hair.

"Who is he?"

"Excuse me?" Akira said as Mahiru forcefully dragged him down a deserted hallway.

"The Emperor. Who is he Akira? I know you know. Tell me, please."

"Mahiru, you know I can't. I would be skinned alive. Oboro is upset that the three of us know as it is."

"I can't believe this! This is a stupid tradition! How am I supposed to feel when—when I don't know who he is? I can't fall in love with a mask, Akira! I miss his eyes, his intense eyes that bore into my soul, my being. How can I love him without knowing his identity, who he is?" She began to cry. "He wants me to love him, but he can't love me back."

"Who are you talking about, Mahiru? Mitsuru or the Emperor? Have you seen Mitsuru? Where is he?"

"It doesn't matter who I'm talking about, Akira. The end result is the same. I have nowhere to turn. He's left me with no options. Mahiru got up and began to walk away, "I am going to find Keiko. I owe her an apology."

Keiko was pretending to be busy in one of the rooms of the chamvers she shared with Akira. She didn't actually feel like doing anything, but sitting around all day was beginning to make her feel a bit guilty. She heard someone knock lightly on her door and silently rejoiced. Somebody had come to save her from the boredom! She opened the door and cried with joy when she saw who was on the other side.

Mahiru was grabbed into a tight hug. She began to wheeze before Keiko realized she was cutting off Mahiru's breathing. Mahiru giggled some and Keiko glared at her.

"I can't believe you locked yourself in your room for a week. Look at you! You're all skin and bones!" Keiko admonished. Mahiru blushed a bit, "I'm glad you're feeling better. I guess you've seen Mitsuru again?" Mahiru slapped her friend.

"I'm seeing Mitsuru everywhere, and every time I do, he gets weirder and weirder."

"What do you mean?"

"I had lunch with the Emperor today. That is to say, I had lunch and the Emperor was with me. He can't really eat very much with that mask on."

"I see. And how did that go?" Keiko asked.

"Well. It went well." Mahiru started, "Who do you think he is, Keiko?"

"I don't know. Akira won't tell me. But he does tell me that he'll make you happier than Mitsuru ever could."

"Keiko, I think the Emperor is Mitsuru."