His Name

Izayoi:

It was then that I saw this white, fluffy monster that was bigger than anything I had ever seen before. It was bigger than the trees, the village, houses, it even shadowed over the castle. The monster greatly resembled a dog. It was seeing this monster that pulled me away from death's grasp. I fell upon my knees and gasped for breath. I knew, the second I looked into its eyes, that it was the same demon I had fallen so deeply in love with.

The noises that I had blocked out hit me full force now. I heard the sounds of night, but there were the sounds of what was unmistakably a search party. This was confirmed when they began calling my name.
The demon laid down so that I could climb onto his back. I didn't think twice about it, because I knew that he would be taking me to a new, better life. The second I was on his back, he soared into the sky, and we started our long journey without a backwards glance.

The journey was a long one, but neither of up spoke, and I deeply enjoyed the silence, and I think he did as well. I sleep through most of our journey; however, something was able to snap me awake during the last part of our trip.

It was then that I felt as if I was entering lands that no human had ever sit foot on. As first there was nothing, not even dirt roads or huts, but soon there was nothing but a huge forest as far as the eye could see.

We traveled for hours through the thick packs of trees. Finally, in the middle of such a huge forest, there was a place at least five times as big as my fathers. The place was the plainest of whites, but beside of it, was a wonderful treasure.

It was a magnificent lake with sparking blue water. The lake contained the purest water in all the world and it was impossible to tell how long the lake was, because it wound, in a curvy path, through the canopy of trees, far too far to see. The only part of the lake able to be seen, even flying in the sky, was the stretch by the palace.

He landed gracefully in the space between the palace and the lake, despite his injury. His injury had healed some, far more than it would have if he had been human, but not fully healed. The area he landed in seemed to be just the perfect size for his landing and I wondered if that was intentional.

Before I had time to think more on this, he gently laid down and patiently waited for me to get off. Once I had done so he transformed back into the first form I had saw him in. The form that he almost looked human in, but any idiot would be able to realize he was not. He had a certain nonhumanly glow about him, and if that didn't give him away, his long, beautiful, silver hair would.

He took my hand and gently pulled me towards the palace, but I pulled my hand away. He turned to me with a look of shock and pain. He had puppy dog eyes that could melt the coldest heart in the world. If he hadn't been in such pain, I would have laughed. It really did look funny.

But I had to assure him of my loyalty, "Please, just a few questions first. I must know you're your name. I've waited so long to know, and I really don't think I can go without knowing a moment longer. Also, I must ask, what is your role in this mighty palace? Are you a serving demon? Perhaps an assistant of sorts? Even a duke or someone else of high ranking stature? I assure you that I bear nothing against you for whatever stature you may have, but I wish to know what kind of work I will be in for when I become your wife. I have followed you this far without question. I would not turn my back on you now. Answer my questions and I will gladly follow you to the bowls of the underworld if you so wish it."

I then reached out and gently put my hands upon his cheeks as proof of my great loyalty and love to him.

He embraced me in a warm hug and said, "You have left your family and followed me a great distance to be with me, so I guess I do owe you a bit of an explanation, don't I?"

He flashed me a goofball smile that always made me smile as well. I felt as if I had known him for an eternity, yet it had only been a few days. He pulled me even closer to him, and whispered in my ear a name, his name. It filled me with magic and brought meaning to my life. It became part of the air I breathed. It became part of the blood that flowed through my body, and it pounded with each beat of my heart, so deep into my heart that nothing could ever hope to pull it lose. His name was one that I dare not speak to anyone other than him, for fear that the second it left my lips that it would be carried up and forever lost in the wind. To others I would always speak of him as that demon, or my love, nothing more.
Then he told me that he was the mighty lord of this huge castle, the likes of which I had never seen. I felt my mouth drop open, and I couldn't help but stare at him in utter shock. One look at my face and he busted out laughing. Pretty soon I was laughing too.

When I finally recovered I said, "You must forgive me. You just do not act like any lord I have ever met."

"No, do not apologize. I like your attitude. It is very humorous. However, the same could be said about you. You do not act like any other princess I have ever met." He answered slightly laughing.

He was right. I guess we were both just strange. Then I took his hand and followed him into the palace which seemed to swallow us as we entered.