Arms of the Kami no Kohakugawa

BlowingWind's Secret Face

Miyazaki-san owns rights to Spirited Away, Chihiro, and Haku. Many thanks go out to the man for the inspiration that his story has given to myself and many other fans.

The writing bug has returned and life goes on. To be accurate, my daughter said that just because I'm sad is not a good reason to not write. Some fluff and dragon insight.

Blue eyes opened to the sun's insistent demands, grudging being roused from peaceful dreams without the deep stares of a brooding dragon. As time passed, he became even more broody and overprotective. Recently, he had even attempted to keep her from her duties on the grounds that she could injure herself. How she could injure herself while weeding she didn't know, but apparently it was a terrifying thought to Ryu. Thank goodness she didn't need to do any weeding during the winter.

As much as she cared for the dragon, personally she wondered if he was losing his grip on sanity. Dragons, in her experience, brooded to the point of insanity. Some, like Ryu, hid it well. Others didn't hide it well at all.

With a groan she relented and kept her eyes open, meeting the grinning gaze of the disguised dragon in question. The earthy depths of his eyes burned with a passion only surpassed by the heated core at the center of this shifting planet. The American never did figure out just what had ever caused this spirit to obsess over her in the manner that he had ever since they had met, but in her own way she mirrored his feelings. The differences between the two were great and many, but their feelings spanned the gap.

Spirits like Ryu were technically immortal, dying only if killed or willing, but never passing from old age. When he died, provided that some bit of him remained somewhere, he would reincarnate easily into a similar position though. A volcano and magma dragon, he was a product of the dance of earth and fire, given birth through the actions of his sire and dam. As a result of his elemental balance, his dragon form was capable of breathing tongues of fire and in any form he could command the very soil to do his bidding. Over a thousand years old, he still had many mannerisms that confused the mortal, and had seen somethings that he knew would drive his human quite mad if he were to ever tell of. Ryu was also used to people obeying his orders instantly, and it often vexed him that his little one foiled him in his acts whenever she got the chance.

"Awake, Little Zephyr?"

BlowingWind answered by burying her face into the soft lap that pillowed her head, before realizing just where she was nosing. To his credit, Ryu was quite used to it, and his aroused senses did not result in the erection a lesser male would instantly receive.

"Not that awake then."

With Ryu's laughing reply to himself, BlowingWind now realized where she was, but here in the safety of their room there were no spectators to judge them. This was her haven from everything, and despite the numerous advances he had made on her he waited patiently for her to be ready. For just a little longer, the young woman would rest in the safety he so willingly provided. For a few precious moments, she would not wear the mask that she presented to the world so that others would worry about their own problems.

"I really could use five more minutes."

Gently he patted her head, stroking her short hair as if she were some rare and wondrous creature while she burrowed further into his warmth. A male not used to waiting, Ryu chafed at her fears, wishing she would carry her nuzzlings in a different direction or at least just a little further. Still, humans were tricky creatures to tame and patience was the key. He would not ever try to train her, since he could admit to liking her fierce nature. However, as a dragon he treasured the moments when she dropped her defenses and allowed the shy child inside herself expression.

"You can't go back to sleep, but you can stay in my lap forever."

He meant it in all seriousness, he did want her there forever. He wanted to possess her fully, to be one with her in ways no human would ever be able to share with her. To become a part of her was his goal, and once it had finally been accomplished, Ryu would take her home where he could blend with her forever, long past when her shell was dust fed to his magma tongue.

Staying where she was for forever did appeal to her greatly. But if she did that, things would never get done. She had a friend to worry about, to protect from whatever was stealing her rest and slowly causing her spirit to fade into the shadows. Perhaps later, after Chihiro was safe and after she and Ryu removed the last of the fortifications around their secrets they could talk about what he was proposing again.

"Silly dragon. Humans don't have forever. Only fleeting moments of time that are illusion."

Once more she had turned him down, although the pause before her usual reply was longer than usual. Once again he was made to look as foolish as the river dragon he counted as a friend. Dragons loving humans was such a strange thing that they were the laughing stock of much of the spirit world. Few wanted control of Ryu's magma, but many spirits salivated at the thought of obtaining Kohakunushi's reborn river brimming with power. Many were even desperate enough for power, names, or purpose as to attack the river lord or his chosen consort outright.

As Ryu brooded over his own unbelieving consort, she began to remove herself from his lap. To her consternation he had once more managed to undo her gown sometime in the night, exposing much of her shoulders to his view. The warmth of her head leaving his lap alerted the dragon to her intentions.

"You don't have to get up yet."

"It's morning. I need to go greet the sun and get breakfast started."

"You give Amaterasu more attention than you give your own kami. Kohaku at least has his ownattending him several times a day."

BlowingWind couldn't help but smile at how crestfallen her guardian spirit looked because of his bruised pride. Tiny lines furrowed here and there on his face while his lower lip grew with his pout. In that face she could see the echoes of the little boy he had been hundreds of years before many of her ancestors lived. Despite how different dragons were, surely there were similarities in their growth and psychology. He certainly was like the boys she had gone to school with and observed, easily appeased with affection.

Lunging quickly, she caught his lips with her own, tasting him while he tasted her own.

"You know that's not true. Such a jealous kami you are Take Ryu no O Mi Kami, earthly spirit from below Fujisan."

"Of course, You are mine after all, and Amaterasu has many miko of her own."

"Blech. Enough mush Ryu, we are starting to sound like we are stuck in a dime romance novel."

"I don't mind BlowingWind."

"I do. I'm not mushy."

With that Ryu found himself alone in the bed. The Shamaness that the Sacred Winds of Spirit had blown to him was snatching parts of a clean uniform from a chest to scurry away and shower.

"Someday you will feel different, Shy One."

Licking his chops, the disguised dragon rose from his bed. If he was quick, he could cook himself some extra bacon before BlowingWind went into the kitchen. For some reason, she believed he needed a diet. Like it was his fault that expelling so much energy to help protect the area gave him a large appetite. He was doing it all for her, so that she would be safe and so that he didn't impregnate her with a misplaced thought, the least that she could do was let him replenish himself properly. Working quickly, the dragon shed his red and black pajamas in favor of the blue and white working robes of the shrine he was currently hiding in. Now that the human he was caring for was awake, there were many things to take care of today.

"So much to take care of, and it all comes at once."