Title: Flicker

Genre: Romance/angst

Word Count: 183

Flicker

His wife was wise and powerful, cold and beautiful. Her smiles were as rare as precious jewels.

Izayoi was naive and fragile, warm and lovely. Her smiles were as common as brass coins

His wife wanted nothing, needed no one. Not a guardian or a protector or even something as trivial as a companion.

When they made love, she clung to him as if he were her world.

Izayoi wanted everything, needed everyone. A guardian, a protector, and a companion, she demanded those things and more.

His wife's only demand was that he returned home once in a while.

Unfortunately, Inu no Taishou was a creature that wanted to be needed, needed to be wanted. So, he went Izayoi on the nights of the new moon.

She didn't cling to him, didn't move with him, and didn't call his name. There was no passion in her embrace.

Inu no Taishou soon realized the true difference between his wife and lover.

Izayoi was candle burning at both ends, whilst his wife was smoldering star.

He was damned to know which was the more real.