"'Cause every time we touch, I get this feeling…"
-Cascada
Davina woke the next morning from a deep, satisfying sleep, a solid ten minutes before her alarm was set to rouse her. Rather than leave the warm comfort of her bed, she opted to linger, using those spare minutes to enjoy her position just a little while longer. She found herself eager for the morning to begin, knowing that she would have the pleasure of seeing Shuichi on their venture to the university—the notion had a smile playing at the corners of her lips, her mind wandering through the events of the evening prior. The closeness he had offered her had come as a welcomed surprise, and even though she had been initially been nervous about invading his personal space, it had just felt…right. She could vividly recall the sensation of her thigh pressed firmly against his own, the pleasant pressure of his cheek as he rested it against her head, the delightfully masculine scent of his cologne. It was wonderful and almost overwhelming in the same instance.
These thoughts sent a sudden prickle racing down the back of her neck as warmth pooled in her chest. Everything about their evening together had been near perfect—save for when she missed her footing and almost took a nasty spill. Thankfully, Shuichi had swooped in and caught her as she tumbled, saving her from what would have undoubtedly been a terrible fall. He had even been courteous enough to not make fun of her over her lack of coordination, and for that, she was grateful.
"I should have made a joke about falling for him," she spoke out loud to her empty bedroom, chuckling softly at her own ridiculousness. Despite her near fall, she hoped he would be willing to spend another evening in her company soon—she found herself wanting more of what they had shared. Her mind took the opportunity to wander briefly, drawn to the idea of what kissing him would be like—she could almost picture it, playing out the scene from the night prior, but this time, allowing her imagination to play out its desires. But sadly, just as things were starting to get interesting, her alarm sounded, the blaring chime tearing her out of her dream-like state and effectively ruining the delightful illusion.
"Motherfucker!" she growled, rolling over in bed and grabbing her phone to silence the infernal ring. A loud sigh of defeat escaped her at the interruption, but she felt herself smiling nonetheless. After a long moment of hesitation, she slowly climbed out of bed and headed for the bathroom, relieving herself and taking a quick shower. Afterwards, she dressed for her day, donning a simple black tank top coupled with dark gray leggings and her favorite black Converse sneakers. A long sleeved wine colored cardigan sweater completed the look, with several of the buttons towards the bottom secured to provide a more modest approach. She headed back into the washroom atrium and readied herself while enjoying her freshly brewed cup of coffee—after quickly blow drying her hair, Davina brushed it thoroughly, opting to leave it down for the day. She applied the little make-up she typically wore, and generously spritzed herself down with her preferred perfume to finish her process. Just as she perched at the tiny dining table to finish up the last of her coffee and eat a banana, her phone vibrated, signaling the arrival of a text message. As expected, it was from Shuichi, confirming their impending meet up.
'I'll be at your door in about thirty minutes, if that's acceptable.'
She replied with her agreement, sudden heat blossoming on her cheeks. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but Shuichi seemed rather eager to see her—the realization made her feel quite happy. Maybe there was something growing there, something beyond the horizon of simple friendship—the potential was certainly obvious, and while the notion did inspire some sense of deeply seated anxiety with her, Davina was more thrilled than worried. She couldn't very well allow her concerns to consume her, or else they would heavily overshadow anything good that would come from what lie ahead—and she knew from prior experiences that half the fun of being with someone came in learning them, becoming familiar with their mannerisms, accepting their quirks, understanding the manner in which their thoughts progressed. And of course, there was always the physical aspect that played a considerable role in the whole process—Davina would be lying to herself if she claimed to not be entirely intrigued by the thought.
Despite his overall gentle nature and typically soft spoken tone, there was something lingering behind Shuichi's eyes that screamed dominance—it was something instinctive, something fierce and powerful, and whatever it was, Davina wanted to know it with every fiber of her being. Her previous sexual encounters with her ex-boyfriend had been rather simple—Marcus had never expressed a desire to apply much creativity or even effort; in truth, he had been almost entirely focused on his own release, while hers took a backseat in terms of importance. While it had annoyed her in the beginning, she had eventually given up on things ever changing, coming to accept it as normal—even when she knew it was not. There was no inkling of doubt that things would be entirely different in Shuichi's company, if and when things ever came to be. Only time would tell.
Davina was packing the last of her things into her school bag when a firm knock on the door echoed, signaling her companion's arrival. She raced to open the door, unable to keep a smile from forming across her lips as her gaze met his and held steady.
"Good morning," she offered softly, taking a step back to permit him entrance into her apartment.
. . .
Shuichi came to rouse from sleep of his own accord, waking a solid thirty minutes prior to the time his alarm was set to disrupt his slumber. Despite his early start, he opted not to linger, instead leaving his bed and headed for the bathroom, intent on taking a long, hot shower. He felt rather energized despite waking early, and the pulsating water helped wash away the last traces of sleep from his face. Once he had bathed, Shuichi quickly dried himself off and headed back into the privacy of his bedroom—the Minamino-Hatanaka house was still fairly quiet. He could feel his mother's energy as she readied herself for the day ahead within the en suite she shared with her husband—both Kazuya and Kokoda's auras were stagnant, still consumed by sleep. That would change soon enough, and Shuichi wished to be on his way out before the common areas grew busy, enjoying the peace of the solitude that was a seldom occurrence on such mornings.
After dressing for his day ahead, Shuichi grabbed his phone and sent a quick correspondence to Davina, announcing the time of his arrival so that they could make the trip to school. Her response came almost instantly, which prompted him to smile at her enthusiasm. When the appropriate time came, he grabbed what he needed for his classes and hit the door, pausing to briefly wish his mother a good day in passing as he slipped beyond the kitchen.
His walk to Davina's apartment was a swift one. Once he had reached her door, Shuichi paused in his efforts, hesitating for a long moment before placing a firm knock on the surface to alert his companion to his presence. The barrier that separated them swung open within seconds, and he was quickly greeted by Davina's smiling face.
"Good morning," she greeted him sweetly, taking a short step back to allow him enough space to make his way inside. Shuichi slipped into her apartment, the faint smell of coffee lingering pleasantly in the surrounding air.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked, making a point to keep the curiosity out of his voice—instead, he opted for a playful tone, acting as if he were teasing her. She responded accordingly, her cheeks flushing a soft pink—Shuichi couldn't help but smirk mildly at her endearing reaction.
"I did, although I didn't want to leave my bed this morning," she admitted with a soft chuckle. "You?"
"Quite well," he replied quickly. "I really enjoyed our time together last night. Do you think you are ready for your test come Friday?"
"Ready as can be," she retorted, smirking at his question. "Mostly thanks to you. And I did, too. Perhaps we can do it again soon?"
Shuichi couldn't suppress the smile that formed across his lips at her modest inquiry—he had certainly been hopeful, but hadn't anticipated such a swift request. He began to ponder a future evening he could offer to her— unfortunately, later that very afternoon wasn't an option, seeing as he had a shift at the café to work and the exam in his first class of the day the following morning. Friday night had potential, but he had already agreed to cover his stepfather's opening shift that Saturday morning, which meant he had to be at the café a solid hour before it opened to prepare everything for the day. Given their collective plans to hang out with Kazuma and the others for the remainder of Saturday, it was safe to assume that the evening would be spent within Davina's company, but in such a capacity that offered them no privacy. After a long moment of consideration, he decided on a course of action.
"Are you available Friday evening?" he asked—while it would mean forfeiting several hours of sleep, Shuichi believed that it was a worthy sacrifice to make.
"I am," she replied with a firm nod of her head.
"Well then, I'm all yours," Shuichi offered teasingly, giving her an inviting smile. Once again, heat marred Davina's freckled cheeks, no doubt inspired by his comment. She played it off as best she could, stepping away to grab her school bag, a smirk pulling at the corners of her mouth.
"So, Friday night it is then," she finally replied, her words laced with anticipation. Shuichi nodded in agreement before gesturing towards the door.
"Shall we head out? The next train leaves in about twenty minutes."
"We probably should—don't want to be late to class."
It was a quick trip over to the train station, and true to expectation, the next transport arrived well within the allotted time frame. As per usual, the tram was quite crowded, filled with students and commuters all eager to make their way into Osaka. Once more, Shuichi and Davina were made to stand amongst the throng, securing their place along the railing close to the nearest doors. Once the car had been amply occupied, the doors slid shut and the train lurched forward—the momentum sent Davina's backside pushing into Shuichi's front, just as it had during their first train ride in each other's company. Only this time, Davina willingly pressed the length of her ample bottom against her companion, lacking any sense of urgency to remove herself from the current position. Shuichi felt his jaw clench and the hand clutching the overhead bar tightened its grip in an involuntary spasm. The sudden warmth and delightful pressure against his lower extremities was enough to send a rush of heat racing down the length of his lithe form.
A soft groan escaped him as Davina casually gave her hips a little wiggle—Shuichi almost failed to catch the small smirk that had perched across her lips in light of her brazen movements.
"Sorry!" she offered in a tone that lacked sincerity—instead, Davina sounded blatantly amused, as if she had hoped to glean such a reaction out of him in light of their sudden physical contact. Despite her brief apology, his companion made no effort to immediately relocate herself—she allowed the length of her body to linger against his, which only worsened the carnal desires Shuichi was now openly entertaining within the confines of his thoughts.
Upon the realization that her lecherous actions were intentional and far from accidental, he decided to respond in kind—without warning, his free arm snuck around the perimeter of Davina's waist, his hand coming to perch firmly on the curve of her hip. Purposely, he fixed the spot with a mild squeeze, the sensation prompting a surprised gasp to escape her—due to their closeness, he could feel the sudden tension gather in her spine as she stiffened against him, having not expected him to be so brazen. If she wanted to play, he would happily oblige her.
"No need to apologize," Shuichi offered casually, keeping his tone light, as if they were merely having some sort of informal conversation instead of engaged in a strange kind of mild foreplay. "You're perfect where you are." Despite his best efforts, he failed to keep the smirk out of his voice—in truth, he was rather enjoying this odd little display, especially now that he had claimed the upper hand.
A soft chuckle escaped Davina then—it sounded breathy, almost nervous, but the new layer of scent that had suddenly emerged forth from her very pores was not one born of trepidation, but rather of lust. There was absolutely no mistaking it—it was delicious and heady, filling his nostrils like an exotic perfume that he happily inhaled deeply into his lungs, so potent that Shuichi could nearly taste it. He wasn't sure where this newfound boldness had emerged from, but he certainly wasn't displeased by it.
While it was true that he would always insist on dominance, Shuichi liked a little fire in the females he bedded—their submission was imminent, but he enjoyed the process of encouraging him to surrender to his rule. Davina possessed that particular spark within her, even if it was buried deep. It was either born of repression or hindered by a lack of experience, perhaps both—Shuichi knew little about her sexual history, and, in truth, he had no desire to know. The idea of another man touching what he wanted for himself, even in a manner of past tense, inspired that unpleasant hiss of fury that lurked deep down inside of him—to silence it, he forced away such thoughts, and instead focused on the enjoyable situation he had unexpectedly found himself in.
. . .
Following their initial exchange, Davina decided to just go for broke and request his company once more—she believed there was little point in waiting, even if it was a bit forward of her. He took a long moment to consider her question, and for a brief interlude, Davina wondered if her companion was simply deciding on a preferred time, or contemplating if he even desired another evening with her—bitter anxiety was on the verge of rearing its ugly head when Shuichi finally replied with his inquiry as to the availability of her Friday evening. She was quick to agree, feeling a sense of relief flooding throughout her person upon the realization that he was still interested.
"Well then, I'm all yours," he replied jokingly, his response accompanied by a mischievous smile that gave his eyes a downright impish glow. The implication behind his statement was not lost upon Davina, who internally groaned at the faint tingling sensation of familiar heat that licked at her cheeks. She did her best to appear unaffected by his remark, moving to pick up her bag for school all the while doing her damnedest to suppress a smile.
After she had taken a few moments to collect herself, Davina finally offered a response.
"So, Friday night it is then," she announced firmly, knowing that the eagerness presence in her tone would not go unnoticed by her companion. Shuichi was quick to nod his head agreeably, before gesturing towards the exit and suggesting that it was best that they began their venture over to the train depot, lest they run the risk of being late for their first classes. The trip was a swift one, and as expected, the station was clamoring with people. Their transport arrived as anticipated, and the pair boarded in tandem—unable to secure seating in the midst of the vast crowd of moving bodies, they elected to stand as near to the exit as possible, claiming a place on the holding bar that hung above to steady themselves. Just as before, Davina was perched in front of Shuichi, closing enough in proximity for her to be hyperaware of his presence. She was suddenly overcome with a desire to toy with him—it seemed fair, given the playful manner in which he was carrying on.
She patiently waited for the train to depart, using the forward rush of the train as an excuse for a collision between their bodies—it was glaringly reminiscent of their first ride together, only this time around, the contact was measured and intentional. Davina arched herself against Shuichi fully, liking the firm press of his taut form against her own. She fit him perfectly, melding against him with ease as a burst of warmth filled her belly and sunk low. Unable to contain herself, Davina favored her hips with a tentative squirm—that mild gyration earned her a deep groan from Shuichi, and birthed a smirk of salacious satisfaction.
Not wanting to appear uncouth, she decided it was best to end the licentious display, and offered a brief apology—but Davina was far from sorry, and her tone held no evidence of contrition. She made no move to relocate her current position, wanting to enjoy the way it felt for just a few seconds longer before abandoning her efforts. But before she could remove herself, Shuichi's arm came to curve about the length of her waist, his unoccupied hand coming to rest boldly on the crescent of her hip—a soft gasp of surprise forth from Davina's lips as she felt his appendages fix the spot with a firm squeeze, causing her spine to immediately straighten and grow tense. She hadn't anticipated this kind of retort from him, and as such, was woefully unprepared for such a thing.
"No need to apologize," Shuichi assured her softly. "You're perfect where you are." His voice was smooth and encouraging, but laden with a slyness that only worsened the warmth confined within Davina's insides. A quiet chuckle escaped her in reply, but words failed her—they stood in silence for the remainder of their journey, locked against one another. When the car finally pulled to a stop, Shuichi released his hold on her person and took a short step away to afford her some space. The loss of his warmth and delightful pressure came as an immediate source of disappointment for Davina, who had been enjoying the questionable interlude more than she cared to openly admit. They disembarked from the train and made their way outside, arriving to their campus amidst a throng of fellow students all headed in the same direction.
Once in the main hall, the pair paused to say their goodbyes before parting ways—Shuichi fixed her with a smile that spoke silent volumes, a pointed gleam within his eyes that made Davina feel weak in the knees.
"Well, I must be off—thank you for joining me," he offered kindly. "I'll talk to you at a later time—have a good day, Davi." He began heading in the direction of his classroom, but halted in his step to catch one last glance of her before he rounded a corner and disappeared from her view. She lingered for a long moment, trying to collect herself—her morning certainly had taken a great, but highly unexpected turn, and in truth, she was still attempting to wrap her head around everything that had transpired. By the time she arrived to her first classroom, Davina was more or less mentally prepared for the day ahead—she did her best to focus on the lesson at hand, but thoughts of Shuichi keep popping into her mind's eye, making it somewhat hard to concentrate.
One thing was for absolutely certain—Friday evening could not come quickly enough.
. . .
Adani Kurosuna felt the harsh weight of dread weighing heavily on her heart as she paced the vast chamber of her private quarters. Despite the pressure of exhaustion and the late hour, she found herself restless, unable to sleep. Her bed held no true comfort for her, so she had abandoned her efforts at achieving oblivion and turned her attention onto the cavalcade of concerns that consumed her thoughts.
Her minion had returned to her side with news of her great granddaughter only hours ago—the information that the creature provided her had effectively put her on edge. The elder water apparition was most displeased to learn of this strange man that kept Davina's company—a demon who wore the guise of a human was not to be trusted, and knowing that he kept close quarters with her kin certainly was a cause for dire concern. But if his intentions were to harm her, why he had not already done so was a mystery. As it was, there existed no evidence of Davina's connections to the Demon Realm—she harbored no yoki, bore no inexplicable powers. Why she had managed to draw the attention of this strange hybrid individual was entirely unknown, but regardless of the reasons, Adani feared for her wellbeing.
Even with the realm's laws of protection in place, nothing would stop an apparition with ill intentions from wrecking havoc. If Davina was harmed, it would destroy all chances of her mother ever being cured of the terrible curse that had been forced upon her—the mere thought made Adani feel nauseous to her very soul. Her granddaughter, Mitsuyo, had silently suffered for decades, a victim of her grandfather's cruelty, and she was determined to right the horror he had brought upon her. The only opportunity for such a thing lay with her estranged great granddaughter, and while the course of action to bring such notions to reality had yet to come to light, Davina's safety was paramount.
Adani had dismissed her underling following its revelation, asking the Aoiashi to return to the mortal realm and continue its surveillance. Alone once more, she had left her quarters in favor of making the short venture to the shrine that had been erected in the water garden near the shoreline. It was a quaint space, simple, but beautiful, laden with native plants, flowers, and echoing pleasantly with the calming sounds of gently moving water. A large sculpture of the deity, Mizunara, cut from pristine ivory, stood within the very center—the ancient apparition was the patron of the Akaitsuki province, held sacred by all who called the islands home. At her feet stood an altar carved of violet driftwood, which bore offerings of all sorts, given by those who had visited to ask for her favor.
With a careful hand, Adani placed a single Hoshi Hoseki stone upon the wooden cradle, silently pleading with the goddess to keep her kin safe from anyone or anything who sought to do her harm. She also prayed for guidance, in need of reassurance that she was pursuing the right path. Satisfied with her efforts, Adani returned to her rooms, intent on resting—but rest never came. No matter how she tried, she could not release the tension that had gathered in her neck and shoulders, prompting them to ache and throb. She left her bed and began to walk the length of her chambers, the repetitive motions a minor comfort in light of the mental turmoil she was entertaining.
As a water apparition, Adani belonged to a large collective of beings who were fairly passive and possessed little aptitude for bloodshed—violence was nearly nonexistent in their homeland, which served as residence to hundreds of families, several of them originating from those who first settled here. For thousands of years, they had lived in peace, carrying on a simple but satisfying way of life. Adani herself had been born within the province, the same as many previous generations of the Noriyuki family—she had been betrothed to Endri in her youth, a son of the revered Kurosuna tribe who had previously bore the title of prince.
While the Kurosuna name carried no real weight within the mainlands of the mother-realm, they were looked upon as monarchs by the people of Akaitsuki—their ancestors had been among the founders, and it was they who had discovered the precious Hoshi Hoseki, their most cherished resource. These rare, nearly priceless crystals only grew in the black waters of the Arashi Sea, deep beneath the islands. The fiery gems were highly sought after, used in the creation of everything from potent medicines to near unbreakable weapons. Exporting them had brought the province considerable wealth over the millennia, and they credited this generous bounty to the Kurosuna, elevating their status to that of royalty. Their reign held true, even now.
Over the course of their life together, Adani had bore her husband twelve children, nine sons and three daughters. Eri was the youngest of these offspring, and by far, the most difficult to bear. When she was born, she bore the silver eyes and distinct markings of a Kami Taichi, a rare genetic atavism that hailed from the Noriyuki bloodline. These apparitions were healers, but blessed with abilities far beyond that of any capable apparition—because a Kami Taichi's gift was so potent, they could heal injury of any sort, able to easily attach severed limbs, mend broken bones, replicate tissue, and even quell terminal disease—the source of their power was in their blood. Confined within those cells was a unique element known as Shirochi, a strange elixir of life that hailed forth from the ancient bloodlines of long before.
Adani's great grandmother, Yanari, had one of these rare, sanctified beings—born within Akaitsuki, she was nearing the age of almost five millennia when Eri was conceived. She was the only one left of her kind—the only other Kami Taichi within the history of their homeland had perished well over several millennia before. Like her predecessor, Yanari was considered sacred to the people of Akaitsuki, for she kept them in good health, giving them countless years of life even when the threat of fatal wounds or sickness came to call. The multitude of water apparitions who called the island province home nearly worshipped her—to them, she was nothing sort of a deity. Adani's father had revealed to her later in life that it had been this very reason why the elders of the Kurosuna had insisted upon the union of her and Endri—they wanted to lay claim to the work Yanari was doing, and by uniting the families, they managed just that.
The whole territory had rejoiced at the news of Eri's birth—while the lifespan of a Kami Taichi was impressive, far longer than that of the average demon, Yanari was nearing the end of hers—in years previous, she had grown frail, and even though her great power had remained untouched, utilizing it often left her in a weak and pitiful state, her aging body unable to perform as it once had. She had outlived all of her many children and grandchildren, for even a Kami Taichi could not stop death when it came to call.
Despite her ailing condition, Yanari had seen to Eri's training, sharing with her a plethora of knowledge and techniques in hopes that she would carry on the mantle and keep Akaitsuki flourishing. Because of her blessed genetics, Endri unabashedly favored Eri above all his children—he viewed her as his proudest accomplishment, and showered her with affection. His other offspring often felt cast aside, but they understood that the fault lay with their father and not their sibling. Eri, at her core, was a genuinely sweet and caring soul, patient and kindhearted. Even though her father sought to spoil her, she remained humble. She grew into a beautiful, compassionate young woman, her duties to her people her utmost priority. Eri wished to make her family proud, and took her responsibilities to heart. With each passing day, her abilities grew, until she was strong enough to succeed Yanari and continue her good work.
To the surprise of no one, Endri was quite protective of his youngest daughter. He wanted nothing but the best for her, so as the time neared that she was to come of age, he hand-selected a mate he deemed worthy of her, as dictated by tradition. But this was to be no ordinary union—he made a decree that any child born of Eri's line would bear the Kurosuna name rather than that of her mate. It was his desire that such power always be associated with his kin, for the Kami Taichi genetics were maternal and would only ever have female heirs.
But little did he know that Eri had already begun to go astray from the future her father had carefully plotted for her. She had fallen in love with a commoner, a simple crystal gatherer who had come to their land as a refugee only a few decades before—they had met when he had been brought before her to be tended to after he had been wounded during a harvest. She begged for her father's permission to choose her own mate, but Endri utterly refused. Her words of protest fell on deaf ears, and as the time to her name day dwindled to a close, Eri did the unexpected—she eloped with Mamoru Ishihara, the pair fleeing Akaitsuki under the cover of night, making their escape via one of the small boats used to carry the crystals inland for trading.
Adani had been hurt upon the discovery of her daughter's abandonment, but her husband reacted solely with rage. He sent men to hunt them down, with strict orders to return Eri home and kill the man who had stolen her away. But their efforts were nearly in vain—in the decade that followed, they came close several times to success, only for Eri and her companion to narrowly escape their grasp. Endri refused to abandon the search, even when Adani begged him to reconsider. To save face, he lied to his people, spreading the rumor that Eri had been kidnapped—he dared not admit the truth, lest a cry of mutiny be taken up among them.
After some time, the trail had gone cold. Endri's men scoured the realm high and low, but could find no sign of Princess Eri or her partner. Eventually, it came to be believed that they had perished somehow—not knowing what had become of her youngest child killed Adani inside, and she quietly mourned the loss for years, unable to find closure.
Not long after Eri's sudden departure, Yanari's body gave out—she passed away only days later, unable to hold onto life any longer. With her death and Eri's absence, Akaitsuki quickly became wrought by hard times in the years that followed. Without their healers to tend to their woes, the people suffered greatly. While they once thought themselves near invincible, they quickly began to fear death once more, withdrawing from the world around them. The economy had fallen drastically—harvesting the Hoshi Hoseki was a dangerous job. There were many creatures native to the Arashi Sea who posed a threat to those who ventured too deep into its dark waters—many had lost their lives in the process before Yanari was born. With her efforts, the number of deaths plummeted nearly to nothing, providing a sense of security for the men and women who braved the depths to perform their duties.
Now that they were without a Kami Taichi's abilities, many of the harvesters abandoned their posts, and without them to procure the crystals, there was little to export to the traders inland. Wealth became scarce and squalor grew common. A few daring souls still dared to chance the black waters of the Arashi, and only by their efforts did things manage to limp on.
Although it had been a number of decades since this callous fate had come to be, time had not altered the dismal state of life on Akaitsuki—while Adani believed that they should all be grateful that things hadn't grown worse with the passage of years, many of the subjects did not share in that sentiment. Hope was scarce and happiness was, at best, fleeting. King Endri had done little to better the situation—he kept to himself these days, living in an almost constant state of isolation. His absence actually came as a relief to Adani, who could no longer look upon him without feeling absolute abhorrence. To damn an innocent child to a life devoid of true happiness was a kind of despicable low she had never though her husband capable of. And yet, he had been the one to instrument such an awful thing without so much as a second thought, and to their own flesh and blood, no less. Adani's love for him, once untouchable, had faltered then, breeding both fear and bitter resentment. His anger towards their daughter for abandoning their family in favor of pursuing love had never faltered—he held onto his grudge to this day, still unaware that Eri was no longer of the living.
Despite the fact that her youngest child had been deceased for several years now, acknowledging the loss still caused Adani a great deal of agony whenever it came to mind. She found solace in spending time with her living offspring and her many grandchildren, but the hurt always lingered in the depths of her soul. She had hoped that a Kami Taichi would be born among the younger generations, but no such good fortune had come to pass. Adani couldn't help but reminisce more over the events that had let her down the current path she traveled. While it pained her to do so, it only served to further solidify her will to follow through with the promises she had made to Eri before her untimely passing.
How her husband eventually came to discover that their daughter was still of the living was information that Adani was not privy to—somehow, he had learned that she was alive and well, living within the mortal world. She had bore a child, a daughter, in her time away. In secret, Endri had concocted a devious plot to steal his granddaughter and have her brought into the realm of demons, knowing that Eri would emerge from hiding to come after her. Adani hadn't learned of his sinister plans until the child, under the influence of a powerful sleeping serum, had been delivered to the care of her husband by the hands of his hired minions—only when their granddaughter was secured in his possession did he confess what he had done.
Adani had demanded that he return her at once, but Endri had refused. He argued that, without Eri, Akaitsuki would continue to fall further into a state of disrepair so dire, they might never recover their former standing. She knew his words had merit, but for him to kidnap a child with the intentions of forcing their daughter into adhere to his will was an act of madness. Endri ignored her protests, adamant that this was their only option in the matter. Despite knowing that she would be in a dangerous way if she were caught, Adani attempted to free her granddaughter, only to find that she was kept beyond her reach, not only under lock and key, but heavily guarded by yet more of her husband's hired help. She knew her efforts would be in vain, so she abandoned her current path and opted to try a different approach.
She did her best to appeal to Endri's sense of decency, but it failed miserably. He admitted, in passing, that the child was weak—her energy was next to non-existent, and he did not understand why. As they waited for their errant daughter to arrive, Endri sought out the council of a Majo, an ancient apparition with dark ties to observe their grandchild, with the hope that the witch could divulge the truth as to her weakened state. It was obvious that the girl had not inherited her mother's gift, but even though she had been born of demon blood, she harbored next to no evidence of her origins. The real reason behind her state was discovered not long after Eri appeared in Akaitsuki with her mate by her side, pleading for her daughter to be returned to her.
Tears began to prick at the very corners of Adani's azure eyes, causing them to sting as her lips pressed into a deep frown. She could recall, with vivid clarity, the day Eri had resurfaced in their homeland, so familiar, but in the same instance, a stranger.
Her youngest child's appearance had come as a surprise, to say the least—her once silver eyes had faded to a deep, dull brown, and the unique markings of the Kami Taichi had fled from her pale skin. Eri admitted she had sought the help of an osteopath, a doctor of darkness, who had implanted an Eien Seal upon her, effectively locking away all of her demon energy. Her daughter, Mitsuyo, who had been conceived after this transition, seemed to share some of the effect of the seal—her abilities as a water apparition, while present, were extremely limited.
Endri went on to demand that she have the seal removed so that she could return to her rightful place and recommence the work she had been charged with—he even was prepared to allow Mamoru to remain at her side and return her daughter to her, just as long as she submitted to his will. Adani had prayed to the ancients that their daughter would accept—if she did, all could be forgiven, in time, and Akaitsuki would thrive once again.
But Eri declined her father's proposition with news that had shaken Adani to her very core. The Eien Seal could not be reversed—only the blood of an ancient was powerful enough to overwhelm it, and the last ancient had turned to dust thousands of years prior. She would never be a Kami Taichi again—she had given up that aspect of her life, and it could never be retrieved.
Her revelation killed any hope there had been for the current future of their homeland, and Endri had stormed away from the gathering, barely able to contain himself. It was several hours before he had returned, carrying his still slumbering granddaughter in his arms. Without a word, he shoved the sleeping child into Eri's arms. Only then did he reveal the terrible thing he had done to her, revealing it with great relish—he had ordered the Majo to curse Mitsuyo, eternally damning her to a life devoid of happiness. By his order, the witch had infected her with a malicious energy that would forever taint her emotions, rendering her cold and incapable of all but fleeting happiness. The curse itself functioned like a disease, forever feeding on the host stricken with it. The only true way to be rid of it was by the healing hand of a Kami Taichi—none of which currently existed.
The King had told his daughter that since she was lost to him, he had stolen away her own daughter's chance of true happiness as payback for the pain Eri's actions had brought upon the people of Akaitsuki. Eri refused to believe him, not wanting to accept that her own father, who she still loved despite his harsh disposition, would do such a thing to his kin—Adani had shared in her disbelief, desperate to believe that her mate was lying. Endri then effectively exiled both Mamoru and Eri from Akaitsuki, telling them to never return, or he would see to their executions himself.
Once again, Eri and Mamoru fled their mother-realm, but not before Adani pleaded with them to stay in contact. They did so in secret, and it soon came to light that Endri hadn't been false in his awful claim—they were devastated at their discovery, but Eri and Mamoru were determined to help her daughter thrive as best she could. Sadly, it was eventually revealed that she and Mamoru couldn't bear anymore children—they tried for years to conceive, in hopes that another Kami Taichi would be born to save their first born daughter from her plight, but such a thing never came to pass.
As for Adani, she had taken the news nearly as hard as her youngest daughter—never again could she bring herself to look upon her mate with love, only fear and disgust. Their union had suffered greatly as a result of his actions, and even to this day, she took care to avoid him as best she could, relocating to separate chambers and leading a life apart from him. She held no secrets from her other children, and when they learned what their father had done, they held him in a similar regard—he was a pariah among his own family. His remaining children willfully kept their distance from Endri, unable to forgive him for the horror he had brought upon their sibling and fearing for the safety of their own offspring.
The years progressed, and thankfully, Eri had remained true to her word, corresponding often with Adani via a trusted messenger. When her youngest child had once again appeared in Akaitsuki, however, her presence had come as a surprise, for she hadn't informed her mother about her intentions to visit. She shared with them the news of Mamoru's death—he had fallen ill with a terminal disease unique to their people, and had quickly succumbed to it. His passing had obviously destroyed Eri, who had stood before them with agony in her eyes and a catch in her voice when she told them what had transpired.
Her venture had been to inform her parents of her loss, or so Adani had first thought—she now understood that Eri had been saying goodbye, and had often cursed herself for not realizing such a thing sooner. Endri had been cold during the entire duration of their meeting, quick to point out that her predicament was of her own doing, and had she not be foolish so many decades prior, she would be far well off, living out the rest of her long years in power and reverence. He had expressed pleasure at Mamoru's death, nearly berating their anguished daughter for her defiance in choosing him over her family and her destiny. Eri had taken his cruel words in stride—she did not regret her choice. Living her life the way she had desired was well worth the price she had paid, and she had made peace with the idea that her father would never forgive her for willfully abandoning the future he had attempted to enforce upon her.
Endri had coldly dismissed her, telling her that he never wished for her to again return. He had even dared to point out that her daughter's condition was because of her own actions, gleefully reminding her that Mitsuyo would forever carry the burden of her sins. Adani had silenced him then, refusing to allow his venomous speech any longer—she had led Eri away for a private audience, promising her daughter that she would keep an eye on her family, and, if the opportunity arose, she would help correct Mitsuyo's curse.
Eri was grateful to her for her offer—only then did she speak of Davina, sharing with her mother information that brought with it hope. Her great granddaughter had been born with the silver eyes of a Kami Taichi, just as Eri had once possessed before the Eien Seal had been transfixed upon her. Although she possessed no yoki to speak of, and her eyes had taken on the mortal hue of her mother, there was a small chance that the girl had inherited the rare genetics gifted by the Kurosuna atavism. If this was so, Mitsuyo could conceivably one day be freed of her plight. Only a Kami Taichi, their healing abilities unmatched by any apparition in existence, could right the wrong done onto her.
Adani had only learned of their daughter's passing by chance, nearly two years after Eri had been laid to rest. They had continued to communicate following her banishment, although the frequency in which they corresponded grew more and more scarce. One day, her courier had returned bearing the tragic news, and Adani's world had shattered once more. She fought with herself over sharing her painful discovery with Endri, but found herself unable to tell him—instead, she mourned this loss in privacy, wishing that fate had been kinder. Regardless of what had transpired, she intended to make good on her promise to her late daughter, and clung to the hope that some way, somehow, Davina held the key to helping her unlock the secret she was desperate to reveal.
It had come as quite a surprise when it had come to her attention that her great granddaughter had relocated, moving nearly half a realm away from the place of her birth—she had been keeping a close eye on her granddaughter and her brood for a number of years now with the help of the Aoiashi—the tiny, strange creatures were native to the Arashi waters, and had long ago sworn their service to the Kurosuna Family in exchange for protection and food. Endri had wanted nothing to do with them, viewing them as more of a hindrance then anything, but Adani had found them to be most useful. Given that they could easily cross the boundaries that separated the worlds of apparitions and mortals, they had long since proven their worth, and the ones that she kept in her employ were generously compensated for their efforts on her behalf.
Adani realized that it had been quite a risk when she had asked one of her spies to make contact with Davina, but the endeavor had paid off even better than she had dared hoped for—she knew that her kin had paid a visit to her late grandparents house, and in her venture, had come across Eri's diary. It was a gamble, truly, but the more she learned of her own accord, the better. Adani did not want to frighten the girl when the time came for them to meet—the human psyche appeared quite fragile, and the last thing she wished to do was cause her great granddaughter distress. It was apparent that Davina was fairly clever, and surprisingly resourceful for one so young—Adani knew that Mitsuyo, in an attempt to lead a normal life, hadn't revealed any aspect of her clandestine origin to her daughter, and for that, she could not blame her. She kept such secrets out of love, wanting to protect her child however she could. Endri's actions may have robbed her of happiness, but a mother's love was an unstopped force, one that even a curse could not alter.
After what seemed like a small eternity but in reality was only the passage of minutes, Adani found her eyelids growing heavy. She returned to the comfort of her bed, her mind finally falling quiet as she allowed herself to succumb to the gentle lull of slumber.
. . .
Author's Note: My apologies for taking such a long time to post this particular chapter; I had something pop up in my personal life that required me to take an unanticipated out-of-state trip for several days. Upon my return home, work was absolutely insane and exhausted me so extremely that all of my free time was spent catching up on sleep. On top of all that mess, this chapter fought me. The ending is composed primarily of back-story, and while I understand that it's a great deal of telling-not-showing, trust me when I say that this is the cleanest way I could convey all of that information in an organized manner—it will be elaborated on in further chapters. Another thank you to my dear Somethingerror for leaving another encouraging review—I do hope this chapter has provided you some answers to quell a bit of your curiosity. Look for the next chapter soon, dear readers, and stay safe out there.