Sorry it took so long for an update, but I hope it was worth the wait. I really like these characters and I am adding a little bit of mystery to the story of these lovers. Please let me know what you think. I really appreciate all of the feedback and the fav's and follows it really is a great motivator to keep me writing. I did have one question I was going to answer from my comments. In the first chapter Mikage takes all of the other inhabitants of the shrine to visit Ookuninushi at his shrine because he was in distress and because he doesn't particularly like Tomoe that is why he was left behind and Nanami wasn't invited so that is why everyone is gone, but them.

The couple still lay in bed naked and wrapped around each other after their morning 'exercise' as the sun rose. Nanami had fallen back to sleep as the sun rose higher and higher. Tomoe felt the sunbeams on his face, he smiled and stretched giving Nanami a tight squeeze and carefully separated himself from her. He really found it hard to leave her, but he needed to attend to the shrine and wanted to make Nanami breakfast in bed. He knew if he stayed he'd ravish her again and she looked exhausted.

Tomoe clothed himself and did his daily cleaning of the shrine, after he finished out in the yard he went into the kitchen to start making breakfast when he realized he needed a few ingredients to make Nanami's western style breakfast of pancakes and eggs. Tomoe peeked his head into Nanami's room to make sure she was still sleeping. He left a note to make sure she didn't worry herself if she happened to wake before he returned.

Nanami started to wake up to the sound of birds outside. She stretched out her arms expecting to find Tomoe, but he wasn't there. She frowned and cracked open her eyes. He was definitely not there. Nanami lay in bed naked and she stretched her arms above her head thinking about Tomoe. As she stretched her muscles were all aching especially her lower abdomen.

She blushed and clutched the blankets to herself. Now that Tomoe wasn't here her thoughts weren't muddled with desire. 'I slept with Tomoe.'

When Nanami pushed the blankets tighter to her chest the fabric rubbed across her neck and she winced. She crept from her bed carefully going over to the mirror. She looked herself over in the mirror and barely recognized herself. Her hair was a mess of unruly curls and knots from sleeping and… more. She couldn't help, but blush. Her eyes were bright and shining with a secret only her and Tomoe knew and right there on her neck was a bite mark.

She lifted her hand to her neck and the skin was tender, but there wasn't a bruise or a scab like she thought there would be. Instead was a pale white outline of Tomoe's teeth that tingled under her touch.

She rubbed at the mark. 'Oh no is this permanent? Will everyone know what they did?'

Nanami's mind was being swarmed with a barrage of thoughts when she sensed someone entering the shrine. She quickly got dressed and covered her neck with a scarf. She walked out the back of her room and into the courtyard. There was an old woman who was sitting on a bench.

Nanami had never seen this woman before so she approached her cautiously. When Nanami got closer the old woman spoke.

"Excuse me, but could you please help me to get some water, I am rather thirsty."

"Of course." Nanami went over to the little well and filled a ladle with water for the woman.

"Here you are ma'am."

"Thank you, young woman, would you mind keeping this old woman company for awhile."

Nanami was happy for the reprieve and sat next to the woman in a peaceful silence. Until the woman spoke again.

"I used to come here everyday when I was younger like you are now. I always came to pray to this shrine that blessed matches to ask that my beloved would return my affections."

"Did it work?"

"Well dear let me tell you my story."

"Long ago before the pace of this world sped up, everything felt much simpler. In those simple times I was a girl with a crush on a man that frequented my father's shop. I had always admired him, but could never tell him my feelings. I knew he was special, but I didn't know how special until he saved my life. One night when I was walking home from visiting relatives I was attacked by thugs, there were two men who grabbed me and tried to take my money. I tried to fight them off, but I wasn't strong enough, when I thought I would die I yelled my beloved's name and like magic he appeared and fought off the thugs. He gathered my battered body to his chest and carried me to his home. He lived away from the city in a secluded part of the woods. He cared for me there until I was able to return to my home. I started coming to this shrine everyday after that for 1 year. I asked that the gods please grant my wish and let, us be together, but I never thought my prayer would be answered. The last day of summer he met me at the entrance of the shrine and I poured my heart out to him, telling him how I had been praying for a year because of my love for him."

Nanami was listening very intently to what the woman was saying and asked.

"What did he say?"

"That he had loved me from the moment he met me, but we could not be together for we were from different worlds. He told me that he would never age and that he would long outlive me. I thought very hard about what he had said. I knew from the moment that he had saved me he was no mere human. He was a god to me, but I did not want to hurt him so I told him I understood and left."

"Why? Why does it matter?"

Nanami was crying as she yelled at the woman in anger.

"Because Nanami yokai and humans cannot be together they will cause each other too much pain."

Forgetting that this story was about another couple and that this woman mysteriously knew Nanami's name she continued.

"But I love him. He loves me. Why can't we be together?"

"Maybe there is a way if you feel this strongly."

The old woman in next to Nanami began to change into a beautiful young woman.

"Who are you?"

"I am here to give you a choice Nanami, Land God of Mikage Shrine, do you wish to become immortal and live the rest of eternity with Tomoe, Mikage Shrine Familiar."

Before Nanami could even process what the woman had said a bright flash of light blurred her vision and Nanami was being woken by Tomoe who had cooked her breakfast in bed.

"TOMOE..." Nanami lunged at him hugging him tightly.

Again thank you for being patient there was no sex this time, but it will heat up again. Please let me know what you think.