A/N - Before I finish up this story, I want to make something clear. I don't think librarians are evil at all. One of my favorite places to go to this day is my local public library. Its' just that a librarian fit with the story's plot, that's all.

Standard disclaimers apply

Time seemed to slow as Oshiro released the arrow. Izumiko stared in terror at the arrow seemingly aimed for her heart. Thus, it comes as a great shock to her when the arrow missed her entirely . . . only to hit a third party whose cry of anguish was painfully familiar. Izumiko stared in shock at the arrow coming out of Miyuki's shoulder. I thought for sure Oshiro was aiming for me . . .

"You behave like such a typical divine being Suzahara;" Izumiko looked up in terror at the now unveiled Kimiko Oshiro; "you saw my threat and assumed it was directed at you." The woman smirked as she stalked toward the trapped princess.

"Then again;" Oshiro said, as if speaking of the weather, "that was my tactic all along. You see, my ancestors made a crucial mistake when dealing with you all those centuries ago." The woman's face twisted into a scowl while continuing her monologue.

"They attacked without any knowledge or strategy." Realization came over Izumiko's face as she understood what Oshiro was alluding to.

"All of that harassment at the beginning of the school year . . . you were scoping me out!" Anger settled on Izumiko's face as the truth came to light; "You were trying to figure out my weakness!" Oshiro began to mockingly clap, as if saying 'took you long enough.'

"That's right little girl." Oshiro closed her eyes in recollection; thus, she failed to notice Wamiya finally pierce the barrier, "Its' amazing what lust curses can do to the weak-minded." The wind started to pick up a bit as Izumiko's anger increased at how casually Oshiro talked about cursing teenage boys.

"If you wanted to find out my weakness then why drag Miyuki into all this?!" Oshiro's eyes opened to give Izumiko an 'are you serious?' look.

"Your cluelessness is almost cute Suzahara." Izumiko's eyes widened in horror as Oshiro notched another arrow, pointing it straight at Miyuki's heart; "Have you ever heard the saying 'your greatest strength is also your greatest weakness?' It wasn't that hard to figure it out Suzahara; you draw strength from your love for this boy." An evil grin took root on Oshiro's face as she finished her monologue; "The fact that his family line descends from the Hime-gami as well is simply a bonus!"

As Oshiro shouted out the last word, the arrow flew into the air, its' target Miyuki's heart. However, before it could strike its' target, a strong gust of wind met the arrow and splintered it into tiny, match-like bits of wood. Oshiro began to tremble at the sudden ominous feeling taking over her barrier. Its' not taking it over . . . its' tearing it apart!

"Your family has crossed the line Oshiro!" Izumiko, caught up in her anger, did not notice Yukimasa, Hodaka, Honoka, Mayura, Manatsu and Takayanagi running toward Miyuki and Wamiya nor how her braids had unraveled; "Your arrogance cost me everything!" Takayanagi paled in recognition of this kind of windstorm.

"Sagara!" Miyuki turned to look at Takayanagi's terror filled face; "You've got to stop her! This is what happened before the incident at the school festival!" Miyuki's eyes widened in terror as what Takayanagi meant registered in his mind.

"Crap! Dad, get this arrow out of my shoulder; quick!" Yukimasa nodded before positioning his hands on the arrow's shaft and nodding to Hodaka in a taciturn request to hold Miyuki still. After an internal count to three, Yukimasa yanked the arrow in one quick pull, internally cringing at his son's shout of pain.

"Wamiya!" The mountain spirit perked up at Miyuki's call; "Get me to Izumiko now!" Wamiya, recognizing the urgency of the situation, fought the maelstrom, desperately trying to reach Sagara.

"My arrogance?! You, a simple shrine priestess, refused my ancestor's hand in marriage?!" Wamiya screeched as Izumiko's fury increased at Oshiro's incessant comment.

"How was it arrogant on my part to refuse to marry your ancestor when I was already married?!" Oshiro paused in her tirade, stunned at this revelation.

"But . . . but I was told that you had no husband! That you were free to marry!" As the wind picked up in response to Izumiko's anger, Wamiya yelled to Sagara as loud as he could:

"I can't get through this maelstrom! You're going to have to get to Izumiko on your own!" Miyuki, having expected that, grabbed the staff he'd dropped when he was shot and used its' metal tip as a grip, fighting to reach the woman he loved.

"I was only free to marry after your ancestor's father killed my husband!" Oshiro screamed in terror as Izumiko's wind increased further; "It doesn't surprise me that his pride allowed him to say such LIES!" Oshiro trembled in horror as Izumiko's rage started to lift her into the air.

"Please! Mercy! I beg of you! Show mercy!" Izumiko's face twisted in rage as she screamed:

"Where was the mercy I begged for when my husband was executed?! Uh?!" Oshiro trembled, tears streaming down her face in sheer terror at what she'd unknowingly released; "Where was your compassion when you left my children orphaned?!" Oshiro convulsed in fear; the fear of death.

However, before Izumiko could continue, a pair of strong, but gentle, arms wrapped around her. As if by instinct, the winds calmed down, fading gradually till they disappeared altogether.

"Miyuki?! What . . . what are you doing?!" Everyone except Oshiro relaxed at Izumiko's shift in behavior.

"Man; I never thought I'd be this glad to hear someone stutter." Izumiko, noticing her suddenly moist shoulder, turned around quickly to face Miyuki; only to look on in horror at Miyuki's blood stained shoulder.

"Miyuki?! You're hurt! You shouldn't be here; you should be resting!" Miyuki, much to Izumiko's surprise, only tightened his hug around her.

"You're wrong; I'm right where I need to be." Izumiko became flustered at Miyuki's almost . . . possessive hold on her.

"I . . . I was scared . . . and a coward." Izumiko softened as Miyuki continued; "I kept telling myself that it was wrong for me to love you. That it would make me like everyone else around you . . . the ones only interested in manipulating you for their personal gain." Tears gathered in the corners of Miyuki's eyes as he struggled to keep from crying; "I can't believe I was so stupid! By giving in to my cowardice, I was keeping you from what you wanted!" Before Miyuki could continue, Izumiko placed a gentle hand on his cheek.

"Please don't blame yourself alone Miyuki." Izumiko cut Miyuki off before he could protest; "I wasn't honest about my feelings either. I was as much of a coward as you;" The princess hardened her resolve as she proclaimed; "But I refuse to continue as one. Miyuki . . . I . . . I love you!" Miyuki smiled softly as he unconsciously raised his hand to cup Izumiko's flushed face.

"I love you too." Unaware of their captivated audience, Miyuki and Izumiko drew closer till their lips met in a soft, passionate kiss.

BOOM! As if a supernova had gone off in Oshiro's office, a light exploded from Miyuki and Izumiko and spread out, engulfing everyone in a bright, supernatural light. As the light dimmed, four people in shrine garments appeared. Surprise took hold of their faces as Wamiya came forward and bowed before the family.

"My Lady; My Lord. Have you and your children finally been freed?" The now identified Hime-gami along with her husband and children nodded in happiness. Izumiko and Miyuki, as the ones with the greatest connection to the Hime-gami, stood in confusion at the shift.

"She's . . . different." Miyuki nodded in agreement with Izumiko's observation.

"What do you two mean?" Yukimasa asked. Miyuki answered, as if hardly believing the shift.

"When I dealt with the Hime-gami before, she was . . . distant and incredibly guarded; like she had a hard exoskeleton or something. Also, her very presence radiated foreboding, a bit like an ominous premonition. But now . . ." Izumiko took over, as if she were completing Miyuki's train of thought.

"Now she is radiating warmth, contentment and peace. Its' like she's finally had some closure." The Hime-gami smiled at her descendants' astute observations.

"You would do well to listen to them Yukimasa. Now that Izumiko has found true happiness, I have been freed from my curse."

"Wait a minute;" interrupted Takayanagi; "what do you mean 'your curse'?"

"Vengeance, child, is a curse in and of itself. Nothing good ever comes from it. If you do not believe what I say, just look at Oshiro as an example." The group's eyes turned to Oshiro, who'd fainted without anyone noticing; "She could have been and done great things with her ability to create new and inventive spells. Instead, she will waste away in jail for her crimes while my vessel shall live on in freedom and happiness." The Hime-gami turned to face the group as she continued; "Before I leave, I would like to clarify some things; now that my need for vengeance has been dissolved, I can no longer possess Izumiko. However, that does not mean her powers are gone. Izumiko is still my last vessel after all. This means that she is by default the new Hime-gami." The former Hime-gami turned to face Miyuki as she started to fade away along with her husband and children.

"Thank you Miyuki; your love for Izumiko has set us free."