Ch 7

I informed Totosai of my short journey into the Boarder of the Afterlife, and the strange meeting with my dead Grand-shire. He looked not too suprised at some parts of my tale, while some parts he was suprised.

"He told you Tenssaga needs to change?! Who does he think he is?! I won't do it! I won't!"

I sighed rubbing the worry-lines on my forehead, "Totosai-san, there must be a good reason-"

"Reason! Reason?! Its one of the best weapons I ever made, I may still be an apprentice now, but someday I will the best swordsmith there ever was! Only the best of the best will afford my wares and no one will tell me otherwise!"

"Totosai..."

"I may not be well known in outer circles, but I will only work on the finest of weapons! I will be renowned as an artist and craftsman more than a businessman-"

I growled loudly to interrupt him, "TOTSAI-SAN!"

"What?"

I smoothed my monomke back over my shoulder calmly, "The scrolls and records?"

"Hmph, very well...let me get a shovel." He began searching around his workshop as I raised an eyebrow.

"A shovel?" I questioned.

"How else are you going to be able to keep secrets hidden if you don't bury them?"

I resisted rolling my eyes as I followed the fire breather out of the hut and walked around the pits of lava.

We had walked for a while till we came upon a tall carved stone that had a chiseled flame with a dog across the center, it appeared old with moss growing around it, leaving the image almost hidden from any traveler as an old relic. This where Totosai began to dig with vigor with a grin on his face.

"Keep a sharp nose out my lord, we mustn't let anyone know of these!"

I turned my attention to anything in the rock quarry around us, trying to keep my mind off my thoughts as I was on guard.

Totosai, however, didn't make that easy for me.

"...so, I suppose the rumors are true then, you married a female Inu who wasn't your true mate? Another reason why I assume you went and spoke to your Grandshire's spirit which has gotten you into this mess in the first place?"

I continued on look out, but replied in a gruff tone, "...The new traditions and customs brought on by my father and other demons like him have done nothing but made our old ways of life a desolate waste of time, all it will lead to is constant wars between not only demons and humans, but amongst our own kind. I'm afraid that even I must do a disgraceful act in order to undo the damage my own father has caused."

"Start a debate for humans and demons becoming equals?" Totosai sighed and then stopped digging as I responded.

"...separate myself from my own wife...an unholy and unlawful act could bring dishonor on our family name-"

"You mating a female who isn't your mate is an even greater disgrace to not only your culture and traditions, it is an insult to any demon you cross paths with, even if it was forced on you."

I averted my eyes from where I was scanning to look back at Totosai without moving my head, "I didn't mate with her Totosai-san."

His eyes grew bigger than normal, "Y-you didn't, oh thank kami! That would have disgraced you for sure!"

"But I am legally married to her-"

"Who was the go-between?"

"My father, of course..." I furrowed my brows, wondering what the fire breather was leading with this disgusting topic.

"Was it willing on both parts?"

I growled in frustration, why didn't he get to the point?

"NO"

Totosai seemed unfazed by my growling appearance as he was lost in deep thought.

"Did you two exchange blood at the alter when you both shared the sake?"

I frowned in confusion, "No,...father said that I wouldn't have to because I could also exchange blood with her during intercourse with her virgin's blood..."

I shuddered as I remembered my wedding night bitterly, it would sadly serve as one of the worst nights of my life!

Totosai snapped his long fingers, "And if the rumors of lady Inukimi are true, then she wasn't a virgin at her wedding...or was she?"

At his raised eyebrow at me, I growled in annoyance to answer him without being too vulgar.

He nodded in understanding, "I see, its probably a good thing though regardless-"

"Good thing? Damn it Totosai! Tell me the point will you, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Keep your voice down! I'm trying to help you here, remember! Be grateful that I solved this small mystery of your love life for you, you ungrateful dog!"

"WHAT, ARE, YOU, TALKING, ABOUT?" I snarled with gashing teeth, tempted to transform into my beast form to frighten him.

He seemed frighten enough when I snarled though so there was no need to become too extreme.

"M-my lord, its about your f-f-future! Your true lady of the west is not lady Inukimi, and she never will be! You are not truly married to that poor excuse of a beta, with all due respect of course..."

As Totosai continued to whimper, I stood there trying to calm myself as I accepted the hard yet wonderful truth.

I wasn't truly married, Inukimi wasn't my mate, she wasn't my wife! I'm destined to meet someone better, someone I could actually love, a true lady of he west! That is, if she would love me in return.

I shook my head in frustration with myself, I can't fall in love with a mystery that probably doesn't exist yet!

And if Grandshire's words were true, I would have to wait until my first son, with the woman who is not my real wife, is born. My future sons are going to impact the world's decisions about equal acceptance, I cannot allow my sons to suffer! If I publicly denounced Inukimi as my wife, her disgrace would extend to my son's future, what a terrible hole I have dug myself into. I would have to name my first son as my heir in order to protect him, but what if Inukimi tries to steal him away from me, or kill him?

Totosai quietly went back to his digging, leaving me to ponder my thoughts. Then we both heard the shovel hit something wooden with a shallow thump. Totosai grew excited as he threw the shovel aside as he began to dig with his hands like a child.

"Its here, I knew it!"

I smirked softly as I walked over to help him, a new hope starting to fill my empty heart.