CHAPTER 8

The time seemed to pass by slowly. Izayoi had yet to still see Inutaisho. Although she had been let loose from the strict lockdown he had not come to her. She wondered if something had happened to him; something bad. This had made his terribly worried. Since her uncle had left her, there was no one besides her, the guards and her maids. She had been forbidden the rights to visitors, which was making her a little sad. She felt like she was alone now. Her maids had done the best they could to make her happy but there were certain things that were just out of their reach. One did have an idea, however. She had lied to the guard saying the lady needed fresh air outside of the mansion gates. So after a little bit of back and forth between them the guards gave in and the lady was able to wander the guards; though they had told Takemaru, who was now the head captain, to follow the women, believing that they could have been crafty. Takemaru did not want to take his chances and followed the lady on his own accord; his love for her still burning, and his hate for the demon still raging.

Izayoi and the other maids wandered a little away from the mansion. It must have been all clear for them, for out of the trees Inutaisho came and approached the small group. The women were afraid at first, but with no quick action, they saw he had been the one Izayoi was in love with. The two looked as if they were inseparable. The maids wandered away, but not too far, to give the two soul mates some privacy. Takemaru on the other hand stood there in hiding to hear what the two had to say to each other.

"Izayoi…" Inutaisho was finally able to escape from his lips. It had been far too long since he had been so close to her. He was right there. Reaching his hand out he pulled her warm figure close to his, not wanting to let go of her as long as the two of them still lived.

Watching this, it made Takemaru sick to his stomach. He was not too be a fool for a second. Taking his look upon Inutaisho, he was convinced of the evils this being had on Izayoi. That she had obviously been put under his treacherous spell. Now handling a sword at his side, since he had ranked up, he wanted to take the strike against him. He wanted to pull Izayoi from his grasp, spilling the demons blood on the ground. Takemaru, once a smart person, had been so overcome with jealousy and hatred that all he wanted to do was kill; If not for him but for his lady.

"It has been too long my love" Izayoi said with the folds of Inutaisho's kimono. She missed his touch, his smell and even his voice had becoming soothing for her. It was in that moment that everything had felt perfect; she had only wished she didn't have to leave him.

"Let me take you away from here," Inutaisho said amongst the hug. His grip tightened a bit around her; his feelings genuine. Izayoi would have jumped at the chance for her and him to leave here and have a better life for their child. She was still a princess though, and she was taught to never leave her subjects for selfish reasons. And even though she was a prisoner in her own home, she still stuck to the ideals she held true to her heart.

"I am sorry…I can't leave here" She said in a solemn voice. Her hands pushed herself from her lovers embrace as she took a half of a step back. Inutaisho didn't like the answer she gave. He had hoped she would just leave this place and go with him. But he knew her all too well, and that she would not abandoned the people who cared for her. He did still hold his smile though; there was still the fact that Izayoi was carrying around his second child. He put his hand on her stomach. She was in the middle of the pregnancy. Izayoi looked down at Inutaisho's hand and then placed hers on top of his.

"He's ours" she said. She looked at him as he looked back at her. Their love sprouted into a new life. One that Inutaisho hoped would be safe, and a long one that would have been well spent.

I am terrified though," Izayoi continued. Her face dropped and her skin turned pale like she had seen a ghost or something.

"What is it?" Inutaisho asked. He was obviously worried that something had happened to her or something was going to happen.

"I have been told that once our child has been born that I will be taken from this land; taken away from you," She said. Inutaisho's eyes narrowed. He didn't like the idea of Izayoi being so far away from him; being unable to see her anymore. What made him cringe the most was that their child would be taken from him as well.

He made the plan; no; the oath right then and there to his love, "When our child is to be born I will come to you, and we can leave this troubled place and live far from any dangers that may befall you", he said slowly as he could for Izayoi to understand the feelings behind his words.

Izayoi had nodded her head in agreement to his proposition. She couldn't leave her subjects now, but since she was to be sent away from there once her child had been born she saw no reason to return to her old homeland to live out the rest of her life in misery. She smiled. She was glad that Inutaisho thought of her no different than he did years ago. That he still held the same love for her even before she was to bear his child.

Now all the two of them could do was wait now. Wait until her birthing day had arrived and Inutaisho being there to take her away from all of the pain.

But upon hearing everything that had been said, Takemaru was not pleased. He had infact despised everything that had been leaked from the demon's mouth and would have gave anything to attack him then and there and take the lady for his own. He didn't. When he heard that the demon was to be there when Izayoi gave birth to the child Takemaru would be there as well; In the shadows, so to say, to take the demons head on a silver platter. His plan was perfect in his head; all he had to do was now wait. Waiting was all one could do now until the day finally came.

He turned awat from the pair and headed back to the mansion. He had his chance planned, now he need not stay there to hear anymore of hopeless fantasy come from anyone.

The maids were not long to reappear, telling the lady that the guards would be sent out to search for her if they had stayed out any longer. And with their parting goodbyes Izayoi headed back for her home as so did Inutaisho. Their lives already set into play like pieces on a chessboard, not knowing how the game will end.

Whew...almost there. thanks for sticking it out for the final conclusion of the story. i have not decided upon writing only one more or two more chapters. Probably two to keep the pages even haha. well thank you for reading, leave reviews or just do whatever!

~~KAZU~~