Instantly, several ayakashi spat up their drinks (or natto as it were), and dropped their fans. An obviously shocked tengu tripped and stuttered several times before he could get out his words.

"Just a minute, Supreme Commander!"

Merely raising an eyebrow, he responded with a simple 'hmm?'.

"What did you just say? This woman is a human! Are you planning to lie with a human?!"

Scarcely had he finished when a cold hand shoved his head down.

"Just a minute, Nurarihyon! What do you see in this woman anyway?"

The yuki-onna angrily demanded, her eyes glaring at him.

Karasu-Tengu was barely heard saying, "That's not the point!" before Nurarihyon tilted his head back.

"Setsura."

Instantly her face turned red, and she gasped in horror.

"She's a much better person than you think."

"D-d-don't call me by my first name now!" She spoke in a quivering voice. "You pervert!"

Karasu-Tengu reprimanded her.

"Yuki-onna, that's no way to speak to-"

However, he was cut off as she suddenly released a blast of arctic air, semi-freezing him instantaneously. She bolted, crying as she went, calling Nurarihyon an idiot, telling him he should just die.

Yohime blinked, her brain not fully processing what was happening.

"Yohime."

She snapped to attention.

"Yes?"

A gentle smile spread across his face.

"You are an unique creature. You are special. I always came to watch you, but my feelings only grew stronger. To put it bluntly I'm in love with you."

Yohime's mouth dropped, as her face turned red.

Oh, don't look at me like that!

He ignored her thoughts and continued.

"Yohime, be my wife!"

What… what… what is happening?!

He has no idea about my past, he doesn't know about my powers and he's saying he's in love with me! That look in his eyes, he's totally serious!

What do I do!?

Back at the mansion, they both stood in front of her room.

"I though you might not bring me back."

Actually, I'd hoped you wouldn't.

Again, he chuckled, his mouth curving up as it did very often.

"I keep my promises, I'm not an ayakashi who lies."

I don't know what to do, was Yohime's panicked thoughts as she turned swiftly, presenting her back to said ayakashi.

As if reading her thoughts, Nurarihyon's arms encircled her, sliding down her skin to thread his fingers through hers.

"Come on, be with me."

His voice is saying he loves me and needs me…

"I'm going to rule the world, for that I need you."

Crack, went her heart, another scar etched into it.

"Nurarihyon," her voice betrayed none of the emotion she was feeling.

"How about it, Yohime?"

I should tell him…

Her mouth opened and the words tumbled out.

"I'm sorry, I'm not the person you think I am."

At the sound of her voice, he turned serious. He could hear the hidden meaning behind her words, suspected it had something to do with the look in her eyes, the wisdom beyond her years. The sadness, as if she was constantly mourning something. Staying in a place that was suffocating her when she could so easily leave. The way she seemed to break as the days when by, little by little.

"I'm not good enough, there's no many others who are better than me. I've abandoned many people. I hear the sick pleading to see me, yet I stay inside ignoring them. Those I do help I'm paid money for."

She took a shuddering breath, and continued in a pleading voice.

"Please, if you want my powers, please just go."

His response was immediate and spoken in a gentle tone.

"I don't want your powers, I'm saying I want you by my side."

She felt the sudden need to turn and hug him, beg him to take her away from here. Say she'll stay by his side until the day she died. Yet, she still resisted. His arms left her, and she flinched inside.

"I'll be back tomorrow."

Turning quickly when she heard the sound of gravel crunching, she burst out.

"Please don't!"

Instantly a blush covered her face, as soft laughter reached her ears. She ran into her room, shutting the door firmly behind her. The laughter faded and the wind rushed indicating his departure.

She slid down to the floor, eyes filling with tears.

Please don't...what? Please don't come? Leave?

A quiet sob escaped her lips.

I wish. I truly wish I could believe you, Nurarihyon!

And for once, just this once, she allowed herself to sob quietly into the many folds of her kimono.

She cried for those she left behind, those she abandoned.

She cried for her tattered soul and broken heart.

She cried for the world of her past.

She cried for a dog-eared boy.

She cried for Kagome.

I've listened: and all the sounds I heard

Were music,—wind, and stream, and bird.

With youth who sang from hill to hill

I've listened: my heart is hungry still.

I've looked: the morning world was green;

Bright roofs and towers of town I've seen;

And stars, wheeling through wingless night.

I've looked: and my soul yet longs for light.

I've thought: but in my sense survives

Only the impulse of those lives

That were my making. Hear me say

'I've thought!'—and darkness hides my day.

Siegfried Sassoon

A/N I thought this poem kinda suited the purpose... it's so pretty too...

Thank you for reading, reviews are welcome no matter how much time as passed.