Yoruko Rhapsodos: Something like that. *bows* My job has been achieved. If I can incite emotions in the readers I have done well. *nods*
Halley Vanaria: Yes, poor Kagome indeed.
Kazama-sama: Lifesaver! Glad you enjoyed the chapter, so glad you're going to find me ideas! I look forward to reading your fiction! Thank you!
Guest Reviewer, Professor: Yes… but that's life. *sigh*
YukimuraShuusukeGirl: Ah! Thank you! *salutes* I am most delighted to find that my readers deem my writings as 'well written'! Your idea(s) have added the final touch to my plot line, so hats off you to!
Coldjoker: … *tear* I feel you! I was at my whit's end trying to find a good Nurarihyon fanfiction that wasn't dead! Then I stumbled across Ayakashi no Miko, and Lucid Dreams, Clouded Realities, and I decided to write my own. I am very grateful that my writing is considered very well, and I am aware of the incorrect grammar, misspelled words and such. At this moment, I do not have the time to correct those errors, but I will eventually. I'm so happy you enjoyed this fiction!
Payung Biru (chapter 1): Thank you for reading!
Payung Biru (chapter 5): Yes, poor Kagome. It gets better though! And then it gets worse…
Stebba stud28: *tear* Is that so? Ah, I have such wonderful readers! Don't worry though, it won't take as long as a year to finish. Unless I die, or fall into a coma, or get kidnapped, or am stuck in a place with no internet.
Professor of Gallifrey: Does it actually need to be said? *cough cough* Oh, I'm fine. *sways* Just fine… *cough*
Coldjoker: *watery eyes* Bless you child! Or… err… adult. That means so much to me! And totally on the contrary, I've actually read your fiction before. While I could totally tell you had ADHD, I though it was pretty cool.
Kimori Takahashi: I will endeavor to make each and every chapter more amazing than the last.
"Please, help me!"
In the middle of the night, a man was pounding desperately at the doors to a fine house, set a top a hill. His clothes indicated that he was a farmer, and the fear and worry on his face spoke of an urgent matter.
The tall wooden doors swung open with a creak, revealing two guards. The man immediately fell to his knees.
"Please, bring out the healer! My wife is ill!"
Not a word was spoken between the guards, but one set off for the mansion. Several minutes later, a fully dressed man carrying a woven backpack appeared.
"There is a illness plaguing someone?"
The farmer looked up at the healer who was barely illuminated in the white moonlight. Dark, pure black eyes, skin only slightly paler than normal and finely made clothes.
He nodded, and quickly standing to his feet, hurrying to lead the healer to his home.
Nearer to the edge of the small village, a humble house stood, pain filled cries and moans already reaching their ears.
Stepping inside, the healer only smiled unseen at the woman who was clutching at her stomach lying on the pallet.
He turned to her worried husband and spoke in a low hum.
"Please leave while I cure this woman."
The man's face lit up as he realized his wife won't die. He bowed deeply, not saying anything and left to wait outside.
When he was alone, the healer allowed a smile to come to his face. Approaching the sick woman, he knelt down, catching her attention.
"My poor dear," he crooned, "such pain! Would you like for it to vanish?"
He asked, a smile still stretching his lips.
The woman, more sensitive to the energy around the man, opened her mouth as if to scream. In a blurring of movement, a inhumanly strong hand clamped over her lips.
"We wouldn't want that now would we? You and I," he continued an unholy gleam in his eyes, "are going to have so much fun!"
Stepping from the hut, the healer nodded at the man who, in turn, raced inside to find his wife. Upon seeing her peaceful face and unlabored breathing, he cried out in joy. Rushing outside, he bowed in the dirt to he that had healed his beloved wife.
"Thank you! I don't have much, but if you would-"
"No, I helped simply because I was asked to," the healer said, every inch a kind man.
He turned his back to the farmer still kneeling on the ground and returned to the mansion on the hill.
If one would look on his face at this moment, they would not see the kind traveler who had cured many in the last weeks, all without asking for anything, but rather an evil man smiling cruelly, black eyes bleeding to red.
If they were close enough, they might even smell the blood and the scent of death clinging to him, and the way if you looked hard enough, something seemed to linger around him.
But, these were simple farmers.
Even if they looked, they probably never saw.
Such a coincidence that those who could, perhaps on a full moon, actually see had began speaking of demons that wailed late at night. The mysterious figures that cast frightening shadows on walls, ceilings and the ground. Yet, when those very people began to fall sick, this wonderful healer would cure them!
How strange then, that once they had recovered, they were found several days later lying in a pool of their own blood, eyes staring sightlessly into the sky.
It was their own fault, of course.
After all, everyone knows not to go out at night. Especially being so near to Edo, and under the protection of a mere human lord.
So no one though much on these incidents, and dismissing the rumors of unearthly screams and sightings of demons was expected.
Those who spoke of such things were scoffed at.
Demons were beginning their slow fade into legends and myths…
Over the next several weeks, the ayakashi of the Nura Clan saw the subtle change in Yohime. She was more solemn and serious, a slight shadow shading her eyes. That quickly passed one day when she disappeared with Setsura. While no one known what the Yuki-Onna said to her, their old happy, mischievous, fun-loving lady had returned.
She then proceeded to lock herself into the kitchen (the very same one she was forbidden from setting foot in) for almost the whole day.
When Nurarihyon returned that night from fighting the increasing number of demons that suddenly sprang up, he was greeted by the most delightful smell. When he entered the eating hall, what he saw made his mouth water.
There were platters and plates piled high with some sort of sweets. There was dango and (sweet thing Hihi brought) with the strange 'cookies' his wife made once before.
There was also a smiling Yohime, face smudged with flour and honey, her clothes carrying the scent of one who was baking.
Try as he might, he wasn't bothered that she spent the day in the kitchen. Especially since she looked as happy as he'd seen her in a while.
The peeking ayakashi were surprised to discover their commander had quite the sweet tooth. And just like that, Yohime was allowed in the kitchen again.
In the weeks that followed, things settled into a routine. Yohime woke to help (minimally) cook breakfast as Nurarihyon and his Hyakki Yokou disappeared in the direction of the dojo. When fighting Hagoromo Gitsune, only Nura was able to defeat his opponent and now that they were the ayakashi of the Lord of Pandemonium, they needed to be stronger.
Yohime took to meditating, allowing her reiki to rise and rest on her skin or settle into the sakura tree whose consciousness she had woken.
Her stomach grew, and by the rate of growth, she estimated that she would carry her child to term before the nine months required by a human.
On the day that marked Yohime's sixth month of pregnancy, the day came that Nurarihyon had to leave to a neighboring town.
One of Karasu-Tengu's informants had arrived to the main house bearing news of increased supernatural activity. Due to the rising Fear of a hostile ayakashi so close to this territory, Nurarihyon wasted no time in declaring they would be leaving in the next few days.
Setsura was ordered to stay behind to look after Yohime, and she was happy to do so even though part of her wanted to go. Setsura and Yohime had formed a somewhat odd friendship. Sometimes it appeared like a hime and her guard, or sisters, even teacher and student. While Yohime did help Setsura will her power and control, Setsura insisted she work on her archery.
She even taught the Yuki-Onna how to control her Fear enough to soak in the hot spring that resided in their bathhouse.
One such time, about a week after Nurarihyon had left, Yohime and Setsura were soaking in the hot spring.
During this time, a question suddenly occurred to the Yuki-Onna.
"Yohime-chan?"
"Hm?"
"How is it you know so much about the manipulation of Fear?"
Yohime sighed and cracked open an eye.
"Because, I married Nurarihyon."
On seeing her slightly confused face, she explained farther.
"Since I was pack to an inu-youkai, I took in their traditions. When two youkai mate their auras blend and sorta mesh together," she said holding up her hands and sliding her fingers into one another as an example.
"Thanks to the youkai who made our rings, I am able to blend my reiki and Nura's Fear together."
Setsura nodding in understanding. Studying Yohime's face, she noted the look of slight hesitation that she usually wore when she had a question she was unsure if she wanted to ask.
Waiting patiently, she watch as Yohime opened her mouth to speak.
"Setsura-chan, can I ask you to do something for me?"
Holding a hand to her mouth, she smiled coyly.
"That depends on what it is you want me to do, hime-chan."
A slight giggle before the human woman turned solemn.
"I want you to always protect this child to the best of your abilities."
Before Setsura could reply, Yohime quickly rushed on.
"I don't mean physically, I mean emotionally. Say, for example, he falls in love with an ayakashi who will eventually leave him-"
"Yohime."
Brown eyes shot to the serious face of her companion. As the Yuki-Onna's own eyes bore into her, she held her gaze to hers.
"You," Setsura spoke almost challengingly, "are hiding something, aren't you? Something that will affect the life of your child."
The memory of Fate's visit, the curse that vile fox bound the bloodline of her husband with flooded her mind.
Finding herself unable to met the stare of Setsura, Yohime lowered her eyes to the steaming water.
"Something you cannot tell anyone, ever. Something that will cause you pain and suffering and your child as well."
Her teeth slid over her lips, biting harshly into the delicate skin as her hands clasped together under the water.
"Surely, even the gods will-"
The Yuki-Onna sucked in a quiet breath as Yohime visibly flinched and she trembled as the sheen of tears glassed her eyes. In the instant that followed, Setsura wrapped her arms around her and patted her head.
"I remember a woman who proclaim a bunch of rowdy ayakashi as 'family'. I also recall the same woman state she was madly in love with a certain man and would stay at his side until she died. It doesn't matter if you find yourself unable to keep that promise, it matters that we are your family. That you love our commander with everything you have."
Pulling back she smiled in the awe filled human eyes.
"Isn't that enough?"
The tender moment was broken a second later as Yohime tensed.
"A stranger has entered the grounds."
Both women stood up, grabbing their towels and readying their weapons. Setsura formed a spear of ice, and Yohime grabbed her bow accompanied by a quiver.
Since the bathhouse was located close to the entrance, they climbed out through the window. Thankfully, the moon was relatively bright so they could clearly make out a darkly shrouded figure before he faded entirely into the shadows.
"Yohime-chan, I want you to go to your safe room."
The safe room had be established at Nurarihyon's insistence. It was a simple room with food storages and several futons, but the walls were covered in sacred saltras, seals and barriers. The house could burn down and that room would still be standing.
"Setsura, I am the Lady of this house. You and I are the only ones who can defend our home against a high level threat. I'm not going anywhere."
"You are six months pregnant, we have no idea when you are giving birth! You seriously want to risk the life of your child?" she hissed lowly at Yohime.
There was a pause.
"Fine, I'll stay here, you go and confront our 'guest'."
Turning her attention back to the figure who reappeared, the Yuki-Onna quickly moved forward, weapon poised for a strike.
A/N So far, I've had a pretty bad week. And then I got all these wonderful reviews and then my week was so much better. Just thank you so very much. I really am delighted to know I have such awesome readers.
Again, thank you!
There's a poll on my profile~ isn't that amazing~!?
Anyways, thank you for reading reviews are the hot chocolate, chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream on top and watching Doctor season 1- season 7.