Oh yes Ashi was positive it wasn't a good idea to let Kirihito carry his own weight while they escaped hell. After laughing for a good five minutes straight the horned demon had knocked out a wall alerting everyone as to where they were. Following closely behind him she growled throwing a black fire ball behind her trying to hit the crazy Neko demon that was chasing them. "You just had to do that didn't you? This spell won't last forever you know. If we had snuck out it would've been fine, but no you had to be stupid?" Glancing over his shoulder he growled.
"Shut up, I said I was sorry." Ducking as an orange fire ball wheezed past her head she snarled.
"I don't care if we live I'm kicking your ass regardless." Ducking into a cave shortly after, the two bent over breathing hard. Making a face the female tried to ignore the metallic taste that was rising in her throat. "Are you sure you're okay? Yomi is supposed to poisonous to normal humans." Fingering the hair around his wrist Kirihito nodded.
"While you were sleeping I took some of your hair." Patting the tuft that was sticking up Ashi frowned.
"Tomoe isn't going to be happy about that. He loves messing with my hair." Freezing the red haired demon spun around reaching for her shirt collar.
"Testing! Testing!" Ears perking the vixen tip toed to the front of the cave peeking out. "God-person and human-person you have five minutes to come out before I burn the forest to a crisp, nyao." Teal eyes widening the kitsune gave a pitiful mewl.
"If we make one last run for it we may make it before the fire gets here." Nodding the horned demon stopped beside her. "1…2…3… Run!" Shooting off into the trees they both cleared the river one landing easily the other missing her footing and tumbling to the ground in a heap. Pushing herself up Ashi coughed choking on blood as her chest screamed in agony. Spiting a mouthful out she slumped when the male slung her over his shoulder, continuing on to the entry way.
"Your times up, Nyao!" Raising her head the goddess watched as the fire quickly closed in on them fumbling for her sticky pad she scribbled 'fire proof' down sticking it to the back of Kirihito's shirt. Gasping as the flames licked her hands she came to the conclusion that her transformation spell had worn off. She had been firing off kitsune-bi while the redhead had only been running so she was using more energy than him. Skidding to a stop the boy set her on the ground where they had first fallen into hell. Wiping her chin clean or trying to, the goddess reached through the darkness that was light when they fell.
"Why would they close this? You're still down here." Cutting her eyes towards the demon she sighed.
"I'm only a human god. Any human in the world could replace me." Legs giving out the teen collapsed to the ground remembering to late that her hands where burned, badly. "Dammit! Where's foxy when ya need him? He's gonna be pissed when he finds out about this." Flicking quickly deeming golden eyes towards her he frowned.
"What did you call him?" A sudden flash of memories had his mind reeling. "Song Bird?" Giving a weak hum in response the goddess let darkness take her as the flames drew closer.
Landing in an explosion of fox fire Tomoe growled unsheathing his claws. "Move I've business in Yomi-No- Kuni." Scowling the war god huffed.
"Long time no see, fox." Narrowing his now golden orbs the kitsune lifted his lip to bare his fangs.
"Move the rock. Now. My Ashi is still within." Grinning Ikusagami tilted his head.
"If that girl really is a god she can find her own way out. If not she's long dead saving a lifeless body is pointless." Youki swelling he threw a blast of blue fire. Flicking it aside the god shook his head.
"Do you believe a familiar can really beat a god?" Flashing in front of the fox he knocked him aside.
"You're pathetic. Using a human girl to make a home for yourself. A fox is just a fox."
"You're right. A familiar cannot hope to defeat a god." Casting a glance at Kotetsu he smiled. Watching the mallet fall he felt his bindings break and his power come flowing back. "But without my mistress being a familiar means nothing." Paling the war god stepped aside as Tomoe unleashed a massive blast of youki crushing the boulder before leaping into the darkness without a second thought.
"Why aren't I burning?" Staring at the flames that danced harmlessly around his hand Kirihito frowned glancing back at the girl. She must have done something with the last of her strength to give him more time. A crack made him turn to the rock blocking the exit, shielding his black eyes when it exploded the boy stepped back having never seen that expression of rage marring the wild fox's face.
"Ashi!" Kneeling next to her he sniffed, patting her head and running a hand down her body to make sure she was still whole and safe and alive. Patting her cheek the demon gave a happy yip when her dulling teal eyes fluttered open. A breath taking smile spread across her face before she slipped back into unconsciousness.
"Nyao! I found you!" Catching the Neko by the face when she lunged for his goddess the fox smirked letting fire ignite in his palm.
"I normally wouldn't kill pointlessly, but you hurt Ashi and that is unforgivable." Ignoring her screams as she burned he sunk his other hand through the cat's middle gripping and pulling out whatever was within reach.
Groaning in mild discomfort Ashi sit up rubbing her aching chest nearly screaming when a hand held her pill bottle out for her. Teal eyes following the length of the appendage up to glowing green eyes she smiled. "Thank you Mizuki." Dry swallowing two she tossed the bottle back into her bag across the room. "Where's Tomoe?" Mashing his index fingers together the snake mumbled barely loud enough for her to catch any of what he said.
"What do you mean he's in prison?" Throwing the covers off she forced herself to her feet making her way slowly to the other side of the temple. This was ridiculous, the fox had saved her life it shouldn't matter that he had become a demon again to do it. They could just reseal the familiar contract, if he wanted to of course, and be done with it. If he didn't want anything to do with her than she would help break him out, what was the worst they could do, kill her? Ha that was a laugh. Struggling to push the massive door open she frowned seeing Tomoe setting at a low table twiddling his thumbs. "So this is where they stashed you away." Walking over to the cage she huffed taking in the poor living conditions the fox had been forced into. "Well I guess from my understanding of this big mess that I made, you can either be my familiar again or I can help bust you out and you can go on your merry way." Looking up for the first time the demon blinked clearly not having expected the goddess to be that blunt about it. "I'll give you however long you need to think. Just send Hikari to get me when you decide. I doubt the gods will let you walk out of here though." Pulling the tiny kit her inside her shirt that she had been wearing yesterday she set him down. He must've fallen out before she'd tumbled into hell as he was nearly unconscious being that close to the gate yesterday. The little fox yipped at her before crawling through the spaces of the wooden cage. Alone the weak material wouldn't be able to the youkai but she could sense the seals lining the edges. Hearing metal rattle she looked back at the silver fox yelping when she came face to face with him.
"You're going to let me pick? Not force me to be your servant again?" She shrugged thinking back as she drunk in the beautiful picture he made in all his demonic glory. She grinned reaching through the spaced to tug on the shackles around his wrists.
"From intangible chains to metal ones… Yes it's your decision after all. If you had asked to be set free I would've released you from the contract anyway. You made the contract with me if you'll remember." He had forgotten that. The first few months she lived at the shrine he had still been Mikage's familiar, he had kissed her after Narukami had went back to her temple. Moving towards the door she paused before it shut completely shaking her head she kept walking ignoring the growing pain in her chest with every step she took, she knew it wasn't just physical anymore somehow somewhere down the line she had developed an emotional attachment to the fox. Wiping at her eyes she threw open a door pausing with her foot still in the air to step in.
"He's fine his self-respect is damaged beyond repair though." Nudging him with her toe Ashi snickered. It seemed Foxy had put the quick tempered god in his place. Watching the chubby deity munch on a hot bun the human felt her stomach roll thinking about food. The last few days she just hadn't had an appetite, but that may have been from being in hell and all that.
"Say you're the god of healing elixirs right?" Looking up from her food the dark haired god nodded scanning the teen's body to see if she was harmed.
"Why would you need one though? You're not hurt." Thinking fast the marriage goddess cut her eyes as she came up with a lie. It turns out the god had a bit of a sweet tooth and readily gave her a whole bottle full of peach pills for the chocolate candy bar Ashi had stashed in her bag. Blinking down at the glass jar the teal eyed girl couldn't believe how easy that was.
Hissing lowly when the white snake finally made himself known Tomoe grunted turning away in annoyance. Baring his fangs in a shit eating grin Mizuki took a seat across from the kitsune. "You know I never realized how divine Ashi smells when she's sleeping. Makes me wonder how you kept your paws off her." A low growl made the hairs on the back of the Hebi's neck stand up but he pressed on knowing the spells on the cage prevented the wild fox from doing anything. "Oh yes if I didn't already have a mate-to-be she would be very tempting." Claws flashing forward the sharp edges stopped only centimeters away from the reptile's soft skin.
"It'd be wise for you to stop talking while you're ahead bastard snake. Damn." Rubbing his face the demon sighed. "Even without you popping in all the time Ashi still never leaves my mind." Drumming his fingers on the table Mizuki nodded.
"It would be better for you to try to forget about my mistress." Breaking off for a second to reconsider when the white snake saw the kitsune's eyes flash he cleared his throat before continuing. "If you are no longer a familiar than your ties with my lady are broken. That makes her solely my master." Snarling Tomoe snapped his fangs and extended his claws wishing to ripe the annoying Hebi's head from his shoulders.
"Ashi is mine. If you lay one finger one her I'll kill you. Only I can protect and care for her. She needs me…" Violet eyes widening the fox sputtered. "What did I just say? I should be glad to be rid of that annoying girl." Moving his hand towards his chest the youkai swallowed. 'Then why does it hurt my heart to think of never seeing her again?'
"Haven't you finally figured it out? You like her, stupid fox." Fishing around in his robes for the little bottle his god had given him the green eyed male clicked his tongue. "Anyway Ashi-Sama wanted me to give you this as a farewell present, the peach god's elixir to keep you safe for a while." Leaving the glass jar on the table within reach Mizuki left the fox to his own thoughts. All those months ago beside Himemiko's swamp he'd swore he'd never love a human but…
"I'll never fall in love with a human." A warm sensation tingled in his palm and the fox realized Ashi had taken his hand and tugged him along after her rolling her eyes for good measure, frowning he gently pulled her back by his side watching the full moon reflect in her teal orbs. "You wouldn't fall in love with a fox demon either would you?" A soft smile spread across her dainty cheeks before she whispered the words he never thought he'd hear.
"I don't know, maybe. You don't get to pick who you fall in love with."
Like wasn't love but it was a start. And worth a try.
Tracing a careful claw over Ashi's hair the kitsune inhaled lightly, the snake was right, the teal eyed girl smelled perfect. With his heart thundering in his chest and a peace he hadn't felt since the goddess had left his side filling his mind the fox knew there was no other way around it. He had developed feelings, and strong ones at that, for the tiny slip of a human girl that lay rather undignified in her bedroll. Letting Hikari crawl from his kimono sleeve to snuggle down beside his 'Kaa-san' Tomoe smiled. While she was sleeping the human god looked peaceful, while she was awake she was a force to be reckon with. Before he could think better, or think too much on it he pressed his lips to hers letting the golden chains of a familiar wrap around him again.
Staring with a raised eyebrow at the silver fox in front of her the land goddess sighed. "Really Tomoe you had a chance to be free. And you end up being my familiar again." Running a hand through her hair she frowned feeling the uneven pieces sticking up. Even though it had been a couple of days since she'd gotten back from Yomi she hadn't given any thought to her hair that Kirihito had cut. "Foxy can you do me a big favor?" Looking up from his breakfast the kitsune blinked. "My hair got cut while I was in hell, could you maybe even it out or something?" Wiggling his claws the demon smirked.
"I might be persuaded, for the right price." Huffing the teen crossed her arms.
"I'll take you to McDonald's when we get back home okay?" Flicking an ear Tomoe moved behind her running his claws though the uneven lengths of midnight hair. Shivering at the feeling Ashi suppressed a groan. Her Fox had magic fingers when it came to playing with hair. Blinking out of her daze nearly an hour later the marriage god patted her tresses which were considerably shorter than before. Feeling claws still running through her hair the teen hummed. With a quick tug the youkai snorted.
"You lazy human, don't you have work to do today?" Blinking slowly she glanced down at the table which held all the work she was supposed to be doing right now. Pushing her glass back into place on her nose the deity picked up her pen and started to write while the wild fox never stopped fluffing her hair. She really didn't see what was so entertaining about it but she wasn't going to complain, it felt way too wonderful.
Glancing up from her work the human-goddess wrinkled her nose feeling Tomoe's youki rising just a bit outside by the koi pond. Maybe she needed to see what was going on with all the unfamiliar hissing that was going on outside. Letting her pen drop she pushed to her feet popping her back as she stood. Sliding the shoji screen door open the teen snorted watching three fox familiars running away from a ball of blue fox fire. If Foxy was having fun who was she to interrupt it. Getting back to work she giggled hearing a loud splash. That was certainly not Tomoe that fell in.
Yawning Ashi rubbed her eyes, it was the seventh day of the summit and she wanted to go home. After throwing her bag of charms at whoever she was supposed to she'd planned on marching back to her room packing and going home. Mizuki hadn't been able to find anything about Mikage so she'd just have to wait and hope he came back before she got too bad. No one told her she had to be here for the last party were everyone would be drinking. She couldn't drink even if she wanted to. Her medication wasn't to be mixed with any alcohol and with the rate at which she was taking them it could kill her to mix the two. Holding the dark robes up so she could walk the goddess grinned seeing Mizuki dancing around holding two jugs of sake already. The snake loved to drink that was for sure.
Spotting Otohiko through the crowd she sped over. Taking in his form fitting skinny jeans and a neatly tucked button down shirt, complete with his fluffy boa and a rose choker Ashi realized how beautiful a god he really was. Even Mikage had had an other worldly quality about him. Then here she was just a normal human trying to hold one shrine together and get the real god back before her mortality did her in.
"Land-goddess." Bowing the bunny spirit held up a tray with a cup of sake on it. Looking around for Mizuki she paled not spotting him anywhere.
"Um… I really can't drink." Picking the cup up she bit her lip, was it considered rude to say no when the god of wealth offered you his best sake? Having the drink stolen from her hand she sighed seeing Mizuki holding it with a small frown on his face.
"Ashi-Sama you know you can't drink. Wh-" The cup was snatched out of his grip and downed quickly by a scowling fox demon.
"My Mistress is not yet old enough to drink. Please inform your master of this so he doesn't become offended." Bowing the bunny hopped away. Watching it go the land god wondered how it made it to her without spilling the drink anyway. Stumbling out of the way when Mizuki latched himself onto Tomoe's back she laughed, she had the weirdest familiars ever. Focusing in on a glowing butterfly she raced after it ignoring the growing ache in her chest. Gasping she dropped to her knees after chasing Mikage's messenger a fair way.
"Oh. We meet again Ashi." Dropping her head she sighed a feeling of relief flooding through her.
"Mikage-Sama, I beg you, please. You must come back to the shrine soon. I'm going to die." Raising her head she pleaded with her eyes. "Tomoe can't be left alone again, it's not right." Patting her head he nodded.
"I will come back when I'm needed. But that's not why I'm here today. You've put great effort in, you've grown a lot since I first met you." Smiling the real land god laughed. "And you've even managed to get along with Tomoe." Remembering the fox she frowned.
"Won't you at least go see him?"
"I'll meet up with Tomoe again when he truly doesn't require my presence." Pinching the bridge of her nose Ashi nodded.
"Can you at least point me in the right direction of his mate? So far I haven't felt in tugs with anyone when it comes to him. And I want to see him happy before I go, if I can be that selfish." Looking away momentarily the blond shook his head.
"You have to discover her for yourself. The courtship of demons is the highest honor and risk they can give. Youkai love for a lifetime, one century is nothing for them."
"Then Tomoe has already found his mate. But because she was human…" Trailing off she sniffed feeling heartbreak for the silver haired male. "Oh Foxy."
"Yes, you understand now. Even though he doesn't remember he still knows humans are fragile creatures. I wanted him to realize they're so much more than that. I needed to reach him with your hand, not mine." Feeling Tomoe quickly approaching Mikage smiled. "This is all the time we have for now, Ashi." A flash of light and he was gone flittering away in the form of a butterfly. Stopping beside his mistress the wild fox watched him go before catching her hand and pulling her back towards the center of the party.
Hey look I'm alive!
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