I had originally thought to put this part and the last chapter together, but I decided to just break it in half so that maybe I can make it up to 25 or (gods-help-me) 30 chapters. Much amusement awaits!
The next day when I woke up, I discovered that Takeru had left early for the palace. Which left me alone once again to think about how I was going to be able to apologize and explain my reasoning for making the bet with that damn Kushinada.
There was nothing to do in the house since I'd cleaned it yesterday, so I decided that today would be a good day to go walking and exploring. Sukuna-sama had come by after my nap yesterday to deliver some pain-killing herbs so that I could be more mobile, though he had warned me that I still shouldn't do anything too strenuous just yet because my ribs were still mending.
So now I could move about without having to worry so much about getting tired or winded, and a walk around the realm seemed like a really good idea.
I put on a lovely blue kimono decorated with white flower designs and a bright yellow obi, given to me by a kind goddess when I first arrived. Most of my new clothes were from the generosity of the deities, and I still thanked them when I saw the pass by Takeru's house. I put on some sandles that would be comfortable to walk a long way in and stepped outside into the warm morning sun.
I took a right turn on the path, heading for the woods on the far side of the living area instead of the cherry grove garden I normally walked in. It took only a few minutes to reach the shaded area, and I took a deep breath in to smell the damp dew that still clung to the leaves.
I had to admit that besides the ocean, a nice walk in the forest was another way for me to find my calm and center my thoughts. The feel of the cool breeze through the trees accompanied by the sounds of the birds and other creatures in the distance had nearly the same soothing effect the sounds of waves upon a shoreline had. My muscles unconsciously relaxed as I kept walking, and I was able to breathe a bit easier.
My thoughts turned to the Sea god I had yet to pin down for a talk, and a slight frown appeared on my lips. He had seemed in a bit better mood yesterday, and after all that had happened with Nayomi and my mother, I was going to be able to completely focus on him. So I put my brain to work as I walked down the path, trying to find ways to approach the man I loved about this problem.
I was so absorbed in coming up with a tactic that would work I didn't notice the footsteps behind me till I looked up and realized that I had somehow taken the turn that brought me towards the Emperor's palace. I took a second to wonder how I'd gotten here when the sounds of being followed registered in my brain, and I turned around to see who it was. My hackles immediately rose, and I snarled at Kushinada as she smirked at me.
"A fine morning for a forest walk, don't you think?" she asked airily, her fan already out and waving air onto her porcelain features.
"What do you want now?" I growled, not wanting to have my day ruined so early in the morning.
"I just came to ask how Susano'o and you were doing, you know. Since he's still angry at you for not telling him about our little arrangement." Her golden eyes sparkled with glee as my anger increased.
"I didn't tell him because I thought I would stupidly give you a fair chance," I snapped at her, fists clenching at my side. "If I'd have known you'd try such slutty methods, I'd have told him the instant I saw him again."
Now it was her who looked angry. "Slutty? You dare accuse me of such things?"
"Yeah, I do." I jabbed a finger at her. "Who was it who tried to rub up against him and steal a kiss when he clearly didn't want it?"
Kushinada snapped her fan shut, eyes blazing in fury as she stepped closer and raised her hand. Before I had a chance to jerk back, it descended upon my face as she slapped me viciously.
I stood there in shock as she hissed back, temper finally out from under her control. "Little bitch, don't you even think of breathing such an insult in my direction again! I am a goddess, and you a mere human! Don't think that because Susano'o favors you now that he will in the future!"
My teeth gritted as I jerked my head back around to glare at her, shoving my face right into hers without an ounce of fear, only pure feminine outrage. "I may be a human, but at least I have some semblance of self-respect to not go chasing after another woman's man! You, on the other hand, are a spoiled, selfish brat who will use any kind of method to get what she wants, even if it ruins her name!"
Kushinada jerked back in surprise and anger, but I stepped forward, not nearly finished with her yet. "I worked hard to get where I am now with Takeru, and even in the face of this little farce of an engagement you set up, he and I have stayed together. I set that bet up so that you would learn that no matter what, you don't stand a chance against me."
Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out as I backed off finally, my eyes glittering with the remains of my frustration with this particular goddess. "You still have a chance at him, to be fair," I told her as I turned around, looking up at the palace. "But you better try and get to him before he comes home. Because he'll be coming home to me only after today." I walked forward towards the grand gates, not bothering to look back at the stunned woman I left behind.
As I went out of her line of sight, I felt the surge of adrenaline start to ease out of my system, leaving it weak as I stumbled against the pearly columns outside the grand palace gardens. Along with the weakness was a sense of triumph, and I couldn't help my smirk at how I'd finally given that bitch a piece of my mind.
Bet she thought all human women were weak, too.
As I leaned against the gate, I noticed a wizened old man just inside who seemed to be watching me. I recognized him as the man I'd seen walking around the cherry garden a few times, and turned my head to smile at him. "Good morning!" I called out in a friendly way.
A surprised look came across his face, and he looked left and right before pointing a finger at himself. I giggled at how silly he seemed and nodded, motioning for him to come over. The old man hesitated for a few moments, but then slowly walked towards the gates.
"It's rare to see a human at the gates of the palace," were his first words to me. "What brings you here, young lady?"
"I actually took a wrong turn walking through the forest," I admitted, smiling at him politely before bowing. "I'm Manabe Yukino."
His lips tugged upwards slightly, and he bowed back. "Call me Iza," he responded.
We straightened up and looked at each other. I noticed that his eyes were a little cloudy, but still had a spark of wisdom in their golden depths. His beard was long and grey, and not many hairs were upon his wrinkled head, but the calm aura he gave off put me at ease after the confrontation with Kushinada.
As if on cue, the goddess appeared, her face twisted in fury as she hurried up the path towards the gates. The old god and I turned to see her, and she looked ready to attack me before she stopped, her already pale skin going ghost white as her eyes widened in shock. I frowned, wondering what could possibly be her problem now when she dipped her head and turned around, hurrying away as quickly as she'd come.
"That was weird of her..." I muttered, eyebrows knit together. Iza looked at me.
"You know that goddess?"
"Unfortunately." I scowled at the place she'd disappeared from. "She's the one engaged to my boyfriend and keeps trying to weasel him away from me."
"You talk of Susano'o, correct? I'd heard he has a human living with him, but nothing about a relationship."
I turned to Iza, sighing. "I doubt he's told many people, since he's been told to marry Kushinada." My face unconsciously turned to one of despair and disgust, which seemed to intrigue the old man. He reguarded me for a few moments, and I tilted my head at him in question.
"Something wrong, Iza-san?"
"Hmm...come, it seems you have some things to get off your chest, and this old god would be happy to lend an ear." He lightly touched the gates between us, and they opened without a sound. I blinked at him in surprise, but I didn't want to be rude if he wanted to help. I stepped onto the palace grounds, a little giddy to be allowed in.
"Th-thank you," I said, not sure of how to act. He motioned for me to follow him into the gardens, and I did so quietly, mildly wondering where we were going.
That thought flew out of my head when I saw just how beautiful the gardens were inside the wall. White and pink cherry trees were planted around, with small bonsai placed in perfect positions. I saw a few keepers tending to the rock gardens and plants, and the water feature that was placed every so often gave a lovely ambiance to the entire place.
Iza led me to a stone bench beneath a very old, yet still very beautiful cherry tree with large blossoms on its branches. He sat down first before patting the space next to him invitingly. I complied, settling myself and sighing.
"So tell this old man what ails you, young lady," he said, watching me with those wide golden eyes. "You say that Susano'o is yours, yet he is engaged to Kushinada-hime."
"Yeah...but I've been seeing him for a lot longer than she's been interested in him." I leaned back and looked up at the falling blossoms, my heart feeling a little heavy as I talked. "I met him by accident, when I found the pool he uses as a portal in a cave in my world..."
I told old Iza everything from the beginning, of how I'd been first not too sure about the prickly Sea god and didn't know if I could trust him. I told him of how we'd eventually gotten closer, becoming friends through the love of the sea and doing things together that we had both enjoyed. My eyes softened as I talked of our night on the sea floor, when I realized that I had fallen in love with him. We laughed over his reaction to meeting my mother in her underwear, and of our first date the following day.
"He lost the bet, and had to sing on stage in front of a crowd. Then he dragged me up there to dance in the middle of the song and used the lyrics to...well, tell me he liked me back." I sighed happily at the memory, blushing lightly.
Iza chuckled, a smile on his face. "It sounds like one heart-stopping moment for both of you."
"It was. And then after we got off the stage, I got to meet his brother, Tsukito."
"Oh? And how did that go?"
"Awkward at first, but after a bit we all started to have fun. We went shopping together and got a few things as souvenirs before they had to go home. I remember being so eager for the next day too, cause Takeru and I were going to spend the day swimming..." I frowned suddenly, thinking about something.
Iza noticed and tilted his head. "Something the matter?"
"Yeah...I remember that the next day, he was late answering me when I tried to call him with the pearl." My hand unconsciously rose to caress my neck, only to bring a bitter reminder of what had happened to the pearl. "I think that was the day he was told about the engagement with Kushinada, cause he seemed off the entire day."
"It must have been heavy upon his mind, to have an effect when spending time with a lovely lady such as yourself."
I snorted at that, only to grimace at how unladylike that just was. "Just wait till I'm mad enough, you'll revise your opinion," I joked. "Oh yeah...that was the day I almost drowned," I recalled, going back to my memories.
"You nearly drowned?"
"Yeah. Takeru had swam out way too far, and I was trying to reach him and bring him back, but I got hit by a strong wave. If he hadn't noticed, I'd have died..." I shuddered at the memory, grateful to the Sea god for saving me.
"Ah...I can imagine he panicked over that."
"Yeah. After I came to he forbade me from getting in the water for the rest of the day." I poked the tip of my tongue out to show my displeasure. "We ended up making sandcastles and finding shells till it was time for me to go home. And...we finally had our first kiss as well," I admitted, blushing ten shades of red while smiling broadly.
The old god chuckled, clearly amused. "Ah, youth. This one remembers it well with his own wife."
"Ah, you're married?" I asked, interested.
"I was. She died a long time ago, however, before Susano'o was even born."
"O-oh...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring-"
He waved my apology away with ease. "It is in the past. I am more interested in you right now, since your time together with the Sea god has been so brief, yet so full of memories."
I smiled a little at that, nodding. "Yeah...after that day though, he was grounded, I guess you could say. I didn't see him for nearly a week..."
Takeru let out a satisfied sigh when he moved from his position among the other working gods, glad to finally be done. He'd started early so as to have more time later in the day for his little human, and was sure that she'd be happy about him being able to listen to her side of the story with no distractions.
As he walked out of the palace, however, he saw a group of goddesses clustered together and staring into the garden, whispering to each other and even pointing. Curious, he walked over to the gaggle of girls and spoke up.
"Oi, what are you standing here for?"
Many of them jumped at his unexpected appearance, looking guilty or surprised. They milled around for a few seconds before one of them in the middle spoke up.
"We were watching the Emperor and the human girl, Susano'o-sama. They've been in the garden talking for a while now."
"Human girl?" A feeling of dread made Takeru's eyes widen, and he quickly looked to where they all pointed. Sure enough, he recognized the pure white hair of Yukino sitting next to the familiar robes of the Emperor, with her talking animatedly while he nodded in agreement to something before speaking himself. The Sea god couldn't hear what was being said at this distance, but he had a feeling this may not be a good thing for him...
"Excuse me!" he said, moving around the girls and jogging towards the two quickly. Wondering exactly how Yukino had found her way to the palace and in the presence of the Emperor, he slowed when he realized that he could hear them both now.
"-and then she tried to kiss him!" Yukino hissed, clearly talking about what had happened the other day. He paused in moving, wanting to hear where they were going with this.
Izanagi tilted his head, his attention on the girl beside him. "Kushinada tried to steal a kiss?" He seemed fascinated by this revelation.
"Yes! And after I gave her a fair chance, she decided to try something like that?!" Yukino crossed her arms, staring at the ground in front of her hatefully. "And she also has the gall to try and gloat to me about causing a problem between me and Takeru today! That's why I was at the gates earlier, it was because she interrupted my walk to try and think of a way to apologize to freaking gloat."
Takeru blinked, remembering the way Kushinada had skipped coming to the palace today. Clearly, she had been scared away by his fiery jellyfish of a girlfriend. He couldn't help the amused chuckle that escaped his lips.
The two in front of them heard it, and when Yukino turned her eyes widened in shock. "T-takeru!"
"Ah, there you are, Susano'o," Izanagi said, standing up and smiling at his son. "Your lovely companion was just telling me of your story from her perspective."
The color drained from the god's face when he heard that, looking at a rather embarrassed Yukino. She'd told him about them from her perspective? Something told him the gleam of amusement in the Emperor's eyes meant that he had gotten a hold of more than a few things to hold over him...
"M-mi'lord," he stammered, lowering his eyes in respect at the last second. "I'm sorry, I didn't know-"
"Tsk, no need for that, son." A hand patted his shoulder, and Takeru looked back up to see a kind smile on the old god's face. "You've got a real woman here, even the humans I know of wouldn't dare face off against a goddess, much less bet with them on their chosen man!" He chuckled as the couple stared at him.
"W-wait...son?" Yukino looked between the two gods in shock. Izanagi looked at her with that amused expression on his face.
"Yes. Susano'o is my son, if you want to get technical about it. I am Izanagi, Emperor of this realm."
He clearly took far too much fun in seeing Yukino's dumbfounded look, though Takeru had to admit it was hilarious to see.
"Y-you...I...we were...talking...and you're his father?!"
"That's what you got stuck on?!" The blunette asked, resisting the urge to hit his head with the palm of his hand.
The Emperor stroked his beard with his hand, clearly enjoying this. "Well, I've had my time with her, so you may walk her home with you, Susano'o." With a smirk he turned and started walking off, but not without a parting remark. "I'll give you my opinion on her later!"
Somehow, Takeru wasn't sure if he would like hearing that.
Yukino stared after the old god, looking like she'd seen a dragon. "He's...your dad...and the Emperor..." Clearly her brain had yet to process this.
The Sea god sighed and rubbed his forehead, feeling tired already from knowing what the old man would be doing. Hopefully Yukino had left a good impression on him...he reached out and grabbed her hand, tugging it. "Come on, let's go home."
Still befuddled, the girl nodded and twined her fingers with his, completely at ease with the motion. Takeru, on the other hand, felt all the eyes of those who had been watching them zero in on the gesture, and he felt the back of his neck grow hot in embarrassment. Yukino gave him a look before glancing behind him, a sly smile appearing on her face as recognition flashed in her dark blue eyes.
Before he could think, she had stepped closer to him and leaned up, giving him a quick peck on the cheek and murmuring to him in a low, seductive voice. "Let's go home then, shall we...?~"
It felt like Zeus' lightning had hit him in that moment. He felt shocked, but equally strong was a sudden urge to say screw it and take her in his arms. Reigning his suddenly haywire hormones in, he just nodded and walked with her towards the group that had gathered to see the scene, and he saw the reason for her sudden assertiveness.
Kushinada-hime was there, her golden eyes wide in fury as she stared at the human by his side. Takeru felt her stand a little taller, her chin raising in quiet confidence as they passed the gaggle of onlookers, all of whom were watching them with keen interest. No doubt the rumor mills would be full of a new topic tonight, he thought to himself.
Oddly though, he wasn't ashamed to be seen walking hand in hand with his little jellyfish. He glanced down at her to see her proud stance, and felt his heart swell with pride of his own. On a whim, he disentangled their fingers, despite her protest. She hushed, though, when he instead slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him, laying a gentle kiss on her temple.
"You silly thing," he murmured, eyes soft as he saw a bright red blush bloom on her face.
"You're the silly one," she said, glancing up at him with a smile as they both heard the barely strangled sound of outrage behind them. Neither let it bother them, and they walked through the calm, shaded woods back to the house.
I thought he'd be mad at me, but I was pleasantly surprised by his actions as we left the palace. It made my love for him deepen, the way he hadn't cared if his supposed fiancee had seen him with the one he truly desired. Hope bloomed in my chest, and I wondered if he would finally listen to me.
As we stepped onto the familiar porch, he let me go only to open the door for me. I giggled at the motion and stepped inside before him, watching as he shut the door behind us and, to my surprise, locked it. The blue-haired god turned to me then, crossing his arms and giving me a look.
"So, you've been wanting to talk to me, correct?"
Startled by the fact that I didn't have to work to get him to listen, I stumbled for my words. "U-uh, yeah but...y-you're not mad?" I asked, just wanting to be sure.
"I am. But I'm willing to listen to your reasons," he sighed, moving to the living room and sitting down, motioning for me to sit in front of him.
I did so, fidgeting nervously. I didn't know why I was so off-balance by the fact that he was willing to listen at last. Maybe I'd just been a bit too worried...
"Well?" He watched me with his golden eyes, arms recrossing in front of him.
"...I'm sorry, Takeru," I said, lowering my gaze to the tatami mats below me. "You have every right to be mad about the bet I made with Kushinada and not being told about it."
He watched me as I talked, carefully keeping his face blank as he listened.
"I just...I was so tired of her rubbing it in that despite everything, she was going to get you in the end!" My fists clenched in anger in my lap. "With her highborn graces, her proper way of speaking, and that damn fan! I just wanted it to end. So I challenged her to something I knew I could win against her!"
"You knew you would win that kind of bet?" Takeru asked, an eyebrow raising in slight disbelief. "And how did you figure that."
"Because." I lifted my blue eyes to meet his dark gold, confidence filling my voice now. "I knew that even if you knew nothing about the bet, you would choose me. You'd reject any of her advances, any of her attempts to manipulate and woo you, and you would only give your love to me."
I'd managed to surprise him. His expression changed as he stared at me, his mouth even dropping open slightly. I rushed on, looking back down at the floor so as to hold onto my nerves.
"After all we've been through together, to finally be with you only to be snatched away...I couldn't stand the thought. You're the only one I've ever felt this way for, Takeru! When I thought I'd never see you again, I had no drive to do anything at all. I was lost without you, and wasn't going to let you go again without one hell of a fight!" I took a breath, feeling my emotions threatening to overflow. "That's why, that's why I-!"
A pair of strong hands grabbing my arms and jerking me forward cut me off, and an instant later a pair of fierce, hot lips fell over mine in a searing kiss that cleared my mind of everything as I kissed him back. Takeru tugged me up against his body, arms going around my waist as my own raised to let my fingers dive into his bi-colored hair as I whimpered my approval.
This kiss was different than the hesitant, sweet ones we'd shared before. Those had made the butterflies in my stomach flutter wildly, while this...this pulled out a hidden fire from within, made me go wild in his embrace as I gave as good as he was giving, our tongue slipping out to do battle with one another for dominance over each other. The gods hands were starting to roam, sliding over the curves of my body hidden by the blue kimono I still wore whlie I arched into his touch.
He won the duel with our tongues, and his reward was the invasion of my mouth, taking in all the details he could as fast as possible. I felt us start to fall backwards, and in just a few seconds he had me pinned to the floor, gripping my hip with one hand while the other teased tantalizingly close to my chest. My breath hitched as excitement shot through me, lighting my fire further.
Soon, much too soon we had to part for air, and we gasped for the oxygen around us. I opened my eyes to stare directly into his liquid golden orbs, melting under the desire and love I saw within them. He leaned over me, keeping me pinned against the floor as he shifted so that he wouldn't crush me with his weight.
"Ta-takeru?" I panted, my face a hundred different shades of red by this point.
The god smirked down at me, lowering his head to kiss me again, more gently but still just as passionate while he murmured against my lips in a husky voice that sent lightning across my nerves.
"You silly jellyfish, you didn't have to do all that to prove that you were mine..."
I shuddered underneath him as his wandering hand found its desired location on my breast, my heart pounding hard beneath it loudly. I arched into his touch, instinctively craving more as our lips melded together fully, mind starting to drift off from the overwhelming sensations he was making me feel...
A sharp knock on the door made us pause, and I heard his frustrated growl as he lifted his head and shouted at the door. "What the hell do you want?!"
"Totsuka Takeru, is that any way to talk to your eldest brother?" a strange voice chastise, and I saw the color drain from his face for the second time that day.
"E-eh? Who is that?" I asked, sitting up slightly.
"Oh? You have company?~ I'm coming in then!"
"A-akira, don't you dare!" the god above me shouted, making a quick effort to remove himself from on top of me.
The door opened before he could, and I blinked at the stunningly beautiful deity that stood there with a surprised expression on their face. My first thought was that they were female, but when they spoke, I quickly corrected myself.
"Oh. Did I interrupt something, Ta-kun?"
"Dammit, I told you to stop!" The Sea god leapt to his feet, seething at the interruption of our...alone time. I myself quickly stood up as well, adjusting my hair and kimono back to its proper positions before eyeing the male before us.
His fair skin was accented by their long white hair that faded to a lovely shade of light blue. His kimono had a beautiful floral print on a white fading to green background, and a sun adornment completed the look by pinning some of his hair out of his face. His bright blue eyes looked me up and down, those delicate lips tilting up in a smirk.
"So this is who father was referring to..." he mused, just when I thought my blush couldn't get any deeper than it was. He turned to Takeru, who was also highly embarrassed about being caught.
"Come now, let's not dally~ You and your charming human girl have been summoned!"
"Summoned?" The bluenette narrowed his eyes. "By who, Akira?"
The god, Akira, merely smirked. "You should know. Dear old daddy wishes to talk to you and your girlfriend right away. Seems he's made a decision about your and Kushinada's engagement. He insisted that she come as well." He motioned towards me.
Takeru and I glanced at each other at the news, both of us surprised. We had just left, and yet we were being called back? Something didn't seem right to me...
Akira clapped his hands together, a silly grin on his face. "Come on now, let's go to the palace! The Emperor won't bite...much~"
That didn't reassure me like I hoped it would.