AN: Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay. In case you didn't see my social media messages, I had a great time on my cruise…but I came back sick, so I wasn't able to update. That said, I know many of you have been waiting for this chapter, so I'll shut up and let you read!

Chapter 5: Izayoi

I can't sleep, I keep dreaming I'm losing you

Feel so alone in the night, scared to open my eyes

I'm in too deep, I'm in over my head this time

Can't get you out of my mind no matter how hard I try

So won't you say you will, say you won't

Make up your mind tonight?

Say you will, say you won't

Be my guiding light

Say you will, say you won't

Make up your mind this time

Say you do, say you do

You wanna be mine

I get the feeling, I've never been here before

'Cause no one I've known's ever moved me the way that you do

And I know this is the real thing, it's all I've been searching for

I've put it all on the line, now I'm hoping you feel that way, too

Will you tell me how much I mean to you?

Will you say you always will be true?

I need more than a come-on sign

So won't you say you will be mine?

– "Say You Will" by Foreigner

Heian Period, Jouhei Era, 2nd Year (932 CE)

Sesshoumaru held up a black, male dog to Touga. "I brought one, as you requested, Father."

"Good, good," Touga said, taking the dog from him and tying a rope around his neck. Attached to another tree a short distance away, a tawny female rested in its shade. Her head was attuned to the newcomer, who barked and struggled in Touga's grasp, trying to bolt over to her.

"What are you going to do with them?" Sesshoumaru asked.

Touga took a deep breath. It was now or never.

He had asked Sesshoumaru to take a flight with him this afternoon so they could have this conversation away from the ever-attentive ears of the army. If his soldiers knew Sesshoumaru was getting The Talk, they would never let him hear the end of it, and if there was one thing Touga had learned about his son while being in battle with him, it was that Sesshoumaru preferred to be alone and fled at the first sign of being teased or criticized. The boy couldn't seem to take a joke, which meant his soldiers only poked more fun at him, creating an ever-widening gap between the men and their future leader.

As if that wasn't enough to worry about, he still had to have this sex talk with the boy. An army camp was a place for raunchy tales, and no doubt Sesshoumaru had already heard enough to have questions. Touga needed to set the record straight before someone else did.

He had thought of a million ways to start this conversation, but everything sounded too forced. So, he decided to go straight for the kill.

"Sesshoumaru, have you ever wondered where babies come from?"

Sesshoumaru's face pinched in confusion. "No."

"Not even…about how you were born?"

"No."

Touga cleared his throat as he fumbled for a way forward. "Ah. Well…it's…important that you learn."

Sesshoumaru's brows rose a fraction. "Is it?"

"Of course. It's a part of growing up, son. And now that you're of marriageable age—"

"I am not interested in marriage."

"Well, not yet perhaps, and you have time, of course. Your mother and I are still here, but one day, it will be your duty to take over the Western Province, and you'll need someone by your side to help you."

When Sesshoumaru said nothing, Touga's confidence grew. He was starting to learn that for this new Sesshoumaru, silence was akin to agreement.

Also, like his mother, Sesshoumaru preferred blunt honesty to hedging around the topic.

Touga continued, "But one day, you'll be expected to sire an heir, and there's a certain way to go about doing that. It's called sex."

He then lifted up the male dog from under his front legs, showing off his belly to Sesshoumaru. "You see how this dog comes with the same, ah…equipment we do? Down there?" he asked. Sesshoumaru glanced down at the dog's penis and then up at his father. While he showed fewer expressions now, his eyes seemed to scream, Why are you asking me this?

Touga handed the male's leash to Sesshoumaru, and though the dog barked and pulled, trying to get to the female, Sesshoumaru did not let up. Then Touga moved to the bitch and held her up in the same manner. "And you see how the female doesn't? Instead, she has, uh…an opening. Back here." He shifted the dog in his arms and held back her tail.

Sesshoumaru's brows furrowed. "Father, why are you showing me their nether regions?"

"They're called genitals, Sesshoumaru, and I'm showing you because that's not all they're used for. Just wait." Touga untied the bitch from the tree but held her back. "Now watch carefully. I'm only going to show you this once." Which is more than enough. "Walk him over here. Slowly."

Sesshoumaru frowned as he tried to hold the male back while still moving forward. When he was finally within range, the female walked up to him, and the male went crazy, jumping around and then sniffing her face before moving around to sniff her rear.

"This is where the male is asking to mate the female. Now, mating means something different to us, son, but I'll get to that. What's key here is the consent. As an alpha, you'll no doubt have special privileges and be able to have your choice of females, and as a demon, you might feel the need to dominate without asking, but…we're not barbarians. This is a very intimate act and should not be forced on anyone. Do you understand?"

Sesshoumaru nodded slowly, as if unsure.

Touga thumped his hand on Sesshoumaru's shoulder, causing his son to look him in the eye. He kept his face grave. "I'm serious, Sesshoumaru. In the case of dog demon bitches, this could mean life or death for you. If they don't consent to rutting, they might just bite your head off—literally."

"Rutting?"

"Watch." Touga was confident the bitch would cooperate. He'd specifically scented out one in heat. Sure enough, after a moment of getting to know each other, the female allowed the male to mount her, and the male started humping her leg. "Now, the reason we need to hump is that our cocks—"

"Our what?"

Touga gestured down to his own crotch. "Your cock, Sesshoumaru. Penis, member, manhood—whatever you want to call it. Now listen. Your cock is normally soft and limp, yes?" When Sesshoumaru didn't answer, Touga went on, using his fingers to illustrate. "But in order to enter a female's body and send out seed instead of urine, it needs to get hard and erect." His finger swung up to mimic it. "Touch is the best way to make that happen."

Sesshoumaru's nose curled in disgust.

"Ah, see, there he goes," Touga said, gesturing to the male dog, who had stilled against the bitch. After a few seconds, the dog twisted off her back, standing end-to-end with her. Both tried to pull away and started whining when they were yanked back together. "Oh, there, there," Touga cooed, petting the dogs to calm them. "Just wait. It'll be over soon."

Sesshoumaru's eyebrow twitched. "Father, what just happened?"

"He knotted in her, son." At Sesshoumaru's blank look, Touga clarified, "His cock swelled, locking him inside her. It ensures his seed won't drip out." Sesshoumaru looked at the dogs in something as close to alarm as Touga could make out on the boy's stoic yet tense face. Touga patted Sesshoumaru's thigh. "Don't worry—this only happens to us in our demon forms. In our human guises, we don't knot."

"So…it need not be done this way?"

"No, no. In your human form you would—well, you could use this position—" Upon seeing Sesshoumaru's panicked expression, subtle as it was, Touga backtracked and added, "B-but to start with, the male generally lies atop the female, face-to-face."

Sesshoumaru's face pinched as if in pain. "And this is the only way to produce a child?"

"Yes."

"It results in a child every time?"

"Oh, heavens, no," Touga laughed. "Only when the female is in heat, like this one is. Can you scent it?" Sesshoumaru took a subtle whiff, but his expression didn't change. "When a bitch goes into heat, she gives off pheromones that are very difficult for males to resist. Now that you're older, you'll probably start to notice it. You'll probably even be sent away when your mother goes into heat."

Sesshoumaru frowned, glancing away in thought. "Is that what happened every time the males were dismissed from the palace? I always assumed she was just being capricious."

"Yes. But you were a child and her son, so you were allowed to stay. Now…that will no longer be the case."

Sesshoumaru's face darkened. "What are you suggesting, Father?"

Touga held up his hands in placation. "I'm only saying that these instincts can be very difficult to ignore, and the court doesn't like to take chances—"

Sesshoumaru turned and walked away. "I've heard enough."

"Wait, Sesshoumaru, I'm not done yet!" Touga called out, untying the leashes from around the dogs' throats. The demonstration was over, and they would go their separate ways when they were done. He ran after his son. "We haven't even talked about mating yet."

Sesshoumaru cut him a glare. "That romantic drivel?"

"Oh, you've been talking to your mother, have you?" Touga muttered.

Sesshoumaru's gaze softened a tad. "No. But I am aware of what it is and what the consequences are."

Touga huffed. "You call them 'consequences,' but with the right person, they would be a gift."

Sesshoumaru harrumphed.

After walking for a moment in silence, Touga added, "I realize this is a lot to take in, Sesshoumaru. If you ever have any questions, you know you can always come to me."

"That will not be necessary, Father. I have no plans on siring children any time soon."

"Well, that's just it, son. Sex isn't just for procreation. That's why you have to be careful."

Sesshoumaru glanced at him. "Pardon?"

Touga sighed, trying to figure out how to explain it without distressing the boy even further. "As you mature, you might find yourself…attracted to a female and wishing to rut her just for the sheer enjoyment of it. And that's fine. But…." Touga rubbed his mouth. How do I say this without sounding so…elitist? No, you know what? These are Inukimi's words—she can take the fall for them. "Your mother asks that you remember your noble heritage and that you be careful with whom you…couple. While sex does not always lead to pregnancy, it is the only sure way to beget a child. Do you understand?"

Sesshoumaru stopped and turned, leveling his father with a solemn stare. Touga froze from it. "I do not. Is this not something you only do once you are married?"

"Well, not necessarily…. Of course, married couples are expected to, ah, be together, but what you do before marriage is your business."

Sesshoumaru's gaze flattened. "I see. Are you speaking from experience? You have done this with others besides Mother?"

Touga's heart jerked. I didn't think he would ask this. What do I say? I've just told him to go and sow his wild oats, but why do I feel like he's shaming me for even suggesting it? Or that I did it?

"Well…that was before I married your mother, son. But since then, it has only been her."

"And yet you told me you strove to became who you are because of her, is that not so? Marriage to her was your goal, was it not?"

"Yes…" Touga answered, getting a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Hn. So you lack loyalty." Touga flinched, and Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, as if resigned. "Now it makes sense."

"Now, see here son—you have no right to judge me when you have no idea how I've lived—"

"I know enough, Father. And I have heard enough." Sesshoumaru walked away then without turning back. Touga felt so rooted to the ground, he couldn't follow.

Instead, he slumped over and groaned. He had known this talk would be awkward, and he had hoped to connect with his son on a personal level—but that had been too personal.

It's as if he holds a grudge against me. But why? Nothing I've done has affected him, right?

Well, at least he could say this much: if loyalty was Sesshoumaru's main concern, at least his son had honor. Touga could not begrudge him that, and he was proud to have raised such an upright heir.

I only wish that he didn't look at me with such…derision. Why should it matter to him how I lived my life before I married his mother? We're together now, and I'm trying to mate her. In fact, she's the one holding us back.

He sighed. But Sesshoumaru doesn't know that. Well…one day he'll see. When I mate Inukimi, he'll understand just how loyal I can be.


Nanboku Chou Period, Koukoku Era 1st year/Ryakuou Era 3rd Year (1340 CE)

Touga practically fell out of the air, crashing into the nearest forest that didn't reek of cat. He'd finally succeeded in killing that damn Panther King—but it had cost him. Still in his true form, he whined as he leaned against a tree, licking some of his shallower wounds. Blood matted his silver fur all over. The beast in him longed for the comfort of home and the familiar scent of dogs —and especially his own family—but he just couldn't fly any longer.

Best to rest up here for a while. Besides, Inukimi will nag again if she sees the severity of these wounds.

He sighed at the thought. He would be able to take her chastising in stride if he could at least be assured that she might tend to him in a show of care or—dare he hope for it—love.

Unfortunately, he couldn't.

They had chemistry—that much was certain. And they matched each other well in terms of power. But despite asking her multiple times, Inukimi still refused to mate with him. Even the stoutest of hearts would waver after so many rejections.

He was so tired of keeping up this one-sided affection.

A giant dog falling from the sky was due to attract unwanted attention, so despite his exhaustion, he dragged himself deeper into the forest. He wasn't sure where he was going, whether it was nearer to or further from human civilization, but his size was likely to frighten off any mortal who crossed his path.

When he reached a creek, he lapped at the chilly water, enjoying its refreshing journey down his throat. Sated, he collapsed into a bushy area of ferns and dozed for the rest of the afternoon. Although a constant, faint presence of demonic energy permeated the area—as did the faint, cool musk of reptile—none of the local residents bothered him. Perhaps they realized they were outmatched even when he had been brought so low.

But that night, he woke up when he heard rustling in the grass. The scent of reptile had grown stronger. He lifted his head only slightly, trying to pinpoint the brave intruder without giving away his position, but wincing as his wounds pulled.

He had really hoped to get through his convalescence without fighting.

To his surprise, it was a human woman—not a demon—who crept through the forest, casting a lantern around her as if she sought something. With a soft exclamation, she found what she was looking for and bent down to gather it.

Gekkabijin flowers. She's a brave woman to risk coming alone in the forest at night merely for those.

Just then, the rasp of scales against grass slid against his ear. Touga tensed, his muscles preparing to leap.

In the dappled darkness of the trees beyond the woman, a long shadow undulated. Glowing, red eyes locked upon the mortal, who went about her gathering unaware.

Foolish girl. You should know better than to roam the forest at night. But despite his cold thoughts, he got up to a crouch and growled lowly, warning the snake demon not to attack.

The woman finally looked up in startlement, meeting his gaze. But instead of screaming and falling back, she stood up in silence, never breaking eye contact.

She was a brave woman…and yet she still had no idea of the real danger that lay at her back.

Touga leapt over her and across the creek just as the snake demon struck. This time, she ducked, and he snatched the serpent in his jaws. Unfortunately, he grabbed it too low, and though Touga flung it around like a toy, the demon darted out and bit his leg. Touga yipped in pain and let go of it. Dammit!

The snake darted through the trees, but Touga's blood boiled in anger, and he slashed at its retreating tail, lopping it off. As the appendage danced away, the snake hissed in pain, writhing on the ground. Touga seized the opportunity and pounced on it, locking his jaws just behind its head and tearing it off. Blood sprayed across the forest, whetting his tongue, and he tipped his head back to let the tepid liquid pour down his throat. Cold, reptilian blood wasn't as palatable as that which oozed from hot flesh, but it helped abate his battle frenzy and would go far in strengthening his body to heal.

He tossed the head aside and licked at the bleeding stump of the body before the throbbing in his leg forced his attention to it. Touga growled, assessing the deep puncture wounds from the snake's fangs. They didn't burn with poison—and even if they had, he had consumed enough of his wife's blood in one sexual activity or another over the centuries to give him a better tolerance than most demons.

"Let me help you."

Touga's head jerked up as the clear, rich voice pealed through the night like a gong. The human woman, drenched with so much snake blood that it was even smeared across her face, held up the basket of gekkabijin. "I can help."

He held her stare, unsure of what to do. The wound would heal, and yet one this deep would take even more time….

That settled it. He had already delayed his return home long enough; the faster he healed, the better. He lowered his head and stuck out his leg, but he never let his eyes off her as she came over.

With a hesitant hand, she reached out and touched the tuft of cloud-like fur at the hinge of his paw. That little bit of warmth from her felt strangely soothing.

"The muscles don't appear to be spasming," she murmured to herself. She glanced up at him. "Do you feel any burning or tightness?"

He shook his head, and the surprise on her face was almost comical. "So you do understand me." He ruffed in acknowledgment. She looked around and then back at the wound. "I need to wash this, but…it needs a lot of water. Could you perhaps bring us to the stream down the ways?"

Touga grunted and stood up, holding out his unwounded leg to her. She tentatively stepped onto his foot and grabbed at his fur. As Touga hobbled to the stream, his leg tingled with awareness under the weight of the woman on his paw. Sesshoumaru had often clung to his leg as a child, but this didn't feel quite as innocent.

The demon in him knew why, though his rational side tried to deny it.

Woman.

Having a female that wasn't his wife touch him so intimately when she wasn't even healing him yet made his stomach flop with unease.

Once he made it to the stream, the woman stepped off him, and he placed his paw in the water so it would be easier for her to wash. She scrubbed her hands and face of blood and then found some rocks and ground her gekkabijin flowers on the shore. She then rubbed the poultice into his wound, but when she was finished, she stared at the work in consternation.

"I need to bind this somehow…." She looked around and then finally down at herself.

To Touga's surprise, she started undressing.

His eyes widened when she tossed off her bloody kimono, and as she unbelted the ties of her only slightly cleaner juban, he turned his head away.

But the beast—the male—in him couldn't resist a small peek. The woman's back faced him as she wrapped her juban over his paw, but her nude body glistened in the dappled moonlight, her long, flowing locks slipping over her back and buttocks like rippling shadows. She was pale as a ghost beneath that river of hair, and when she turned just so, a sliver of creamy breast revealed itself.

He snapped his head back around, staring into the murky forest. What was he doing ogling a human woman when he had a beautiful, demon wife to satisfy him?

Although…would he ever be truly satisfied with her? He loved her and had told her as much centuries ago, but she had yet to say the words to him. Normally the prospect of an uphill battle only invigorated him. It was a challenge to be overcome, and such victory tasted sweet indeed!

But he was beginning to understand that some battles just couldn't be won by patience and stubbornness alone.

"There!" the woman exclaimed, standing back. She then picked up her kimono and went to the creek to wash the snake blood out of it and off the rest of her body. Afterwards, she set the garment out on a boulder to dry.

"Well, it's not going to dry much in the dark like this, but something is better than nothing, I suppose," she mused, looking over at him. On reflex, he glanced over at her when she spoke, but he quickly turned away upon noting her young, pert breasts and the dark shadows of her nipples jutting out upon them. She rubbed her arms. "In retrospect, I should have waited to bathe until I had something to put on, but I couldn't stand the feel of that blood on me. Well, it's summer at least, so I shouldn't freeze…."

He couldn't very well let the woman who took the time to heal him catch cold, so he brought around his curtain-like tail and draped over her shoulders. "Oh!" she exclaimed, sagging a bit under the weight. She backpedaled until she hit his hind leg and then slid down against it, wrapping herself in his fur. She rubbed parts of his tail across her body to warm up, and Touga's hackles rose, his cock peeping out in surprise.

Endure, he told himself. This woman did not mean to seduce him. Nor would he be seduced by a mortal. Though he had no grudge against them, they were undoubtedly weak beings. He needed someone who could stand up to him—someone like Inukimi—who could hold her own against his strength.

Although…he wondered what it would be like to not have to battle someone constantly for decisions. Or affection.

He dozed off pondering that thought, and hours later, as the first rays of dawn struck his pelt, the woman woke up with a gasp.

"Father's going to be furious!" she exclaimed, disentangling herself from his long tail and stumbling over to her damp kimono, still half-asleep. She threw on the fabric, not bothering to take back her juban. She turned to him and, to his surprise, put a hand against his jaw. The pinprick warmth of it seeped into his skin. "I promise I'll come back to check on you later. Please don't leave!" Then she tore through the forest as if a demon were on her tail.

Touga went back to sleep then and woke up only briefly when the woman returned later that day with a fresh juban and more herbs. She checked his wounds and reapplied the poultice before wrapping his leg in the fresh cloth. Then she proceeded to wash her bloodstained juban in the stream.

The next day passed much in the same manner, and by the third day, Touga felt healed enough to be on his way. He transformed back into his human guise and folded up the stained juban to leave on a rock.

Yet it seemed quite rude to just fly off without a word after all the woman had done for him, so he washed it and used his power over the wind to dry it. Afterwards, he sat on the boulder, waiting for her. Sure enough, come the afternoon, she returned.

She froze when she spotted him, her eyes widening and running over the length of his body before settling on his face, as if she could dissect it. He stood with a smile and held out the folded juban to her.

"Thank you for your care, young miss. I wished to return this to you before I left."

The woman stared at the undergarment, her pale cheeks flushing red. She looked up at him in alarm and exclaimed, "Y-You have to take responsibility!"

Touga blinked, taken aback by her sudden outburst. "Responsibility for…?" Ah, of course. With humans, money is always involved. "Ah, you mean payment for the treatment." His spirits dampened. He had thought this woman had done this service out of the goodness of her heart, renewing his faith in this species.

But humans were greedy little things, after all.

Yet perhaps it was for the best. This woman's supposed kindness had lured him into thinking unkindly of his wife. The more transactional this meeting, the better. So he held out a gold koban to her.

She stared at the coin in confusion before shoving his hand back at him. The press of those warm fingers against his sent a jolt through his heart. "That's not what I meant!"

Touga cocked his head to the side, hope flaring despite himself. It's not?

Then she blurted out the last words he expected to hear.

"You've laid eyes on my bare body. You…you should take responsibility and marry me!"

"Marry you?" he echoed, a weak chuckle escaping him.

"'Tis only right," she answered, a determined set to her thin brows.

Touga looked down her body and allowed himself to fantasize about it for just a moment. She truly was a beautiful woman—on par with even the highest class of demons. He wondered what it would be like to take a human woman to bed.

With Kimi, they were constantly clawing and biting, restraining and fighting to be on top. And he loved it.

But this woman would not be able to do any of that. He would dominate her thin frame every time, pounding into her from above. No, could he even pound? He would have to take it gently. What would that be like? Not having to prove himself an alpha for once? Not having to show strength? Just…taking it easy?

The idea was intriguing.

The reality was a cold splash of water to the face.

"I cannot, my lady. I am already married."

The woman looked at him in confusion. "I'll be your concubine then."

Touga stared at her in shock. Why does she insist on wanting to be with a demon? "I'm afraid that's not possible. Even if my clan allowed multiple wives, my wife certainly would not. She would kill you in an instant, and I would regret that bitterly."

"So you acknowledge that there is some bond between us?" she insisted.

Touga's heart seized. Leave her, now. Before you say something you really regret. "Go home and live a human life, my dear. But know that I'll always remember your kindness."

Touga turned and leapt into the trees, the woman's surprised gasp her only parting. He did not even know her name, but that was as it should be. He needed to get her out of his mind. He needed a distraction.

Luckily, he stepped right into one.

With his mind elsewhere, he jumped right into a nest of snake demons. He stopped as he felt the eyes and energy of dozens of snakes lock onto him from the trees.

"The air around him tastessss of our blood," one hissed.

"He issss the murderer."

"The dog who killed one of usss for a human."

"Traitor!"

All at once, they sprang at him. Touga whipped out Sou'unga and sliced through a couple snakes in one stroke. He parried fangs and clawed at whipping tails, using his smaller size to his advantage and running through their coils as if they were an obstacle course. In no time at all, a pile of corpses blanketed the nest, and Touga licked the blood off his hands, grimacing. Too cold.

He looked around for any survivors but sensed none. Even so, this nest was fairly close to where the maiden lived. It would be a waste of his efforts if she got herself killed by a demon after he took the time and energy to save her. She appeared to have no sense of self preservation.

He decided to clear the forest of predators, just in case.


Touga was always thorough in his work, and of course that meant staying several days to make sure he had eradicated any possible threat. During that time, he watched as the mortal came back to the forest—usually with some other women but sometimes alone. The first time she came with her servants, he found out her name was Izayoi.

"Izayoi," he murmured, testing the name on his lips. Its musical cadence suited her. Her laugh bubbled out of her like a spring, joyous and refreshing. She always had a smile on her ruby-painted lips, even when she was digging in the dirt. And to think that she dug in the dirt despite being a princess! She's not afraid to get her hands dirty.

Somehow, he could not imagine Inukimi digging in the dirt, even as a dog.

Once, Izayoi looked up into the trees where he was hiding, and he froze, positive she couldn't see him and yet seeming to lock eyes with her nonetheless. His heart pounded—in fright? In excitement?

Why? Why do I feel so anxious around this human?

The first time she came out alone after their parting, she got to work gathering her herbs. After a while, she looked up into the canopy and said, "You know…it's rude to spy, sir. If you have something to say to me, come into the open and say it."

Touga's heart leapt, and before he could even think about it, his feet dropped him to the forest floor. "How did you know I was here?"

"Intuition, I suppose? I feel like a rabbit being stalked."

Touga gritted his teeth. "I did not mean to make you uncomfortable."

"Then stop hiding," Izayoi said, patting the ground beside her. "Well, when it's just me, at least. It can't be helped when my maids are with me." He did as she bid. "Now, perhaps I might know the name of my protector?"

"…Touga."

"A pleasure to meet you, Touga-sama," she answered, bowing from her kneeling position. "My name is Izayoi."

"I know."

Her brows shot up. "Ah, yes, I suppose you've learned a lot about me by eavesdropping these last few days, haven't you?" Touga cleared his throat and looked away, a touch of warmth blooming in his cheeks.

When was the last time I felt embarrassed like a pup?

"Perhaps you can return the favor and tell me something about yourself, Touga-sama. You mentioned you have a wife?"

"And a son," he added, feeling the need to reinforce this idea on her.

Izayoi smiled. "That's wonderful. How old is he?"

Touga had to think for a moment. "Somewhere around six-and-a-half centuries, I believe." Izayoi's mouth dropped open, and Touga laughed. "We are demons, after all."

"Do all demons live so long? How old are you?" she asked before suddenly covering her mouth. "Pardon my rudeness. You need not answer that."

"I don't mind," Touga chuckled. "I'm somewhere around 1,500 years old, give or take a century." Seeing her flabbergasted face, he smirked. "Yes, our kind in general is long-lived, though greater demons like myself are perhaps closer to immortal."

Izayoi's eyes widened. "Like the gods?"

Touga bobbed his head back and forth. "In a way. But just because we may not die of old age doesn't mean we're invulnerable. Demons die gruesome deaths all the time—from other demons and demon slayers alike."

"Of course," Izayoi answered, subdued. "Even so, I can't imagine living for so long. Tell me, how has the world changed since you've been alive?"

"Well, I only came to Japan less than a millennium ago, but what I can tell you is…."

He regaled her the rest of that afternoon with stories of the mainland, his travels, and his conquests. She listened in rapt attention, her herb basket quite forgotten. It wasn't until the forest grew dark around them that she looked around in surprise and shot up.

"Excuse me, Touga-sama, but I must get back. I've already been gone for too long. I do hope I'll see you again tomorrow!"

"Good night, Izayoi-dono," Touga answered as she ran back through the woods.

Strangely, he found he couldn't stop grinning that night as he reflected on Izayoi and her boundless curiosity and excitement. How he wished he could show her even a bit of the world beyond her father's manor.


He grew bolder after that, creeping to the edge of the forest where her residence lay and—alas, there was no other word for it—spying on her. He wanted to know exactly how she spent her days. He couldn't always see her, of course, but he could hear her if he blocked out the sounds of the others in the manor. Though it was a sprawling mansion, there were not as many servants as he would have expected, and cracked clay tiles lay hidden in the grass where they had slipped unnoticed from the roof. Doors fluttered with torn rice paper, and the wooden floors were well overdue for waxing. Had her family fallen on hard times?

He gathered as much over the following days once he was able to pick out the voices of her parents and overhead what they were discussing.

Izayoi's impending nuptials.

Apparently, there was a lord that would take her "as is," for he "already had an heir" and only sought a military alliance with Izayoi's father.

Touga's claws left gauges in the bark of his chosen tree as he listened to the denigrating way Izayoi's father spoke of her—like she was chattel to be sold and not his own precious daughter.

And humans believe they are not as cruel as demons.

Of course, not every human was like that. Izayoi didn't have a cruel bone in her body. How many humans would help a wounded demon, after all? Even his own wife hadn't bothered to soil her hands and care for him when he came home injured. Was Inukimi punishing him for being weak, or did she just feel it was beneath her to tend to his wounds? Even after all these years, he couldn't completely understand her.

But Izayoi….

Well, what did it matter? He was married to Inukimi, and Izayoi would be married to this lord in due time. Their paths had crossed briefly, and they would soon diverge. She would become just a moment in his life, and he would likely forget about her before the century ended, despite what he had told her.

Yet in the deepest part of his heart, he knew that wasn't true.

Over the successive days, he waited for her to tell him about her marriage plans, but she said nothing. Did she still not know? Admittedly, he hadn't overheard her father break the news to her yet, but he wasn't snooping all the time. There were still demons to clear out of the area.

One day, she came with only one guard into the forest.

"Really, Takemaru—there's no need for you to accompany me," Izayoi said. Did Touga imagine it, or was she glancing up into the trees? Did she come here to see me? A flicker of annoyance passed through him as he watched the guard tail her. You're unwanted here.

"Princess, it's not safe for you to venture alone into the woods, daytime or no. There could be demons about."

Only one demon, rather, Touga thought with a smirk of self-satisfaction. He was positive he had rooted out any vicious demons within the vicinity.

But his words brought Izayoi up short, and she nodded her head in understanding. "You are quite right, Takemaru. Not all demons are nocturnal. Thank you for putting up with my whims and accompanying me to gather herbs. Though I fear you will grow bored standing around as I gather then."

"Then allow me to assist, princess," Takemaru said with a smile. He looked around and plucked a wildflower. "How about this? Is it of any use?"

Izayoi chuckled. "For nothing more than ornamentation, I'm afraid," she answered.

Suddenly, Takemaru stepped towards her and tucked the lilac-colored daisy into her hair. "Then if it serves to ornament you, its life has not been wasted," he answered, a soft smile and solemn look in his eyes.

Touga put a hand to his sword, staring at the boy. What is that look? Touga knew lust when he saw it, and while there were undercurrents of desire in the male's gaze, there was something more. Something…softer.

Is that…love?

He had never seen such a look before.

Izayoi stared agape at the guard, her cheeks flushed. Then she stammered, "T-Takemaru, you forget yourself."

The guard bowed. "Apologies, princess. Please forgive my impertinence. Only, the love of beauty that compels us to caress the petals of a flower was the same that overcame me in your presence."

Izayoi turned away from him, her eyes flicking around but her face still red. "For a samurai, you have the gilded tongue of a courtier, Takemaru."

"What can I say? Love makes poets of us all."

Izayoi spun back around. "T-Takemaru!"

Touga froze, unable to look away from the intimate scene, no matter how much decorum dictated he leave.

No, this is good. She has a suitor. If she will be happy with him…that is for the best.

"I…I hold you in great regard, Takemaru—not just as a samurai but as a friend," Izayoi answered. "But…it would be unjust of me to promise you something I am not free to give."

Touga's ears perked up.

"I am aware, princess," Takemaru said with another bow. "My lady resides so high above me, I can only hope that the soles of your sandals use my palms as a stepping stone. Still…I am aware of the fate that awaits you, and if there was anything I could do to ease you during that time, I would not hesitate to do so. Even if I must remain only in the shadows, I would be content to serve as your confidant…as your companion, in any way you wish. To that end, I have requested your lord father give me into your betrothed's service, so that I may continue to serve you, princess."

Her betrothed?

Touga's heart lurched. Has it already been decided? If so…why has she not told me?

"Takemaru, I…I don't know what to say." Izayoi's widened eyes softened as she smiled and placed a hand on her guard's shoulder. Though the change in his face was minimal, he appeared as if to be lit from within just by that one touch. "Though I should be honored for you to accompany me. I will appreciate having a familiar face in my new home."

After that, they gathered herbs and their conversation strayed towards more neutral ground. But the ease with which she spoke with Takemaru bothered Touga.

He knew this feeling. It was the same one that had welled up when he saw Kirinmaru attempting to mount his lady.

Jealousy. Territoriality.

His stomach roiled with queasiness.

How? How can I feel that way about another woman? And a human at that? I should wish nothing but the best for them and their secret romance.

Yes. Yes, I shall do that. I will wait for Izayoi to tell me about her marriage, and then I will leave after giving her my congratulations. That is the right thing to do.

That he even needed to tell himself as much warned him he was already in too deep.


AN: Readers of My Sanctuary will recall a sort of summed-up version of this chapter from Izayoi's point-of-view. It does continue into next chapter, but if you're like to reread it for comparison (or read it for the first time, though beware of spoilers for next chapter), please refer to Ch. 32. I hope you've enjoyed getting to see Touga's side of things this time around. Cheating is a very difficult topic to cover, but I've tried my best to convey the complexity of the situation. I always look forward to reading your thoughts about the evolving nature of these relationships.