EIGHTH BLOOD

Chapter 35: Heart

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Her reflection looked the same as always, except of course for the sprawling tattoo in the middle of her chest. It had grown larger whilst she was under the influence of the sleeping draught, encompassing her entire cleavage and collarbones, however, since waking, it hadn't moved an inch. It appeared that the red-eyed stranger was staying true to his word.

Nagisa glided into the room and locked eyes with her in the mirror. Embarrassed, Octavia swiftly tied her kimono shut. Nagisa smiled and hovered behind her with a hairbrush.

"May I?" she asked.

Octavia nodded mutely. It wasn't every day that a princess offered to do her hair.

Needless to say, Nagisa's true identity had come as quite a shock to Octavia, who'd suspected nothing of the sort. According to Sesshoumaru, the North and the West were allies, and Nagisa had been the former's only heir. Her father was the Doragon no Ikari, who'd ruled over the Northern Lands for centuries, and been one of the Inu no Taisho's closest friends.

Octavia wondered why Nagisa had never contacted her family to let them know that she was okay. Didn't she love them? Or did she simply love Taro more? Love shouldn't be measured like that, she scolded herself. Besides, there are different forms of love. They shouldn't be pitted against each other. One doesn't have to be more powerful than the others. They're all equally important.

"Do you miss them?" she whispered.

Nagisa arched a brow. "Who?"

"Your family."

Her expression turned gentle. "Of course I do."

"Then why haven't you told them you survived?"

Nagisa carefully dragged the comb through her honey brown locks. "I want to," she murmured. "But they'd never forgive me if they found out what I'd done. Running away is one thing, but marrying a human? It would destroy my reputation and poison my father's good name. Touga-sama was very much in the minority about treating mortals with compassion." Sorrow crept into her features. "When I was young, I was like every other bigoted Daiyoukai I knew. I looked down on you. This place is a chance for me to fix my past mistakes and focus on creating a better future, where humans and youkai can coexist peacefully. That's my goal now."

"You can't make a difference by hiding."

Nagisa chuckled. "You're probably right. I keep telling myself that I'm fulfilling a role by staying here, but in reality, I'm being selfish. I like not having to worry about looks or etiquette anymore. I like my house and all the people who live here. I even like the bad things, though they're few and far between. I'm not ready to give it up . . . I don't think I'll ever be ready."

"Sesshoumaru said that you were engaged, though. Didn't Taro mind? Or did you just not tell him?"

"Oh, he knows. Nevertheless, Hiroto's feelings for me were one-sided."

"Is he a Daiyoukai, too?"

She nodded. "Hiroto is the eldest prince of the Southern Lands. Our fathers thought that an engagement would strengthen the bond between our kingdoms, and Hiroto and I were the best candidates. We've known each other since we were children. I love him dearly, but not in the way that he wanted."

Octavia bit her lip. "Demons don't age, though," she mumbled quietly.

Nagisa stopped brushing. "And? What of it?"

"Doesn't it scare you? You're immortal, but one day, Taro will be . . ."

Octavia couldn't bring herself to finish that sentence. She must seem so small and insignificant to creatures like Sesshoumaru and Nagisa. Her entire life was but a mere fraction of theirs. After she died, would they even remember her, or would she become dust on the wind?

"A word of advice," said Nagisa, resuming brushing. "Don't think about that. You can't stop things from ending, but that's okay, because without endings, there'd be no beginnings."

Octavia locked eyes with her own reflection and quickly looked away. "In my experience, the beginning is often worse."

"Thank goodness we still have the middle, then." Nagisa placed a webbed hand on Octavia's shoulder and smiled gently. "What about you?" she asked. "Do you have someone special?"

Octavia laughed. "Not really. I had a boyfriend for a while, but . . . I don't have the best taste in people. Or rather, I seem to attract broken ones. Like calls to like, I guess."

"You're not broken."

"I honestly think I might be. I think someone dropped me when I was a baby and I cracked right down the middle. Maybe that's why I'm so fucked in the head."

"It sounds like you've given up to me."

"Given up on what?"

"Everyone. Including yourself." Nagisa gave her shoulder a firm squeeze. "Don't write yourself off yet, Octavia. You have your whole life ahead of you. It's not too late to start trying."

"I have been trying," she insisted. "It's just—It's so hard. No matter what I do, I just can't get anyone to stay. Sooner or later, they leave, and I'm alone again. I'm tired of being alone."

"You're not alone. You have Sesshoumaru."

"Lucky me."

Nagisa must have known that it was disingenuous because she smiled wider and swept Octavia's fringe out of her eyes. "You're a lot more alike than you think," she said. "Maybe that's why he likes you so much. He rarely wears his heart on his sleeve, either."

Just because you aren't best friends doesn't mean you're not important to him. He hasn't left your side all day. Doesn't that tell you all you need to know?

"What are you trying to say, exactly?"

"Nothing in particular. I just think you ought to give him a chance before jumping to conclusions."

Rin's words swam around her brain like eels. Why don't you give him a chance?

"Fine," she grumbled, feeling heat creep into her cheeks.

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Haru showed up at dusk and dumped a fresh crown of flowers on her head. She thanked him and sat patiently as he painted around her eyes with a white paste, which she later discovered was crushed up kori no otome mixed with water. Once he was finished, he watched as she examined his work in the mirror. The creamy white markings contrasted with her tanned skin.

"I look like one of those albino tigers from India," she said.

Nagisa stiffened but didn't comment.

"Do you like it?" Haru asked, his nose twitching.

"I do, actually. You have a very steady hand."

His eyes sparkled. "Thank you! I've been practicing for Tanabata."

"Tana-what?"

"The Star Festival," Nagisa clarified. "It's an ancient celebration that's incredibly sacred to us. I'll tell you more about it after tonight's festivities."

The trio travelled away from the city and into the frosty forest that acted as a barrier between the beach and the rest of the island.

Flocks of yosei circled the air above them before swooping down to greet Octavia. Haru squealed excitedly as one landed on his head and covered him in shimmering sparks. One particularly bold yosei grabbed Octavia's thumb and tugged her along, prompting Nagisa and Haru to follow.

They climbed a snowy incline and arrived at a large gathering on the cliffs, where a barrage of delicious smells penetrated Octavia's nostrils. Her eyes found tables stacked with practically every food she could think of. Roasted meat, fish on skewers, fluffy white rice, steaming vegetables, and fruit smothered in honey. Almost every islander she saw was carrying a goblet of wine. Even the older children were permitted the occasional sip, although they seemed to prefer the beverage that fizzed and bubbled in the cups.

Like hers, the majority of the islanders' faces were adorned with paint, although theirs were of varying colours, and had been done to match their clothes. Octavia was the odd one out in that regard, seeing as her yukata was lilac and the stripes around her eyes were white.

"How much more of this must we endure?"

She couldn't help but smile as she turned and saw Sesshoumaru standing next to her with his hands in his sleeves. His silver hair sparkled underneath the sprawling night sky, resembling rivers of moonlight running down his back. The urge to reach out and touch it had never been stronger.

"Can't we have one more night?" she implored, fanning her eyelashes at him. "Please?"

He sighed through his nose, but his voice didn't match his actions. "Very well. But only one."

She smiled wider and bumped his shoulder with hers. His eyes bulged ever so slightly as she murmured a thank you.

For once, Nagisa kept her thoughts to herself and dragged Haru over to the tables. Taro greeted them with open arms, first planting a chaste kiss on his wife's cheek and then scooping the little hanyou into his arms.

Octavia's chest ached as she remembered her conversation with Nagisa. You can't stop things from ending, but that's okay, because without endings, there'd be no beginnings. Saying goodbye to a loved one was hard, but it was also inevitable, and it was worth it to be able to say hello.

"How did you stop the curse from spreading?" asked Sesshoumaru.

"I made a deal," she replied.

"A deal?" he repeated. "With whom?"

"He said he was a part of me. After I drank from the chalice, I woke up in this weird dry place. There was a man waiting for me there. He told me it was somewhere I'd been before but forgotten about. He agreed to hold off the curse until I can find a cure, in exchange for his freedom."

"Was that wise?"

She shrugged. "He promised not to hurt anyone. Anyway, I didn't really have much of a choice. I would've died if I hadn't said yes. At least he's upholding his end of the bargain."

"For now."

They remained on the sidelines, watching as the islanders danced and drank until their movements became sloppy and they tripped over one other in passing.

"What will you do next?" Sesshoumaru asked her.

She glanced sideways at him and gnawed the insides of her cheeks. "I was kind of hoping you'd let me come back with you. I promised I'd show Rin how to make paper rabbits, and Cyril did say that he'd tutor me. I think it's time I learned how to control these powers." When he didn't reply, she added hastily, "If the offer still stands, that is. You've probably gotten sick of me by now."

He surprised her when he answered, "Not completely."

She blinked and met his unflinching gaze. As usual, his face betrayed nothing, but the confession alone had been enough to turn her knees into jelly. "Really?"

"I see no reason to lie. Your presence is refreshing, albeit rather irritating. Still, no one is perfect."

She smiled. "Not even you?"

His eyes danced with amusement. "Not even I."

Her smile grew and she tucked the wispy hairs behind her ears neatly. "Let's get out of here."

"I thought you wanted to stay."

"I don't mean leave the island. I was thinking more along the lines of a hiding spot. If Nagisa sees me standing here, she'll prance over and force me to dance with her again, and I'm really not in the mood this time. Unless you fancy taking my place?"

"I would sooner eat hot coals."

"So, you'll help me?"

He smirked. "Perhaps . . . If the payment is sufficient enough."

"I knew you were only in it for the money."

"Who said anything about it being money?"

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