The Soulbond

Disclaimer: Kishin Douji Zenki belongs to Yoshihiro Kuroiwa (deceased), Kikuhide Tani, Shueisha and licensed entities. I'm just borrowing the characters for a bit of non-profit fun.

Chapter 19

The night after Zenki and Chiaki discovered they were parents-to-be, a full moon night...

Zenki was disoriented, one moment he was sleeping with Chiaki in his arms, the next he was in a path of glittering stardust, in a night illuminated by moonlight, in his astral form. He searched for clues of where he was, and if there was someone else out there... There was someone else near, the astral form of someone else, someone with blue hair...

"Goki?" "It's that you?"

"I'm Gokimaru in astral form right now, I don't know where we are or what are we doing here in astral form, seems like we're here for a reason, but I don't know why yet."

"I think you're right, I hope that whoever brought us here explain things soon, I'd like to be back with Chiaki as soon as possible!"

There was a moment of silence, and suddenly there was someone else with them...

"Welcome, my children, there is much we have to talk about..."

"Ozunu-sama?"

"Ozunu-jiiji?"

"Ozunu-sama, why did you call us your children?" "We're not related to you..."

"Because, even if we're not related by blood, you have become my descendant Chiaki's family, not only her guardian spirits. You have transcended the relationship between shikigami and master, and follow her because you want to, not only because you have to do it."

"Ozunu-jiiji, can you explain why we're here? I'd like to be back with Chiaki soon!"

"Very well, Zenki, I have brought your astral forms here, where we cannot be overheard, because I have to warn you against an old enemy of mine that has become your latest enemy. It's a necromancer of great power that can resurrect souls from hell in the darkest new moon nights. That was why an old enemy of yours was able to catch Zenki by surprise and made him lose his body. Zenki, Goki, you must protect Chiaki and her children at all costs, your enemy would like nothing better than to use them as sacrifices to harm you all!"

"We'll do it, Ozunu-sama, we'll protect Chiaki-sama with our lives!"

"I'll destroy whoever tries to harm my mate and children! Not because of orders, but because I love Chiaki, and I'll love our chidren!"

"Very good then, I trust you to protect Chiaki!"

Once he was back in his body, Zenki watched Chiaki sleep in his arms with a protectiveness born of love and worry for his mate, the very thought of someone harming her and their children, making him to want to fly into a red rage like he sometimes had as a kishin.

"Uh, Zenki, you're awake? Why are you frowning?"

"I was thinking that if someone dares to try harming you and our children, I'll do my best to destroy them!"

"Thank you, Zenki, we'll protect our children together!"

Zenki, instead of answering, started to kiss Chiaki passionately... This is his Chiaki, the fierce young woman that he loves!

The next morning, after breakfast, Gokimaru pulled Zenki aside to talk in private.

.:Zenki, do you remember meeting with Ozunu-sama in our astral forms tonight?:.

.:Yes, Gokimaru, and my blood boils just thinking of that enemy harming Chiaki and my children!:.

.:We'll have to protect her and your yet-to-be-born children discreetly, you know Chiaki-sama will join us in wathever trouble we find ourselves in!:.

.:True, that is one of the reasons I love her, her fierce spirit and her bravery, I like her as a woman that dares to fight even the strongest enemies!:.

.:I'll be checking her health during the pregnancy, to ensure that both her and the babies are well, and we both we'll be watching to prevent her getting hurt!:.

.:We'll both be protecting Chiaki during the fights with the minions of our new enemy, and we'll try to keep her away from their boss, the necromancer!:.

"Ne, Zenki, Gokimaru-kun, what are you doing?"

"Just talking in private, Chiaki-sama, we will check the surroundings next, and we'll train if there isn't any inminent trouble, we both need to be stronger in human form, just in case we have trouble transforming into our kishin forms, see if we can use some of our kishin abilities in human form, which Zenki already knows how to use in his human form, and I'd like to try to see if I can heal in my normal form."

"That would be very useful if you can manage it, Gokimaru-kun!"

"Now let's see if there is another possession seed or possession beast around, Chiaki, Gokimaru!"

After the talk, Chiaki, Gokimaru and Zenki linked their minds and scanned their surroundings...

"No luck today, pity, I'm itching for a fight, I feel frustrated today! Gokimaru, let's train for a bit in our human forms!"

"Right away, Zenki, let's see how we do!" "Chiaki-sama, this time please just watch!"

The two kishin currently in human form started their fight, Zenki attacking with lightning and Gokimaru dodging, after a while Gokimaru protected himself with shields that, while weaker than Goki's, helped protect him.

After a while, Zenki was obviously dominating their training bout, and Gokimaru was rather singed.

"OK, Zenki, you win, obviously, let's see if i'm able to heal myself!"

Gokimaru concentrated searching his mind for the feel of his healing powers, trying to feel the mental switch that controlled his powers. -There it is, now let's try to heal myself-

Chiaki and Zenki watched as the wounds and burns that Gokimaru had began to heal slowly, visibly disappearing and leaving only the burnt clothing behind.

"Well, our experiment is a success, Zenki!"

"Glad to be of help, this has made the frustration go away. It was a good fight!"

After lunch...

"Zenki-dono, Gokimaru-dono, you're acting strange today. May I ask what's the matter?"

"Let's go somewhere private, Saki-baasama, we'll explain the matter then."

"The thing is, last night we received a warning from Ozunu-sama about our new enemy, a necromancer who can resurrect our old enemies, like Dokuro-sou. He warned us to protect Chiaki-sama at all costs."

"Saki-baa, Chiaki is pregnant with twins, and this enemy could use our unborn children as a sacrifice to harm all of us!" "Just the thought of it makes my blood boil!"

"Hold on, Zenki-dono, are you saying that Chiaki is pregnant already?"

"Yes, Saki-baa, Goki confirmed it with his healing powers!"

"We've started the preparations to hold the wedding ceremony soon, Saki-baasama!"

"Please protect Chiaki and her yet-to-be-born children, I'll try to keep her safe too!"

After the talk with Enno Saki...

"Ne, Zenki, Gokimaru, why are you so secretive today?"

"We just want to protect you and your family, Chiaki-sama! This enemy has us a little worried, that's all!"

"I'm angry enough at the thought of the enemy or his minions hurting you and our children, that I could break the seal if necessary!"

"Maa, maa, reserve your anger until we face the enemy or his minions, Zenki, just be there for Chiaki-sama for now!"

"OK, guys, let it go for now, until we locate one of our enemies! Want to go to the onsen to soak away our frustrations?"

"Good idea, Chiaki, our room after? I'd like to cuddle a bit!"

Gokimaru blushed -Looks like they forgot I am here.-

At the Kidou shrine, that night...

"Shuuichi, Gouji, you say that those three went to the tailor shop for hours yesterday?"

"Yes, father, I asked a helper and she said that they were taking measurements for wedding clothes!"

"Do you think that Chiaki is getting married to that monster?"

"It's possible, I think, but why the rush?"

"I don't know, the only thing I can think of is pregnancy."

"Chiaki, pregnant? Nah!"