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 12

The night after they found the possession seed...

"NO, CHIAKI!"

"What? What's the matter, Zenki?"

"I was having a bad dream, really, really bad." "I turned back into a kishin, but I was a monster like Vasara, and kept you around to sate my desires. It was horrible! The worst part is that being possessed could turn me into a monster like that! I'd rather die or be sealed than become like that, having battle-lust and hunger for possession seeds is one thing, being a true monster, I draw the line at that!"

"Well, Zenki, since we're not going back to sleep anytime soon, unless you can shake off the effects of the bad dream, do you want to kiss and cuddle for a while, at least until you calm down?"

"I'd like to, Chiaki... thank you!"

The pair embraced and kissed each other softly, then with more passion, but keeping it slow and relaxed. Zenki found out that this pace calmed him and warmed his heart. It wasn't like the violence of the nightmare, and having a partner that was willing to face his fears with him was worth more than gold.

The next morning...

"Zenki, Chiaki-sama, wake up, it's time for breakfast!"

"We'll be there in a bit, just let us get dressed, Gokimaru-kun!"

"About tonight... thanks, Chiaki!"

"You're welcome, Zenki, being mated also means helping each other!"

They ate their breakfast quietly, until Gokimaru told them they would try to do the same as the previous day.

"So we're going to scan our surroundings again?"

"Yes, we will be trying to pinpoint any threats nearby, and trying to expand our range of sensing."

"Link your minds, Zenki, Chiaki-sama, try to feel the landscape in my mindscape, the three of us should be able to see any threat nearby."

"There, near the path to Shikigami-chou, looks like there is another possession seed!"

"We should be careful, we don't know what would happen if there's anyone nearby, we could be facing a possession beast!"

"I'd rather take on a possession beast than have a seed trying to possess me!"

They found the possession seed on a tree next to the path that led to Shikigami-chou, and it tried to possess Zenki, like the last one they saw. Zenki formed Chiaki's usual hand signs and called:

"Vajra!"

The possession seed flew away and Chiaki surrounded it with a sealing ofuda.

"Ne, Zenki, Gokimaru-kun, don't you think it's too much of a coincidence that we've found two possession seeds in places easy to acccess?"

"It may be that there's a new enemy, Chiaki-sama, but we don't know for sure yet..."

"Keh! Let them come to us, together we can defeat any enemy!"

"Don't be too cocky, Zenki, we all have weak points, and too much pride is one of yours!"

"True, Gokimaru-kun, but we love him anyway!"

"Thanks, Chiaki!"

At the Kidou shrine...

"Damn it, those three monsters are trying to catch and seal possession seeds away!"

"Shuuichi, don't even think of using them against the kishin, they're super dangerous for people that have strong desires!" "I don't want a repeat of that New Years fiasco, my son!"

"You're right, but I burn with the desire to know how to control the kishin" "What does Chiaki have that they follow her even in human form?"

"I don't know, but we'd better observe them at a distance, they can rip us apart or fry us with lightning or fire if they catch us spying on them!"

At lunch, that same day...

"We found another possession seed near here, Saki-baasama!"

"Do you think it may be a new enemy planting them around, Gokimaru-kun?"

"I think it's probably that, any of the seeds nearby until these days probably ended up in Zenki's stomach at one time or another."

"Baachan, they were in places easy to get to, so they probably want that the seeds to turn into possession beasts!"

"I just want to find them and eat the seeds later, when I regain my true form! Fighting a possession beast shouldn't be a problem for the three of us, unless there are several beasts at the same time attacking us!"

"Zenki..."

"What, it's true, we can fight off a possession beast!"

"I don't deny that, but it looks like you want to charge at enemies without thinking, and you're no longer in a semi-immortal body, Zenki!" "You could get killed thinking you're invincible, and I don't want that!"

"Grrr... I hate it, but you're right, Chiaki, my human body is weaker than my kishin body, and I could get killed more easily if I don't pay enough attention to what I'm doing or to my surroundings..."

"Well, then, let's eat!" "We're going to be training later!"

After a long afternoon training in attacks, stamina and paying attention to their surroundings, observed from afar by Kidou Shuuichi and his friend, Zenki and Chiaki went to sit on the porch.

"Ne, Chiaki, why did you sound scared of me dying before? You and Goki have reincarnated me twice already!"

"Because I don't know if next time around you'll die like a human, and we don't have your spirit around enough time to reincarnate you!"

"Ah, that's why, but have in mind that I'll protect you with my life if it becomes necessary, because I love you, like you love me!"

"Zenki... thanks"

"Want to cuddle for a while, Chiaki?"

"Sure!"

.:Chiaki, don't forget that you're MY woman, my mate, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure that you're happy while we both are alive!:.

.:I know, Zenki, and I want you alive and well so we can be together, it's not going to be easy to show our feelings to each other:.

.:You're right, I find myself taking refuge in my usual attitude as a kishin, but it's because I hate showing weaknesses, I don't want to make you worry, Chiaki:.

"Do you want to go to the onsen this evening, Zenki?"

"Of course, watching you or playing with you is very enjoyable!"

"Are they going to cuddle until the evening or what? I'm hungry!"

"Shut up, Gouji!"