EIGHTH BLOOD

Chapter 35: Heart

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Her reflection looked the same as it always had, except 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. The man from her dream was staying true to his word.

Nagisa glided into the room and locked eyes with her in the mirror. Octavia tied her kimono shut as the demoness hovered behind her with a hair comb. "May I?"

Octavia nodded. 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 had 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.

"Do you miss them?"

"Who?" Nagisa asked.

"Your parents."

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

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

Nagisa worked the comb through her copper hair. "They would 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. That's my goal now."

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

Nagisa chuckled. "You're 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 before. 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 do love him, but not in the way that he wanted me to."

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

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

"Doesn't it scare you? You're immortal, but one day, Taro will be . . ." She couldn't bring herself to finish the 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. "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 looked away. "The beginning is sometimes worse."

"Thank goodness we still have the middle, then." Nagisa placed a hand on Octavia's shoulder and smiled. "What about you? 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. To be honest, it sounds like you've given up."

"On what?"

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

"I am trying," she insisted. "But no matter what I do, I just can't convince anyone to stick around. Sooner or later, they leave, and I'm alone again."

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

"Lucky me."

Nagisa smiled wider and swept Octavia's fringe out of her eyes. "You're a lot more alike than you think. Maybe you should 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?

"I guess I could give it a try."

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Haru showed up at dusk and dumped a fresh crown of flowers on her head.

She thanked him and sat still 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.

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

His eyes sparkled. "Thank you! I've been practising for Hoshimatsuri."

"For what?"

"He means Tanabata," Nagisa said. "Or 'Star Festival', in simpler terms. It celebrates the meeting between the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, who were cruelly separated. The festival takes place every year on the seventh day of the seventh month, which is two weeks from now."

"Bamboo is a lot harder to paint on than skin," Haru mumbled. "I've been chosen to help with this year's decorations, so I need all the practice I can get."

They travelled out of Momose and into the frosty forest on its borders. Flocks of yosei circled the air above them before swooping down to greet Octavia. Haru squealed with excitement as one landed on his head and covered him in shimmering sparks. One yosei grabbed Octavia's thumb and tugged her along the overgrown path, 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 tasty-looking food. Roasted meat, fish on skewers, fluffy white rice, steaming vegetables, and fruit smothered in honey.

Like hers, most of the islanders' faces were adorned with fresh paint. According to Haru, they all engaged in the tradition every two weeks, the nightly parties aligning with the different stages of the moon cycle. It was a half-moon tonight, hence the semicircles painted on her face. If this was what a normal Namidan celebration looked like, she could only imagine how extravagant an annual festival like Tabanata would be.

"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. "If you insist."

She smiled wider and bumped his shoulder with hers. His eyes widened a little as she murmured a quiet thank you. Nagisa dragged Haru over to the tables. Taro greeted them with open arms, first planting a chaste kiss on his wife's cheek, before 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?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"I made a deal," she replied.

"When? And with whom?"

She shivered at the memory of the red-eyed stranger. "I dreamed that I was inside an abandoned building in the desert. A man was there. He wouldn't tell me his name, but he said he was a part of me. Whoever he was, he agreed to hold off the curse for the time being in exchange for his freedom."

"Was that wise?"

She shrugged. "He promised not to hurt anyone. Anyway, I didn't 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."

Sesshoumaru hesitated before saying, "What will you do now?"

She gnawed the insides of her cheeks. "I was hoping you'd let me come back with you. I promised Rin that I would show her 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, don't you?" When he didn't reply, she added, "If the offer still stands, that is. You must be itching to get rid of me."

"You are more tolerable now than you were before."

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

He didn't respond.

Grinning, she pushed her hair behind her ears and said, "Do you want to get out of here?"

He seemed puzzled by the request. "I thought you wished 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 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 walk on hot coals."

"So, you'll help me avoid her?"

Sesshoumaru smirked. "Perhaps. If the payment is sufficient."

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

"Who said anything about it being money?"

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