He explained that he came here to fulfill his duties as the guardian of the Inari shrine, and would have to return to take over as the supreme leader of the yokai world.

“I don’t want you to leave; but if you have to, then I’m not going to hold you back.”

“Humans sure are very confusing creatures.”

She interrupted him by saying, “You don’t seem to get what I mean, that aside, let us not destroy the time we have together.”

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Miyako wondered why she could not bring herself to tell him of the strange visitor she met at work. She didn’t know how the man and Hikari were connected.

Leaning backwards, she closed her eyes to rest; not knowing when her body succumbed to the strong pull of sleep, she leaned on his shoulder. As soon as Hikari saw she was soundly asleep, he gathered her into his arms as her head rested on his chest, his fingers ran through the tendrils of her hair.

“She sure is strong-willed for one so young,” he muttered to himself as it struck him how a human could become so important to him, in such a short time.

In that moment, he felt a sharp pain pierce his heart at the thought of leaving the human he held in his arms, wishing that she could be by his side, always.