The party has arrived in the Vale of Akatsuki where Shizuki will practice her 'awakening' form, she really need to work hard so they can defeat Hozuki and his henchmen before they will bring destruction to all Kagutsuchi. Shizuki settled down on the flat rock to meditate as Yomi and Kaname were also keep an eye on the training, while Kazuya took full control of the whole training session for them. "Alright, Shizuki. Today we'll be going to train your awakening form, I don't know what kind it is but--"

"It's an Onikami kind, Kazuya-sama," Yomi added, making the mountain god nodded as he put his hands on his hips. "Yes, it appears like you have an ancestry of Onikami from your maternal family--so let's just say you're half-breed, judging from the horns when you awakened as one," he explained.

Shizuki nodded as she was listening patiently towards him, after learning thaat she was born as half-Onikami kind because of her mother and the Iridescent Pearl that she kept because of her clan. But, she wondered what kind of power that lies within this pearl? Perhaps Yomi also had the pearl and has different power too? Just like Shinoe? There's so many question running through her head. "From what I know..." said Kaname, before he turned to look at them. "Onikami is a race of human-like demons, they are powerful power-seeking clans who were part of the yokais. Technically, they're under Kazuya's army because he oversees the demons while I oversees the Tengu clan," Kaname explained, grinning. "That means, you'll be under Kazuya's wing."

Kazuya wanted to hide his smirk but failed, knowing that his beloved Shizuki will absolutely losing her temper from his constant teasings towards her training. Gods, how much he absolutely adored her and she noticed that sly smirk on his lips--making Shizuki growled with deep tone. "I can see that!" she pointed out, while Yomi giggled softly. "Don't worry, I'm training my chanting too so you're not the only one training together!"

Good, that means they will be training together... with these two gods.

"Thanks, Yomi..."

Shizuki began to meditate with her legs criss-crossed on the flat rock beneath her--the two of them were next to the waterfall, closing her eyes and concentrating on her chakra as she had to control her half-Onikami power. She wanted to know about her maternal ancestry and learning about Onikami's true potential and power, even learning about their existence. Shizuki changed her robe into white kimono robe and her hair was tied down in ponytail behind her back, the same goes for Kazuya as his hair was pulled into low ponytail with loose bangs on his left shoulder--both of them were bare-footed. "Keep your shoulders relaxed," he reassured, patting her shoulders that almost made her flinched by his hands.

Kazuya observed her for a moment before he watched the red aura formed around her body, swirling around her and almost forming a pair of red Oni-like horns on top of her head through her thick bangs. He watched the aura vanished slowly after suppressing her inner emotions to focus on her energy, even the horns disappeared from her head and it took her a while to concentrate. "Take a deep breath, don'tt let your power overcome your mind," he stated, she nodded while she took a deep inhale then exhales as she felt the ambience of her surroundings went ease.

Then, she ended dozing off while laying on the flat rock in front of him. Kazuya facepalmed, shaking his head before he flicked her head and made her yelped--standing up immediately from the pain. "I swear to gods, Shizuki. Your sleeping habit bugs me a lot, do you want me to punish you?" he threatened, almost sounded playful by his tone of voice. "No matter how much I tried to focus on meditating... I always sleeping like a log..." she admitted.

Shizuki yelped when he pinned her to the stone wall next to the waterfall, feeling his hands trapping her sides and kissed her on the lips--making her close her eyes and kissed him back. He pulled away, looking down at her with his usual smug look. "I would like to see you try, warrior princess," he warned, but Shizuki huffed. "Come on, we need to train!" she whined, making him smirked and stepping back from the warrior princess. "Alright, follow me."

Oh gods, NOT THIS AREA AGAIN!

Shizuki refuse to perform her first attack, because last time she got slipped by his water attack (which is cheating) and she ended up drenched all because of his teasings. Kazuya merely standing there like a proud god he was, folding his arms as if waiting for her next attack and he can't wait to make her 'suffer' in his area. The flat rock beneath them was completely in the river, facing the waterfall which did not help her at all. "I can't believe this... but I won't give up," she threatened, before she swung her katana towards him and he simply deflect her blade with his katana.

"Ah ah, not so fast darling. You need to be patient, because the next lesson will be martial arts and you have to improve yourself before you'll be able to defeat me."

Kazuya teased with a smirk, causing her to growl and soon stopped--why did she got mad over him? He was trying to help her with this... right? It motivate her to endure his endless amount of 'torture' towards her and she need to learn from her mistakes. If only the mountain god could stop teasing her like this, why must everything be so complicated?

"I want to see you transform again in your form."

Shizuki blinked, she was astounded by his commands since this is her first time awakening as Half-Onikami Hime. "But... I only manage to transformed when Hozuki was threatening me..." she said, thinking that transforming in her Awakening form won't be easy for her to control it completely. Kazuya held his hand up in front of her face, making her realize that what she spoke, was a bluff. "Shizuki Kasuga, your spirit is awakening within you and as for my next command. Bring forth your sword," he said, making Shizuki hesitated. "Come on, we're going to practicing your reflexes."

Shizuki can't believe what he had said, she held her katana with her right hand and was ready to strike. "Good."

Shizuki saw Kazuya charged against her by surprise, while she dodged him a few times, clashing their blades by surprise as the impact of their strength. "Ahh!"she screamed, the impact was beyond what she expected. "First lesson, you're making your attacks obvious, I noticed your expressions even your facial reactions were readable as an open book," he said, before letting go of her and pulling himself back. "Second, you don't need to overpower me every time you strike or hit--try using less force. Last, you may have underestimated yourself--no matter what the challenge is or to defend against your opponent."

Kazuya keep pestering his beloved on every wrong movements and right movements about each attacks, reflecting on how she was fighting him 3 weeks ago before she awakened. He stopped when he realized Shizuki looked like she was sick, seeing that she has been restless. "Shizuki, if you feel dizzy..." he said to her, but she shook her head while she panted heavily--wiping off the sweat from her forehead. "I-I'm fine, I can continue..."she answered, almost out of breath.

It seems like the half of her Onikami blood were to blame, because once she reverted back--it effects her quite easily, she wants to know how to control her Awakening form for as long as possible. At first, the first time using it did goes well--until she realized about the side-effect that took a toll on her. Before she knew it, she fell onto the ground in exhaustion.

Kazuya kneel down in front of his fiancée to check on her, placing his hand on her forehead--it was flushed and warm. "You better rest up, Shizuki."

Shizuki wondered if all training would do this much of physical exercise and end up draining her? There's got to be more another training session, unlike this one. Suddenly, a small blue spider was crawling near her eye, trying to crawl over to her--before Kazuya grabbed it and crushed it. He took the small silk thread, there was letter written on it.

"Dear Father, if you touch any of my messengers.

She's going to suffer by our hands.

Sincerely, Hozuki."

After reading the letter, Kazuya snarled angrily up while clenching his fist--before he boils the water and made the silk withered. Shizuki rested her head on his lap as she yawned. "Who's it from...?" she mumbled, drowsiness almost hazed her mind and her sight, how his cold hands traced along her jawline was so comforting that she didn't want to move at all. "Hozuki, like usual. But, there's no need to worry about that you can rest now," he spoke as his face was hardened, was he mad that the spider was trying to kill her? He seems to be having some fears that he doesn't want her to know.

But, he felt like he should share it to her--otherwise it would probably eat him alive and that's what makes him mad...

"Kazuya, you're not telling me something?"

His eyes widened by her words, realizing what he had been dreading about it. Her sharp intuition knew something fishy was going on, but that was not his biggest problem. "Shizuki, will you fight against me someday...?" he asked, making her blink at him confusingly. "Of course not, unless you try to cheat," she thought, making him giggled softly. "If you keep being... flirty."

"I like being myself."

That means Kazuya will make Shizuki blush by flirting with her in next three times, or she'll cut his head off... that sounds fun. "Now LET'S BEGIN THE TRAINING AGAIN!" he declared with a grin.

Shizuki heard him as she cursed quietly, sitting up immediately before grabbing her katana--getting ready to duel with him. Yes, her lover is a masochist who likes to be hit by her... and will try to 'torture' her for hell and back--he's a sadist too! "I want to see that Awakening form from you again, because this is where a REAL fight begins!"

Looks like the day will never end for her...

Kazuya watched her transformed as the red aura glowed brightly before her around her body, the air blew by the impact. Her white kimono robe didn't change, only her chocolate long hair becoming purplish-black and extended longer--her dark cherry blossom eyes turned into light-violet colored ones and her fair complexion remains the same. He admired her sharp eyes with red paints on her eyelids and a pair of red horns emerged on her head, with small crimson tassels held on the side, the lower her hair was loose and thicker.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"Do you want to see my true form?"

Shizuki listens as she retained her stoic and deadpan expression, her stern face did not change by his taunting methods and her heart stayed calm, not getting intimidated by him at all. Wait, that voice sounds so familiar... "My lovely maiden, do you want to spar?" he said, his dark brown eyes turning blue with sharp pupils as he gained a pair of light blue and white horns behind his neck similar to sea serpent--with sea corals and fins on his ear. Along his long black hair, it flowed behind his back with pair of gills on his neck; his eyes brighten under the water and his clothing remained the same.

Kazuya was in his semi-water serpent dragon form, not fully transforming into him in his human form--he was giving her an idea for her Awakening form without losing control of herself. Shizuki was impressed, but she need to start and strike first.

"Show me what you got!"

Shizuki pounced at Kazuya, her reflexes were quick--swinging her katana as he barely dodged her attacking him, having to deflect her blade and her reflexes weren't bad. Instead, he used a bit force this time--she almost slipped and fell into the water, making her grab onto his arm for support and the mountain god smirked. "It appears the female can grab onto the male's arm to ask for his help," he said, almost tried to tease him again which made her yank his arm and dragged him as he crashed onto the flat rock beneath his belly.

Shizuki climb on his back, pressing her hand on his right shoulder and her mouth was on his ear as she whispered. "The two men usually gets entangled after fighting, looks like your bad behavior is bothering me, Dragon," she said, brushing her nails across his cheek as the God of the Mountain shivered from her presence, slowly sitting up when her hand slid onto his neck.

Kazuya felt her pulling away as she stand up and pulled his wrist, pulling him towards her and throwing him against the wall of the waterfall--before landing on the flat rock and kicking his back, making his body slid into the water. He shivered in excitement, before snapping out of it--soaking wet and soon he got out from the water, looking so hot.

Oh god, please don't! Because of this, she has to concentrate!

Shizuki shake her head, she couldn't believe she was 'distracted' and it won't be that long for him to catch her attention. Kazuya jumped off from the wall, flying through the water below and back up into the sky--creating a strong whirlpool under the waterfall to catch her--while spinning her around. However, she stopped in front of him and merely swung her katana upwards--causing a huge blast between them.

The training hasn't finished yet, she hasn't defeated him at all--even so she's able to dodge many attacks from him. Shizuki managed to switch place to other training grounds before they ended on the highest mountain. Then, they went back to the waterfall and they fought until they went exhausted.

Shizuki and Kazuya laid back down on the rocky grounds near the riverside, panting when they reverted back into their human forms and it made them exhausted. "I didn't know you're that powerful..." she said while she was sitting up, her fiancé chuckled as he sat up and look down at her. "My dear, I only show that form to you--not to anyone else," he remarked, Shizuki rolled her eyes.

Few hours later...

Yomi walked towards the garden filled with red camellia flowers, and even a pile of red spider lilies around the pond. Her hair swayed by the breeze in front of her, smiling that she glanced at every red spider lilies that surrounds the pond. But she knows the language of what it meant--never to meet again, or abandonment. It was a red shrine temple in front of her and there was a torii gates, a fox’s temple and rumors said that there was a two-tailed black fox with white gradient on his two tails. It has a red eyes and white tips on its four feet, but she was unsure if that’s true or not—so she decided to find out—either the fox knew about Hozuki or not. A clue could be useful since she don’t know what the fox looks like, after what Kaname mentioned about him.

Yomi walked and passed the red torii gates, while having her katana hanging on her left hip. Her pace remained the same, but being straight as her olive-green eyes focusing forward, strangely there wasn’t a cold breeze around her, as the lanterns of the torii gates lightened up in gold-yellow colors by itself. The priestess never scared of ghosts nor monsters and demons, she was just scared of folk’s belief.

“Oh dear, there was a human?"

She stopped at her track when she heard the suave voice, mouth opened in agape at the sight of the small black fox with white tips of his feet and two tails from the above of the stairs to the temple. His sharp red eyes facing down at her olive-green eyes, his fox ears twitched as he jumps towards her and turning into a kitsune-sized which made her step back, landing on the flat ground and bowing his head at her. He was a nogitsune, a field fox and the opposite of kitsune.

Yomi saw the fox turned into its small form, he snickered childishly and slyly like a fox--making her tilted her head curiously. “You’re a fox, isn’t that right?” she asked, looking a bit rude than ever when she heard him snickered. “Actually, I just came here to take a fresh air.”

The small fox has a red waves around him and revealed his human form, a young man in his twenties. The man has a short black hair with longer bangs, red eyes and wearing a traditional white fox mask, he wears a black-colored yukata with red flower patterns on the sode and red obi that tied the yukata around his waist. He also wears white haori worn over his arms with red camellia pattern, and a pair of geta, a black and red sheathed tachi and two bells was hanging on his sash. His skin was lightly fair, while though wearing a geta, he’s still taller for his height than her. There’s a black choker around his neck, with a tag-like pendant hanging on it.

The male took off his fox mask to take a clear look on her face and appearance, his eyes were red as a red camellia flower--looking down at her as he laughed. “I’m impressed my dear, do you come here alone? It’s not good to have you in here by yourself.”

Yomi giggled, covering her lips with her long sleeves. “Mhm, and… who are you? Are you a kitsune?”

“I’m not a kitsune, but a nogitsune.”

The young man grinned, as he held up his hand to form a red fireball on his hand. “Tsubaki, nice to meet you,” he greeted and bowed at her, then went steady as he crossed his arms. Yomi smiled as she bowed at him brightly, before adjusting the hold of her ceremonial staff on her hand. “Yomi Fujiwara, nice to meet you too... Tsubaki.”

Tsubaki chuckled as he sat on the stair and facing up to her, folding his arms. “That Dragon still rule this land, is that true?” he said, referring to Kazuya. He makes a boring look on his face, he has not heard about him since after the day of his sealing. “Kazuya-sama, right? Hmm... he may rule again, but there was his son who wanted to kill him and... it's quite complicated," she explained, still smiling at him.

The male nogitsune stood up and looking down at her, as he clasped his hands together. “I'm glad to hear that, but the problem is--we gods were still sealed away and we need the wielders of Iridescent Pearls who can set us free!" he whined, revealing that the only way to release them is the wielder of each pearls to release them. Yomi was one of them, her pearl is colored green which governs the life and existence while Shizuki's pearl is red and governs the unknown and the infinite.

Tsubaki chuckled at her warmly, fanning himself with his black and red fan. “It’s alright, Yomi. I don’t really mind to have a visitor like you, but knowing your close ties with Kaname made me had to be careful someday," he said with a pout, humming. "I always wanted to break free from this seal, but perhaps not for the best time..."

"I can do that, but only tomorrow."

Yomi offered, making the nogitsune instantly look up and agreed immediately--without thinking any further. “Okay, thank you!”

Next morning...

It was at morning, where they begun their days to help the villagers, it wasn’t the time they should left first, it’s still early to do and they need to gather informations about the man named Hozuki. “I’m back,”Shizuki said as she came inside her bedroom where she shared it with Kazuya. The Dragon knitted his eyebrows, seeing her carrying a bag of new clothes after she bought them from the shops. Then she slid the door closed behind her, “What are you doing Shizuki? Changing your attire?”

“Of course I am,” the warrior princess sticks out her tongue at him, before she added. “Don’t judge.”

Kazuya looked at her strangely while he tied back his hair into his usual ponytail as he sat down in front of the mirror, it was at morning, seeing her changing into her new attire totally confused him. He never understands how humans becoming like these, Shizuki pulled her hair into back ponytail, but let them flowing down to her waist, leaving two pieces of her hair behind her ears on her shoulders. The similar thing to her bangs, she has a red lotus flower headdress, black hairpin with red small flower, on the traditional tied hairstyle. A pair of red ribbon fell from the headdress she wore behind her head. Then she stood up and glanced at him, “Turn around please.”

“Why?”

Kazuya asked bluntly, he did not understand of what she meant, she scowled--turns out he didn’t literally get what she meant. Then she smiled in disturbance, “I’m going to get changed, can you turn around?” she explained in clarification. That was one thing that she dislikes about Kazuya to which he’s too innocent to know something unconventional and often too curious.

The Dragon gave one mere nod and turning to the opposite way, she sighed in relief with a smile as she turn around to get undressed, then she wore her white kosode, wrapped the white robe around its waist. Grabbing the white and black-lined kimono with red flower embroidery patterns and worn over her kosode, along fastening the yellow and white obi with a symbol of warrior princess, adding a black fingerless gloves on both hands and red string-like ribbons on each wrists with golden bells.

Then she wore her black tights under her kosode, and lastly wearing her red armor-like boots from thighs to feet, with short heels. Her hair was styled with several bangs framing over her forehead and side bangs tied to behind her head entwined together with red strings that passed below her ears, and her hair was kept untied and passed to her waist. “You can turn around, Kazuya-sama.”

Kazuya turned around and was in awe when he looked at her, seeing her taking the katana and putting them on the holster of her left hip. He stood up and taking a clear look at her, as he hummed, “Hold on, I think you’re missing something, close your eyes,”he said to her calmly, Shizuki tilted her head a bit then she smiled, as she closed her eyes and do what he says.

He took out the red lotus flower that he took for her, it was a flower that didn’t die easily, most likely the ‘Eternal Flower’ he assumed. Kazuya softly averts his eyes, thinking if he did the right thing, as he placed the flower behind her ear or likely the side of her head, it did suits her so much. “Open your eyes.”

She opens her eyes, seeing him showing the mirror in front of her, her cheeks flushed when she spotted a red lotus flower behind her ear. It makes her flustered, even astonished that he would adding something so pretty, she touched the flower with her hand gently, but carefully due to her embarrassment, “K-Kazuya..."

The Dragon smiled warmly at the warrior princess, it was rare for him to smile, but he smiled for someone he cared for him. He has a ‘thing’ for people with flowers, “You’re so beautiful with a flower behind your ear, it suits you the most, Shizuki,”he said in adore that he found in her, “Keep that with you.”

“K-Kazuya? Are you okay?”

The man tilted his head, blinking two times before he smiled, “I won't let them know this side of me, it’s just for you... my dear,” he said, while he flicked her forehead. It makes her groaned as she scowled at him, “You didn’t play around , did you?” she questioned, he shake his head no. “Of course not.”

They heard the door slid open behind Kazuya, it was Yomi and she was smiling as usual, Kaname was standing behind her. Snickering after finding out what they were talking about, but ended up getting a fiercely, death stare by the Dragon, “What?”he asked coldly, “If you have something to say just say it.”

His best friend hummed with a prideful smirk, “I thought you're still a scaredy-cat before?” he asked. “Admit it Kazuya, you’re terrible at lying, right?”

The black-haired young man went silent as he walked over him and defending Shizuki, he scowled and cracked his fists. “Let’s take this outside.” “No no! I didn’t meant it--”

His wrist were snatched by the Dragon, taking him outside and ended up beating him, the princess chuckled softly. It seems like she enjoyed to see them able to get along after not seeing each other for a long time, Shizuki stood beside Yomi, wondering if she was happy with it. “How long have you known Kaname?”

Yomi glanced at her, then she giggled while covering her lips with her ball of fist, covered by the sleeve of her attire. “I have known him when I was young, it’s kind of long time ago…” she hummed and tilted her head, holding her cheek to herself. “I treated him when he was injured after fighting with his archenemy, I don’t know who it is but--he was thankful for having me saved him... and I was glad.”

“Really?”

The young priestess nodded, sighing softly. “I was upset that Kaname got sealed by Yuzuki, even though I never encounter her in person and only see her from the distance. To me, I don’t quite understand why did she wants to be immortal just to be with Kazuya.”