Kazuya was resting Shizuki by sitting her on his lap and her head on his chest, engulfing her with his arms even his sleeves of his attire under the cherry blossom tree at night. Shizuki opened her eyes slowly when she felt warmth around her and she look up, watching the sleeping Dragon leaning back underneath the cherry blossom tree. "Kazuya, you're…?"

Shizuki heard him grunts that he flickered his eyes open sleepily by her voice, still keeping his arms engulfing around her and look down at her. "Did you have a good sleep?" he asked with his deep voice into whispering to her ear, she hummed in response when she look around. "I am, also where are we?" the Dragon narrowed his eyes that he was looking at the temple, seeing the teahouse from across them not far from here and he scowled. "We're at the back of the teahouse, I don't have time to get drunk for celebration because the chaos happened in there-and that would disrupt your nap time, no?"

Kazuya explained when he loosened the grip around her and stand up, seeing her standing up on the ground. Kazuya saw her expression contorted into a slight frown, it is obvious that the moments they had in the past was much longer than herself. "Don't worry about that, why are you worried because we spend some time together? Are you… jealous?"

Shizuki was shocked when he mentioned that, she folded her arms that she wasn't afraid to admit her true feelings. "Of course, but I'm not mad about that--I'm mad at Yuzuki's… selfishness towards you, it feels… it feels like that made me mad at her. I'm not saying that I'd hate her, I just don't agree with her actions."

Shizuki didn't want to end up like her when she loved someone, otherwise it would ends in such a tragic fate. "I understand that you have different views than her, but promise me you won't behave like that?" she look up at him, before she nodded because it would be improper if she did. "I promise, sorry about that…" she speaks her mind when she was unpleasant, but she knew she need to be patient and be wisely mature. "It's okay, you're still my bride after all."

Kazuya smiled at her when he folded his arms, seeing her look back at him--it made her flustered when she did. "Stop teasing me for the last part…" she grumbled at him, not liking on how she was being referred as his bride. Shizuki turned her gaze to the side, embarrassed that she showed her vulnerable side in front of him. "The truth is… I never asked for everything I wanted from you, because all I wanted just… I want to learn to love someone genuinely and sincerely… and peace amongst us. Ah, what am I talking about?"

Shizuki smiled when she confessed that in front of him, looking back at him when she placed her hands behind her back. "You… never wanted everything from me? You just wanted to love genuinely and sincerely to me?" she nodded, her cheeks flushed a little when she said that. "I mean… I wanted to be happy you know, I don't like being sad. I have friends like Haruka, Hayate, Yomi, Kaname and everyone! Including you, it's something that made me happy."

Kazuya reconsider her words for a moment when she said that, before he has unfolded his arms and reach out his hands to hold her cheeks. As much he wanted to love someone like how she did to him, she treated him like a human being and equally like the rest even Kaname--it made him feel something that humans felt. "You're quite youthful and hopeful, I suppose I wasn't wrong picking you to be my bride after all," her eyes are widened when he said that, before she felt his lips captured her in kissing her on the lips passionately--before she raise her hands to hold his cheeks and kissing him back.

They pulled away for a while, before they heard Kaname screamed inside the house--making them grumbled in sync.

Meanwhile, in Tsuki Village...

Hayate was patrolling the village at night after they held a festival today. Akito questioned him calmly, walking beside him. “Did you find anything suspicious?”

The ex-general yawned, stretching his arms. “I did eye everything, but there’s nothing suspicious around the village. So... nothing happened here,” he informed, looking around his surroundings. “How’s Suzuki?” he was trying to show his stern face, but he was too tired to do it. “Sort of fine, I guess?” Akito said with his arms crossed, looking forward. “I’ll tell you the details later, from now on... my priority is your condition, Hayate.”

Hayate murmured with a grin, “Whatever, I’m not a baby.”“You do?”

“Don’t make fun of me!”

Akito smirked as he enjoy to tease his superior, despite being five years older than him--he treats him like a brother to him. That was until they arrived at the riverbank outside the village, someone bumped into both of them. “Hey, watch where you going,” Akito said in a rather serious tone, stepping back while holding Hayate’s shoulder and his superior cringed. “Akito, I think you’re a bit--” he whispered and not wanting him to be seen rude, Hayate smiled at the stranger. “I’m sorry, my friend’s very tired lately…”

Ichirō couldn’t believe it--he was standing there after bumping into them, instead of listening to his apology—he was too focused on Akito’s appearance. His stylish light blonde hair was and his bangs over his forehead, falling between his silver-colored eyes, his skin was pale as his and bears identical presence as him. The feature that makes the strategist different is his eye shape, sharp and aquiline under his glasses, his dark crimson hair and he wears a formal attire with dark blue cape like Hayate’s attributes.

"Hayate, I think I should handle this by myself…” Akito said, as he narrowed his eyes. “This man seems suspicious to me.”

“…Well then, I’ll leave this to you.”

Akito watched his superior left him, before he look back at the young man, from what he saw from him—he has similar appearance as him—his eye shape and attire makes him different. It appears like he wears a white sokutai with blue swirling patterns at the front panel, shoulders and sleeves, with a red tassel hanging from the hem of each sleeve and his black belt. His trousers are black, wearing white socks and steel blue geta sandals, “Are you alright?” he asked, tilting his head. “Don’t stare at me like that, I know that I’m behaving harshly to you so I apologize... but please don’t--”

Ichirō watched the presence of the male before him, their height matched with each other. Why does he look so similar to what his father talking about? From what he sensed--there was mix of human and yokai energy--same like him and feel like he’s related to him, but he’s more into full-blooded yokai. “You can’t be... this can’t be happening.”

Akito knitted his eyebrows together, he didn’t know why this kid was being intense just because of him and he knew what he did wrong—but why did he said that. “What are you talking about?”

“I thought my father wouldn’t lie to me, yet he does…”

Ichirō spoke without thinking what he’s doing, yet he was going to make his advance towards the strategist--he couldn’t believe what his father had told him. “I’ve been looking for the truth for several decades and I’ve figure out I’m not alone,” he summoned his crow feathers on his right hand, soon it manifested into a katana--Mugetsu, Ichirō elaborated. “It seems like you’re almost just like me, it’s time to end your life here.”

Akito’s eyes widened when he figured he was a yokai, causing him to be alerted, but after being familiar with his own ability—he must do it. “I don’t know what I did wrong to you but…”he held up his hand and concentrating on his energy, the black crow feathers surrounding his hand and soon formed a black and red naginata on his hand. “Your power seems familiar to me, yet we’re in the middle of this mess- looks like we’re on the same boat huh?” he smirked, “You better tell me now or else you’re dead.”

Both of them clashing with their weapons, making this fight serious than it could ever be, over their own blades. “Huh… you’re a half-demon, not surprised you’re having that ability like my father and I have,”Ichirō taunted calmly, pressing his blade to his weapon, he was still angry from the fact that his father lied to him, “Perhaps I should introduce myself then?”he lifted his eyebrows. “Ichirō Karasu, twenty-one years old, the current Karasu Tengu, surpassing my father.”

Akito was confused of what he’s talking about, but he deliberately pushed his naginata forward and slashed his right arm—the tengu has to retreat from him. “Akito Hyuuga, twenty-three years old, the strategist of Ishikawa forces,”he spun his naginata, before holding it with both of his hands, looking at him. “Why did you came here to kill me?”

“Like I would tell you.”

Ichirō rushed towards him and clashing on him again, yet Akito was having a hard time dealing with him, but he wasn’t going to lose to this stupid kid. Being smart-mouthed, he’s not going to fall for this shit, “Oh yeah?! Let’s see about that!”

“Enough."

Their eyes widened to see a bright explosion between them, causing them to step back. The figure is none other than High Priestess; Munakata Juri. Her expression was not having it, she was holding her staff, after stopping them from some kind of pointless that she saw. “What are you two doing?”she scolded them, standing between them while Saotome was standing behind her, looking unamused. “Akito- have you forgotten what you’re doing?” Munakata stared at the strategist, before she glanced back at the crow yokai, scolding him. “Ichirō, why are you getting worked up?”

Both of them fell silent, feeling horrible to themselves, Akito merely answered while not looking at him. “This kid said something being related to me--some nonsense things I find it confusing, I did nothing wrong to him,” he said as he commanded his naginata to vanish--then he said. “This kid... since when I had a brother like him?”

Ichirō glared at him for a while, not until he has to answer her question, he was indeed afraid of this High Priestess. There’s no solid evidence of their familial bond, considering Akito keep saying that he never know who is he, and what does he want from him. Ichirō merely found him as a complete stranger than a brother figure, he was the cause of his father’s passing, how can he didn’t know that? Ichirō sighed deeply, “I’m afraid I can’t tell you the reason why.”

The current Karasu Tengu clenched his fists, before he murmured. “Because, it’s too complicated for both of us…”

Akito knitted his eyebrows together while crossing his arms, what is he talking about?

“Enough, we still have this bastard to deal with.”

***

Akito can’t believe he has to work with yokai named Ichirō, the guy who have fought with him earlier, that memories remains forever in him. The strategist crossed his arms, standing beside the Karasu Tengu with the same cold expression, looking away from his gaze, “So, what are we going to do next?” he asked, all he needed was the mission, nothing left. “I can’t believe I have to deal with you.”

Ichirō ignored his last statement, “Finding information about the man named Hozuki, I heard he used to allied with Yura Hyuuga,”he answered, flapping his black crow wings a little, putting his crow mask on. “Seems as though we need to work together despite our resentment,”he sighed deeply, why did Saotome put them together when they haven’t reconciled yet?

Akito glanced back at him, crossing his arms, he began to look forward. “The hell? I never heard of him before… Why does he allied with him?” he knitted his eyebrows together, looking at him. “I thought he would be the one without family.”

“Some rumors said that he was revived by that Hyuuga dude.”

“When most of my family members’ professions are Yokai Hunters… even my mother.”

Ichirō’s eyes widened when he heard him, this was his first time hearing this, his mother was part of the Yokai Hunters?

That means Akito has the ability to summon his weapon, but with yokai blood running through his veins, it makes him the top-warlord who becomes a strategist. Ichirō shouldn’t mess with him, even though he was still in denial. “Your mother is a human, there’s human blood running in you.”

Akito nodded at him, looking forward, still crossing his arms, “I was raised by my biological mother in Hyuuga clan, I wasn’t qualified to be Yokai Hunters—due to rumors that my father was a yokai, I didn’t believe those rumors… my mother never told me about him, nor if she would say any words about him until she died,”he sighed deeply, thinking that why would she never tell him, even when he has grown; she didn’t tell him. “What’s your mother’s name?”

“Kasai Hyuuga.”

Ichirō heard that name before, of course—that woman who was an onmyoji, his father’s rumors to have fathered a random woman’s child was true. Well, his mother also passed away, it was unfortunate, they were motherless. “Kasai Hyuuga was the woman who attack those rogue yokai in our village, she was almost the same as that priestess Yuzuki,” he said to him, “However, she still retains her kindness towards us, she didn’t hurt us back then…” he continued.

Akito thought he was sugarcoating his mother’s sins, he didn’t like what his mother had done, the result was him being born and discriminated. “What do you mean she didn’t hurt your people?” he asked curiously, “Look, she broke the law. We were forbidden to fall in love with immortals and I was the result of that... I was the taboo child,” he grumbled, before Akito. “My experience was terrible, but I never met my father.”

“Your mother fell in love with my father, Karasu Tengu, before he married with his own kind.”

“… What?"

***

“Kazuya! The speed!”

Shizuki shouted at him, while she was on the serpent dragon’s scales, they were traveling around through the seas and isles. Kazuya can turn into a dragon, depends on what occasions--whether fight or traveling underwater or above the skies. It didn’t take much power and energy, since Kazuya is powerful by his true form--except when he encountered someone as equal as him. Yomi smiled while enjoying the nice breeze, sitting peacefully with Kaname who was keeping her balanced, her hair was waving through the breeze. “It seems nice while traveling like this,” the warrior said, before looking back at them. “What do you think, Kaname?”

Kaname laughed softly, tapping on the serpent’s skin beside him, it’s been a while since he have rode on Kazuya’s creature form. “I have been experienced on traveling like this through the seas, it seems like it’s your first time so I’ll let you get used to it,” he said to her, on the other hand--Shizuki could hear them from behind her back, although not that far.

‘I could hear both of you there…’

Both of them thought, their eyes looking at them and went forward again, Kazuya rolled his eyes before he saw the isle with the craved stone. They stopped there, hopping off from the dragon’s back, with Kazuya shifted back into his human form, “That seems worth much of the energy I used…” Kazuya rubbed his back a little, feeling cramps starts to crawl up on his back--it was the side-effect of the dematerialization. “This should be Takashi Shinmei, the iron god of thunder.”

Kazuya gave a dirty look when he heard that name, that bastard who used to mock him when he fell in love with Yuzuki, how dare he attempting to let his guard down. “That electric bastard, once I met him—I will prove that I’m still the strongest immortal amongst the yokai and ayakashi…”he grinned in excitement, his carefree attitude was way worse when he’s in the state of his arrogance. “But I will endure myself from saying that.”

Shizuki narrowed her eyes a little curiously--wondering how many rivals did he has in his past life, he surely has many of them…

Four of them heading towards the stairway to the top, it was a bit exhausting, considering how high it was. Kazuya had to cast a raindrop water for them, in case if anyone exhausted, he would give it to them. Once they got arrived at the torii, they could see the dark miasma was roaming around the temple and the field, it has a horrible scent that seems almost similar to animal’s corpse.

Shizuki covered her nose with her sleeve and Yomi did the same, the scent was too strong for them. “Urgh… the smell…” the warrior princess mumbled, she couldn’t stand this at all, humans can’t stand this cursed fog. “Immortals are immune to these cursed miasma, but humans couldn’t because of the thickness of the fog and it can affect skin disease,” Kazuya informed them, “Kaname, can you dismiss the fog?”

“Leave it to me.”

Kaname stepped up without getting bothered, he summoned his tachi from his hand, it was purple and golden-colored handle with the hanging accessories on it. His eyes closed in order to focus on his power and distracting them, the miasma reacted to his energy, as they were attracted and coming up there.

The serpent’s eyes opens when it becomes yellow, he swung his blade across the miasma and avoids the one that goes behind him, before he extends his blade and goes through the dark purple miasma.

Kazuya watched him taking care of the miasma, it took twenty-minutes of him to finish them, once they were gone. Kaname’s eyes turned back to normal, he rubbed the back of his neck a bit, trying to relax his muscles. “How was it?” Yomi asked, making sure that he’s okay, he smiled at her while acting tough at her, much to Kazuya’s dismay. “I’m great! They are all exterminated by me!”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Don’t get too cocky…”

The Dragon mumbled, tapping Shizuki’s shoulder to continue to the temple--four of them approached the temple. It was abandoned at all, considering so many dirts in this area, Yomi was not the one to be comfortable with the dirts. “Damn, I can’t believe it looks very uninhabitable, looks like you better clean this up Yomi,” he said with a smirk on his lips, he love to tease her--despite how annoyed she was.

Yomi’s eyes closed in a dark way while gazing at the Dragon while smiling, she looks like she was mad but hiding it under a smile. “I’ll do it after you release Takashi-sama from thousand years’ slumber,”she said with a bright smile, “From what I sensed that his seal was different than other seals, it was restricted by Yuzuki…”

“The problem is; I’m not that super strong against a thunder…”

Shizuki stated to them in hesitation, she can’t stand of electrical force, especially when it comes to thunder. Kazuya was immune because his electricity was part of his water factor. “I will guard you,”Kazuya said while resting his hand around her shoulder, he glanced back at both of them. “Please guard this area.”

“Right.”

Shizuki carefully entered inside the shrine, seeing that it was pretty dark, the wave of electricity was lighting up the area below and above them. They could tell this is an unfamiliar area, Kazuya knitted his eyebrows together, when he saw the statue in the top from the stairway, thinking that it must be Takashi—he was surrounded by the sacred tags around him—the chains are much worse than that.

“This is odd… it’s not the same compared to the ones we released…”

Kazuya spoke while stepping up to the statue, his eyes went narrowed when he saw a wave of electrons aiming towards him, he quickly dispels it with his hand. “The hell?” Shizuki flinched a bit at the strange wave almost attacking him, this seems a bit tricky to handle because the temple was different compared to the others. “Is this Takashi-sama’s energy? This seems looks like his…”

Shizuki asked him, taking out her katana from the sheath, he didn’t say anything as he look around first. He was in deep thought, not knowing she was talking to him, he glanced at her a bit late.

“Yeah, this IS his temple, many things can shock you—”

“Look out!”

Kazuya turn his head forward to see another electrons coming towards him, he swung his hand to dispels it once again, where did that come from? Then he realized that it came from the sacred tags around the statue, “It can’t be.. Shizuki! Get behind my back!” he yelled as he ran up the stairs, dispelling the electricity from getting their way.

Shizuki was behind her back, he told her sternly, his eyes turns silver at her, “Alright, your task is running up there to unseal the statue, I’m handling this,” she nodded, before she ran towards the statue and avoiding the sacred tags that turns into an electrons, she clenched the handle--awaiting for the next ambush while she tried to focus as the red aura surrounding her once again. “Okay… here I go…”

Kazuya got electrocuted a bit but he managed to hold it back, he held his shoulder a little from the shock. That was until he saw the burst of light before him, seeing that Shizuki was able to cut down the statue, he narrowed his eyes a little. “Takashi…” he clenched his fists, he began to step forward and approaching the broken statue that she unsealed earlier.

The Dragon took her hand and pulled her to his side, not wanting her to get hurt. That was until... he saw the thunder god has awakened from his slumber. Shizuki’s eyes widened when she saw the supposedly thunder god was kneeling on the ground, his movements are stiff when he slowly stand up to face both of them--his height matching with Kazuya’s tall height. “Y-You’re…”

The thunder god has a mature and muscular presence, he has a dark bluish messy long hair, golden eyes, with slightly long bangs covering his left eye and alabaster skin. His robe consists of white kimono, dark and light blue hakama with black choker and X-formed straps around his neck and chest, with black cape draped over his shoulders and black boots. “Kazuya Amamiya... I thought you were dead…”

Kazuya lifted his eyebrows, he didn’t talk much when it comes to his archenemy as he let out a sigh. “Well, do you think I am?” he asked with sarcastic tone of his voice, scowling. “I saved you not because of that, but… I actually came to fulfil your debt that I have once ignored, ”he said, as he lend him his hand.

Takashi narrowed his eyes, he thought he wouldn’t do it because of his greed and powerful intent, but when he offered his hand and the change of his attitude. The thunder god was a bit astonished, however- that doesn’t mean he would earn his trust yet, “I can’t forget what you did in the past, but…”he held his hand tightly, “You owe me a debt.”

Shizuki watched him helping him to stand up, Kazuya took out the crystal stone from his robe and handed it to him, he actually doing this to fulfil the debt he made. “What is that?” she asked him, who was taking the crystal stone from Kazuya, the thunder god doesn’t like humans—so he choose not to answer her question. “It’s a sacred crystal stone, the power source that the thunder god needed,” Kazuya answered, he didn’t like his attitude of ignoring humans, he always underestimates them. “His name is Takashi Shinmei, the thunder god of Kagutsuchi, he shared an equal strength with me despite not being part of four divine elemental gods.”

“Takashi? That’s him?”

“Keep your mouth shut, Yuzuki.”

Shizuki was at the peak of anger but she hold it back, before she answered. “My name is not Yuzuki," she said with a smile, looking up at him. “My name is Shizuki Kasuga, we’re different people, so don’t compare me to her,” she introduced herself to him, Kazuya twitched his eyebrows at his attitude, looking back at her. “So, you’re not thanking me?”

Takashi chuckled softly, smirking at the water dragon cockily, “I owe you my gratitude, it’s is surprise that you’ve changed, there’s nothing I can argue,” he crossed his arms, looking smugly. “Fine then, I guess we have to fight—there’s no reason I would tell you about the other three gods.”

“Oh no you don’t—”

They were going to fight, until someone intervened the three of them…

Yomi was feeding the birds with the treats on the other side from the temple, while holding the staff on her other hand, she heard a crashing noise from the distance. The priestess carefully stand up and facing the explosion, she asked him. “What happened over there?”

Kaname approached her from behind, looking up at the sky. “It appears like Takashi has woken up, crap--I remembered that he fought with Kazuya once…” he grumbled, taking out his tachi from the sheath, Yomi holding up her staff. “We should stop them, we can’t let Shizuki get hurt,” both of them ran towards the field, where Kazuya and Takashi battling against each other, that makes Shizuki had to step back from the battle. Once they got there, their eyes widened to see a familiar individual, who assumed to be Hozuki--the sky went dark and gray--when his son came to him.

Shizuki was wounded from the explosion, as well Kazuya and Takashi, they were struggling to stand up from the ground. “Ouch…” she held her upper abdomen, it was bleeding badly that she couldn’t get up, she screamed when Hozuki stomping his foot on her back. The young man grinned greedily, “How does it feel, father?” he taunted as he glanced at him, kneeling on one knee as he tried to stand up straight--with Takashi holding his wounded right chest. “Did you enjoy it?”

Kazuya’s eyes turned blue, the peak of his wrath reaching its climax, the reaction he received when he saw her torturing her. “You- you have no right to call me father,”he threatened, clenching his fists as he faced him, how dare he look down on him--this was some sort of spawn of devil itself. “God, why did I let you born…”

“That’s your fault, because you let her die.”

Hozuki blamed him, still pinning her down on the ground, he was going to make him guilty forever--he had no regret of making his father like this. “You don’t care about my mother, she wanted to be with you for eternity, but you let her die--“ he ranted, “Get to the point, do you think it’s right?”

Kazuya narrowed his eyes, was he trying to let his guard down? Of course he wouldn’t answer his question. “You don’t understand…” he said, Hozuki narrowed his eyes. “What?”

Hozuki saw her was surrounded by red aura and lights on her body, each of her dark cherry blossom eyes has a black ring on her black pupils--making him released her as Kazuya noticed something different from her.

Shizuki suddenly felt something awakening within her from the Iridescent Pearl that she kept, making her yelped in pain that there was a red aura surrounding her. Her dark cherry blossom eyes slowly becoming violet-colored with sharp black pupils, with red paint on the corner of her eyes and eyelids. A chocolate hair reverted into purplish-black with red tints of light as the sky turns dark gray with red clouds and lights, her fair complexion remained the same as her clothes changed into white kimono with black borders, sleeveless light burgundy sleeveless haori with high collars, with a pair of black fingerless gloves, red threads around her neck with red obi around her waist and haori--along a large crimson bowtie ribbon with motifs of yellow chrysanthemums. She wears a thigh-high red boots with plates and black borders with back heels, some parts of her hair behind her ear pulled into low high-ponytail by a red and gold hairpin with beads--a pair of red horns formed above her head and thick bangs.

Takashi watched everything went through, he saw her aiming her katana towards him. All of a sudden, she sprinted and made constructive strikes of her katana towards Hozuki by surprise.

"How many years I've suffered until this moment...?"

Yomi sensed a dangerous energy from the aura that belongs to Shizuki, she witnessed her 'awakening' because of her Iridescent Pearl that was 'within' her the whole time. She didn't realize that the pearl contains a powerful energy that unleash her true potential, even Kazuya himself wasn't surprised by her--he didn't see Yuzuki within her anymore... he saw none other than Shizuki herself. The way she gracefully attacks

Shizuki swung her katana as she watched Hozuki was panting heavily from the wounds he received from her, he wanted to flee so bad that she might nearly killed him. "I will get you later, Shizuki Kasuga! Father!" he yelled, before he saw his henchmen appeared across him and assisted him to flee from the scene. Although she didn't fully defeated him, she managed to make him spent and nearly exhausted from the fight.

Shizuki slowly reverted back to normal from her 'awakening' form, making Kazuya captured her in his arms and hugged her.

"Shizuki!"

***

“It seems like you finally obtained your true power.”

Yuzuki spoke in front of her, standing in the water of the sunlight above and flowers around them. The priestess wears a kimono was similar to how she previously worn. Her chocolate brown hair and dark cherry blossom eyes matching hers, so does her complexion, her hair was styled with side bangs pulled and braided to the back, “You made it Shizuki, Hozuki deserved it... for what he's done…” she said, as she sighed deeply. “You have the power that exceeds the shrine priestess' power level... you have surpassed me. If you didn't grasp on that Iridescent Pearl with you, I would've possess you and made him mine."

Shizuki’s hair were falling over her shoulders, seeing her for the first time in her subconscious--she resembled her so much even their heights. However, Yuzuki's eyes were quite sharp and elegant for a woman. Unlike her; round and innocent, holding so much hope for human like Shizuki. “Yuzuki…” she bowed at her a little, smiling slightly after seeing her for the first time. “Looks like this is our first time meeting…”

Yuzuki narrowed her eyes, her arms went loose from crossing it on her chest, her eyes what kind of a girl who can be like this? The priestess tried to reach out for her, but her hand merely gone through her invisibly, making Shizuki surprised--so she withdraw her hand from her. “Yuzuki, I have a lot of questions to ask…”

Shizuki stared at her straightforwardly, her hair bangs were moving slightly by the breeze, she brushed her bangs with her hand. “Why did you seal the gods away? Why did you do that? Did Kazuya had done something to you?” she stopped herself as she frowned, thinking that she had asked too much questions. “I-I'm sorry... it's alright if you don’t want to answer them--”

“Of course, not because you deserve an explanation. I will answer that.”

Yuzuki said sternly, still retaining her composure, she crossed her arms--reflecting on how she usually did. After all many years, she wished she could become an ordinary woman, but her selfishness towards Kazuya made her image corrupted. “I always wanted to be with Kazuya, even if my wish is very selfish... I believed that to become an immortal--I must seal the other gods so I can sacrifice my mortality... turns out it was a biggest mistake that I ever did," she said, looking back at her. "I've killed several people who hunted for me, seeking against me for sealing their gods... and I passed away after giving birth to Hozuki."

Shizuki stared at her katana on her left hip, no wonder it can unseal the sealed gods, she glanced at her as she was resting her hand on her weapon. Yuzuki’s love for the Dragon--was selfish and petty to make her want to live with him forever, if she want to be ordinary woman, she shouldn’t have done this.

“Kazuya never did something wrong to me, he just didn’t like how I want to be immortal instead of living as a human. We’ll be together, forever.”

Yuzuki explained in monotone voice, smiling bitterly when she said that, she was envious on how Shizuki capture his heart without hating him. “Do you want to stay young and beautiful, so you can stay with him forever?”

Shizuki stared at her intensely as she remained silent, almost as if her reflection was talking to herself.

“Shizuki, do you truly love him?”

There was a silence between them, it didn't take forever for them--making Shizuki let out a soft sigh before she look back at her.

"I do."

Shizuki answered, with all her heart, she truly loved him and no matter what his flaws are--his pain made her sympathize him before believing in him. She thought he was a cruel person, but it was all in the past and because he was immortal; he couldn’t show sympathy to others. However, perhaps the sealing state did affecting him. “Why should I be an immortal when I can be with him forever? That’s not because of this Iridescent Pearl my parents inherited… that’s because I cherished him. I don't care if I grow old someday, because deep down... I never demanded anything from him."

Yuzuki’s eyes widened, no wonder she couldn’t use her beads to obtain her powers, she clenched her fists. “Then why he didn’t want me to be a mother to our child?” she held her stomach, looking down at her feet. “After many attempts, I want to be happy for the rest of his life… I just couldn’t… why did my child becoming like this?”

Shizuki stepped back when she snarled--she knew what was right and wrong, but why did she have to be that way. Did she hurt her feelings? But Yuzuki seems not offended about it, she denied the truth--she didn’t know Shizuki’s pet peeve that can trigger her, saying that they should be grateful about something but this is something she’s disagree with. “You should be grateful that you’re my reincarnation! I wanted to be with him forever through you!”

“Being grateful doesn’t mean we have to be on the same boat, Yuzuki!”

Yuzuki stopped when she said that, she questions her existence--she look down at her feet for a moment. Shizuki prayed to herself that she could have convince her, but she's not a perfect person--not everyone can be perfect and she has some flaws too. “Yuzuki, please don’t do this, you have to move on,” she said to her, persuading her. “It doesn’t matter if I looks like a prune or not, all I can do is to protect him.”

Shizuki smiled at her, stepping closer to her and held her hands, staring at her who didn’t want to look up. “Do you want to be ordinary woman?” she asked her, before she continued while looking at her. “Then you can be the one, we will defeat Hozuki and you can reconcile with Kazuya.”

Yuzuki look up at her before she held her hands gently, she couldn’t believe she had her reincarnation to convince her. “I know you can do it, I’m afraid my time is up... so I’ll leave everything to you.”

“Thank you.”

Shizuki bowed at her, seeing her vanished into millions of butterflies.

***

Shizuki winced painfully, the 'awakening form' from her draining her energy completely. Her eyes opened when she realized she was in the machiya house, looking around for a while as she stand up carefully, seeing Yomi watched the bright blue sky in the garden, smiling happily as usual. “Yomi? What happened?” she asked while putting on her sandals, fixing her outfit. “How long did I sleep…?”

Yomi turn her head to see her woke up, rubbing her eyes, she chuckled softly. “Ah, you’re fainted after Hozuki was defeated and your katana was broken into pieces--but Akito will fix it for you, Hozuki eventually escaped… making Kazuya-sama mad and Takashi had to keep him in bay, to ‘calm’ him down,” she said with a smile, folding her hands on her lap. “It appears like we have a long way to go.”

Shizuki yawned, taking out her her headdress and the hairpin, to tie her hair back into her usual high ponytail. Her hairstyle remains the same, just that it was slightly darker than before. “I see… well, looks we’ll traveling together,”she said while hugging Yomi from aside, making her giggle happily. “I’m glad that four of us are together, I was thinking if we can hunt bad monsters and travel through Kagutsuchi."

“For bounty?”

“Something like that.”

Yomi said while looking up at the sky, still questioning about Hozuki’s existence, with her hands held in front of her waist. The princess covered her mouth, with her long sleeve of her kimono, “Anyways, I wonder why Kaname-sama was in the rooftop with Lord Ryusei…”she turn around to see him sitting there, with Ryusei, eating their meals. “Oh… they were eating…”

Shizuki let go of her and looking at the sky, she wondered where Kazuya was, or he could possibly still thinking about Yuzuki? Perhaps not, considering that he grew tired of hearing her name, even refused to know about her. “Humans! You two!”both of the girls turn around to see Takashi landed on the ground, wiping off the dust from his sleeves.

“Takashi-sama,” Yomi greeted him, before she tilted her head. “I thought you’re…"

“I’m fine Yomi, he might probably be back from Yozakura.”

Takashi said with his arms crossed, before he look at Shizuki, she looks so young--despite wearing a red and purple paint shades on her eyes. “You’re too pretty to become a woman,” he complimented her, almost teasing her that made Shizuki lifted her eyebrows. “No wonder Kazuya loved your attitude, not just how you look,”he scoffed, crossing his arms, reminiscing the past for a while--before he spoke bluntly. “Do you hate me, Shizuki?”

Shizuki’s eyebrows narrowed slightly, crossing her arms, this is a silly question but rather tricky for her. Why would he have asked that? Shizuki doesn’t hate anyone and she can’t expect that to happen, she keep everything under limit when it comes to dislike, so she was able to control herself. “I don’t,” she answered, before she added. "It depends on what you did, as long you didn't harm us."

“Well, that’s logical of you, perhaps I can make him mad~”

Yomi went surprised when he put his fingers under her chin, she gave him a serious smile on her lips, warning him intentionally. “You have two options--beaten up by Kazuya for making him jealous, or do you want to be kicked by Shizuki instead? Pick your poison,” she offered as she giggled softly.

Takashi stared at Yomi, instead of being scared--he was challenged, he glanced at Shizuki who slapped his hand away from her. The thunder god was impressed, he smirked slyly, stepping closer to her while attempting to trap her. “I’m afraid I have to slow you down in a second--”

“Look at the sky!”

Ryusei warned as he jumped down to the ground with Kaname, the sky was clouded with dark clouds, thunder could be heard from above, when they saw the mountain from the distance—the water dragon god slithered around the cliff and soon landing at the top—transforming into none other than Kazuya’s human form. His hair were down, after he was fighting with his archnemesis. “Takashi!” he roared at him, it sounded like a roar of a dragon. “What do you think you’re doing with my love? You troublemaker!”

Takashi let go of her as he stepped back, he was anticipating for another fight with him. "Someday, we'll do the sparring match once we're done with the war!" he taunted with a grin.

Ryusei had to stop both of them from fighting in his place, her uncle was extremely territorial, he was daring enough to stop anyone from invading his area. “Ryusei-sama…” Yomi said with a soft tone--seeing him scolding Takashi, while he was glaring at Kaname who’s snickering at him. His relationship was a bit complex, yet rocky at the same time--perhaps he hasn’t repaid something for what he did for him.

Shizuki rolled her eyes in boredom from the distance, before she turn around to see Kazuya standing behind her, making her flinched nervously. His smooth, silky black hair were pretty, she have seen him with his hair down before and it was tied at the end--but this one was fully released. “Where have you been?”

“I’ve been trying to get Hozuki while you’re unconscious, turns out he escaped like a coward he was.”

Kazuya said coldly, crossing his arms before looking away from her, feeling a bit annoyed that he manage to get away from him. “I would never escape like a coward, unless if it’s an emergency,” he said her--changing the topic immediately, he didn’t want to be carried up with his mission of vengeance. “Moving on, I heard your katana got broken.”

Shizuki sighed deeply, resting her hands on her hips, biting her lip at the thought of fighting without weapon. “Well… Yomi said Akito-kun will forge them back, turns out he’s quite great as a bladesmith,” she laughed, trying to make it look like a joke. “Also, you looked pretty with your hair down.”

Kazuya smirked before he reached his arms and wrapped them around her waist, lifting her up without hesitation and carried her in his arms. Shizuki yelped and quickly held onto his shoulders, “Did you meet Yuzuki?” he asked while walking away from them, not wanting his moment with her being interrupted at all. Shizuki nodded, resting her head on his shoulder. “I-I did… now can you let go of me already?!" she snapped, and he stopped walking when he did. "Nope, but here's my reward for you."

His lips crashed into her that baffled her, but Shizuki close her eyes and kissed him back in return--how come she fell in love with this immortal?

"Let's rest before we're continuing with our next adventure."