"Give me back my amulet!"

The spider yokai shrieked towards the High Priestess Munakata while attempting to trap her with his webs, but she evade the creature's attack with her ceremonial staff by stomping it. The silks were burned into ashes by her magic as she continued stomping his body until it couldn't move any longer. "Stop fighting me! If you don't want to suffer further pain, give me back my amulet!" the yokai growled, Munakata knitted her eyebrows together, hitting the below tip of her staff on the ground, she gazed at the creature coldly. "Tell us, where's the Fuji Village?" she questioned the creature, looking up at the creature, "We're destroying your amulet if you don't tell us where it is, answer us right now!"

Saotome was holding the amulet and the spider didn't have much choice, but he wasn't going to lose to this human being. How dare these lowly beings think they're above them, considering the High Priestess' demand, he couldn't help but to ignore late-Yuzuki's warning, "Fine then, I'll tell you, but don't tell anyone where is it."

After telling both of them, the Second tossed the amulet to him, without caring if he's pleased or not. However, Munakata destroying it with her staff, making the yokai felt betrayed. "My apologies, but we don't need you anymore, you didn't fulfil our trust much, Tsuchigumo," Munakata stated with a smirk, "you should be honored to die like this." She struck the bottom part of her staff on the floor, creating a huge hole in the spider's chest that caused his body to collapse in front of her feet. . "Let's go Milady, like what Hayate told us to go there," Munakata nodded at Saotome as she turn around while holding the staff on her hand, following Saotome walking behind.

On the other side, Kazuya, Shizuki, Yomi and Kaname are heading to the Fuji Village, through flying on the earth dragon's back that Kaname transformed. They're searching for the guardian god of the South Mountain, also searching the hint to Yuzuki's curse. Shizuki look around the village that there's so many cherry blossoms here, even the wisteria trees across the streets. It took a week for them to arrive in there, and they were greeted warmly by the villagers-until they encountered the village chieftain.

Ugaya Shinoe--or Shinoe; the eighteen years old female chieftain bowed at them with the two shrine maidens between them, four of them bowed together and standing up straight-she seems to have bears a princess-like presence. Also known as the infamous Princess Tamayori, she has a smooth purplish-black hair tied in ponytail with headdress along the ribbons on it, her eyes has a red makeup on the corner of her eyes. Leaving parts of her hair falling behind her both ears, she has an alabaster complexion and purple-violet eyes. A white kimono with light violet layered coat on her arms, red and gold accents with red underneath her kimono. A black and gold-accented obi wrapped around her kimono, she also wears a black bodysuit from neck, arms to legs and also has white sandals with robe.

Shizuki was surprised when she examined her appearance, appears to be around her age and looks quite beautiful."Shinoe, the chieftain of Fuji Village and East Mountain." Shinoe introduced herself, before she folded her arms while remained in her composed expression--she seems to take a notice that Kazuya is a mountain god and Kaname the land god--she even noticed that Shizuki is a warrior princess and Yomi is the priestess. "Four of you, what's your purpose in coming to this village? We have no idea who you are," she stated plainly.

"We're searching for the guardian god of the South Mountain--" Kaname started but Shinoe interrupted him. "Why do you need him?" Kazuya listens to her, before he folded his arms. "The late-priestess Yuzuki has sealed him away for thousand years, do not lie about it--you know him right?" Shinoe flinched, she indeed know him for a long time--she truly missed him and still loathed Yuzuki even after her death--that priestess shall pay for what she did to him. "We're doing this to stop someone, we promise we'll help you," Shizuki assured her, smiling at her so does Yomi when she continued. "That's right, we can break the seals in the South Mountain."

Shinoe was relieved so she guide them to the South Mountain where the guardian god was sealed away, she has been waiting for his return until she grew up and the other gods were suffering the same fate. Kazuya was focused with the statue once they got arrived, the statue of the man with the features of kitsune ears and tails. Kaname watched Yomi take out the ceremonial staff from her staff sheath behind her back, Kazuya watched Shizuki pulled out her katana from her sheath. Shizuki had her red Iridescent Pearl as her main ability, while Yomi had the purple Iridescent Pearl on her ceremonial staff.

Shinoe took a step aside once they stepped forward the statue, after countless attempts of methods; she almost at the state of giving up until they came; not knowing they have this kind of intention. "I expect better for you two." Shinoe warned,Yomi's aura becoming purple and Shizuki's aura becomes crimson as well, both of them gathered up their ability once they opened their eyes. The aura becomes magenta when it fused together, Yomi chanting the mantras that can't be read and earned energy boots towards Shizuki. "Shizuki, do it now!"

Shizuki nodded before she prepared her fighting stance, she roared as she ran towards the statue and took several slashes-before she earned one last swing and stepped back-seeing the statue bursts in bright blue and red flames. Shinoe watched the statue was cracked into lights and bursts all of a sudden so she spread her arms, forming a light pink barrier in front of them. "Watch out!"

The statue exploded out loud and they stood behind her once the burst of light made the statue torn apart, Kazuya shielded Shizuki with his arms around her and Kaname protected Yomi by pulling her close to him. The lights fades and the barrier ceased down slightly, Shinoe asked them. "Are you guys okay?"

Shizuki nodded when Kazuya let go of her and brush off the dust from her sleeves, the energy naturally ceased and she went fine like Yomi. "Uhm… Kaname-sama…" Kaname blinked when he heard Yomi murmured below him, he look down to see that he was actually wrapping his arms around Yomi to protect her. Yomi was blushing while looking at him before he pulled his head up and turned to Shinoe with a smile. "It's alright," he answered to Shinoe, then he turn to Yomi and kissed her forehead.

Shinoe nodded before she stepped forward to see the kitsune god released, although the smoke blocked her sight-she can see his figure clearly. "Tamotsu…" she muttered his name, she know she has been waiting for him for so long.

The guardian god has a short white hair with long bangs almost covering his eyes and between his face, pale skin and gold-colored eyes. A pair of white fox ears were on his head, along a white fox tail flowing behind him. The tall guardian god wears a black and yellow kimono with a white haori, a black sode-kukuri and red-yellow obi around his haori wrapped tight-he wears a black hakama with the black socks and a pair of white geta. A large white fox creature named Yuki appeared behind him with nine-tails, circling around him as he was his pet guardian.

"Long time no see, Tamotsu," Kazuya greeted him casually with a smirk, he watched Tamotsu's pet guardian Yuki changed into a white chibi kitsune on her master's shoulder. Kaname also greeting him casually as he let out a cocky grin to Tamotsu, it's common for immortal gods to be sarcastic and mocking each other, he knows that they're friendly with each other but he doesn't know why this kitsune has nine tails—it looks cute though.

"Don't address me so casually," Tamotsu said with a glare at both Kazuya and Kaname, he then sighed and looked away--until he saw Shinoe stood before him with a smile on her lips. "Shinoe, I'm back…" Tamotsu said with a nod, Shinoe smiled a little in response before she hugged him and he hugged her back, until she let go for a moment and reverts back into her usual calm and stoic expression when she turn around to face them. "Thank you so much, you can stay in my village-if you have anything to ask, let me know."

***

Shizuki slowly opens her eyes when it was dawn in the morning, she felt her whole body was sore from that memories of her dream. Her hair was down while laying on the futon and wearing her home kimono, she carefully turn her head forward-seeing Kazuya resting on top of her-in his usual home kimono. His smooth, black hair was sprawling over his back, his face and her face. "Kazuya, let go…" she tried to push him away as he was too heavy for her, and he was weighing on her like a brick.

Kazuya twitched his eyebrows when he opened his brown eyes, pressing his hands on her sides and whispered in her ear. "Did you sleep well, sleeping beauty?" she woke up slowly with annoyed scowl on her eyes. "Human like you sleeps everywhere we go, how many hours do I have to wait for you to wake up?"

"More than an hours…"

Shizuki answered with caressing the strands of his hair on his bare shoulders, his face went grouchy of seeing her sleeping like that. "More than hours? Are you a cat or something?" he got off from her and laid down beside her, resting his head on his palm and playing with her hair a bit. "Of course not, I was having a good dream… it's nothing bad."

Kazuya stared at her lifting his eyebrows, usually all of his kinds can stay up all night whatever they wants. However, it's up to them if they want to, and they don't really keep track on the time. "We sleep but never dreamed, only to those who has that kind of ability," he answered with calm tone, before he asked her. "What kind of dream did you had?" Shizuki hummed while closing her eyes, whining at him. "Why should I tell you? You wouldn't care…"

Shizuki rolled around until she fell on her back, with arms sprawled around the bed. Kazuya stared at her while brushing her hair with his fingers gently, it was smooth and silky before he leaned forward to kiss on her lips. Shizuki gasped for air once his mouth touched hers and her body shivers. When he pulled away from kissing her; he stared at her both of her flushed cheeks and widened eyes. He smirked mischievously, looking down at her. "Can you say that again?"

"Stop it, you're so annoying," Shizuki grumbled, feeling embarrassed for being so weak. She turned her head away from him, hiding her face from him with her arm.

"You're so cute when you blush," he teased, watching her face with his hand. "So what was your dream about?"

Shizuki closed her eyes and thought hard, remembering the details of the dream. "I remember I was in the temple, there was a ceremony going on and a priestess was talking to me," she explained, Kazuya listened to her story without interrupting. "She told me about the guardian god of the South Mountain, she asked me to seal him away for thousand years because she's afraid of him. He know her secret for... having a child with other immortal god... and she's worried about the consequences..."

"I see, I think I know who she is." Kazuya said, placing his chin on his palm again and staring at the ceiling. "That priestess must be Yuzuki," he glared at the ceilings, still disdaining her because Yuzuki was his former lover--who betrayed him into sealing him--and he didn't want to think about her. "Yuzuki was a very strong and powerful woman, she was able to seal away the strongest immortal god in the world... she died because of her own curse and consequences of her actions."

***

Shinoe was entering the underground shrine, performing her daily ritual that she do in her morning routine. The village chieftain slide the door open on both sides, seeing the sword wrapped by the talismans around it. The ritual always been like this and made her exhausted during the after-effects, she don't know why it hasn't over yet-probably when it cost her strength for that. That made the adrenaline rose within her whole body, she was anticipating for this.

Shinoe was stepping forward and held onto the sword with her hands, the red aura starts to shine brightly around the sword and she hissed in pain. The difficult one to handle and she manage to control herself, she shouldn't have forced herself because it was her duty. Feeling the strength almost ceasing her-it took a moment for her to open her eyes and saw the sword fading before her eyes.

It disappeared?

Shinoe was confused how did this happened and she was yet to find out about it, she was panting heavily when she took a rest on the floor, feeling so hot in her chest as she coughed a little. "It hurts..." she murmured, holding her head with both of her palms--until she heard one of the shrine maidens summoned her from upstairs. "Shinoe-sama, guests are coming!" The chieftain was panting heavily when she heard her and stand up almost stumbling, she turn around and goes upstairs because her shrine maidens called her. "Coming!" she responded by shouting, still tired from the ritual and she adjusted her sleeves. Shinoe bowed at the shrine priestess and slide the door open, her eyes widened a bit. "Oh, it's two of you- what are you two doing here?"

Shizuki and Yomi are standing in front of the entrance stairway where she was, the other two are visiting Tamotsu's temple to check before leaving. "We're asking if you know something about uh…" Shizuki tries to find a good choice of words, until she got something popped out. "Iridescent Pearl, do you know that relic?" Shinoe processed the question for a moment, her eyes closed for a while until she opened them. "Come in."

Shinoe guides them to her garden with cherry blossom tree, that she took care of it most of the time. While she holds the tranquility and calculating nature of her traits, everyone who views her for the first time finds her mysterious. However- she's actually a kind and generous person, she doesn't smile much and only if she needs to. "Iridescent Pearl, you're Kasuga right?"

Shizuki nodded while walking beside her and Yomi was on the other side with the village chieftain, taking a stroll with the woman who seems to be familiar about the relic. "Since you're currently the keeper of the pearl, I believe you should keep it safe on your hands," she handed the ancient scroll that she kept to her, she received the scroll and was about to unfold what's inside. "The legend said that there should be seven of them, but those pearls… are separated from each other and..."

Shinoe felt something reacting within her and stopped at her track, Yomi halted Shizuki and took a short distance behind her. "Shinoe, are you okay?" Shizuki asked when she saw her holding her chest with her hand, Shinoe took a deep breath before she shake her head slowly and turn around. "I'm okay, it's just a chest pain," she lied as she didn't want them to get concerned too much, her duty was important and she refuse to let anyone see her like this. "Anyways, that's what I know about them because I'm the keeper as well; the one that governs life and existence."

"It's alright, at least I was able to know them--and I was the one that governs the Yin and Yang principle." Shizuki said as she look at Shinoe, while Yomi covered her mouth with her sleeve, chuckling in response and spoke out. "We hope that we were able to make it, that's why we came here not only for that-Kazuya has an ambition to avenge Yuzuki-and I was the keeper as well! Sorry if I didn't tell you Shizuki~!"

Yomi giggled that make her narrowed her eyes with a frown, smiling a bit that she didn't expected that. "Ah, I see… so what kind of pearl did you keep?" Shizuki asked her with her hands behind her back, she uncovered her lips with a hum. "Well, due to my ability-mine is governing the holiness and infinite."

Shinoe crossed her arms as she find her statement interesting, such a travellers with either good and bad intentions to come here. "That's something I didn't expect, myself as Princess Tamayori has a duty to banish demons from my village, thanks to the help of the gods-" Shinoe felt something reacting aggressively inside her, the red aura began to surrounds her and burning sensation made her yelled in pain. "Shinoe!" Shizuki grabbed her shoulder to calmed her down, but she felt an extreme heat hurting her skin and she withdraw her hand. "Ouch- that hurt…" Yomi sensed something wrong from the village chieftain, she glanced at Shizuki with surprised eyes. "There's something inside her! Do not get any closer!"

"What inside?!" Shizuki asked, seeing Yomi close her eyes to detect what's within Shinoe's body--her eyes opened in shock to see the black flames erupting from her body--there was a sword wrapped by the talismans around it--it was cursed. Yomi's eyes widened when she seen what's inside Shinoe's body, she gasped. "Oh no... oh my..."

"Is that a demon blade?" Shizuki asked with a hint of fear in her voice, Yomi nodded. "Yes, is the Sword of Destruction, belonged to the God of Destruction himself," she murmured in disbelief.

"What? How can that exist?!" Shizuki exclaimed loudly and turned her attention to Shinoe who was trying to control herself. "Thousand years ago, there was a war between the gods and the demons-because of their selfishness they became enemies of each other and started to fight over the world. The gods used their power to banish all of the demons from the world and sealed them away in the Hell Realm; however, they couldn't do that for all of the demons in the world because the ones that they had banished were too powerful. They can't be killed, but they can be bound and sealed away... only the God of Destruction can seal them away, and he did just that."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"So the Sword of Destruction is one of those demons?" Yomi asked in disbelief, staring at the sword wrapped by the talismans. "It's been passed down through the generations, it's a relic that belongs to the God of Destruction himself; the only one who can wield it is him and his descendant-it's the only weapon that can defeat the Demon King. That's why it's called the Sword of Destruction."

On the other hand; Tamotsu was at the stone river in the forest, likewise doing his meditation before he was going to train. His fox ears twitched as he sensed something wrong, he opens his eyes and knew who it was. "Huh, that can't be… Shinoe?" he stand up and glanced at Yuki, he commanded her to turn into a large fox and had to hurry to the shrine temple. Tamotsu hopped on her back and the fox running off from the forest, both of them took five minutes to arrive there and the fox god landed on the ground in front of her residence. "Shinoe!"

Tamotsu yelled when he saw her panting in pain wrapping her hands around herself, Shizuki noticed the fox god was before her eyes and stared at Yomi who spoke to him. "Tamotsu-sama, our apologies that we witnessed this but-" she yelped in pain when she felt her hand harmed by the heat a little, he quickly stopped her and ran up up to them. "Don't touch her!" he commanded and approached Shinoe once he landed down on the ground, both of them stepped back from there. "Are you okay Yomi?" Yomi nodded when she hold her heated hand, smiling sadly at her when she asked her. "I'm okay at least, but let's focus on them."

Shinoe couldn't focus on her surroundings due to the heat emitting her chest and limbs, until she felt a hand touching her cheek. "Don't touch me… please…" her eyes opened slowly when she saw Tamotsu in front of her, holding her cheek since he had fire elements it didn't hurt him. "Take a deep breath, Shinoe… calm down…" he said in soft voice, much to his concerns; she couldn't believe he's here.

"Why are you here?" she asked, she's still having a hard time breathing because of the intense heat that was bothering her. "I've come to tell you something," he said, placing his hand on her forehead and her cheeks. "That's what I wanted to tell you for a while now-" he smiled gently. "You're not alone, I'm here with you."

"But why? Why did you come here? You're going to get hurt..." Shinoe whispered, she didn't want to see him getting hurt, she can feel his body temperature rising because of the heat.

"I have to be here, because you're important to me and I don't want to lose you," he said with a smile, his eyes closed as he feels the warmth from her body. Shinoe narrowed her eyes with a frown, before she fainted in front of him and Tamotsu caught her before she could hit the ground. "What happened to her…?"

Shizuki asked him when he carried her with bridal style, Tamotsu has been aware of the situation and he doubted if he should tell them. "I'll tell you later, right now she need to rest," he said before he entered inside, Yomi hummed in curious before she stared at her who spoke. "Perhaps we can get his explanation later, but I'm curious…" Shizuki muttered before she turn around, letting out a sigh from her lips. "You're right, we should discuss this together later-I have appointment with Kaname-sama in the teahouse, you can meet us in there later."

Yomi smiled before she gestured her so that they can leave, Shizuki nodded with a smile and both of them left-heading to separate ways. "I'll check on Kazuya, I wonder what he's doing in the mountains area…"

***

Kazuya was standing on the flat stone behind the waterfall, he held his right hand while summoning his katana on his hand-to which the ice shards began to form into a katana. The blade- hilt and tsuba of the katana was completely white, the tsuba becomes a hollow snowflake-like circle, and a white dual ribbons forms from the pommel. Kazuya owns this katana by creating the methods and elements of water element factors, it took a hard work to reclaim this katana from the previous user. "You're such a nuisance."

The mermaid was struggling to reach his feet, but instead he stomped her head with his foot, he look down at her menacingly with his bluish eyes. "I-I told you… Yuzuki said that… believe me…!" she demanded and it's unsure if what she's saying it's true or not, Kazuya aimed his ice blade towards her heart. "I don't care, I don't want to hear from her again," he said coldly while looking down at her. "My deep apologies, but this is the last time you'll see me."

The Dragon bashed his blade across her face and kicked her into the river, he made his katana vanished by his hand, the frozen waterfall and the river began to melt and went back to normal-crystal stone was laying on the ground as he took it. Kazuya turn around to go back to the wide field of flowers along the cliff, he hoped he didn't make Shizuki wait any longer. "Where is she?" Kazuya look around for a while, until he heard someone called him.

"Kazuya!"

Shizuki called out while running towards him, of course she's not going to be out from his watch. Kazuya wrapped his arms around her waist and lifting her into facing him, she took a hold on his shoulders so she wouldn't fall. "Did I make you wait?" she asked when she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"No, it's alright, I've been waiting for you," he said, his voice was gentle and loving. He smiled warmly at her before he pulled her closer to his body, she wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest. Kazuya smirked at her and felt that she was quite light, it wouldn't a problem for him to carry her. "Do you think I would let you out from my sight?" Shizuki lifted her eyebrows, before she played with the strands of his hair behind his ear. "I suggest you to let go of me, because it's too tight when you hold me like this," Kazuya chuckled softly when she pleaded him, he look down at her. "Indeed and no, you're light when I carried you- unless when you slept on my lap."

"Oh come on, you're exaggerating," Shizuki said while pouting. "Are you really going to carry me?" she asked in a soft voice, her eyes closed and her cheeks were red from embarrassment.

"Of course," he answered simply. "I won't let you out of my sight," he said with a serious tone, he tightened his arms around her and lifted her up. "Come on, I'm going to walk fast, you're not allowed to walk faster than me--" Shizuki bumped him on the forehead and made him winced into letting go of her, she smiled as she turn around to look at him. "Catch me if you can!" she teased him before running to the wide field, as fast as she could. Kazuya narrowed his eyes, grinning as his canines were shown. "Were you making fun of a mountain god like me? I'll teach you a lesson after this."

Both of them are playing around like a children on the tag, Kazuya manage to catch her by pinning her to the ground with her wrists held by his hands. Shizuki went wide-eyed when he kissed her on the lips deeply, she kissed him back much to her dismay for him. After a few seconds of kissing each other; they both broke apart from their passionate kiss. "That's for teasing me," he said while smirking.

"You're just as bad," Shizuki replied in a whisper while her cheeks flushed pink. Kazuya pulled away when he stared down at her, his blue eyes was beautiful to be seen and he wasn't supposedly angry this time. Shizuki's cheeks were red after that session and the Dragon was panting from that but he keeping it less prominent, he got off from her and sitting down with his back leaning against the rock. "So, is there anything new?"

Shizuki adjusted her sitting position and leaning her back beside him, resting her hands on the grassy field around her. "Yomi and I took a visit to village chieftain's shrine and asks anything about Iridescent Pearl-in return she gave me this," she showed the scripture in front of him, before she elaborated with the frown. "After that, when she mentioned that she's in fact Princess Tamayori… I saw red aura emerging from her, her temperature had gone into extreme heat before Tamotsu could've saved her."

Kazuya knitted his eyebrows together once she told him everything earlier, this made him grew suspicious how come did she becoming like that. "Pray tell, does she kept something in her shrine?" Shizuki shake her head with a shrug, not sure if she has it or not. "No idea, should we learn and investigate about it?" the Dragon was thinking about it for a moment, he grumbled roughly while looking down at her. "Tamotsu is territorial when it comes to Shinoe so I doubt it, I know his weak spot so… let's discuss about it with the other two in the teahouse."

Shizuki watched him stand up and lend her a hand, she naturally held his hand and he pulled her up to stand. "Step aside, I'll transform into my true form," he demanded when he turn around to go to the cliff, the warrior princess stepped aside with her arms crossed and look up at him with a smile. Her expression contorted into big surprise when the gray clouds circling above, she could hear the thunder jolting loudly. Shizuki watched the water dragon roared when he flies down smoothly and landed before her, the creature's growl letting out the cold breath from his mouth. Shizuki was nervous even during her first time on his back, but she huffed and gathered up her courage to hopped on his back. The warrior princess yelped when he flies upwards to the skies, coming ahead to the village and keeping his pace.

The water dragon flies down to the river and landed there, causing a splash on Shizuki's form and clothings. Shizuki hit him on the head gently with her foot before she step down, Kazuya transformed back into his human form and stood beside her when he spoke. "Now, where's the teahouse?"

Kaname was drinking his afternoon tea with Yomi in front of the table at the teahouse, until he saw Kazuya suddenly standing on the edge of the window with Shizuki holding onto his arm. "We need to talk."

They explained what's happening when they sat down on the mat, everything is a massive surprise for them from what happened to her. "I see… there's something wrong with her."

Kaname rubbed his chin while sitting on seiza beside his partner Kazuya, facing the two girls who were sitting on the opposite side. "Shinoe was born with the core of the Princess Tamayori's power from her mother when she was a child, also she's the keeper of the cursed artifact in the temple-that's what I learned from the villagers," Yomi told them when she placed her hands on her lap, sitting beside Shizuki who was listening while sipping her cup of tea. "I don't know what kind of artifact it is, but she didn't tell us about the details."

Kazuya hum with a nod that he find out that she guarded the cursed artifact, now he was suspicious what kind of artifact was it. "I'm afraid it'll be the one that can kill any kind of beings, and that is the Cursed Sword of Destruction," he spoke that made Shizuki shivered by the sound of it, she seems to be familiar about that myth before. "I thought that was just a myth? I mean…"

Yomi remembered her mother told her about that myth that terrified the people amongst the villages, even the youkai was thirsting for the powerful and dangerous relic so that can bring chaos. "Let's not force Shinoe to explain when she's resting, we should wait until she gets better."

Shizuki thinks that it would be better not to disturb her until she recovered well, thinking that she seems to be tired from the effect. "I agree, let's wait for a while for them, Tamotsu didn't want us to disturb her," Kazuya said when he was eyeing the humans on the other side, he was still unfamiliar with greeting the guests and he wondered why'd they do that. "Kazuya… that's how humans do to show kindness," Kaname said with a smile, seeing him scowling at them and darted his gaze at him. "No wonder they're so nice."

Kaname rolled his eyes at his response with sarcastic tone, knowing him too well didn't surprise him at all. After a while they finished and paid the bill before leaving the teahouse, walking out from the place searching for the clue about the relic. "Did Tamotsu say something about the relic?" Shizuki asked Kazuya who was folding his arms while he's walking beside her, hearing him sigh softly while looking forward answering her question. "He told both of us, it is said that the sword contains the darkest immortality for the one who wants to give the strength to satisfy the sword. However it can be quite… greedy at any cost."

Yomi seems to be worried about her as the artifact is in her possession, even when she had to keep it away from the public. "That means Shinoe keeping that sword, and the sword must be…" she glanced at Shizuki who was concerned about her, it seems like the problem isn't over just yet. "Yeah, I think she should be awake soon."

On the other side…

Shinoe carefully opens her eyes when she realized it was still morning today and was laying on her bed, her hair was sprawled over the bed that she could feel the soreness over her body and tried to sat up. "Hnngh…" she winced in pain when she saw one of the shrine priestesses was sitting beside her, helping her sitting up on the bed when she spoke to her. "Are you alright, Shinoe-sama?" she nodded at her while rubbing her head, she was fine but still sore from before. "I'm fine, Kanae… I think I shouldn't force myself."

Kanae frowned that she need her to rest first but she often forced herself so much, watching her stand up from the bed and kept her hair down. "Tell them that I'm alright, I want to take a fresh air…" she sighed softly when she had to make sure they're doing fine after that, somewhat she wondered if it's still lingering within her. "A-Alright, I'll tell the others."

Shinoe nodded when she kept her katana on her side, walking out from her room and heading out from the temple. Her beauty was exceptionally noble with the aura of the spiritual force, without makeup or not she always beautiful in her life from youth and her birth. As she remained in her main attire from earlier, she decided to take a walk into the village-it seems like people didn't recognize her when her hair was down like this. Huh… no one know when I'm like this…

Shinoe thought while holding her hand on her chest when she was strolling down the street, until she encountered Tamotsu on her way to search for the group and she was surprised to see him here. So she take the initiative to approach him and called for him, increasing her pace in almost running. "Tamotsu!"

Tamotsu was walking down the street while he kept his ears down in public, he heard someone called his name and he stopped-seeing Shinoe approaching him with her hair down. At first he almost didn't recognize her because she never seen like that in here, but he was relieved that no one recognize her with that. "Shinoe…" his calm and stoic face did not change, but softened everytime he noticed her here. "How are you feeling today? Are you alright?"

Shinoe nodded when she was looking up at him since he's taller than her height, her bangs framing her forehead and almost covering her eyes. "I'm alright, don't worry about me," she kept her hands on her side, somewhat embarrassed that she never been in this state before to him. "How do I look? I suppose I'm not hideous when I'm like this… right?" she want to make sure she isn't different when she's like this, usually the maidens almost didn't recognize her because she always kept her hair up.

Tamotsu stared at her and her hair that past down her shoulders to her back, this made his fox ear perked up. He reached out his hand to hold her hair and caressing them down gently, it was smooth and silky that made him satisfied by feeling them on his fingers. "Your hair is smooth and silky like a river…" he said that made her cheeks all red, her heart beats so fast that she didn't expect him to say that-knowing him from her youth made her fluttered. "Thank you… I always tied my hair when I'm on my duty, it was to keep my image as a village chieftain. And…"

Shinoe gulped while gazing away from him for a while, due to the touch that is warm for her-even he's a god. "I can't forget the touch of your hand on my cheek, it was… warm," Tamotsu's gaze softened when she said that and moved his hand from the side of her hair, into touching her cheek just like the time when he tried to calm her down. Her eyes widened as he hold her cheek similar to that moment, which made her narrowed her eyes and closing them; leaning to the touch saying with a smile. "You're so warm, Tamotsu…"

"I could make you warm enough for that."

Tamotsu said in soft voice in caressing his thumb on her cheek, before he let go of her and decided to spend some time with her-realizing that she has been so busy with her duty. "Why don't we take a stroll around for a bit? You must be tired from your duty, Tamayorihime-sama," she opened her eyes when she was looking up at him, folding her arms with a nod. "I don't mind."

Both of them heading to the field where it was not far from his temple, she took a deep breath when she saw the cherry blossom tree in front of them. They spent some of their moments together and the only ones in here, Shinoe wondered what kind of feelings she had for him-she had a crush on him when she was young-now it turns into nothing but maturing love. Shinoe was sitting beside him and his arm was around her shoulder, it made her even more embarrassed. "T-Tamotsu… could you close your eyes for me?"

Tamotsu tilted his head when she asked him to close his eyes, he does what she asked him to and close his eyes. Shinoe was nervous at the moment like this, hoping that no one except Yuki know about this-even Kazuya's Party. As she kneeled on both knees before his side, she put her hands on his cheeks and she leaned closer-kissing him on the lips and closed her eyes. His eyes opened in surprise when she kissed him on the lips, at first it was something new until he kissed her back.

Shinoe pulled away and covered her face with her hands in embarrased gesture, looking away from him asking. "I-I'm sorry… I couldn't hold back anymore… I've been keeping this when I was a child…" Tamotsu smiled at her when his tail swayed a little, it was adorable seeing her like this. "That was nice, are you afraid that I will be taken away from you?" she nodded while uncovering her face, returning back to sitting beside him and still not wanting to look at him.

"Yes, I'm afraid that you'll leave me…"

Tamotsu chuckled softly that could be heard warm to her reddened ears, he was wrapping her arms and pulling her closer to him. "Don't worry, you already have me and you're mine as well," he confessed while closing his eyes with a smile, keeping her close to him and laid his head on top of her head. "I'm glad you kissed me, thank you…" he opened his eyes when Yuki was watching them with satisfied look, he patted her head before he goes back to sleep beside her.

Shinoe smiled a little when she was engulfed in his arms and was resting beside him, she nodded at Yuki before she closed her eyes to sleep beside him with her hand on the fox's back. "So romantic, yet unromantic."

Kazuya commented while staring at them from the distance, folding his arms before Kaname elbowing his side. "You and Shizuki, how about that?" that alone made him scowled at him, they loved each other because he cared for her in all costs. "And you, with Yomi?"

"Hey, don't ask me back!"

"You're the one who started first, dimwit."

Shizuki patted on his shoulder and the water dragon turn around into facing her, his gaze did not change from earlier but ceased when it was her. "Should we wait for them or we wake him up?" she suggested when she smiled at them, Yomi also prepared some lunch for them. "I prepared roasted fish and onigiri for them~!" both of the gods stared at each other, with a lingering smirk appeared on their lips when they know what will they do this time.

Tamotsu was sleeping until his ears perked up by the scent of the fish, his eyes opened slowly when he saw none other than grinning Kaname. "Mi-ka-zu-ki, don't forget your favorite food is here~!" he scowled at him with fierce gaze under his white bangs, he seems to be annoyed that he disturbed both of them. "Kaname, you're going to wake her up."

Kazuya watched Yomi approached them and somewhat went along with him and his plan, he rolled his eyes when his focus went back to Shizuki who whispered something to him. His eyes widened when she told him to do that to them and he huffed with a smirk, knowing that it would work on them and he turn around to face them.