"What are you doing?" Shizuki asked while walking forward, being followed by the Dragon who was walking beside her after they left the chamber of the mountains. It makes her uncomfortable but helpless of her surroundings, the villagers didn't recognize Kazuya since he's in his human form so it's no big deal-but that's not the case. She doesn't want anyone else to recognize Kazuya--she didn't want to make them panicked of who he actually was.

"I'm not sure..." Kazuya answered with his serious face, when he was walking beside Shizuki, his black hair that tied in top-knot ponytail swaying as he walked beside her, his bangs almost framing the side of his forehead with his black bangs almost covered his pair of dark brown eyes and fell below his chin from his cheeks.

'How long do I have to keep an eye on him when he's following me everywhere... and he never wanted to leave my side... oh well, let's went along with it...' Shizuki thought, knowing that this is going to be an exhausting journey for her because Kazuya never wanted to be apart from her ever since they met in the mountain.

Shizuki stopped walking for a while as she looked up at Kazuya--who seems to be lost in thought--she looked at him when both of them in the village's main street where merchants and villagers were busy doing business during lunch break. "Are you okay?" she asked him, noticing how serious he was while walking behind her.

"I'm fine," Kazuya replied calmly with his serious face, "I just wanted to ask you," he added.

Shizuki looked at him curiously, "About what?" she asked him curiously while keeping her eyes on him, "Is there something bothering you?" Shizuki wondered if Kazuya sensed her thoughts because of his keen eyes.

"Nothing's wrong," Kazuya said softly, "I'm just trying to figure out how many years have passed since we last saw each other," he added, "because I don't remember anything from before that... I"ve been sealed for thousand years, yet I don't even remember any of it," he explained, "I don't know what I did before... how I felt... how my life was before... and now... everything's blank--as if I haven't lived in this world yet..."

'Even immortal god can't remember the past...?' Shizuki was surprised by Kazuya's confession, 'He must be really sad and lonely all those years,' she thought. "Are you regretting that you were brought back?" Shizuki blurted out of the sudden that startled her, she shook her head when she realized that she let the words out of her mouth. "Sorry... I didn't mean to say that... I was just surprised because the dragon is supposed to be merciless and not that sentimental about it... It was just a guess of mine," she stated firmly and shook her head apologetically.

"I'm not a dragon," Kazuya scoffed at the word 'dragon', his expression turned angry and stern, "I'm a young man named Kazuya," he informed her sternly, making his point clear to Shizuki. "I don't want to be known as a god or a dragon that everyone used to worship me... I'm done with it," he added firmly.

Shizuki frowned, before she apologized again, "Forgive me," Kazuya sighed when she said that again. "It would be nice to meet you sooner in your life instead of after you were trapped in that cave for over four hundred years," Shizuki admitted with a small smile, "it makes you more human."

"Don't make fun of me," Kazuya said, but his voice isn't cold this time--it was... softer and warmer--which was weird for her. "I know what you're thinking and feeling inside. It's written all over your face."

"That's..." Shizuki tried to answer him but failed due to being lost for words. "You know, you shouldn't talk too much about my appearance--just leave me alone," Kazuya added, looking away from her. Shizuki blinked twice, a comical startled look on her eyes when she stared at him--honestly Kazuya looked much younger when he's in his human form--he looks like he was in his early twenties despite living for thousand years old--even though Shizuki was far younger than him because she was eighteen years old. What? Don't judge, it's impossible for gods to age like normal human!

Kazuya ignored her curious gaze as he continued walking with his head held high. But something caught his attention when he walked past the markets. "I'm not making fun of you... I'm just surprised because you look younger than what you are... you're an immortal god after all, you lived longer than us humans," she admitted, huffing. "Also besides, you look handsome and beautiful in both forms--that's why I don't mind," she added, likewise with her usual playful and curious personality that Kazuya found irritating at first glance when he was released from his imprisonment. He was meant to be arrogant and prideful towards human beings. He would rather keep his distance away from humanity so that they would not interfere with his business in the village--it was his second nature.

Kazuya stopped abruptly and glanced back at the young warrior princess--raising his eyebrow with his stoic face--he wasn't convinced by her reassurance. "Are you sure?" he asked coldly. Shizuki blushed when he stared at her for a long moment with his sharp brown eyes--she was trying to ignore his cold glare, feeling uncomfortable and at the same time nervous of his presence as he walked forward. "Nevermind..." she grumbled, starting to get irritated.

They soon keep walking towards the market district, the Dragon was eyeing the casket of fishes from the shop. It seems like he couldn't get over it but wanted to eat those, Kazuya tugged on Shizuki's sleeve and made her stopped walking on her track, she turned around to face him. "What is it?" Shizuki asked him, wondering if he wanted to talk with her. He pointed his finger at the cage full of fishes, Shizuki tilted her head slightly, wondering what did he want to say, "is there something wrong?"

"I would like to buy one," he simply answered without looking back at her, Shizuki blinked once, she wasn't sure if she heard him correctly. Shizuki looked down on the ground, and sighed quietly. She realized that Kazuya doesn't carry money since he's an immortal god--how would they know how much he needs? Shizuki reached into her pouch and take out the few coins she have, she actually have so many cash so she decided not to waste it. "How many do you want the fish?" she asked, Kazuya's face immediately lighted up when she told him that, then he told her how many fish he wanted to buy. "As much as you can."

Shizuki twitched her eyebrows, staring at him with a slight frown thinking about his decision. She handed the shop owner a few coins after Kazuya pointed out the cage he wanted. Then, the man's son brought the fish out and gave them the fish with his bright smile, "here you go!"

It made Shizuki regretting her choice for letting him have as much as he can... but it was too late now... "Thanks," Kazuya whispered as his eyes twinkled with excitement when he received the bucket with all those fishes inside, he eagerly opened it and looked inside, it made Shizuki startled with that expression on his face. 'Why didn't I just get only one or two? But no... I have to give him what he wants because he wants them badly enough...' Shizuki thought, knowing Kazuya won't stop until he got what he wants.

"Oi!" Hayate suddenly climbing up into the box of crates, standing and facing both of them while trying not to fall. He was very mad, after finding out the Dragon was going with his childhood best friend and following her--he didn't know what happened after Kazuya brought Shizuki into the chamber as he hoped nothing bad... well it's nothing bad at all. "You bastard! Did you went with Shizuki-san everywhere?!" This made the villagers becoming uncomfortable even Shizuki does, she was about to stand up and scolding him. "Hayate, what are you doing here?! Aren't you supposed to be going with Haruka earlier?!" she snapped, he look down at her as he stumbled a bit behind his back, but trying to keep himself balanced. "I was looking for you, I can't let you get hurt because of him!"

Hayate was protective enough not just for Haruka, it makes her uncomfortable when he's around. Kazuya stared at Hayate with disinterested look as he sighed, approaching him who still standing before him. "My name is Ishikawa Hayate, I'm the General of this village, don't ever dare to--" Hayate continued until the Dragon pushed him off to the ground from the crate boxes, Shizuki wasn't surprised that Hayate did something stupid in this village--thankfully he deserved it since Kazuya pushed him off.

"Ughhh... damn it!" Hayate yelped as he fell on his bottom on the floor, he held himself while trying to stand up straight, he looked at Shizuki while rubbing his lower thigh. "Sorry Hayate, I hope the High Priestess Munakata will scold you for doing that..." Shizuki murmured, looking at Hayate and glaring at Kazuya. "You should be fine."

"Seriously...? You didn't hear what I said, right?! Isn't he dangerous?!" Hayate was worried about Shizuki's safety, "yeah, I know," Shizuki rolled her eyes as she grabbed hold of him from the crate before he can stand up, "but that is the past!" she answered in frustration and didn't realize that Kazuya staring at them, the Dragon didn't show any expression towards them yet his eyes speaks thousand word of emotions.

"That's what you get for annoying me, idiot," Kazuya remarked, before he turned to faced Shizuki, lending a hand for her. "Let's go, Shizuki."

Shizuki merely giving Kazuya a look of 'Really?' before she decided not to argue with him, letting herself to be pulled upwards on her feet, "You didn't have to push him though..." Shizuki deadpanned with an annoyed tone while walking away from Hayate.

Both of them got arrived inside the temple with the High Priestess sitting on the floor, along the Second; Saotome Renjou beside her. "You have arrived," Shizuki greeted both of the priestesses sincerely with the Second-in-Command scowled at the Dragon, Saotome isn't interested with an immortal. "I'm not surprised to see both of you in person," the Dragon mocked both priestesses, as if he was taunting them.

Munakata was scowling at him, she doesn't want to serve this individual and being looked down upon. "Silence, you have no right to speak again, Great Dragon of the North Mountain. Know your place," she demanded, but the dragon just laughed at her. Saotome stared at him to whisper some words to her superior Munakata, she nodded while not looking at Saotome--her eyes remained focus on Shizuki instead. "Come closer, Shizuki," she commanded.

Shizuki walked closer to the High Priestess and kneeled on her knees, bowing deeply to her. "Thank you for meeting me, High Priestess Munakata," Shizuki said respectfully and bowed again, before she stand up and stood beside Kazuya--before Munakata explained the situation. "Things hasn't goes well when the Sun Palace was informed about the death of Lord Yukimura's son, they were expecting a messenger from the Shogun himself, but he never came. Instead, a messenger from the Sun Palace told us that the Shogun has ordered us to send a new lord to replace Lord Yukimura's son--and this lord... is nothing but a despicable enough that he hated immortals, yokais, even anyone who is different from him. The Shogun had chosen someone who is loyal to him, who is obedient to his orders, who is strong enough to rule this country..." Munakata paused for a moment, before she continued. "He chose a man who hates us all..."

Shizuki's eyes widened in big surprise, after finding out the truth from the High Priestess. 'Is this true?' she thought, 'this is why he wants to kill me? Because of this?' She was about to ask the question but Munakata continued speaking. "Not only that, the Shogun also looking for something... a heirloom of Kasuga clan, you're one of the clan right, Shizuki?" Shizuki nodded at Munakata, which made Saotome surprised but not for Kazuya--who remained indifferent mostly because of the two priestesses in front of him.

"Yes, I am," Shizuki answered with a nod, "The heirloom of Kasuga clan is Iridescent Pearl; a powerful marble-sized pearl that contains the immense power to one of us possessing it. Many elders entrusted us to guarding the relic, who were my parents and my entire family until, the tragedy happens..." Shizuki explained, looking up at both of them. "The Emperor of Akatsuki fell in love with my mother before took her as his wife, but my mother didn't love him-he's just using her for that pearl. That's when she got paired with the previous military general during their expedition together, none other than my father-they fell in love. I don't know what do they looks like or what happened to them, all I know was their story from my uncle… I was the illegitimate child of them."

Saotome was stunned hearing her story, she couldn't believe her ears. She thought she was lying, but she was telling the truth. "So, what does the Shogun wants with the heirloom of Kasuga clan?" Saotome asked, Shizuki nodded. "The heirloom contains a powerful magic that can control the yokais, the yokai--but more importantly, it can change the fate of this land," she explained, "that's why the Shogun wants to get his hands on it, but unfortunately we lost our last guardian of the relic--only myself as the last heiress to keep the pearls... there are seven of them but five are hidden... I have one."

Munakata saw Shizuki take out her scallop shell compact with the red cosmetic like a lip balm, there was a red pearl--the Iridescent Pearl on the cosmetic. The pearl was beautiful, it was glowing with light and it was shining brightly--it's as if it's calling for the attention of everyone present in the room. "I have it with me," Shizuki said, showing the pearl to the High Priestess and the Second. Kazuya seems to be astonished, he didn't know Shizuki actually has it--no wonder she has the power to break the seal of the sealed immortal gods--even himself from that cave. "I can't let this fall on the wrong hands, so I had to keep it to myself," Shizuki explained, "I know how dangerous it is, but I don't know what else to do... I have no choice, I must protect it at any cost."

Saotome stared at the pearl, she wanted to touch it but she knows she shouldn't--it was belonged to Shizuki and the power was already part of Shizuki's ability to break any kind of seals, even the seal of immortality itself. Saotome knew she should be careful with this heirloom, because it could bring great danger to her life. "I see..." Munakata nodded, before she folded her hands on her lap. "I want you to break the seals of the seal of immortality from the slumbering gods, ever since Yuzuki--the priestess who sealed all of them away--we needed to release them. We need to free them and make sure they won't be used by anyone, especially by the Shogun."

Kazuya absolutely hated it when his former lover's full name is mentioned, remembering what the priestess did to him as she sealed him away after betraying him in the past. He glared at the High Priestess and the Second, making them flinch. "Why would I help you? You betrayed me once, I'll never trust you again," he spat at the High Priestess. "You're sided with Yuzuki, right?" Munakata sighed, before she shake her head. "Yuzuki and I are meant to be enemies, she was selfish enough to love an immortal god and she was willing to sacrifice everything for that--including her own daughter. I'm not like her, I don't care about anything except for saving my people."

Kazuya narrowed his eyes at the High Priestess, he can't believe she's not afraid of him--Shizuki knew that Yuzuki did something that made him upset--even though she has similar features and appearance to Yuzuki despite never meeting her; both of them shared different personalities. Yuzuki was elegant and proper lady-like--she has pure heart but her attitude isn't as flexible--which means she's cold and a bit arrogant even as a priestess, but Shizuki has bigger heart and hope even humble and forgiving--she's kind-hearted, understanding and caring with hope and desire to save everyone--she's willing to listen and respect other people even immortal god like Kazuya.

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Shizuki was confused with the sudden change of mood between the two, but she kept quiet and listened carefully--she doesn't want to interrupt the conversation. "I understand your anger towards me, I've done many mistakes in the past--I'm sorry for that," Munakata apologized, but Kazuya only let out a scoff. "You're late as always, Munakata," he said, folding his arms. "At first... you should have been here earlier, I don't want to waste time talking to you."

"I know you don't like me, but I need your help," Munakata pleaded, "I have no choice but to ask for your assistance."

"Be quick," Kazuya demanded, folding his arms.

Saotome sighed before she turned to Shizuki, who was listening to them as she spoke to her. "The Dragon will accompany you, both of you have to work together when you want to do your missions. You and the dragon must leave to West Mountain in Kagerou--where the land god was sealed by Yuzuki thousand years ago--please prepare yourself," Shizuki nodded at the Second, then she bowed again to Munakata. "Thank you for your kindness, High Priestess Munakata. I promise I'll come back soon with the seal of immortality broken."

***

"I hope you'll be careful out there!"

Haruka wished for their luck despite being intimidated by Kazuya, both of them had to pack up at early morning, the agenda is quite a rush but Kazuya and Shizuki already prepared from the start. "It's okay Haruka, we'll be alright," Shizuki said with a smile, she tried to make the atmosphere lighten up so they'll be better. They were in Haruka's machiya house, preparing the supply bag and stocks they needed for the journey. "Is this how humans always do?"

Kazuya asked when he was seeing Shizuki putting a meals and supplies inside the supply bag, he doesn't get used to what humans do. "Humans usually travel light--we don't need much stuffs to survive," Shizuki answered, sighing. "But... I thought this is necessary for our mission."

Kazuya shook his head, looking away from them. "Seriously, humans are weird creatures," he said. The Dragon was standing on his spot, he also keep repeating the same thing about it, he looks stressed when he doesn't get it and refuses to try. Shizuki told him repeatedly to wait for awhile which constantly bothered him.

"For goodness sake! It was only one time and now you keep asking me if I have enough supplies!" Shizuki reprimanded Kazuya in the background when they talked about the unnecessary things and supply bags--Haruka was startled when she overheard their conversation from the kitchen. Hayate's jaw dropped in shock, he felt like his world is falling apart; he thought he can rely on her and now she's saying things that is impossible. "Hayate, let's count on that--he didn't do anything bad to her," Haruka said as she scowled at him, which made Hayate given up at his childhood friend Haruka.

After that, they bed farewell and left the village-the Dragon huffed while he walked beside Shizuki, at the thought of doing a quest like this, making her a bit less concerned about being selfless. It was heavy like a ton of bricks she's carrying behind her back, and it hurts her so much and even bothers her. Kazuya seems doesn't care about it, and looks like he's enjoying to see himself doesn't have a slight of pressure in him. But why does Shizuki couldn't complain to him like this? Or maybe she was being pressured by a supply bag behind her back? The warrior princess grunts while walking beside him. "What's the matter?"

Kazuya asked her when he heard her grunts, looking at her. "Do you need help?"

Shizuki shook her head, doesn't want to rely on him or even pressuring the Dragon, "I don't need your help, I can do it by myself," she was looking forward and not looking at him. "I can bear it all by myself, I don't need anyone else's help," she said, determination appeared on her eyes. "I mean... it doesn't bother me much... it's nothing," Shizuki lied, the weight and the burden of it actually bothers her enough to keep her quiet. However, the Dragon wasn't convinced, she has a different aura to him. "Are you sure?"

Shizuki looked down at the ground, feeling relieved that he's not angry at her anymore. Shizuki only nodded without saying anything and she know the consequences after all, they went passing by the random village reminded of his past life is sickens him, that revenge is his trigger point to unleash his anger. He was calm and cold at some point in his life, passing through the village and towards the hill--the West Mountain was far, they had to ride on a cart of the farmer. Shizuki stared at Kazuya's calm expression, as if he was thinking of something in his mind, what was he actually hiding from her? It makes her curious even more.

Kazuya was sitting in front of her, while she's sitting with her legs hanging below and off from the ground. Shizuki was collecting some pollens from the flowers she collected from the grasses, even the hills from earlier. Soon, they got arrived in Taiyou Village, Kagerou Region near the West Mountain, it was far from Tsuki Village and Shizuki thanked the farmer as she watched him left. Kazuya stood beside her with crossed arms as his sleeves could be seen almost reaching the ground, then she turned to face the village which made her eyes widened. "Wait… this is my uncle's home village," she murmured.

"Hearing your surname reminds me of a village where it was near the West Mountain, this is where my friend was being sealed away by her," he said. Shizuki gulped as she didn't want to make him mad, but she couldn't help but to ask this question. "You mean 'her' is…?" Kazuya narrowed his eyes, how he hated to hear that name who has sealed him for thousand years. That memory makes him want to get to the point of Shizuki going to apologize, but he tried his best not to be angry at that. "Yes, that's right," he said, "that's why I hate her so much..."

'Yuzuki must've done something that made him upset... I feel bad though...' Shizuki thought, but the pressure behind her back while carrying her supply bag is making her hurted a bit, the Dragon does not seems care about the supply bag, even though he knew she's very strong to handle it by herself.

The pathaway to the mountain is stacking and no one was able to got up there, only warriors and gifted individuals such as priestesses could walk up there. Panting by walking up the stone stairs towards the cave. Shizuki began to adjusts her position to carry her supply bag, they arrived at the top in the cave where it has a sealed cave. "Aren't you tired yet? We can rest here if you want to refill."

"I'm fine, I'm not tired just yet."

Kazuya avert his eyes when he reached out his hand to held her shoulder, then began to grabbed her wrist. "Let's take a rest."

"I don't trust you, you might not wanting to go home alone after resting with me," Shizuki protested. They stared at each other and both shared a glared-looking stare. "What? Do you have any power to do so?"

Kazuya asked as he smirked delightfully and that alone made her pried away her wrist from him, then she dropped the supply bag below the feet of her, "good point," she said. Then he gestured her to follow him while knowing she followed closely from his own step, as it was leading towards the black cave with no lights. Shizuki sat down on the stone while opening the the horsekin of fresh water, she was gulping them to keep her energy up. The Dragon turns to heading towards the sealed cave, filled with the seals all over the iron bars, he shake his head as he turns his direction to look at her then at the cave. "Do you know anyone in this village who know about this?"

"Yes, it's none other than…"

"Shizuki!"

"… my uncle."

The man with a dark brown hair and sky-blue eyes catching up to both of them, wearing his Chief of Resistance Warriors' robes. It was her father's younger brother; Ryusei Kasuga and he hugged his niece in affectionate, this made her surprised that he suddenly appeared from nowhere. "U-Uncle Ryusei?"

Ryusei chuckled when he let go of her and patted her head, then she stood in front of him when he greeted her. "Long time no see, Shizuki… uncle has been worried about you," he glanced at the Dragon, to whom that his friend talking about. "You must be the Dragon of the North," Kazuya scowled at him, almost like a daggers at him. "That's none of your business human, I came here not for the fun time."

Ryusei stepped back with his hands up, it's difficult to deal with the Dragon of the North Mountain. The Dragon was like a dry ice that doesn't melt very easily, even he's protective but worse-overprotective. "I believe that you're here for your friend to be released, right?"

"That's why I need a help from your niece."

Kazuya placed his hand on his hip, Shizuki wasn't sure about her ability to unseal the statue. There'll be a risk for her to give it a try first, besides she needs someone to train her. "The young priestess of the West Mountain, Yomi will help you," Ryusei implied to them, then he stared back at his niece Shizuki. "Don't worry, she's a nice person and know how to know your ability-I'm sure she can train you."

Shizuki's eyes sparkled when he said there's someone just like her will train her, the Dragon felt relieved that it was actually a priestess with spiritual power. Ryusei turned to look at the princess who went up to the mountain top, smiling slightly at the sight of her. "There she is…"

There's a black-haired youthful woman, with a youthul look like about her twenties. The maiden has a hime-style black long hair that reached beyond her back and framed her forehead- almost covering her eyes, she has a two ribbons that tied her hair bangs behind her ears and fell in front of her chest. Yomi has a light fair skin an wore a white kimono with sode-kukuri through the sleeves and open shoulder, with a long sleeves that extends from her hands. The color of her kosode was white and red, with her furisode has a white, red, pink and green color. Also she wore a white tabi and pair of zori, the golden strings called muna-himo were attached to each lapel and her red obi was tied in the front of keep the garment closed. "Yomi! There you are!"

Ryusei greeted her with a bow, along Shizuki bowed at her while Kazuya didn't really do it. The Dragon never greeting some humans properly, however it won't going to last long when it was Yomi. "Were you looking for me, Ryusei-sama?"

Yomi asked with a gentle smile on her lips, holding her staff when Ryusei stated what happened. "This Dragon want to see his friend who got sealed thousand years ago, I've told him that he cannot get inside unless if he knows the way and how to unseal it."

"You are so kind, thank you so much!"

The young priestess kneeled before Kazuya then gave him a bow, then she stood up and faced towards the Dragon--while Shizuki nodded at her, seeing her that she was around her age--eighteen that is. "Excuse me--sorry if I bother you but… will you train me how to use my ability, Yomi?" Yomi tilted her head, before she smiled humbly to her. "I will, so please allow me to train you."

***

Yomi went towards the sealed cave with many spirit tags, wrarpped around the iron bars. Then she closed her eyes and chanting a spell through her lips, with her palm was facing forward the iron bars, a pink energy could be seen surrounding her form. Shizuki watched how she released the energy from her body, concentrating in opening the seals of the cave. It was successful, the iron bars has disappeared as she turn around and smiled at them gently, "This way, Kazuya-sama."

Kazuya nodded at her in response, he lend a hand towards Shizuki and said to her. "Come with me," Shizuki held his hand without saying anything that there's nothing she should fear of, she learned how to be brave and take decisions quickly. Both of them went inside, while Yomi keep a guard with Ryusei. "Will this be okay?" he asked her, the significant other answered. "It'll be okay," the warrior crossed his arms, tilting his head as he tried to reconsider it.

Yomi closed both of her eyes before she open them again, rubbing her chin when she mumbled. "I'm doubting if Shizuki is Yuzuki's reincarnation," she look down with a frown, imagining the last time she look at her. "I wonder why, but her eyes almost similar to her…"

Meanwhile, Shizuki and Kazuya was approaching the land god statue of his old friend, the Dragon of of the West and the land god of earth and nature. Kazuya was a god of rain and snow, both of them are part of the Four Elemental Gods. "Murasaki…" he mumbled his name as he held onto the iron bar, frowning slightly.

"Did Yuzuki sealed him too?"

"Apparently she did."

Kazuya responded with cold tone of his voice, he despised how his former lover has done to his immortal allies. Why didn't Yomi harmed by Yuzuki? It was a question that hasn't been answered, there's something that Yuzuki hiding from him even it was a mystery to Shizuki.

Shizuki slowly stepping towards the iron bars, taking out her katana from the sheath and focused on her energy. All she remembered that she was focused to her katana, a red energy came up from her body and burning off the metals; destroying the bars, closing her eyes she starts to do what she did from the North Mountain. So that Kazuya could check what happened to her, he saw the red energy appeared around her body and he was averting his eyes-it was similar to what he sensed about Yuzuki.

Kazuya watched Ryusei and Yomi has entered inside, he avert his eyes then turns to Shizuki-until he saw her had breaking off the metal bars. His eyes widened that she was panting heavily after doing that, Shizuki stepped back as she saw the bars had destroyed with a high heat. "D-Did I…?"

"Your spiritual power, it was unusual."

Yomi explained, with her flat expression stay intact, she never seen someone like her has that some kind of spiritual power. A warrior princess to be at least, a rare one in fact and could see the cherry blossom petals across her. "Tomorrow, the ritual to release the Dragon will begun but I will do it," she stated, while Ryusei stated with standing beside her, "Let's get back to the village, Shizuki come with me."

Kazuya, was quite disinterested with Shizuki's uncle, but he has to bear with the case. "I'll be right away, make sure that Shizuki won't get hurt. I know I can trust you."

"Thank you, Kazuya-sama."

Shizuki grinned happily when she bowed at him, much to her dismay it seems like she was being nice to him. "Thank you, Kazuya!" his expression softens when she thanked him, not facing to Yomi but to her instead. Shizuki always keep herself curious why would he was being kind to her, but she will keep that in mind and ask Yomi why. Yomi was the person who knows Kazuya very well before she encountered with a human woman, whom he used to love in the past.

The two girls were in the field far from the mountain, the maiden was going to train her how to control her spiritual energy. "Concentrate on your power, keep your eyes closed until you can control the heat."

Yomi demanded while watching her in the training ground of the shrine, almost far from the top of the cave. Shizuki was concentrating on her red energy around her body through her katana, she could feel the energy surrounds her hand and could feel a bit heated on her skin. Shizuki took a deep breath as she opens her eyes, she sighed deeply-trying not to lose her concentration. "Keep doing like that~!" she shouted happily with a smile, causing Shizuki to lose her balance as her red energy disappeared. That was because she was distracted by her voice, she whined at her but in rather annoyed expression. "Yomi, You made me lose my concentration!"

Yomi chuckled softly while realizing her mistake, making her comically staring at her with a frown. "Sorry about that, I couldn't help but to cheer you up," she smiled when she clasped her fingers, opening her eyes. "I'd like to get to know you, Shizuki… because you've been with Kazuya and I heard you're his fianceé."

"H-Huh?" Shizuki felt her face went red, before she covered her mouth with both of her hands.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine--I mean yes."

Shizuki replied with a nod, still feeling embarrassed of the situation. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," Yomi said with a soft chuckle, she was a gentle priestess--she's eighteen-years old like Shizuki and it made Shizuki relieved that Yomi is on the same age like her. Yomi's expression was serious with concern for Shizuki's feeling, but she had the ability to see what happened to her when she was trying to unseal the dragon god statue. They were seen walking together along the street to the hot spring to take a bath, "So, uhm… Yomi," she glanced at her who walked beside her, their height almost matched. "How long have you known Kazuya?"

"I met him when I was eleven," Yomi responded, rubbing her chin. "He's a bit of… serious and cold from the outside, but soft on the inside. Kazuya-sama never shows compassion, except the one who has released him from his thousand years' sealing," she stated to her, she was too honest for her words even to her friends. "That human woman was his first love, until the tragedy struck. That alone makes him angered that she betrayed him by sealing him, Yuzuki was a powerful priestess--I don't know what reason that made her wanted to seal Kazuya--and all I know that Yuzuki passed away with her child... after that, Kazuya never forgave her..."

"She's...?"

"Yes."

Shizuki looked down sadly, she wondered if Kazuya knew if Yuzuki had a child--but turns out the child died within her after she betrayed Kazuya. "Is that why he hates humans so much?"

Yomi nodded, before she added. "Yes… but he doesn't hate you, Shizuki."