It’s been two months. Two months, and she still avoids me. Maybe I pushed her too far with that kiss. I tried calling her, but she won’t return my calls, so I don’t try anymore. She won’t even come near me in school, and if I come near her, she moves away from me. I wish she would let me explain, but she won’t even speak to me, not one word. I’d be happy if she yelled at me and threatened to purify me … something. It’s as if she shut herself off from me and everything else. I shouldn’t have expected so much from her so soon after having her back in my life again. But, I couldn’t help myself with her oh-so-soft and appealing lips as she panted for breath. 

Even the lowest of yokai couldn’t resist such a sight as her.

Goddess, I still taste her even now, sweet and delicious…if I close my eyes, I can still feel her soft body pressed against mine. I wonder whether she misses me as much as I miss her. It was only one night and one kiss, but by Goddess, I need more. I crave more.

Thinking about her delicious body leads me back to the strips on her arms. I did some research in the school’s library they have some very rare books. In the times before ningen and yokai started to coexist together, when a yokai took a ningen mate, the ones with some kind of powers changed and lived as long as their yokai mate. Over the years, the change only occurred in one out of every forty ningen; now the change is so rare it almost never happens, a one out of a hundred thousand chance. I also found out that they have to have some yokai blood in them already, and that in itself is a rare thing as well. Hanyou are born half Ningen, half yokai, but look more yokai than Ningen, not the other way around……

On advice from my father, I went to see Lord Ryuu. It turns out his father is a friend of my father. We talked about many things, especially Luna. It would seem Ryuu knows most of everything there is to know about her. I found out some shocking things about my dark Angel. I doubt anyone knows those things. I cannot even write most of them down. In addition, the things she has done for him over the years are above and beyond the duty of a miko. She is in every sense of the word his sister.

I can’t think straight knowing what I found out about the woman I love. She has to be strong with what she survived over the years; who could survive that? I have to write this, I have to get it off my mind.

 How does a ningen survive their mate’s death? From what I heard from Lord Ryuu, their bond was stronger than most. And she had to watch as he died in her arms; she could do nothing as he faded away. Foster the yokai I met when she was being tested. 

Ryuu said she was six when they met and ten when he marked her. Foster was young and lost control. They never completed the bond. Then why was it so strong? It gets stranger because if it wasn’t complete, then why the changes, and how was their bond so strong?

 Ryuu said they could complete each other’s sentences and feel one another’s emotions from miles away. It was as if they were twins, never having to speak in order to express their thoughts to one another.

No ningen ever documented to have a yokai mate survived the death of their mate … none. And none ever showed the traits Ryuu spoke about. I have to wonder what kept her alive. But none will talk about it.

My angel hasn’t been living life, she’s been hiding from it……..

Signed Off. . . .

 Turning off his laptop, he called to his father to enter, but kept quiet, watching him as his mind went once again to Luna. He prayed to the Goddess; she was all right. Tyr was about to speak when his cell phone rang. Looking at his ID, he saw it was his brother. He sighed, excusing himself for a moment, and he flipped open the phone only to be assaulted by a screaming Linda. After a few moments of her ranting, he coldly stated he’d be right there. After telling his father he would talk to him later, he took off to the school to find out what was happening to Gram.

He arrived on campus within an hour, his headlights shining on a bloody scene. Tyr quickly jumped from his car, not even closing the door as he rushed over to Gram.

Gram was unconscious, his white shirt and hair matted with blood, his face and clothes covered in bloody slashes. His breathing was slow to the point of being nonexistent, along with his slow-beating heart. Tyr growled toward the sobbing girl, not taking his eyes off Gram.

“What the hell happened here?” Linda sat rocking next to Gram, holding her cheek.

“That wolf Kage they fought…Gram cut the wolf up pretty bad than…..the field was covered in some kind of purple gas. Som-Something was holding Gram down; I couldn’t see it. Kage struck him over and over again,” she sobbed. But Tyr knew she was lying. Kage would never attack Gram, and everyone knew this. He could tell there was something she wasn’t telling him, but what?

“What were you doing during all of this? You’re a miko, right? Fix this,” he hissed. 

Linda really didn’t want to tell Tyr about how Gram caught her with Cass. But somehow she could tell he didn’t believe her. But she didn’t care as long as she had Gram wrapped around her finger; that’s all that mattered.

Tyr said nothing as he watched the miko move closer to his half-brother. Her hands glowed purple as she placed them on his chest for a moment. Nothing happened. Then Gram arched up, letting loose a howl of pain as she poured her holy energy into his body.

Gram started to shake violently as his pained howls grew in volume, echoing around the empty campus. Sweat poured from his body as his clawed hands clenched into fists.

Tyr had had enough. He and Gram really didn’t get along, but he would not stand by and see him hurt like this. Before Linda could blink or get another word out, Tyr had her up in his clawed hand, wrapped around her throat, and she hung in the air, gasping for breath. The purple glow of her hands died out as she clawed at his hand, trying to get free.

“What did you do?” he growled out as his eyes bled red. He shook her, but his hold on her throat eased a little when he found she couldn’t talk.

“I don’t…know…I can’t…” he shook her again as his growls grew.

“What do you…mean you…don’t know?”

“I….I…Can’t…help..him,” she sobbed as he threw her to the ground. Looking over at his half-brother, his thoughts raced. ‘How am I to help you? Who can I get to help you?’ Blue/brown eyes flashed in his mind as his yokai whined the name of the goddess they both loved. He quickly lifted Gram and carried him to his car, putting him in the passenger seat. He heard Linda saying something, but paid her no mind. Gram’s pained-filled whines filled his ears as he jumped into the driver’s seat and drove off. 

He drove as quickly as possible, finding the shrine, he pulled up to the driveway. Pausing for a moment ‘What if she won’t help him? What if she turned them away?’ He shook his head, ” No, she isn’t like that, she will help.’ the creature within him growled, trying to clear away Tyr’s doubts. Lifting Gram from the car, he saw Linda drive up and park behind him. He heard her questioning him again, but still, he paid her no mind, half-carrying his half-brother up to the door and leaning on the doorbell.

---

Luna had just come from a hot shower as she started to put out the things for her dinner. As she reached for the plate and glass, the doorbell sounded. At first, she ignored it, thinking whoever it was would go away. Repeatedly, it sounded. She sighed, ‘whoever it is must be in a hurry or real trouble’. Using her energy, she reached out searching for the aura of whoever it was. What she found was shocking: three panicked yet very familiar auras, making her rush to the door. 

She took a deep breath, tightening the slash of her robe, and she threw open the door. The fluttering in her soul made her stop as she came face to face with a red-eyed Tyr holding up a barely conscious Gram, and an angry Linda behind them both, glaring daggers at her. 

For a moment, she only stared at him, the doubt in his red eyes cutting her to the core. His low whine caught her off guard. She stepped aside, letting him enter the shrine for the first time in months.

Lying Gram on the sofa and looking back at Luna as she entered the room behind him, followed slowly by Linda. She looked up at him, waiting for him to speak.

“A fight…poisoned”, he growled out, stepping back and letting her draw closer to his half-brother. 

Luna shook off the effect his eye-red gaze had on her as she used her aura to search over Gram for the poison. She gasped ‘How is it possible he inhaled it? …strange’ she looked again at the now growling red-eyed yokai as he stared at Linda. Who was now moving closer to them while still staring angrily at Luna.

Linda didn’t like this at all. First, he ignored all her questions, but now he brought them here to the bitches home. She looked around the room in disgust ‘who was this bitch to own such nice things? When I the more powerful and beautiful one, still lives’ at home,’ she tried to get closer to Gram, but the growling Tyr stopped her in her tracks, making her move back. Linda sighed and walked back across the room, and took a seat watching them. ‘When the bitch fails, I’ll just step in to remove the poison. Besides, no one can remove Cass’s misam so easily, the bitch’s not that powerful’

“Watch her,” Luna whispered, not knowing if he heard her till she saw the slight shake of his head. She took a few deep breaths to prepare herself. As her hands glowed blue, she placed them on his lower chest, right under his lungs, as her hands sank into his chest. Pouring her energy into his lungs, she moved her hands upward, trying to get the poison to move. 

Gram arched up as if in pain, then his clawed hands wrapped her arms as if to move them. The arms of her robe quickly became stained with blood as his claws dug into her arms. 

Tyr turned to them quickly, smelling blood. His eyes widened, seeing his half-brother’s claws digging into Luna’s arms. The look on her face was determined as if she didn’t feel a thing. ‘I’ll kill him for hurting her,’ the creature within him growled. He turned back to Linda; he’ll deal with his half-brother later; for now, he had to keep an eye on Linda.

As he opened his mouth as if to howl in pain, Luna covered his mouth with her own. A blue glow could be seen shining from her mouth. She took a deep breath to bring the poison into her own body before he could breathe it in again. 

Linda shot out of the chair as Luna’s mouth covered Gram’s, but a nasty growl from Tyr made her sit back down. As he turned back to the two, his eyes widened again. It shook him for a minute as a pain flowered in his chest, watching Luna’s mouth cover his half-brothers like a kiss. He wanted to snatch her away from his brother, but something told him she was helping him, so he didn’t move. But his yokai ranted and raged from its mental cage, wanting to rip his brother to shreds. It tried to push its way out; it took all of Tyr’s willpower to get his yokai under control, but even he had to agree he didn’t like the scene one bit.

Gram fell back onto the sofa, his hands going slack, releasing her from his brutal grip. His color returned, and his breathing evened out as if sleeping. All his wounds flared pink and sealed up. Only a small noise came from him as Luna removed her hands and sat back on her knees. 

Her head felt heavy as she purified what was left of the poison from his system. A slight headache was setting in as well as the aching of her bleeding arms, but she stayed by his side for a few more minutes to make sure he was all right and trying to shake his memories from her mind.

Luna jumped from the floor and ran into the kitchen sounds of her vomiting echoed back through the quiet shrine. She washed her face and tried to calm her racing heart. For a moment, a few stray images from Gram’s mind drifted through her mind.

However, they stopped when she felt a slight touch on her shoulder. Luna turned to the still red-eyed yokai as he gently wiped the water from her face with a napkin. She sighed as his low growl soothed her jagged nerves and calmed the raging headache. This time, she didn’t question it, but let it happen. 

Tyr said nothing, content to watch her eyes close as if drawing some kind of comfort from him, for which he was glad. He stroked her cheek lovingly, trying to lend her some of his strength. 

She didn’t move or respond as he caught her wrist, raising her arm to his mouth, licking the bloody wounds his half-brother left. A small noise she made caught his interest and flamed his desire for her as he moved to the next arm, cleaning off the blood. 

Her eyes opened as his growl changed. They stared deep into one another’s eyes. She watched fascinated as the red faded from his eyes. The feeling in her soul bloomed again, almost painfully, along with the need to reach out and touch him.

For the last two months, it has been but a dull ache; now it flared to life-threatening, to drown her at this very moment. She wanted nothing more than to run and hide, but something in her was keeping her from moving as if what was happening was right, like it was supposed to happen, but still she doubted.

Tyr stroked her cheek again, staring into her eyes, wanting nothing more than to pull her into a kiss, once again tasting her sweet lips. He had missed her so much; just being around her brightened his day. He knew once again he was pushing it, but for once she didn’t look at him coldly, and for at least that he was grateful. The look in her eyes was so warm and inviting, almost as if welcoming him home; the hope of once again being with her burned to life in him again.

Luna didn’t know why, but at this very moment, she admitted to herself she loved the golden amber of his eyes. What was stranger still was that she let herself feel it. Then, as if on cue, she slid back into the numb blanket she wrapped herself in for so long.

He had to pull himself away from her eyes as they turned cold again. He knew the moment was over. He sighed inwardly as he went to check on Gram, who was now sitting up, looking around strangely.

He spoke, feeling Tyr enter the room.

“Hey, Tyr, where the hell are we? What happened anyway?”

“Luna’s,’” he answered, ignoring the rest of his question.

“She lives… here?” he spoke in disbelief, coloring his voice and taking in the room around him.

The walls and floor were done in some kind of dark oak that gleamed in the light of the fireplace. The sofa he sat on, along with the chairs, was all black leather with white pillows placed on them. 

Shaggy white rugs lay in front of the sofa and fireplace. White curtains blew in the breeze, adorning the windows, but only two paintings hung on the walls. His half-brother’s voice brought him out of the inspection of the room as he focused back on him.

“Yes, she does. Is that how you show respect to someone who saved your life?”

“Saved me……you could just have had Linda help me”

“She tried to fool and almost killed you,” Tyr growled out of the corner of his eye. He saw Linda moving closer to Gram. She hugged him, whispering something, and he jerked away, training his angry eyes on her.

“WHAT YOU LIED TO ME YOU WEAK -”

“She just got lucky, is all. I am stronger than her any day. I was just tried today from… helping you fight off Kage remember Gram-baby,” she smiled, trying to calm him and get him to believe her. It seemed as though he did so, her smile widened.

They all shivered at the powerful aura coming their way.

Luna said nothing as she watched them, but her look said it all; the look told them all that words couldn’t and left back to the kitchen, leaving Linda and Gram shaken.

“Linda, drive Gram home. Gram tell father I won’t be home tonight,” he walked them to the door and closed it before either could reply, then went in search of Luna. He noticed she had on a different robe as she sat down at the table, eating a sandwich with a glass of iced tea next to it. Then he saw another setting across from her, and he took a seat.

“Thank you,” he said as he sat and ate. She knew what he meant but said nothing. It was then she noticed he was still wearing the clothing he had gotten from her last time he was there. Inwardly, it made her happy for reasons she didn’t want to admit. Nevertheless, she said nothing as they ate, then he sat and drank his iced tea, watching as she cleaned up.

 He growled inwardly, agreeing with his yokai as they watched her move about the kitchen. Her black robe reached mid-thigh and looked to be made of silk sliding across her skin like a caress. The kimono-style sleeves were decorated with silver paw prints. Her long raven hair hung in a thick braid down her back, while wet curls clung to her face. ‘So exotic, like she was made for sex. . .and those legs sexy,’ but he stopped listening to his yokai, as she bent over slightly exposing the strips on her thighs. ‘So she does have stripes there, why not on her ankles as well…but still, I wonder?’ he shook his head, knowing if he thought any more about her body, she might throw him out.

They worked on their project again, saying very little to one another. Once again, it got late, and he stayed the night, once again settling in the room he now called his.

Luna didn’t ask why he stayed; she didn’t even ask why he had brought Gram here to her, of all people. However, for some odd reason, she felt at ease with him here as if he had always been here in her home. 

---

Luna jumped awake with a scream, her back on fire. Thunder boomed, then the flash of lightning lit up the room. Her heart raced as she broke into a cold sweat while she panted for breath. The male voice was so loud it drowned out everything but the thunder. She didn’t notice the crash of her bedside lamp when she fell from the bed. 

Tyr was coming from the kitchen when he heard the noise like something falling. Standing in front of Luna’s door, he knocked and entered when she didn’t answer.

He entered as lightning lit up the room, once again, he saw her on the floor on her side, whimpering, her arms wrapped around her knees.

He quickly went to her, calling her name, but got no answer from her. Thunderstruck again, he watched as her whole body stiffened up as if feeling some kind of pain, then she let out a scream.

‘Not again, please not again’

The lightning lit up a small dark room with a little dark-hair girl lying on the floor. Her little body shook under the force of hitting the floor. A tall male stood over the child with a cruel smile on his twisted face.                                                                                                            

A leather belt covered in blood sliced through the air.

Thunderstruck, she screamed as the strap struck her back… Lightning flashed as the male voice yelled, ‘You’re nothing, you ugly, disgusting bitch. You should never have been born, little bitch’ than the crushing feeling of a boot in her back. She screamed as much as her little voice would let her. Thunderstruck, and the strap fell again and again. Her back was on fire, but she cried out, yet she refused to let one teardrop. She wouldn’t let him know how he tore her apart. The strap again struck her back as she screamed out, telling him what he wanted to hear.

Tyr didn’t know what to do for her as she whimpered in pain. When he touched her, she screamed out. 

“I AM SORRY… DADDY… I’LL BE GOOD”

Again, his eyes widen ‘just what is she dreaming? What is causing you so much pain, my Angel?’

 Nothing he tried worked. She only screamed out as he touched her as if it was hurting her. He drew back as the lightning once again lit up the room. She just drew up her legs tighter as if trying to disappear. The strap of her nightgown slipped from her shoulder, revealing to his eyes the tops of what looked like three whip marks. They ran from the top of her shoulder, disappearing under the gown. 

‘What the…?’ he clenched his fist angrily, staring at the marks that stared back at him. Making up his mind and putting aside any questions that ran through his mind, he drew her into his arms, rocking her like a child. Tyr didn’t notice the soft growling that rumbled from his chest as his mind raced. 

A soft noise echoed through her ear, drowning out the thunder. Her eyes fluttered open, for which she was grateful, the dream still fresh in her mind, and she shivered. Tyr looked down, hearing her sigh, he almost smirked seeing the content look on her face as she twirled a lock of his silver hair between her fingers. The growl stopped, and thunder once again threatened to draw her back into the world of nightmares. Fanatic, she clutched his t-shirt, shaking. 

“Please.. .please don’t stop, please,” confused, he gave in to her plea, and once again his growl echoed through her.

“It’s okay, it’s just a storm,” he whispered softly in her ear, stroking her hair. She whimpered, burying her face farther into his chest. His grip on her tightened as she started to shake again, the scent of her fear and pain filling the room. He tried his best to soothe her, but nothing seemed to work. He lifted her to the bed and climbed in with her. She pulled him closer to her and placed her head on his chest, still listening to his low growl, covering her other ear with her hand. She calmed a bit as his growl grew louder, but still whimpered, drawing as close to him as possible.

“Luna, talk to me, tell me how I can help you?” he questioned softly; the worry he felt didn’t show. He was trying to be as calm as possible, hoping it would be enough to calm her.

Even the creature within him worried for the angel they loved. 

She jumped at every strike of lightning, even his growling didn’t seem to drown out all the boom of the thunder. 

The pain seemed to seize her heart, flashes of days long passed raced before her eyes. It would seem she couldn’t rest, even now, after so long, the pain threatened to tear her apart. She cursed herself for being weak; she cursed herself for having to lean on Tyr and appearing so weak.

“There’s nothing you can do,” her voice tortured and low as if she had been crying and wailing for days. Tyr frowned and pulled her closer until her whole body lay on his. She was trembling so much he thought she was going to break down and cry. 

He wanted to make everything okay, but didn’t know how, so for the moment, he settled for stroking her hair, as the creature within rumbled growls echoed through his chest.

“Tell me why you’re so afraid of storms?” he thought for a minute she wasn’t going to answer.

“Bad things happen during storms,” came her strained voice.

“What kind of bad things? You can tell me,” he noticed the tight hold she had on his shirt had loosened some, so he figured he just kept her talking, and everything would be fine. 

Luna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. No one but Foster knew of her past. No one but Foster understood her pain, her anguish, her torment. Her voice was whispered and tormented as she started.

“My… my father…my…father. .he would always come… come home mad during storms when I was little. I…he would always…he would. I…I could always hear his foot. Footsteps drew closer to my room as the thunderstruck. When the lighting would flash, I…I remember him. He would always be standing in the doorway pulling off… pulling off his belt.” She stopped moving away from him, and she sat up, staring at the open door.

It was like she could see it as if it were just yesterday.

Tyr again began to worry as he watched her unblinking stare as if she was seeing something he couldn’t, he watched her curl over a little as if her back hurt. She started to shake again as her hands fisted her gown over her heart. He did the only thing he could, raising to his knees, he pulled her back to his chest again, a small growl issued from his chest, soothing her at least a little. She never blinked or took her eyes from the door as she spoke again.

 “The. .the thunder drowned out his. .his footsteps. Li. .light. .ening. ..the lightning would flash and… and. .and. . .and. ..and bam, he would slap. .he would slap me so hard I..I would fall from the bed,” her voice fell to a whisper as she touched the side of her face as if something was there.

His eyes widened, he felt sick to his stomach, not wanting her to finish, but still knowing that she would. He, for the first time, was afraid for her to finish, not knowing where this was going. He supposed it didn’t matter. She was talking to him, leading him into a corner of her life none except for maybe her dead mate had tread.

 He rested his chin on the top of her head, holding her close.  He followed her line, a vision in his mind, he could clearly see little Luna lying crying on the floor. 

Silence hung heavy in the bedroom. Lightning flashed, lighting up the room.

“Father. .he ..he put. .put his foot on my lower back while he rips the back of my nightgown…” She took a shaky breath. “It was str…strange,” she whispered. 

Tyr closed his eyes and took a breath to calm himself. His voice was a little strained 

“What was strange?” She tilted her head a little as if the scene she was seeing revealed something new. Her voice was so little that even he had almost strained to hear her. 

“The thunder… the thunder boomed just ..just as his. .his belt hit my back. Then.. .then lightning he would. Father would yell. Over and over thunder, then my back was on fire. Then lightning and he yelled and cursed me. That’s strange. .so very strange, don’t you think?” he didn’t know if he should answer, so he tightened his hold on her.

He forced himself to swallow the lump that developed in his throat. He hurt for her in so many ways that no one should have to live through such pain. And for a moment, he could almost taste the horror and pain she must have felt. But he had to know he had to; his voice was whispered and strained.

“H-how long?”

 “ T. .till the storm ended or …or I passed out from the p. .pain. Th. There was always so much. So much blood, you know. I remembered thinking that I..I was dying. The worst the storm, the worst the beating. I never knew what I did wrong or if I did something wrong. Just that when it stormed, he would come. Do you want to know something?” she whispered.

For a moment, his chest tighten he couldn’t find his voice.

“Know what, my angel?” he whispered close to her ear.

“My… my very first memory is of that same pain. After a while, I thought it all just a dream, you know, by the time…by the time I was eight when it stormed I would crawl into my mind and lose myself.” 

“Didn’t your mother do something, say something?”

“I saw her in the doorway…a couple of times, like she was watching. I used to think, ‘Why won’t you help me?’ The next day, she would pull me aside and say, ‘If you had died at birth or if you had been a boy, he wouldn’t hurt you.’ I would be so quiet, Tyr…. so quiet. No playing in the house, no running or laughing, but still, when it stormed, he would come. Thunder and my back were on fire… Lightning would flash ‘you dumb little bitch you should have died at birth’ thunder and the fire then lightning ‘you yokai whore you shame my family’ then the thunder and the fire, then the lightning, ‘you disgusting bitch you shouldn’t ever be born’ over and over.” Her voice died out as Luna hung her head in shame. Her eyes burned, but still, she didn’t cry as the pain washed over her like a tide. 

Tyr felt as if he had been kicked in the gut. ‘Her mother had’ he barely managed to bite back a curse, and he never cursed. A flash of rage flared through him, ‘if they were alive, I would kill them myself,’ feeling the pulse of her body drew him from his hate-filled thoughts. 

Her hands were clenched, her breathing had gone rapid he could feel the rapid beating of her heart along with the quick rise and fall of her chest. Luna stared straight ahead again, not blinking, lost in her memories. Her hands started to glow as if her powers were trying to help in some way. He quickly turned her to face him.

 “Luna? Angel, look at me.” Nothing. “Luna,” he said louder, shaking her a little.

She jerked and focused, her face filmed with sweat and ghostly pale.

“It’s not happening now,” he said softly, running his hand down her back. “See, it’s okay, no one’s here but you and me,” he swung his hand around as if to prove his point.

She took a deep, quavering breath and nodded, her energy drawing back into her body. Her throat still working as she struggled for calm. Tyr drew her toward him and rested his forehead against hers. 

“No one will ever hurt you like that again, Luna,” he vowed. “Listen to this, Tyr Luna, my angel. I know you did nothing wrong. This Tyr believes your parents were sick, and instead of blaming you, they should have been getting some help. Do you hear me?”

She nodded once, leaning heavily into him. “I am so tired, Tyr, so very tired”

He could hear the utter exhaustion in her voice.

“You just need sleep, that’s all. With school and healing my stupid half-brother at this point, I don’t see how you are even awake,” he tried to force cheeriness into his voice. 

“Not that kind of tried,” she whispered. “Never mind, will…will you?” She couldn’t find the words.

“Yes, I’ll watch over you all night if I have to,” he whispered again, pulling her to lie on his chest. With a change of mind. He flipped her to the mattress, put one massive hand out and covered one ear, and  Luna closed her burning eyes and sighed softly as his soft growling and beating heart sang her to peaceful sleep. 

---

Tyr let his mind drift back over the things she told him. He could clearly see in his mind’s eye the sweet little child Luna used to be, hurt and crying by the ones who were supposed to love and protect her. He sighed, running his fingers through her hair. ‘Compared to my childhood, she’s lived through hell,’ he recalled his last conversation with Ryuu. 

“From what I heard from Foster, which wasn’t much, her childhood was worse than hell. Then, Goddess, forgive me those same animals she called family died in a car crash. From what I heard, she was in the car, it was weeks after Foster had marked my big sister. They were coming from the hospital, her father thought Foster had raped her. 

They were pups, what did they know about sex? 

But anyway, it was storming when they left the hospital, and Luna’s father lost control of the car. Luna was thrown from the car and had to watch as it burst into flames. They never talked about her time in the hospital, but Foster did say once he had to give her blood… I don’t know how she survived. 

A friend of mine works in the same hospital, so they peeked into her file for me. 

Her little face was swollen; they thought it was from the crash, but then found a large handprint on the side of her face. Her tiny body was covered in bruises and cuts. She had three broken ribs, one of which punctured her right lung.

But there were three marks they knew didn’t come from the accident… whip marks…Tyr. Whip marks on her little back. I ask you, who would do that to their own flesh and blood?”

---

Tyr was worried that the more he found out, the worse it got. Everyone knew her parents had died, but to have to watch that had to do horrible things to her mind. Again, he questioned himself if the woman in his arms was a ningen at all. Most of the Ningen he has ever met who suffered anything turn out to be cold-hearted and full of rage. But not Luna, he often heard the other miko teachers, even his own father, saying what a pure-hearted creature she was. Even he could see the pure white aura she held at all times.

The storm outside raged as his mind wandered. Every time Luna would whimper, he would hold her a little tighter. Somehow, he could feel the depths of her pain, and he wanted to make it all better. But how do you get someone who tries to bury their pain inside to the point it hurts them? How do you get that person to see they can share their pain with you and you’ll try to help?

Looking down at the sleeping angel on his chest, he brushed the hair off her face, tucking it behind her ear. Only to find the most glorious pointed ear he had ever seen. Luna issued a soft growling sound as he stroked the tip of her ear. He smiled at the thought,

‘So Ryuu was telling the truth.’ With blood she received from Foster, they had bonded as mates. But if the changes started, then why did they stop?’ His mind whirled for a moment with everything he learned from ancient legends class and what he learned about Luna. He took in her scent, and it dawned on him. ‘Of course, mating a Ningen marking and sharing blood is the beginning…. but certain chemicals are passed from the yokai when the couple has sex that are needed to complete the bond.’ Foster should have known when they grew older what to do. So why didn’t he complete it? ‘I know by the way Luna talks and the look of the room I stay in, he lived here with her, then why? I have to fight with myself every day not to touch her, but he lived with her for almost three years, and nothing happened.’

He grew tired of questioning himself since he could find no answers. His yokai was calm for the first time, what seemed like months just being here with her like this. Even if it was caused by the worst thing he had ever witnessed.

For now, it seemed the calm in the aura, along with the soft growl of his yokai, settled her torment for now. He only wished she would let him do this when they were both awake. 

He watched the small smile creep on her face as she slept peacefully. That’s the picture he took with him into the land of dreams as well.

Tyr showered and dressed but still hadn’t seen Luna. 

As he entered the kitchen, the doorbell sounded. He debated about answering it. ‘Might be someone for Luna’

When he opened the door, he wished he hadn’t as he came face to face with a sour-looking old man. He was just a few inches shorter than Tyr, with black /gray hair pulled back into a ponytail, and wore black and purple robes. Which leads Tyr to believe he was… a monk. He felt the disgust and mild anger that radiated from the monk. He cocked a silver brow at the man.

“Well, her choice of friends is lacking, but I see she has demon servants. Now, demon, where is the miko that leaves here?” the monk hissed. Tyr said nothing, looking at the human in front of him, hate dripping from the human like the sweat on his face. “Did you hear me, demon? Where is my wayward niece?”

Again, Tyr said nothing, only turned and walked back into the sitting room. He watched from the corner of his eye as the monk took in the shrine as he walked in and sat across from him. 

Luna entered the shrine, stopping as she came through the side doors. A chilling tingle raced down her spine; there was only one person who ever caused that feeling. She rushed through the kitchen and stopped again, seeing Tyr glaring at another. She could almost taste the disgust in the room; she knew as well it was showing in the man’s eyes before he even turned to her.

“Where are your manners, niece?”

“Good morning, Uncle-Rasan,” Luna hissed and gave a small bow. 

The old monk smiled almost viciously, as if he enjoyed getting under Luna’s skin. He waved his hand in a dismissive manner, smirking. “Well, are you going to introduce your demon?”

“You speak of my manners when you should show some of your own. This Lord-demon is Lord Tyr, heir to the Western Territories. Lord Tyr, this creature… opps. Monk is Rasan” 

Tyr saw the twinkle of mischief in her eyes as the smug look died on the monk’s face. It disgusted him how eager the monk was to please him once he found out who he was. Tyr just gave Rasan a bored look as Rasan gave him a small bow.

He moved away from the monk and stood next to Luna. The smell coming from the man was making his nose burn. ‘What is that human bathing in incense or something?’

“Well, I see your choice of friends has risen, niece. Even though it looks bad for a miko to be around as many demons as you surround yourself with. That childish so-called mate of yours and that mangy wolf cub weren’t worth the ground they walk on,” Rasan spat his hatred showing again. 

Tyr wanted nothing more than to throw him out like the trash he was.

“What do you want, Rasan, besides to insult my dead mate and Kage? Who, I might add, are not here to defend themselves.” ‘This day is going from bad to worse. Damn, what does he want now?’

Every time her uncle came to the shrine, it never failed that he would insult those she knew. Goddess, she really couldn’t dislike the man even after all he did to her. Luna always wondered why he hated her so much. She could clearly feel Tyrs’ anger and his need to do something. But tried to remain calm before things got out of hand. Rasan would do the same thing to Foster, trying to anger him to the point of no return. But in the end, she thanks the Goddess that it never happened. She was brought out of her thoughts as he spoke.

“I have come to a decision since you can’t seem to make the right decisions on your own. You are moving in with your new aunt and me. Start packing, girl, now,” he stopped talking as Luna erupted into a fit of laughter.

Luna couldn’t help herself; it was just so funny. Here she was living on her own since she was ten, and now he says she couldn’t make the right decisions. And who had married him, Goddess, she had to be really needy to be tied to that creature. Her laughter stopped as soon as it started.

“I don’t think so, Rasan. This has been my home since you threw me out, remember? Oh, and I guess you forgot Uncle Fei is my and has been my legal guardian till I turn twenty.”

“A piece of paper does not make that demon family. And as your family, you will do as you are told,” Tyr again felt his curiosity rise at their argument. Luna called Lord Fei her uncle. Everyone in the demon community knew him as a hard-ass, arrogant bastard. 

Although he was the best stockbroker in the whole of Faygrove, no one could really stomach the snake demon. Now he has found out he is Luna’s legal guardian; she even refers to him as an uncle. 

“Lord Fei is more my uncle than you are, so I suggest you leave my home, monk. I know you tried to get your hands on my money, Rasan, and it’s not going to happen. If you spent through your own, that’s your business, not mine. I suggest you get your own house in order before you come making demands in mine.”

Rasan grew angry over her comments, ‘How dare she think she can put me down?’ He raised his hand to strike her, but missed as Luna sidestepped him. Before she knew it, Tyr, who had stood silently watching the whole thing, had Rasan up by his throat, growling in his face.

Tyr had had enough. The filthy human was upsetting his mate-to-be; of course, the comments could be overlooked. But when he tried to strike her, that was going too far. He wanted nothing more than to feel the monk’s blood on his claws.

As Rasan clawed at Tyrs’ hand, Luna was shocked. One side of her was saying the fool was reaping what he sowed, the other telling her she should put a stop to this before it went too far. 

Tyr, on the other hand, was in a red haze, his blood beast roaring, ‘Kill him, kill the fool’. His grip tightens around Rasan’s neck. A soft touch shocked him as he looked down to see Luna’s gloved hand on his arm. Her voice was almost a whisper as she spoke.

“Don’t do this, Tyr”

“You would plead for this worm,” he growled savagely.

“Yes, he might be an evil man, but even his life is important. I am a miko, so it is my duty to protect every life, even his”

“No, I will not hear it. This scum should die” 

“I see, so it will take blood… For you to see blood, for you to stop”

“Yes,” he hissed. Luna lowered her hand and moved away from him.

“I see then….take my life instead, I won’t even fight you,” ‘It’s worth it. He’ll never be able to bother me again. I’ll be free.’ Shocked golden eyes stared down at her bowed head.

“You would give your life for this creature who calls himself a monk?”

“Yes, I would not be able to live with his death on my conscience. Though I am ashamed to say it, he is my uncle and no matter what he has done, it is my duty to help all that I can.”

He threw Rasan to the floor, hoping to the Goddess that he broke something. Not sparing him a glance, he went to Luna, and she flinched from his touch. Again, he stroked her soft cheek and lifted her face to his. “This Tyr could never hurt or end your life, Luna.”

Rasan coughed, rubbing his neck as he climbed to his feet. He glared, watching the two together, his hatred for his niece growing. ‘Bitch should have been killed at birth. She is nothing but a blight on my family’s name. If it wasn’t for what she could give me, I wouldn’t put up with her. Once I get what I want, then that bitch will never again shame humankind again’

“How many lessons do you need, niece? First, that mangy wolf left and never spoke to you again, and then that childish Kitsune mate of yours died. And you could do nothing to help him. Now, this animal you call a lord. That evil bastard Fei is bleeding you dry behind your back, stupid girl. What more do you need to show that humans and demons don’t belong? This just proves that they are no more than animals,” Rasan spat, still rubbing his neck.

“The only animal I see here is you, monk. I suggest you leave before I make you,” Tyr growled, never taking his eyes off Luna.

“It will not be too long, niece. They always show their true colors in the end. My door will be open to you,” he spoke, limping off.

 When at last she heard the door slam shut, she sank to her knees. 

Rasan’s very aura seemed to choke the life out of her; she couldn’t understand why. She always tried so hard not to let him get under her skin, but he still did. ‘Why does he loathe me so? I never did anything to him. So why? What is so wrong with me that I inspire such hatred from my own kin?’

Tyr sat quietly next to her, just watching as she stared off into nothing. Even he wondered what was wrong with the humans in Luna’s life. No family he ever met treated their children in this way. But what could he say? The monk was an asshole. She should have let him kill the creature. He watched as emotion after emotion flickered through her eyes. He wished her eyes, her face was always so full of expression, so full of life. Then, as quickly as it had happened, the door slammed shut, and she was a blank slate.

Luna, as always, slid her pain to the back of her mind and then stood. She had to take her mind off Rasan, or he would drive her insane. She was always weak. Why did she have to be so weak all the time? After so long, he still made her feel like a lost, stupid, scared child. She couldn’t afford to be weak, and that’s what it always came down to. Weakness.

“He’s right, you know,” she spoke, stacking the books on the table up in a pile.

“How can you believe a word from his mouth?” 

“Because demon and human, especially miko, are not meant to be together. I was a fool to believe otherwise”

“How can you stand here and say such foolishness, when you were mated before? Not to mention a few hours ago when we were -” She quickly turned to him, holding up her hand to silence him.

“Don’t say it, Tyr, it was wrong, okay, it won’t happen again. Anyway, our project is finished, you have no more reason to be here,” he stared at her, not believing what he just heard. He knew she enjoyed it just as much as he did; now, here she was saying it was wrong.  

“Now that is foolishness, Luna. How can you stand here and say that?” he reached out to touch her, but she moved farther away from him.

“Because I know it,” she spoke, not meeting his eyes. ‘How can I get him to see there is no future in such foolish thoughts?’ That strange feeling again bloomed in her chest, bringing with it a wave of pain. 

“What are you afraid of, Luna?” he demanded, anger clear in his voice. He wanted her to look at him, but she wouldn’t. In his chest, a strange feeling burst to life almost to a painful degree. She was rejecting him, and why, because of the foolish words of a creature who shouldn’t even call himself a monk.

“I am afraid of nothing,” she hissed.

“Then why won’t you look at me, Luna? You are afraid of something”

“I fear nothing, no one,” She hissed, turning her face to a blank as she looked at him. “Happy now?”

“You are still hiding, Luna. Hiding and afraid, I can smell it on you,” hoping to bring out some emotion, anything. Before she could answer, the phone rang, so she quickly left the room to answer it. 

Luna hung up the phone, swearing to herself. ‘Another problem to fix, damn it, uncle, why won’t you leave it already?’

“I’ll drop you at home,” she stated, grabbing her keys and black bag next to the sofa. Tyr didn’t argue; he just sighed and followed her out to her Hummer and climbed in. 

During the drive, he studied her, his clawed hands itched to touch her soft skin once again. But he refrained from doing so, knowing it would only cause a new argument. After thirty minutes, she drove up to his home. He stopped halfway out the door, turned back, and pulled her into a kiss. 

Luna stiffened for a moment at the feel of his lips on hers.

But after a few seconds, he felt her kissing him back. He wanted nothing more than to carry her up to his room and finish what he started this morning. ‘If this is so wrong, why does she respond in such a way?’ was the thought that crossed his mind as he sucked on her tongue, causing her to moan.

That content feeling seeped into her skin when his lips touched hers. Luna had felt so numb after leaving him this morning, almost like her old self. Now this feeling threatened to consume her very soul again, as he sighed in contentment. She shivered as he sucked on her tongue, making her moan lustfully. ‘I think I...’ Her thoughts trailed off as her eyes flew open, and she pushed away from him.

“No,” she whispered. Tyr almost smiled at his victory.

“Face it, Luna, this isn’t wrong. But you are wrong to think I would just let you go again,” he growled softly, stroking her cheek. Kissing her softly, he hopped from the truck, waved, and walked away. He smiled for real this time, his fangs flashing in the sun. Lips curved up side to side. ‘You’ll come to see what I mean, koi. And I’ll be waiting,’ his blood beast growled in excitement.

Tyr sat in his father’s study. He waited patiently till he got off the phone. For some odd reason, Hakon knew what his eldest son wanted to speak to him about. Luna. From what he had heard from his connections, the Monk and he used the term lightly, was up to his tricks again. ‘What has that bastard done this time? I wish he would just leave the young Miko alone’

“Now, what can I help you with, my pup?”

“What can you tell me about Luna?” ‘That’s my pup, straight to the point.’

“What do you want to know, my son?”

“Don’t play games, father. What do you know about her?” Hakon sighed

“I know many things, some of which it is not my place to speak on. Maybe if you narrow it down to one subject, I can help you.”

“Fine, was either one of her parents a demon?” Tyr spoke, but he wondered how his father knew so much about Luna.

“No, Momiji was a Miko and Basan was a Monk.”

“Who took care of her after her family’s death?”

“Basan ‘s twin brother Rasan till he threw her out”

“Who sat Lord Fei up as her legal guardian and why?”

“It’s all public record, my son, I did. I had you and your brother, and couldn’t take care of another pup, plus Luna had a mate. Dr. Sano, her mate’s father, brought the matter to my attention. He worried for the girl after his kit broke down one day and told him of the things she suffered at her family’s hands. So I told them to Lord Fei,” Hakon said, sitting back in his chair.

“It’s known that Lord Fei helps no one without getting something in return. So why would he help her readily?”

“That’s a question that would be best answered by him. But I suppose it was for the same reason that so many others helped her, even back then, she radiated such an enormous amount of energy, Holy and Jaki. And she never seemed to notice. She talked very little, but when she did speak, it was as if you were speaking to a wise old soul that’s lived for a long time. I couldn’t let such a unique creature like Luna believe that everyone in the world was like her family,” Hakon growled.

“Father, did you know Luna before she mated?”

“No, my son, I only found out about Luna after the death of her parents.”

“So you knew her before the testing two years ago?”

“Everyone in the demon and miko communities knew when little Luna showed up on the radar. The day after she was brought into the hospital from the accident, she almost purified a whole hospital of demons.”

“What happened?”

“From what I heard, she woke from a nightmare. The night nurses describe a sort of pinkish-blue fog that drifted from her room. All the demons on the floor started to scream in pain. No one knew what was happening. 

A few minutes later, the elevator dinged and opened. The fog drifted into the elevator but then quickly withdrew. I heard the night nurses were never so happy to see Dr. Sano till that night. You see, Dr. Sano and his son Foster had come to wish Luna good night. The fear of what might have happened made the night nurse bring little Luna to everyone’s attention. When your Dean Miko Kaede and I saw her, she was heavily sedated, and her mate was at her bedside.” Hakon sighed again as he reached into his desk drawer, handing Tyr a leather-bound book. 

Hakon’s phone rang, and seeing who it was, he had to answer it. Covering the receiver, he spoke to Tyr’s retreating back. “It might tell you more than anyone about Luna. It was given to me after her mate’s death. Fei didn’t want Luna to find it,” then he went back to his phone call.

---

After dropping Tyr off at home, Luna went straight to Ryuu’s estate. Luna listened for an hour as Ryuu spoke about what had happened, and still she couldn’t believe it. Ryuu knew his big sister was upset. He could tell by the look in her eyes. He growled low in his throat even though he wanted to hurt the so-called monk. He knew his big sister had more problems than she needed, even the ones she took upon herself. But that so-called monk, damn if he didn’t take the cake. The creature blew in like the wind and caused all kinds of trouble, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

“Did he threaten you, Ryuu?” she growled low.

“No, you know he only threatens you,” Ryuu said.

“Don’t I know it, but why would he come back now, Ryuu, after all this time? What does he want?”

“Besides money, you mean. I am sure he wants to make you lose face with the other miko and demon lords. Or it could be for control”

“Control?” 

“Think about it, Big Sister, Lord Fei, and Father were talking a few days ago. More and more of the demon Lords and their families come to you for advice or to fix some ailment or problem. Before, no demon ever really trusted miko. That makes you even more powerful to have powerful friends, don’t you think? Well, Fei made the comment Life would be grand indeed for your family or whoever controlled you.”

“That is foolish. No one controls me,” Luna spat.

“I don’t know how you don’t remember, he did, Sister. The fear you lived under you was so unstable then. If you still lived under the fear and torment you did, then it would again make it easy for him to manipulate you to his own end,” he ran his clawed hands through his blue hair, remembering when he first met her, the real her. She was so afraid and unsure, but so wise for one so young. 

The two sat for another hour as Ryuu talked, trying to move her mind to other things before she left for home. Mostly, he just wanted her to smile at him one time, like when they were younger. While Foster made her happy, it still never showed on her face or in her aura as it should.

Ryuu stood in the driveway after Luna had pulled away as his father drove up.

“Ryuu, what is wrong, my hatchling?” his father questioned, seeing the look on his face.

“Rasan is at it again, Father,” Ryuu sighed sadly.

“Damn, I for one wouldn’t miss the human so-called monk if something were to happen to him,” his father smirked, flexing his claws.

“Me neither, father. I just wish he would leave big sister alone,” Ryuu sighed again.

“I, too, but my hatchling is strong, is she not? Luna will make it through this, I know she will,” his father smiled fondly.

---

Tyr left his father’s study and glared at his stepmother. He nearly laughed when she gave a scream of fright when she saw him. Like he really cared who she was talking to on her phone. 

‘Maybe one day I can scare her bad enough she’ll have a heart attack,’ he laughed inwardly, walking away. He barely made it to the stairs when he passed the open front door. 

The sounds of fighting reached his ears, and not just anyone fighting his half-brother. 

He stepped out the door and saw Gram and Kage fighting as Ayame stood off to the side, yelling for them to stop. Linda only looked on, smirking as if she had done something great. He looked back at his father’s closed study door and then back at the fight and sighed.

“Tyr?” Ayame called when she saw him. Gram stood still as he went to throw a punch at Kage. 

“Gram, you know of Father’s rule about fighting on or around the estate,” he growled. 

“So what, the stupid wolf attacked me, and then he came over as if nothing happened”

“How many times do I have to tell you, Dog-turd, I didn’t attack you. If I had attacked you, you’d be dead,” Kage spat.

“Whatever, you couldn’t kill me if you tried, mangy wolf.”

“I wouldn’t dirty my claws with your filthy blood,” Kage growled. Ayame had had enough. She grabbed his arm and pulled him over to where Tyr was standing. Ayame questioned Tyr about anything she could think of till she saw Linda and Gram go in.

“Okay, I got him here, Tyr. Now ask him,” Ayame spoke, sitting on the steps.

“Ask me what?” Kage spoke in confusion.

“The Monk, I use the term loosely, Rasan?” Kage growled, clenching his fist.

“That bastard. He broke up the friendship I had with Luna.”

“Explain”

“Foster, Ryuu, and I had been friends since we were pups. Ryuu took to her first, and I warmed up to her after a while. We played together all the time till Rasan made her attend Miko training. If you could see some of the things she used to do for Ryuu, you would know she didn’t need those classes. But she went, and we would meet her afterward. Even with what happened at that place, she still saw us. Then that bastard went to my father and told him lies,” Kage spat.

“What did Rasan tell your father?” Tyr demanded. Kage leaned over and whispered in his ear. Ayame, even though she didn’t hear what Kage said, saw the widening of Tyr’s eyes and knew it had to be bad.

“I denied it, but Father wouldn’t believe me. Rasan tried the same thing with Ryuu’s father, but I heard he put him out …painfully,” Kage laughed.

After Kage and Ayame left, Tyr finally made it to his room. He didn’t go down to dinner, not wanting to be anywhere around Linda or his stepmother, for that matter. 

If Gram was stupid enough to believe anything Linda had to say, he didn’t have to sit around and watch him make a fool of himself. 

His mind turned to other things as he lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. The more he found out about the small miko, the worse it got. ‘Was there ever anything good in your life, Luna?’ 

---

Luna jerked awake with a silent scream again as she found herself walking the halls of her home to his old room. She quietly opened the door and walked to the same spot she always went to. 

From the door of the walk-in closet, past the hanging pants and three shelves down, was a set of shelves that were all empty except for one single black t-shirt.  The black t-shirt had a single bleeding passionflower on the front, the words read ‘Love Is A Cruel Master’. It was Foster’s favorite t-shirt, but he would often give it to Luna when they were apart.

But she stopped, her brows dropped in a frown, something was wrong as she ran her finger along the shelves and picked up the t-shirt. Something was off; the comfort Foster’s presence always brought was gone, she felt so alone, so lost.‘Where are you when I need you, Foster…Please?’ 

No arms held her like before; no one whispered that everything was alright. Now it was only silence that greeted her in this place, her only place of comfort, atonement, and love. There was only one scent that lingered, and it wasn’t Fosters’; it smelled of rain showers. 

She didn’t stop herself as she climbed into the bed, burying her face in the pillows and taking in the scent that lingered there.‘Like a forest after the rain,’ the comfort she had longed for wrapped around her like a blanket. “Tyr,” she whispered, letting sleep take her.

Monday came quickly for the two; neither slept well over the four-day holiday.

Tyr was worried, having heard nothing from Luna at all. 

Luna, on the other hand, was confused and irritated. She didn’t want to answer the phone when it rang, but found herself wanting to dial it. She wanted to call him so badly, but kept herself from doing so. No, she wouldn’t fall for him; it was just wrong.

Tyr was called into his father’s study before breakfast. He sat waiting for his father to speak. “ Can you tell me why I was paid a very disturbing visit by that Monk Rasan?”

“There is nothing to tell Father”

“Did you attack him without reason, my pup?”

“No, he attacked Luna before I knew it. My beast surged forward and choked him. He was not harmed.” ‘Though now I think it would have been better if I had killed him,’ ‘you got that right, you should have let me slaughter that Fool’

“I see…be careful, my pup, that monk is nothing but trouble”

“Fine, can I go now, Father?” Hakon sighed, telling him he could go.‘Goddess, why me first, Gram, and that two-bit miko Linda? Now Tyr picks this time to rekindle his flame’

---

Tyr skipped breakfast and went straight to school. Again, he was greeted by his half-brother, trying to fight Kage once again. Dacia and Linda stood off to the side, saying nothing.

“Hello, Lord  Tyr,” Caria cooed. He said nothing but wondered where Ayame was. The female wolf was a fountain of information. “I called you Tyr, what whore answered your phone. Then I called back only to get your answering service. Have you been avoiding me?” Caria questioned. Tyr didn’t give her an answer, only the same cold shoulder he always did. Gram laughed, moving away from Kage once the teachers started to show up.

“I told you, wench, he didn’t want to speak to you.”

Luna drove up and parked, watching the group. She sighed, knowing what she had to do. But she had found his cell phone still in the bed she had slept in the past four nights. 

She walked toward the group slowly, eyeing the two female demons and the Miko carefully. When they made no move to speak to her, she touched Tyr’s back softly. When he turned to her, she grabbed his hand and led him away from the group.

Luna didn’t stop again till they had reached her truck. Tyr was happy to see her and excited that she was also holding his hand. Still, he had to question why. Tyr cupped her chin, making her look up at him. When her eyes met his, he was almost floored by the emotions he saw there.

Without thinking, he pulled Luna to him, wrapping his arm around her. He felt her go rigid and was about to let her go, but quickly changed his mind when he felt her arms wrap around him. His blood beast growled in delight, feeling her rubbing her face against his clothed chest as she relaxed in his arms. 

Luna knew she shouldn’t feel this way, that this was wrong, but she couldn’t help herself. His scent, the warmth of being in his arms, soothed her soul in ways none ever had before. All the stress from the last few days melted away till there was nothing left but him at this moment.

He heard her small whimper as he moved one of his hands from her back. Tyr almost smiled when he heard her soft growl as he rubbed the tip of her pointed ear through her soft, silky mane of hair.

Caria saw red when Tyr pulled Luna into his arms. She wanted nothing more than to rip Luna apart. ‘That should be me in his arms, not that creepy human nobody.’ But she wouldn’t make a scene; she had been on the receiving end of Tyr’s wrath once too often.

“No way he’s holding that…that nobody that should be me. I am so much prettier than her, and look at her hair,” Dacia whined, causing Gram to laugh. 

“And what is so funny, Gram?” Linda questioned, looking at him strangely. 

He didn’t answer her, he just turned his back on her and walked into the building.‘I knew it. I knew they were together,’ he silently cheered, even if it was with the creepy chick. Most thought he hated his older brother, but he didn’t. No, he just hated the way his older brother treated him as if he were dirty on his pureblood feet. 

---

Caria came out of her thoughts as the two pulled away from each other.

“Damn it, and that brother of mine would be suspended,” she hissed.

“You think he could help us get back at that nobody Caria?” whined Dacia.

“Forget him, I have a better idea,” Linda said as her plans fell into place.

“Yeah, what kind of ideal?”

“Always start with the family first, ladies,” she laughed, walking into the building and leaving the others behind. She needed to start putting her plans to work.

Luna knew she had let this go on far too long. She pulled away, stuffing down the cry she felt deep down inside. Tyr looked down at the female who barely reached his shoulders and sighed inwardly. He watched her curiously as she reached into her sleeve pocket and handed him his cell phone. He never noticed it was missing.

He searched her eyes, ‘no emotions,’ but he could tell from her scent that the usual torment that followed her had lessened. He could be content with that for now.

---

 In the first period, everyone moaned when the teacher told them today was the day for their reports. By the fourth group, everyone was half asleep. Luna was sketching as Tyr sorted through the pages of their report. He smirked, looking at Luna. Now, if only he could talk her into it.

Shock reigns over the classroom. And no, it wasn’t the fact that Tyr stood next to Luna, or that behind her back he twirled a lock of her hair.

No, the shock was the one creature that was always silent. The one creature who most believed couldn’t speak at all. The one creature that even the teacher overlooked, because she was so silent, was speaking. 

Tyr smirked at the looks on the faces of the other students; even the teacher looked like a fish out of water.

---

Luna’s melodic voice drifted around the room, wrapping each one up in their report. Once everyone got over their shock, blushes spread across the faces of the females. And smirks across the faces of the males, both human and demon. 

When finished, a few whines of disappointment were heard. Everyone blinked; none could believe she was reading a report and not telling some kind of erotic story. The teacher cleared her throat.

“Well done, Luna and Tyr, your report is one of the best I heard this morning,  A+ you two,” she chirped happily, collecting their papers.

---

Lunchtime rolled around quickly. Tyr was standing next to the cafeteria doors with Luna, waiting for her to walk away. He went to say something but stopped himself, choosing instead to stare into her mismatched eyes.

Kage showed up next, watching the two, who seemed not to want to move.

“Have lunch with us, Luna?” Kage spoke up, gaining her attention.

Luna was shaken from her view of Tyr’s golden eyes by a voice she never expected. She turned to Kage and looked him over. She was shocked he even spoke to her after so long. 

She wanted to say ‘no,’ especially when the others showed up. But the look in his eyes made her stop and nod yes.

“Good, now do you still like those salmon rice balls and those square Jell-O things with the fruit inside?” he smirked at Tyr and pulled on her shirt sleeve like when they were children.

Tyr walked close behind them, watching the two. Ayame and Gram walked behind them, silently laughing. It would seem they had been right about Tyr’s interest in the silent miko. Plus, it was a bonus to see the faces of Caria and Dacia.

None seemed to notice the missing Linda. She had seen Dean Kaede’s mysterious visitor, and she decided to hang around. Half an hour after lunch had started, the man stormed out of Kaede’s office, angry.

 Linda waited a few minutes, seeing Kaede leave, she got her purse she had left in the office earlier. Walking the halls instead of going to lunch, she rewound the tape and placed the earphones in her ears. She stopped mid-step and smirked, turning off the tape.

“That two-bit nobody will go down with this,” she smirked. Yes, today was a good day for Linda, but she should have listened to the whole tape.

---

The cafeteria fell silent when Dean Kaede entered and got her lunch. As she sat down with the other teacher’s talks started up again.

“What has happened to make you so angry, Dean Kaede?” Mia asked curiously.

“I had a rather rude visitor”

“Who?” Kia asked curiously, as her twin sister.

“We will speak on it once the students have left for the day”

“Yes, Kaede,” they replied in unison.

“So what brings you to lunch today, Kaede? You usually have trained with your younger,” Sara questioned.

“Yes, you see it would seem my younger is…in love. So I gave her the day off,” Kaede finally smiled.

“Oh, how joyous she has opened her heart to love once again. I know you are proud,” Aisha chirped happily. 

“Yes”

“A demon, I hope a handsome, intelligent one,” Ouzo stated.

“It would seem so,” Kaede said, looking across the room. The other teachers and miko followed her line of vision. Every teacher but Kaede gasped as they looked on.  

The large cafeteria contained rows and rows of tables now full of students and four very large stained-glass windows, each of which held a famous Miko or demon from history. Sitting right front of the stained glass that showed the first human and demon ever to mate, sat the miko Luna, next to her, an Inu demon they all knew. Tyr, the eldest son of the House of the Moon.

They all watched as Luna turned to Tyr and gave him a small smile at some comment he made. Surrounding them both were demons of different kinds, and the small miko seemed more comfortable than anyone had seen her in years.

“She spoke in my class today for the first time,” Sara said smugly. “Such a lovely voice she has. It reminded me of my mother.

“Really now,” Kaede said, a little shocked.

“Huff, she never speaks in my class.”

“Schia, you never know what tomorrow will bring,” Kaede stated. ‘Well, it seems I was wrong. So he is helping her out of her shell,’ she smiled.

“But Kaede…,” Schia started, and Mia interrupted the monk.

“Is he the one, Kaede?”

“It has to be sister, her aura is brighter and livelier,” Kia chirped happily. Everyone finally took their eyes off the two and turned to Kaede.

“Perhaps, for now, let us eat.”

“Oh, this is so exciting, Kaede-sama,” Mia and Kia said, beaming.

“I agree, but give the child some privacy, you two,” Aisha said. The twins pouted and looked back at Luna, smiling as they looked at her aura. Sara knew they saw something she couldn’t help, but their smiles made her curious.

 “What’s with the smiles, Mia, Kia?”

“Luna’s aura,” Mia spoke after looking at her sister.

“Her aura? What about it? It’s more lively than usual, nothing more,” Sara said, looking at Luna again.

“Tsk. Tsk Sara, you know better than all of us, her aura is larger than any creature ever known,” Mia started. “And her aura usually overtakes all those around her,” Kia finished.

“Yes, what does that have to do with anything?”

“Yes, what are you getting at, Mia and Kia?” Kaede questioned curiously.

“(sigh) If her aura usually takes over every other? Why then is there a purple aura overlapping hers? Sure, it’s not half as big as hers, but it’s there to the left,” they spoke, tapping their chins. 

The other miko, including Kaede, quickly turned back to the two students. Since Luna’s aura was so large, they never noticed any others around her. But to everyone’s shock, sure enough, there it was, a purple aura overlapping hers.

 “Love is such a beautiful thing,” the twins beamed brightly.

Kaede smiled and finished her lunch, standing as she clapped her hands, drawing all the students’ attention. Silence fell over the room quickly.

“My Student’s time is passing quickly this year, as you know. This year’s dance will have the theme ‘Children of Nature’ and will be held for the first time here at the school. Which means no jeans and T-shirts. Kimonos shall be worn by the ladies and gentlemen with traditional haori and hakama only, please. Miko and Miko-in-training will dress accordingly. The dance will be held in two months. Juniors and seniors will attend by grade point only.”

A cheer went up around the room when Kaede finished and took her seat again. The rest of the day went by quickly, with after-school programs canceled and the building emptied quickly.

---

After meeting with Kaede, Luna grabbed stuff from her locker and started to leave. Her mind was a whirl with the things Kaede just told her, and she sighed. When the two wooden doors closed behind her, she finally noticed the group in front of her. 

Linda stepped away from the other girls and stood in front of Luna, smirking. She pushed the silent girl and laughed when she did nothing. Linda again blocked Luna’s path as she tried to walk away. The other girls just laughed.

“I am not finished with you, nobody,” Linda hissed, then added. “ You might have those other fools eating out of your hands. But, I know you’re a weak, pathetic nobody. If you don’t drop out of school now, I’ll make your life here a living hell, do you hear me? This is my school. I am the most powerful miko here,” Linda smirked, flipping her long hair behind her back. The others smiled and agreed with her, but Luna only remained silent. She sighed and sent a bored look at the raging girl.

“Maybe she can’t speak, Linda,” one of the girls commented.

“No, nobody can speak. Can’t you nobody? You might have got lucky helping Gram, my Gram, but you will not be able to save yourself when I get through with you, nobody,” Linda laughed. Not noticing the other girls backing away, having seen the angry-looking lord demon approaching

---

Tyr had been talking to the Twin Miko about unknown hybrids since the two knew something about every creature you could imagine. Still, none of the creatures they told him about could be applied to Luna; he was still at a loss. Luna’s words echoed through his mind.

“Never accuse my mate of making this disgusting shell. This is all me, Tyr. I am nature’s little joke. I am not human, nor am I a demon; I can’t even say I am a half-breed. Don’t speak on things you know nothing about.” 

The more he thought about it, the more confused he became. The only good thing he could say was that the Twin Miko agreed to do some more digging for him. If they find something, they would tell him. Of course, he had to tell them it was for some kind of project. Goddess, he prayed, teachers really didn’t talk about their class projects, or he would be royally screwed. 

Laughter caught his attention as he approached the two wooden doors. He heard Linda’s irritating voice, but no other except for laughing. His irritation turned to anger at hearing her threatening Luna. In five measured steps, he was next to Luna, about to rip Linda’s throat out. He stopped seeing Luna flash him a look, and he swore he heard her issue a low growl. He was stunned for a moment.

Tyr saw the quick motion as Luna reached back, pulling something from her hair. He couldn’t see anything but a small glow as she flicked it on the ground in front of Linda.

“Your small tricks won’t work on me, weak nobody,” Linda laughed. Her laughter quickly turned to screams as vines shot out of the ground and grabbed her retreating form. Everyone saw them tighten as she struggled. “GET THESE THINGS OFF ME BITCH,” she screamed.

Luna’s light touch on his arm pulled his eyes off the amusing scene. They walk away, not bothering to look back. They could clearly hear Linda’s screams and the girls trying to help her get free. As they reached the parking lot, his curiosity got the better of him; he had to know.

He stopped her as she climbed into her truck. 

“Where did you learn that?”

She was silent as if thinking over whether she should tell him. “I know a lot of Kitsune, of course”

“Of course,” he smiled.

“Although I could never get it quite right…but she should be free sometime after sundown…I think,” Luna looked thoughtful but couldn’t keep the twinkle of amusement out of her eyes.

“It can’t be helped then,” he laughed, closing her truck door and climbing into his car. He didn’t try to stop the laughter that erupted from him on the drive home.

---

A raging Gram stopped Tyr as he came down to dinner. Tyr just gave him a bored look and waited for him to speak.

“What did that crazy nobody of yours do to my Linda?”

“Never insult Luna again, that nobody of yours got what she deserves,” Tyr said.

“Linda never hurt anyone; she just told the truth about your weak, crazy whore. Linda…” Gram was cut off as Tyr grabbed him up by his throat, growling.

“I…warned…you Half-breed,” he growled.

“Tyr, you will put your brother down…Now,” boomed Hakon’s voice. Tyr only smirked as he tossed Gram across the hall. He was satisfied to hear the smack as he hit the wall and slid to the floor. Gram groaned in pain and climbed to his feet, slowly growling at his older brother. Who answered with a growl of his own.

“Silence, both of you”

“Pops”

“Don’t make me do something I’ll regret later, Gram. I, for one, am fed up with hearing that girl’s name. Since you met her Gram, it’s been Linda this and Linda that. Answer me this: if that girl is so powerful, how is it she couldn’t save you when you needed her? If she is so kind-hearted, how is it she is always causing trouble at your school?”

“It’s that creepy girl that’s always starting the trouble, not my Linda,” Gram huffed.

“Luna didn’t start until this year. She would have been a freshman, but she’s a junior. And you and that Linda girl are sophomores, and to my knowledge, the two classes hardly mix. So how can Luna cause so much trouble for Linda?”

“Because she just wants what my Linda has”

“And what is it that Linda has Half-breed?” Tyr growled.

“She’s just jealous because my Linda dresses better than her for one thing. Or that Linda has friends, and no one wants to talk to Luna. Oh, and my Linda has her beat in the powers and smarts department,” Tyr laughter cut off Gram’s rant.

“I, for one, am glad Luna doesn’t show off her body like a tramp or that she doesn’t have a group of brainless twits hanging around her all the time. And as for powers and brains…um, let’s see, Luna went from starting school to a junior, and if I am not mistaken, Luna was also named the most powerful miko to exist, so again, what does Luna have to be jealous of? And remember, Luna saved your worthless life not so long ago.”

“I don’t know, maybe because Linda is sane,” Gram huffed. Tyr just rolled his eyes and walked away.

“You know nothing, fifthly, Half-breed, and for one, I am tired of hearing your voice,” Tyr growled and walked away once again, climbing the stairs to his room. Gram started to speak, but was stopped by his father.

“Leave your brother be my pup. From the way things sound…  

The school year is almost over. I still can’t believe it. The dance is in a few weeks, then exams. 

For the last two months, I’ve been living with Luna on the weekdays and my father on the weekends. Last month, we packed up most of Foster’s things and replaced them with mine. And believe it or not, it was all Luna’s idea with a little push from Ryuu, of course. The closet isn’t as full as it was, but at least I feel better having my things here.

This place is starting to feel more like home than my father’s house. At least I don’t have to worry about that creature Nui anymore. From Gram, I heard Nui and their father were having problems again. Fathers have been on the phone with Luna a lot lately, trying to talk her into doing something. Whatever it is, Luna refuses to do, I wonder what it is.

Speaking of Luna. I wake up most mornings and find her in bed with me. I don’t mind, though, it feels right to wake up with her next to me, sleeping peacefully. She was withdrawn last time I asked about it, so I don’t mention it anymore.

 Every night it storms, her nightmares get worse, and sometimes holding her close to me at night is the only way for her to rest. I talk her through most of them, but I am afraid for her…if she doesn’t deal with her pain, how can she move on with her life? 

When I first met Luna, she helped me deal with my mother leaving me. Encouraged me to talk about it without saying a word. Before I knew it, there was no pain at all when I thought about my mother or Gram’s mother. I felt lighter as if Luna had washed my very soul free of any hatred or betrayal I felt.

 I cared for no one, nothing, not even myself. And hated everything, my father and Gram more than anything. But seeing Luna that day, I admit I hated her for drawing my father’s attention so much, but watching her almost every day, I found myself drawn to her like everyone else.  Now that I think about it, it was her aura that attracted me. Her aura spoke of wisdom and pain far older than she was.  

 I wish I could do for her what she did for me.

I found out that she sees Kaede during lunchtime. Mostly, I was relieved when I found out, but why didn’t she say something? I wish I knew…they heard the miko teachers talking last week that Kaede was training Luna. And as her younger, that means she will take Kaede’s place as head miko of the school when she retires or if something happens to her. 

But the strangest thing of all is that Luna has a seat on both the Demon and Miko Council. I wonder how that is possible. With Miko, you have to have either age or a high title of some kind, but with Demon, you have to be a member of the ruling family of the lands. 

Now that I think about it, the word with the council members is that the Eastern Lady has been ill. Could that be Luna. . .But I haven’t seen anything that would say she was. But we don’t attend school with any of the other heirs of the ruling houses anyway. So there is no real way to know for sure if she doesn’t tell me, or if I ask her, that is. Still, I could ask Ryuu or Ayame.

Those two seem to be the only way to get information on Luna.

Okay, I am getting off the subject I had forgotten about. I was to attend the meeting with my father. He came by the other day to remind me and to ask Luna if she was attending this year’s meeting. To say I was shocked was an understatement.

Forget about the council. . .I haven’t touched her in any way sexually since last time, and by Goddess, it’s killing me. The dreams. The dreams are the worst, of her gloriously naked and beneath me, screaming out my name.

Even the lustful creature within me growls impatiently to be inside of her tight, soft, creamy body. I swear I can still taste her even now.

 I want her to be my Life Mate…to be mine and only mine. That sounds good, My Luna, My Dark Angel… Lady Luna Moon of the House of the Moon.  

To wake up every morning next to my naked mate, her raven hair spread out behind her, her soft, hot body pressed tightly against mine. She’ll be draped half across me with one of her legs resting on mine. Her hot sex against my thigh…..  

Signed Off………

Tyr pulled his shaking hands away from his laptop ‘damn’ was his only thought as he panted for breath. Pushing away from the desk, he made his way to the bathroom. 

‘It’s thoughts like that that have me and cold showers best friends’

 ‘Just take her’

 ‘not going to happen. I want her to give herself to me willingly’

‘stupid morals’  

Stripping down, he stepped under the cold spray. It did little to cool the heated need he felt to make love to Luna.

Closing his eyes, his mind wandered back to the morning months ago. He moaned, remembering what it felt like to touch Luna’s soft skin. Before long, he let his memory take him away as he pumped his erection in tune with Luna’s heated moans. His whole body jerked as her last scream echoed through his mind. He sighed, leaning against the shower wall, trying to catch his breath. After a few minutes, he turned on the hot water, finished his shower, and dressed. 

Drying his wet hair, he dressed in black silk pajama bottoms and strolled barefoot to the kitchen. Tyr stretched, popping his shoulders, and grabbed a drink from the fridge. After downing the drink in two gulps, he turned to check on Luna. It was unlike her to at least offer him tea this time of day. 

Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen her for hours as he looked at the clock. It was well past ten usual he could find her in the sitting room sipping tea. 

He didn’t find her in the sitting room; no fire was burning. So she hadn’t been in the room since yesterday. The sliding doors in the sitting room and kitchen were locked, so she wasn’t outside. When he didn’t find her in her room and took the stairs back down.

 Standing in the hall, he looked around the shrine and found himself in the back hall. Fusuma doors surrounded him on all sides. They were done in black with symbols painted on the thick red paper covering them. He passed peace, strength, wisdom, and prosperity heading for the all-black door at the end of the hall.

 He didn’t know why, just that he knew she would in that one. It was all black with no symbol on it.

Reaching the door, he slid it open slightly, peaking in. Tyr was greeted by the sight of an indoor garden of sorts. Luna was within, but she wasn’t alone. He knew the twins miko, Mia, and Kia, but the third one he had never seen before. 

The unknown miko was dressed in the traditional style of all miko, except her colors were grey and white. Her long white hair was pulled back and tied with a grey bow. Tyr drew back a little when the unknown Miko’s sharp turquoise eyes turned to the door as if she saw him.

The four sat crossed-legged on the grass, Luna in the middle, the twins in front of her, and the other behind her. His golden eyes widen when the third unknown miko addresses Luna.

“Sacred Betsushikime Luna, the time has come. Are you willing to face the truth, Miko, Head of the Miko Council?”

“Yes, Tsubaki, I am ready,” Luna said.

“Then tell me of your fears, my Sacred Lady, show me what weighs so heavily upon your heart,” Tsubaki said, her energy spiked as she touched Luna’s shoulder. A dull pink light covered Tsubaki more than Luna. It grew brighter as the twins touched her as well. Tyr found he couldn’t move, wanting to hear what Luna would say.

“Tell us, little sister, lighten the heaviness of your heart,” the twins spoke in unison. Tyr was drawn by the small voice that spoke next.

“Death . . .Weakness”

“Death touches us all, my Lady,” Tsubaki spoke, nodding to the twins.

“Not like me, many times I have met death, and many times she didn’t take me”

“Many times, Sister, how can that be?” Mia questioned.

“When I was seven, after my father and mother had left home, I walked into the pool in our backyard.”

“Sister,” Kia cried.

“It had to be at least three hours before Foster found me,” her little voice stopped. “I wanted nothing but for the pain to stop. But I saw many things, Tsubaki,” Luna sighed, closing her eyes.

“What did you see, Sacred Lady?”

“The Death Maiden,” Luna whispered. “She smiled at me and told me it wasn’t my time. She pointed to the left side of the pool, and I felt myself turn. There was a little boy with long silver hair who smiled and waved at me as if we were old friends.”

“It’s not uncommon, Sacred Lady, for creatures to be turned away by the Death Maiden. Or for her to show you many things to soothe your mind and soul. And the second time, what happened?”

“The accident that killed my family. I felt myself crash through the window and land on the ground. For the longest time, I tried to breathe; my whole body was on fire. Then I saw her again, ‘I’ll sit with you little one for a while if you like,’ she spoke.” Luna’s strained voice put everyone on edge.

“Did you see that little boy again, Sister?”

“Yes, only he wasn’t smiling this time. He looked at me with such hatred as if I had wronged him in some way.”

“And the last time Scared Lady?”

“The death of my mate, all I remember was the pain and struggling for breath. It was as if someone had ripped out a piece of me. She wouldn’t approach me, but I saw her at the edge of my bed, looking at me sadly. Drifting in and out of reality. But she seemed to sympathize with me. When the pain was at its greatest, I saw him. . .” Luna stopped and looked at her hands.

“Who Sister? Was it the little boy?”

“Tyr,” she whispered. Shocking everyone, including the Demon himself. He never visited Luna in the hospital hell; he never knew she was in the hospital.

“What do you mean, Sister? Did Tyr Moon come to visit you in the hospital?”

“No, the last time I saw Tyr back then, he had a smile on his face. This one was different; he looked the same, but he had such an aura of sadness around him that it was as if his heart was breaking. He touched my face softly and whispered in my ear.”

“I see, and what did this Tyr say, Scared Lady?” Tsubaki questioned the twins, and Tyr held their breath waiting to see if she would answer.

“When you’re on the edge, you have only two choices. Close your eyes and fall into darkness alone, or double back, and you might see something you looked over, to begin with. No one can make this choice but you. That’s what you taught me” 

Mia, Kia, Tsubaki, and Tyr all gasped at the same time at her words. Was it a dream? They all thought. But Tyr knew those words; those were the words she had written in a card for him. But he had never repeated them to any living creature he knew. It would seem even Goddess himself was working to try to keep Luna alive. She was truly a blessed being loved by the heavens in such a way. And Tsubaki told her so.

“Only those who have a truly special purpose in this life are protected in such a way.  Scared Lady. Death is not something that should weigh so heavily on your mind. What of this weakness that bothers you so, my lady?”

“It’s just a feeling. I can never protect anyone who cares for me. With all the power that I have, it’s no help when I need it. I just feel so helpless lately, and nothing I do helps,” sadness wept over everyone as she spoke. Tyr wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms. 

“There are moments when we all feel that way, my lady, it is only natural. Weakness is a part of life. There are moments when we are all weak, even the most powerful of us, be it human or Demon. That’s when we turn to another to lend us support. Someone to carry us till our strength returns,” Tsubaki whispered.

“Sister, you must find the one creature who is willing to share the burdens that you carry. Until then, you will not reach the true peace in which you seek,” Kai whispered softly.

Tsubaki stood up, moving away from the three. “As Head of the Miko Council, my word is law. Will, you Sacred Betsushikime Luna accept my words?”  Tyr watched as Luna bowed low in front of the miko; the twins moved one on her left and the other on her right. ‘Just what in the name of Goddess was happening here? And why was the head of the miko council here of all places?’

“Sacred Betsushikime Luna, you have willingly shared your heart’s weight with us. And through this heartfelt pain, you have lived through what would have killed even the best of us. You hold a title that has not been handed down since ancient times, giving you even more power than the whole of the council. With this in mind, the council will willingly meet your request. When this school year has ended, you will be tested, and you will show us your true power. Sacred Betsushikime,” with this, Tsubaki kneeled to Luna and lifted her face to hers. “Answer me one question, young one. Why is it that you wish this of all tests?”

“I made a promise. Tsubaki long ago. To prove to all those who doubted my mate and me.”

“And what promise was that young one that you would willingly place yourself into this of all tests?”

“When it was first brought to light that I, a young miko, had a mate, a Demon mate, I was spit on, called weak and filthy, tainted. I shouldn’t call myself a miko because my mate’s blood is coursing through my veins. I promised him that no matter the challenge, I would meet it gladly and show those who cursed us that being mated to him made me stronger instead of weaker, like they said,” her voice held a cold, hard edge that made everyone’s eyes snap up to look at her.

“Sister, you never told us that,” the twins cried out.

“I see, do not forget Sacred Betsushikime. We met in only a few months’ time. Be prepared, this will be the greatest challenge not only to your powers but to you as well.” With that, she stood bowed to Luna and walked through the garden and out of sight. The sound of a door closing was heard before the twins spoke again.

“Who will you bring, Sister?” Mia questioned.

“You know you need three people who know you and hold a special place in your life and heart,” Kia stated.

“Ryuu will come, Fei and Hakon, the last is still up in the air at the moment. But I will find someone, don’t worry.”

“Sister, please say you haven’t tried to,” Mia couldn’t finish.

“To kill yourself again,” Kia finished.

“I haven’t thought about it in a long time, you two. I have a promise to keep,” Luna sighed and hung her head. The two of them kissed her forehead and left the same way Tsubaki did. 

Tyr studied her for a few more moments when he saw her standing and streaked back to the front hall.

Luna sighed as she entered the kitchen and filled the kettle with water. ‘Someone to share my burden. I wouldn’t willingly place the pain of my memories on anybody. She looked up and saw Tyr in the doorway, and for a moment she lost herself in his golden gaze.

“You know, Luna, you usually make tea no later than ten. Is there something wrong I should know about?” 

“Nothing’s wrong, Tyr. I had company. I guess we let time get away from us.”

“Company, hmm, male company… are you cheating on me already, Luna?”

“What? Male company, no Tsubaki, and the twins came to see me.” She looked at him strangely, wondering what was on his mind. But his back was to her now, and she couldn’t see his face.

“You know, as your otto, I didn’t think it’s proper for my kanai to entertain company without me. It hurts you know, here I am all alone and you with company,” his voice held none of the laughter he felt inside. Over the past few months, he learned a few tricks to manipulate answers from the ever-silent female. He would have to thank Ryuu when next they spoke. He finally turned and looked at her shocked face.

“Tyr, I am sorry if you felt left out. But cheating on you, where did that come from?” 

“What else am I to think when you disappear?” he frowned for effect.

“I- Tyr I didn’t know you were lonely. You were typing away at your computer when I last checked on you,” she tapped her chin, thinking. He couldn’t help it. She just looked so cute when she was thinking of something to say.

“I’ll only forgive you if. . .I can get a hug,” he opened his arms to her and waited to see what she would do. He didn’t know what shocked him the most when she stepped up to him or when she believed him. Before he knew it, Luna had wrapped her arms around his waist, whispering she was ‘sorry’.

He pulled her closer and lowered his face to the top of her head. No matter how funny it was that he could easily trick her into hugging him or getting answers sometimes, a part of him was lonely when she was away from him. Of course, he purposely used the word husband instead of mate, knowing she wouldn’t catch on to his little ploy if he did. But the creature inside him, as well as he, felt like they were mated already.

He lost himself in her content aura as it wrapped around him. Luna did the same, bathing in the comfort of being in his arms brought. The two lost themselves and, for a few moments, nothing existed but them and the loving embrace they shared. 

Luna sighed and let contentment fill her as his arms tightened around her. No matter how hard she fought, this just felt right, and again the words filled her mind. ‘Someone to willingly carry her burdens. ’ After a few minutes, she stepped back and again her eyes locked with his.

Tyr worried for a few minutes as she stared at him again with that look in her eyes. Something in the back of his mind told him that the look in her eyes meant something important, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. 

The moment was broken by the growling of his stomach. Luna gave a small giggle, shaking her head.

While Luna made tea, Tyr went to the fridge and saw things he hadn’t noticed before. “Luna, did you go shopping today?”

“No, why?”

“Remember this morning we were talking about how we were sorely lacking in food? Now it would seem someone has done it for you.”

“Fei,” she said, worrying her bottom lip as she gathered the cups.

‘`Fei shops for you?” he asked curiously. Now that he thought about it, he never saw her shop for food or clothes. But she always had plenty. She never cleaned except for what they messed up. And Sunday evening, when he arrived back at the shrine, his clothes were always washed and folded neatly on his bed. And to think Fei was responsible for all of that, no, he just did not want to even go there. Tyr was brought from his amusing thoughts by hearing Luna’s voice again. 

“He must have sent someone while we were at school. I guess since…I came from the hospital. Fei has taken it upon himself to take care of me, you know,” Tyr dropped the subject, turning to make his sandwich. 

Before long, the two made their way to the sitting room and were now sitting in front of a roaring fire. 

Luna was lost in thought as they had shared many moments like this over the past few months. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why he wanted to spend so much time with her. Nothing Tyr did made any sense to her. She hardly said anything to him most of the time, yet he was always there, even when she was upset with him; he still came back as if nothing had happened. She did not understand him. 

Like now he sat right next to her as if he belonged there, silently munching on his sandwich. Sometimes she wanted to ask him what he was thinking. What drove him to want to spend time with her? But no matter how many times she questioned herself, no answers could be found. And she couldn’t bring herself to ask him, she sighed inwardly. 

Tyr didn’t like the blank look in her eyes. It was okay that she was silent most of the time. He did not mind that. It was the look in her eyes that bothered him, as if she was lost somewhere between the living and the dead.

Luna was startled from her thoughts at the sound of him clearing his throat. Blink. Blink. That was new, she thought, turning to face him.

He waited a minute before speaking, choosing instead to let his eyes lazily sweep over Luna. Her raven hair hung halfway down her back in a twist, and the other half swept over her shoulder. Her black silk robe was decorated with a large white Dog covering half of the back, its massive head resting on her left shoulder as it stretched one of its paws to her right. Her legs were tucked to her side, covered in black silk; only her tiny feet could be seen. Her small hands lay on her lap, neatly folded; no matter what, she always portrayed such a picture of beauty and old-world class. He often found himself wondering if she was born in the right time period.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he knew she was waiting on him to speak. But he found he liked her like this, unguarded and semi-relaxed. His newest goal is to relax completely.

He knew she was waiting for him to say something, but he couldn’t think of anything to say. He took a quick look around.

 “Um, how come there are no childhood pictures of you, Luna?” he could have slapped himself for that one, he groaned inwardly.

Tyr’s mental rant about how stupid he sounded stopped seeing the look of confusion on Luna’s face. He watched as she looked around the room for a moment, then stood and reached for a picture on the mantle.

Luna took her seat again and held the picture to her chest, debating if she should show him or not.  She had only two or three pictures of herself when she was young. She looked at it for a moment, running her fingers along the faces with a sigh.  

He didn’t know what to say when Luna handed him the black frame. Blink. Gasp. His golden eyes widen, looking down at the photo. A red-headed kit dressed in blue and black hung from a branch on a tree, smiling. He knew it couldn’t be anyone but Foster. 

What caught his eye was the pup sleeping above the kit perched on a branch. The pup was dressed in all black, with a black cap pulled down over half its face. But it still didn’t hide the purpling bruise spreading across the side of their face.  Little elfin ears could be clearly seen on the little sleeping pup.

Under the two could be anyone else but little Ryuu. He was dressed in all blue and seemed to have been caught trying to climb the tree. The two males seen were smiling and having fun, while the third slept. He couldn’t seem to keep his eyes on the one dressed all in black. “It can not be possible?’

Luna watched as Tyr studied the picture, his eyes popped up suddenly studying her face, then went back to the picture.  

---

Tyr had been sent to the park to watch over his stupid half-brother. While he had been reading his favorite book, something came crashing into his leg. He looked down to see Gram jumping to his feet.

“What is going on, Gram?” Tyr asks, not really caring.

“That little lizard got his brother to push me,” Gram huffed, dusting off the grass and dirt.

“What did you do?” he sighed, looking at the boy dressed in all black listening to the little dragon, Ryuu, as he sobbed, as the boy checked him over as if he was hurt.

“Nuttin’ that little lizard is a crybaby is all ..CRY-BABY LIZARD…HAD TO GET YOUR Brother TO FIGHT FOR YOU,” Gram yelled. The two dogs saw the boy in black take a step toward them, but were stopped by a taller Kitsune. The Kitsune said something they couldn’t hear. The one in black nodded, and the group left.

---

It would seem Tyr and the always silent boy in black had taken a liking to the same tree. Much to the displeasure of the Kitsune, because now Tyr sat on his branch not too far from the sleeping boy. 

He looked at the Kitsune, Foster, as he stared sourly at him, making Tyr roll his eyes. 

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the sleeping boy wearing clothes three times his size. His long black braid hung off the limb. Ryuu easily reached up to play with it. ‘That creature is so strange, he acts more like that’s his Sister than his brother. Or maybe dragons are more affectionate or something?’ 

Placing his mind back on his current puzzle, he takes in the large purple bruise covering one side of the boy’s face. ‘I never knew Lord Yuu struck his pups? I wonder if my father knows?’

Tyr easily climbed from the tree limb when he heard Ryuu whispering something.

“That’s Mutt-faced brother,” is what he made out. When he turned back to demand to know why they were talking about him, for the first time in three hours, he saw the boy in black move. His movements were slow as he stood up from Ryuu and made his way toward him. Again, he found himself going to say something nasty, but it was quickly stopped when the boy pointed to the spot under the branch he had been sitting on and handed him his book, which he had dropped without noticing. Goddess, he would have killed someone if it had gone missing. This was his favorite. 

“Thank you,” the least he could do was nice considering.

“Come on, we’re going for ice cream,” Ryuu yelled, dancing from foot to foot, looking ready to go. The boy gave Tyr a small bow and walked off, letting Ryuu hop on his back. But it was clearly painful seeing him filch. But it wasn’t his business. But in the back of his mind, he noticed through it all that the black cap never moved higher than the boy’s chin level.

---

He looked down at the creature next to him, wide-eyed, and handed her back the picture. She took it, not meeting his eyes, and a little above a whisper escaped her lips, but he heard it.

“Edgar Allen Poe… you always read ten to twelve pages.”

“How? Why were you dressed like that?” ‘And there I was thinking she was sleeping. Or better yet, that she was a boy.’

Luna looked down at the picture now in her lap sadly, “It was my. . . disguise.”

“Disguise?” he questioned, confused. She gave him a small smile.

“Yes, my disguise. My father didn’t approve of me playing with Demons. He caught me one day playing with Foster in the park and caused… a scene. He was yelling and… slapped me a couple of times, then dragged me home. Needless to say, it was two weeks before I saw Foster again.” She giggled a little, “it would seem Foster and his father were worried for me, and when next I saw them, Foster handed me this huge black bag. Foster told me it was my disguise and I had to wear it every time we met.” 

Luna giggled again, remembering when Foster had placed the black cap on her head. “The whole time I worried about people seeing my pointed ears.”

“You went through all of that just to sleep in the park?” 

“I wasn’t sleeping in the park. I just like to watch Ryuu and the others play. It was. . .peaceful. And most of the time, I was in too much pain to play anyway,” she shrugged.

“And your father never caught you?” Choosing to leave her last statement alone, the day Ryuu hopped on her back flashed in his mind.

“No, he would stroll in the park looking for a little girl dressed in shorts, full of bruises.  He even walked by me a couple of times and never knew.”

“Is that why Ryuu always hung around you?”

“No, I was Ryuu’s hero… his big sister. I saved him from the horrible bully he and Kage called Mutt-face,” she giggled again. The two shared a laugh before cleaning up and making their way to bed. 

---

Tyr knew who she was talking about, having heard Kage call Gram that name since childhood. What he took to sleep with him that night was the meeting he witnessed between Luna and the other miko. ‘Something was happening, but what?’

Morning came quickly as Tyr reached over to turn off his alarm clock. He had felt Luna climb into bed with him late in the evening, but he knew she was gone. The chill of the sheets told him that much, but her scent still lingered.

When the usual sigh, he rose, showered, and dressed for school. He didn’t smell food cooking, so he went to see if maybe Luna had gone to sleep again in her room. While the downstairs still held pieces of the original shrine, like the outside of the building, the upstairs was modern enough to make you wonder where you were. As he absent-mindedly took in the paintings on the wall. They had to be done by Luna; no one else had her sense of style.

Reaching her door, he peeked inside, seeing the door half-open. Luna was inside, alright, and she wasn’t sleeping; by the way, things looked like she just came out of the shower. She was only clothed in a black towel, her long hair glistening with water as it hung down her back. Tyr was about to play the gentleman and turn away, but froze seeing the towel drop to the floor. 

He panted lightly as she pulled her long hair up on top of her head. The creature with him tried to urge him forward as they took in the completely nude backside of Luna. His eyes scanned her small shoulders, the way her body tapered off to her tiny waist. From the dip of her backbone to the swell of the plump round behind down to her long legs, she was a sight to see. Delicious was the only thought that came to his mind as he licked his suddenly dry lips.

He found he couldn’t tear his eyes from the picture in front of him, Goddess. It had been so long since he had seen her this way. Nothing was more beautiful than the angel in front of him. 

Tyr was witnessing the most simple and innocent act of a woman. He thought he was losing his mind. Here he was, Tyr Moon, watching a naked female rub lotion on her body, and he found himself harder than he ever thought possible. He fought to hold back the groan as she bent over to spread the lotion on her legs, giving him a clear view of where he wanted so badly to bury his raging hard-on right now. Goddess, he wondered how long she could really hold that pose, legs spread back, arched as she bent over, working her hands up her legs. 

He was startled from his most beautiful view by the sound of the doorbell. He quickly moved from the door, wiping his sweating palms on his jeans.

“I’ll get that,” he called back over his shoulder, already making his way down the stairs. The walk gave him time to clear his head and force down the raging desire. ‘Who can that be this early?’ ‘If it’s that monk again this time, I’ll skin him alive.’ ‘If not for the last time, then for spoiling the view of my mate naked,’ the creature snarled in agreement. 

Opening the door, Tyr was greeted by a sight he wished was only a dream. 

‘Just what I need, Goddess hates me this morning.’ 

The Lord Demon glared at Tyr with his red, cold stare, which was about seven feet in height, dressed in his usual black Armani suit with his long black hair pulled back into a ponytail. And as usual, Tyr met his cold stare with one of his own as gold met red. He only looked away, hearing a female sigh.

She was short, a little taller than Luna, and could double for her sister or mother, he thought. From her scent, she was human, and from her scent, he could tell she and the lizard were mated. She was dressed in a brown pantsuit and a white shirt. Her pale skin almost glowed in the early morning light, her black hair curled, resting on her shoulders. Her bright, shining brown eyes took in Tyr, glowing with happiness.

“Ohayo gozaimaza,” she said cheerily, giving him a small bow. “Please forgive my mate. We know it’s rather early, but may we please speak with Luna?” She smiled, but before Tyr could answer, Lord Demon spoke up.

“You are the eldest of the House of the Moon?”

“Yes, I am Tyr”

“Good, I thought for a minute you were Hakon for a minute. Either that or the old dog had another son I didn’t know about. I am Fei, and this is my mate Rin. We are Luna’s obasan and ojisan,” he stated.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Tyr,” Rin chirped happily.

“And you as well, Lady Rin, Fei. Luna is in her room, and she should be down shortly. Would you like to wait inside?” he stepped back, letting them enter. Rin gave another small bow and entered, looking around. Fei followed after her slowly. 

After they were settled into the sitting room, Rin smiled happily as she took in the room around her. 

“I do believe Luna has redecorated since we last visited Fei”

“I am glad she is putting a little life into this place,” was Fei’s remark. Rin giggled a little, and she knew what her mate was talking about. She smiled brightly as she spoke to Tyr.

“So, Tyr, how long have you known our Mei?”

“We met a while back and only recently got together,” his answer was vague, but he didn’t care; he didn’t like the way Fei was looking at him. But Rin, his mate, was a different story. She had an air about her, the way he felt Luna could be if she let herself.

“I see. How long have you been staying with our Mei?” came Fei’s cold voice.

“Must you question everyone I know, Fei?” came Luna’s voice, and to Tyr’s pleasure, shocking Fei. Tyr and Rin noticed the softening of Fei’s red eyes as he turned to Luna. 

“I am considering your safety, my mei,” he started. “As soon as we heard, we came to see you,” giving her a pointed look.

His only answer was a sigh from Luna as she stared at the floor. Rin shook her head, taking her niece. She seemed different somehow, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. 

“Why didn’t you call us, Luna, and tell us that bastard he contacted you again?” Rin finally spoke with anger, clearly in her voice, making everyone turn to her. Fei crossed the room to Luna, lifting her chin to make her look at him. He sighed inwardly, being greeted by those empty eyes. Fei, like Rin, knew everyone thought Luna’s eyes were hard and cold, but if you know what to look for, the looks she gives everyone are empty, as if she were on the outside looking in. 

It only took three meetings for Fei to lose his heart to the little onna who walked into his office all those years ago. Fei was known for his dislike of the way human raised their pups. So he had no real love for the species, but it wasn’t her story that touched him or made him take little Luna as family. No, it was the look in her eyes that touched him. The look of complete lifelessness in her large blue/brown eyes made him feel as if he were drowning and lost. 

He remembered that day like it was yesterday when he first met Luna.

Sealed Record — Incident at Age Ten
Subject: Luna Sano
Status: Suppressed / Witness-Testimony Verified

---

They did not call it a sacrifice that night.

They called it a correction.

Rasan had prepared everything in silence. The wards etched into the floor were old—older than him, older than Basan, passed down in fragments from men who never wrote their sins, only practiced them.

Luna stood in the center.

She did not cry.

She did not fight.

She had already learned what happened when she did.

The blade never touched her.

That was the first deviation.

Because when Rasan began the rite—when the spell reached into her soul to take—something inside her answered.

Not Luna.

Not the quiet child who endured hunger, cold, silence, and hands that only ever harmed or ignored.

Something older.

Something that had watched.

For years, that presence had worn her face.

Spoke when she could not.
Moved when she would not.
Watched everything.

Waiting.

When the ritual touched the Jewel within her—it broke.

Not shattered.

Rejected.

The circle cracked with a sound like bone splitting. The wards burned out instead of binding. The blade in Rasan’s hand refused to fall, his arm locking as something unseen pressed back.

And then Luna looked up.

Wrong.

Not wrong in body.

Wrong in presence.

“You do not take from what was given,” it said through her voice.

Not loud.

Not angry.

Final.

Rasan staggered back for the first time in his life.

Because what looked at him was not his niece.

It was something that remembered the first sacrifice.

And knew the difference between offering and theft.

That was when the doors opened.

Not gently.

Not ceremonially.

They were broken through.

Foster had not waited.

He had run. Small, shaking, furious in a way only a child could be when something they love is being hurt and they finally understand it. He found his father. And he told everything.

Lord Sano did not come alone. He came with the weight of law.

Yokai police.
Council representatives.
Witnesses.

Power that could not be dismissed as rumor or dismissed as “family discipline.”

They smelled it before they saw it.

Neglect.
Rot.
Spiritual decay.

And beneath it— fear.

Luna was no longer in the circle when they reached her.

She stood near the far wall, small again. Quiet again.

Watching.

As if nothing had happened.

As if something had stepped back inside her and closed the door.

Foster reached her first. He didn’t speak. He just held onto her. And for the first time, Luna leaned.

Then Lord Sano saw the room.

The wards.
The blade.
Rasan.

And the child.

He did not ask permission. He did not request an explanation. He did not wait for the ceremony.

“Remove her,” he ordered.

And no one questioned it.

She was lifted—gently, urgently—as if staying even one more second would allow something to reach for her again. The officials moved quickly after that. Too quickly for Rasan to rebuild control.  Too decisively for the Arnh Line to hide what had been done.

That night, Foster spoke. Every bruise he had noticed. Every time Luna had been too quiet. Every moment that felt wrong, but he didn’t have the words for. He told it all. Through tears. Through shaking hands. Through a voice that refused to stop.

Lord Sano listened. And remembered. Not the ritual. Not the broken wards. He remembered his son crying.

And the small girl beside him— who never did. That was the moment the decision was made. Not as a favor. Not as a kindness.

As a claim.

Luna Sano did not return to that house.

Not ever again.

---

Two days after the night that should have ended her life, Luna was moved.

Not ceremonially.
Not gently.

Removed.

From a Moonbarrow basement that never should have held a child…
to Faygrove, where law still remembered what it was meant to protect.

Lord Sano did not delay.

—

He brought his kits straight to the Mating Official Office—papers already prepared, intent already decided. This was not a discussion. This was a correction.

Inside, the office was quiet and orderly. Law lived here. Structure. Control.

And behind the desk sat Miss Whitcliff—a woman known for never bending, never softening, never allowing emotion to touch procedure.

Until that day.

They explained everything.

Not dramatically.
Not pleading.

Just truth.

What Luna had endured.
What had been done to her.
Why their son marked her?

Miss Whitcliff did not interrupt. She did not question the legality. She did not ask for clarification. Because she could feel it.

The residue of ritual. The fracture of a soul forced open too young. The quiet, unnatural stillness of a child who had learned survival by becoming invisible.

Her face broke. Just slightly. Enough to matter. Her gaze moved—past Lord and Lady Sano—to the window. Outside, Foster was trying.

Trying to speak.
Trying to reach.
Trying to bring her back to something that resembled childhood.

And Luna… did not respond. She sat small and straight, eyes forward, fixed on something no one else could see. Not ignoring him. Just… somewhere else.

“We never knew,” Lady Sano said quietly.

There was no defense in her voice. No excuse. Only the kind of grief that comes from realizing beauty was placed into the wrong hands.

“They were given something so achingly beautiful… and treated her so disgustingly.”

Miss Whitcliff looked at the child again. At the silence. At the absence. At the weight sitting inside someone so small.

“Then we will proceed,” she said, her voice no longer just official.

It was careful now. Measured in a different way. She reviewed the documents, then paused.

“One condition,” she added, eyes lifting. “You will assign her an official guardian.”

A beat.

“That way, no one can claim you are attempting to control her through bond or status.”

She turned a page. Read deeper. And then stopped.

“…Her records,” Miss Whitcliff said slowly, “indicate the death of her parents leaves her with assets and land totaling near fifty billion.”

Silence filled the room. Not greed. Not shocked. Something colder. Because that meant Luna had not just been abused. She had been worth something the entire time. Miss Whitcliff looked back at the window. To the tiny girl. To the boy who refused to give up on her.

“My Lady. My Lord…” she said, quieter now. “That child is now officially Luna Sano.”

A pause. Then, softer—

“Treat her kindly.”

The stamp came down.

Final.

Irrevocable.

In that moment, Luna Arnh ceased to exist.

Not erased.

Not forgotten.

Freed.

And outside, unaware of the legal weight that had just shifted the course of her life— Luna still stared ahead. Silent. Unmoving. Holding something inside her that no document could name.

---

They searched.

Relentlessly.

Lord Sano worked through human channels first—lawyers, estate managers, “specialized” guardians recommended for high-value minors. People with credentials, influence, and immaculate records. None of them saw Luna. They saw an inheritance.  A liability.  A case file already halfway to burial.

They spoke about her in past tense.

Lady Sano felt it immediately.

“No,” she said more than once, closing files before they were finished being read. There was something wrong with the way they looked at Luna.

Too clinical.
Too distant.

Too… finished.

So she turned to yokai channels. She didn’t fully understand why. Only that every time she looked at Luna—really looked—she felt one thing, sharp and certain:

This child would not survive careless hands.

And found the same rot in different shapes.

Some came for status.
Some for curiosity.
Some for the story of it—the broken miko with a legend tied to her soul.

Luna did not respond to any of them. Not fear. Not rejection.

Nothing.

Except for one.

The day Rin came to visit was meant to be ordinary. Routine. A scheduled check-in that Lady Sano had nearly forgotten. They were mid-conversation when the door burst open.

“Have you seen Luna?” Foster didn’t wait for an answer. “She—she’s missing. I think she had another bad dream—”

His words tripped over each other as he searched the room, opening doors, checking corners, as if she might have folded herself small enough to disappear entirely.

Ada felt it then. That cold drop in her chest. She knew what came next.

The spiral.
The silence.
The loss.

But it didn’t come.

Rin had already moved. She didn’t ask where to look. Didn’t hesitate. Didn’t think.

Later, she would say: “Something pulled me.”

They found Luna in a storage shed.

Dark.
Cold.
Forgotten.

She was curled into herself, rocking. Back and forth. Back and forth. A rhythm of survival.

Rin didn’t call her name loudly. Didn’t reach too fast. She lowered herself into the dark like it was sacred space.

“It’s alright,” she said softly.  “I’m right here.”

Ada watched from the doorway. Because she knew this truth better than anyone:

Only Foster could reach Luna.

Only Foster had ever gotten close enough to quiet the storm inside her.

Until now.

Luna’s rocking slowed. Not fully. Not immediately. But enough.

Rin moved closer.

Careful.

Patient.

She didn’t try to stop Luna. She matched her. Rock for rock. Breath for breath. Then, gently, she pulled the child into her lap.

“It’s okay… hush now… I’ve got you…” Ada had never heard that tone from Rin before.

Not even with Ryuu. There was something deeper in it. Something instinctive. Something… claimed.

Luna didn’t fight. Didn’t pull away. Didn’t disappear further inside herself. She leaned. And slowly— so slowly it almost hurt to watch—her body relaxed. The rocking softened. The tension unwound just enough. Until she slept.

In Rin’s arms.

Ada knew. In that moment, standing in the doorway of a storage shed that smelled like dust and forgotten things, she knew.

Later, she pulled Rin aside. Carefully. As if the wrong tone might break something fragile that had just formed.

“Would you and Lord Fei consider becoming Luna’s legal guardians?”

A pause. 

“We’re looking, Rin… and she—” Her voice faltered, just once. “She needs this.”

Rin started to answer. Reflexively.

“Now, Ada, you know Fei and I—” She stopped.

Because she remembered. The weight of Luna in her arms.  The way her body shook before it didn’t. The emptiness in those blue-brown eyes.

“I’ll speak to Fei,” she said finally. Then, firmer—

“But you… You tell me everything you know about that child.”

Ada did. Everything.

The reports.
The incidents.
The failures.
The things no one had stopped in time.

Files stacked so thick they felt like an accusation.

Rin left with tears in her eyes. And a box heavy enough to change a life. At the same time— across town— Lord Sano approached Hakon Moon with the same offer.

Hakon considered it. Carefully. He was not a careless man. Nor a weak one. But in the end, he declined.

“I already have two sons,” he said. Not cold. Not dismissive. Just… certain.

Then, after a moment, he added:

“Try Fei and Rin.”

And just like that— two paths met.

Not by design.

Not by law.

Not by power.

But by something far older.

Recognition.

The house was quiet when Rin returned. Too quiet for the weight she carried.

She didn’t speak at first.
She just set the box down.

Lord Fei noticed immediately. Not the box. Her hands.

Still.

Careful.

As if they had held something fragile and hadn’t quite let go yet.

“What happened?” he asked.

Rin didn’t answer that question. Not directly.

“Read,” she said instead, sliding the files toward him. Then softer—

“Please.”

Fei did. At first, it was methodical.

Names.
Dates.
Incidents.

He read like a man used to sorting truth from exaggeration, separating emotion from fact.

Then the pattern formed.

Neglect.
Isolation.
Malnutrition.
Silence.

Repeated.

Documented.

Ignored.

His eyes slowed. Not because he didn’t understand— but because he understood too well. He turned another page. And another. And another.

There were reports that tried to explain her away.

“Non-responsive behavior.”
“Possible dissociative tendencies.”
“Unusual spiritual fluctuations—cause unknown.”

They had turned her into a problem. A condition. A case.

He closed the file. Then opened it again. Because something in him refused to let it end there.

“Where is she now?” he asked.

“With the Sanos,” Rin answered quietly. A pause. “She sleeps when she can. When she doesn’t… Foster finds her.”

Fei leaned back. Silent. Thinking. He had seen broken things before. Deals gone wrong.  Families destroyed by greed.  Power twists people into something unrecognizable. But this— This was deliberate. Systematic. Hidden behind ritual and silence.

“And the boy?” he asked.

Rin’s expression shifted. Something softer.

“He doesn’t leave her,” she said.  “He’s the only one she responds to.”

That mattered. More than anything else in the file. Fei’s gaze dropped back to the reports. Then stilled.

“Assets,” he said. Rin nodded.

“Close to fifty billion.”

Fei didn’t react the way most would. No calculation. No greed. No shift in posture. Only a quiet, dangerous understanding. That much value… and no one intervened. He stood. Abrupt. Decisive.

Rin watched him, something in her chest tightening.

“Fei—”

He didn’t wait. Didn’t pace. Didn’t deliberate. He reached for his phone.

Rin stilled because there was one thing Fei did not do.

He did not call.

People called him.

Waited for him.

Arranged themselves around his time, his attention, his decisions.

But tonight— he dialed.

Lady Sano answered on the second ring.

“Lady Sano,” Fei said, his voice even. Controlled. But there was something under it now. Something set.

“I want to meet the child.” A pause. Then— “And the boy.”

On the other end, Ada straightened slightly.

“You mean Foster?”

“Yes.” No hesitation.

“I will not see one without the other.”

Silence.

Short.

Measured.

“Tomorrow,” Ada said.  “At your office.”

“Good.”

He ended the call. No extra words. No ceremony. Rin watched him for a long moment.

“You’ve already decided,” she said softly.

Fei didn’t look at her. Not yet.

“They separated her from everything that kept her alive,” he said.

Calm.

Cold.

Certain.

Then his gaze shifted. Finally. To Rin.

“They don’t get to do that again.”

Rin’s breath caught. Not because of what he said— but because of what it meant. This wasn’t consideration. This wasn’t negotiation. This was a decision.

And somewhere, far from that quiet room, a child slept in fragments. A boy refused to let go of her hand.

Tomorrow, Fei would meet her. And the world— quietly— would lose its claim.

---

The door opened.

Lady Sano entered first, composed, watchful.

Behind her—

Foster.

And Luna.

At first glance, she didn’t look alive.

Not in the way children should.

She moved, yes. Breathed, yes. But there was a stillness to her that felt… abandoned. As if her soul had stepped away and left the body behind to wait.

Foster never let go of her hand. He guided her gently, carefully, like she might shatter if moved too quickly.

“Come on, Luna… just a little more,” he whispered, voice soft but steady—filling the space in a way nothing else could.

He brought her to the chair across from Fei’s desk. Helped her sit.

Fei watched everything. Not just the movement— the lack of it.

Luna folded her hands neatly in her lap.

Perfect.

Practiced.

Empty.

Foster leaned close, whispering something only she could hear. Then he took his own seat beside her, still angled toward her, as if ready to catch her if she slipped away again.

Ada’s phone rang. She glanced at it once, then to Fei.

“I’ll take this outside,” she said quietly, stepping out into the outer office.

The door closed.

Silence settled.

Not uncomfortable.

Just… fragile.

Foster broke it.

“Are you going to take care of my mate now?”

Fei didn’t answer immediately. He studied the boy. The certainty in his voice. The way he said my mate liked it was fact, not a question.

“Do you think she will let me?” Fei asked instead.

Foster shrugged, small shoulders rising.

“She thinks grown-ups are bad,” he said simply.  “And she’s scared of them.”

That landed.

Fei stood.

Not abruptly.

Not to intimidate.

He moved around the desk and lowered himself down—kneeling until he was level with them.

Equal.

Not above.

“Really,” he said, voice quieter now.  “She told you that?”

“Yeah.”

Fei’s gaze flicked to Luna.

Still.

Silent.

“What else does she say?” he asked, something almost curious threading through his tone.

Foster’s lips twitched, just slightly.

“She says your scales are neat,” he said. A small pause.

“And she wants to know what kind of lizard yokai you are.”

That— That was new.

Foster turned to Luna, a faint, disbelieving smile touching his face.

“Hey… that’s the first time you showed interest in anyone, Luna. Are you sure?” Silence.

Then— something shifted. Fei saw it. Not in her body. Not in her posture. In her eyes. They moved. Slowly. Deliberately. From nowhere— to Foster. And held.

The room stilled around that moment. Because it was the first response. The first choice.

Fei didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t speak.

Didn’t move.

He simply watched.

Foster looked back at him then, something like quiet triumph in his expression. Like he had just proven something no one else understood.

And Fei… for the first time since opening those files— felt it. Not pity. Not obligation. Wonder. Because the reports were wrong. This child wasn’t empty. She was… guarded.

---

Dinner was meant to be simple.

No ceremony.
No observers.
No weight beyond a shared table.

Lord Fei kept it that way.

A quiet room.
Warm lighting.
Food chosen carefully—not extravagant, not overwhelming.

Something safe.

Rin sat beside him, answering most of the conversation without being asked to carry it. Because she saw it— the way the silence pressed too hard when no one spoke.

Across from them, Foster did what he always did. He filled the space.

“What does your house look like?” he asked between bites, eyes bright despite everything. “Is it big? Do you have trees? Can you climb them? Do you have a basement?”

Rin smiled softly, answering each question like it mattered.

“Big enough,” she said.
“Yes, there are trees.”
“And yes… we do have a basement.”

Foster nodded like he was building something in his mind.

Mapping it.

Making sure it could hold her.

Beside him, Luna Sano sat quietly. Hands folded. Back straight. Eyes… distant. She ate when guided. Moved when prompted. But the stillness remained.

Then— without warning— Foster spoke again.

“Can Luna be homeschooled?”

The question landed differently.

Heavier.

Rin glanced at him, surprised.

“Why not the Miko Academy?” she asked gently.

Curious—not dismissive.

Foster didn’t hesitate.

“The other kids there are mean,” he said simply.

Then, a small huff of indignation—

“Luna says it’s because she has a mate.”

He rolled his eyes in the way only a child could.

“They’re just stupid.”

He turned to Rin fully now, certainty blazing in him.

“Right, mother?” he said, testing the word without realizing how much it meant. “Because my mate is the best mate ever.”

Rin stilled.

Just for a second.

Not because of the claim.

But because of the trust behind it.

Foster turned back to Luna, smiling like nothing in the world could convince him otherwise.

“You don’t need them, Luna.”

A pause.

Soft, but firm—

“Besides… you’re more powerful than they are anyway.”

Silence followed. Not empty this time.

Fei watched. Not the words— the reactions. Luna didn’t move. Didn’t speak. But her fingers— just barely— shifted in her lap. A small thing. Almost nothing.

But it wasn’t nothing. Rin saw it too. Her gaze softened. Not with pity. Not with worry. Recognition.

“She can be homeschooled,” Rin said quietly. Not looking at Fei. Not asking. Stating.

 Fei didn’t answer immediately. His gaze moved from Foster— to Luna— to the way the boy leaned toward her without hesitation. Without fear.

Then back to Rin. A decision was passed between them.

Silent.

Complete.

“Yes,” Fei said at last. Simple. Final.

Foster beamed. As if the world had just aligned exactly the way it should. And Luna…sat in her stillness. But for a fleeting moment— something inside her quieted. Not because the world had changed. But because, for once, it had bent around her instead of trying to force her to fit.

---

Something woke him.

No sound.
No disturbance.

Just that quiet, insistent pull—like something in the house had shifted its breath.

Lord Fei moved before he fully understood why.

Down the hall.
Past shadowed walls.
Toward a door that should have held sleep.

It didn’t.

Luna Sano sat exactly where he had left her. Fully dressed. Small in the chair. Hands folded neatly in her lap. Waiting.

The room was dark.

Too dark.

Too quiet.

The kind of quiet that felt… watched.

Fei stepped inside without turning on the light. He didn’t want to break whatever fragile thing held her there. He approached slowly. Guided by something he couldn’t name. Instinct, maybe. Something older than thought. He knelt beside her chair. Brought himself level with her again.

Her eyes were open. But empty. Not unfocused. Not drifting. Gone.

“Why are you not sleeping?” he asked softly. Nothing.

No shift.

No breath change.

No flicker.

“Did you have a nightmare?” Still nothing.

For a moment, Fei simply watched her. Not with impatience. Not with confusion. With… calculation.

Then he exhaled quietly.

As if accepting something unspoken.

“Your mate said you like hot chocolate sometimes,” he said, tone almost conversational.

A small pause.

“I will make you some.” Another, quieter—

“If I remember how, I mean.”

He stood.

Turned.

Walked toward the door.

And then— in the edge of his vision— movement. Slow. Careful. She stood.

Not sudden.

Not startled.

Intentional.

Fei didn’t turn to look at her fully. Didn’t acknowledge it out loud. He simply… slowed.

And she followed. A few steps behind. Always at that same distance. Like a shadow that had decided to trust the light just enough to trail it.

They moved through the house together.

Silent.

Measured.

Into the kitchen.

Fei didn’t turn on the main lights. Only a low one. Something softer. He moved with practiced ease—water, heat, the quiet clink of a cup. A rhythm that belonged to him. Something stable. Predictable.

He set the mug down in front of her with a small, almost theatrical flourish.

“For my little lady,” he said softly. And then— it happened.

Her eyes moved.

Not to the cup.

To him.

The shift was small. Almost imperceptible.

But it landed. And Fei felt it. Not as a thought. Not as a sound. As something… brushing against him.

Soft.

Hesitant.

Gratitude.

He stilled. Just for a second. Letting it settle. Understanding it for what it was. Then, as naturally as breathing—

“Well,” he said, taking his seat across from her, “You are most welcome.”

No surprise.

No question.

As if she had spoken out loud. As if he had always known how to listen. Luna didn’t respond. Not with words. Not with movement.

But she picked up the cup. Carefully. And held it. The warmth rising between her hands.

Fei watched her.

Not pressing.

Not expecting more.

Just… present.

And somewhere deep beneath the silence— something inside her shifted again.

Not fully awake.

Not yet.

But no longer completely alone.

A month changed everything.

And nothing.

The house was no longer quiet. Not the suffocating kind that had followed Luna Sano into every room like a second shadow. That silence—that kind of quiet—didn’t live here anymore. There was movement now.

Voices.

Footsteps that didn’t hesitate outside her door.

Foster came every day. Without fail. Like breathing. Like it wasn’t a choice, but something the world required of him.

And Ryuu— He came too. Loud where Foster was steady. Protective in a way that burned hotter, sharper. Calling her “big sister” like it was something unbreakable.

For a while… it worked.

Luna moved more. Spoke—rarely, but enough. Sat beside them instead of apart. Then the world remembered she existed.

The reporter slipped in through a gap no one had seen yet. Not by strength. Not by power. By curiosity.

A camera. Questions. A voice too loud, too invasive— too close.

“Is it true you’re the girl from the Arnh Line?”
“Can you tell us what happened in that house?”
“Look this way—just one photo—”

It shattered everything. Ryuu moved first. Faster than thought. He grabbed Luna. Pulled her back. Locked the door. Barricaded it with whatever he could reach. Furniture scraping. Breath sharp. Fire just beneath his skin.

“No one comes in,” he growled, voice shaking with something far older than anger.

Foster didn’t argue. Didn’t panic. He called.

Lord Fei didn’t wait. By the time he arrived, the air in the house had changed. Cold. Charged. Wrong. He didn’t ask questions. Didn’t give warnings.

The reporter was removed. Physically. Forcefully. Trespassing became the least of their problems.

The damage, though— was already done. That night— Luna didn’t come back. Not to the surface. Not to them. She shook. Not visibly at first. But it spread—through her hands, her breath, her presence. Like something inside her had been dragged back into the open and refused to be seen again. She wouldn’t respond. Wouldn’t rest. Wouldn’t stop.

Fei made the call. The family doctor came. Quiet. Efficient. Understanding more than they said out loud.

Sedation.

It was the only way. Fei stood there as it took hold. Watching her fight it— even that. Until she stilled. That was worse. The house felt it. Rin stayed at her side. Didn’t leave. Didn’t sleep.

Foster refused to go home. Sat close. Close enough to reach her if she came back.

And Ryuu— He felt it. Not just the fear. Not just the break. The withdrawal. Like something had been torn out of the air. Like a presence he didn’t understand had folded inward so tightly it left a hollow behind.

“She’s gone quiet again,” he said once, voice low, confused. Not angry. Not loud. Just… lost.

Fei didn’t answer. Because he understood. This wasn’t a step back. This was what happened when the world reminded her—it could still reach her.

Security came next. Not suggested. Not discussed. Installed.

Layers of it.

Cameras. Wards. Guards.

Nothing that could slip through unseen again.

Fei didn’t say it out loud. But the house changed after that. It didn’t just protect. It watched.

Because whatever lived inside Luna— whatever had answered that night in the Arnh house— had gone still again. And this time— even Ryuu felt its absence.

Luna didn’t leave her room for a week. Not because she couldn’t. But because somewhere deep inside— she had learned again—

the world was not safe.

---

It wasn’t medicine that reached her.

It wasn’t time.

It was a disruption.

Bright. Loud. Unapologetic.

Ryuu never knew how to enter a room quietly.

That day—he didn’t try.

The door flew open.

Light spilled in.

And Ryuu came with it—half-hidden behind an armful of sunflowers so large they swallowed him whole.

“Big sister—!” He tripped.

It should have been a fall. Awkward. Loud. Inevitable. But it wasn’t. No one saw her move. One second, Luna Sano was by the window— still. distant. untouchable.

The next— Ryuu was upright. Steady.  Her hand on his arm. The room held its breath.

Even Ryuu blinked. Confused. Then grinned anyway, as nothing strange had happened at all.

“Whoa—” he laughed softly, shifting the massive bundle in his arms.
“Good catch, big sister.”

Luna didn’t answer. But she didn’t pull away either. Her gaze drifted— not to him— To the flowers. Bright gold. Alive. Too alive for the quiet room.

“For you,” Ryuu said, suddenly more careful, offering them forward.  “I saw them and thought of you.”

Luna hesitated. Just for a moment. Then— she reached out. Slow. Deliberate. And took them. The weight of them settled in her hands. Warm. Real.

Ryuu watched her face as if it were the most important thing in the world.

“Yeah,” he said quickly, hopeful.  “You like them. Awesome.”

His smile broke wide, unguarded, full of something that refused to be dimmed.

“Lady dragons put them in vases,” he continued, words tumbling out, filling the air before silence could take it again.  “All around the estate. And Charity says it makes things prettier…”

His voice softened on that. Not quieter— but gentler.

“…so I thought maybe it’d make this room prettier too.”

Luna’s fingers shifted slightly against the stems. A small thing. But this time— she didn’t let the moment pass untouched.

Her eyes moved again. From the flowers— to Ryuu. And lingered. Not empty. Not gone. Present. Just enough.

Something inside her— something that had pulled back so far it left a hollow— stirred.

Not fully.

Not yet.

But it noticed the color.

The warmth.

The effort.

And for the first time in days— the room didn’t feel like it was waiting for something to break. It felt like something had been placed gently back into it. And it stayed.

---

The scream didn’t belong in that house.

It cut through it—sharp, terrified, young.

Rin and Lord Fei were already moving before they were fully awake.

Out of bed.
Down the hall.
Toward her.

A thump.

Then silence.

Fei hit the lights.

The room was flooded with bright. And there— under the bed—

Luna Sano.

Curled tight.

Eyes wide.

Shaking so hard it looked like she might come apart. 

They dropped to their knees instantly. Not rushing her. Not reaching too far.

Rin leaned closer first, voice soft enough to hold.

“Did you have a nightmare, Luna?” No answer.

Just those eyes.

Too aware. Too far away.

Fei lowered himself beside her, careful, grounding.

“Come from under there, hatchling… come on,” he murmured. “No one’s here. No one will hurt you.”

His hand hovered just close enough to be seen— not close enough to trap.

A pause.

A tremor.

Then—

barely there—

“You… you promise?” It almost broke something in him.

Fei swallowed hard. Forced his voice steady.

“I swear it.” A breath. “We can even call security, my hatchling. We are safe. You are safe here.”

He didn’t stop. Didn’t rush her. Didn’t let silence swallow the promise.

“You are safe.” Again.

Slowly— inch by inch— she moved. Crawled out from under the bed as the world might still take her if she moved too fast.

Fei didn’t wait. Didn’t hesitate. He gathered her carefully into his arms.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, eyes fixed on the floor.

“No,” he said immediately, rocking her gently. “Don’t be sorry, little hatchling… don’t be sorry.”

And he held her. Not as a guardian. Not as an obligation. As something claimed.

Chapter

Because it was weeks after that— that Foster came to him. Not as a child asking. As someone who had already decided.

“She needs somewhere else,” Foster said.

Simple. Certain.

He had found it.

A piece of land outside Faygrove.

Quiet.

Removed.

A shrine already built into the bones of it.

“With some changes… she’ll like it,” Foster said.

“She’ll be… okay there.”

Fei listened. Really listened. And for the second time in Luna’s life— he didn’t hesitate.

They moved. Together. Not just Luna. Foster too. Because separating them had already proven what it would do. The shrine became more than a place. It became grounding. The land responded. The air felt different. Luna breathed easier there. Not healed. Not whole.

But quieter.

In a better way.

And then— something unexpected happened. Luna began to function.

At fifteen—she stepped into Lord Fei’s world. Not officially. Not announced. But undeniably.

One night, Fei came home late. Frustration simmering under his skin. Someone had breached his secure files.

Clean.

Professional.

Dangerous.

He didn’t expect her to be awake. Didn’t expect her to notice.

But Luna sat there. Still. Watching.

“What happened?” she asked quietly.

He explained.

Brief.

Controlled.

She listened. Head tilted slightly. Then— calmly— she told him how to fix it. Not guesswork. Not theory. Exact.

“A backdoor trojan,” she said softly. “So when they come again… you follow them.”

Fei stared at her. Not questioning. Recognizing. They implemented it. And when the breach came again— it took minutes. Not hours. Not days. Minutes. The thief was exposed. Tracked. Handled.

Fei looked at her like he had seen something impossible. Then he smiled. Wide. Unrestrained. And praised her. Again. And again. Not carefully. Not measured.

Openly.

From that moment— whether anyone said it or not— Luna became something else. Not just the girl who survived. Not just the child who needed protecting. But the one who protected back.

Unofficially.

Quietly.

Head of security.

At fifteen.

And for the first time— the world didn’t just feel like something that could hurt her. It felt like something she could understand. Control. Maybe even… outmaneuver.

Fei was brought from his thoughts by the growling of the young heir behind him. Tyr made it clear he didn’t like the way Fei was handling his Luna. But there was no way Fei was just going to hand his little hatchling over to another male who brought trouble with him. That was something he was not going to let happen.

“Your growls fall on deaf eyes pup. I am the head of this family. Now… Mei, why have you not called us about Rasan?” What could he say? Fei was right, but he still didn’t have to like the way the lizard was treating his Luna.

“I can’t call you guys every time he shows up, Fei. I am not that child anymore,” Luna stated, and Fei sighed.

“I promised your mate’s father, as well as Hakon, I would look after you, protect you. How can I help you if you don’t tell me what happens? Why do I always have to hear things from other sources?” This time, it was Rin who sighed. 

That shocked Tyr from his angry-filled stare. Surprised anyone even asked that question since he had been asking himself that same thing for months. Rin knew where this was heading. She knew no matter how many times Fei asked that question, he still got no answer. ‘This is the way it starts, Fei will rant, and Luna will be silent. And I will have to intervene before anything violent happens when Luna’s powers flare,’ But she knew for a fact that Luna wasn’t scared of Fei; hell, Luna is the only creature besides herself that would even stand up to Fei.

‘Something is off,’ Rin thought to herself as she studied the scene she had seen a million times. Even being human, Rin could easily pick up on Luna’s body language; the girl was completely calm. Idly, she wondered if it had something to do with the young wolf that sat across from her.

Luna looked away from Fei’s piercing red eyes. She didn’t like to talk about things that happened to her. Sure, she agreed Fei did make sure she was taken care of, even more so after the death of her mate. Maybe the twins were right; she was too disconnected from how the real world worked. 

“We have to be at school soon,” Luna sighed.

“Oh no, you don’t. I will be getting some answers before you leave here, my hatchling,” he snapped. “Come,” he snapped again, leaving the room and no room for her to argue. Luna did as she usually did, lowered her head, and followed behind him to the hall.

Tyr, on the other hand, was livid and wanted to behead the Demon. Rin, seeing the growling Demon, tried to calm him. She knew others did not understand the way in which her mate treated Luna. Rin knew Fei loved Luna as if she were his own child and only wanted her to start living life instead of hiding away as she did.

“Do not think badly of my mate Tyr. Fei only worries for our chibi mei.”

“If he lays a hand on her, Lady Rin, you will be looking for a new mate,” he growled, not taking his eyes off the doorway. 

“Now you listen here,” Rin gasped, shooting to her feet. “My Fei would never do such a thing. I will excuse your comment because you are ignorant of the ways of this family. We are unlike any other family, but no one, and I mean no one would even think of hurting our Luna in such a way. My Fei might be a stern Demon, but he loves that girl like his own hatchling,” her voice was hard as ice as she scolded Tyr, making him feel as if he was still in diapers. He was startled, blinking at the woman in front of him, shame-filled him for letting his anger get the better of him.

“Forgive me, I did not mean,” he started. Rin cut him off with a wave of her hand.

“I know the way he treats her is strange, at least to you. But never put this family in the same light as those animals. But you are forgiven nonetheless. Anyway, how can I not when her emotions speak so highly of you?” Rin finished with a beaming smile

‘Okay, the crazy, hyper, emotional lady just smiled and said something about Luna’s emotions. Just what she is talking about?’ But before he could question her about it, Fei’s voice called from the hall, and he did not sound too happy. 

“Hurry up and say your goodbyes, woman. Why did the Goddess curse me with such stubborn females?” Fei growled. Tyr watched as Rin smiled and laughed as they made their way to the doorway.

“Oh, go on, you old grouchy goat,” she laughed.

“I am a lizard female, are you blind?” he snapped.

“You could have fooled me. Here I am, Tyr thinking I mated such a gentle creature, and bam, he turns into a fire-breathing lizard,” she giggled, winking at Tyr.

“Female,” Fei growled.

“I have a name, or has old age finally caught up with you?” Rin laughed while Tyr covered up his laughter with a cough. Luna just watched the scene silently. This was nothing new to her.

“Luna,” Fei roared. “This is your fault. How could I let you talk me into mating… mating that woman?”

“Do not blame Luna, you mated me because you love me, and you know it.”

“Goddess, forgive it was a moment of insanity. Luna if. . .” Fei started but stopped at Luna’s laughter. Rin gasped, looking first to the shocked Fei and then to Luna. Tyr and Fei followed her eyes. The sight that greeted them was heartwarming. Luna was laughing so hard she was bent over holding her sides, her whole body was shaking. Even after the sound drifted away as she straightened up her blue/brown eyes still shone with delight, a large smile painted across her face.

The three watching couldn’t help but smile at one another. Fei figured if this was all it took to make his hatchling laugh with such life, Rin and he would argue more often. Even though he knew his mate took far too much pleasure in crawling under his skin. His red eyes took in his niece. It seemed almost a lifetime since Luna had laughed. Truly laughed and couldn’t stop the smile it brought forth. For the first time in years, he felt maybe his little hatchling was finally getting better. Both Tyr and Rin were thinking along the same lines as well.

“Gomen Oji -san,” Luna giggled and panted.

“For what my mei?”

“You made me think of the day you were in your office pouting,” Luna and Rin giggled.

“I do not pout,” Fei started.

“You did, then you and Rin had a terrible fight. She stormed from your office, yelling she would not be your mate if we were the last crotchety old goat in the universe. And you yelled, ‘There are numerous women who want to mate this crotchety old goat woman.’ The two females giggled again, followed by Tyr, who coughed to cover up his laugh again.

“Yeah, I remember that I wouldn’t talk to him for three months,” Rin beamed happily.

“And Oji-san pouted for three months, saying ‘hmp, the crazy hyper woman cursed this Fei’.” Luna collapsed into another fit of laughter after her perfect impression of Fei.

“Hmp, that crazy, hyper woman did curse this Fei. But I would not change her for the world. Now, if you three are quite down, laughing at me. Rin, if you please. . .” she smiled and nodded. “Young Moon, I would like a word with you outside.” 

Rin smiled, shaking her head as the two males walked down the hall and out the door. She turned back to Luna, tilting her head to the side.

“It does my heart good to finally see you smile so my mei.”

Luna stiffened and looked somber. “I don’t. . .

---

Outside, Fei stopped by his black Bentley and turned to the silent Tyr. His sharp red eyes took stock of the young Lord Demon from head to toe.

“I have heard of your reputation, heir to the house of the Moon. Discarding females without care, my mei will not be another notch on your belt. Watch yourself, young moon, you will find I can make your life a living hell.”

“No, you should watch yourself, Lord, or not do not insult my relationship with My Luna again. You, Lord Fei, know nothing about this Tyr or my relationship with my mate-to-be,” he growled.

“Do not threaten me, young moon. The only reason you are allowed to remain at this time is that her emotions speak so highly of you.” Fei growled back.

“What are you talking about?”

“You will learn, young moon. For now, just remember this: if you hurt my hatchling in any way, your father will not be able to save you. My family’s main goal, my main goal, is to protect Luna from further harm and the bastard Rasan. Do not add yourself to the list,” Fei stated and looked to the door as Rin and Luna left the shrine, walking toward them. “My hatchling is very special, and I will not stand by and let her be destroyed by another male. Whether you want My Luna as a mate or not, the fact remains I am head of this family, and there will be no mating unless you prove yourself worthy in my eyes, young moon.”

“You can do nothing if Luna agrees,” Tyr growled. He couldn’t believe this bastard would really think he could threaten and try to tell him what to do.

“I would not test that theory if I were you. Now calm yourself, I do not want my hatchling upset any more than she already is,” Fei stated and walked away from the angry Tyr and right up to Luna. 

“I would like a hug today, my hatchling,” he stated, standing in front of Luna. She nodded, knowing she would not get away with not hugging Fei this morning. She swallowed and waited as Fei leaned down to hug her, whispering in her ear. 

Tyr watched as Fei hugged Luna, whispering to her softly as he did. He stuffed down his anger, watching as her eyes flashed and closed halfway, and her hands closed tightly, fisting the Demon suit. Again, he swore he picked up a soft growl issuing forth from the small miko. 

Fei stepped back, looking at Luna one last time, then walked away, opening the car door for his mate. Rin smiled and waved at both Tyr and Luna as she climbed in, and the door was shut.

“I will pick you up later for the meeting, Luna, and dress appropriately,” he stated, shutting his door and driving off. Tyr looked to see Luna walking back into the shrine, but stopped when he called out to her. She stopped and turned to him.

“Get your bag and meet me at my car. We are going out for breakfast,” he spoke heading toward his car.

“I have to get some money then.”

“Don’t worry, it will be my treat,” he sighed. Thankfully, she just nodded and went to get her bag. By Goddess, he really wanted to hurt someone or something right now. He watched her during the ride; her calm affected him, making him relax. He parked at the coffee house and told her to stay in the car as he went in and ordered for them.

‘Be wary, my hatchling… but follow your heart if he is the way it leads your Oji-san will be here for you always.’ rolled through Luna’s mind as she watched Tyr through the large window. She really didn’t want to get involved with another Demon, but everyone seemed to be pushing her his way. But what could she say, especially when he smiled at her and caused those strange flutterings in her very soul? Like now, when he just climbs in beside her, handing her the two Cappuccinos with that large smile of his. 

“What did you get me?” she questioned. 

“You will see,” he smirked, driving toward school. They arrived on campuses with a still hour before school started. And picked a nice bench under a couple of Shidarezakura and sat down, he handed her the small bag he held in his hand. Luna handed him a drink and looked down at the bag, not knowing what to expect. But whatever it was, it smelled great.

“What is it?” she questioned, but got no answer, only his trademark smirk as he sipped his Cappuccino.

Tyr watched through his lashes as she pulled off her gloves and ripped open the bag, slowly biting her bottom lip. He almost smiled watching her eyes light up as she looked up at him in almost awe.

“You. You remembered,” she whispered.

“How could I not? My father brought you an apple cinnamon bagel, lightly toasted with cream cheese, every other day he went to the lab.”

“Wow, thank you. Thank you so very much  ”

“I just wanted to get you something good for breakfast, it’s nothing,” he shrugged, but wished he hadn’t said anything when he saw her face fall blank again. Her fourth real smile, and he messed it up. He sighed. “Luna”

“It’s okay, I understand, no big deal, it’s just food, right?” She looked back at her bagel, and the two ate in silence.

---

Tyr sighed. He hated this class; the last class of the day was required for all juniors, Demon Human Affairs. It was not like first-period Ancient Legends no, he only took that class to have something to do, and it went into detail about myths and ancient rituals no longer practiced. This class was different since both species learned to coexist peacefully. They were lectured daily on each Demon species along with Human Houshi, Miko, etc.

“Kitsune are a special breed with a trait no other Demon has the ability to tell their future mate at first sight.” The teacher stopped and called on a student with their hand raised. “Hai, Yura.”

“Miko Fubuki, how does a person know when a Kitsune is looking to them as a future mate?”

“Good question, Yura, you as a Demon of the hair will love this. Even if there is no eye contact, you can always feel their constant stare. As if they’re looking for something, but it’s only something they can see.” 

Tyr tuned out the rest of the class ‘feel their constant stare,’ he thought back to all the times he felt Luna looking at him. ‘They bonded, so would that make her?’ ‘Hai. Hai. Hai’ came his Demon’s excited growl.‘No, that’s not possible, is it? He looked at Luna out of the corner of his eye as she was sketching. 

“Okay, class, there will be no end-of-the-year exams,” everyone cheered. Fubuki waited for them to quiet down. “But you will be required to write a ten-page report on either a Demon or a human. And before anyone asks, it can not be about yourself if you’re a Demon. That’s it, class dismissed.” 

The hallways were full of creatures trying to leave the campus quickly. Luna, still embarrassed about her emotional outburst this morning, went out of her way to avoid Tyr as she walked through the hall. She didn’t notice Tyr walking not too far away from her, watching her every move as she went through her locker. What he did next shocked and stilled the rushing students; even the teachers stopped to take in the scene that had awed and shocked their students.

Luna had turned from her locker, still lost in thought till she saw the blood-red and black roses in front of her. She didn’t know what to say as she looked up into the golden eyes of the Demon standing in front of her. 

Her scent urged him forward, seeing her blue/brown eyes light up in that awed expression he loved placing there. It was still new to him and the creature inside him, but still, they loved it nonetheless, and it made up his mind. ‘Today, everyone will know I will not hide how I feel any longer’

He drew her into his arms, softly his lips touched hers and parted, she froze for a moment, then instinctively complied with parting her own. He slipped his tongue into her mouth, caressing hers. She felt her knees weaken. He tightened his hold on her, drawing her closer and more intimately into his embrace. He growled low into her mouth, telling her how he loved her taste.

No battle raged in her heart, and no excuse for why this was wrong crossed her mind. He tastes like the wine she always drank, sweet and crisp, intoxicating and addictive. 

His mouth moved over hers, and she clung to him, letting his strength alone keep her standing. 

Tyr hadn’t meant to take the kiss this far. He wanted only a light kiss, something to show his feelings for her. But the low noises she made left him wanting more.

The only thing blocking the view of the two as they consumed one another was a curtain of silver and black hair, but still, it was obvious what was happening. Tyr’s reputation was well known around the school, but this sudden show of tenderness and passion was something they had never known the stoic Lord Demon could be capable of.  

Kaede’s cheeks warmed as she noticed all her students stared wide-eyed and mouths open at the two in the silent hallway. The twins nudged one another and shared a knowing smile. 

Tyr was the first to recover hearing Kaede clearing her throat. He reluctantly pulled away from Luna, feeling cold without her body pressed close to him.

Luna, on the other hand, blinked a few times, confused for a moment till she realized where she was and that everyone was staring slacked-jawed at her. She quickly hid her face as her hand clenched around the two roses.

Tyr, with his arm still around her waist, steered her toward the gym. He smirked at all the shocked faces around them as he led Luna to her last Jujitsu class. He lifted her chin and kissed her softly, leaving her at the door of the changing room. ‘She just looks so edible when she’s embarrassed,’ the creature with him growled in agreement.

He took his place on the bleachers far away from the other students and started to write ideas for his report. Hearing the door, he looked up to see Luna enter the gym, adjusting her black obi and dressed in plain black hakama and haori. 

“Alright, class, today we are continuing our little competition. Pick your partner and begin,” the teacher spoke to bring the class to order. Tyr wanted to leap from the bleachers and bury his claws in the tall, silver-haired Kitsune that approached and smiled at his Luna. He held himself back and watched as she nodded to his unspoken request.

As always, Tyr was amazed at how easily the class erupted into a war zone. He shook his head at how sloppy most of the teams worked; that’s why he preferred one-on-one battles. His golden gaze slid to Luna and her partner as they took down their opponents. And snorted at how stupid the Demon was for believing Luna would be easily defeated.

It was down to the final four: Luna and her partner, a fire Apparition, and his partner, a Kitsune as well. Luna changed stance, and her partner followed her lead, and the fighting began anew. Tyr’s eyes left the fight as a conversation caught his attention.

“Did you see that move she caught me with?”

“Goddess dude, I never knew humans were that flexible.”

“Hell, man, I never saw anyone do that, and Yoko let her.”

“Are you sure, dude, that Luna doesn’t have some Cat in her?”

“Not that I heard. . .damn man did see that she ran up his back and did a flip kick, is that possible?”

“Damn, dude, that girl is hot. I wonder if she is going out with anyone? I would hit that without even being ashamed,” they agreed and laughed, unaware of the eyes watching them.

“Man, you are so late. Talk is that Iceberg Lord Demon Tyr Moon is her boyfriend”

“Dude, you’re shitting me that guy? What does something so hot see in that guy?”

“Naw, man, my girl says they were making out in the hall before class”

“The hall. . .damn, I wonder what she tastes like?”

“You will never know,” Tyr growled, surprising the two Demons. They scrambled off the bleachers and across the room. He smirked and turned his attention back to Luna just in time to see her being thrown by the Apparition. Tyr’s smirk widened at the Apparition’s shocked look as  Luna’s gloved hands touched the floor, saving her from a fall. She turned the throw into a flip, hitting the Apparition and throwing him into the wall mat. 

He saw the mischief twinkling in both the eyes of Luna and her partner as she raced toward him, ducking the blows of the other Kitsune. He thought she was going to run up her partner back again. The class held their breath as the red-haired Kitsune prepared for the attack. They were shocked to see the silver-haired Kitsune turn suddenly, catching Luna by the arm and lifting her into the air.

The whole room was silent as everyone stared in awe. None could believe their eyes as, in a flutter of material, in a few well-placed kicks, the red-haired Kitsune went flying off the mat to the gym floor. 

The teacher cleared his throat, calling the attention away from the panting Luna and her partner.

“Well, I guess our winners are Yoko and Luna. Nice teamwork, you two; everyone in here besides Shido and Cain could learn a few things about teamwork from these four. Now, class, as you all know, with the upcoming exams, this is to be our last class. I would like to thank you all for trying your best this year, and I would especially like to thank you, Luna, and Yoko for ending our last class with such an amazing and creative move. Class dismissed,” he finished, bowing to his students and leaving.

The gym was quickly emptied as Tyr stood from his seat, moving closer as the two Kitsune and the Apparition circled the silent Luna, talking. He watched as the red-haired one was shy in the way he questioned his Female, while the silver-haired one was bold and smirking as he questioned her.  

Tyr was even more curious when the three males looked his way. Clearly painted on their faces was disbelief as they looked him up and down. They looked away when he sent them a smug look. 

Tyr growled in warning when he heard the silver Kitsune telling his Luna to be careful when dealing with him. It was hard enough to get Luna to open up to him; he did not need some creature warning her away from him. He had waited too long, and now that he was near her, he wanted nothing to mess things up.

Luna heard Tyr’s growl and turned to look at him

“Are you finished here? We still have to get ready for the meeting tonight,” He questioned and noticed the shocked look the three sent Luna. She just shook her head and gathered her things.

Tyr bared his fangs and smirked at the three males over his shoulder as he and Luna left the gym. He pulled her close to him, and for once, he was glad she didn’t draw away from his touch. He dropped her off at home, unaware of the eyes watching them and waiting.

After a few threats from their father, Gram, and Tyr sat beside one another quietly. They had arrived early, some business their father had to clear up, and he did not trust them to come quietly later. 

Tyr sighed, his golden eyes scanning the room for Luna. He only sparred, the grumbling Gram a glance till his eyes landed on Ryuu. Who was making his way toward them?

Gram, on the other hand, was upset, having spoken earlier to Linda, who was now upset with him. Of course, his father had informed her in his own rude way.‘Only lords, ladies, their heirs, and mates were allowed to attend the meeting. And because you are neither, you have to stay away,’ now she wasn’t speaking to him.

Ryuu was nervous, thinking only to find Tyr. But he knew it wasn’t his emotions that drove him to seek out the Dog heir. 

The young dragon stopped suddenly as stars exploded before his eyes. A wave of pain sent him to his knees, the sudden flare of his Jaki brought the eyes of every demon in the room to him. 

His father and Hakon rushed to his side along with Tyr and a curious Gram.

Yuu knew not what to do, watching his son as he struggled to keep his humanoid form. Yuu looked to Hakon.

“Damn it, help me get him outside,” he growled, worried. With a nod, Hakon grabbed the struggling, growling dragon and helped pull him from the building. 

“What the hell is happening with him?” Gram questioned the back of his brother as he followed.

His heart was pounding in his ears as a searing pain ripped through his stomach. The feel of claws tearing his flesh made him howl in pain, and the poison set his blood ablaze as he struggled to stay awake.

“What’s. . .happening?” Tyr questioned. “What’s wrong with Ryuu?” his eyes widened as the young dragon howled in pain and clawed at his arms as if struggling to remove something they couldn’t see.

“Not Ryuu Tyr. Damn it…Damn it, not tonight, this can’t be happening tonight of all nights. Hakon, your phone,” Yuu growled, snatching the phone from a stunned Hakon and dialing a number. “Answer the damn phone, damn it, what the. . .Fei Fei, where the hell are you?”

“Fei, what does this have to do with Fei?” Hakon questioned. He had never seen anything like this in his time, and by Goddess, he had seen some strange things.

In a wild swirl, a Jaki and something they couldn’t place, Ryuu transformed with a pained howl that shook the building behind them.

“Holy shit,” Gram exclaimed, running from the meeting hall with wide eyes.

“Ryuu Ryuu, you have to stop,” Yuu yelled as his son, who was about to take flight. Hakon, still confused, turned to Tyr, who seemed to be watching the scene as if he knew what was happening.

“Do not let Ryuu leave Tyr”

“And how am I to do that, Father?”

“Tyr now is not the time for games,” Hakon growled. With a sigh, Tyr transformed, and the giant wolf tackled the fleeing dragon and held his struggling form to the ground.

Tyr could clearly hear the phone conversation Yuu was having with Fei. Yuu was yelling at Fei, the conversation was cut short by a female scream. Tyr growled in anger. Something was happening, and they couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

---

Fei had been half-listening to his mate, Rin, as she chatted about this and that, when his phone rang.

“Hold that thought, mate it Yuu. . .hello”

“WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, REPTILE?” Yuu yelled, stilling even Rin, who looked at her mate with worried brown eyes.

“Yuu, what’s wrong over there?” he questioned.

“It’s Luna, damn it… You have to hurry”

“How do you know Yuu?” Fei hissed.

“How do I know damn my-“ Rin screamed, seeing the demon almost covering the front yard of the shrine. Fei dropped the phone, jumped from the car, and killed any creature that tried to stop him. He had to get to his hatchling; he had to find Luna.

In the distance, he heard Luna scream as a wave of purifying energy swept the yard, turning all it touched to ash. His red eyes widened; never had he witnessed or felt such power in his long life. The brightness of the light was almost blinding, and the feel of the energy caused a tendril of fear to creep down his spine. For the first time in his long life, he feared for the life of his mate and himself. Death was racing toward him, and he could do nothing to stop it.

“You will die, too old bastard,” the creature in his gasp spat.

The energy swept through the car, shocking Rin from her terrifying scream. She ran from the car and into the yard…

Tyr held the struggling dragon around the neck in his jaws as he struggled, his wings beating a strange rhythm. After the phone line went dead after the scream, all was silent; no one dared move or take a deep breath. All were waiting to hear something, anything from the silent phone in Yuu’s grasp. 

With a flare of Jaki and some strange energy, Tyr couldn’t place the struggling dragon, collapsed, whimpering, and howling in pain.

Now he was worried. If what he figured was right, this couldn’t be… .no, no, he would think that way. His large red eyes flicked to the still figures of his father and Yuu. Both eyed the whimpering dragon with worried eyes.

Gram was the one who broke the silence. “What the hell is happening? And what does the dragon have to do with Luna?”

“Not now, Gram,” Hakon hissed, his golden eyes moving back to the phone clutched in Yuu’s shaking hand.

The gathering crowd looked to the three silent demons and then to the whimpering dragon. They looked away from the giant Dog as he stepped back from the dragon. 

Tyr nudged the now still dragon with his large face, red met red as he stared into the dragon’s eyes. He saw pain, anger, sadness, and a spark of something he couldn’t name. If he could, he would have sighed after the shock wore off; looking into Ryuu’s eyes was almost like looking into Luna’s. Goddess, he wanted to believe he was right, and if he was right, the emotions he saw were not Ryuu’s but Luna’s, and if he was right. . .

After a few moments, Ryuu slipped back into his humanoid form as his bright eyes met Tyr’s. The giant Inu turned his large head to the night sky and howled in what sounded like relief. 

The Council Elder made his way through the crowd.

“I called the human police in that part of the city at your request, Lord Hakon. But I am afraid all we can do is wait at this time to hear something,” he spoke, as the other Elders led the onlookers back into the building.

“I don’t think we have anything to worry about, Council Elder. The Lady should be making an appearance as planned,” Hakon commented, watching as Tyr sank back into his humanoid form.

“How do you know this, Lord Hakon?” the elder questioned.

“My pup’s instincts are seldom wrong, Council Elder, and the fact he has not gone on a rampage speaks louder than anything,” Hakon smirked.

“And what does your eldest pup going on a rampage have to do with the Eastern Lady?” The elder hated when someone knew something he didn’t. 

“The Eastern lady and my pup are courting if you must know,” Hakon stated smugly after casting a quick eye on Tyr. It wouldn’t do to get his pup even more upset; he knew how Tyr felt about his privacy. 

“Why is this the first time I am hearing this? Why did you not bring this up during your meeting with me?”

“My pup’s business is his own and not open to public opinion.” 

“Hmm, and you are hopeful for a mating then?”

“Why would I not think that the two are compatible in every way and complement one another very well?”

“This would have been helpful in our earlier meeting.”

“That meeting was to name an heir if something was to happen to the Eastern Lady, not about my pup”, Hakon bites out as he narrows his eyes at the elder.

“The Eastern Lady is more clever than I gave her credit. First three heirs and now this, for one so young, she does plan ahead, does she not? I think for the first time I will take pleasure in meeting this little human that the Taiyokai and Daiyokai have taken such a liking to.”

“Believe me, Council Elder, once you meet our little Luna, your world will never be the same.” Hakon chuckled darkly again, helping Yuu move Ryuu back into the meeting hall. All they could do for the moment was wait. And Hakon had a feeling Tyr knew what was going on, and if he wasn’t worried, he would not worry.

Ryuu sat looking pale beside Gram at the back of the room as the meeting began. And as much as Tyr hated it he knew he had to be beside his father when all he wanted was to see Luna. The tension was high in the room as everyone was in a foul mood after the news of the attack on the Eastern Lady. 

An hour into the meeting, the chamber doors were thrown open, and in a rush, a hawk demon. 

“Council Elder. . . Council Elder”

“What is it, Yuma?” the Elder snapped, the room now quiet.

“The Lady, Elder… the Eastern Lady is arriving… her limo bearing the crest of the east has been seen driving this way.”

“Good, good, bring her straight away, Yuma.”

“Hai, Elder,” Yuma rushed from the room as the doors closed. The room was overcome by voices. It took some doing, but the Elder silenced the crowd as the doors were open once again.

“Presenting, Retainer of the East Lord Fei and his mate Lady Rin,” the hawk demon announced. Everyone quickly turned to the door as the two entered arm in arm.

“Presenting, the heirs of the East Lord Yoko, Lord Shido, and Lord Cain.” Even this drew Tyr’s interest; those were the three from Luna Jujitsu class. They entered behind Fei and Rin, dressed in matching black haori and hakama, the symbol of the east on the upper, right shoulder. Rin, in her plain black kimono, stood to the right with both Shido and Cain, while Fei stood to the left with Yoko, all five looking back out the doors.

Her scent filled the room before she did. Most demons knew right away who was just beyond the doors.

“Presenting . . .The Lady of the East, Head of the House of Sano, The Sacred Betsushikime, Lady Luna,” everyone stood and bowed as Luna entered the room. 

Tyr couldn’t help the look of awe that settled on his face as he watched her enter the room. She was dressed in a black kimono with symbols of the East on both sleeves in red, in red also was Kitsune embroidered along the trim, and only the tails of the one on the back showed as the silken garment slid along the floor behind her. Her head was held high, all her raven mane was up in a style befitting her station, and on her porcelain forehead was the mark of the east …. She seemed to be a goddess that demanded respect from all who looked upon her.

 To him, she seemed to pause for a moment, as her gloved hand swept a strand of hair from her face. Then she made her way to the front royally with the group following behind her.

Gram’s jaw hit the floor when it was announced who had entered. ‘that’s who everyone was waiting for. Damn, talk about making an entrance’

“Close your mouth your catching flies,” Ryuu smirked, then turned his eyes back to his big sister. He could not help the sense of pride that swelled inside him at her regal entrance. He could see and feel the difference in her, but he worried if anyone else could. Quickly looking around the room, he found no one looking at her any different. So with a pained sigh, he sat down, knowing no one would see him with everyone on their feet. He would take this pain gladly just to help his big sister through the night.

She reached the front of the room, stopping at the large carved table and bowed slightly, showing respect to the Taiyokai and Elders standing.

“I am Council Elder Po. I bid welcome to the East.”  

“The East is honored by your welcome, Council Elder, and I ask you to forgive the lateness of our arrival.”

“There is nothing to forgive, my lady. We are grateful for your arrival and pray you are well from your encounter. Now that we are all here, please take your place next to the west, and the meeting shall continue,” the elder spoke, taking in the form of the young girl as she moved away from him. He shook his head. She was nothing like he had expected her to be.

Tyr wanted so badly to go to her but knew he could not move from his place. He could tell by the way she bowed that something was wrong, but if she was in pain, it didn’t show on her face. His golden eyes went to Ryuu, and from the look on his face, he was in severe pain. 

He knew the other lords were watching as she stood beside him, watching as he greeted her. What he really wanted was to pull her into his arms and never let her go.

“Lady of the East,” his voice was clear, showing none of the worries he felt.

“Heir of the west,” she spoke, taking her seat. It was clear to all that she was well-versed in demon meeting etiquette, and once their curiosity was satisfied, the meeting began anew. 

“Now, where were we. . .oh yes the Daiyokai Reno was about to speak on the matter of this so-called monk.” After his remark, the room again exploded in anger.

“Something must be done,” someone remarked.

“That creature is a menace,” came another shout.

“He’s attacked one of our own. This should not be forgiven,” came another shout.

“She is not one of our own. Let her deal with it,” Reno finally spoke disdainfully in his voice. The remark caused even more arguments and growls from the crowd of demons. The room was silenced quickly as Luna’s aura flared and she slammed her hand on the table, then pulled herself up from her chair.

“Oh, so she finally speaks,” Reno snarled.

“If you have a problem being under my rule, Daiyokai Reno, you take that up with me like a real yokai and not some coward that spurts off at the mouth like a child. I am surprised your heir has any common sense with a father like yourself,” she growled.

“Bitch,” Reno started, but was cut off by Luna, who smirked brightly.

“You are not showing your intelligence, Reno. But I thank you for finally realizing I am female, though I am not a Dog. Now that is out of the way, with your small brain, you should be able to answer this. Were you not the one, the first one to fall for Rasan’s schemes? Were you not the one who accused me of the foulest acts while you, yourself, were accused of sleeping with the younglings of your pack? And did not the papers quote the source as one Rasan?” 

“Those lies meant nothing, and nothing came of it,” he snarled. But the silent room stared him down, making him squirm. Tyr almost laughed at the wolf. Everyone knew what had almost happened. He almost let his grin show as Luna did the perfect impression of a Dog-Demon and sniffed the air.

“Do not think you can fool this room with your lies, Daiyokai Reno. Your clan was ready to replace you as well as slit your throat for your crimes, even if they were false. And who came to your defense?” The room waited for an answer from the yokai, but he did nothing but growl, so Luna continued.

“That monk has committed many crimes against the demon community. Many of which I have paid restitution for, should I mention them? Poisoned mates and heirs, lies spread against certain members of the council. Should I go on? How many of you have I righted the wrongs that the monk has caused? I know many of you wish for my death or that I had died instead of my mate. I for one could give tinkers damn about your petty jealous natures, or you’re hated for me. But as Lady of the East, I live under the same rules as each of you in this room and every other yokai in this world. And with that, I am also afforded the protection of this council, whether you like it or not, Reno,” speaking her peace she once again took her seat. 

Goddess Tyr couldn’t help but stare at the creature beside him. Never had he seen this side of her; she was so commanding, so powerful. Goddess, how he wanted her. He was brought from his exotic thoughts as the room once again burst into angry growls and voices. It seems one-fourth of the room agreed with Luna, while the other, which included Reno, was in disagreement.

“The east is right, she lives as one of us, therefore should be protected as one of us. How could you disrespect your superior in such a way, Daiyokai Reno?” someone growled

“No, Daiyokai Li, it is this council who disrespect all the East by keeping this… this filthy human female as head of the East, and I’ll not stand here and be disrespected by this bitch,” Reno snarled and leaped toward the table at Luna. He slammed into a barrier that popped into existence around the council. The elders sighed. This was getting out of hand. But if the little human wanted respect, this was the way to gain it.

“Daiyokai Reno, control yourself,” One elder roared and called for the guards.

“Father,” Kage finally stood, making himself known for the first time. He had been watching the scene from the back of the room, and this was getting out of hand. Goddess, he had never been so embarrassed in his life.

“My own son, you would side with this human filth against your own father?” Reno roared.

“Hai, I will side with the Lady of the East. I am ashamed to call you Father Daiyokai Reno. Was it not the same lady who sits before us now, who helped mother after that bastard Rasan had poisoned her with his so-called cure? How can you stand here and try to attack the same female who had at all times tried to protect our family, who is even now trying to protect our homelands from that bastard Monk?”

“You speak foolishness, you will stand by your father or so help me…”

“Enough,” Luna yelled in unison with the elder. Before anyone could move, Luna was around the table behind Reno.

“You will learn your place, weak, human bitch,” he snarled, turning to her.

“I know my place now, know your scum,” she growled and drew back her hand. Reno laughed as well as a couple of his followers. But again, the room was silenced as with one well-placed punch, the Daiyokai went flying into the back of the room and slid down the doors. Two yokai went to his aid, but were stopped by Luna’s growl.

“Do you two need a lesson in your place as well? Take your seats, he will live. His voice was getting us nowhere anyway. The hour grows long, and I grow tired of all this bricking. Either make up your mind or be forewarned if Rasan causes any more problems in any territory, not my own, I will not lift a finger to help,” she stated, and with a flick of her wrist, the barrier fell, and again she took her seat.

 This shocked many who thought they knew the miko; never had she been so violent, so cold. And what shocked them, even more, was that Kage did not lift a finger to help his father; he only took his seat as his father was struck by the tiny female.

Gram was shocked by the display when the always quite creepy chick had become so powerful as to take out a full-grown demon. Hell, when had she grown a voice? One thing was sure, he sure as hell wouldn’t anger that creature.

Hakon and Yuu shared knowing looks as they nodded toward Fei and Rin. They had waited too long for someone to put Reno in his place. Reno never knew when to shut his mouth; the fact that Luna kept him as Daidemon had surprised them all when they knew it was Reno who spread most of the lies about Luna. Rasan and his lies had struck again. 

‘Well, I guess he learned his place… in the dirt.’ Tyr laughed inwardly, seeing after a few minutes that the Daiyokai was still lying on the ground, and everyone else seemed too afraid to move or didn’t care to help the creature. But when the humor passed, a wave of angry shot thought him, ‘she let the bastard off too easily, I would have beheaded the bastard’ ‘we should have killed the bastard he dares to insult and try to injure our mate’ the creature within roared. He peered at Luna from the corner of his eye, ‘Hai, but with that small display of power, they have all learned she is not one in whom to toy with.’

The elder finally stood and addressed the room.

“Now that this foolishness is behind us. The East is right, she lives as one of us, and we protect our own. Measures will be taken to see that this menace is found and dealt with, my lady, no matter what hole he is hiding in. And the Daiyokai will be dealt with as well. Now,” he was cut off.

“No, if I may, Elder the Daiyokai is a loudmouth, but there is no one more competent to be head of the grey wolf clan.”

“But my lady, he had attacked you, and he should be held accountable.”

“He will elder… be even I am not heartless enough to take him away from his sick mate. And as Head of his clan at this time, we need all the able-bodied creatures we can get to help find Rasan”

“Very well, my lady, but if things get out of hand, the council will step in.” She nodded, then lapsed back into silence, and the meeting continued.  

After another hour, the meeting finally drew to an end. 

When more than half the room had cleared out, the Southern Lord approached Luna. Silently, the Hawk demon took in the seated form of Luna with pleased eyes, much to the displeasure of Tyr.

“I am Jet, My lady, Lord of the Southern Territories. It is a pleasure to finally see the Lady of the East. I have heard many things about you, but I can see now no one properly did you justice, Lady of the East.”

Luna nodded her head in greeting. “It is a pleasure as well, Lord of the South. Please forgive me if I do not rise to greet you .”

“It is of little importance, for I have heard of the ordeal you have faced early this evening. I just wanted to bid you welcome, Lady of East. Before I take my leave, I would like to say a few things if I may?” Jet paused for a moment to see if Luna had any objections. When she said nothing, he took the empty seat next to her.

“Though I am glad you have finally attended this meeting and made such an everlasting impression on many of us here. I would like to object to one thing you said, if I may. I admit there are still a few demons that hold to their old hate of Humans, especially miko, but they hold no weight with the rest of us.  But we all agree on one thing, no matter our viewpoint: to lose one’s mate is the most horrible thing that can happen to any creature. But to lose a mate at such a young age as yourself is even worse. But never be sorry that you survived, my Lady. Because some of us know many friends, family members, or loved ones who did not have the strength to survive. With that said, I will take my leave now,” he stood and said his goodbyes, and walked away without another word.

Next, the council elder said his piece, walking Luna and her group to the door, Tyr and his father not far behind. When the elder finally entered his limo and drove off, Ryuu leaned over his own limo, panting for breath. 

“Someone catch her,” he whispered. Gram reached out and grabbed hold of Luna before she hit the ground. As Yuu went to check on Ryuu, Fei went to Luna, lifting her into his arms.

“Hatchling, are you well?” The worry in his voice was easily heard by all. 

“What’s wrong ?” Tyr questioned. 

“She was fine moments ago,” Gram commented.  

“Ryuu?” Tyr started looking to the young dragon for answers. Ryuu turned his eyes to Tyr with a look he was beginning to understand. 

“We are exhausted, nothing more. . .” Tyr nodded his understanding.

“What do you mean by ‘ we? What is going on here, Yuu, Fei?” Hakon growled. He wanted to know what was going on.

“Don’t growl at me, you old dog. Calm yourself, you’re upsetting my hatchling,” Fei snapped as the semi-conscious Luna became restless in his arms. 

“Give her to me,” Tyr spoke. He was a little shocked when, without a word, Fei handed him Luna. She calmed in his arms, for which he was glad, his growl seeming to relax her. “What is wrong with her?” he questioned.

“This is not the place to speak on such things?” Fei spoke.

“But Fei ?” Rin started, but was stopped by a shake of her mate’s head.

“Since I am taking Luna to my home, you will follow and explain then,” Hakon stated, following Gram into the limo. Everyone nodded and climbed into their limos, heading for the house of the moon across town.

Gram looked over the shivering girl in his brother’s arms sadly. “What do you think is wrong with her father? Do you think she will be alright?”

“I don’t know, Gram. What do you know, Tyr? You have been quiet through this whole thing as if you know what is happening,” Hakon questioned.

“I am . . .I am not for sure, Father. But if I am correct, then her connection to Ryuu is a lot deeper than we can imagine,” he answered, stroking Luna’s hair softly.

“Again with the dragon. Okay, I am confused. What does he have to do this?” Gram questioned, scratching his head.

“Don’t concern yourself, brat, with matters not your own,” Tyr stated.

“Hey! This does concern me. And I am not a brat.”

“And how does Luna’s welfare concern you?”

“If Luna becomes your mate, that would make her my sister. Therefore, her welfare concerns me as well, brother.” Gram stated, rolling his eyes, Goddess Tyr could be so stupid sometimes.  His golden eyes landed back on Luna again as she lay in his brother’s arms. He was worried for her; he had never really cared for her, but she had saved his life. And he would have to be blind not to notice his brothers’ interest in the girl. Family was family, and from the way his brother was acting when it came to Luna, she was family already and just didn’t know it yet.

“Your brother has a point, Tyr,” Hakon stated with a sigh as the grounds of their home came into sight. He knew his wife wasn’t home; she had gone out, and he was glad this was something she didn’t need to know about. 

Tyr sighed as he held the limp, shivering Luna closer to his body. “Fine, just don’t inform that female of yours about anything you hear tonight, little brother.”

“No Duh, do I look dumb to you?” he huffed.

“I will not answer that,” Tyr chuckled as Gram huffed and rolled his eyes. Sometimes he didn’t know why he even tried.

Jaken met the limo as they drove up and opened the door, taking in the sight of the small miko in the arms of the eldest moon child. He gasped and stepped back as they exited the limo. Hakon was barking orders as the other two limos arrived, and everyone followed him inside the house.

The sitting room was silent as Pedar entered a few minutes later. 

“I have called the doctor, Lord Hakon. He will arrive in an hour,” he spoke quietly.

“That’s fine, Jaken. Inform me when he arrives. You may leave and close the door when you go.”

“Hai, my Lord.”

They waited till the doors were closed and heard Jaken walk away down the hall before anyone spoke. Tyr paced after Ryuu had taken Luna from him. Gram sat confused as to what was going on, but was listening nonetheless. 

Hakon was visibly upset because he was being kept in the dark about something. And Rin, like Yuu, sat quietly watching the whole scene play out; neither wanted to comment.

 Fei, on the other hand, did not want to part with any secret that concerned his hatchling; there was too much of a chance it could get out, and nothing good could come of it.

“Stop stalling, Fei,” Hakon hissed, but was met by silence from the demon.

“Fei just tell them,” Rin whispered.

“Tell us what, Lady Rin?” Tyr finally stopped his pacing. But she was silenced by a look from her mate.  

“When big sister and I were younger, I wanted to do a blood bond between us.” Ryuu’s voice was a little above a whisper and held an eerie calm.

“Ryuu don’t,” Fei hissed, shooting to his feet. Ryuu looked down at Luna and nuzzled the top of her head. He sighed and started stroking her back softly.

“Big sister cares for them, for him,” his eyes lifted from Luna and settled on Tyr for a moment, then quickly dropped them back to Luna. “And he cares for her, Oji-san; it would be wrong not to tell them,” he finished softly. The room was silent, no one moved, all eyes were on the younger dragon.

“We were young, and I had no brothers or sisters to call my own, and big sister was nice to me. She loved me like no one else thought she would ever say it. So I wanted to form a bond between us. . .Father interrupted us as we were finishing, and big sister slipped into my body. At the time, I didn’t know what was happening. And Father, he wouldn’t believe me. But Fei did and knew what to do.”

“But she said the first time was when. . .” Tyr started.

“No, she doesn’t like to talk about it, Tyr. It took three days, three agonizing days to remove her from my body. Her nightmares were my nightmares, her fears mine. I couldn’t sleep or eat, and all I could hear were her cries to be free. And when it was over, and she was out again, something was changed,” he stopped.

“You could feel her, right? Like she was still inside you, as if she never left, right? Like tonight, it was her pain you were experiencing and the fight you were seeing?” Tyr questioned after the long silence.

“Yes, how did you-?”

“Lady Rin and Fei told me,” Tyr answered. Rin gasped, and Fei frowned.

“I told you nothing,” Fei hissed.

“I believe your mate is right, Lord Fei, and your age is catching up with you. Did you forget this morning?  The only reason you have allowed me to remain with Luna is that her ‘emotions’ speak so highly of me. I admit I was confused because I had heard Lady Rin speak about Luna’s ‘emotions’ only moments earlier. I thought for a long time that maybe she would tell either of you things she told no other, but then it hit me that both of you had to mean a person and not her ‘emotions ‘because, as we all know, Luna really never shows any emotions. So it had to be a person, and the only creature she could have a bond with besides her mate was Ryuu. And earlier this evening, he proved that himself.”

“Very clever, young moon very clever,” Fei chuckled lightly.

“So that’s how you always know how Lunas is doing, Fei?” Hakon questioned.

“My hatchling barely speaks. How else am I to know when something is bothering her? When Ryuu’s happy, she’s happy when he’s agitated, she is as well, and it shows more when they are together.”

“It was Foster’s nickname for me when we were younger. He thought it was funny how Luna would stand so still, saying nothing, while I could not control myself. Though she would say she was happy, it never showed, but I would bounce circles around them so he called me her ‘emotions‘.” Ryuu smiled down at Luna.

“Excuse me for being the crazy one here, but isn’t that just wrong?” Gram started. “If you feel her emotions, then what does she feel? How can she be expected to live her everyday life feeling nothing at all?”

“She does feel something’s Gram, maybe not to the degree that you or anyone else does, but she does feel. When she left my body, she left a part of herself inside me somehow, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel something.”

“Then what is wrong, Ryuu?” Tyr questioned.

“By nature, my hatchling is immune to poisons of any kind, but it’s still hard for her to purify it from her body. Though she started to purify the poison from her system, she couldn’t finish because she had to attend the meeting.” Fei spoke.

“And add that to the fact she still has an open wound,” Rin finally spoke. “Oh, and that massive wave of purifying energy she let loose on those demons.”

“So she’s exhausted, Tyr, she could barely stand on her feet at the meeting.”

“Yeah, but she showed that wolf his place, Bam, and he was down for the count,” Gram laughed along with Yuu, Fei, and Rin.

“True, even I was amazed that big sister was still standing after that. But she hates to show weakness of any kind,” Ryuu chuckled.

“Hmm, why do I feel like there is something you’re not telling me?” Tyr whispered.

“There are things with my big sister you have to see to believe,” Ryuu smirked. A small noise drew everyone’s attention to the girl in Ryuu’s lap. They watched as her eyes fluttered open. For a few moments, no one said anything, only watching as the two stared into each other’s eyes. Ryuu nodded and gave her a small smile, then her eyes closed, and her breathing evened out to a pained sleep.

Before anyone could ask what happened, there was a knock at the door. Jaken entered, “ The doctor has arrived .”

“Just show me where to take her,” Ryuu spoke, standing to his feet.

“Bring the doctor to my room, Pedar,” Tyr spoke, leading Ryuu out of the room and down the hall. Jaken hurried off without a backward glance.

“What did she say to you?” Tyr questioned as he watched Ryuu lay Luna carefully on the bed.

“What do you mean?” he spoke.

“I know she spoke to you, Ryuu. What did she say?”

“She wanted to know where she was –” before he could finish, Pader was at the door with the doctor. As Pader left Tyr, Ryuu stepped back to let the doctor look her over.

 They noticed her eyes were wide open now as she looked around the room, her eyes finally landed on them. For a moment, Tyr thought she was looking at him, but she was looking past him to Ryuu. For a moment, a small amount of jealousy welled up inside him, but he quickly quashed the feeling. If they were bonded in the way Ryuu meant, she would need Ryuu in her times of need. 

The doctor, Ryuu, and Tyr’s eyes widen when the claw marks on her stomach are revealed. Three long, very open claw marks scarred her stomach, showing off the muscles underneath her skin.  The doctor probed the wounds for any other damage-causing Ryuu to issue a small hiss of pain. The doctor shook his head.

“Hmm, it’s not too bad, but you will have to have stitches, little one,” he spoke in hushed tones as if talking to a child. From the corner of his eye, Tyr thought he saw Ryuu’s hands shaking before he pulled them further into his sleeves. 

“No stitches,” he whispered low enough for Tyr to hear. He growled as the doctor pulled the sewing kit from his bag.

“No stitches,” Tyr growled. 

“But, young lord, these wounds must be closed. There is a risk of infection if they remain open,” the doctor stated.

“I don’t care about stitches. Can’t you just cover them or something, and give her something for the pain?”

“But my lord, the young lady doesn’t seem to be in any pain.”

“Are you calling me a liar, doctor?” Tyr narrowed his eyes, growling at the demon. The doctor swallowed thickly and fumbled around in his bag for a moment. He pulled a bottle out and shook a few pills into his large hand.

“These will dull the pain to make the young lady more relaxed. Give her two before she goes to sleep and two more twice a day till the wounds heal fully,” he spoke, placing the pills on the nightstand and returning to replace the bandage on her stomach with a fresh one. Then placed a few on the nightstand next to the pills, wrote a few instructions on a piece of paper, then picked up his bag and left the room with another word.

“Big sister,” Ryuu whispered, climbing into bed beside her. She turned her head in his direction. “I am going to leave you in Tyr’s capable hands, okay. I’ll make sure everyone knows you’re okay. You know I love you, right?” she nodded, he smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

Luna made herself comfortable as she watched both Ryuu and Tyr leave the room. At first, she was confused. The last thing she remembered was fighting off the demon that had attacked her. And by Goddess, she hurt all over; it was not a part of her that didn’t scream out in agony as she tried to move. And the only information she got from Ryuu was that she had performed perfectly. Goddess, she hated when he just didn’t tell her what happened. Just what the hell did she do that made everyone so proud of her? 

Luna was brought from her thoughts as the door was opened again. It was the last person she was expecting, Gram. He was carrying what looked like a tray.

He didn’t know why he was doing this, but what the hell. Tyr had actually asked him if he would make sure Luna took the pills the doctor left. And Tyr never asked him anything nicely anyway.

“Hello there, my Lady, the master has sent for you a special treat of chicken soup and green tea,” he chuckled at the face she made as he placed the tray at the end of the bed and went to help her up on the pillows she was struggling with. After he got her comfortable, he palmed two of the pills without her seeing. He sat beside her as she ate the small meal, scratching his ears.

“Tea,” she finally spoke after watching him.

“What?”

“Tea for the itching,” she answered.

“Really, man, I thought I would have to cut the damn things off. Linda gave me something, but the stuff isn‘t working,” he grumbled. “Luna,” he started a little uncomfortably. “Um, I just wanted. . .I just wanted to say thanks, you know, for saving my life in all. I know you only helped me because of my brother and all. But I just wanted to say thanks, you know.”

Luna looked at him and gave him a small smile. 

“I didn’t because of him,” she whispered.

Neither noticed Tyr standing in the doorway watching them; he was paying special attention to Gram. This was new; he had never noticed his little brother could be such a decent individual. He almost smiled seeing the small smile that brightened Luna’s face as she listened to him talk about videos. 

He made no noise as he walked into the room and sat on the side of the bed. He had never seen Luna this relaxed before, and that little piece of jealousy flared up again. But it didn’t last long as quickly as he felt it; it was gone.

“I should be going,” Gram smiled, gathered the tray, and exited the room, still smiling. He could see that his brother was in love, and it seemed love made him mellow. And Gram, for one, was loving this side of his elder brother. He sobered as he reached the kitchen, answering his cell phone.

“Is everything in place?” 

“I had it placed right where we agreed, girl. Don’t fail me, girl. I refuse to be played the fool for that creature.”

“Everything will be fine, Sir, and that bitch will be put in her place. Trust me.”

“Don’t underestimate the girl, she is tricky if anything.”

“Please, spare me that whore is about as dangerous as a leaf.”

“hn, so you’re saying you can do what twenty demons couldn’t. Girl, you are either incredibly stupid or incredibly powerful. But I wish you luck either way”

“Believe me, sir, I am not stupid.”

---

The night was over quickly, and the morning shone on the house of the moon. Tyr woke surprisingly before Luna. He looked to the female beside him and smiled. ‘I could get used to this.’ Looking at the clock, he sighed, they had school, so he couldn’t enjoy himself like he wanted to. 

He helped her into the bathroom, and after twenty minutes of listening to her soft hisses of pain, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He helped her bathe and dress, having to force down the small tendrils of pleasure that warmed through his body as he touched her very soft, very smooth skin. 

Everything was muddled voices and smells; she didn’t feel right in her own body this morning. Nothing but the dull ache from her stomach kept her alert. ‘Just what the hell was in that food last night?’ she thought. She hated when her senses were dulled down; anything could happen, and anyone could catch her unaware. And still, the thought of what really happened last night still nagged at her mind. The only thing that greeted her was flashes, but they made no sense to her at all. 

“Luna, are you okay?” The question shocked her at first. Just when did Tyr get so close to her, and she didn’t notice?

“Um. . Fine,” she answered. Now it was Tyr’s turn to be shocked. Something was wrong; he could smell it on her: confusion, pain, and a small amount of fear. But it didn’t make any sense. Something was off about her this morning.

“Don’t lie, Luna, tell me what is wrong?” She sighed, of course he could tell. Damn it. 

“My… my senses, I don’t know, they are not right. I usually hear a pin drop three doors down. But this morning, Goddess, I can hardly hear you breathing. I -it’s not right,” she sighed again.

“It’s okay,” he took her gloved hand in his. “It’s just the meds, Luna,” she nodded and looked down at herself, frowning.

“I look like a skater punk,” she whispered, taking in her black pillz ’my mom overmedicates me’ shirt and baggy black jeans. Tyr chuckled, taking in her look.

“You are beautiful, come on, breakfast should be ready by now,” he spoke leaving the room, knowing she would follow. And like before, he pulled out the chair for her and watched as she took her seat. He searched her face for any signs of discomfort, and he did see it, her face twisted up in pain for a moment. 

---

Luna watched the three males interact and found humor in what she saw. Never had she had breakfast with such a loud group, and to see how easy it was for Gram to get a rise out of his family. It caused a small flare of jealousy to rise deep within her, as she wished her family were like this when she was younger. She didn’t pay attention to the small sigh that escaped her. But it didn’t go unnoticed by the three Dog yokai she was having breakfast with. Three sets of golden eyes settled on Luna for a moment.

“Bet you don’t have a TV at that shrine of yours,” Gram laughed.

“I do have one,” she stated absent-mindedly. Tyr raised his eyes to her. “I do, the room next to the kitchen.”

“I’ve never seen a room next to the kitchen, Luna”

“There is no knob; the door is made to look like the walls, Tyr.”

“Cool, but what kind of TV?”

“75’ flat screen. Foster just had to have it to play his video games on.”

“Video games, you say PlayStation or Xbox?”

“PlayStation”

“Why is this any of your business, Gram?” Tyr questioned, narrowing his eyes at his brother.

“Hey, I was getting to that. Since pops wouldn’t let me have a few friends over. I was wondering if Luna wouldn’t mind me and them coming over?” he asked, scratching his head. Plus, it would give him a chance to watch his brother and Luna together. And of course, get a good look at Luna’s place.

“Gram, you can’t just invite people to someone’s home,” their father stated.

“I don’t know about having a lot of people,” Luna whispered.

“It will only be me, Kage, and Ayame, no one else, I promise,” he pleaded.

“Not now, Gram, if you keep pleading, we’ll be late for school,” Tyr said, and Luna followed behind him and out to the car. Gram followed them, still pleading. Hakon just shook his head and followed behind the two cars as they left for school, and he left for work. Sometimes he didn’t know what he was raising.

Tyr parked beside Gram in the parking lot and got out to open the door for Luna. Gram just huffed and walked away. He had an ex-girlfriend to find. 

Kage and Ayame saw Tyr drive up. Both looked at one another strangely, seeing Luna next to him in his car. He never gave anyone a ride if his life depended on it. 

“What’s up, Tyr Luna?” Kage smiled knowingly.  

“Hey, Kage Ayame,” Tyr spoke. He looked at Luna, curious about her sharp intake of breath. Okay, she didn’t know what she was doing, but she would take Ryuu’s advice. ’baby steps, big sister. . .just open your mouth and talk. If they don’t speak back, just ignore them…baby steps’

“Hi Kage, um…Ayame, right?” she started. 

“That’s me,” Ayame smiled brightly.

“Your grandfather spoke of you often. Are you going to be a researcher just like him?”

“I am. His work is so great. I can’t wait until I graduate from college; he’s going to offer me a place in his lab. Great, right?” she beamed with pride.

“Sounds great. . .I bet he is so proud.” Before Ayame could answer, the bell rang, and they parted ways to enter the building. Kage noticed the smile never left Ayame’s face, and she seemed excited. ‘Wow’ was all that rolled through her mind. She had looked up to Luna ever since her grandfather had spoken about her. And when she had finally snuck a peek at her during the miko trials, she was amazed that any creature could have such power. And not that Ayame was gay or anything, but she thought Luna to be the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. Wow, she had spoken to her like they were old friends or something. Man, today was just the best day of her life. The other white wolves would be so jealous when she told them about this.

“What has gotten into you, Ayame?”

“She spoke to me. Wow, I can’t believe it, Luna Sano finally spoke to me WOW,” she exclaimed, clapping her hands.

“Goddess woman, you act like she’s your idol or something. I am sure she’ll give you an autograph if you ask.” Kage laughed. 

“She is Kage! Wow, I am so going to tell everyone I know. And she remembered my name and my grandfather. Wow,” Kage just shook his head and laughed till the teacher called everyone to silence. 

---

Tyr maneuvered into the seat beside Luna and handed her her notebook. He caught the small smile on Luna’s face; he had to know.

“And what are we smiling about?” he questioned. She just shook her head. He leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear. “It’s because you talked to Ayame, right?” he smirked when her head shot up, confirming what he assumed. He stroked her now rosy cheek, “Don’t be embarrassed, my angel. It’s good you feel comfortable enough to talk to Ayame. She thought you didn’t like her.” he smirked again.

“Mr. Moon, we are all happy that you’re in love and all. But class has started. You can love Miss Sano after class,” the teacher laughed. Tyr just glared at the teacher before turning in his seat and started taking notes. Before either noticed, they were sitting side by side, working quietly working on their test in the second period, finishing earlier, they were dismissed from class and found their way to the courtyard.

Tyr picked a shaded spot under some trees and now found himself sitting with Luna leaning against his back, her face buried in his hair. He stiffen feeling her breath on his neck, okay, now he knew he wasn’t crazy. Luna was sniffing him; he knew it. 

Luna whimpered a little when he stiffened up on her, so she rested her head on his back. Goddess, she was losing the fight; she always had control, even in the worst of times. And damn it if he wasn’t helping any, the Dog yokai made her want to relax. That soft growl he does like now called to that part of her she kept from the public eye. No, she wasn’t ashamed of what she was, though she wanted to be normal; she wasn’t ashamed. No, more like she was afraid of what could happen if she lost total control of herself. But now was not the time to think; he was growling again, and she just let herself drift away. 

During lunch period, Kaede gave her time to herself again.

Luna walked slowly past the cafeteria doors and stopped looking inside. She watched the students and faculty getting their lunches; the place was noisy and loud. Her eyes wander to Tyr; she didn’t know why, but looking at him caused all her doubts to calm. No pain echoed through her, only that strange sense of calm. Seeing his head turn in her direction, she closed the doors and walked away.

She walked through the courtyard to a small grove of trees. Fresh air was good for her fuzzy head. She could feel something was wrong, but her senses were too muddled to be sure. Luna went to call out if someone was there, then the whole world went dark.

Tyr sat listening to Kage and Ayame talk, but his mind was on Luna. Ever since he had dropped her off to see Kaede, he had been worried. The creature inside him suddenly became excited. Then it hit, that scent he would know it anywhere. He scanned the room but didn’t see her. But the creature inside him insisted that she was there. Turning his head to the doors for a quick second, he saw her staring right at him. He blinked, then saw nothing but the doors closing; even her scent was gone. Maybe he was just worried about her; that had to be it.

He grew worried again class was almost over and Luna didn’t even come in late. No one had seen her, not even Dean Kaede had come to class looking for her.

---

Luna woke, surrounded by iron bars, and saw no one. ‘Where am I?’There was barely any room for her to sit up straight. She reached out to touch the bars, but stopped short; something radiated from the bars. It felt familiar.

“Rasan,” she hissed. He was the only creature to ever come up with a spell to hold her in something like this. A sense of hopelessness and fear settled around her after laughing started. She looked around but saw nothing but trees.

“See, I told you it would work,” she knew that voice. “Look, the whores’ scared,” the laughing continued.

“I told you my brother was a genius,” another female voice laughed.

“Yes. Yes, and with some help from that old bastard. This is. . .Oh my, I have no words to describe this moment!”

“Perfect?”

“Glorious?”

“Yes, all the above. Now we have to go, don’t want to be missed now, do we?”

“Hmph, no one missed us all day,” one sighed.

“Oh, and bitch we have a gift for you,” another snarled.

Her ears perked up. She knew those voices, but the old man who? She still heard a male voice, Rasan. His voice rang out clearly over the laughter and taunting from the female voices.

“So the little whore was mated?”

“He probably left her for another,” the voice laughed.

“He probably found out what a weak, pathetic whore she was,” the voice laughed.

“The little whore should be caged and studied. It is a crime against nature herself to let that little whore walk the streets.” Rasan spat.  

“That child is a true child of nature. One who should be praised for being the first of her kind,” the female voice argued.

 “One born of a demon sin, and a miko shame. The little bitch should not be allowed to live.”

Something snapped inside her as she sat still as a statue. A Rage built inside her almost to a painful level. Everything was drowned out except for the voice inside her, snarling and growling for her to kill. 

The cage started to shake, drawing the eyes of three laughing females. They watched horrified as energy burst forth from Luna, blasting through the cage. The energy ripped through the air, knocking the three to the ground.

It passed through the buildings, giving the yokai pause and stilling the miko. All turned in the direction the energy had come from wandering what it was. A combination of Jaki and Holy energy on levels they have never felt before. Tyr felt the energy as it passed through him, but it was the twin miko that sent him into action. He heard them whisper one name, Luna, and they told everyone to stay in class as they took off. He wasted no time in leaving the room, following the two as they raced through the halls along with the other miko teachers.

He stopped at the doors as a roar echoed back toward the building. He didn’t know who it was, but it was out for blood. Fear raced down his spine, but not for himself. Luna was injured, and if the meds were still working, she wouldn’t be in any shape to handle an angry demon.

---

The explosion of energy and metal shocked the three females until a piece of metal flew into the tree they had been behind. They fled before the dust settled. A roar from behind them made them run faster. They felt more than heard the creature behind them, Dacia went to leap onto her feather. When it was torn from her hand, she was thrown into a tree and slid to the ground unconscious.

The demon of the hair turned to fight, shooting strands of hair at the creature. She dodged each with a blast of purifying energy and charged the demon. Grabbing her by the neck, she shook the female. Yura screamed out, then screamed in fear as she was smashed into a tree face-first. When the demon of the hair was silent, the creature took off after the fleeing miko.

She didn’t spare a look at Yura as she stalked Linda. 

The gathered miko could do nothing as they reached the courtyard. The creature they saw ripped through Linda’s barrier and sent her flying across the courtyard. Linda regained her footing just in time to keep from being pounced on by the rage creature.

“Kaede-sama, what can we do?”

“I wish I knew Kai, but we have to stop her,” she was cut off by Linda’s scream as she was thrown again. She regained her footing again and knocked the creature back with her bow. But it did no good because the creature was on her feet again and stalking toward her again.

Tyr could have laughed, seeing Linda being thrown around by the raging creature. But he was looking for Luna, and he couldn’t find her anywhere. Linda raced behind the miko as the creature was being held back by a barrier created by all six of the teachers. The creature ripped through the barrier, and the Miko and Monks were tossed back on the ground. 

Kaede was on her feet before the others, shouting at the creature stalking toward them.

“Don’t do this. You have to stop Luna, please.” 

‘Luna’ Golden eyes widen as the creature steps from the shadows. ‘Goddess, it couldn’t be..

She watched the male approach her with curious eyes and growled at him to stay back when her rational side pleaded for her not to hurt him. But her mind was on the whore; everyone else didn’t matter.

She backed away as he came closer. Still, she growled at him not to come any closer. She didn’t want to hurt him, but she would if she had to. 

Tyr, like the creature inside him, was worried for Luna. Though both were in agreement, she never looked sexier. She was crunched low as if ready to pounce, her raven hair was everywhere covering most of her face from his view. The strange blue color of her eyes glowed brightly from under her bangs. When she cocked her head to the side, he saw a single blue stripe across her cheek.  

Tyr put himself between the raging creature and the group of miko and stared into the strange blue eyes of the female when she looked up at him.

He could not believe what he was seeing; the world stood still all sound was gone. He was thrown back to yesterday… 

“You asked about an unknown species, right?” 

“Hai”

“Well, my sister and I have thought of something you might find interesting.”

“Hai, my sister and I have come up with an interesting idea.” 

He stared at the twin miko. If they had found something, he wanted to hear it.

“Well, everyone knows about Hanyou, right? They are part ningen and part yokai, which gives them their animal appearance. Most assume it because yokai blood is more powerful than that of the ningen.”

“But because ningen blood still flows through their veins, they gain the strength of a yokai, the beast within, and the healing of a yokai.”

“Hai hanyou are weaker than yokai. So what do they have to do with this? Hanyou are not unknown,” he questioned. The twins huffed and crossed their arms in unison.

“You tell him,” Mai looked to her sister.

“Hai, okay, think like this. . .if a hanyou is born right and down their blood lines, more ningen is introduced into their blood. What happens to the creature within?” This caught his interest; no one ever really gave it any thought.

“We believe that the hanyou would once again be ningen like. say a hundred or so ancestors down the line.” “And the creature within will remain…” “within the ningen body but be unable to surface…” 

“That wouldn’t be possible,” he commented.

“Did you know Tyr -sama that there are ningen alive with small traces of Jaki in their bodies?”

“Most do not, but there was a whole study done on it years ago,” the twins nodded.

“Okay, say there was a ningen like that, they would go insane like a hanyou right when their yokai blood took over, right?” he questioned,  confused as to where they were going with this.

“Not really, first something would have to happen to release the creature within them.”

“Something like what?” he questioned.

“Massive amounts of spiritual energy most likely. . .” “But since this is a theory, we are unsure.” The two tapped their chins and nodded as if one person and not two. “Right!” they exclaimed with a snap of their fingers. Tyr just lifted a silver brow at the two waiting for them to speak.

“Say the first of the bloodline was, say, a miko, a woman with high spiritual powers.” “and say she somehow got pregnant by a yokai,” “and had a hanyou child, male or female it does not matter.” “and the hanyou took a ningen as a mate and so on till say now.” “The hanyou would be ningen now. If we think along the lines of my sister,” “say the hanyou all had high energy no matter what kind. But say something happened and a massive amount of energy was introduced into the creature. Demon traits would surface, and the creature within would awaken.” It would not go insane if it happened when the ningen was just a child when this happened.” “Thinking along those lines, the creature within would surface differently than with a normal hanyou.” They stopped talking and looked at him.

“Understand?” they questioned.

“Hai, they would be a normal ningen with full yokai traits.”

“Not all.. the ningen like the creature would be incomplete. . . .

He was thrown back into the present when something like fire ripped through his body. Something tickled his hand, and he looked down, grasping his chest. He couldn’t believe it. glowing strands of raven hair disappeared through his body, and he went numb for a moment as realization set in. The gasps behind him alerted him to what he already knew. Swinging around, there she was, her back to him. 

She passed through the male who stood in front of her, not paying him any mind. But it was something about him that gave her pause; his scent was familiar, but she didn’t have time to waste with the male. The whore came first; the whore had to be taught her place like that fool, Reno. She paid no mind to the miko gathered around screaming at her, the whore will die, and then she would go back and kill the other two.

They weren’t normal, she knew, but didn’t they deserve to live a peaceful life like everyone else? They never bothered anyone, never hurt anyone except in self-defense. Did they not deserve to be left alone to live their life? Strange blue eyes shot up, staring straight at the whore hiding behind the gathered miko. Rage built again inside her; the rational side of her was in pain, and no amount of soothing was helping. It was the whores’ fault that her rational side was hurt; no one caged them. She had taught Rasan about caging them, for that he had thrown them out, but he never tried to cage them again.

“Come and…. die with. . honor whore, do. . not hide behind. . these others,” her voice low and threatening, her fist clenched.  

“Who are you to talk about honor bitch? No, whore, your mate left you because you are a freak.” Linda yelled from behind the group of miko.

“Never. . .talk. .about. .my. .mate.WHORE.,” she growled and leaped at the group. Tyr caught her mid-jump, holding her tight as she struggled in his arms. He felt the pulse of her power as she struggled, clawing and biting his arm.

“I’ll say what I want to bitch. You’re a freak. a freak born from a yokai sin and a miko shame. You should have been killed at birth,” Linda hissed. That statement angered the miko present; it was Dean Kaede who whirled around on the young miko. The slap echoes across the campus.

“Where did you hear such filth? I never want to hear those disgusting words from your mouth again. Do you understand me?” Kaede raged, shaking Linda. 

Luna escaped the male’s grasp during the scene and continued watching the two. Seeing Linda being slapped by Kaede-Senai caused a laugh to well up inside her; her rational side’s pain had lessened some, for which she was glad. She felt herself slipping for a moment, and blood lust was not something she wanted right now. She knew her more rational side could not handle it if she woke just to find out she had killed her family. She knew her rational side seemed to lose itself when emotions ran too high. 

Tyr took this as his chance and spoke to the now-calm Luna. 

“Luna,” he started. She stepped away from him; his scent wrapped around her, calling to her as if she knew him. It was intoxicating, making her turn to get a good look at the owner.

She cocked her head to the side, studying the male who knew her name. Ah, yes, she remembered now he sat next to her at that stupid meeting. ’heir of the West’’ he probably thought, like everyone else, she was a mindless beast who thought of nothing but killing. She wasn’t like those full-blooded creatures or hanyou, the beast within them, simple-minded creatures who thought of nothing but killing and rutting.

“Talk to me, Luna,” he finally said. His only answer was her sniffing him, but she came no closer to him. His golden eyes slid to the group of miko and saw Kaede having the sobbing Linda taken away. Good, now he could concentrate on Luna, with her going on the attack. She wouldn’t move her head, tilted to the side as if waiting for something. 

“You’re different, right? Talk to me, tell me how different you are,” he spoke, reaching out to stroke her cheek. She sank back as if she thought he was going to strike; he frowned and turned his hand to the side. “You know I would never hurt you, Luna,”

“Everyone hurts us; it is natural. You are no different,” she stated, looking away from him, her strange eyes sliding to the side, watching as the group of miko took Linda away. ‘I’ll get the whore later’

“You are mine. I could never hurt you. Never put me in the same light as anyone else.” He spoke to bring her attention back to him; he didn’t want her to attack again after seeing what she did to Caria and Dacia.

“You lie, you are unclaimed,” she hissed. The creature within him growled in disapproval, and she answered with a growl of her own. 

“Really, I know you can smell yourself all over me. Can you not?” he stood stock still as she walked around him, taking in his scent. 

Her eyes widened as she took in his scent; that’s why it was so familiar. Her scent was mingled with his as if she had rolled all over him. ’ What are we doing with this male? Though he is powerful, not to mention beautiful, why would our scent be on him like that?’ ’Tyr smells nice,’ she finally got an answer from her rational side.

“Are you satisfied? You are mine”

“Hum, we will not be claimed that easily”

“I would not have it any other way. If you were as easy as those other females, I would not waste my time,” he cupped her cheek, making her look up at him. He looked into her glowing, crystalline blue eyes, with a brown ring around the left, and smiled softly. “Do not take this the wrong way. But why are you still out?”

“I go and come as I please. I protect us, and so I am not held in as you hold in your other side,” she stated.

“How often?” he had to know. Great Goddess, this was amazing. She was …he couldn’t even find the right words to express the awe he felt at this moment.

“I did not meet you till last night, if that’s what you want to know.”

“That is not what I asked.”

“She does not want you to know,” she stated and shrugged her shoulders. 

“Why?” he growled.

“Did you not hear the whore? We are a freak. . .” he slid his finger over her lips, cutting off what she was going to say. He shook his head and leaned closer till he was near her ear.

“Never. Never say that again. You are not a freak or nature’s joke, Luna. You are beautiful, powerful, and have the brightest and purest heart and soul of any creature I have ever known. Or heard about. There is not a thing about you that is not amazing. And if anyone tells you different, it is because they are jealous, nothing more.” When he looked back at her face, her eyes were wide as if shocked by his confession. 

“You think… you think… we are pretty?” The awe in her voice was easily heard.

“Pretty no… beautiful is what you are, my angel, my Luna,” he smiled at her softly. She returned his smile wholeheartedly, taking another good sniff of his scent. He pulled her into his arms, the creature within him issuing a soothing growl as he stroked her pointed ear. He smiled into her raven hair as she relaxed in his arms, burying her face in her neck. 

His intoxicating scent wrapped around her, his soothing growls making the rest of the world fall away. She gave in to her urge and gave his soft neck a quick lick, trying to find a way to return his attention. ’I could make him ours’ was her last thought. The strain of transforming so quickly was pulling her into sleep’s arms.

Tyr held her lax body to his, as he scanned the courtyard. Everyone had left, so no one saw the large smile that bloomed across his face as he looked down at the female in his arms. She was something special, and he had no plans of letting her get away from him. Think about it as a completely unknown creature, something no one had ever thought of before. The twins were right, and he held that special creature tight in his grasp, and she was his and only his.

“Fei was wrong about one thing, though,” Ryuu stated softly.

“About what?”

“The Poisons running through her body are not purified. But assimilated into her own unique poison”

“What do you mean by her own?” Tyr questioned. Ryuu only gave him a pained smile.

“You will see when she is ready. Take care of my big sister… brother,” he smiled again and followed the others from the house.

He wondered what Ryuu was talking about. Looking down at Luna again as the stripe faded a little. 

“If you are part demon and part ningen, just what type of demon are you?” he questioned, knowing she wouldn’t answer. But it was fine with him; he would just have to watch her a bit more. He would figure it out.

 “And one day I will know everything about you, my dark angel,” he kissed her forehead and headed to the hospital wing.

---

“What in the seven layers of hell possessed you three?” Kaede demanded. “And you, Dacia, are one of my brightest students. What possessed you to take part in this stupid scheme?”

“That creepy freak stole my mate-to-be,” she huffed painfully and winced as she crossed her arms. She, like Caria, was still healing from Luna’s attack. But unlike Caria, Dacia’s nose was broken, and her lips were swollen but had stopped bleeding.

“Your mate to be bitch Tyr is mine, not yours,” Caria growled, trying not to move her legs, which were still aching from being thrown into a tree.

“No, he’s mine bitch, not yours.”

“SILENCE!” Kaede shouted, slamming her hand on the desk. The flare of her energy made the yokai shut their mouths. 

“And you miko Linda, I am ashamed of you, girl. Why would you do such a thing?”

“You heard the tape that freak does not deserve to live, let alone breathe the same air normal creatures do. That old man had the perfect idea, a creature like that should have been killed at birth.”

---

When her blue/brown eyes opened again, it was total darkness. She panicked for a moment, her mind flashed back, and she reached out, thinking she would only meet bars. Rasan loved to work her till she passed out, then would cage her when she was unconscious. In her panic, she fell to the floor.

---

“You three are no longer students here. And you, young lady, will be stripped of your title as miko. This kind of disregard for your fellow student, not to mention what could have happened if Luna had gotten out of control. Each of your parents has been called.”

“You didn’t tell my father. Oh, he will kill me,” Dacia whined.

“You should have thought of that before you helped to cause this mess, Dacia,” Kaede sighed. She rubbed her head, trying to hold back the headache. She shuddered to think what could have happened if Luna had gone on a rampage. As if last time was not enough, ’If Tyr had not been there, many would have lost their lives.’ Any loss of life would be horrible, even if it was three in front of her. But most of all, she would have hated if. . .Goddess, she hated to think about it.

The phone rang, pulling Kaede from her thoughts. “Dean Kaede…”

---

“The little girl failed, did she? Haha, haha, I knew she would, that child did not know what she was facing.”

“I’ll kill the bitch,”

“You could not kill her the first time. You only succeeded in killing her mate, and still, the girl did not die”

“The bitch took my hand, do you hear me, my hand”

“I heard you now kindly shut up. You can not kill the vessel. What I want must be given freely from the little bitch.”

“You get what you want, then I will take the bitches head”

“You can do what you want with the bitch after I get what I want.”

---

Tyr stood outside the door and waited as the nurse went in to check on Luna. As soon as the door closed, he heard a scream and the breaking of glass. He rushed into the room and found the nurse on the floor, but no Luna. He saw a broken window, and he growled.

“What happened?”

“I came in the young lady was kneeling at the foot of the bed. I guess I scared her; she jumped up and leaped out the window.”

He rushed from the room and straight to Kaede’s office, thinking she would go there. But as soon as he entered the room, he saw no one but Kaede at her desk.

“What is it? What is wrong, young moon?” she questioned, looking up at his worried face.

“Luna’s gone”

“Gone, gone where?” she demanded, jumping to her feet. He sighed; he wished he knew. She was on foot; her home was across town, so she wouldn’t go there. Would she? “I’ll have the teachers search the campus. We have to find her in her state; anything could happen,” he nodded and took off for the parking lot. 

Tyr drove around for about an hour but never saw her. Kaede had called him and told him they found nothing on campus. He stared at the cell phone gripped in his hand, flipping it open, he hit the speed dial and waited. 

“Where would she go?” his voice was rough with worry.

“Where would you go to visit your dead mate?”

“This is not the time for games. You know, as I do, the burial of the Sano family was not made public”

“The shrine, take the stone path through the trees. Go around the lake, our initials are carved into a tree. Follow the path you find. The barrier might let you in, but I am not for sure.”

Tyr sighed, hanging up the phone. Ryuu did not sound too well. But he would know better than anyone the mood she was in. he just prayed Luna did not do anything stupid.

After breaking about twenty traffic laws, he parked in the driveway next to the shrine. He walked around for a minute and finally found the path leading away from the shrine. His eyes quickly scanned the lake and the surrounding area. 

The marked tree was easy to find; it glowed eerily in the darkening sky. The path was found, and he followed it until he came to a barrier. With a few pushes in the right place, he entered and walked a few minutes first, finding nothing. 

She was kneeling next to the headstone of a Kitsune with large wings, unaware he was standing there. Her raven hair was covering her face so he couldn’t tell what she was doing.

“Why have you come?”

“Why did you run?”

“She doesn’t want you to know?” she stated again, touching the stone. “You should not be here”

“So this is where you disappear to when you leave the house?” he questioned, looking around.

“Family must be visited.”

“Family?”

“Hai, my mate is here-” she touched the headstone again. “and fire mama and fire papa rest here as well, family”

“That still does not tell me why you ran”

“We do not like the feeling… trapped. She wanted. To run we did,” she stated, turning her head to the side when he kneeled next to her.

“You should not run from me, Luna. How am I to take care of you when you run from me?”

“I wanted to come home,” she sighed, looking at Tyr. He had never seen her look so vulnerable, so uncertain as her strange blue eyes held his for a moment. Every protective emotion he had rose up inside of him at the look in her eyes. Why he never saw it before, he did not know, but he would protect her, and nothing would stop him. 

He smiled softly at her, “Not tonight, my angel. I talked to the police at lunch, they’re still searching the area for Rasan. So you have to stay away from here for a little while longer, okay!” he stood up and held out his hand for her to take. She touched the headstone once again before placing her gloved hand in his. 

“You are so odd,” she whispered as he walked her to his car.

Luna spent most of the ride looking out the window. She missed the comfort of her home, not that she minded being at the Moon estate; she just wanted to be in her own home.

Her eyes slid to Tyr as he stared ahead at the road, his hands gripping the wheel as he drove. The tension in the air was driving her crazy. She wanted to do something, but didn’t know what.

“You are mad at me,” she stated, looking back out the window.

“No, Luna, why would you think that?” he sighed, his eyes sliding to her profile and then back to the road.

She just shrugged and lapsed back into silence. He stopped at the red light and turned to her fully, turning her face toward him. “Luna, I am not angry with you, okay? I am just wondering why you ran. Do you not want to be with me? Is that what it is?” He sighed inwardly when she closed her eyes. 

“I’ll understand if you don’t want to be with me, Luna,” he spoke starting to drive again. He heard her shift in her seat and felt her stare, but said nothing. It would hurt, sure, but he would not force her to be with him.

“It’s because of today … what happened…you. .you don’t want to be with me anymore?” she whispered, the sadness heavy and clear in her voice. 

“Luna,” he started.

“I..I.. understand,” she spoke, looking out the window again. When she went to reach for the door handle, he pulled over to the side of the road. But she was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.

“Luna, listen to me. I did not say I didn’t want to be with you, did I? If I did not want to be with you, I would not have been looking for you. I would not be here now, would I?” he demanded.

“No,” she sighed, meeting his gaze. The look in her blue/brown eyes was again so vulnerable, so lost, the look tore out his very soul.

“I want to know how you feel, Luna. To know if my intentions are… Unwanted,” he fell silent this time, turning back to the road. He couldn’t get out of his mind that she had run from him, hid from him. That maybe she didn’t want to be with him at all.

Luna’s shaking, gloved hand slid into his hand that lay clenched on his lap; he met her unsure look with one of his own. The thundering of both their hearts filled their ears in the small space of the car. He saw her hesitation before she spoke.    

“I thought…I like being… with you…Tyr,” she started.

“But?”

“This is…different,” she stopped. His eyes were drawn to her mouth as she licked her lips nervously. “I have never…known anyone like you. You are …so very odd”

“Is that good or bad?” he questioned.

“I don’t know…this is not the same as before when I was with my mate. I am confused… confused as to what you want from me.” She looked away. He touched her chin lightly, bringing her face back to his own.

“I want you, Luna, to be with you.”

“I…I want to be with you as well,” she spoke, giving him a little smile which he returned wholeheartedly.

---

After an hour of trying to do his homework, Tyr sighed. He just couldn’t concentrate. Pushing away from his desk, he looked at Luna one last time and left the room.

“Tyr, I would like to speak to you,” his father’s voice echoed up the empty hall. He walked down the stairs and into his father’s study, nodded to Gram, and took a seat.

“I heard from Gram something happened at school today involving you and Luna?” Hakon tried to touch the situation carefully.

“Linda, Dacia, and Caria upset Luna, nothing more,” He stated.

“Nothing more damn Tyr, what do you call something. We felt her all the way to the science building. She made all the glass explode,” Gram raged.

“You try being locked in a cage for a couple of hours, little brother,” He spat.

“A cage…Explain Tyr”

“Somehow, the three tricked Luna and locked her in a cage. They admitted they teased and taunted her, and she snapped and fought back. Dacia admitted Cass, and another helped them. And Linda used a recording made from the conversation between that fool Rasan and Dean Kaede.”

Before either Gram or Hakon could speak, a scream rang out from upstairs. Tyr was the first out the door, followed by his father and brother. As they reached the stairs, there was another scream as Nui was thrown from Tyr’s room. 

“I’ll kill you. You worthless ningen bitch,” she roared, jumping to her feet and shaking the glass from her hair. Nui charged back into the room, unaware of the three males rushing up the hall. Growling was heard from the room as they approached.

“Don’t you dare,” snapped Hakon, seeing his wife trying to strike the growling Luna, who crunched at the side of the bed. Nui stopped turning to face her angry husband and stepsons.

“But Hakon, this creature attacked me,” she whined.

“How did Luna attack you when she was sleeping when I left?” Tyr questioned.

“What were you doing in my brother’s room anyway? Hell, even I am not allowed in here,” questioned Gram.

“I don’t have to answer to either of you,” Nui snapped.

“Maybe not, but you have to answer to me, my wife. Now, what were you doing in my pup’s room?”

“Since my welfare means nothing to you, I am going out. I’ll return in the morning,” she brushed past the three quickly and took the stairs two at a time till they heard the front door slam. Gram and Tyr looked at one another with a shrug, both wandering the same, ‘What just happened here?’They were brought out of their thoughts by a loud growl.

“Father, no,” Tyr exclaimed, seeing him move toward the frightened Luna.

“What happened to her?” Hakon had to know, staring at the creature before him, seeming ready to attack if he came any closer. It was obvious Luna had been sleeping; her perfect hair was in disarray. Whatever happened with Nui woke her in fright, and if anything, he remembered what the MIKO TRIALS taught him: never scare Luna when she was sleeping.

Goddess, he prayed, he never again had to do this; he sighed, kneeling down to look into her dazed eyes. She blinked and focused solely on the hand in front of her.  Both Gram and Tyr were shocked as she sniffed their father’s outstretched hand and then met his golden eyes with a doggy-like yawn.

“You remember me, little one,” his voice soft as if speaking to a child. She nodded in a sleepy way and gave him a lopsided grin.

“Ha-kon?”  she questioned with a curious tilt of her head. “I thought you were Tyr.”

“I get that all the time,” he chuckled. “I believe he looks more like his mother. But it’s time to get you back to bed, my dear. I wondered how long it would be before you showed yourself again.” he smiled softly at Luna, helping her back into bed. He laughed softly at her sleepy reply before her breaths evened out and she slept once again. But it did not go unnoticed by Tyr or Gram, both stared shocked at their father.

“Father,” Hakon stopped Tyr’s question with a wave of his hand, and they quietly left the room. No one spoke till they reached his study and took their seats..

“I’ve known since the testing, poor Luna was so tired, and one of the demon testers took affiance when she fell asleep. She woke in fright and broke one of the creature’s arms.” Hakon sighed, “She passed out, but when she woke, the child remembered nothing. We, your dean, and I were concerned about her being out of control”

“And so you pushed her till it happened again, right? As a result, she broke your fingers,” Tyr stated, narrowing his eyes at his father.

“Correct if it wasn’t for her scent on me, I think she would have done a lot more,” Hakon sighed again. “It was amazing, a complete change without any of the signs of a regular demon”

“The fuck, Pops? She’s not a damn guinea pig, what’s wrong with you people?” Gram raged.

“Gram,” Hakon hissed. Sometimes, he wanted to slap his youngest silly for that mouth of his. “How else were we to find out what was happening to the girl? She remembered nothing we had to find out if she was a threat.” This time it was Gram who sighed as he retook his seat.

“So she’s not ningen then the wench is a demon,” he questioned.

“It’s not that simple, Gram”

“So it was her mating with the Kitsune that brought the creature to the surface then,” Hakon stated.

“No, Father, the people whom I spoke to said it would have taken a larger amount of energy than a bonding to awaken the creature within her.”

“Well, she is powerful, right?” Gram started scratching the back of his head. “But mating Luna was mated…I thought Ningen Mates of Demons died”

“Myself included, Gram none ever documented has ever lived a few days after the death of their mate”

“She had to be awfully young when she was mated man that’s not fair,” Gram suddenly growled his mind awhirl with what he just learned ‘damn it’s hard enough to get someone to treat you with respect when you’re different. But to have found someone to be your mate, then have them die. Damn, how fuck up is that?’ But something did bother him, though. “If Lunas, not a demon, that means she’s a hanyou, right?”

“I guess you can say in a way she is Gram, but unlike a regular hanyou, she doesn’t display any of the animal characteristics. In addition, the creature within her seems to be on the same level of consciousness as her host, unlike a regular Hanyou whose beast is almost savage, with little to almost no thought but for basic survival. Understand?” Hakon explained Gram could do nothing but nod, shock settling over his mind. 

Tyr gave his father a measured look, and Hakon just waited for the next round of questioning. Goddess knows he should have told his pup everything he knew about Luna. He knew better than anyone his eldest pup’s interest in the female. 

“Father, what if she had turned out more unstable than what?” How did he know this was coming? It was Hakon who gave his son a measured look. 

“There was talk among both sides that the miko would have been destroyed. You have to understand my pup…both Miko and Demon have worked long and hard to share this peace we have established, and both sides are willing to do whatever possible to keep it. Nothing will be allowed to destroy what took centuries to accomplish. Luna is purely a new species, something we have never even thought possible, but she can not be allowed to be swayed to either side.” Tyr sighed. Gram growled.

“Damn, pops, why don’t you just get together with everyone else and kill everything that’s not either all ningen or all demon then. Hell kill me too if that’s what you think,” Gram growled.

“That’s not what Father said, brat”

“Hell yes, he did, Tyr. How can you defend him damn he just said they were going to kill Luna because she didn’t fit into their perfect little mold of what everyone else is. How can you sit here and listen to this shit? Her parents were assholes, her mate died, but that’s not enough; they were going to kill her on top of everything else. What the hell is wrong with you, pops?” Gram growled, snatching open the door. “ It makes me wonder how you feel about me if the thought of killing Luna comes so easily to you,” He spat, marching from the room and slamming the door behind him, leaving two shocked demons to stare after him. 

“Father” Tyr started after a few minutes.

“You have to understand Tyr Luna holds within her body levels of Jaki and Holy energy the likes of which have never been seen before. She can not be allowed to rampage through the world or be swayed to one side or the other, the outcome cou–”

“I know Father (sigh) and now?”

“It is undecided when most miko her age have reached the peak of their power, but she hasn’t; both are still growing. So we wait and watch. That is why we hunt Rasan so he can not be allowed to get his hands on Luna. He tried once to break her spirit and failed, but how much more can she take, my son? Corruption of a pure soul miko is a death sentence, the same for demons, though we are far from pure souls. But we demons are in agreement with the Miko that neither side can gain more power than the other. It is the law”

“And what you’re saying is Luna breaks that law? Because of what she is?”

“I am afraid so, since Holy and Jaki are both at either end of the spectrum when it comes to powers. Luna should have either purified herself or the demon within her, or overtaken the ningen. But the two seem to be able to coexist within her without a problem. What’s strange is the two seem to be encouraging the other to grow to match the power of the other.” The two talked for hours, and Hakon finally told his son all that he knew about Luna. He was surprised that most of it Tyr figured out most of it for himself, but what did he expect his son to do? He had one of the quickest minds he had ever known.

After Tyr left his father’s study, Hakon made a few phone calls. While his eldest worried for his intended, he had other problems plaguing his mind and his wife, and he wanted answers. Though he hated what he was about to do in the morning, he would know one way or the other.

---

Gram, on the other hand, was cooling his heels in his room. He understood what his father was saying, but it still bothered him that his father could easily destroy someone for being different. And it didn’t help that he was also angry with himself as well,  ‘in a way she is just like me,’ he sighed, thinking sadly, stretching out on his bed.‘In making fun of Luna Goddess, help me, I was making fun of my own kind, sleep claimed him not too long after. 

---

Tyr studied Luna’s sleeping figure. Kaede was right, there is still a lot that no one knows about you. But I love you nonetheless,’ he kissed her forehead and pulled her close, enfolding her in his arms. Hearing her whisper his name in her sleep, he smiled. Kaede’s words again sprang to mind.‘She loves you, but until both sides of her agree, she can’t admit it’

“I am a patient creature. I have waited this long just to get you in my arms. I can wait to hear those three little words from your mouth. Weather demon, Ningen, or neither, I love you, my dark angel,” he whispered into her ear as he drifted off to sleep. Not seeing the tiny smile that stretched across Luna’s sleeping face.

Tyr woke early and sighed; it was the weekend. He usually woke early and studied after Luna got after him about his bad grades. After studying, he would work out and then try to figure out the puzzle that was the female he loved. Then he would spend the rest of the day waiting for it to be over so he could once again be with Luna. But now, as he looked to the sleeping female at his side, he was at a loss to even move. He moved a little, freeing his arm. Luna whimpered a little and pressed closer to his side. He draped his arm across her hip as his eyes closed to the world once again.

Luna’s eyes were lulled open by the sound of a steady heartbeat. Blinking, she raised up a little, staring into the face of the sleeping Tyr. Feeling the strange surge of her heart, she quickly pulled away. 

‘What is this?’ she thought. The more she watched his face, the more the feeling grew. Thoughts raced through her mind as she tried to place the feeling; never had she felt this way before. Her eyes widen ’ It can’t be true. I won’t. I have no feelings besides friendship for this creature. Do I?’ Moving slowly, she climbed from the bed, not stopping until she was across the room. 

The laughing in her mind made her pause, but she ignored it, taking in the room. Realizing where she was, Luna sank to the floor and pulled her knees up to her chin. 

‘Did we. Did you kill anyone?’  ‘I am hurt, you know I am not some wild animal’ 

‘I-I’ ‘I know. Do not worry yourself, the whores will live, unfortunately’ 

‘wait. Why are you still awake?’ ‘Him,’ the possessive growl startled Luna. She moved closer to the bed and peeked over the edge at Tyr. 

’Him, how?’ she questioned, confused.

’Don’t be a fool, you know how. His soul calls to us and seeks to aid us in our need. He soothes the pain and stops the ache. It is him.’

‘No, you’re the fool to believe that,’ Luna hissed and eased back to the floor.  

‘Look at him, my so-called better half. Take a good look. See how he frowns in his peaceful sleep; he feels our pain. He understands our needs and wants to help us. How is it you don’t see what I do? He doesn’t belittle us, call us names, or be ashamed to be seen with us. He sees us for what we are, and you hide from him. He asks for nothing and gives us everything, and still, you refuse to believe.’ 

‘I refuse nothing, hide from no one. It’s foolish to believe in what you say. I see none of what you speak of, he comforts us, true, but in the end, it means nothing. He will turn on us and leave us in a heartbeat, the creature within her sighed. 

‘Then take the comfort he offers’  

‘It’s not real’ 

’I refuse to mate a human, my so-called better half.’ Luna and her beast stared at one another. It huffed and, with a sigh, withdrew

‘I would rather be alone than feel the pain of death yet again’ 

’So be it’ 

’Go to sleep and leave me alone,’ Luna hissed mentally. 

‘I have always spoken nothing but the truth to you. Why would I lie? But I will leave you alone for now. Besides, what’s done cannot be undone.’ The creature within sighed and disappeared.

Luna ignored the last statement as she perched on the edge of the bed, studying Tyr’s face, his brows drawn in a frown, his lips set as if having a bad dream.‘Do you really feel my pain? She stroked his cheek with the back of her finger, forcing calm and peacefulness into her aura. She gasped and backed away from the bed as his face relaxed into a state of bliss, and he issued a contented growl. Luna grabbed his robe from the foot of the bed and quickly slipped from the room.

Her pounding heart calmed as she made her way down the hallway. She almost missed the raging demon as she made her way down the front steps. She quickly turned back, seeing the two in a staring contest.

“Ah, Luna, it’s good to see you awake,” Hakon spoke to her retreating back. She turned back to face the two and bowed quickly.

“Good morning, Lord and Lady Moon”

“And Good Morning to you as well, Lady Sano. But I am afraid I have a favor to ask you,” he sighed while Nui just stared angrily at her husband. 

“I told you, Lord Hakon, I can not,” she shook her head.

“So then I am to suffer because you will not fulfill your duty?”

“You know as well as anyone I am forbidden to do as you ask”

“What in the hell are you and your whore talking about, husband?” Nui stated angrily, eyeing the two.

“Silence your hole, woman,” Hakon snapped, never taking his eyes off Luna. “Do you see this?” he waved his clawed hand toward his wife. “In the face of such disrespect, you still will not do as I ask?”

“Disrespect or not, I am forbidden to. . .”

“As a high miko, as Sacred Betsushikime Luna, this is your duty. Do not make me say it,” he growled, making Luna’s eyes widen.

“You would not dare,” she stated, taking a step up. Hakon glared at the young miko ‘Does she really think I will not? For too long, I have tried, and the bitch has always ruined my plans. No proof of anything. This is my last chance before I resort to killing the hateful creature. And to think I used to love the creature’ he sighed, grabbing Nui before she walked off. 

“This is your duty, but since you will not listen to reason. I am as of now…”

“No, no, don’t say it. I will do as you ask,” Luna sighed.

“Good. Good, be seated there,” he spoke quickly, pointing to a chair against the wall as he turned back to Nui, who smirked before speaking.

“I know you think you have something up your sleeve, but it will not work just like last time. Deal with it, you’re stuck with me until I decide otherwise,” she laughed.

“Think again bitch, and you will provide the proof I need yourself,” he smiled. Nui, not knowing what Hakon had in mind, glared at the Inu. ‘The bastard thinks he will win; I think not.  He will not throw me away; I will end the bastard and his two freaks, ’ she laughed inwardly.‘Let him think he will win’ 

Luna silently watched the two arguments, hoping the Inu’s would forget about her sitting there. This was something she did not want to do for all the power in the world. But from the statements, Hakon was yelling at his wife, she knew she had no choice.  She just prayed the others would sleep through all this yelling. 

Loud snarling and yelling made Tyr jump awake. He jumped up, looking for Luna, only to find her gone. In his mad rush from his room, he ran into a grouchy Gram who was awakened by the sounds as well.

“What’s happening, Brother?” he questioned, rubbing his eyes and half yawning.

“I guess father and his ’wife’ are having it out again,” he stated, more worried about Luna.

“Where is Luna? Don’t tell me she can sleep through all this noise?” Gram questioned, yawning again to receive no answer as they reached the stairs and looked down. 

Down below the two, the front hall seemed to be a war zone as Nui threw things and Hakon caught them and tossed them back. Expensive vases lay in pieces on the marble white floor, chairs were turned over, and others were broken. The wall tables were turned over, and the flower vases lay broken on the floor. The roses scattered across the marble floor, the water soaking into the rug. 

Gram chuckled at the two as Tyr’s eyes settled on the silent Luna looking at her tiny feet that poked out from under the robe. He smirked, seeing her in his black pajama top and robe, both of which were twice her size, as he noticed one side kept sliding off one shoulder. ‘And just when I thought she couldn’t look sexier,’ he thought; the creature within him growled in agreement. 

Gram looked to his silent brother, who was strangely staring downward, until he followed his line of sight and saw Luna. He cleared his throat, catching Tyr’s attention and pulling him from his lustful thoughts of Luna wearing only his pajama shirt to bed. 

Hakon, on the other hand, had heard and taken enough abuse from his wife.

“SILENCE, WOMAN,” he roared, leaving everyone listening with ringing ears. “This will end now…come, Sacred Betsushikime Luna,” he ordered, pulling the angry Nui behind him, who was glaring at Luna hatefully. Luna just nodded and followed behind the two, still fixing the robe she wore.

The two brothers stood shocked, both not moving a muscle, watching their father drag Nui into his study. Something must have happened to push him over the edge, they both thought. But neither could blame their father for being angry; the demon was out of control and had been for some time now. 

A year after the death of Gram’s mother, their father had brought home Nui Watashi, a beautiful Inu yokai who treated them as if they were made of gold bricks. She was always smiling and praising Hakon for having such beautiful and intelligent pups.  

The two were younger than Gram in need of love from a mother, and Tyr was cold and distant. The courtship between the two was short, full of long dinners, laughter, and a smiling father. For a while, everything was peaceful, then their father suddenly fell ill. Nui had tried to take control of everything. When she found out she had no say in anything, the family or business, because she was not Hakon’s mate, things changed.    

For the last year, Hakon had been trying to get a divorce, but Yokai divorces were harder to obtain than human ones.  

---

Hakon held his growling wife as Luna approached Nui, the blue glow of her hand’s starling. 

“You will not touch me whore,” Nui snarled.

“It will hurt if you fight this Lady Moon,” Luna whispered. Nui tossed her head wildly from side to side, trying to throw off Luna’s hands. 

Luna stumbled back as she was attacked by the creature inside Nui. Hakon looked worried at the miko as she grabbed her bruised cheek.

“Stay out of my mind bitch,” Nui hissed, struggling against the iron grip of Hakon. 

“You can’t keep me out,” Luna smirked as her eyes glowed and she again placed her glowing hands on the growling female. With a small flare of energy, the creature was subdued as she once again entered Nui’s mind. Nui had gone still; only her panted breath filled the now silent room. 

Hakon didn’t know what to expect; he had heard but never had he seen. There was talk among the demons about this gift of Luna’s that she was forbidden to use. She had only done this twice before, and it had angered the Miko Council that she would go so far as to help a lower demon obtain a separation from his mate. After listening to the talk, he had spent a year trying to talk Luna into helping him in the same way. But she had always refused to perform the act, and the damn Miko Council was no help, even going so far as to say they would perform the mating ritual. Like he needed any more problems. He was brought from his thoughts when a loud voice boomed through the room. Not knowing who it was, he stilled and listened again.

 And what he heard made him jump back and do a double-take of the two in front of him. Glowing eyes settled on him; they were all white with no pupils, only a blue glow that seemed to surround those eyes. 

“A house two miles outside of the city. A tree-lined driveway that circles the front, a fountain with three female goddesses. Leading to a three-story mansion, white with purple shutters, and twelve windows in the front. I can not make out the number. Wait, the door opens…A male with long black hair, tall, dressed in all black. It looks like… Oh dear Goddess Kasen,” she was silent for a few minutes, then the voice that came from her was even more shocking; it was… Nui. He looked between the two again and still could not believe it. 

Getting over his shock, he quickly wrote down the things she described. He was angry with himself all this time, and he never knew what was going on right under his nose. He froze at the next words out of Luna’s mouth; ice seemed to fill his veins. 

“Oh, my love, I can’t wait until this charade is over and that bastard is left in the dust. I want to personally see the fool’s death at my hands. But to really make me happy, you can let our son kill those two freaks of his. Then we will be left to rule over the Western Territories,  my dear. For too long now, I have put up with that stuck-up, pretty boy and his dirtied-blooded sibling. Our child should be heir of the West, not that dressed-up pretty boy of Hakon’s. You don’t know the things I have to put up with, Kas”

‘the bitch was plotting to kill my pups. Cheated on me and tried to replace my pups with some filth of her own’ he growled, seeing red, not noticing Nui raising her hand until he heard the crash. Finally, when he looked up, he saw Luna lying on the floor, books falling from the bookcase she had been thrown into. 

He leaped from his chair and grabbed the growling female, dragging her from the room. Nui was kicking and howling, drawing the eyes of the servants, but none stepped forward to help the female. None looked at her with sympathy in their eyes; she was finally getting what she deserved. 

Tyr and Gram finally looked up from their seated places on the steps. Twin golden eyes twinkled with humor at the scene as they watched their father drag his wife almost by her hair to the front of the house. Pader quickly moved to open the front door and stepped back out of the way. 

Gram cheered as Hakon hauled Nui to her feet and bodily threw her from the house.

“All right, pops . . . Throw that bitch out on her ass.” he jumped up, pumping his fist in the air.

Climbing to her feet, Nui cursed as she dusted the dirt and grass from her pale pantsuit. She growled and advanced toward the steps.

“You bastard, you will pay for this. I will ruin you. DO YOU HEAR ME? I put up with you and those freaks you call pups for three years; you are not going to get rid of me that easily. Whatever plan you and that whore are cooking up will not work, do you hear me?” she roared.

“Silence bitch. For too long, I have put up with that hateful tongue of yours. But no longer. If I ever hear you speak that way about my pups or my daughter-in-law again, I will rip your Goddess-forsaken tongue from your FUCKING THROAT BITCH,” he roared at the screeching female and slammed the door in her face, shaking the front of the house.

“You go, pops, tell that bitch off,” Gram laughed and clapped louder than before. ‘It’s about time that bitch got hers’

“Gram, shut up,” he snapped. “Tyr, see to the Miko. I have some calls to make. Try to use me, will she? Disrespect my pups, will she? I will ruin.that.bitch,” Hakon growled, clenching his fist and taking the stairs two at a time, quickly moving by his stunned sons.

The two looked at one another. Gram smiled, and Tyr smirked.

“After this morning’s entertainment breakfast,” Gram laughed, scratching his stomach and walking off.

Luna groaned, shaking her head; her eyes darted around the room. The slight sting on her back told her what she knew: somehow, Nui had broken free. But she expected that too much concentration went into narrowing down small facts in the mind to be retold. And with a demon, it was even harder having to separate her energy: one to hold the beast, the other to search for the facts someone wanted. She sighed again, thinking of the headaches to come when Tsubaki learned of this mess Hakon had talked her into. While she was given more leeway than others, she was still forbidden to do certain things. Invading creatures’ minds and bodies was high on the list, and by Goddess, it was a very long list. 

The balance she had to hold between having to live in both the high demon and high miko worlds cost her a lot more than anyone else. But what could she do? She knew better than anyone what could happen if one side thought she could not hold that precious balance. Death. 

Tyr sighed as he flopped down on his bed for the tenth time. Nothing he could think of made any sense of what happened today. 

It started off strange, but then he assumed things were going well. *Sigh* ‘I should never assume anything when it comes to Luna,’ He thought sadly. After collecting the still-stunned Luna from his father’s study, breakfast was quiet. He expected nothing less; Gram had worked Luna into a quiet conversation about Hanyou and their nights of ‘change’. That’s when things went from good to worse; Gram confessed that the night of the new moon, tonight, in fact, he would change into a human. 

Lady Rin, who had come at his father’s request, took her away from him. The blank look in her eyes after finding out the date was enough to make his heart stop. Odder still was the way she clung to him before Lady Rin took her away. It was like she did not really want to leave him, as if he were her lifeline. 

Sighing, he grabbed the book on his nightstand, thinking he had to do something to take his mind off things. 

His golden eyes scanned the page and widened when he found out what it was he was reading.

---

Her mind drifted as the first changes overtook her; faces and lives raced through her mind, then darkness. Sounds drifted into her pointed ears: footsteps, the TV, and cars going down the street. She could even hear the two downstairs talking about upcoming events. 

Her skin tingled as if it had been asleep; her eyes slammed shut as a wave of dizziness almost knocked her out. She whimpered in the darkroom. Crawling into herself, she hid, not wanting to deal with what was happening. 

One name fell from her lips before her voice was no more. One face haunted her before reality disappeared altogether, and the feeling it caused shook her entire being to the core.  

The roar that ripped through the three-story mansion announced its arrival to the pacing occupants downstairs. On hands and knees, it sniffed the air as red eyes took in the darkroom to ensure its safety.  But something was missing; something was not right. Knowing the location was safe and where it was. It stood tall and left the darkroom for the even darker hallway.  Sniffing room to room, it did not find the one scent it was looking for; the howl that followed had the two making their way up the stairs.

---

Foster Sano

The Only kit of both Doctors Lady and Lord Sano of the East. I was not born until the day I was mated to my little Miko Angel, Luna Arhn. The contents of this book are my thoughts and mine alone. 

I am the youngest Kitsune to ever be mated, my father says. But it is not easy to be mated to such a powerful female, and it took no test to tell me that. As I sit here next to my sleeping mate, I can not help but see how much she has grown over the years. And still, I am happy to say there still is no sexual attraction toward my tiny little angel. 

“What the…” his eyes scanned the sentence again, thinking it was a trick of his mind. But there it was, those mind-boggling few words. 

Don’t get me wrong, my angel is perfection when it comes to mates. I can honestly say I got the perfect companion. Luna was beautiful as a child and is now ethereal as a teenager, but I have to be honest with myself and my feelings as well. There is a part of me that is repulsed by my mate. There I said it, and Goddess forgive me, it’s true. I love my mate; the creature within me is proud of its choice, but still, there is a part of me that is well . . . disgusted by her. I often wonder sometimes at night, when I hold her, can she feel it too? That piece of myself moves away from her in repulsion of what I am holding.

Goddess, sometimes I question if I am losing my mind… .

“I questioned that same thing, filth, as you should never have mated with such a wonderful creature,” Tyr hissed then as he turned the page.

Even if Luna doesn’t see it, I think Lady Rin does, or at least feels it. If not, we would not have the Monk and his wife living with us these past months. Miro and San watch me like a hawk as if I am going to run off. As if I would leave my mate. I think not. I hear that San woman talking to Luna even if she doesn’t speak to her. She’s teaching her since school is not an option anymore at the same time trying to fill my mate’s head full of crap at the same time.

It is not against the law that I choose to keep my mate away from the world. The world that would easily snuff out her life for being what she is, then look at her twice. She has her miko duties, and that takes her away from me enough. I will not have her hurt anymore. It is my duty to protect her and keep her safe. 

Hahahahaha, I am such a contradiction, but what can I do when I look into those eyes of hers, that one blue eye, one brown eye, cry out to me to save her? Even that small part of me is pushed aside in the face of her pain. 

As a small kit, I witness small parts of her pain with my own eyes. Sometimes I can still see the tiny, bruised and battered chibi she used to be. Smell the blood that filled her tiny room, and it eats at me that I was such a failure then, that I was so powerless to stop her abuse at those monsters’ hands. No one will ever know what it feels like to live with that kind of guilt eating at your very soul. Oh my, Luna does not blame me, but even tells me how much she loves me daily. I don’t even think she has it in her to hate anyone, no matter what they do. 

My eyes stray to my sleeping angel even now as I write this. I know everyone thinks I am to blame for the changes in her appearance. But I am not to tell you the truth; I wish I were, then maybe I would not feel so…

---

Rin and Fei were scared of the loud panting filling the upstairs hall. They watched her as she went from room to room, sniffing the air as if looking for something. The pain-filled howl that followed is what tore at their hearts, bringing tears to their eyes as they could guess what she was looking for.  

Fei’s red eyes lowered to the brown of his mate, equally filled with worry and pain. Their hearts pounded in their chest as they came to a silent decision on what they should do. With a nod from her mate, Rin stepped forward, already knowing what to say. She clutched her chest as she spoke.

“Luna,” she started and waited until the glowing red eyes turned to her. “Go to him, Luna, go to your Tyr”  

She stopped her search after hearing her name being called. She knew that voice; only a few creatures she knew would speak to her in such a way. Red eyes took in the female in front of her with a sniff. She knew her obasan was taking in her ojisan as well. But him? Who? 

As if by magic, a face popped into her mind: long silver hair that flowed like silk, golden eyes that would put the sun to shame, a small nose, and thin lips that curled into a beautiful smile just for her. Magenta strips adorned his pale cheeks.. Her head tilted to the side in question…Tyr?  His scent is like a forest on a warm day after a rain shower. 

“Be careful, my hatchling,” Fei called after her form as she disappeared down the stairs and through the open front door.   “I pray we did the right thing, my dear”

“We did, Fei. She needs him; you see how she never turns away from his comfort. How she leans on him. The way she clung to him earlier almost broke my heart to take her away”

“I am still afraid for our hatchling, my mate,” he sighed, wrapping his arms around Rin as they stood in silence.

By nature, whether we admit it or not, all creatures have within them two faces. The one we show to the world and the one we keep private. For demons, it is our most basic nature that thirsts for blood, but also helps us to bond with our mates. How does this relate to my tiny angel?  Everyone believes, even I believe, the incomplete creature within Luna is her true face, but I am going on record as saying it’s not. Like her closest species, halfbreeds have one night or more when they are different. With Luna, it is no different, but instead of it being a weakness…

The passage trailed off, leaving the rest of the page blank. ’I think he was losing his mind; just what was the Kitsune trying to say?’  he thought, flipping through three blank pages before the writing picked up again. 

That bastard of a dog, I can’t believe it. The bastard was sniffing around my mate. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Sure, she told me about the creature that took time out to visit her. But she did not tell whether it was a male or whether it was that dog. Tyr Moon

That bastard, he had to smell my mark, but did he pay any attention to it? No. He was all over my mate, talking to her as if he had the right. But I was cool; I did not cause a scene. I could feel her worry over me causing a scene. I could hear her telling me he was a friend, but I also had eyes and could see the way he was acting. That bastard wanted what was mine. Instead of introducing myself as her fiancé, I should have slit his throat. 

If it wasn’t for her voice in my mind, I would have done things differently. I couldn’t destroy her trust in me. Especially when her voice stopped, and those blue eyes peeked at me through those bangs of hers. Those blue eyes of that creature within her challenged me to say something. I know the Inu didn’t see it, but I did. That creature is always challenging me. I think it hates me. Sometimes, I think it feels like that little piece of me that is disgusted by her.

“She probably saw you as the filth you are, bastard,” he hissed again, turning the page. He could not believe the nerve of the Kitsune. How he wished he had the creature before him; he would teach that filth a thing or two. He turned back to the journal, flipping through a few pages, reading until he found something interesting.

“These eyes have never seen the light,” were the first words it growled out to me.  He flipped back to the last page, thinking he had missed something. Finding no understanding of the passage, he returned to the abandoned page and read more.

It was the first time they didn’t take her away from me. I remember it was the tenth of the month; horrible sounds of pain came from her room. I thought she was having one of those nightmares when I saw her on the floor. I snapped on the bedside light just to have her strike out, throwing the thing to the floor.  

Those demonic red eyes stared at me as if looking into my very soul, before turning away. 

I was forced to remember the day our mating was final. My angel lay in a hospital bed; she had to have a blood transfusion, or she would die. But not just any blood, Father said my blood.

Her tiny, bruised, and battered body thrashed about for what seemed like hours. Then, to make matters worse, her poor, bruised heart stopped beating three times. I refused to let her die, tying my very soul to hers. By the time the sun had set, the mating, though forced, was finally completed in the most basic of ways. 

Now I know the creature within her did not return my feelings. From its own mouth, she does not claim me as a mate.

---

Police sirens filled the night air in the downtown area. They stopped at a now crowded alley opening. The demon turned to his human partner and sighed as they climbed from the patrol car. 

“It came from down there, officers,” an older female cried out, pointing down the alley.

They nodded and moved through the crowd into the alley. 

“Smell any blood, Toni?”

“Naw, with the rain and this damn garbage, I can’t smell anything, man,” The demon growled back to his partner as they searched. The human sighed as his flashlight moved from one brick wall to the next. 

“Oh shit, Mar, call the paramedics. And tell them to move their asses,” he checked for a pulse, seeing the bloody female. “Miss…. Miss, can you tell me who did this to you?”  his voice was soft. One brown eye opened, filled with fear as she screamed. 

“It’s okay, miss, I am here to help you,” she screamed as the demon officer tried his best to hold her down. 

The paramedics rushed to the scene and tried as well to calm the screaming female until she fainted. After taking one look at her, she was rushed into the ambulance and taken right away to the hospital for emergency surgery. After taking everyone’s statement and looking for any clues they could find, they climbed back into their patrol car and left the scene.

“In all my days, I have never seen anything like that,” Mar sighed, his stomach rolling.

“You will get used to it”

“But who would do something like that?”

“By the claw marks, I would say it was a demon female, maybe. But I have never seen or smelled that kind of poison before. None I have ever seen ate through flesh and bone so quickly”

“Poor girl, if she survives, she will only have one arm. But I can understand the arm, but take one of her eyes. Now that makes no sense.”

“Mar, you did not find the eye at the scene?”

“Nope, and believe me, I looked everywhere”

“The attacker could have taken it with them, you know, like a souvenir or something.” Toni laughed at the green face of his human partner and pulled over to let him out. 

“Okay, Toni man, that was truly disturbing,” Mar sighed, returning to the car, to which Toni just shrugged and drove off.

“What was the girl’s name? Did you ever find out?”

“Yeah, her school ID says her name is Linda Jacklandi. And get this, she’s a Miko.”

“I’ll flip you for telling the parents”

“Damn your evil, man. ”

Tyr woke to the oddest feeling. If he didn’t know better, there was a small animal perched on his chest, licking his face. But that had to be wrong, his mind kept saying, because no one owned a pet in his home. He felt the content thrum in his chest, matching that of the contented rumble above him. 

He lay still waiting for the strange dream to leave. He couldn’t help but shiver as warm breath ghosted across his damp skin. : : mine : : it growled. 

The creature let out an odd yip when it found itself pinned under a growling Tyr with his clawed hand around its throat. Strangely, Tyr found no fear in the scent of the creature below him. It lay with still red eyes staring at him through unbelievably black wet locks.

Wait a minute, his mind told him. .wet. His eyes slide to the window and then back. His hand shook as he moved the wet locks blocking his view. When finally his golden eyes lit upon the face beneath him, he leaped from the bed in shock.

Okay, Gram must have sprouted a tail and started spitting purple and green panda bears. Because if not, he was finally losing his mind. Being without Luna had made him lose his mind; that had to be it.

Fine, he admitted he was a little obsessed with the female. And he was still confused about what happened earlier today. But this, this was too much.

Now Tyr considered himself to be a logical being; if not, he would be overwhelmed by some of the things he found out. Think, right, he could think of a logical reason why he was now seeing impossible things. Okay, he was reading, then he slipped into sleep, wanting to see Luna again.

Tyr looked to the bed again to see the demon nuzzling his pillow and growling happily.

Forget logic, he was freaking cracking up. 

He had to be because halfbreeds turned into humans. Right? Scratch that, except for that Cass guy. But that’s just strange and way off the subject. What was the subject? .hn. .right. Back to my imagination.  The wet, red-eyed,  female demon nuzzled his pillow. It had to be because it was just what he imagined a full demon Luna would look. .

His eyes snapped back to the bed.‘Why is my imagination soaking wet? And that stripe is out of. .’ 

When sanity finally returned to Tyr, two things happened. The creature in him was frolicking happily, issuing an excited growl while he stood shocked. And the next minute had him pulling the now shocked female from the bed and into the bathroom.

“Strip,” he growled, turning away and looking for a towel. He heard the sounds of zippers, then the thud of the wet clothes hitting the floor. He turned back to her and froze, ‘Oh Goddess on High’

She looked at hers with a tilt of her head and smiled. Hers really was beautiful. a little strange, though but beautiful, she could work with that. Her more rational side was sleeping, but that didn’t mean she still couldn’t have some fun with her’s.  She sighed as Tyr moved toward her with the towel. She hated this time of the month; she lost her voice, and without her voice, she felt like an animal. 

Tyr helped Luna dry her hair and body quickly, and he stood back to take a good look at her. His eyes followed the blue stripe that started at the hairline and down across her right eye and down her cheek, it curved under her chin and down her neck, dipping back and down her back. She now possessed two blue strips across her forearm and wrist on the right, and on the left, she only had one strip on her forearm and one across her wrist.

 The stripe that curved across her waist now dips from her hips and curves up on both sides of her navel, both ending curved around the tops of her breasts. Two blue strips circled her right thigh and ankle, the right leg like her right arm, one apiece. Tiny claws adorned her hands, and he could clearly see her fangs as she smiled at him brightly.

“L-Luna,” he swallowed thickly, “I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell me?” he whispered, stroking her striped cheek softly. She whimpered softly: : mine no like?: : 

The red of her eyes dulled a little, to which he cursed inwardly. 

“The word beautiful pales in comparison to you, my angel,” he gave her a pleased fanged smile. 

: : mine perfect: :  she growled. Her eyes were once again bright as she stroked his striped cheek.

Neither noticed as their affectionate strokes turned into nuzzling that they ended up tumoring into Tyr’s now dry bed.  It didn’t take long for Luna to drift off to sleep wrapped around Tyr, their contented growls filling the room. Tyr, not wanting to miss a second, stayed awake watching his female. Even as the first rays of the sun shone through the window, he could see her changing. It had to be the most amazing thing he had ever witnessed. He nuzzled into her hair with a pleasant growl: : mine: :

‘Your mate was a fool to be happy for not being attracted to you, or gay. But I’ll show you every day just how special you are, my angel. I just wish you did not feel as if you had to hide anything from me.

---

The light of the morning shone brightly on three demons as they gathered together. 

Each of their cars was parked on the side of the road as they walked farther away from them.

 It would not do for anyone to hear what they had to say to one another.

“Do you think you are trying to move things along too fast?”

“No”

“So he knows now”

“Yes”

“Did you see her then?”

“No”

“So he accepts her?”

“Did you doubt my pup’s affections?”

“Our plan is working, then?”

“I am still not sure about this”

“It’s too late to back out now, Hakon”

“This is my eldest pup we are talking about. Neither of you saw how devastated he was last time,” he growled

“Is he devastated now? From what I saw, he is quite happy”

“We have come this far; it’s too late now. They will be fine, I am sure of it”

“You had better be Fei. If we have gone through all of this just for his pup to reject my hatchling-”

“My pup would never. He loves that female, Yuu”

“Control yourselves, this next step in the dance is fragile and must be handled carefully. Is Ryuu taken care of?”

“Yes, I have sent him off on business, but the day of and the day after the change, he feels nothing from her. But my pup is emotional the day after, and fragile, we must tread carefully.”

“For Goddess’ sake, Yuu, you act as if we are going to kill the girl”

“You have plans to see my mate later today about that matter?”

“Yes”

“She will bring what is needed. I will see both of you later”

“That lizard will be the death of us. I will see you later, my friend”

“I am not looking forward to it.” The three parted ways. Hakon watched as Yuu and Fei drove 

off his eyes glazed over as he remembered. 

---

It was late in the night as Yuu, Hakon, and Fei stood over the now-teenage Luna. The beeping of the machines told them she still lived. The girl had slipped into a coma sometime during the day. His eyes took in the respirator as it moved to force air into her lungs. He sighed. They had done this, trying to keep her alive. 

“Did you get it?” His eyes focused on Fei as he spoke.

“You know what it will do?”

“Yes, I am only trying to give her a chance”

“And I agree, but to involve my pup, my heir”

“Are you backing out, my friend? Will you leave her to die?”

“You know she is too important to just let her die. But to force her yet again-”

“We are not forcing her, Hakon. Tyr has not marked her. yet”

“But we are  following-”

“No, we are not. This is different, she will still have a choice”

“Fine, then do not blame me if this blows up your faces,” Hakon snarled and handed over the blood bag. 

“You wanted this, too, Hakon. Think of the happiness of your pup,” Yuu sighed. Yuu and Hakon watched as the blood bag was replaced and held Luna down as she thrashed about on the bed. 

They prayed as her heartbeat quickened, then evened out. After what seemed like hours, she settled. The three sighed in relief. The mark of the east on her forehead shone brightly in the dark room. 

“The happiness of both our children,” Hakon spoke, looking at Fei’s tear-streaked face.

 Hakon shook himself from his damning thoughts and drove away.

 “Too much is happening to that poor girl. But I wonder if she is even aware of it”