The Log of Tyr Moon

I always thought I was the only Goth at my school, Silverleaf Technical Academy—until she came along. At first, she was just that wolf’s ex-friend, Kage. How do I know this? Because, as a junior, I tend to know these things. She took the entrance exam and skipped two grades. I was amazed at how a Ningen could be that smart. But what really blows my mind is that she does kendo, jujitsu, and archery. I find myself thinking about her every day, even during class. It’s like my mind constantly drifts to her. Goddess, it’s ruining my grades. But you know what? I don’t care one bit. She’s in all my classes except for two, so I see her every day.

Let me tell you about her. She wears nothing but black and red. Nothing tight—her clothes are always loose and sometimes baggy, except for her long skirts, which set her apart from the other girls at school.

Like today. She wore a black shirt with long, bell-like sleeves, a long black skirt with a split up to her knees, and black stiletto boots. A silver belt hung from one side of her small waist. Her knee-length raven hair hung in a thick, rope braid down her back. She always wears a silver cross necklace, silver earrings, and a little silver cross in her nose. She’s beautiful, her pale skin glowing like pearls. She wears little makeup—just black eyeliner and blood-red lipstick. She’s a dark angel, a goddess. My dark angel.

She’s the kind of girl every guy dreams about. I swear, I bet under those clothes she’s soft and sexy. My dark angel stands at an easy 5’4″, with a small waist and wide hips that make your jaw drop when she walks. Oh, goddess, that walk of hers—like a runway model. The bounce of her large breasts, the sway of her hips, it’s mesmerizing. Beautiful, sexy, exotic.

But here’s the thing—she never talks to anyone. I guess being the youngest junior in our class isn’t easy. I’ve never heard her speak, not even when those two idiots open their mouths and show their ignorance. But I won’t waste my log on them. Back to my angel. I often wonder what her voice would sound like. Is it as soft and sexy as the rest of her? Or would it be loud and annoying?

Today, she dropped a book while walking. I guess I’ll give it back to her tomorrow at school. But I couldn’t help myself—I peeked inside. Sketches. The whole book was full of sketches of yokai, mostly Inu and Kitsune, and scenes of bloody battles. By the ninth picture, I dropped the book in shock. There, in the middle of the pages, was a drawing of me. I was standing in the courtyard, looking at the school, my long hair blowing in the breeze. It was amazing. I was stunned. How had she seen me? I didn’t see her that day—though, with my senses, I can usually find her miles away. Her scent is sweet, like warm apples and pears.

Damn, my father is calling me for dinner. I hate that, but I’ll see her tomorrow at school.

Oh, you want to know her name? Luna. Beautiful, right?

Signed off…

Tyr sighed, his thoughts drifting to more pleasant matters, only to be snapped back to reality. goddess, I hate dinners with my family, he thought, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he walked into the dining room and took his seat.

His stepmother set a plate in front of him, and his father spoke.

“So, how is school going, Tyr?”

“Fine, Father,” he replied coldly, not really caring but knowing his father wouldn’t stop until he had an answer.

“And you, Gram?” his father asked.

“Smooth, Dad, smooth,” came Gram’s excited voice.

The conversation at the table remained light, but Tyr soon found himself lost in his own thoughts about tomorrow. He glanced down, realizing his plate was empty, and inwardly sighed. For some reason, his half-brother’s voice seemed more annoying than usual.

“May I be excused?” he asked, not waiting for an answer. Rising from the table, he walked out of the room.

Tyr headed straight for the shower, bathing quickly before dressing for bed. The moment his head hit the pillow, he drifted into sleep. A smile crept across his face as his dreams turned to his favorite female.

Morning arrived swiftly, like it always did, dragging him out of the haze of restless thoughts that clung to him. He moved mechanically—showering, dressing in his usual black pants and a fitted gray t-shirt, the fabric clinging to his chest. His boots were laced with practiced ease, each knot a brief moment of clarity in the otherwise chaotic rhythm of his mind. His fingers lingered as they tied the final loop, the weight of something unresolved pressing against him. He grabbed his bag, feeling its strap cut into his shoulder as he headed for the kitchen, grabbing a hasty breakfast—nothing more than a few bites as the pressure of the day started to build.

The engine of his black Saleen S-5 roared to life as he sped down the street, the hum of the tires beneath him almost a welcome distraction from his thoughts. His heart raced with anticipation, nerves tight in his chest. Today was her day. Today, he would see her again. And he wasn’t sure if he was ready. The sketchbook beside him was a weight—both comfort and torment. His fingers brushed over it, the leather cover smooth, worn from his constant attention. He wanted to touch it, to hold it close, but he knew what it meant—the feelings it stirred in him, the longing that surged with every glance. It was her work, and yet it felt like a piece of her—a part of the puzzle he desperately, fearfully, wanted to solve.

Parking in front of the school, he didn’t need to look for her—he felt her before he saw her. His breath hitched when his eyes finally found her.

She was impossible to ignore. The black and blood-red dress hugged her form in all the right places, slits running up her sides, teasing glimpses of skin. Her long bell sleeves fluttered slightly as she moved as if they were made to catch the very air around her. Her hair, dark and untamed, hung in waves down her back, wild and free in a way that mirrored the restless part of him he couldn’t tame. And the blood-red stilettos—those damned shoes—sent a bolt of heat through him, something primal, something far more dangerous than just lust.

A thought struck him, sharp and unsettling—why does she always wear long sleeves? He couldn’t stop himself from staring at the way the fabric clung to her arms. There was something about it that felt… off. Something hidden. His curiosity flickered briefly, but it was quickly drowned by the flood of more carnal thoughts.

Then she walked past his car. His chest tightened as his eyes traced the curve of her hips, and the sway of her steps. Oh, goddess… The word barely formed in his mind, overwhelmed by the raw, undeniable attraction he felt. Her presence—every move she made, every glance she cast, even in the simplest of actions—was an intoxicating blend of power and grace, of confidence and seduction.

And he could do nothing but watch.

The growl that slipped from his throat was involuntary, a sound born of pure, unfiltered desire. It rumbled low, primal. His mind screamed for control, for restraint, but it was too late. He was already lost to it, to her. And the worst part? He didn’t want to find his way out.

Without thinking, Tyr threw open the car door and rushed toward her, calling her name, his voice tinged with urgency.

“Luna!”

She halted, her movements fluid but deliberate, turning toward him with an almost unnerving calm. Tyr’s breath caught in his chest as he took in her face. She was impossibly beautiful, but it was a beauty that seemed distant—almost untouchable. Her eyes, those piercing depths, revealed nothing. They were void of emotion as if she were a mirror reflecting only a fraction of her true self. There was no warmth, no joy, no anger—nothing. Just an empty expanse, a hollow place where something once was.

His heart clenched. Her presence was overwhelming, yet somehow… empty. Her aura—a tumultuous storm of raw emotion—swirled around her, palpable, almost suffocating. It was as if her soul had been torn apart, and the scars were too deep to heal. How could someone so… whole in form, be so fractured within?

What could have happened to make her this way? What had they done to her? The questions spun endlessly in his mind, as he found himself drawn deeper into the mystery of her eyes. They held a depth, a sorrow, that spoke of things he couldn’t even begin to comprehend.

And as he stood there, dumbstruck by the weight of her pain, he realized with a sharp pang that he wanted—no, needed—to fix it. To heal whatever had broken her, even if it meant losing himself in the process.

But Luna, as if sensing his silent plea, was the first to look away. Her gaze dropped to the ground, her posture sinking with the weight of a burden that was hers alone to bear. Her sigh was almost imperceptible, a sound that seemed to carry all the weight of the world.

‘Why won’t these demons leave me alone?’ she thought inwardly, the frustration seeping through her calm exterior like a quiet storm. Tyr, standing before her, had no idea that his presence, his very existence, was another layer of complication in a life that had already been battered beyond recognition.

“I found this,” Tyr said, his voice betraying a rare hesitation as he held out the black sketchbook. The words felt awkward on his tongue as if they were foreign to him. Smooth, Tyr… very smooth, he thought bitterly, cringing inwardly at his own fumbling.

Luna’s gaze flickered toward the book, sharp and calculating, her eyes narrowing as though the sketchbook were a threat, an enemy to be assessed. Tyr’s heart skipped a beat. Why does she have to make everything feel so… charged? He tried to read her, to decipher the emotion behind her unreadable expression, but it was like staring into a void.

Before he could brace himself, the sketchbook was gone. One fluid motion and it was slipped effortlessly into her black messenger bag as if it had never been in his hands at all. His gaze lingered on her hands—gloved in black, a perfect match to the rest of her dark attire. Everything about her was an enigma, a puzzle that he couldn’t quite piece together.

Their eyes met for a brief, electrifying moment. In that instant, he thought he saw something—something fleeting, something raw. A shimmer in her eyes, maybe gratitude, maybe something deeper… but it vanished too quickly for him to grasp. He stood there, unable to look away, searching for a glimpse of who she truly was, desperate for a crack in the cold, impenetrable facade she wore so well. But she was gone just as swiftly as she had appeared.

Questions swirled in his mind, a whirlwind of confusion and curiosity. But before he could even begin to process them, she gave a quiet, almost imperceptible bow—a motion so elegant, so final—that it seemed to mark the end of their interaction. Then, she turned and exited, her steps as deliberate as ever.

Tyr stood frozen, rooted to the spot, as his thoughts consumed him. His mind replayed the moment over and over.

“Her eyes…” he whispered, his voice barely audible as he stared after her. There was something in them, something he couldn’t name but couldn’t forget. Exquisite, he added in his mind, adding that detail to the growing list of things about her that intrigued, confounded, and pulled him in. But it was her voice—the sound of her speaking to him—that he craved more than anything. If only I could hear it…

With a heavy sigh, he turned away, the spell she’d cast over him still lingering as he walked back to join his friends.

But as soon as he did, Caria’s voice sliced through the silence like a jagged knife.

“Why were you talking to that creepy girl, Lord Tyr?” The venom in her tone was unmistakable. Her glare was cold, sharp, and unyielding. Caria hated Luna—the human—and everything about her presence seemed to set her on edge. Tyr could feel the weight of her jealousy, like a physical force, pressing against him.

He stopped in his tracks, not even sparing her a glance as he responded, his voice low and menacing, the growl unmistakable.

“That is none of your concern, Caria,” he said coldly, brushing past her with deliberate indifference. His patience had worn thin. There was no room for her petty jealousy, no tolerance for the way she tried to claim ownership of his every action. The only thing he cared about right now was the mystery that was Luna—the girl who seemed to haunt his thoughts, who both terrified and fascinated him.

“You shouldn’t encourage her,” Caria hissed, her frustration bubbling over. “She might start thinking she’s important.”

“And do you presume to tell this Tyr who he may speak to?” His voice dropped to a dangerous growl as his hand clamped around Dacia’s throat, lifting her effortlessly. Her smug demeanor shattered, replaced by wide-eyed terror.

“N-no, it’s not that…” Dacia stammered, clawing at his grip as her voice rasped with desperation. “That… that girl doesn’t deserve to even look at you… she’s unworthy of your presence.”

Tyr’s golden eyes narrowed, the predatory gleam in them unrelenting. Unworthy? The word grated against him, an insult not to Luna but to his own judgment. His grip tightened fractionally. “Perhaps you’re jealous because she’s prettier than you… or smarter than both you and Caria combined?” His voice was quiet, but the weight of his scorn was undeniable.

With a sharp flick, he tossed Dacia aside like an afterthought. She crumpled to the ground, gasping for air and clutching her throat. The demons that had gathered erupted into laughter, their cruel amusement filling the space. Tyr didn’t join them. His gaze was already shifting, his mind elsewhere.

He strode into the classroom, the jeers and whispers fading into insignificance. His focus honed in on one point—Luna. She sat at the back, as she always did, her body language a fortress of indifference. The noise around her barely seemed to register; she moved through the world as though it were nothing more than a backdrop.

Tyr chose a seat three rows away, close enough to observe her without drawing attention. As he settled, his gaze flicked over her features, cataloging the faint tension in her posture, the way her eyes remained fixed on a single spot, unfocused.

She’s always like this. Cold. Detached. His lips curled into a faint, humorless smirk. Does she even care what they say about her? Or has she learned to shut it all out? He envied that, in a way—her ability to drift through their poisonous world without letting it touch her. And yet, there was something about that emptiness that made him uneasy.

The teacher’s voice cut through his thoughts, dragging him back to the present. Names were being paired, and partners were assigned. Tyr’s attention sharpened as his name was called, followed by hers.

“Luna.”

His pulse quickened—not that anyone would have noticed. His expression remained carefully neutral as he watched her reaction. She blinked, her surprise flickering across her face for the briefest moment before she tucked it away.

There it is again—that crack. Tyr leaned back in his chair, observing her as she processed the pairing. She wasn’t pleased or upset. If anything, she seemed… resigned. Does she feel anything? Or has she buried herself so deep she’s forgotten how?

The teacher droned on, but Tyr’s thoughts remained on her. When the bell rang, dismissing them, he moved without hesitation, pulling a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. As he scribbled down his address, his mind raced.

Why does she intrigue me? She’s not the most powerful, not the most outspoken. She’s nothing like the others, and maybe that’s why. He straightened, the jagged letters scrawled across the paper staring back at him. She doesn’t belong in this world, yet she stays. Why?

He handed the note to her as she passed by, his voice low but resolute. “Come to my place after school.”

Luna paused, her blue/brown eyes flicking to the paper before taking it without a word. She tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable, before walking away.

Tyr watched her retreat, his demon stirring restlessly beneath his skin. She didn’t even ask why. She just… accepted it. He inhaled deeply, catching the faint trace of her scent—cool, like the night after a storm. It lingered in the air long after she’d left, drawing a low growl from his chest.

Her. His demon’s voice rose in his mind, a primal certainty that reverberated through him. This wasn’t infatuation or curiosity. It was instinct—a feeling as ancient as the beast inside him. She’s ours.

He pushed the thought aside, focusing on the day ahead. But the hours passed in a haze, his mind returning to Luna over and over. Each memory of her stirred something unfamiliar—an ache he couldn’t name, a hunger that wasn’t just physical.

---

At lunch, Tyr sat with his usual group, the cacophony of the cafeteria washing over him like a dull roar. Trays clattered, voices overlapped, and laughter ricocheted off the walls, but it all blurred into insignificance. His brother, Gram, leaned back in his chair, recounting some trivial conquest with exaggerated bravado. The others hung on his words, their laughter boisterous and eager. Tyr barely registered it.

She’ll avoid me, Tyr thought, a flicker of annoyance threading through his otherwise calm demeanor. She always does. He leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the table. His golden eyes scanned the room, though he already knew he wouldn’t find her. Luna had mastered the art of slipping away, disappearing into the cracks of their world like smoke.

And yet, as if summoned by his doubt, a shift in the air caught his attention. A scent—cool, like the night after rain—teased his senses, subtle but unmistakable. His demon stirred before his thoughts could catch up, a primal recognition flaring to life.

She’s here.

His gaze snapped to the entrance, locking onto her almost instantly. Luna moved through the bustling cafeteria with a deliberateness that set her apart. The chaos of the room seemed to bend around her, leaving her untouched. Her steps were steady, her posture unwavering, as though the stares and whispers trailing her meant nothing.

Tyr tensed, his focus narrowing. His demon prowled just beneath the surface, restless and watchful. What is she doing? His curiosity sharpened as she approached, her gaze fixed on him with an intensity that made his pulse quicken.

Then she touched him—a light press of her fingers against his shoulder. The contact was fleeting, but it sent a jolt through him, electric and grounding all at once. His demon surged, clawing at his control, but he reined it in with practiced ease.

Caria noticed first, her head whipping around to glare at Luna. “No one invited you to this table, stupid!” she spat, her voice sharp and venomous.

Dacia wasn’t far behind, her tone dripping with contempt as she joined in. “Who said you could touch Lord Tyr, you weak little thing?”

The noise around them swelled, jeers and laughter erupting as the group seized on the opportunity to belittle Luna. Tyr’s tablemates leaned forward, their expressions a mixture of amusement and malice. It was a scene they’d orchestrated countless times before, their cruelty a reflex.

But Tyr wasn’t listening.

His attention remained fixed on Luna, his sharp gaze catching the subtle shift in her expression. Amidst the barrage of insults, her face remained calm, her lips set in a faint line of indifference. Yet her eyes… her eyes betrayed something else entirely.

Amusement? He frowned, the realization catching him off guard. Is she… enjoying this?

It wasn’t the kind of amusement born of joy or satisfaction—it was something quieter, more deliberate. A flicker of mischief danced in her gaze, faint but unmistakable, like a spark waiting to catch fire. It made her seem younger, lighter, as though for a moment she’d shed the weight of the world she carried so quietly.

The corner of Tyr’s mouth twitched, a near-smile threatening to break through his carefully neutral mask. He forced it back, his mind racing. What are you up to?

She didn’t flinch under the weight of the room’s hostility. If anything, she seemed to draw strength from it, her calm exterior a challenge in itself. Tyr leaned back slightly, watching her as though she were a riddle he was determined to solve.

Her defiance wasn’t loud or showy—it was in the way she held herself, the way she stood her ground without so much as a word. And for a fleeting moment, he let himself imagine what she might do if she chose to fight back, to unleash whatever she kept hidden behind those enigmatic eyes.

Whatever it is… His demon rumbled its agreement, a low growl vibrating through his chest. I can’t wait to see it.

Around him, the cafeteria’s noise swelled further, the laughter and jeering reaching a fever pitch. Gram said something crude, earning a round of cheers, but Tyr didn’t acknowledge it. His focus remained on Luna, on the quiet defiance in her gaze and the way her presence seemed to ripple through the room despite her silence.

She doesn’t belong here, he thought, a strange mix of frustration and admiration coiling in his chest. And yet, she’s here anyway.

Luna shifted slightly, her fingers brushing against her sleeve as though brushing off invisible dust. The movement was small, almost imperceptible, but it carried an air of finality. She was done with this game, done with their cruelty, and yet she remained rooted where she stood.

Tyr felt a strange pang in his chest, an ache he couldn’t name. His demon stirred again, restless and eager, but this time he didn’t suppress it. Instead, he allowed the primal certainty to settle over him, a weight he didn’t bother to question.

Her.

The sparkle in Luna’s eyes only brightened as Caria lunged at her, claws gleaming, aiming straight for her chest. With a fluid sidestep, Luna evaded the attack effortlessly, her movements precise and unhurried. Caria’s momentum carried her forward, stumbling past.

Seizing the moment, Dacia darted in from behind, aiming to strike while Luna’s back was turned. But Luna moved faster. Catching Dacia’s wrist in midair, she twisted it with practiced ease and sent her hurtling into Caria. The two demonesses collided in an ungainly heap, drawing snickers from the watching crowd.

Tyr’s smirk widened as Gram’s deep laugh echoed across the room. The two yokai scrambled back to their feet, their pride visibly bruised. Caria hissed, her claws flexing again. This time, she charged head-on, while Dacia flanked Luna from the opposite side. Their movements were coordinated, their rage evident.

Luna waited, her expression calm, almost bored. When the two were nearly upon her, she pivoted backward into a flawless flip, her body arcing like a crescent moon. She landed lightly on her feet, just in time to watch Caria and Dacia slam into each other. Their claws tore into the skin, eliciting howls of pain. Blood streaked the floor as they collapsed in a tangled, writhing mess.

The cafeteria erupted into laughter, the sound ringing off the walls like an avalanche of justice. Most of the students had been on the receiving end of Caria and Dacia’s bullying at some point, and now their humiliation was a moment of shared triumph.

Above the uproar, a musical peal of laughter drifted through the room, silencing the chaos like a spell. Heads turned, seeking the source of the enchanting sound. Tyr’s sharp ears caught the soft giggle close by. He turned his head, and his golden eyes locked onto her.

Luna stood perched atop the back of a chair, her gloved hand covering her mouth as the last remnants of her laughter escaped. Her once-cold, distant eyes now shimmered with mirth, their warmth a startling contrast to her usual demeanor. Tyr’s gaze lingered, a silver brow arching in surprise. In that moment, she seemed untouchable, radiant—a vision that stole the breath from his lungs. That laugh… it was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard. It stirred something deep and unshakable within him.

But before he could process the moment, Cass shot to his feet, his chair clattering to the ground in his wake. Fury twisted his features, his voice sharp and raw.

“You think this is funny?” he growled, his glare fixed on Luna. “This is for my sister, you—”

Before he could finish, the chair beneath Luna wobbled. Without hesitation, she sprang into action. Her hand pressed lightly against Cass’s head as she flipped over him with feline grace, her sleeves billowing behind her. She landed in front of Tyr, her boots tapping softly against the floor. The crowd erupted into applause and cheers, students pounding on tables in approval.

Cass, however, stumbled forward, toppling straight onto Caria and Dacia, who were just struggling to rise. Their groans of pain mingled with the laughter cascading around them, leaving them in a heap of humiliation.

Unbothered by the chaos, Luna turned to Tyr. Her movements were as smooth as her combat—controlled, deliberate. She handed him a folded piece of paper, her gloved fingers brushing his lightly. With a small bow, she left without a word, her steps unhurried but purposeful. Her departure left the cafeteria buzzing with whispers and speculation.

Tyr stared after her, his silver brows furrowing as he unfolded the paper. Yet, his eyes flicked back to her retreating form, her elegance leaving an impression he couldn’t quite shake.

Meanwhile, in the quiet of the hall, Luna sighed, a faint smile tugging at her lips. So much for keeping a low profile, she thought wryly. But deep down, the warmth of the laughter still lingered, like sunlight breaking through a storm. For once, that actually felt good.

With a shrug, she continued down the corridor, her steps light and her spirits just a little brighter.

The cafeteria fell silent as the Dean, Miko Kaede, and several teachers swept into the room, their frowns heavy with authority. Miko Kaede’s sharp gaze swept the room before landing on the three yokai sprawled unconscious on the floor. Her voice rang out, cold and commanding.

“Who did this?”

The room hesitated, but Linda stepped forward, her finger trembling as she pointed. “That little goth girl, Kaede-sama,” she accused, her tone dripping with venom.

Before Kaede could respond, a clear, confident voice broke through the silence. “No, Luna didn’t do anything,” a young girl interjected. “Caria and Dacia hurt themselves when they jumped out of the way, and Cass fell when he tried to attack her.” Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd as nods of support followed her words.

Linda’s eyes narrowed, the accusation slipping through her lips like poison. “Are you calling me a liar, little girl?”

“Enough, Linda,” Gram’s voice cut through, firm and unyielding. “That girl only dodged. She didn’t harm anyone.”

Linda turned to him, her fury barely concealed. But with the crowd now against her, her plans crumbled. She bit back her anger, fists clenching at her sides.

“Fine,” Kaede said with a sigh, her patience worn thin. “Tell these three to report to my office when they wake.” She gestured to the unconscious yokai, and the teachers and nurses moved to half-carry, half-drag them away. With a curt nod, the Dean turned and left.

As the commotion settled, Linda spun on Gram, her rage boiling over. “Why did you help her? That girl is nothing!” she spat, her voice shaking.

Gram shrugged, uncertain himself. “She did nothing wrong, Linda. Why not let it go?” he said, genuinely puzzled.

Kage, leaning casually against a table, chuckled. “Yeah, Linda. What’s your problem with her? She never even talks to anyone.”

Linda opened her mouth to retort but was cut off by Ayame’s calm voice. “Have you two not heard about her?” she asked, her gaze flicking between Kage and Tyr, whose sharp eyes remained fixed on Linda.

Kage tilted his head. “Heard what, Ayame?”

Linda scoffed, crossing her arms. “Why bother talking about her?” she sneered, avoiding the question. With a huff, she stormed off, her muttering barely audible.

Kage smirked. “Must be something good to get under Linda’s skin like that.”

Ayame hesitated, then leaned closer. “Luna is a Miko, like Linda,” she began.

Gram interrupted, his voice brimming with skepticism. “Yeah, but she’s not as powerful as my Linda,” he said, his defensiveness unmistakable.

“Let me finish, fool!” Ayame snapped, glaring at him. “Two years ago, during Miko testing, they discovered Luna is the most powerful Miko to exist since ancient times. Her senses are said to be sharper than a yokai’s.”

Kage’s eyes widened. “You’re serious?” He looked genuinely stunned. He’d always known Luna was strong—Linda’s jealousy made that clear—but to hear she was the most powerful Miko ever? That was something else.

Gram was dumbstruck. The idea that the quiet, unsettling girl in black and red could surpass Linda in power seemed absurd.

Tyr, on the other hand, smirked. He wasn’t surprised. His father’s company had conducted those tests, and he already knew of her extraordinary abilities. What intrigued him most, however, were the blank spots in the data—unanswered questions that demanded investigation.

“How do you know this, Ayame?” Kage asked, still reeling.

Ayame glanced at him. “My grandfather was one of the yokai who tested her. He always said there was one thing that worried him—her sense of touch.”

Tyr leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. “Why her sense of touch?”

Ayame frowned. “I don’t know. He never told me.” Her voice trailed off, her thoughts lingering on her grandfather’s unspoken concerns.

Gram glanced at the clock and nudged Kage. “We’re going to be late.”

The group hurried to their next class—Ancient Legends. Tyr, Ayame, and Luna shared the same lesson, and as they settled into their seats at the back, Ayame and Tyr exchanged knowing glances. Both found their eyes drifting to Luna, her quiet presence as enigmatic as ever.

Tyr, unable to suppress his curiosity, scribbled a note and slid it to Ayame. What else do you know about her?

Ayame glanced at him, her expression contemplative. The question lingered unanswered as the lesson began, the mysteries surrounding Luna only growing deeper.

“She can merge with any yokai without purifying it.”

The words reverberated in his mind, leaving Tyr stunned. No Miko he had ever heard of possessed such an ability—let alone dared to attempt it. Yet here he was, sitting behind the most extraordinary being in existence. His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, thoughts swirling. Yes, he wanted her, and he would stop at nothing to claim her as his and his alone.

Tearing his focus back to his notes, he absently flipped the page, only to find the folded paper she had given him earlier. Unfolding it carefully, his amber eyes widened in surprise.

It was a sketch of him in his true form. His blazing eyes burned against the night sky as he howled toward the full moon, his massive frame towering over a dense forest. The artistry captured the raw power and majesty of his yokai essence. His attention was drawn to a nearby tree in the sketch where the word “Thanks” was carved. Though his face remained impassive, a faint smile flickered in his amber eyes—so subtle it would take a sharp observer to notice.

Later, in his final class of the day, Tyr struggled to focus. Nervous anticipation coiled in his chest. In just a few hours, Luna would be at his house, meeting his family. His yokai stirred restlessly in its mental cage, growling in desire at the thought of being near her.

For three years, this pull toward her had only grown stronger. No other female could hold his attention, let alone compare. He had tried to distract himself, engaging with others, but every time, they fell short—none of them were her.

Meanwhile, Luna sat in the Dean’s office, enduring yet another tiresome lecture. Ms. Kaede’s voice droned on, though Luna barely listened. She crossed her arms, irritation flashing in her mismatched eyes. No fighting in school, she thought mockingly, rolling her eyes. Goddess, I wasn’t even fighting. Stupid woman.

She knew Kaede and a few of the other Miko teachers had made it their mission to watch her closely, but their overbearing nature grated on her nerves. On days like this, she fantasized about purifying herself just to escape their constant scrutiny.

The ticking clock caught her attention, and she realized classes were ending. Rising swiftly, she left the office without a backward glance. As she walked past the waiting area, her smirk deepened at the sight of Caria, Dacia, and Cass still stuck there. Without sparing them a second thought, she headed out of the building, her boots clicking softly against the floor.

Sliding into her Hummer, Luna let out a sigh as she started the engine. “Goddess,” she muttered to herself, gripping the steering wheel. “Now I have to go to his house. What am I going to do?”

The Log of Tyr Moon

Why is she always on my mind? I remember the first time I met her during the MIKO project. It wasn’t exactly a project; it was more of a series of tests designed to gauge the power of Mikos over the years.

I was walking with my father as he oversaw the trials. The other girls were chatting amongst themselves when I first saw her. It wasn’t her beauty that captivated me—though she is beautiful—it was the way she carried herself. She had an effortless grace, a natural ease in the way people gravitated toward her. More than that, it was how attentively she listened, her presence commanding attention without demanding it.

When she greeted my father, it was as if they were old friends—she even hugged him. I’ll admit, that surprised me. Few people dared to approach him with such familiarity, yet he welcomed it. They spoke as if no one else existed, and I could only catch fragments of their conversation. Whatever she said, it must have been extraordinary because my father lingered, laughing more than I’d seen in years. For an hour, they talked—an eternity for him—about topics that ranged from her schooling to theories on magic.

Later that evening, my father couldn’t stop talking about her. “Most girls only talk about their hair or how much they’re being paid for the program,” he said, shaking his head. “Not her. She’s different. Remarkable.” His words stuck with me.

The next day, he introduced us during his rounds. She greeted me with a small nod and a polite bow, saying nothing. That silence… it intrigued me. She spoke volumes without uttering a word. Over time, I found myself drawn to her. I began waiting for her after her tests, finding excuses to walk with her or share the gardens—just to be near her.

Even after grueling evaluations, she always had the energy to stroll through the gardens. My yokai stirred restlessly whenever she was near, growling possessively in the recesses of my mind. It wanted her—completely. The intensity of that desire frightened me, and yet, I couldn’t resist. She would pat my shoulder or hug me when she was happy, gestures so innocent yet agonizingly intimate to me.

Then, one day, I learned she had a fiancé—a human. He planned to marry her after high school. That revelation tore at me, and though I tried to distance myself, I couldn’t. She continued to treat me with the same kindness, the same warmth, as though nothing had changed. I began obsessively learning about Mikos, desperate to find common ground or something to impress her. I didn’t recognize myself anymore.

Her fiancé confronted me in the gardens one day. I remember his accusing tone, his certainty that I was trying to steal her. Perhaps I was. But she, ever composed, diffused the tension with a few gentle words. Even now, I wonder… what happened to him? What changed in the three years since then? And why does she wear those gloves? Is it related to her magic, her touch? So many questions linger, unanswered and maddening.

Now that she’s back, I refuse to let her slip away again. But how does she feel about me? Does she see me as others do—cold, calculating, heartless? Or does she see the parts of me I’ve only ever revealed to her?

I’ve seen the mischief in her eyes, the flickers of amusement, and the veiled sadness she tries to hide. She feels deeply; I know that much. But can she feel anything for me?

Tonight, she’s coming over. I want to talk to her, to tell her everything that’s been clawing at my chest. But how do I begin? What do I say that won’t scare her away?

For now, I’ll focus on my homework so we can work on our project together. Of all topics, it had to be Ancient Ningen and Yokai Mating Rituals. Talk about pouring salt into an open wound.

Signed off…

In his room:

After Tyr finished his homework, he paced his room nervously. “She’s not going to come; I just know it,” he thought, anxiety tightening his chest. Even after Gram had left to borrow his car, Tyr remained restless. He had flat-out refused his half-brother’s request, remembering all too well the last time Gram had borrowed it. The lingering stench from Linda’s escapades had taken weeks to cleanse from the interior, leaving Tyr with more nightmares than he cared to admit.

With a frustrated growl, he rubbed his temples, trying to stave off the headache that was beginning to form. The thought of Luna not showing up gnawed at him, amplifying his unease.

---

Reaching her house, Luna let out a sigh as she slipped off her boots and gloves. A small smile crept onto her face as she glanced at old pictures of her and her mate, Shippo. His joyful, playful demeanor reminded her of happier times, filling her with bittersweet nostalgia.

She moved around her home, straightening up before settling at her desk to tackle her homework. When she finished, she glanced at the clock, uncertainty gnawing at her. Do I really want to go? she wondered. But the teachers’ warnings about failing both partners echoed in her mind, leaving her with little choice.

With a resigned sigh, Luna dressed in a black peasant blouse that revealed a hint of her midriff, pairing it with black bell-bottoms layered with sheer fabric and a silver chain belt that hung to her knees. She slipped into her black stilettos and gloves, grabbed her bag, locked the door behind her, and headed to her car. Determination propelled her forward, even as doubt lingered at the edges of her mind.

---

Tyr’s pacing was interrupted by a knock at his door. He growled softly, urging the visitor to enter.

“There’s a young lady here to see you, Tyr,” Pedar announced.

“Very well, Pedar. I’ll be there in a moment. Offer her refreshments or something,” he replied curtly.

“As you wish, sir.” Pedar bowed and exited.

Taking a moment to collect himself, Tyr felt a rush of excitement. His heart raced and his palms grew damp, though outwardly he maintained his composed demeanor. As he descended the steps, a soft, musical voice floated to him, stopping him in his tracks. He paused, listening intently, captivated by the sound.

He approached the sitting room and stopped at the doorway, taking in the scene. His father, Hakon, stood scratching his head in confusion as Luna patiently explained something.

“Tell me that again?” Hakon asked.

“You need to reroute the files and install a virus protection in your backdoor program in case someone hacks your system again,” Luna explained, her tone even and calm.

Tyr’s breath caught. Her voice, soft and melodic, was initially beautiful and became enchanting the longer he listened. No other voice compared.

“You’re very knowledgeable about these things, Luna. It’s nice to see you’ve grown into such a lovely young lady,” Hakon said warmly.

“Thank you, sir. I just want to keep the things I value safe,” she replied. “If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask.”

“I’d be happy to pay you for your services. And what’s with this ‘sir’ thing? We agreed you’d call me by my name,” Hakon smiled, though his expression shifted slightly as he noticed how distant she appeared. He missed the openness she used to display.

“Oh no, sir. Advice is always free. I can only offer it; it’s up to you to take it,” she said, brushing off his offer.

“How can I argue with that? At the very least, let me repay you by inviting you to dinner,” Hakon insisted.

“I don’t know, sir. Your son might not—”

“I’d like for you to stay for dinner. We could get more work done that way,” Tyr interjected, finally recovering from his reverie. His warm voice wrapped around her like a comforting embrace, causing her to shiver—a reaction Tyr did not miss.

“Well, it’s settled then,” Hakon declared with a knowing smile. He was pleased his eldest son had taken an interest in Luna, hoping this time would be different.

---

In Tyr’s room, he motioned for Luna to sit at his desk. Her graceful movements drew his attention, and he held back a growl of appreciation. Luna took in her surroundings, marveling at the grandeur of the space. The navy-blue walls, black carpet and curtains, and dark oak furniture exuded elegance. Bookshelves lined one wall, their contents meticulously organized. The room was both intimidating and captivating.

For hours, they sat across from each other, taking notes and brainstorming. Luna spoke little, only answering Tyr’s questions. He was impressed by her depth of knowledge about yokai mating customs but couldn’t help noticing that she never removed her gloves. The mystery nagged at him, adding to his fascination.

Luna felt his gaze on her, making her uncomfortable. The past was the past, and she had no desire to relive it. She focused on her work, pretending not to notice his attention.

When she began rubbing her neck, Tyr stood and moved behind her without hesitation. Gently, he took her hand away and began massaging her sore muscles.

Goddess, her skin is softer than silk, he thought, reveling in the warmth beneath his fingers.

Luna couldn’t deny the pleasure of his touch, though it frightened her. His yokai growled lowly when she let out a small, involuntary moan at the skillfulness of his hands. The sound sent a rush of heat through him.

He breathed in her scent, wanting desperately to bury his nose in her silky hair. Meanwhile, Luna lost herself in his presence, the scent of rain showers enveloping her as she leaned into his touch, unable to suppress another moan.

But the intensity of the moment overwhelmed her. She pulled away, and he barely stifled a soft whimper. An anxious silence hung between them until a voice from downstairs announced that dinner was ready. Tyr gestured for her to leave her papers on the desk, then led her to the dining room, his heart still racing from the moment they’d shared.

As they reached the dining room, Tyr introduced Luna to his stepmother, Nui. He pulled out a chair for her before taking his seat across from her. Hakon and Nui were already seated at the table, and Nui noticed the smile on her husband’s face as he welcomed Luna, appreciating Tyr’s gentlemanly gesture.

Nui’s gaze lingered on Luna, a mixture of curiosity and disdain in her eyes. The unmistakable scent of Miko power clung to the girl, and Nui’s lip curled in distaste. How revolting, she thought. To dine first with a lowly Ningen. Not only is she a Ningen, but a Miko. No son of mine will ever mate with something so base. A frown creased her lips as she observed Luna eating, her thoughts darkening. A good Ningen should know their place. Yet, even in her disgust, Nui begrudgingly acknowledged Luna’s grace, which seemed more fitting for a noblewoman than a mere human.

Hakon and Tyr exchanged glances, both noting Nui’s clear distaste for Luna, though they hoped she would keep her opinions to herself. While Hakon loved his wife, he often found her inability to control her venomous tongue exhausting.

Nui searched for any flaw in the quiet Miko before finally seizing upon an opportunity. A smirk curled her lips as she fixated on Luna’s gloved hands.

“Is something wrong with your hands, young Miko?” Nui sneered. “Do you suffer from some sort of skin disease that we should know about? After all, you are just a Ningen—far inferior to us higher beings.”

Tyr’s eyes snapped to Nui, narrowing at her cruel words. The sadness that flickered in Luna’s eyes only fueled his anger, and he longed to strike back.

“No, Mrs. Moon,” Luna responded, her voice steady despite the discomfort in her chest. “I’ve simply found that my hands are very sensitive. I wear these to protect them.” She stood quickly, her gaze lowered. “Please forgive my rudeness. I must leave now. Thank you for the lovely dinner, and I’m sorry I ruined it.”

With that, she hurried from the room, grabbing her bag from Tyr’s desk. I shouldn’t have come here, she thought as she rushed outside, slamming the front door behind her. The sound echoed through the dining room, snapping Tyr out of his furious stare at his stepmother.

He rushed to the door just in time to catch a glimpse of Luna’s taillights disappearing down the road. Hakon approached from behind, placing a hand on his son’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry, my pup,” Hakon said, his voice heavy with regret. “I should have known.”

“It’s fine, Father,” Tyr sighed, running a hand through his long hair. He excused himself and retreated to his room, shutting the door behind him.

As he began stacking papers on his desk, his gaze fell on the black velvet cover of her sketchbook, an unexpected reminder of Luna. I could return it, but where does she live? He remembered that Luna had given their father her number, but would he give it to him? After several moments of inner conflict with his yokai, Tyr finally resolved to seek out his father.

Luna, five miles from her home, slowed her car. Tears burned at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She hadn’t cried since she was ten, and she wasn’t about to start now—not over something as trivial as a question. People thought she was strange, even crazy, but she didn’t care. Still, the weight of their fear, hatred, and awe felt like a constant pressure, as if she were a circus freak on display.

What she hated most were the questions people asked her—not the looks, but the intrusive, probing words.

She couldn’t help how she was. She didn’t want to be a powerful Miko, nor did she want the abilities that set her apart. All she ever wanted was to be able to touch things like everyone else. Goddess, she hadn’t felt the warmth of another person since childhood. Not even her loved ones had been able to feel her touch when they were alive. That realization gnawed at her, making her despise herself even more.

With a deep sigh, she was pulled from her thoughts by the ringing of her phone. She ignored it, parked her car, and entered her home, tossing her phone onto the bed. They’ll leave a voicemail, she thought dismissively.

Meanwhile, Tyr cursed under his breath as he reached her voicemail for the tenth time. Frustrated, he left a message and reluctantly went to bed, his thoughts still consumed by her.

Morning came quickly for the two restless souls, neither having slept well, tossing and turning throughout the night.

Luna awoke, glanced at the clock, then pulled the covers back over her head. The dream lingered in her mind, and she sighed. How she hated her life.

---

Tyr woke, showered, dressed, and hurried to school. He parked his car and wandered around, searching for her aura but found nothing. Maybe she’s just late, he thought as the first class began. The day dragged on slowly, and still, no sign of Luna. He grew more anxious—she never missed a day of school, not once that he could remember. He knew there was no one to ask about her; after all, she had no friends. Between classes, he called her cell phone again, only to reach her voicemail. His worry grew with each unanswered call. The image of the sadness in her eyes haunted him.

“Where are you, Luna?” he whispered to himself, his thoughts interrupted by his half-brother’s loud voice.

“So, how did last night go with the creepy girl?” Gram asked, halting in front of Tyr. Tyr ignored him, sitting down at his usual spot in the cafeteria and pulling out his laptop. He heard the whispering of his so-called friends and his half-brother, but he stayed focused. After a few moments of searching, he found what he was looking for—Luna’s home address. He sighed, closing his laptop.

Alright, now I need a good excuse to visit. I can’t just drop by like we’re old friends, can I? Would she even see me? Then it struck him. She’s missing school. She’ll need the notes and homework for the classes she missed.

That’s perfect. And if her parents weren’t home, it would give him a chance to be alone with her. He smiled, and the people around him froze, a nervous tension in the air. He paid them no mind, focused on his self-assigned mission. Tyr even went to her other classes, smirking at the teachers’ shocked reactions when he claimed to be her best friend. Oh, I wanted to be her friend, alright—but so much more than that.

First, he needed to figure out how to get her to let him in. Tyr sighed, running his fingers through his long hair as he climbed into his Saleen S-5 and drove off.

The engine purred low beneath Tyr’s hand as he guided the car through Downtown Grafoft, the city unfolding around him like a declaration of power.

Water fell everywhere.

Not wild—never wild here—but commanded. It streamed down glass towers in flawless sheets, spilled across terraces in controlled cascades, threaded through the city like veins of light. Neon and gold fractured across its surface, turning every street into something too polished… too precise.

This was a place where nothing was left to chance.

Tyr barely looked at it. He’d grown up around power. Grafoft didn’t impress him. His fingers tapped once against the stack of notes resting on the passenger seat. Neatly written. Clean. Precise.

Luna’s.

“She misses one day…” he muttered, a faint smirk pulling at his mouth. “And they still look like this.”

She should have asked you.

The voice slid through him—low, familiar. Possessive. Tyr’s grip tightened slightly on the wheel.

“She didn’t need to,” he answered under his breath. The response wasn’t liked. He felt it.

A subtle tension beneath his skin. A quiet disagreement.

But it didn’t push further. Not yet.

---

Traffic thickened, then thinned. Towers stretched higher, then began to fall away. The glow of the city pressed in around him… then slowly loosened its grip. At first, he didn’t notice. That was the unsettling part.

The noise softened. The air changed. The constant hum—engines, voices, layered presence—began to thin like something pulling away from him instead of him leaving it behind.

His brows drew together. The waterfalls changed too. Still present—but less ornamental. Less performed. The water no longer existed to be seen. It simply… flowed. Glass gave way to stone. Steel softened into wood. And then—

His yokai went still. Not quiet. Not subdued. Gone. Tyr’s breath hitched once, sharp and instinctive.

“…what the hell…”

He hadn’t realized how loud it always was until—

until it wasn’t.

---

The road curved. And the city ended. Not gradually. Not cleanly. It simply… stopped. Behind him, Faygrove still stood—towering, brilliant, controlled. Ahead—

The forest. Dense. Towering. Unyielding. Alive in a way the city could never imitate. The moment his tires crossed that unseen boundary—

Something shifted. Not pressure. Not power. Awareness. Tyr’s entire body reacted instantly. Shoulders tightening. Senses sharpening. Instincts rising fast and sharp—but not into aggression. Into caution. The air here was cooler.

Cleaner.

Heavier.

Like it had weight not meant to be carried lightly. His yokai stirred again—

—but differently now. No hunger. No claim. No dominance. Just a low, measured whisper.

…careful.

Tyr swallowed slowly, eyes narrowing as the narrow road pulled him deeper between the towering trees.

“…yeah,” he murmured. “I got that.”

---

Lanterns began to appear. Not all at once.

One.

Then another.

Soft golden light cutting through the deep greens and shadows, as if the forest itself allowed just enough illumination for him to continue.

No city glow followed him. No distant sound lingered. Faygrove might as well have never existed. Even the water had changed. It didn’t fall in engineered perfection anymore—it slipped over stone, curved around roots, whispered through the earth like something that knew where it belonged.

Tyr slowed the car without realizing it. Something in his chest tightened.

Not fear.

Not exactly.

Something quieter.

Something that settled beneath his ribs and stayed there.

---

And then—

He saw it. Luna’s shrine. It didn’t rise to meet the forest. It didn’t challenge it. It belonged. Built into the land as if it had grown there. Lanterns glowing softly. Water weaving around it in quiet reverence. The structure didn’t impose itself—

It was accepted.

Tyr’s breath left him slower this time. His yokai did not surge. Did not claim. Did not push. It simply watched with him.

There she is.

The whisper was softer now. Certain. Not demanding.

---

The engine cut. Silence closed in immediately. Real silence. Tyr reached over, picking up the notes from the passenger seat, thumb brushing the edge of the pages.

“…miss one day,” he muttered again, quieter now.

He stepped out. The forest did not move. But it was aware of him. That much was undeniable. His gaze lifted toward the shrine, something in him sharpening again—but not into hunger.

Into intention. Into something that felt… steady. Grounded. Different. Somewhere beyond those doors—

Luna Sano was there.

Not waiting.

Not expecting.

Just… there. And somehow—that pulled him forward more than anything else ever had. Tyr adjusted the notes in his hand and started up the path.

“Yeah,” he said under his breath. “I came anyway.” He noticed a black limo parked next to her trademark Hummer.

Tyr strolled up to the door and rang the bell, but no one answered. He turned to head back to his car when he heard voices from the side of the shrine. A shiver ran down his spine as a wave of purifying energy washed over the area. He followed the sound of the voices, one of which he recognized as Luna’s, and the other, familiar but elusive.

He froze in place when he saw the scene before him. This has to be a fairy tale, he thought. Luna was sitting in golden hakama and a white haori, her long hair tied back like a Miko. In front of her sat Lord Ryuu, the dragon yokai, looking as if he were in pain. He watched as Luna removed her gloves and placed them on the ground, her hand glowing blue. He strained to hear their conversation, not wanting to jump to conclusions.

“Can you help me, big sister? I know it’s a lot to ask, but…” Ryuu spoke, his head lowered. Tyr’s eyes widened. Big sister? But how?

“I’ll do my best, Ryuu. Clear your mind. This may hurt, and for that, I’m sorry. But you must remain calm.”

“I trust you, big sister,” Ryuu said, his smile warm, though his blue bangs hid his eyes.

Luna nodded but then paused as he growled in pain. She simply smiled at him as he panted for breath. Though his voice was cheerful, Luna could tell he was in agony.

“I’m sorry, Luna. I’ve always thought of you as my big sister since we first met.”

Tyr clenched his fists, shaken by Ryuu’s confession. Every dragon he’d ever met had a deep-seated hatred for Miko, regardless of their age. “It’s fine… my little… brother. Now, transform for me.”

In an instant, Tyr found himself trapped within a barrier, facing a massive blue dragon. It growled, writhing in pain, tossing its head side to side. Tyr’s heart pounded as he watched Luna approach the beast. It could crush her in an instant without even trying.

Frozen with fear—though not for himself, but for her—he wanted to shout at her to move away. But he watched, wide-eyed, as she walked up to the dragon and placed her head on its stomach, cooing to it like a baby.

“Hush, little one. Big sister will make it better. Let me in, Ryuu, don’t fight it.”

The dragon whimpered, lowering one of its massive claws to rest gently on her head. Tyr’s fear turned into awe as the blue light from her hands enveloped both her and the dragon. He watched, transfixed, as Luna seemed to merge with the creature, the two of them glowing together.

She wasn’t surprised by what she found once inside the dragon’s body—Ryuu was slowly being poisoned. Her mind connected with his, calming him, and she absorbed the poison, using her body to purify his system. It took several minutes to repair the damage, but ten minutes later, she slipped out of him like a ghost.

Tyr stood, helpless, unable to move as the blue glow turned pink, pulsing gently. When Luna slid out of the dragon, he sighed in relief, only to grow concerned as she looked paler than usual. She collapsed to the ground, violently sick, vomiting blood and something green—the stench making his stomach churn. Poison, he thought, horrified.

Ryuu transformed back into his humanoid form and lifted the shaking Luna into his arms. He whispered something into her ear, then helped her stand. She swayed for a moment but regained her balance as her color returned.

“I’m fine, Ryuu. How are you?” she asked, her voice steady.

“Better than ever, big sister,” he beamed, but then hesitated. “But…”

“Bring her to me, Ryuu. You’ll get your answer then,” Luna said, her voice firm.

“Are you sure, big sister?”

“Go now, Ryuu. Be careful around her, and promise me you’ll bring her here in two weeks. I’ll have everything ready.”

At her words, the barrier dissolved. Ryuu kissed her on the forehead and pulled her into a tight hug before he walked away, his smile radiant, feeling no pain.

Luna waited until she heard the limo pull off, knowing Tyr was there even though Ryuu came first. She had always helped him when he needed it. Now, she could feel Tyr’s aura nearby. What’s he waiting for? Why did he even come? She sighed. Probably to call me a freak to my face. I don’t need this right now.

“I know you’re there, Tyr. You can come out now,” she called weakly, her voice tired.

She waited a moment, then heard footsteps. She turned, ready to face him.

Tyr approached Luna after he saw the limo leave. He heard her call out to him. ‘So she knows I am here, might as well make myself known,’ he smirked as she turned to face him. 

“I am sorry to disturb you, Luna, but you weren’t in school today. So I brought you the homework, and we have to work on our project if you want to pass this class,” he spoke, hoping none of the worries he felt showed in his voice.

“Don’t pretend I know you saw what happened,” he shrugged as if he didn’t care what he saw.

“So, I did, but I still brought you the homework,” she sighed and turned, walking away from him. She entered the shrine. He took that as a sign to follow and did just that. He walked slowly behind her, watching her every move as she dropped her gloves on the table and then took a seat on the sofa, watching him. Tyr was a little uncomfortable under her stare but took a seat across from her on the other sofa. The silence was deafening, and he wanted to hear her voice again, so clearing his throat.

“Your parents must not be home. I rang the bell, and no one answered. I follow the sound of your voice,” he noticed again the sadness coloring her eyes, then nothing, as if she was blank. 

“I have no parents; they died when I was younger. There is no one here but me,” she found herself saying. Sadness coloring her voice, she closed her eyes for a moment. He thought she was going to cry. Luna did not know why, but she wanted to open up to him and tell him things she would not tell others.

“I am sorry.”

 “Don’t be, it was a long time ago,” she watched as he started digging through his book bag and started pulling out notebooks. 

“So you can get the notes from today,” was his answer to her unasked question. ‘What would it hurt?’ she thought as she got her bag from the hall.

“Would you like something to drink?” he nodded, following her into the kitchen. Luna poured them glasses of iced tea and went to hand it to him, but at the last minute changed her mind and placed it on the counter in front of him. 

“I am sorry about my bitch of a stepmother,” he started, but Luna cut him off.

“Don’t be, I am used to it. The looks, the comments. . .you want to know, don’t you?”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” is what came out, but in his mind, he had other thoughts. He wanted to know; he was desperate to know. On the other hand, he didn’t want to do anything to push her away. 

He wanted her to open up to him; he wanted to know all her secrets, all her pain. He wanted to know what caused her such sadness, such torment. 

She was silent for a long time, just staring as if seeing something he couldn’t see on the floor. He was on edge as he waited for her to speak to say the words he longed to hear. “You remember the testing two years ago, right?” he nodded.

 “That’s the first time we met Luna.”

“You know, then it was announced that I was the most powerful Miko to exist, right?”

“I heard” 

“I am sure; most already know that my senses are equal to those of a century-old youkai. All my senses, that is, but my sense of touch,” she sighed, looking at her hands. “What most don’t know is that with one touch, I can read most minds, feel your emotions, sometimes thoughts, sometimes I can see things past or future. Sometimes even merge with a yokai,” she finished in a whisper, again looking at the floor.

“Amazing,” she heard him whisper.

 “NO, IT’S NOT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO NOT BE ABLE TO TOUCH ANYONE OR ANYTHING OF FEAR OF WHAT I  WILL SEE, WHAT WILL HAPPEN,” she calmed herself, taking a deep breath. “The first time I touched someone, I was twelve. He was a wolf, he had gotten hurt by some bear youkai, and I wanted to heal him. I bent over his body to help him and ended up slipping into his body. Before I could find a way out, they attacked again using my powers he killed them all, purifying them to ash. It took three weeks for them to remove me from him, and it almost killed me. It hurt for days, Tyr for days, I had killed creatures. . me. I almost lost myself. It was horrible, I don’t wish this on my worst enemy,” her body shook under the remembered pain as her knees gave out, she slid to the floor, her eyes burned from unshed tears. 

Tyr dropped to his knees in front of her and lifted her chin so he could look into her mismatched eyes. 

“It’s okay, Luna, he would have died if you hadn’t helped him. But the yokai in the yard, you touched him?” he felt guilty for asking, but he was curious.

“Ryuu is stronger than most believe him to be. He can shield part of his mind from me. Most are too weak, or if I am exhausted, I could lose myself to others’ pain,” she mumbled as he stroked her hair, accidentally touching her hand. He felt her stiffen as he drew her into his arms.

Images flew through her mind of a small silver-haired youkai playing in a meadow full of flowers. His mother played with him, talking to him, and then she left. His father was arguing with him and talking to him. His love, his pain, his hate, but most of all his curiosity. The birth of his half-brother, his father’s marriage to his third wife. More and more images flew through her mind at an alarming rate. Faces of people he knew, and emotions that he felt around them, bombarded her tired mind. She snatched away from him, rocking back and forth, trying to clear her tired mind of his thoughts.

“Luna,” he whispered, reaching for her again as he moved toward her, worry clouding his voice. ‘Oh Goddess, what have I done? Did she see something? I am the reason she is hurting.’

Luna didn’t respond, her mind full of images of Tyr, his family, his childhood, his tears, his pain, his anger, his rage. She knew she had to gain control again, but the pain, all the pain, was too much.

He was lost, not knowing what to do for her at this time. So he did the only thing he could think of: he held her and stroked her hair. Tyr heard her mumbling something, but couldn’t make out what she was saying.

 He looked down to see her brown/blue eyes looking back at him for a moment; he thought he saw her smile at him. They sat like this for a few minutes more. Luna moved away from him, opened a drawer she pulled out a pair of gloves.

“No,” he started, his voice full of guilt for putting her through that. “I…I won’t touch you again.” 

“I can’t take the chance,” she spoke softly. If she had turned, she would have seen the sad look that shone on his face.

For hours, they sat doing homework, neither speaking, both calmed by the relaxing silence. Luna cooked dinner as Tyr talked to her about school and what he was going to do after. Luna found herself relaxed around him even after what had happened earlier. It was late as they sat in front of her fireplace, drinking Tea. The pot was empty, and Tyr found himself telling her a funny story. When she laughed, he stopped and turned to her.

 “You have a beautiful laugh, Luna,” he said as she blushed and looked away. He found he liked this side of her. When relaxed, she was so unguarded that most of her torment was gone. He was glad that only he made her feel this way.

“You have a beautiful laugh, Luna,” he said as she blushed and looked away from him. He found he liked this side of her. When relaxed, she was so unguarded that most of her torment was gone. He was glad that only he made her feel this way. Luna gasped, looking at the clock 

“I didn’t know it was that late.” 

“Oh, well, time to go,” he said, standing up, taking his plate and cup into the kitchen. Luna followed behind him, carrying hers. She sighed ‘Maybe it won’t hurt if he stayed one night’ 

“You can stay the night if you like?” he hesitated for a moment, not believing his ears. ‘Did she just?’ ‘Yup, should I?’ 

“Why, not if it’s not a problem,” his yokai surging forth to answer 

“Okay, let me show you to your room,” she spoke softly, leading him up the stairs and down the hall till they reached a room. Luna pushed open the door and stepped in. Tyr was right behind her and took in the room with an approving nod. The room was done from the darkest gray to silver, all the furniture was black, and the only color in the room was red. The comforter on the bed and the pillows on the chairs sported this color. He watched as she moved through the room, opening doors on one side of the room.

“This is the bathroom. There are clean towels if you want to shower. And this is the closet you should find something to fit you.”

The bathroom was gray and black marble with red towels. He smirked, liking it more and more. Coming to the closet, he paused in shock. It was a large walk-in closet with hangers and shelves full of black pants, shirts of all kinds, and shoes. A jealous feeling flooded him ‘Another man stays here, and she offers me his clothes’

“I think your boyfriend will get mad seeing me in his clothes, don’t you?” he started, anger clear in his voice. Luna lowered her head, her bangs covering her eyes, but she still couldn’t keep the sadness out of her voice.

“Believe me, Foster wouldn’t mind. He’s been gone for two years now,” she hated the way she sounded at that moment. 

She tried to keep from shaking as the old pain hit her anew, like it was just yesterday. She took in a shaky breath, trying to calm herself, not wanting to fall apart here in front of him.

 Guilt flooded Tyr as again her pain, her torment filled the air in the room. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms, anything to stop the pain that threatened to drown him at this very moment. 

“Forgive me, Luna, I didn’t mean to. . .” She stopped him by waving a hand in the air as she turned away from him and started to walk away.

“Think nothing of it,” came her whisper as she closed the door.

 He watched after her for a moment before sighing and turning back to the closet, glaring at it as if it had wronged him.

“Stupid… stupid how stupid can I be damn,” he found himself pacing the room, furious with himself. His yokai whimpered an apology, sad to have caused the girl they loved to remember something hurtful. After two long hours of pacing, he stripped down to his boxers and slid into bed. ‘At least he had good taste in sheets,’ he thought, loving the feel of the silk sheets against his skin as he drifted off to sleep.

Sleep did not come easily for Luna this evening, even after taking a long, hot bath; she still wasn’t relaxed. The old ache of losing Foster still ate at her heart as she listened to the sounds of the night drifting through the open window. She grabbed her chest, finding it hard to breathe as the pain grew, her head ached, her eyes burned, but still, no tears fell from her eyes. She turned to look at the bed as the images became clear.

The sounds of the night drifted into the darkroom as the couple snuggled closer together in the bed. The moonlight streamed through the open window, illuminating the couple. The male lay on his back, his tan skin glowing in the light, his long red hair fanned out around his head like a halo. He looked so peaceful as he slept with a smile on his face. In his arms lay a pale girl, her skin shining like a pearl in the moonlight. Her raven hair mixed with his red two created a perfect picture of contrast of light, dark, peacefulness, and love.

They often slept in the same bed together, just holding each other, his way of protecting her from nightmares. On the other hand, during thunderstorms, he knew she was afraid of them since the death of the family. He would hold her whispering words of his love while stroking her hair, soothing her frayed nerves. 

The Miko loved the forest Kitsune and how he tried to protect her from everything. He was her shield from the world, her armor from the pain.

Earlier that night, there was a terrible thunderstorm he had come to her room after hearing her whimpers. She tried to be strong but was failing badly. He just climbed into her bed and pulled her close to him, soothing her. Luna had no fear of touching Foster and had a way of blocking his mind from her, which she was grateful for. 

When they finally got to sleep, Luna jumped awake, screaming after having a terrible dream. The voices, screaming she didn’t know if it was her or someone else, darkness surrounding her. Something splashed on her face; she didn’t know what, but the smell made her stop as she wiped it off.

 Looking at her hands, she saw it was blood that was covering her face. She fell to her knees, shaking when something whispered her name. She turned to see the beautiful forest green eyes she loved turn lifeless as they stared at her. It clicked, she knew those eyes, Foster, she whimpered and screamed out, waking the Kitsune beside her. Foster wrapped his arms around the shaking Luna, whispering to her. 

“It’s okay, koi, it was just a dream. I am right here.”

“No, Foster, no, I saw you dead, I saw you,” she sobbed into his chest.

“No, koi, I am right here. Nothing is going to happen,” he comforted her until the sun rose, as she finally slept, he smiled down at her, the girl in his arms. It took a whole day for him to try to keep her calm after that dream.

Then two days later, he was brutally killed just like in her dream; she witnessed the whole thing. Even with her statement, the guy got away.  

Tyr’s eye snapped open as he heard the door open. He saw her as she entered the room as if in a trance. She was dressed in a black silk nightgown that clung to her body, showing off her curves with splits up both sides, showing her legs as she walked. Her raven hair hung to her knees like a waterfall. It swayed as she walked. His yokai growled lustfully from its mental prison. He was hard-pressed not to jump out of bed and take her as his own. 

He looked at the clock; it was 4 am, then he looked back at her. ’What is wrong with her? Where is she going?’ 

She looked neither left nor right as she walked through the room straight to the closet. He watched as she entered, not even turning on the light, and paddled to a place he could not see. He grew worried as he rose from the bed, hearing her light footsteps stop and her soft whisper.

“Oh, Foster, I should have tried harder. I should have made you believe me,” she pulled the shirt from the small shelf, burying her face in it. Luna could still feel traces of him even after two years; it was as if he was still there. She wanted so much to go back to make things right, to have him hold her like before. Images of him flashed through her mind. She was so caught up in the past that she didn’t notice the Inu yokai watching her from the doorway curiously.

‘Is she crying? Oh, my angel, what is wrong? What are you seeing that causes you so much pain?’ 

His yokai urged him forward as he watched her start shaking as if moments away from breaking down. Her pain again seeping into his skin, he felt her pain deep in his soul. Taking her shaking form quickly into his arms, his yokai let loose a soft growl as if trying to comfort her. She turned to throw her arms around his waist in a crushing hug.

“I knew you wouldn’t leave me. Forgive me, my Foster, I should have tried harder. I should have made you listen, and we would have stayed home,” he was shocked at her words. ‘Did she think? She is blaming herself, but for what?’ he thought, confused. Nevertheless, he was determined to calm her as her pain threatened to bring him to tears.

 He did the only thing he could think of as she repeated her plea repeatedly as if waiting for an answer.

“It’s okay, koi, don’t blame yourself,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head. He was torn; his body ached from her nearness, but his senses whirled from her scent that hung heavy in the air of pain and sadness. It took a while, but with the combination of his stroking her back and his yokai soft growl, she calmed, and her breathing evened out. He lifted her into his arms bridal style, looking down at the small girl sleeping in his arms, he smiled. She felt so right in his arms, like this was where she was supposed to be. 

Tyr followed her scent back to her room after deciding she would not like to wake up in his bed. Using his foot, he opened the door. The room was done in black and silver. The furniture was black lacquer, the comforter pillows silver, and even the curtains that danced in the breeze were silver. Placing her on the bed, he kissed her forehead and stepped back, watching her sleep. Her face was so relaxed, so peaceful as she slept, he never remembered a time when she looked so peaceful.. It was almost frightening to him as his heart skipped a beat watching her. 

She rolled over using her arm as a pillow. He noticed her arms were stripped like a yokai. He stepped closer to the strips that looked like burn marks ‘What in Goddess’s name was she mated before? Those burns? Who would do that? Is that why she wears long sleeves all the time?’  he shook his head as it filled with questions. Nevertheless, thinking those were for another time. He stared at her for a few more minutes, then left, knowing if he didn’t, he would end up crawling into bed with her. 

*********************                                                     

The smells of food cooking woke him the next morning. He took a hot shower and dressed in faded black jeans and a black muscle shirt, placing a studded collar around his neck and fixing the silver chains that hung from his pants. Picking up his black boots, he left the room.

He strolled into the kitchen, greeted by the sight of Luna cooking. She was dressed in slightly baggy black pants with a sheer red long-sleeved corset blouse that laced up the back. Her hair was in a thick braid hanging over one shoulder.

 He wanted nothing more at that moment than to have her turn around. He knew if she looked that good from the back, then she would be exquisite from the front. She spoke without turning around

“Morning, Tyr, breakfast will be ready in a moment.”

“Morning, Luna,” he purred, watching her shapely behind as she walked around the kitchen. 

Breakfast again was done in comfortable silence. 

He wanted to say something, anything, but could not bring himself to do it. Here he sat across from the woman he wanted so bad it hurt, and he could not think of one thing to say. 

Luna was lost in her own thoughts as she ate.’ It was so real that dream last night.’ His ringing phone brought her out of her thoughts. She loaded the dishwasher as he talked. 

‘This is so scary. Why did he stay? Why is he acting as if we have been doing this forever? What is it about him that makes me feel so . . . Strange?’

Luna felt him follow her out the front door. She was about to say something, but he pulled her into his embrace, kissing her on the forehead. She stiffened at first in shock; no one but Ryuu had just hugged her in years. 

However, this was different; it was not brotherly like Ryuu, it felt strange, almost warm.

As Tyr got in his car, he watched her smile as she wrapped her arms around herself. ‘She should smile more often,’ he thought, proud of himself for putting that smile there. He knew it shocked her when he embraced her, but he couldn’t help it; it felt right, and he was glad now he had done it. He knew then that his mind was made up; she would be his mate. Hey, wasn’t his father always saying he needed someone? Well, he found her. Oh yes, he did, and he would do anything to see that beautiful smile again.

She snapped out of her daze with a frown as she saw him drive off. ‘I do not have time for this.’ Her pleasant thoughts turned dark as she jumped into her Hummer and drove to school.

 She parked in her usual spot and walked by Tyr and his friends into school without a backward glance.

He saw her when she arrived at school, but he knew she would not stop; she would not say anything to him. He smirked; he would just have to show her that she belonged to him.

 ‘Oh yes, this is going to be an interesting day.’ 

                                                                       

                                                           

The morning hours were creeping by, and Luna had begun to get upset. Everywhere she turned, there he was, sitting next to her, watching her, and she didn’t know why. ‘Why is he so interested in me? Why is he being so nice to me?’ she thought, remembering earlier going to her second class, she tripped and almost fell. But Tyr’s arm wrapped around her waist to hold her upright. Her heart skipped a beat for a moment as a strange feeling erupted inside her. ‘What was it? Why did he cause this feeling?’ 

She shook her head, not wanting to think about it, but it kept nagging at her as the scene played through her mind. Like this morning after he left her home, Tyr hugged and kissed her forehead. Why did he do that? What was she missing? ‘Was this just a game he was playing so he could laugh at her behind her back with his friend? That had to be it’ she decided. She was different right…there is no way he would be interested in her. Moreover, if he was nothing could happen, it was just wrong.

Tyr sat next to Luna in class, just watching her out of the corner of his eye. He sighed inwardly, ‘How was he supposed to get her to see how he felt?’ Luna was unlike any female he knew; he knew somehow she wouldn’t be won over by flashy gifts or trips to a high-class restaurant. No, he knew he would have to think of something unique for a unique creature such as her. Maybe he would have to ask his father for some help if he couldn’t think of something.

He noticed how she shied away from his touch; even when he saved her from falling, she pulled away from him.

Her tortured voice from last night still echoed through his mind. To him, she sounded so lost, so hurt, so fragile. But then earlier last night she had talked to him, really talked to him, even laughed, and how he loved her laugh. His heart skipped a beat remembering the sound.‘What happened after she went to bed? Moreover, what did she need forgiveness for that would cause her to act as such?’

The next three classes went by the same way they would walk side by side. Tyr stayed just close enough so she knew he was there. Then the two would sit next to one another, lost in their thoughts. The teachers seemed to draw some sort of pleasure out of watching the two, but none spoke a word. Neither spoke to the other, as if comfortable in the silence of the other. However, while Luna was lost as to what she was feeling, Tyr couldn’t help but want more. Deep inside, he couldn’t help it, he wanted to pull her soft body to his and taste her delicious-looking soft lips. He wanted to show the world that she was his and would be damned if anyone said otherwise.

Lunchtime rolled around, and Tyr watched as Luna walked away from him, as his brother and friends gathered around him. The sway of her hips was mesmerizing, the jiggle of her round behind as she stepped was enough to make him go after her. The lustful growl of his beast in his mind made him shake his head. He had to leave those lustful thoughts alone. But he did wonder where she got off to during lunch, for he never once saw her eat lunch in the cafeteria.  

‘Maybe she leaves the campuses for lunch?’

 ‘Maybe she’s meeting someone and doesn’t want anyone to know about it?’

 ‘No, she wouldn’t do that.’ 

‘How do you know that?’ his yokai did have a point. They didn’t know what she did, but he wouldn’t believe the worst, not now, not when he was so close. He tried to talk her into sitting with him at lunch, but it was only met with silence. Come to think of it, the closer they got to lunchtime, the less he felt any emotions from her at all. He would have said something if everyone had stayed away from them.

“So, bro, why are you hanging out with the creepy goth- chick?”  Gram was curious; he had seen them together all morning walking to classes, and he wanted to know why.

 ‘My brother wouldn’t be interested in her; she is so strange, ‘he kept telling himself. Linda told him maybe Luna had put a spell on Tyr, but he knew that couldn’t be true. His brother was too strong to fall under any spell, especially a weak Miko like Luna, but still, something was off about him today. Nevertheless, he couldn’t put his finger on it.  

“I suggest you refrain from calling Luna names Halfbreed,” Tyr growled, throwing Gram against the wall.

“What the hell has gotten into Tyr? Do you like that wench or something? Is she your girlfriend or something?” Gram spat, climbing to his feet as his brother turned his back on him. 

Again, watching the hallway that Luna just walked down.

“And what if she is? It is none of your concern, just show some respect for your betters Halfbreed,”  he stated, walking away from the group and into the cafeteria, not seeing the stunned looks on their faces.

“Did he just?” questioned a stunned Gram ‘Oh Goddess, he likes that creepy chick, when did this happen?’ 

“Hai, I think he did Gram,” stated an equally stunned Kage ‘maybe this is what you need, my old friend’. He thought following behind Tyr.

“Wow, too bad Cass and Daica are suspended, I would have loved to see their faces,” chirped a happy Ayame, following the two leaving behind the stunned Gram and Linda in the hall. Everyone got their lunches and sat down to eat, chatting a little about nothing important. 

They were all watching Tyr to see if he would show any emotions over the missing Luna. Until Kage asked the one question on everyone’s mind.

“If Luna’s your girlfriend, why isn’t she sitting with you?” Of course, he was as curious as the rest of them, plus he wanted his old friend to at least gain back that sparkle that she used to have. Tyr just shrugged and went back to eating, but he wondered, too, where she was.

 ‘What are you doing right now, Luna?’

☾ ◈ ☽ 

Across the campus in a little green two-story cottage sat two miko, one old and the other young, both in deep meditation. The older of the two noticed something off about the younger one.

“What is bothering you, child? Are those dreams you’re having again?”

“Hai, and I’ve been having this strange feeling lately.”

“What kind of feeling, child?” 

“It’s kind of hard to explain sometimes, as if my very soul is being torn apart like death. Other times, there are moments of peacefulness and extreme calm. It’s scary. like that time.” 

“Like when you lost your mate?” She knew it was painful for Luna to talk about the death of her mate, Foster. Kaede only knew of two yokai that lost their mates and survived, but their bond wasn’t as strong as the young miko and her mate.

“Hai, but more intense, more painful.”

“I assume the moments of pain are when you’re alone, and the moments of peacefulness are in the company of someone else, right child?”

 ‘Could it be possible? ‘ the older miko questioned herself.

 ” But it has to be if she described it as such.’

“Hai, that is the way it is, I am afraid Kaede -sama is something wrong with me?” 

“Worry not, my child, your soul is just trying to tell you it’s found its mate,” Kaede almost smiled at her most powerful students’ gasp.

 ‘For her to be so powerful, she is still, in a way, childlike in her innocence.’

“It’s mate, but Foster was my mate? How can there be another?”

“Foster was your mate, my child, but not your soul mate. This one sounds like he is.”

“My soul mate,” Luna spoke, feeling her soul surge happily at the thought, but her mind told her it had to be a lie. ‘Yokai and ningen are not meant to be together. A Soul mate is a legend, creatures were not meant to be together like that.’

Kaede said nothing else because she knew Luna didn’t believe her. But did know that in the end, the call of a soul for its mate was something even Luna couldn’t deny. Soul mates comforted each other and wanted nothing but to be close to the other as if by some unconscious act. If fighting against the pain in one’s soul could be even more painful than losing one’s mate. She also knew Luna’s soul mate had to be a yokai if she was denying it so.

 Kaede sighed, watching her student, even though she hadn’t been able to see behind Lunas’ mask she wore. She often found herself wondering if the girl she saw so long ago was another one of the masks that Luna wears to try to forget the pain of her past. 

She and Hakon wanted Luna here in this school to keep an eye on the young miko. Kaede thought back to when she first met Luna. ‘She was so young, wise, and unstable. The young miko wanted nothing but death and barely spoke to anyone until the day one of the other miko lost control of her powers. Kaede shuddered to think about it; if it wasn’t for Luna’s quick thinking and barrier, Linda would have purified every yokai in the building.

 When Hakon questioned her why she did it, he didn’t expect an answer, but Luna said he had been nice to her and she couldn’t let him die. 

After that, she only talked to him. Hakon was the one to come up with the idea of introducing Luna to his eldest son. Though it didn’t turn out the way he wanted it to, Luna didn’t come out of her shell as he had hoped, but Tyr came away, it would seem, with a new lease on life.

 Kaede wondered, though, because when introduced to the eldest Moonchild Lunas’ powers seem to calm some. And that was the driving force that made up her and Hakon’s minds about getting Luna into the school. 

Nevertheless, she still worried that she had made a mistake, and the two never picked up where they left off. But now it would seem that all her prayers were answered in Luna’s statement. Now all she could do was watch and hope things turned out all right. Kaede sighed again

 ‘All Luna’s life has been so painful, but she has to move on. Maybe just maybe this new yokai can heal her poor heart and torn soul.’

 ☾ ◈ ☽ 

After lunch, Tyr walked to his next class, watching for Luna, but didn’t see her anywhere, so he and Ayame sat in the back of the class passing notes as usual. 

Fifteen minutes after class started, his yokai stirred as he looked up as Luna gave the teacher a note and took her seat.

 ‘She’s never been late before, I wonder if something happened. . . but she looks fine,’ he thought, looking her over as she took her seat in the corner in the back of the room. 

Ayame looked at him in a silent question. He just shook his head and went back to listening to the teacher. During class, he felt someone staring at him. He looked in Luna’s direction, and for a moment, he saw something in her eyes, but she turned her head quickly, looking away, so he chalked it up to his imagination.

The rest of the day flew by, but he still stayed close to her even if she said nothing. It bothered him to no end that moment in class,

 ‘Why is she staring at me like that, and what was that I saw in her eyes?’  Even he, who prided himself on knowing the females, couldn’t place her strange behavior.

                                                                                   ☾ ◈ ☽ 

The end of the day came quickly, and being the middle of the week, they had after-school practice, Kendo. At each practice, each student faced off against different opponents. This time, Tyr found himself facing off against Luna. 

He had enjoyed watching her spar against others who thought she would be easy to take down. He loved how easily she defeated all her opponents without even breaking a sweat. 

They are the best in the class, never once being taken down by anyone.

The whole class stopped what they were doing to watch the two. Tyr was confident that he would win, having watched her so much, so he attacked. 

Nevertheless, quickly he found all his slashes blocked and returned with fever. They jumped apart as their swords became locked together.

Luna’s mind was blank as she watched his attacks as if detached from the whole scene. He was strong and fast, but she knew that, being smaller, she was just a little faster.

 The roar that erupted in the gym as she blocked another of his attacks was almost deafening. However, she blocked it out; she was determined not to be defeated.

She changed her tactics as she waited to know what was coming. She had watched him spar as well many times before. 

He knew she was planning something as her cold eyes flared to life in his mind, his beast stirred to life, growling about how warrior-like and extremely sexy she was. He charged, she dropped to the floor, sweeping his feet out from under him and slashing at him as she jumped to her feet.

 He growled, blocking her downward swing and throwing her back a few inches. He jumped to his feet. Luna charged their swords became locked together again. The gym erupted in a cheer again, but was cut short as the teacher called an end to class. 

Luna and Tyr were both covered in sweat and panting for breath as they became lost in each other’s eyes. He took a breath. taking in her scent and letting it fill his very soul. The creature within him quickly surged forward, grabbing Luna’s wrist as she turned from them. 

Being the only two left in the gym, no one saw as he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist. When she started to protest, his lips pressed against hers softly. She stiffened at first. When he felt her arms slide around his waist, he nipped at her bottom lip. She sighed as his tongue slipped into her mouth. The kiss deepened as his tongue caressed hers. His growl echoed through her, making her shiver slightly. A small noise of pleasure spilled from her throat. After a few moments, he forced himself to pull away from her as he licked his lips; the taste of her still lingered. ‘Delicious,’ both sides of him agreed. 

Luna was shaken first by the fact that he kissed her and then that she let him.

’Goddess, what’s wrong with me?’ was the thought that raced through her mind as she turned and quickly walked away from him. She couldn’t look at him, no, not now; her heart was racing too fast, and she had to catch her breath. Now was not the time; this just proved she had to stay away from him. 

Tyr was joyous yet a little upset when Luna walked away from him. He knew she had enjoyed the kiss as much as he did. The scent of the beginnings of her arousal filled his nose like the smell of some mouth-watering food. That, combined with the smell of her sweat, made him even harder.

 Goddess, he wanted her. 

He knew this class only twice a week, but he never really enjoyed it until today. The sparing ended in a draw, which showed even her that she wasn’t as weak as everyone said she was. 

He loved that she put as much passion into sparing as she did her art. The kiss left him wondering if she put as much passion into everything she did. 

‘All in all, this has been an interesting day,’ he thought, smirking as he hopped into his car, driving home.