Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Kazemaru and Miharu ❯ Chapter 10

Emi never looked back as she walked away, though Miharu watched her until she was gone. At last she turned back to Kazemaru, somehow surprised he was still there. She took a few steps towards him, the awkwardness of the situation lingered, along with some unnamable force that required she be as near to him as physically possible. As she walked, his voice traveled through the night, quiet but urgent.

 

“Miharu—should I go? We could be seen. If you—”

 

But whatever he intended to say got cut off by her sudden need to kiss him. It came from deep inside, and yet it was as if it was someone else doing this, not her. She would never—oh forget all that.

 

She drew back a little and felt her face flush. Despite the cold air, she seemed intolerably warm, as if it were the middle of summer. Kazemaru was looking deep into her eyes, as if searching for something, and she felt unable to move under his intense eyes. At last his face softened a little.

 

“Miharu…” he began, and lifted a chilled hand to her still hot face. “I don't want to ask…”

 

She threw her arms about him then, forgetting propriety once again. “Kazemaru-sama—I will do anything you ask. Please…”

 

He tilted her chin up so he could see her face, and the expression on his sent a thrill through her. He looked slightly less than confident, but something in his eyes promised adventure. He leaned down and put his face next to hers.

 

“Come with me, Miharu. Come away from here…” he whispered.

 

Her hands tightened on his armor, and she nodded, trembling a little. He took her into his arms firmly, and rose into the air. She kept her eyes closed all the while he flew, it was so cold she could barely stand the wind. It seemed to rip the breath from her lungs, and she kept her face against his armor. At last they landed somewhere, she didn't know where, but then she didn't really care.

 

Kazemaru set her down, and made to walk into the grotto-like formation that they were in front of, but she paused. It was dark, and looked rather frightening. He stopped and saw her expression, walking back to her. He took her hand carefully in his own, looking at it thoughtfully.

 

“You know,” he said softly, “I remember that first morning. I took your hand to wake you, and it was as if it were the first time I touched you. You're such a delicate flower, Miharu. I was almost afraid you might shatter if I touched you.” His other hand graced her cheek. He kissed her hand softly, closing his eyes.

 

“I won't hurt you, Miharu. You can trust me.”

 

She nodded, believing him completely. A practical part of her mind commented that this was exactly the sort of thing Yokai said to lure humans to harm, but then Kazemaru wasn't just some Yokai. He was Kazemaru. She smiled a little at her fuzzy reasoning, and let him lead her into the cave. Once inside she couldn't see anything.

 

Kazemaru told her to stop, and she did so. “I'll be right back.” He said simply, and then he was gone. It was pitch-black; she couldn't see her own hands. Kazemaru didn't make a sound as he walked, and she had no idea where he was. She began to lose her sense of time and space, and it seemed an eternity, with each second increasing her fear, and she became dizzy.

 

At last, there was a clicking sound and a tiny spark gave her a split-second image of Kazemaru crouched on the ground. The image lasted in the darkness, until there was a second spark. On the third, a small piece of grass lit, giving out the feeblest of lights. It illuminated little more than his face and hands, until he lowered it to a pile of kindling. The light spread and she saw that the grotto was quite extensive, including a small pool fed by a spring coming out between the rocks.

 

She stood still, amazed at how the light danced on the walls, throwing intricate shadows. Kazemaru stood once the fire was going, and walked back towards her.

 

“It's cold. You should warm up…” He took her hands and rubbed them between his own, the gesture somehow touching her deeply. She watched his face, even though he looked down at her hands. When he looked up, he paused. He smiled a little, and placed her hands on his face, which was already warm. She took a step, closing the gap between them. They stood like that for a moment, and then he lowered his face to hers, hesitating a moment before brushing his lips against her own.

 

Something inside her … broke. She didn't know what it was, and she didn't care. She returned the kiss eagerly, sliding her hands back behind his neck. What was it about him that made her do these things so naturally, as if she had always known them?

 

Kazemaru felt his control weakening. She was so eager, so innocent.... At last he let go a little, letting his hands wander, letting his mind wander. She obviously didn't know what she was doing, but that made her all the more desirable, an untouched white lily.

 

Miharu was surprised by his sudden passion, yet it thrilled her to the core. She barely noticed as he slid her outer kimonos off her shoulders and let them pool about her. She wasn't cold anymore, she was intolerably warm, the room was too small, but there was too much space between them. Her hands became frantic, and she felt his smooth hair pulled back, the point of his ears, the line of his jaw, his neck, the plating of his epaulets, even the strange ivory protrusions on them. Her hand wandered downward, and stumbled upon a small latch which she unconsciously and automatically undid.

 

He froze momentarily. Had she just…. He pulled back a little, and smiled when he saw her expression, which was completely guilty.

 

“I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…. Did I…?”

 

He laughed. She thought she had damaged something. And then he smirked. He couldn't help it.

 

She watched as he stepped back a little, working the opposite latch. His expression was somehow smug and yet there was a trace of questioning, as if he was seeking her approval. She began to say something when he undid his obi, but then it was just his armor. It was probably uncomfortable…. He removed the plates, which became a tangle of leather and bone and metal, and laid them down. He looked drastically different without it on. He looked almost human, except for his hair, ears and eyes.

 

He stood there a moment, as if waiting for her to say something. What was she supposed to say? She couldn't find any words, and so she just walked to him and put her arms around his waist. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, and the difference was instantly noticeable. The soft fabric of his garments and the firm flesh beneath was a drastic change from the cold inflexible armor. She stood there a moment, taking in the sensation, breathing in the smell of him, wild and intoxicating.

 

Kazemaru stared at the top of Miharu's head, wondering what was going through her mind. He smoothed his hand along her hair rhythmically, unsure what to do. After a while she sighed softly.

 

“What are you thinking?” he asked aloud.

 

“That I love you.” She tightened her hold on him momentarily, but he couldn't breathe as it was.

 

“Miharu… You don't know me very well…” he said cautiously

 

She shook her head against his chest, which felt strangely good. “It doesn't matter. I feel as if I've always known you. Besides,” she pulled away a little and looked up into his face.

 

“I was raised to love who I was told to. I want to love you, and therefore I do.”

 

He smiled. “That doesn't make very much sense,” he said lightly.

 

She shrugged. “Does it matter?”

 

He thought about that seriously for a moment. “No, it doesn't.” He kissed her softly, careful to keep himself in check.

 

“Kazemaru…” she leaned her forehead against his. “Do you love me?”

 

He chuckled, and framed her face in his hands. “Oh, Miharu. You are so innocent. You ask questions most would never dare. Do I love you? How could I not? Against everything I've been taught, against my better judgment, and probably against your benefit, I love you more than I thought it was possible to love someone. Yes. I love you very much.”

 

“Even though I am human?” she asked innocently.

 

He laughed full-out, he couldn't help it. “Yes, but I never expected that question to come from you.” He laughed a bit more. “I wouldn't say I love you despite your being human, of all things it's probably because of it.”

 

An odd expression crossed his face, and he paused. “Come sit by the fire and I'll tell you what it's like to be Yokai. Do humans wonder this often?”

 

She shook her head. Before now, she had never even thought of it.

 

“Well, Yokai wonder it about humans, so you'll have to explain it to me afterwards.”

 

She nodded, smiling a little. She liked these little exchanges, like when they had asked each other questions. They sat against the wall the fire was nearest, and Kazemaru convinced her without words to lay her head in his lap. He was silent a moment, gathering his thoughts.

 

“When I was a child, my mother and I were always traveling. I believe she was trying to find another Yokai to protect us, but she was never successful. In hindsight, I'm not surprised. Few would want to have to take care of a child that wasn't theirs. My mother was a very bitter person, and she taught me early on that no one but your own blood really cares about you, and even that can't always be trusted. This conflicted with her wish that I defeat my father, but then, many things in this world don't exactly sit well with each other. Life is a constant fight, defending yourself and your land, keeping out other Yokai, praying that no one better than you shows up to claim your territory. If that were to happen… well… that would be the end. There is no honor at my rank if you have no land, and so you die fighting for it.”

 

“Your rank?” Miharu asked curiously.

 

“Blood is everything to Yokai. The better blood you have, the higher you rank. It's purely practical. Those with better blood are stronger, faster, smarter. It's a natural system of hierarchy, I suppose. Of course, your parentage doesn't insure everything. There are certain things you can't do, because it means your blood has gone `bad'.”

 

“Things like what?”

 

He smiled sadly. “Well, they usually involve humans. Allowing a human to defeat you in battle, not keeping the ones in your territory slightly terrified of you…” he paused.

 

She didn't ask. She knew the next one was `falling in love with one.' “I thought… I didn't think it ever happened that a Yokai and a human…”

 

He smiled at her ability to catch on. “So how would they judge by that?” he finished for her, and she nodded. “Well, it does happen, very rarely. About 200 years ago, a very high-standing Yokai lost his life saving a human and their half-breed son. He left his land to an older Yokai son by default, but disgraced him by relation. I hear the half-breed went and got himself killed by a priestess. But that was north of my lands, and I don't exactly keep up with these things.”

 

Miharu thought about that for a moment. “What are Yokai women like?”

 

He smiled sarcastically. “I've never heard them referred to that politely, for one thing. They are…” he paused, staring at the opposite wall. “Grasping. They have the ability to hold territory, if they are strong enough, but most of them prefer to choose a mate to protect them. This is probably because they couldn't defend themselves if they were with child. But they aren't very nice about it. It's all business. More of a partnership than a thing of love. Their take is “let me walk your lands protected and I'll give you a son or two.” I've never found them to be… pleasant company, really.”

 

“That sounds awful.” Miharu commented. “It must be so hard, having to find the strongest male possible, even if you don't like him, just so you can have a child. And having to do it all yourself. I can't imagine it.”

 

Kazemaru paused. “I suppose I never thought of it that way.” He admitted, a little guilty. Time to change the subject. “What is it like being human?"

 

She shrugged a little. “I probably can't tell you all of it, only what it's like to be a human woman. The lives of women and men are very different, and kept apart,” she seemed to quote, “though I honestly don't know why. Life in the palace revolves around fashion and etiquette, everything must be just so. The main goal in life is to marry as rich and prestigious a man as you can. I suppose life outside the palace is very different. From the little I've seen it looks very much like the struggle you told me of, only it's a struggle to stay alive. Everyone looks as if they were worked to the bone, and they still didn't get enough. I feel guilty about this sometimes, but I've been told I was blessed to be born as I was, and not to regret it. But I suppose I do. I hate being wrapped in a dozen kimonos, barely able to move, never allowed to speak, or probably think. I don't think men even think of us as exactly human; we're like little dolls they put on a shelf and hide from the rest of the world. It's very confining. I feel as if I've been locked up all my life.” She sighed, but then smiled. “That is, until I met you, Kazemaru-sama.”

 

He smiled a little. “You could call me Kaze, you know.”

 

She grinned. “Can I call you Kaze-kun?”

 

He flustered, blushing at this. “No.”

 

She laughed out loud. “I was only joking, Kaze. You can call me Miharu-chan if you like.”

 

Kazemaru smiled, and lowered his head to kiss her. “I'd rather call you mine.”

 

She blushed a little. “I would like that too.” She kissed him, and forgot all that was around her.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AN

Ah, fluff… I think I was going through my “fluff” period when I wrote this a year or so ago… hehe…