Now, Kusanagi needed her help again.
Kusanagi flung the bed covers off of Ranmaru and kept her eyes averted from his shadow. No, Ranmaru would NOT die. She wouldn’t let him die. Not when she...had come to care about him. And perhaps, given his overprotective behavior, it was safe to assume he cared about her too. Perhaps, a little. Kusanagi shook her head, now was not the time for such thoughts. The ominous sound of thunder boomed loudly in the distance and Kusanagi yelped and quickly dove under the bed, 208
covering her head with her arms to try and block out the sound. The wind outside had begun to pick up and caused the branches of a nearby tree outside of Ranmaru's window to scrape along the glass eerily.
Kusanagi shuddered. It was going to rain...and there would be a lighting storm. Kusanagi would never admit this to anyone but she was terrified of lighting. She was glad Ranmaru had been unconscious and unable to see her cowardly display of diving under the bed. She’d never have been able to live it down. But, Kusanagi pushed herself out from under the bed. She had no choice but to face her fears that night.
Kusanagi went over to the bedroom window and flung the wooden shutters open before letting out a loud whistle. “Hyuu~”
The sound of hooves hitting the earth was heard as Sora came galloping up to the window. Kusanagi looked down - they were on the second story so it wasn’t that high up. Kusanagi went back over to the bed and roughly pulled Ranmaru up. She slung Ranmaru’s arm around her neck and began to half drag him towards the window. “Well, you first I guess. I’m really, really sorry about this Ranmaru, but you’re a yokai so you should probably be okay after you regenerate.”
Kusanagi explained before she pushed Ranmaru out the window and he landed in a bush below.
Kusanagi looked down at Sora, who was looking restlessly upwards and pawing the ground with his hoof. “Now Sora - stay still.” Kusanagi declared as she hopped out of the window. Sora obeyed and Kusanagi landed neatly on her horse’s back with only some slight discomfort. She quickly dismounted and struggled to get Ranmaru up and over her saddle before she again mounted behind him. “We need to get to the Inari Shrine as fast as possible, Sora!” Kusanagi declared, “Ranmaru’s life depends on it!”
Sora whinnied in response as if he understood Kusanagi and took off at a fast gallop.
Kusanagi held onto Ranmaru and Sora for dear life the few times thunder sounded in the distance. Her body was trembling in fear but as long as she kept her eyes closed...and luckily Sora knew where to go.
Sora galloped as hard and as fast as he was able until the Bitch 209
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rain began to fall. It completely drenched both Ranmaru and Kusanagi. They could barely see through the rain it was coming down so hard, but regardless they continued on. Kusanagi couldn’t stop the panicked scream of fear that left her lips though during one particularly loud thunder boom when a lightning bolt hit a nearby tree and she nearly fainted. I can’t...I can’t make it... Kusanagi’s inner voice spoke up, Think of Ranmaru...only Ranmaru...he’ll die if you give up now.
You’re right. Kusanagi thought back. “Come on Sora!
Ikimasho! Let’s go! Faster!” Kusanagi declared and the unicorn picked up his pace, a light blue aura forming around the unicorn as it summoned some of its own magical power. Finally, they had arrived at the Inari Shrine. Kusanagi looked up at the gigantic, stone steps that had several red Tori arches over them. It wound up and up and out of sight. Kusanagi had to climb all those steps and with the unconscious Ranmaru in her arms before she would reach the shrine and the old miko Akane.
But-Kusanagi would not give up. Never give up! “Wait here, Sora.” Kusanagi told her unicorn as she dismounted and pulled Ranmaru along with her. She bent down and put Ranmaru on her back piggyback style and prepared to climb the slippery, rainsoaked, stone steps that would take her to the Inari Shrine.
“Yosha! Let’s do this! Sports 10!” Kusanagi psyched herself up as she began to climb. Stone foxes with red scarves tied around their necks lined her path on either side of the stairway. Kusanagi had forgotten...foxes were said to be the messengers of the Goddess Inari. If anyone would know how to save Ranmaru it would be a miko of the Inari Shrine. In ancient Japanese legends...foxes were mystical beings that played tricks on mankind. Shape-shifters that possessed the ability to use powerful fox-fire, had nine-tails, and were hundreds of years old. Names like Tamamo-no-mae, the fox witch, also came to mind.
She only wished Ranmaru were playing a trick on her 210
now. Dang boy what have you been eating? Kusanagi wondered to herself, Ranmaru was hella heavy. If they got through this she was going to put the boy on an all-kibble diet or something. Ranmaru let out a pained moan as if he had heard her thoughts.
Oh, don’t worry I’m not THAT cruel. Kusanagi nearly slipped and sent them both flying backwards and down the stone steps, and badly scraped her knee in the process. Ow. But she continued on...even when the lighting flashed angrily overhead and all she wanted to do was hide - she continued on...until she had finally reached the top.
There under a red and black, lacquered paper umbrella, waiting for Kusanagi was the old miko Akane. “I’ve been waiting for you, Kusanagi. Follow me. Bring him inside...” Akane was dressed in the traditional robes of a miko or shrine priestess – a white haori, or wrap shirt along with a pair of red hakama, split pants. She was old; there were deep lines around her eyes and lips. But her brown-red eyes glittered with wisdom. And she had a long braid of white hair tied with red ribbons that went all the way down her back and touched the ground behind her. Kusanagi let out a sigh of relief and followed after the miko. They were led into the main temple area. Kusanagi finally got to dump the heavy Ranmaru on the floor. Akane closed her umbrella and calmly set it aside.
“Akane- san, how can I save him?” Kusanagi blurted at the first opportunity.
The ancient miko calmly lit a pipe and smoked for a moment, swirls of smoke curling up into the air, before speaking.
“So I see you have a new Samurai Butler. An unusual one at that...a yokai fox...and he’s been poisoned...Why did you come here exactly?” Akane narrowed her eyes at Kusanagi. Kusanagi blinked. “Because...you’re the only one who can save him! It’s a spiritual poison!”
Akane puffed on her pipe and blew more rings into the air, “Oh? But you’ve had the power to save him all along.”
“I have?” Kusanagi blinked.
Akane nodded, “Yes, you’ll have to make a choice. In order to save him you will have to...kiss him.”
Kusanagi immediately began to spaz out. “I’ll have to Bitch 211
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WHAT? Kiss him! Why? Isn’t there some other way!”
Akane shook her head, “Because though you have only latent spiritual powers...your soul is pure, and so you have the power to purify the poison within him. A kiss should do it, I think. So...what will you do now child? You could always let him die. You don’t really have to kiss him after all. I know how much you hate this kind of thing, Kusanagi. Perhaps, it’s too difficult for you after all.”
Kusanagi sunk to her knees in stunned disbelief besides Ranmaru. A kiss...would save him? All along she had the power to save him? To the miko’s surprise Kusanagi burst out laughing incredulous. “That’s all! You mean I have the power to save him?
All along...I just have to kiss him?”
Akane blinked in surprise at Kusanagi’s reaction, “Well, yes, but - you don’t actually want to kiss him do you? I thought you hated things like this...?”
Kusanagi continued to laugh, a somewhat broken laugh.
“I did, but my heart aches at the thought of losing him.” Tears streamed down her face. “Somewhere along the way I’ve come to care about this stoic moron. He’s...my friend. And I won’t lose him.”
And besides, deep, deep, deeeep down we both know I’ve been wanting this...a chance...an excuse to kiss him. Damn straight! Her inner voice agreed happily, Now kis
s him already before it’s too late! You go girl!
Kusanagi nodded before she bent over Ranmaru and pressed her lips hesitantly to his own. His lips were thin and slightly rough but they felt...nice, being pressed up against her own. Kusanagi concentrated on focusing her ‘will’ to heal Ranmaru and felt a slight tingling sensation...was it really working?
Akane watched as a pure white light surrounded Kusanagi as she kissed Ranmaru and began to purify the poison within his veins. She shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe the little bitch actually kissed him...” Her expression was hard, calculating.
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Kusanagi was so intent on her task that she didn’t hear the old miko’s harsh words.
Ranmaru’s eyelids fluttered as he began to wake. Slowly, he opened his eyes - to see that Kusanagi was kissing him!
Masaka...no way... He was so startled that he grabbed Kusanagi’s shoulders to push her away.
Kusanagi opened her eyes at his touch and saw that Ranmaru had come to. Ranmaru knew he was probably going to get punished for his insolence...kissing her and everything. Hey, wait a second, she was kissing...me. Not the other way around. How the hell had that happened?
Ranmaru blinked back at Kusanagi in a sort of shocked and stunned stupor.
Kusanagi however smiled warmly at him, “How are you feeling?”
Ranmaru blinked, “Fine...why?” He questioned cautiously. The last thing he remembered was setting the Blue Rose on fire and then passing out.
Kusanagi stood up, “Good...because if you so much as even mention this, let alone remember this event ever again - you’re as good as dead. Got it?” Kusanagi’s emerald green eyes sparkled with murderous intent.
Gulp. “Hai, Oujo-sama...” He couldn’t help the butterflies in his stomach as she looked at him that way though - like she would eat him alive. Mmm~ torture me Oujo-sama. Punish me Oujo-sama~ Ranmaru was giving Kusanagi a somewhat hopeful and expectant look.
“Ranmaru?” Kusanagi noticed his odd expression.
“H-hai? ” Ranmaru quickly schooled his features back into an emotionless expression.
Kusanagi shook her head. Must have been her
imagination. “Come on...we’re going home.” She reached her hand out to him to help him up.
Ranmaru hesitated before taking her hand and letting her help him to stand. That’s when he caught sight of the old miko behind Kusanagi. A miko! A chill of cold fear went down Ranmaru’s spine and he began to shake uncontrollably as he looked over her white haori shirt, those red hakama pants... Those clothes were just like HERS.
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Kusanagi noticed Ranmaru’s suddenly frightened state and worried, tightened her grip around Ranmaru’s hand. He almost looked afraid. But why? “Ranmaru?” She closed her fingers around his hand. “What’s wrong?”
Kusanagi’s soft voice and her touch brought Ranmaru out of his entranced state and he was able to look away from the old miko. Ranmaru shook his head like a dog, shaking off the fear. He just had to keep his eyes and attention solely focused on Kusanagi and just ignore that miko if he wanted to remain composed. A miko...He shivered just thinking about it. Why had Kusanagi taken him to see a miko? It was just too much. Bad memories were already trying to resurface. “Nothing.” He calmly replied. The last thing he wanted was to worry Kusanagi further. Kusanagi narrowed her eyes at him, “Well, alright. Let’s go. Akane- san, I’m going to borrow your umbrella alright?”
Kusanagi reached out the take the red and black umbrella. Akane frowned as she watched the two of them getting ready to leave, and noticed how Ranmaru was avoiding her gaze,
“Go right ahead.”
Kusanagi opened the umbrella and grabbed Ranmaru by the hand before the two of them left the shrine. Akane frowned,
“If you knew the truth about him I wonder if you still would have saved him...?”
Kusanagi and Ranmaru slowly made their way down the slippery stone steps that were under the red Tori archways when a sudden clap of thunder boomed overhead. Kusanagi shrieked and tossed the umbrella aside before throwing herself into Ranmaru’s surprised arms. What was wrong with his Oujo- sama? This wasn’t like her at all. She was almost acting…girlie.
“Oujo-sama...?” He felt that she was trembling in his arms. Kusanagi buried her face, which had turned red, into Ranmaru’s chest, “If you so much as mention this or remember this...” She warned softly.
“Hai, hai. ” Ranmaru smiled smugly as he wrapped his arms around Kusanagi to comfort her, taking her ‘invitation’ to
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do so. “I believe you ordered me to comfort you did you not?”
“Um, that’s right, I did didn’t I? Comfort me you fool of a butler!” Kusanagi ordered, her voice slightly tremulous.
“Hai, hai. ” Ranmaru wrapped his arms more tightly around Kusanagi, and the rain was pouring down around them. They stood like that until Kusanagi’s trembling had ceased and once she had calmed down Ranmaru helped her the rest of the way down the steps and to Sora. He hoisted Kusanagi up into the saddle so that she would be in front of him, and then hopped up into the saddle behind her. Kusanagi was still out of sorts and so he took Sora by the reigns and began to ride home.
***
They returned to the mansion and because Kusanagi was still acting afraid because of the lightning and was still a bit insensible Ranmaru carried her bridal-style up to her room and set her gently on her bed. “Goodnight, Oujo-sama. Sweet dreams.” Thank you for rescuing me. He would have left her but Kusanagi reached out and grasped his sleeve. Not looking at his face, eyes averted, Kusanagi swallowed before making her request. “Don’t go...stay...” She said in a low voice.
Ranmaru’s eyes widened. Was this low-spoken, vulnerable woman really his Mistress? It didn’t seem possible. And she was oddly reminding him of her, his lost miko love... Another boom of thunder was heard and Kusanagi squeaked, she turned to glare at Ranmaru, a few unshed tears shimmering in her emerald green eyes, “Don’t make me beg.”
Ranmaru’s eyes widened even more if that were possible. If anyone would be doing any ‘begging’ it would be him since he would have begged to be allowed to be in her mere presence. Ranmaru bowed. “As you wish, Oujo-sama. ” And then Ranmaru tentatively laid down on the bed besides her, lying above the sheets. Ranmaru couldn’t help but wonder worriedly why his Mistress was so afraid of lighting. This had become painfully obvious throughout the storm. Before this he had thought his Mistress really was fearless…
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Kusanagi hesitantly reached out her hand and slipped it inside of Ranmaru’s. Her face was beet red as she did so. Ranmaru was once again totally taken by surprise at this unusual behavior coming from Kusanagi but...he slowly curled his own calloused fingers around Kusanagi’s soft and delicate hand in return. Her hand felt like, her hand...Ranmaru shook his head. Now was not the time to take a trip down memory lane. Kusanagi was torn between anger at herself for her fear of the lighting storm and sheer embarrassment that she had succumbed to letting Ranmaru comfort her. “Don’t even think of coming over to my side of the bed Ranmaru, you pervert.”
Kusanagi stuck a pillow between the two of them just to make her point clear. She didn’t want him getting any ideas after all. Ranmaru half-smirked. “Hai, Oujo-sama. ” He shut his eyes but he had no intention of sleeping just yet. He waited and listened with his keen ears until Kusanagi’s breathing slowed and she finally drifted off into slumber. He had tried to stay awake since the feeling of Kusanagi’s hand in his was something he didn’t want to have end, but he had been so tired by the day’s ordeals that no matter how hard he tried to keep sleep at bay it came upon him anyways.
***
Ranmaru awakened early the next day to find Kusanagi snuggled up against him, and was surprised and yet smugly pleased that she had been the one to cross the ‘line’ and come to his side of the bed to
wrap her arms around him. Booyah!
But...he also noticed that she was shivering slightly in his arms. Was she cold? Ranmaru wrapped his arms protectively around her body to provide her with more warmth and almost decided to turn into his fox form since his soft fur would have provided her with even more warmth that way. But before he could do so...that was when Kusanagi decided to awaken.
***
Kusanagi felt great.
She had just had a dreamless sleep completely free of nightmares. She couldn’t even remember a time when she had slept so soundly. She just felt so rested, at peace, content, and safe...although her pillow was a little bit lumpy. She began to beat her pillow into softness, but that was when her pillow let out Bitch 217
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a ‘grunt of pain’. Huh?
Kusanagi’s eyes snapped open and she looked up into the placid golden eyes of Ranmaru.
Blink. Blink. Blink.
“Ohayo, Good morning, Oujo-sama. ” He greeted her in a dull, almost bored tone.
Kusanagi turned beet red.
3...2...1...
Meltdown.
Kusanagi exploded. “W-w-what are you doing in my bed?
Y-y-you pervert! Ah!” Kusanagi spazzed out and shoved Ranmaru away from her so that he went flying off the bed. His Mistress truly did have some unusual strength. Ow.
Ranmaru got up and dusted himself off calmly, not in the least perturbed. “You asked me to stay with you last night, Oujo- sama. ” Ranmaru decided to remind her. Kusanagi just gawked at him, “I-I...did no such thing!”
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