Somewhere to Belong (Youko)(13)

Despite your exhaustion, your dreams were anything but restful. Fuzzy images, like a television out of focus, filled your head.

A small hut sat high on a mountain. Reclusively nestled between two trees, it was a full two miles to the nearest source of water. Every time you traveled to fetch water, you took a different way. Occasionally, a demon would find you and demand you fulfill your promise: “Any demon who finds the hermit of the mountains will have their wish granted, if it is worthy.” Even though you followed the rumor closely and only told it to those you knew needed your help, an exception would find you. Worthiness is often in the eyes of the beholder and sometimes you’d find yourself caught in a terrible fight before the scene changed. The peaceful house would appear again. Just when you though you had the dream figured out it turned dark and turbulent. Instead of running like small clips of a movie, images flashed in succession of unspeakable horror.

You awoke with a jolt. Lying in bed, you felt your heart beating out of control, like you just ran a marathon at top speed. A cold sweat trenched the sheets. Carefully, you crawled off of bed and looked out the window. A fierce storm blew outside making it impossible to know the time. Still shaking, you took a seat on the window to collect your thoughts.

‘It’s alright.’ You tried to steady yourself. ‘It was just a dream. It’s probably a side effect of what happened in the tavern.’

That was what you told yourself. Yet, you knew it was more than that. Your memories were coming back, bit by bit. Feeling lonelier than ever, you curled up by the window and cried.

A firm hand on your shoulder woke you the next morning. Slowly, you opened your eyes to see Shizuru.

“Hey kido.” She greeted. “What are you going here?”

Upon surveying your surroundings, you discovered you were on the window sill with a terrible ache in your neck.

“I guess I was so exhausted, fell asleep here.” You lied while rubbing your neck.

“In any case,” Shizuru crossed her arms, “you look horrible. Fix yourself up and meet me downstairs. It’s already noon.”

“Noon?” You exclaimed. “I need to go to training!”

“Not today.” She growled. “You’re taking a day off. It’s been almost three weeks of constant training for you. Even demons need a break.”

Without giving you a chance to protest, she left. Sighing, you knew she was right. You were training a lot and after last night, you were in no condition to train. Today would be your free day. Nothing but dirty romance novels and walks in the garden. No textbooks or 24-hour training sessions for you today.

While she with wide eyes, he undid the first three buttons of his shirt, then leaned back to study her face. She had seen farmers and day laborers with their shirts unbuttoned. However, she could not remember seeing a man whose chest seemed so sculpted, the muscles were tone and defined. She allowed him to pull her closes until she sat like a helpless child in his lap. Gently his lips searched sweetly against her throat. Her pulse beat loudly, echoing though her head. Arching her body to get closer, then she jumped at the sudden knock on the door.

“Damn it!” You shouted as you read the final line. “Miss, you are a terrible temptress!”

“What now?” Shizuru asked with a laugh. All afternoon you were reading and all though the novel the author teased the reader with bits and pieces of intimacy between the main characters. Just when you were sure they were finally going to get down to it, something happened to stop it. If the story weren’t so enchanting, you would have tossed it off in anger pages ago.

“She keeps doing it…” You pouted like a child being teased by a sibling.

“Well, that’s what you get for reading such crude novels.” She shook her head. “She’s going to be a cock-tease until the end.”

“What?” You tilted your head. “Cock-tease…?”

Shizuru’s face reddened as a blush took over. She seemed flustered. It was just a simple question.

“Never mind.” She mumbled. “You’ll find out when you’re older.”

Only one day with Shizuru and she had already taught you more strange words than you could imagine. A colorful assortment of words now filled your vocabulary.

“I think you’ve had enough reading for a while.” Shizuru added. “You can handle a little training outside.”

For the first time since Shizuru started ‘babysitting’ you, she was actually keeping a watchful eye on you. It was strange to have someone make sure you ate, got outside and rested properly. Kurama was the last person that cared for you that much. The thought of Kurama made your chest ache. You really missed him… Shaking your head, you walked to the middle of the garden. The training would distract you from Kurama.

Weeks ago, the frog sage gave you homework. Since then, you hadn’t given it much thought. Between training and sleeping, you hardly had time to eat; let alone think. The sage said this type of training was perfect for you because you were impulsive. He believed that if he left you alone to rest for a second, you would find some way to anger an irritable demon or worse. Based on last night, he was correct. If that soldier hadn’t stepped in when he did… You shook your head and focused on your training.

“I need to know all the components of the song,” You muttered as you looked at the plants, “because all the parts affect the results. So, if the parts I sang were based on my feelings about being in the demon world, the rest of the song would be about another person’s feelings about the demon world and me. Who…”

You stopped before you could even finish the sentence. Kurama didn’t want you to go, so it would make sense if the next part dealt with him.

“Jun.” You heard Shizuru call from the porch. “Genkai called. She said she’s coming home tonight. The guys are coming with her.”

A smirk spread across you face, but you hid it and walked over to Shizuru.

“Thanks for the message.” You smiled. “Shizuru, could you do me a tiny favor?”

In the caste of Lord Yomi, two guards, a badge demon named Kai and a Lizard demon named Hitoshi, found each other in the hall on the way to their positions.

“Hey, Kai.” The lizard slapped the badger on the back in a show of companionship. “You look like you’re in a good mood.”

“It’s hard not to be in a good mood when you met The Siren.” Kai smiled sheepishly.

“Again?” Hitoshi asked in admiration. “Lucky duck. Once in the mountains and again in the bar… Did you make her give you a wish?”

“What for?” He shrugged. “I have everything that I need: a beautiful wife and a steady income to support her. I actually saved The Siren.”

“Yet, she didn’t repay you?”

“She didn’t have time.” Kai shook his head. “Kaeru, you know the regular at the bar, took her away before she even had time to think. Come to think of it, she came in with him too.”

“That horny toad?” He sighed in dismay. “She could do better. From your description, she’s even prettier that Lord Yomi’s past fiancé.”

“Hey, you two,” Their superior shouted. “Get to your post. Stop chit-chatting.”

“Yes, Chief Sachi.” The two demons bowed and ran off.

Chief Sachi smiled as they ran. Rumor had it that Lord Raizen was about to die. Lord Yomi and Mukuro would soon engage in battle. At that time, Chief Sachi would be damned if some other demon passed him on the promotion. He planned to do whatever it took to get on Lord Yomi’s good side. Delivering this information might secure his position as Chief of War Staff. He strolled into the meeting room, where Lord Yomi was being briefed on the current state of the demon world. When the meeting was finished, Sachi bowed and address the Lord.

“Sir, I have some valuable information for you.” He announced proudly.

“Is it so important that you couldn’t wait until the meeting was over?” Yomi questioned, calmly. “You should have asked for permission to have an audience with me.”

“I-I would have sir, but the issue may be time sensitive.” Sachi faltered. The Lord’s presence could throw any demon off balance. His calm calculating aura made lesser demons freeze in their tracks. “It’s about your lost fiancé for your lordship.”

“You, of all people, should know that issue has been closed for quite some time now.” He repressed a growl. The issue seemed to hit a nerve. “I no longer need a wife. My son will be here soon.”

“Yes, sir. It’s just that I thought you could visit the siren.” The chief looked down, choosing his words carefully. “She has been sighted at the bar just south of here. The great sage Kaeru was with her.”

It took all of Yomi’s will to hide a smile. He was right. Jun was back. If he played his cards carefully, she would be his by the time winter came around. Her hormones would make her helpless in his presence then.

“Fetch this sage.” Lord Yomi replied and then added. “And do so by any means necessary.”

Author’s note: I’m the only one that proofreads each chapter before I publish it. As the writer, it is difficult to catch all my mistakes. Even though I read them over multiple times while writing and twice when the chapter is finished, some mistakes slip though. I apologize.