8 Land of the Free

"So, where are we exactly?", Yuki asked as they walked into a town that Yuki had never imagined existing.

Bright colored houses lined up the small town, houses that were all uniquely built.

Some abodes were made from stones, others from glass, and still others from precious metals and wood, but all of the residential structures glimmered fancifully from the outside, and each bore a unique insignia.

They were also of different sizes, some the size of manors, and still others the size of dollhouses perched high up in the trees.

Kaede smiled as he saw Yuki's eyes shine with sheer delight, "We have entered Meredith, the land of the free faes."

"It is so marvelous. Is this where you grew up in?" Yuki asked, unable to hide her admiration for the place.

"Haha. I can only wish," Kaede answered as they entered a rainbow-colored restaurant with a sweet aroma coming out of its windows.

"You mean to say, this is not the place you grew up in?" Yuki asked once again, curiosity getting the better of her.

"No. The faerie lands are divided into three kingdoms. Actually, there are only two, and Meredith is the third."

"Please continue," Yuki said, her eyes shining with energy as she tugged on Kaede's sleeve.

"The land of the light faes is called Aurora, the land of the free faes is where we are now, Meredith, and then the land of the dark faes, Selene. That is where I grew up," Kaede smiled even as he recalled the harrowing experience he had in that hell-like place.

"But why is Meredith called the land of the free faes?" Yuki asked, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Because this is the place where different fae species freely mingle with each other, the place of refuge for every fae marrying into a species he or she does not belong to," Kaede explained as he grabbed some of the food served before them.

On his plate were what appeared to be breaded chicken wings and sauce the color of mulberry mixed with dust-like, gold powder.

Yuki then noticed the interracial couples at every table around them.

A centaur dining with a beautiful lady with very long blue hair. A tiny fairy having dinner with a big brawny fae the color of mud. And even a dwarf dining in with a short-haired fae with skin as white as snow.

"You mean, the people here are couples?" Yuki whispered, afraid to offend anyone, especially since she was in an unusual territory.

"Yes, my love. Couples. Just like us, so smitten with each other that they chose to run away," Kaede grinned, knowing that Yuki could not protest when they were in public.

"With Meredith not having a monarch, but only village chiefs silently monitoring the entrance and egress, Meredith is more of a sanctuary than a kingdom," a waitress with tiger ears wearing a tight pink costume gave Yuki the food Kaede ordered for her.

The food looked like oysters but with a silvery hue on them and a red dot on the center of each.

Yuki started feasting and almost immediately gulped down the food.

"This is by far the most divine food I have ever tasted," Yuki exclaimed a little loudly, making some of the faes seated at the other tables glance over at them.

"I'm glad my wife, that is their specialty, after all." Kaede's grin spread wider on his face.

"Ohhhhh... but what is it? I simply must know. It is soooo tasty," Yuki said as she cleared off everything on her plate.

"These are the eyes of a red Kraken. They are difficult to get, so it is extremely expensive," Kaede paused, enjoying every second of observing the change of emotions on his beloved's face.

"After all, the hunter must remove the eyes while the Kraken is still alive." Kaede laughed harder when Yuki's eyes widened in shock.

She almost screamed in panic if not for the lips that hushed her voice with a kiss.

"What was that for?" Yuki asked, her cheeks flaring as an uncontrolled flame started to take hold of her heart.

"To keep you silent, we do not want to attract unwanted attention to ourselves, do we, my dear?" Kaede chuckled, his deep baritone voice filling up every corner of the restaurant.

"And second, but no less important... to taste the heavenly intoxicating flavor I have learned to love," Kaede answered as he stared at her and licked his lips clean.

"What flavor? Perverted fox!" Yuki exclaimed while blushing profusely.

"The Kraken eyes, of course. I miss having one of those. What perverted things were you thinking about anyway?" Kaede laughed, seeing how cute she was when she was embarrassed.

Yuki nearly melted when the muddy fae from the other table started laughing uncontrollably.

The couples from the other tables heard their exchange and started laughing as well.

Seeing how awkward she felt at the moment, Kaede stood up and left some gold coins on the table. Then he swept her up in his arms as he carried her, bridal style, to leave the restaurant.

"Welcome to Meredith, young loves," the centaur said, and the rest chirped in.

Yuki's heart was thumping loudly in her chest when she felt her body suspended in midair as Kaede waved everyone goodbye.

The demon fox left a kiss on her forehead as he whispered, "The thing about Kraken eyes... the flavor lingers on my lips way after the first taste."

Yuki was about to scold Kaede once again, but in the soft glow of the moonlight, as the demon fox carried her in his arms, all thoughts left her except for the desire to completely melt in his arms. To remain trapped in the cold blue eyes that reflected so much of her hazel brown ones.

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

"I can walk now," Yuki insisted when she felt a familiar warmth spread through her heart as she got lost looking in Kaede's eyes.

"Why do you want to get down for?" Kaede asked, wrinkling his forehead with impatience, wanting her to be in his arms for as long as possible.

"I want to buy a souvenir." Yuki immediately found an excuse as she struggled to get down from his hold.

"Alright," Kaede said, understanding her wish and leading her to the section of the street that doesn't sleep.

Yuki's eyes widened in awe as they entered the street filled with different kinds of stalls. All sorts of jewelry were on display, each promising a small magical power of its own.

Yuki had never been more thrilled as they hopped from one store to the next, and Kaede insisted she tried on every fancy one.

Alas, the shops started to close, the vendors looked afraid of something.

"It is time mademoiselle, please come back tomorrow," the vendor of the stall they were in was profusely sweating, clearly worried about the time.

"Oh, but why?" Yuki asked innocently as she felt pity for the vendors hurrying to pack their merchandise.

Just then, a gang of ogres came storming in.

They threw several stalls and started shouting for the vendors to give them their rent.

Everyone scampered to run away, leaving their merchandise behind, but a frail-looking vendor who was packing up his stall was thrown in the middle of the street.

"I told you old man, give us your rent," the ogre's fist was about to punch the frail man, but Kaede swiftly intervened.

He crushed the ogre's fist with his bare hands.

The ogre cried out in agony as the others circled Kaede and attacked him at the same time.

Yuki closed her eyes, afraid to see Kaede's crushed bones from the vicious onslaught, but then she felt warm hands pulling her in a hug.

She smelled the familiar scent of vanilla and cedarwood and opened her eyes to find Kaede embracing her and kissing her hair.

"What happened?" Yuki asked as she searched the demon fox's cerulean eyes.

"It's over now, sweetheart. Don't be afraid anymore," Kaede whispered, his voice laced with concern for her as he tried to assure her.

The vendors started cheering around them.

The corpses of the ogres were removed from the site, leaving a trail of blood behind them.

The old frail-looking man approached them, "Thank you so much for helping me, young sir. May I know your name?"

"I am Kaede, and this is my beloved wife, Yuki," Kaede introduced them to the old man with a white long beard that reached down to his chest.

"I am Louis, and I will forever be grateful for your help. Are the two of you newlyweds?"

"Yes, perhaps you need some proof?", Kaede's eyes glistened in the dark, excitement written in his face.

"Haha. No need for that, but you may of course. She is your wife, I'm sure she won't mind," the old man understood what Kaede was excited for and nodded a little. Of course, he wanted to be on his savior's good side.

Kaede grinned as he tilted her head and crushed her parted lips in his. Hungry and passionate, wanting to make her feel the emotions buried in that kiss.

Truth be told, Kaede felt addicted to her constant kisses. For while he had had many lovers in the past, this was the first time he ever craved for someone's touch.

Yuki pushed Kaede a little as she caught her breath and panted.

"That wasn't necessary," Yuki whispered, clearly finding discomfort from the constant public displays of affection.

"Of course it is, what woman will not kiss her husband after being assaulted like that?"

Yuki blushed profusely, her mind protested. It was her fragile body that was under constant assault from this man's lips.

Yuki turned her head to the old man to check his well-being. The old man assured her that he was fine and not one hair on his body had been harmed.

"As newlyweds, are you perhaps looking for a place to stay?" the old man inquired.

"Oh, yes, we are actually," Kaede agreed and smiled. "We might be staying in an inn for the night."

"But didn't you know, the inns will likely be fully occupied at this time of the night. Unlike the dark and light fae lands, Meredith is an impoverished place due to its lack of governance.

Most of the residents will just stay in an inn for the night and leave in the morning. Very few of us have enough money to construct our own houses," the old man explained, worry apparent in his voice.

"Oh, what do we do now?" Yuki started to panic as she clamped her hand on her mouth.