Reconnecting the Taiyōkō-sen Coin part 2

Several hundred years ago...

The air was growing colder this fall season, but it was a gorgeous day. The sky was its most vibrant blue yet. The foliage had changed to the colorful display of reds and golds characteristic of nature's change. A few birds happily sailed across the vast expanse with calming chirps and some caws to alert flocks of the migration to warmer lands. The soft coos of a young lover could be heard joining the tweets as a soft chuckle synchronized with the silence of the cozy home. Yonamine was lying on her new husband's lap, skin still sensitive to touch but eagerness to cuddle strong. She felt him shift underneath her bosom and lifted up for him to raise his leg a bit before embracing his thigh and resting her cheek on his knee. Manzo leaned over and kissed under her jaw then stole three more until he reached her ear and whispered his love for her. She smiled and let out a laugh before turning to kiss his lips. Yonamine and Manzo were calming down after having made love during the afternoon hour. They were supposed to bathe together for hygienic purposes, but they chose a life just along the skirts of Sozosora and nearest the sunflower fields. There would be no guests for some years, but there was a perk to such isolation. The fight to marry was a long year and filled with strife and battle, but they earned it and wed with little to no guests... save for a few demons who became close friends with them.

They didn't understand everything that came with their forbidden marriage, but they understood that they would live an ostracized life for some time. It was fine. They knew how to hunt and camp. Perhaps that was the biggest regret to their "shameful" marriage. They knew how to survive, and no one could tell them otherwise. The holy guardians of the Korenaga Tate had to go on long pilgrimages to build up their endurance, and the chosen wielders of the Naginata of Light had to be able to scavenge for food in the event that they were enlisted in war. They were trained to be able to live without people. Very few of the villagers knew that Manzo was taught construction, but Yonamine didn't pick him out to build the secret treehouse for no reason. While the town gossip could craft many a conspiracy theory about their wild escapades, it simply was a matter of getting to know the youth of the village. Manzo was more than an accomplished fighter and Yonamine was more than a pretty princess, but everyone chose to ignore their other talents and thought they wouldn't survive without the village. Twas not the case.

Hearing tapping near the engawa on the side of the house, the newlywed couple hummed with surprise before separating from each other. What was that? Who on earth was visiting?

"Must be nice being able to enjoy such a fine luncheon," a female voice joked.

Yonamine and Manzo turned sharply to see Toga's wife smirking at them. She was dressed in such a cute dress today! A pastel pink kimono with frilled sleeves, bottom, and collar! Her hair was down to lay on her shoulders and back, and she wore no makeup. Even her markings were a fainter color and thinner. Her nose moved a little to sniff the air before she smiled knowingly with the faintest hint of upcoming tease in her eyes. Before anyone knew it, Toga appeared behind her and kissed her cheek sweetly to make her blush lightly and turn her eyes to him.

"Don't be rude, Lady Difficult. This is already embarrassing," Toga playfully rebuked, whispering in her ear.

"Lord Toga!" Yonamine squawked, rapidly pulling her yukata up to cover her torso. "P-pr-princess! What are you doing here?"

"Just checking on my rival per usual," Milady answered, watching the couple blush violently while rushing to cover themselves. "You should know by now that we're not offended or effected by your bodies in their natural state of dress. You, humans, amuse me."

"This isn't a peep show!" Yonamine replied, throwing her body in Manzo's arms to cover him up. Even though she knew Milady wasn't interested in Manzo, Yonamine's husband was a handsome man. "At least let us get dressed!"

"For what? My son needs a playmate and you're the only couple he genuinely likes. Make your love again and give me his playmate!" Milady ordered, shooing the couple off with a wave of her hand.

Turning beet red, Yonamine shouted, "What kind of rivalry is this? Have some decency! And that's not how babies are made anyway!"

"That is how babies are made," Toga corrected, raising an eyebrow. Surely, she knows how this all works, right?

"I mean I can't pop a baby out that fast!" Yonamine argued. "Besides, I thought you said to enjoy being a married couple first?"

"Are you happy?" Milady asked with a serious tone in her voice. She wasn't smiling. Yonamine didn't answer immediately, but she did look at the inu couple and took notice to their change in casual attire. She wanted to be like them. The human princess turned to her beloved mate, softened her features, and nodded quietly before letting her man simply hold her in his arms. Milady then said with a gentle smile, "Then you followed our advice down to the letter... Now, make me a baby for my son!"

"My daughter's not a toy on a shelf! That takes time!" Yonamine argued, blushing profusely again.

"Ahem, you mean my son isn't a toy on a shelf," Manzo interjected, clearing his throat.

"You get a son after I get my daughter! And I'm not a baby wagon!" Yonamine argued again.

"I can offer you advice to ensure my little babe's playmate will be here sooner if you wish," Milady offered, narrowing her eyes and stretching her lips into a licentious grin.

"And how would you do that?" Toga questioned with a gruff tone, interested in how far Milady was willing to take the joke.

"Princess!" Yonamine whined, covering her face.

The look Toga gave Milady was enough for Manzo to lean back with surprise in his eyes at the confidence and mutual longing shared between the two. There was a competitiveness there that he found he didn't realize the two had before, but Manzo was beginning to understand his demon friends a bit more with time. Even though he had no reason to compete with Yonamine in anything other than horse racing, Manzo couldn't help but be fascinated with his friends' physical connection and attraction. There was a feeling of spontaneity underneath their romantic rivalry that made the inu couple come off as more playful by nature, but Milady's soft sigh and smirk was a clue that there was an agreement to some prior challenge before their untimely visit. If it were any other couple, Manzo would've found it offensive and uncomfortable, but he didn't mind them or their jabs. In fact, he clung to their marital advice often since Toga and Milady lived an isolated life themselves when they were courting each other. From what Manzo understood from their double dates with the inu couple, they took their time proving to each other that what they felt wasn't a regular love. None of their friends came to their wedding either, but... their parents did... for their grandson's sake and to support them in raising their own family. They fought hard for a lot of things... much like Manzo and Yonamine were doing now. Enjoying their marriage however they wished was both a reward and a new battle to fight.

'Doubt was the strongest adversary I had ever faced... but the most rewarding battle when I learned how to overcome it.'

Those were Toga's words in their man-to-man talks. Chuckling at the inu couple, Manzo smiled softly and kissed Yonamine's forehead before picking them both up to invite the couple in. They wouldn't have to wait long. Lunch sounded good...

They spent midday together just speaking about what to do both during and after isolation. Milady offered suggestions for weaving temporary clothing and repairing shoes for the coming winter, and Toga advising them on what to do for basic necessities for a healthy baby should one come. Being patient and understanding was the most crucial part of living together. Lacking both gave doubt more power. Manzo and Yonamine were taught a great deal about the path they chose. That's what made Manzo wonder, however. Was there a reason why Yonamine found Toga? What about Toga's son? Was he... a prophecy of their own child to come? It seemed so coincidental and yet so... specific. Like meeting their counterparts from an entirely different race was meant to do more than provide marriage counseling. It was suspicious to say the least, but he kept those thoughts in the back of his mind and only showed Toga a hint of honesty when the man turned to look at him. That usually meant he sensed something...

||... ...||

"Do you think your father will still be alive when we go back for our little one?" Milady asked, laughing a little at the thought.

They were walking through some fields of grass, enjoying the stroll back home through the countryside and farming area. It was Milady's idea. Toga looked fondly to the country life, silently saying his goodbyes to it all. He was called to the mountaintops for a new line of work and a new life for his family.

"Depends on if our mothers are still trying to smother him," Toga replied, smiling. "Dad's definitely going to be busy."

"As are you. How did Yonamine know that you were crowned king recently?" Milady asked.

"She didn't," Toga answered, stopping in his tracks. Milady stopped as well and watched her husband speak with some thought and some apprehension. "I never said a word. She and Grand Monk Shishido called me that before the coronation ceremony. I wore commoner's clothes when I met her, and I was only picking up toys when I went to meet with him. He called me lord or king a lot. I didn't think anything of it at the time. I was just a foot soldier at best, earning my keep for the baby."

"The beasts of prophecy are true to their name. They must have foreseen your time coming for such a title. It's a high honor," Milady said, placing a finger on her lips with some thought.

"You find it suspicious yourself," Toga said, chuckling briefly. "We sound like the characters in that fairytale - well, minus the fog. The inu princess, the upset father, and a dashing hero cutting through the barriers."

"Who said anything about you being dashing?" Milady asked, walking away from him jokingly.

"Who said you were an innocent maiden, princess?" Toga retorted with husky tone.

"You've been talking like that since this morning," Milady said, sighing at the vibrations his voice produced. She felt his hand part her kimono open to feel the inside of her soft mounds before crawling up her chest and neck. He enclosed her jaw in his hand and tilted her head back to steal a kiss from her. When they separated, she asked, "So eager."

"You called it beastly once upon a time, princess."

"It is beastly. Claiming me like a possession. There's no declaration of partnership here," Milady debated, reaching her hands back to touch Toga's hips.

"Is that so?" he growled, wrapping her obi around his free claw. He then ground out, "Let's see if I can change that to a kingly claim."

"Is there no such thing as king's grace for a princess?" Milady questioned, feeling her dress loosen bit by bit.

"Such a request can be fulfilled... but I need you to say it."

"Say what?" Milady asked. She gasped lightly when Toga placed his claw over her neck. He didn't squeeze, but it was an easy way to know what he was implying and wanting. She then whispered, "I need to feel you, my love."

"Walk at my side to the beachfront, my queen," Toga practically growled with his lustful command.

Milady grabbed at his clothing and pulled him forward with a low moan of anticipation. They barely made it to the beach in clothes as they trekked through the scatter of palms and warm sands. Though the air was cooler, it was appreciated greatly. They became impatient with their noble attire. Too many layers! It was fun removing the king's armor and hearing it plunk in the sand. Dragging her claws across his bronze torso to remind them both of the beast within and the lover he truly was, Milady wrapped her arms around Toga's neck and moaned when he ripped her kimono apart to kiss her neck and chest. She bit her lip and leaned back to pull his pants down, returning to kiss his lips with greater fervor. She teased them both when she groped his butt and stroked him a few times with her hand to excite him further. He pulled her closer to him at an angle, watching her let out a moan in unison with his, and whispered his love for her. She returned the sentiment and kissed him sweetly before he stroked her core a few times until he felt moisture on his fingers and entered her smoothly.

As promised, he was intentional, slow, and only rough in key rhythms throughout their lovemaking. He wasn't above her. She wasn't above him. They either faced each other to express some unspoken desire or clung to each other for support in the throes of their passion. When Milady felt herself giving in, she leaned back until her hands were on the sand and gripped it as she guided her hips into Toga's slowly rocking body. She needed more. He nodded with acceptance and an overbearing amount of lust that could've turned the sand to diamonds, so he reached an arm around Milady's waist and held her in place to pick up their speed. Watching her body move into his and hearing her soft sighs turn into a vocal nocturne made him more eager. The sun setting and the sky growing darker perfected the musical piece of their lovemaking. When deep blue became a flag for the coming night, Toga lifted Milady up to kiss her and laid them both down to thrust into her roughly until he met his own end and lost his breath from the orgasm ripping through him. Milady simply let out a scream equivalent to a struck bell before she was panting and blushing along with him.

By the time the inu couple felt like getting up or moving, Toga simply laid on Milady's bosom and turned to the waters of the beach as the sky darkened and the moon was shining. Milady stroked her love's hair, effectively calming him and evening his breathing, and looked up into the stars.

"Why were we chosen?" Toga suddenly asked as if his words were meant to fade away with the sound of the waves. "We're normal, aren't we?"

"What is normal to you is not normal to another, my love. Not even to me. We may share certain opinions of what should define normalcy, but that doesn't we are in complete agreement of the definition," Milady answered, understanding the confusion in Toga's voice. "But... I think it is perhaps time for a new normal. Maybe the House of Inu needs a different kind of ruler."

Toga lifted himself up to look into Milady's eyes searchingly and placed his hands on her cheek and lips, respectively. He stroked both slowly before saying, "You're definitely a different kind of queen."

"And you a king," Milady replied. "As wonderful as this was, your father will go bald if we don't save him from our little terror."

"Guess I should get up then," Toga said, raising an eyebrow but not moving an inch.

"I should say so," Milady said softly, feeling Toga pressing his finger inside of her lips to feel the warmth there. "It already takes time putting your armor back on."

"Indeed," Toga said with a light nod but still not moving.

"Are you going to get up or not?" Milady asked, knowing the answer he was going to give.

"Not," Toga replied with a smirk before pressing his lips against hers.

||... ...||

"Grand Monk Shishido. There is a human calling for you. I believe it is young Manzo. He's looking for Lord Toga, too."

Shishido and Toga were just discussing some things about a possible union between the House of Inu and Akabeko Temple. They were in the alcove, observing a potential future of such a union, when one of the red cow demons summoned Shishido. Both demons stood up and walked to the border, but they didn't see Manzo there. Toga sniffed the air briefly and instead located him near the Camellia Gazebo. He led Shishido there and was faced with Manzo in his holy warrior attire. He looked different - very different - than what Toga was used to, but Toga reasoned that this was because he had never seen Manzo in his actual battle attire. He had only ever seen Yonamine in her garb. Manzo looked more like a warlord than the country boy both demons knew. The armor added to his physical appeal greatly. He was clean!

"Manzo? You don't look like a mumbler anymore!" Toga greeted with genuine surprise.

This made Manzo give him an interesting face before he blushed and argued, "I am not a mumbler!"

"You have been crowned king at last," Shishido said, smiling gently at the young man. This made Manzo grow quiet and look down at his lap.

Toga was shouted an 'eh?' before pointing at his friend and asking, "Y-y-y-you're a king now?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Manzo questioned in return.

"Funny, isn't it? Two country boys falling for noble women and fighting for their love and the right to have families with them. Both from a completely different race, yet both crowned king around the same time," Shishido said, quieting both young men and making them look at each other as though they were looking at a mirror for the first time.

"You were... like me?" Manzo questioned. Toga was silent at this, asking the same question in his heart. "So then... there is a reason we met, after all, isn't there?"

"I don't know about a predestined reason, but I do believe it possible that there is a reason," Shishido answered.

"That was why you were so quiet when we visited last, wasn't it? You felt it odd that we were as close as we are. The same way I did when I felt it odd that my son, who would run away from most people and creatures with exception to Shishido here, suddenly clung to Yonamine as though he'd known her his whole life," Toga said with a more serious expression on his face.

"That's part of it, but... what really got to me the most... was the advice you gave us. It was... too perfect. Like you knew every odd and end of what was to come. You knew how our wedding would look, what should be celebrated instead, ways to make the isolation easier, things to do to ensure a healthier survival. All these things are wonderful to know, but... to have lived it just before we did and only a few years before - "

"Congratulations, my friend," Toga said, interrupting Manzo's words with a soft smile. Manzo looked up at him with his eyes welling up and a slight shake of his shoulders before Toga repeated his words, "Congratulations on the baby. If you've been crowned king, that means your union was finally accepted by the villagers... or, most importantly and above everyone else, your parents or clansmen. You're home again."

Manzo couldn't stop his tears then. He just jumped up and embraced Toga like he was a long-lost brother, muttering his gratitude over and over again. Toga let his own tears fall and embraced his friend in return, repeating that Manzo was home once more. Shishido merely watched the brothers of the crown embrace each other, seeing that his vision had finally come to fruition, and he marked this day as one of kingly grace. Milady's words resonated in Toga's ears then. The new generation of humans and demons needed a new kind of leader - someone who understood what it was like to be alone, to feel doubtful, and to not know what to do - and he understood what it was he was meant to protect.

'I will help protect you, my friend... my brother... we have fought long, we have endured much, and we have loved strongly. Our children may grow differently from each other, but I have no doubt that they will grow together in the short time they will have. Our bond goes beyond one of the crown or by the sword. It is one of great promise... sealed by blood. I will act as your guardian spirit for you... for Yonamine... and for your children to come...'

_________________________________________

"Hey, Master Pheasant? Grandpa Kira? What's with these silver flower petals?" Sanraku asked, sniffing the air.

The flowers weren't familiar to him, but they did catch Kirameku Ha's attention. As the warriors followed the pheasant to Sozosora's torii gate, Azumamaro's soldiers emerged from the ground and got into defensive positions to guard the holy city. The mirror in the city's center glowed ominously until an eye blinked and called demons to aid the shadow soldiers.

The pheasant hummed before saying, "It appears these petals are from a time long expired. They lack color. We're getting closer to the new memory. However, there is something of interest here. I was incorrect in assuming the souls of the oathkeepers left unfinished business behind for the evil talking dog. These memories are unusually realistic. You can practically live within them. That means these souls aren't lost. They're still trapped in the mortal realm. Something's stopping them from entering the afterlife."

"Is it Azumamaro?" Sanraku asked, summoning his weapons to get into the defensive. Kirameku Ha switched the hilt of his sword over to do the same.

The pheasant then said, "I'm afraid I'll have to stop you from fighting these gents. They are also lost souls."

A gust of wind swirled about the Green Pheasant as he stepped back with his talon. His eyes widened to their full size before glowing yellow. Suddenly, his tail opened up into a beautiful display of color like a large fan, and a bow made of silver and light sucked in the energies of the earth surrounding them to form the Green Pheasant's weapon. One large arrow was pulled taut against the bow's string and split into a dozen arrows before all of them were shot. Each arrow hit a number of soldiers, and the pheasant spouted out chants to exorcise the creatures. Sanraku watched in pure awe as the little bird summoned kami-reiki power to decimate the soldiers in groups. Souls that were released ran inside of the holy city. Sanraku caught the sound of shrieking in the distance.

"There's something in the city being hit!" Sanraku informed.

"Young Sanraku, with me!" Kirameku Ha ordered, running past the pheasant's exorcisms to enter the holy city. They were met with an army of demons, eyeing them and licking their teeth. Kirameku Ha stopped running and unleashed a tidal wave strike to create some distance between his group and the demons charging at them. It was effective enough for him to call out the next order. He then commanded, "Listen for the shrieks you heard earlier! That's where we must go!"

"On it!" Sanraku replied, only defending himself from the stronger enemies. The Green Pheasant continued to decimate Azumamaro's troops at the gate while Kirameku Ha continued to put distance between them and the awaiting demons. Sanraku caught the sound of the shrieking again and snapped his eyes to a glimmering object perhaps a mile or so away from them. He then said, "Grandpa Kira! It's in the center of town!"

"Pheasant, the beacon at the town center! Strike it!" Kirameku Ha shouted.

He let loose a high-powered hyper-mianyi strike that shot back or killed several demons while the Green Pheasant harnessed just enough energy to release a holy arrow at the town center. Darkness fell over everyone until a beacon of light shot through the darkness and demons started to get sucked into the town center.

"What's happening?" Sanraku questioned, feeling himself being pulled forward.

"He purified whatever was at the center. We'll retreat from here until the pheasant is ready to go before us," Kirameku ordered, taking steps back before turning around.

"How are we supposed to get into the city like this? We're way outnumbered!" Sanraku said under his breath, taking the lead in defense.

"Actually, you did quite well, pleasant talking dog," Pheasant complimented, taking his leisure time in approaching them.

Once he formed a wall of reiki power to border Sozosora, the Green Pheasant simply looked from right to left for some sort of clue. They were in the right place for the next vision, but something was stopping them from proceeding forward. That only happened when a key item couldn't be found in the mortal realm or was out of order through the visions. Both scenarios were going to be a problem with the evil talking dog being as uncooperative as he pleased. There had to be something more to this oath - something that he was missing beyond entry into the holy city. Meioshi hadn't found a clue of use either to steer them in the right direction. The Green Pheasant already discussed that the pieces of the holy shield were scattered about, yet the vision of the evil talking dog's parents led them to the location of one of the pieces. He looked up at the sky to analyze the beacon of light. It seemed to be calling out to the heavens but not the other pieces like he thought it would have. Something was wrong, or perhaps... is it possible for the next piece to be among the heavens like Chen-bi once was? Wait!

This oath is more involved than what was revealed to me... the Green Pheasant thought, narrowing his eyes. Lady Meioshi must have the final piece, and our piece must be the third. This holy shield holds a direct line to the heavens. That's the connection! Even if the evil talking dog finds one of the pieces, we'd still be missing two of them. One of them is hidden! We'll have to return to the gazebo. There must be a different item to find first.

"You seem to have confirmed my suspicions," the Green Pheasant said softly. "Azumamaro isn't the one stopping us from proceeding. The trapped souls are. We can't step inside for a different reason."

"If we're not being stopped by Azumamaro, why are his goons here?" Sanraku asked.

"Unfortunately, they're acting as a sort of vanguard," the Green Pheasant replied. "They're only meant to distract a passerby. If they kill one, then he either gets fed or adds to his decoy number."

"What of the next vision you were supposed to witness?" Kirameku Ha questioned, sheathing his sword once he felt he could do no more.

"We won't be able to see anything like this, but that's an even messier problem," the Green Pheasant said with a concerned hum. "The evil talking dog... might be able to see it."