#fxrestvixen

[He took a deep breath in and out, and gathered his thoughts before continuing.]

One day, on a day much like today, a young woman, of an age much like your own, came across an injured youkai in a field far from any town. It was evident that a great battle had taken place there not too long ago, with blood splattered here and there over the trampled grass. However, the only participant of that battle who remained was the youkai lying on the ground.

The youkai had been lying in that very spot alone for some time, wondering if his life was at an end, when, through the weariness that clouded his eyes, he saw the young woman. She was beautiful to him, yes, but what she told him next made her more incredible than anyone he had ever encountered in his long, long life.

Was she royalty, you ask? Ah, yes, very much so…in the youkai’s eyes. Although in terms of social standing, she was certainly highly respected among humans for her rare ability to perform magic of all sorts.

With the youkai’s curiosity piqued, he urged his near-dead body up to meet this woman, but he could only manage to sit upright. He asked her why she was in such a dangerous place. The blood-filled scene around him was not a place for just anyone, especially not for an unarmed, unaccompanied young woman.

She told him that she was on a mission and that she had duties to fulfill. No matter what dangers she had to cross to fulfill those duties, she would cross them without hesitation. There were very few others who could take on such an important role, and if she could not complete her mission, the world would be in great danger.

Though the youkai appeared mostly human, his eyes were those of a demon’s, his hands were large and claw-like, and his sharp, deadly fangs were visible every time he spoke. Anyone who saw him knew that he was not human, but the woman had approached him as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

“You’re not afraid of me?” he asked.

“No,” she replied. “I’ve faced enemies far more terrifying than you.”

The youkai wondered just what kind of life this young woman led. The more he spoke to her, the more he became interested in her. Her courage, her steadfast determination, and her words all stirred something inside him that he had never felt before.

When she offered to heal him with her magic, he refused…only to agree on the one condition that she’d allow him to help her on her journey. And that was exactly what she did.

Her magic surged through his body, embracing him with an overwhelming amount of warmth and happiness. To have his broken body healed like this…it was as if he had been given a new life. Though he was still himself, he felt like he had been reborn into a new body.

With that, the two of them continued on together, traveling to distant lands and fighting ferocious monsters one after the other. And after each day, it seemed that the youkai was becoming more and more interested in her. He couldn’t bear to be apart from her.

The more he got to know her, the more beautiful she became to him. The way she spoke, the way she held herself, the way she laughed, the way she said his name…everything. Before he knew it, she had become the most important thing in his life….and he was ready to give his life for her if need be.

He loved her.

He loved her more than anyone or anything in the world. He loved her more than life itself. In all the hundreds of years he had lived, he had never met anyone who was able to give him so much joy just by calling his name, or make his heart constrict just by smiling at him. He never thought these things were even possible for someone like him.

He loved her….

He loved her more than I could ever put into words….

[Hasebe was silent for a moment. His gaze had fallen to the tatami floor and it appeared that his thoughts were starting to trouble him and demand more of his attention than his current story. When he realized he had stopped talking, he quickly snapped himself out of his daze and continued.]

Did she know, you ask? Maybe she did, maybe she didn’t. However, for this story, for this youkai, it didn’t matter. For, you see, they could never be together. He knew that very well. Youkai and humans are not meant to be together.

Days, months, even years went by with the youkai by her side, in times of battle and in times of rest. He cherished every minute of his time with her….because he loved her, but also because…the lifespan of humans go by in a blink of an eye to youkai.

The youkai knew that getting attached to a human would make their farewell excruciating, but the thought of being apart from this woman pained him even more.

His heart cried out to be by her side, and that’s exactly where he stayed.

It was only with her that he felt at home, at peace. It was only with her that he felt alive. He wanted to protect her at all costs. From enemies, from harm, from sadness, from tears….he wanted to protect her smile.

If she was only able to live for a few decades, he wanted to do everything in his power to make sure that they were the happiest years they could possibly be for her.

Did he ever tell her? Did she feel the same way?

[Hasebe fell silent and was about to say something, but then simply gave you a smile.]

Well….that’s something we’ll have to save for later, won’t we?

[Hasebe lowered his head in a bow and excused himself.]

My apologies, Master, but it’s time for me to attend to my cooking duties for our evening meal.

Ah…it seems that your tea has become cold. Please allow me to make you a fresh pot.

[Hasebe placed your tea cup and tea pot on a tray, excused himself once more, and exited your room, sliding the door closed behind him.]

[He started towards the kitchen, but slowed to a stop a few steps away from your room. He leaned against a wall of the long corridor, as if his legs could no longer support his weight. His closed his eyes, took a deep breath in, and sighed. He stayed like that in silence for a moment to collect himself, then forced his legs to cooperate with him and allow him to carry on with his duties.]