#monster bride

Quietly you stepped closer as and closer and CLOSER to the bush silently. Slowly behind the henhouse you went and stopped right in front of the bush. The wind blew swaying it's branches creepily and looked like thrashing arms. You grabbed a handful and silently and slowly pulled them back.

And you froze at what you saw-

The winds howled as the darkness crept across the skies. The darkness behind the bush shielded your form from the moonlight which cascaded down between the trees and clouds in the sky. The shadows danced and branches creaked as the wind blew them about. Like arms beckoning you closer to grab you away in their rough grip. Drag you into the shadows never to be seen again. Two eyes stared back at you. A snarl of fangs growled at you from the animal as black as night staring back at you.

A wolf.

IT WAS A WOLF!! The wild animal stood there growling at you for a few more seconds before just turning and running off. You watched as it disappeared into the darkness and heard it thundering through the brush until the sounds faded away to silence again. You ended up staring for what must've been a good five minutes before eventually you left the bush and stomped your way back into the safety and comfort of your house. You'd go back to town tomorrow and see about getting a trap once and for all. You weren't about to let that animal get away with eating on your livestock!

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The day was absolutely lovely. The trees swayed lightly with the wind as the flowers bloomed and the warm summer sun shone down on the earth below.

Yoi started down the forest path back to the nearest town. It was an hour's walk there and an hour walk back. A bit of a way to walk but you'd like to think it helped to discourage others from seeking you out most of the time. The rest of the trip passed by without incident or without that sixth sense of something watching you. An hour later you arrived at the town. It looked as busy and crowded as you remembered and it was then you realized something. You might as well probably get your shopping done since you were here. You'd be needing some more supplies. So off you went to the first spot which was a candle store, then a library, and a few more places. While at a certain book store however you again felt eyes on you, and this time you turned and found the source of them. You were expecting a lot of things. A man learning at you again. Someone wanting to flirt. Maybe even another customer waiting for you to move. But it wasn't any of those things. 

A simple man was staring downwards at you.

Amongst the few small shelves of books and one or two other people walking around browsing was another man around your age. His long black hair cascaded down his shoulders and his black eyes stared directly down at you but...He didn't look smug  or awestruck or blushing or anything else you usually saw when someone stared at you. He just looked surprised. Like if a miracle had happened right in front of him. You both just stared at one another in silence before you awkwardly looked around you and then back to him before clearing your throat. He reacted instantly. He jumped eyes shooting up to your raised browed face.

"Can I help you, Sir?"

He blinked again before shaking his head and holding up his hands. "N-No. I-Im so sorry. I-I didn't mean to stare. I-I was just l-looking at the book you were h-holding." He then pointed at the book you currently held. 

You looked at the book you had curiously plucked off the shelf to look at. A romance novel. Seemed interesting. "Oh.." Oh. Was that what he was looking at? Well it was relieving at least. "Did you want to look at it too?"

"N-No! Not that. I-I was just surprised that you were holding it..Is all." His dark eyes trailed off as a hand rubbed his neck. "I-I don't see a lot of people b-buy books by that specific author."

"Oh. Really? I wouldn't think that would be too weird. I mean this is the sequel to the first book and I wanted to know what happened to the Prince." The man ended up gawking at you in surprise again. "....What?"

"Y-You bought the first book!?," he asked rather loudly making a few people look over at you. You leaned back as he suddenly leaned forward. "As in..You actually bought it? And actually READ it!? A-And liked it enough to get the next book?!"

...You blinked as he stared at you in a mixture of disbelief and surprise and awe. "Um...Yes? Why?"

"B-Because I wrote it! I-I didn't think anyone would really be interested in purchasing anything from M-My personal works," he confessed a bit embarrassed to admit it again averting his eyes as you blinked at him.

"Wait. You wrote all these books?"

"Well...N-Not all of them. Only a few b-but I help run the store s-s-so the owner let's me put up a few copies of my own works for anyone who m-might want them." He shrugged. "It's not much, but I guess i-its better than nothing "

"No way!'' You lit up with a smile. "That's so amazing ! I had no idea there was an author here! I really like this small series with the Prince and the soldier girl pretending to be a man."

"You don't think it's a bit over exaggerating?"

You shook your head which surprised him. "Not at all. I really like how they became friends before you decided to add any romance. It makes the couple feel better connected to each other."

"REALLY!?"

You nodded again smiling wider. "It's a lot more satisfying than a forced fairytale romance. I didn't catch your name by the way?"

"Oh..Um." he cleared his throat. "I-its Kyogai." He nodded at your hand. "You can see it on the book cover."

Your eyes looked at the book again seeing the name Kyogai sprawled on the bottom. "Ah. So it is." You smiled back to him. "Well I'll definitely be buying this then. I can't wait to see what happened after her secret identity was uncovered, then I can get a trap."

"Trap?"

You nodded. "I have a small chicken stealing wolf problem but it's nothing I can't handle." You gave a small bow to Kyogai with a bright smile on your face. "Thank you for writing such wonderful stories for entertaining myself with. I'll be sure to come back for more."

His face lit up a red as he only managed to stutter out, "O-Of course."

You chuckled at his reaction only making him turn a deeper shade of red before taking your leaves, purchasing the book before making your way out of the shop and back towards the blacksmiths. For once a pleasant experience that made you smile. Now to take care of that wolf problem.

Quietly you stepped closer as and closer and CLOSER to the bush silently. Slowly behind the henhouse you went and stopped right in front of the bush. The wind blew swaying it's branches creepily and looked like thrashing arms. You grabbed a handful and silently and slowly pulled them back.

And you froze at what you saw-

The winds howled as the darkness crept across the skies. The darkness behind the bush shielded your form from the moonlight which cascaded down between the trees and clouds in the sky. The shadows danced and branches creaked as the wind blew them about. Like arms beckoning you closer to grab you away in their rough grip. Drag you into the shadows never to be seen again. But in the darkness something shined. The coldness of the air bit down hard on your skin, like painful bee stings pricking your skin. The terror far greater than seeing a thousand wolves sunk in.

c r a c k

A splatter of red laid across the grass. Feathers coated in the red liquid of life laid there discarded. Unwanted by the maw that consumed the flesh between its teeth. Purple irises shook, watered at the sight before them. A hunched shadow devoured everything in its claws. Down the gullet and never to be returned again. Never before seen by prying eyes. A low hiss of air gurgled from the frothing mouth. Like a wheezing choke. Your body felt rigid. Frozen in utter horror as your mind struggled to comprehend the mass sitting before you. The horrors of it all as your jaw opened up in terror and the smell of blood combed into your senses-

Sniff.

An ear flickered. The mouth paused mid bite into the small body and slowly raised up. 

SNIFF. SNIFF.

Loud questioning sniffs filled the air-

C R A C K-

An inhuman snap of its neck sounded as it snapped to you. And you froze as glowing blue eyes stared at your very soul. And for a long moment neither of you moved for a long moment until there was a chittering noise and a chicken drained of blood dropped to the ground from his claws.

IT WAS HER. THE WOMAN FROM THE HOUSE.

Silence rang out as the creature rose inhuman slowly. High. Higher. And then higher. Your head slowly followed the thing up as the thing stopped and you found yourself staring into the eyes of a man's- No...Beast's...It- ..YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT!! It was like you were looking at a monsters face red blood smeared his jaws from the chicken it had been eating however he stopped and stared down it's nose at you. Your hiding place behind the bush no longer secure as it continued to stare at your petrified form. There wasn't enough moonlight to fully see what it was standing in the shadows except for part of its face which tilted.... before a wide maw of fangs smirked down at you. Without warning it leaned down and you clamped your eyes shut on instinct. Surely this is the day you died.

SNIFF SNIFF??

You froze more as a warm breath blew over you and something heavy loomed over you. You didn't see it. But you sure as hell F E L T IT!! Your body didn't even move being too scared but your eyes opened to stare blankly at the leaves of the bush, too scared to look up and see what it was sniffing curiously at your head. Before whatever it was smirked  in amusement and pride at her. Yes. That was right. BE AFRAID OF HIM! He was stronger, faster, and smarter than she'd ever be. Oh he loved it whenever puny humans trembled under his terrifying and strong person. This woman was no different than the rest of them. To add for good measure he let out a little hiss and snap of his fangs at the pretty face. The loud CLACK noise his teeth made had her flinching hard. A deep chuckle of satisfaction left his throat as she trembled...And a hand slowly reached out for something he couldn't see.

"Scared aren't you? It'd make sense. After all.." Black claws reached out to push some strands of hair away in order to better see those scared purple eyes. "There's very little you can do abou-

D I N G-!!!

A very loud and metal DING rang out into the night as a shovel was swung and made contact with whatever creature it was. It's head snapped to the left and down it went unconscious. It's large black body landing face first on the ground with a thud as limp as a ragdoll. You stood there shaking and panting holding up the shovel in your hands. Thank the gods by some miracle you'd left it leaning against your henhouse just within reaching distance of where you stood by the bush. Speaking of which- Without you or that ..thing holding it back anymore, the Bush's branches fluttered back into place leaving you panting and heaving. Blinking as your mind tried taking everything that just happened in.

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED?!

Ever so slowly the bush was again patted before they stopped to let purple eyes stare at the clearly unconscious body. Slower footsteps approached until they stopped by the man's (??) head and stopped...A shovel lowered and gently poked and prodded at the thing's head. It didn't move an inch proving that whoever it was, he was completely out. Eventually you gave a relieved sigh but that still left you standing there with whoever this thing was. Your eyes glanced at his meal that was once a plump prize winning hen and a twinge of anger kindled inside of you. Your eyes looked back to the unconscious creature..Well...he wasn't dead. You could see his chest rising and falling in breaths.

...What were you supposed to do now?

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MMMMMMOOOOOOO-

Black and blue eyes popped open immediately but blinked back closed as his vision danced and swirled dotted with polka dots. His head swam as a groan escaped a wide maw of fangs. The triple vision swirling until the three things before him became one and-

!?

"AAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHH!?!?!"

His head ripped away from the tongue licking his cheek and an indignant screech of disgust ripped from his throat. A loud moo escaped from the large animal penned up next to him. Immediately the body moved to quickly sit up but instead he yelped and face planted into a ground covered in hay. At least it cushioned his throbbing head- 

"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!"

He hissed struggling against the ropes tying his body-...Wait a dam minute. ROPES!? The things trapped him tightly in their grip as he cursed and struggled against them. On top of all of THAT the right side of his head THROBBED from pain! It felt like he had been hit by a stampede of horses! 

"Hey. You."

He froze at the voice. A FEMALE voice. Coming from right behind him. His head snapped behind him faster than any human scowling and hissing in rage only to pause at the figure he saw. A woman dressed in a simple kimono comfortable enough to work in. Purple eyes scowled down at him with a frown. In her hands held firmly was a shovel.

"So you're finally awake."

His reaction to you was instant. He hissed and continued with his struggling flopping around and wriggling like a worm having a seizure. "UNTIE ME!!"

"Fat chance. Why would I untie you after you stole and killed my chicken and then threatened me?"

"LET ME GO!!," He screeched eventually stopping on his back to glare up to you with a scowl and fangs bared. "HOW DARE YOU TIE ME UP!?"

"How dare you steal from me?! What was I supposed to do?! Not defend myself?!"

"Where the fuck am I?!"

"In my barn." At this he gave pause, blinked, and finally took a moment to look around him. Obvious farm tools were mounted along the right wall. The entire floor was covered in hay. A small area next to him was fenced off to act like a small pen for a single cow that mooed again as he looked around. "I would've brought you inside my house but I don't know you all too well. How's your head? I suppose it would hurt seeing as I clicked you pretty well."

He continued to stare... before scowling at you harder. "YOU HIT ME IN THE HEAD WITH A FUCKING SHOVEL?!"

"YOU THREATENED ME?!," You shouted back at him, "AND STOLE MY CHICKEN!! HOW DID YOU EXPECT TO REACT!?" He didn't answer at first but flinched when you suddenly squated down eye level with him still holding the shovel narrowing your eyes. "Now who are you and what are you doing here?" He hissed- The metal end of the shovel was raised to his chest. "I have a shovel and I'm not afraid to use it."

Blue and black eyes looked at you then at the shovel. Then at you. Then back at the shovel. Then seemed to think for a moment before hissing and pinning his pointed ears back. "I'm Kaigaku. Now untie me-"

"Not until you tell me what you're doing here."

"Oh for fucks sake!! FOOD. ALRIGHT!? I WANTED FUCKING FOOD!," he spat at you with a deep scowl, "I saw food, I was hungry, and I ATE. As simple as that! You weren't going to miss one dam chicken and a few peaches-"

"That chicken-" You cut him off poking his chest hard. "-cost me twenty coins same as the others! She wasn't cheap! What gives you the right to just come onto my property and take more of my property you...you..... What are you anyways?"

You'd never seen anything like him. Grey skin, weird stripe markings on his cheeks, black eye sclera, pointed ears, and fangs. Two top fangs were much larger than all the others. Was he some kind of monster? He gave a deadpanned look before rolling his eyes and scoffing.

''Im a vampiric demon." He then gave an (not-) intimidating smirk. "I need a certain amount of blood to survive. You should be lucky I didn't consider you to be on-"

"Wow. You must really love this shovel."

He sputtered a few noises indignantly. "I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW IM MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU'LL EVER IMAGINE, WOMAN!!"

"Uh huh. And that's why I was able to tie you up right?" He only glared at you and you sighed. "Well...I guess I can untie you. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with you and to be honest I'm not really too fond of having you around."

"Oh FINALLY!!"

"But if you try to attack me, Ill hit you again and throw you in the river out back," you warned him to which he still scowled at.

He said nothing but yelped as you just grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him over to lay on his stomach. On his back was the knot keeping all the ropes together. All you had to do was grab one end and tug. Instantly he felt himself be freed. The ropes gave out and you blinked as he inhumanly stood up faster than you expected. His body shaking like a dog's to toss the ropes off of him before hissing in relief. His hands rubbing every inch of his sore body eventually stopping on the right side of his head. The pain was STILL throbbing there and his previous flopping around and yelling did not help it. He hadn't felt like this since Kokushibo slammed him into a boulder during a training session. You noticed the groaning and gestures he made with his hands as if in pain.

"Are you alright?," you asked slowly standing up 

"You hit me with a dam shovel!," he snapped but winced as a pang of pain shot through his head. "Do I LOOK ok to you?" He hissed through clenched fangs.

A small feeling of guilt washed over you. Oh yeah. You did so that. "Will you be ok?"

"I'll regenerate after a few hours." But until then it'd be hell. He jumped as something grabbed his arm and pulled him forward.

A thud rang out as you dropped the shovel and grabbed the man with both hands and pulled him forward. He stumbled a few steps as you walked and immediately shot a scowl at you getting ready to shout at you to let him go..But he paused seeing your face. The sunlight from the entrance bounced off your body and your eyes reflected the light brightening up the purple shining within them like two perfect lavender diamonds. Your gentle smile and soft lips smiling at him. 

"Well let's go get you something to ease your pain. I have a tea mixture that's a pain reliever. Not sure how well it'll work on demons or whatever you said you were but you can still have some."

He only still stared... Like the first time he saw you- "Why?"

"It's called being the bigger person. And I don't like the idea of someone I hurt running around with an injury I caused. If it's really serious then I'd rather have you get help."

He hummed but otherwise said nothing as you pulled him from the barn and towards the small house. His brow rose higher as you reached out to open up the back door before proceeding to pull him in. He chose to just stop and stare in the doorway. It was a one roomed house. It was mostly empty. A coffee table square in the middle, a picture frame or two holding a painting of someone on the walls, a basket in the corner, a shelf full of dishes and other small items, a fireplace with a fire currently alive and heating a kettle, and a few other bland things. Nothing that really stood out as anything important to him. His eyes turned back to you before he hissed again and reached up to cradle his head as another pang of pain flashed through his head. HE SWORE HE WAS GOING TO GET PAYBACK FOR THIS-

"Why don't you have a seat?" You turned from the shelf with a small box. "I'll get you some tea and you can rest a bit."

"Yeah. Sure. Whatever." He grumbled but wobbled his way over to plop himself down in your futon without any care for how you'd react. 

He groaned again and held his head in both hands now that he could sit down. Gods this was stupid. He knew he should've stopped by that dairy farm instead but they didn't have any peach trees and he couldn't pass up the chance to indulge in his favorite fruits. ... He's learnt a hard lesson. From now on all his meals will be taken with him TO GO. He barely looked up when you came back over with a warm cup and small wooden box in your hands although his nose wrinkled up at the smell of horrid rotten vegetables. It came from the cup you shoved under his nose making him lean away and glare at it.

"The hell is that?"

"Herbal tea."

"Smells like shit. Are you trying to give me a stomach ache on top of giving me a headache!?"

You gave him a blank look. "It might not taste very good but it'll help with the pain. Now drink up." You pushed the cup into one of his hands.

Usually he would've refused and just argued but the throbbing pain overruled any arguing. So he just sucked it up and brought the foul smelling liquid to his lips despite his nose's protesting. A glass shattering sound went off in his head as soon as half the small cup was sucked into his mouth. His eyes bulged out, his cheeks puffed out, and it took everything in your power to not instantly snort in laughter at his reaction to the foul smelling AND TASTING tea. The grip on the cup increased as a single tear fell down his cheek...Oh good gods....IT TASTED SO FUCKING BAD!! He nearly choked before he forced himself to swallow the terrible tasting tea and instantly gagged sticking his tongue out in the universal sign of disgust. You couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"YUCK!! What the hell is this?! Poison!?"

"It's just herbs and water."

"It tastes worse than it smells!!"

"Well I never said that it would taste good. Finish up the rest of it and I'll make you something to eat."

He casted a scowl your way. "If your cooking is already this bad then forget it!"

"Too bad. I was going to make some homemade peach cobbler."

You nearly laughed again as he perked up at you in interest. "......Peach cobbler?"

"Made with fresh peaches straight from my own orchard." He fully stared at you now. "But only if you finish up the rest of that tea."

"What?!"

"You already finished half of it. Just down the other half... Unless you don't want peach cobbler and homemade freshly brewed peach tea."

He perked up more. "Peach tea?"

"Finish drinking first. Then we'll talk food."

He scowled again before staring down at his cup with disdain and disgust. Was it really worth the food?....His peach addiction told him yes. So grumbling Kaigaku braced himself and tried not to smell too much of the smell as the rest of the foul smelling liquid was forced down his gullet. He hoped his stomach would forgive him for this. 

-TWO HOURS LATER-

It wasn't as scary as you thought having someone who wasn't human sitting in your home. He was WAY more annoying than scary especially when he was scarfing down what must've been his fifth plate of peach cobbler you offered him as you took the chance to bandage his head. When you first touched it he snapped up and kissed at you-

He was cut off mid hiss by a hand slapping over his mouth. "Oh hush up. It'll help your pain."

"Hell no! Why would I let you touch me when you already hurt me?" 

You only deadpanned at his stubbornness. "Do you want me to kiss your booboo and make it feel better?"

He blanked. "....What-"

He didn't even finish as two small lips pressed into his temple as you kissed the sore spot he was clutching earlier. The plate of food nearly dropped from his hands as he choked. Your gentle touch was gone soon after and you took his frozen, red faced form as a chance to finish bandaging his head. He flinched at your sudden touch but didn't stop you before you finished bandaging his head. 

"There. That should help with it. I think you should stay here."

Still red faced he snapped up to you snapping out of his stupor. "WHAT?!"

"Just in case you have a concussion. I'd feel better knowing you were alright fully."

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just walk out of here like I should've done in the first place-"

"Peach cobbler." He fell silent as you rose a brow. "And home made foods and anything else you might want."

"... ...."

Kaigaku found himself staring up at the ceiling and grumbling as you pulled the blanket over himself and smiled sweetly. Stupid pretty-....PETTY human!! You yourself pulled out a pair of spare blankets and pillows for yourself before falling asleep in a different part of the home. From that day onwards you thought you weren't going to see Kaigaku but to your surprise he started showing up a few more times and every time you'd find him in your peach tree scarfing down your hard grown fruits. At first it annoyed you and you'd chase him from the trees with your shovel but after the fourth time in one month you gave up at just expected him to show up at this point. Which was at most once a week. You got the impression that he really loved peaches. At this rate you'd never have any to sell ever again. Kaigaku was still annoying however he was smart enough to stay a good distance away whenever you held something big enough to chase him with in your hands.

"Are you just going to sit up there all day watching me work while eating my produce?" You spent nearly the whole morning reaching up and straining to get the apples on the bottom branches of your apple trees while blue-black eyes just stared at you.

He scoffed stuffing another fruit in his mouth from the branch he laid upon. "It's not my fault you're so dam short- AH!!" He ducked as an apple harmlessly was thrown past his shoulder. "HEY! The hell was THAT for?!"

"For being a lazy asshole. If you want me to make you food then quit being an arse to me."

"You women are all the same. You get your pretty little head too big and think you can boss everyone around."

You smirked. "Oh so you think I'm pretty?~"

"What?! No! I was just saying you shouldn't be a smart ass!!"

"You you think I'm smart too?"

"YOU'RE REALLY STARTING TO PUSH YOUR LUCK!!," He snapped red faced now.

"Oh ..So I'm lucky too.~ How cute of you to think so.~"  You continued to giggle at his red face as he sputtered. 

"SHUT THE HELL UP!!"

Quietly you stepped closer as and closer and CLOSER to the bush silently. Slowly behind the henhouse you went and stopped right in front of the bush. The wind blew swaying it's branches creepily and looked like thrashing arms. You grabbed a handful and silently and slowly pulled them back.

And you froze at what you saw-

The winds howled as the darkness crept across the skies. The darkness behind the bush shielded your form from the moonlight which cascaded down between the trees and clouds in the sky. The shadows danced and branches creaked as the wind blew them about. Like arms beckoning you closer to grab you away in their rough grip. Drag you into the shadows never to be seen again. You cracked an opening in the branches and looked out. The darkened sky looked out over the entire area. Tree branches swayed and night fell upon the ground. However you froze as your eyes met a pair of teal irises staring directly back at you from the darkness.

A shadow ran from the bushes with a second.

You let out a squeal of fright and fell backwards stumbling back a few steps before falling on your backside. Shaking your head, you looked back up to the bush..but you didn't hear any footsteps or anything else that signalled another person. Just the wind and rustling of leaves. Slowly you stood back up and reached back out for the bush. It's branches were parted wider than before and gave you a clear view of the other side. The moonlight enough to allow you to see out in the orchard clearly but there was no one. No person or animals. Just empty waving trees. You allowed them to close back and stood there for a long moment before shaking your head.

"It must've been a wild animal. I must've scared it off when I freaked out."

Nevermind you didn't hear anything run away. You just didn't hear the footsteps over the wind and your yell. That even might've been the animal that ate your chicken! You frowned at the bush but eventually turned and walked back into your house. There wasn't anything else you could do. It was already gone. All you could do was go back inside and close the door behind you. You were tired and right all all you wanted to do was sleep. You'd go back to town tomorrow and buy another trap. Your body soon was laid along the futon, a blanket pulled over yourself. Within the quiet home your eyelids drooped until blackness seeped in and you were lulled into a deep peaceful slumber. Nothing but your gentle breaths and the wind outside to disturb the darkness.

However something else did stir.

The shadows moved in the darkness. An elongated shadow crawled along the floor passing by the light of the fireplace and stopping just in front of the woman. A figure arose from it and two teal eyes stared down at the figure before him. 

"My, my. Look at what poor little flower I stumbled across.~ Hmhmhm.~ Such beautiful eyes and soft features.~ It's a wonder that you're all alone.~ Usually young women like you would be married by now.~ Oh well. I wonder what beautifully horrific dreams a pretty little delicate flower like you will have.~"

A hand reached over pulling a strand of hair away from her face causing her to  move in her sleep snuggling closer under the thick fluffy blankets. A sadistic grin plastered on the face before a single fingertip pressed into her forehead as excited eyes watched and waited ...and waited....and waited. Before blinking.

Why wasn't anything happening?

He paused blinking. Lifting his finger to glance at the top briefly before pressing it back into the woman's forehead and again waiting. But even after waiting five minutes staring intensely for any change nothing happened. It was like he wasn't even focusing his energy on her. ....She should be having a nightmare of her family being eaten by wolves right now! WHAT WAS GOING ON? She hadn't moved in the slightest! Or screamed! Or woken up! Or cried! Or..Or ..OR ANYTHING!! Why wasn't she experiencing any nightmares!?  How...Strange. The hand retreated with a hum. Now THIS was odd. Even if she was in a dead enough sleep to not have any dreams she should've gotten a nightmare because of his powers. She didn't have any blessings or talismans preventing him from giving her nightmares otherwise he wouldn't have been able to get inside here or spy on her for the past few nights to plan his next nightmare victim. 

"You're able to resist my abilities.... Interesting. I've never seen anyone do this before.~" A hand reached over to run his knuckles on the side of her cheek. "Now what could you be hiding under that beautiful face- ?!"

He was cut off as purple eyes popped open with a snap. Irises snapping up at him and shrinking- One moment he was staring at the sight of a sleeping Beauty and the next something had quickly snatched his arm and thrown over he went. He body was thrown completely over the futon, stomach painfully slamming against the floor hard enough to make the air expell from his throat. A wheeze escaped his mouth but he froze as a weight slammed down on his back in the form of the woman's knee.  There he laid against the ground one side of his face smooshed against the hard wood floor and halfway staring up shocked at the woman holding his arm at a painful angle. Your beautiful anger snarling down at him. For a moment noone spoke until she snapped his arm back painfully making him flinch hard.

"Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my house?," she growled making a shiver go down his spine.

"Impressive.~ No one's ever woken up during my visits before ~"

"ANSWER ME!! What are you?! A thief? Trying to run me off my property?! I bet you're the one who stole my chicken aren't you?!"

"I'm none of those things, My dear.~" He dared a smile. "I'm a Boogeyman. You just happened to catch me before I could try my nightmare sand next.~"

You...just blinked at his widely smiling face. ".....What?''

A deep chuckle escaped his throat before before your very eyes the man's body slowly turned all black as if the shadows crept over his skin and seeped into his clothes. You shrieked at the sight dropping his arm and jumping off his back. Your eyes widened in shock as the black form literally melted becoming one with the shadows before he dispersed within the darkness of your home. Leaving you standing there staring wide eyed.

"What the FUCK?!"

That's how the entire process lead up to today  you both supposed. This Boogeyman, Enmu, came back again a few nights later and tried to give you nightmares again which you woke up to and managed to clock him in the face with a frying pan and proceeded to chase him a few feet before he disappeared like he did last time melting into the shadows. But he came back again. He didn't show up every night. It was always a few days to a week apart between visits and you always woke up when he arrived for some reason. Also for some reason you didn't feel... threatened. You supposed you should've been considering that a stranger kept showing up in the middle of the night I'm your home with obvious supernatural powers no matter how tightly you locked your doors. But he wasn't very threatening. Only asking what objects you'll chase him that night. To which you'd start chasing. It was getting ridiculous considering this had gone on for more than six months now. But you had learnt a few things about him.

His name was Enmu, and apparently he was a Boogeyman whom fed off the fear people emitted from the nightmares they gave. However he was curious as to why he couldn't give you any nightmares and kept coming around to try and remedy that. However you could clearly tell that wasn't the whole truth judging by his blushing face and giggling demeanor every time you spoke to him now. It happened after you caught him and pushed him against the wall. 

Yep. He's become infactuated with you but you couldn't give it a care. By now you'd become used to his visits and seeing him in the shade during the daytime. He's pretty harmless. Greatly annoying and bothersome but harmless. Or at least to YOU he was. To others...that was a very different reality. You could only sit down there one day working on chopping some vegetables for that soup you were cooking and of course Enmu was there looking over your shoulder and smiling.

"Did you have sweet dreams last night?~ Were they about me?~ Us?~ Our wedding-" he was shut up when a carrot was thrown over your shoulder and bonked him square on the forehead before falling to the floor with a thud.

"You're determined to try to talk me into letting you court me aren't you?"

"....We aren't already?" He sounded confused and a little sad before clutching his chest placing a hand to his head. "You wound me."

To his delight you ended up snorting and shaking your head. "You know you're really are a drama qu-"

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!!

You both were interrupted by a loud knocking on your door. It made you both look and blink. Now who could that be? You placed down your cutting knife and walked on over to the door with Enmu watching nearby curiously and out of sight from the door. He watched as you opened it and blink .. before an instant frown coated your face in a deep scowl. 

"Oh. It's you again," you spoke to someone outside your door before crossing your arms. "What do you want now?"

"I've come to see if you came to your senses and changed your mind like a sensible woman. Are you ready to finally accept my proposal and become a proper housewife?", an unknown man's voice spoke out from the other side 

He was curious enough to slink into the shadows outside in the corner of the roof and peep his eyes out. What he saw was the blandest most boring looking man with glasses he's ever seen standing there. He stared annoyed at your scowling face.

"You're kidding me. Right?" You scoffed rolling your eyes. "I thought you would've learnt from last year that I wasn't interested. Why are you here when you know that I'll just say no again?"

"Because I decided to be generous and gift you one last chance to be with someone as high society as me."

"Generous!? Gift me?! Did you hit your head or something?! That's the most narcissistic thing I've ever been told! My answer is NO! My answer has always been no and it WILL ALWAYS BE NO!!" You then pointed back up the pathway he came from. "NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF MY SIGHT AND GET OFF OF MY PROPERTY!!"

INSTANTLY the man's expression soured at your glare. "Fine then! But don't blame me when you become nothing but an old hag living alone for the rest of your life!"

With that he turned with a huff and started stomping his way back up the pathway back towards town. You both watched him go and a moment later Enmu reemerged from the shadows next to you once he was out of sight and wouldn't see him. His first thoughts instantly went to the image of a spoiled child.

"Interesting." You jumped whirling at Enmu who tilted his head at the pathway. "He seems to be upset. Do you know him? Who was he?"

You blinked before glaring again. "He's someone who wouldn't stop bothering me last year to become his wife. He only stopped after I threw a bucket of water at him but I guess he wanted to give it one last shot." You slammed the door shut before turning and stopping back towards your dinner. "I wish he'd just get it through his thick head that I'm not interested!"

He only hummed in interest before turning to the door. Well...it has been a while since he fed from someone's nightmares anyways.~

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

The quietness of the study was unbroken as the man silently studied along the table. The silence was only filled by the ticking of the clock behind him and the crackling of the fire in the fireplace that filled the study with warmth. The light danced across the shadows and lit up the place in the dark. It was a rather cozy room with many shelves of books, comfy chairs, and the table with a giant map sprawled upon it. Yes. His father would be pleased with the surveillance work he made of the new farmland he purchased. They should be able to divide it enough for the blueprints for the many houses. Renting the houses out to people would certainly bring plenty of money. A yawn escaped from his throat as hands reached up to remove the glasses before a hand ran over his face. It was getting late. A hard day's work deserved a good rest. The man stood leaving the comfort of his warm study before walking away to exit into a hallway. It wasn't too hard to find his futon inside his bedroom. With a small action of placing his glasses on a nearby table, his body curled up inside the bed cozy and warm.

But not safe.

Shadows moved. Elongated alongside the wall. Teal eyes crinkled up. A smile giggled gleefully. An arm extended itself out.

"Oh how sweet.~ Looking so peaceful in slumber.~ Not a care in the world...I wonder what hellish escapades you'll have within a world of nightmares.~  Such a sweet vengeance for an intruding obstacle.~ Hmm...I know. Let's make you fear ever speaking with a certain person ever again.~ Oh what fun we'll have once I'm done with you.~"

A fingertip pressed against the soft skin of the man's forehead. Manic glee rising as the brows furrowed more and more. And soon his mouth opened up. And a scream shrieked out.

Quietly you stepped closer as and closer and CLOSER to the bush silently. Slowly behind the henhouse you went and stopped right in front of the bush. The wind blew swaying it's branches creepily and looked like thrashing arms. You grabbed a handful and silently and slowly pulled them back.

And you froze at what you saw-

The winds howled as the darkness crept across the skies. The darkness behind the bush shielded your form from the moonlight which cascaded down between the trees and clouds in the sky. The shadows danced and branches creaked as the wind blew them about. Like arms beckoning you closer to grab you away in their rough grip. Drag you into the shadows never to be seen again. You cracked an opening in the branches and looked out. The darkened sky looked out over the entire area. Tree branches swayed and night fell upon the ground. However you froze as your eyes met a sickening sight.

R E D.

The coldness of the air bit down hard on your skin, like painful bee stings pricking your skin. The terror far greater than seeing a thousand wolves sunk in. A hand flew to cover your mouth as a foul urge to vomit rose and a sickening copper smell filtered through the air.

RED!!

That was the color painted everywhere on the ground displayed before you. And there...lying face down slumped over was a man's body. A canvas for the color. Your eyes shrank in terror and your ears gained a ringing sound all on their own drowning out any noise.

A DEAD BODY.

In your backyard and lying right in front of your face. How-...Where did it come from?! Who was this!? Where did it come from?! You wretched yourself away from the bush in shock and leaned over slightly. The urge to vomit riding as you did everything you could to keep it down. The bush branches snapping back into place hiding the sight from you. Automatically you gave a few coughs and gulped down air in an attempt to calm yourself head spinning. There was a dead man on your property! Oh gods! What if someone thought you were responsible for this!? You could be tried for murders-

Wait...

How did you know he was actually dead?

That one thought made you freeze in your tracks instantly. That's right...How did you know for certain that he was dead? You just merely saw him covered in blood. Your head turned back to the bush. He...he could've been hurt and tried reaching your house for help. What if he was laying there suffering?! That thought perked you back up into going back to the bush and cautiously reaching out to slightly pull the branches again. The body was still there unmoving. It...sure LOOKED dead but you couldn't tell in the dark. If he was still alive..you had to help him. You couldn't just leave someone to bleed out. The unmoving form still remained unmoving even as you noisily pushed through the bush and stood right next to the head....It was definitely a man. You could tell by how Large the body was and how muscular the exposed skin was. In the limited moonlight you were able to make out long hair that mostly covered his face and he laid in a position that suggested that he'd collapsed by himself. But the question still remained...Was he still alive?

You hesitated again ...but slowly you reached over to the face laying on its side and touched the long black strands of hair covering his eyes. It was .. surprisingly soft and silky to the touch and you slowly pulled it away from the face to examine it. The right side of a man's face greeted you. You nearly jumped back at what you saw. His right eye was closed obviously either unconscious or dead. Your hand instead went to almost touch his lips and flinched back feeling a weak warm breath blow across your fingertips. You reeled back in shock, hand to your chest, and jumping

HE WAS ALIVE!!

Hands grabbed his right shoulder and HEAVED. Barely moving an inch, but slowly the body turned, and with a thud whoever he was collapsed onto his back. A shocked gasp escaped from your throat upon purple eyes seeing his front body. Oh gods...So much blood. His body was practically DRENCHED in the red color! And you found out why. Mr. Unknown had the front of his blue shirt ripped to pieces to where it was barely hanging on over his shoulders. A large gash across his front from his left shoulder and ending just above his right hip was exposed to you. There was so much blood..How was he even still alive!? You reached out to touch his forehead- But froze as a strong hand snatched you hand.

A pair of eyes opened up and gazed up at the blurry figure above him. Not making any sense of the blurry, spinning vision. Until the eyes rolled up into the back of his head and the last thing he saw was a glimpse of purple.

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

Warm.

Everything was warm once feeling returned to his body. Which was odd. He was lying on the cold hard ground last he remembered. Logic was of course the first thing to return to him. His thinking was always faster than his reflexes. Then the feeling of his body settled in. Warmth...but incredible aching, throbbing soreness. It throbbed and banged his body. Hmm..So he wasn't dead after all. It was too painful to be heaven and not painful enough to be hell, and too annoying to be purgatory. So he was Still alive but had passed out for a short while. A gasp escaped from the sore dry throat that sent him into bouts of a coughing fit. It caused his chest to hurt so much a whimper escaped from the sore body. 

Where was he? Was he home with his brothers? He so wanted nothing more than to hear his father's quivering voice and Sekido angrily yelling at him while forcing him to eat food to get better. Zohakuten telling him how  dumb he was. Karaku and Urogi hugging him affectionately.

Blue eyes slowly opened themselves up to the world blinking rapidly at the light and his vision blurred until he could see...A one roomed house? It was mostly empty. A coffee table square in the middle, a picture frame or two holding a painting of someone on the walls, a basket in the corner, a shelf full of dishes and other small items, a fireplace with a fire currently going, and a few other bland things. Nothing that really stood out as anything important to him. But who lived here? Why was he inside? How did he get here? And who touched him?

His question was answered when the door opened and the figure of a woman in a blue kimono walked in. The smell of wood drew his attention to the logs she was carrying. Silently he watched as she slid the sliding door back closed with a foot before continuing on to the fireplace and proceeding to feed the fire the wood. He laid there silently staring at her legs as she worked, feeling too weak to look up just yet and not wanting to give himself away just yet. The sounds of a metal poker scraping against the fire appeared for a little while before it too went away and the legs turned to face him. They didn't move again for a long moment before he felt a hand touch his blanketed shoulder- Faster than either expected his left hand shot up to tightly grip a much smaller wrist and squeezed down just enough to get them both to freeze. Blue eyes snapped upwards and paused at the sight of a-..

...A-A woman?!

THE. MOST. BEAUTIFUL. WOMAN. HE. HAD. EVER. SEEN. Was standing there above him looking surprised when he grabbed her hand. Blue eyes stared widely at her.. before the tight hand slowly loosened their grip and he let go of her. She pulled her hand back looking it over before looking back at him and slowly smiling.

"I'm sorry. I guess I must've startled you." She tilted her head at him with a smile. "Good morning. How are you feeling?"

His mouth dropped open but all that came out was a torrent of violent coughing which caused pain to EXPLODE in his chest. His body wracked violently as waves of pain washed over him. A force in the form of two hands slam down onto his shoulders to still his body.

"Easy! Easy! Breath slowly. Slow your inhaled." The gasping from the male under you coughed and sputtered and looked like a drowning fish before he finally was able to lay back mouth open and gulping mouthfuls of air. "There you go. That's it." You slowly pulled your hands away from him. "That should feel better soon. Are you feeling better?"

To your surprise a choke noise escaped from the man's throat and he shook his head no. His blue eyes looked at you. And you couldn't help but stare in awe. They might've been the prettiest blue eyes you've ever seen but what was strange was that the sclera and pupil were both blue. Huh. Strange. Was he born with a rare eye coloration or something? The blue eyes weld up in tears water about to spill over before a sob escaped his mouth.

"It hurts," he whimpered in a voice you never heard from a man before, "I f-feel s-s-so..weak."

You instantly felt bad for him. "Yeah. I guess having a wound like yours would hurt but you're ok." You tried to calm him down by smiling and patting his arm. "It's not very deep and you should make a full recovery if you rest up and take care of the wound."

A shaking hand reached up to grab the blanket covering his body and lifted. The blanket shook in his Shaking hold and he could barely lift his head up to peek at his torso, but he saw the clear wrappings around his torso and the snug blankets tucked around his body with care. He stared at your handywork before allowing himself to flop back into place and turn his tearful eyes back on her.

"D-...D-Did you D-Do this-s?"

"If you mean your wounds no. I didn't hurt you but I did find you outside my home and brought you in here." You gestured to his torso. "And I bandaged you as best as I could. The wound is big but the cut wasn't deep and I could treat it easily. Although you're going to be sore and weak for a while. What's your name?"

"A-Aizetsu."

You beamed softly at him which made his face turn a deep shade of red. "Well Aizetsu, my name's Y/n! It's very nice to meet you. But if it's not too much to ask how did you get in my orchard?"

He sniffled before reaching a shaking hand up to wipe at his face. "I-I don't r-r-remember. I w-was-....T-There was a f-fight a-and U-Urogi G-Gotta hit by an arrow a-and he dropped me.." His pupils widened in horrific realization. "I-I fell....I-It hurt.. s-s-so mu-much."

"Hey. You're alright now." He was surprised when something soft pressed against his face making him jump but then blink bewildered as something soft wiped his cheeks.But his eyes widened in shock as he realized that SHE was the one wiping away his cheeks. Humming softly as she shushed him. "There, there. You'll be alright now."

But that raised more concerns. He said he was in a fight? What kind of fight left him like this? If someone else was hurt then why didn't you find anyone else with him? He said whoever it was dropped him. Does that mean someone abandoned him here? That was sick. Would that mean there was a chance of danger coming to your doorstep. And THAT'S what worried you the most.

"You said there were someone hit by an arrow?," he nodded in awe captivated by your beauty and softness as you continued to wipe his face up without complaint. "Does that mean there's someone else hurt outside? Are you alone?" He continued to stare wide eyed at you. "Mr. Aizetsu?"

He jumped blinking at you. "Uh?! Oh! N-No. Noone else. "

"Then are you alone?" You pulled your hands away.

He whined as your hands left him but shook his head. "No. N- Not for long. My brothers w-will come looking for me."

"You have brothers?" He nodded. "That's good. You can stay here until they find you then. Are you hungry? I made some homemade soup and rice, and I'm sure you must be thirsty." Blue eyes perked up at the promise of food and nodded eagerly making you smile. "Then I'll get you some. Just sit tight for a moment."

He watched as your form walked on over to the shelf Gathering bowls and anything else you needed before heading on over to the lit fireplace. A few minutes later you returned with a bowl of delicious smelling stew and tea in hand. He would've sat up to take the drink from you, but blinked as all of a sudden a hand pushed itself under his head and lifted him with extreme gentleness he'd never felt before. As if he was cracked glass and at any moment could shatter. Something warm and herbal smelling wafted over his lips as you cradled his head and held the cup to his lips.

"Here. Drink."

The eyes stared up at yours and how soft your features were... before they glanced at the cup, and slowly opened his mouth. It was enough for you to tilt the cup for him to drink taking great care to not spill any on him. Making sure to also give him breaks between gulps to allow him to breath until it was empty. He'll also need something solid in his stomach. Wiping his face when he finished. He didn't make any moves to stop you from cradling his head and feeding him until he seemed to be full enough and you gently encouraged him to sit back up. You needed to treat his wounds again. He seemed to struggle to sit up by himself so you had to push him up into a sitting position before you could again treat him. He just remained silent and compliant throughout the entire process until he was laying back down and you smiled at him again.

"There you go. You must feel better with something warm in your stomach. "

"Yes," he agreed, "Um...C-Can you tell me how long I've been here?"

"I found you yesterday around sunset and you've slept through most of today. So almost a full day and night. Not too long.''

He hummed again. "Then my brothers are s-surely already on their W-Way here."

You looked confused at him. "How would they know you're here?"

"They'll follow my scent."

"Oh..They have a hunting dog?"

He hummed again fiddling with the blanket. "S-Something like that?

You didn't know what he meant by that but decided not to pry him when he was already hurt. The rest of the day passed by smoothly since Mr. Aizetsu fell back asleep shortly after he ate dinner leaving you to go about business as usual until sunset came back and you see herding your animals back inside their pens. Your cow seemed rather on edge for some reason. Seemingly irritated as you lead her back into the barn, not seeing the figures limping into your house through the front door on the complete other side of your house. You finished putting away your animals before mindless just walking to your  back door and stepping inside- ...Huh. Hey. When did the candles go out? And why was the fire so low? Not thinking anything of it, you just closed the door behind you and grabbed a few logs next to the fireplace. Tossing them in and grabbing the poker to prod the small fire into feeding on the new logs and bringing more light into the house. You smiled at the warmth until you heard the shifting of something behind you. You instantly turned smiling assuming Aizetsu had woken up. Only to freeze in horror as the darkness held four looming figures staring at you.

Four pairs of eyes. Red as blood. Green as acid. Yellow as sickness. Blue as sorrow. 

All four stared at you from the corner of the room as your jaw dropped open in shock-

"Shit! She came in before we left!" The yellow eyes turned to the red ones. "I told you we should've waited until she fell asleep before grabbing Zetsu!"

"SHUT UP, UROGI!!"

The loud yell made you jump and fall over as you scrambled back against the wall-

"S-Sekido, D-Dont scare her. After all she did save my life."

"THAT'S WHY WE SPARED HER IN THE FIRST PLACE!!"

"W-WHO ARE YOU?!" All four pairs of eyes turned to you as your shaking hand grabbed the poker, holding it in front of you like a makeshift sword at whomever the eyes were. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE?!"

There was silence as they all stared at you unblinkingly.. before a noise made you jump. A strike of a match lit up as a tiny flame floated towards a lamp hanging from the ceiling and lit it up brightening the house further. And what you saw made you nearly drop the poker. Standing there was four men. 

INHUMAN MEN 

One had red eyes and leaned heavily on a staff. His left left lifted up and looking not good. One with green eyes slumped against the wall breathing raggedly and smiling despite his condition. One with yellow eyes and...PART BIRD!?!? Your eyes widened in horror more. A HARPY!! A FREAKING H A R P Y WAS STANDING IN YOUR HOME!!! He held Aizetsu in his talons as the blue eyed man looked at you apologetically...only...there was something different about him. Now there was two horns sprouted on his forehead when there wasn't any just moments ago.  He stared from the Harpy's arms and-...And-.....

Why did they all look alike?

Aizetsu had the same face as the other three. The only differences were their eye color and the fact that Mr. Red and Green eyes had a long strand of hair running across their face. They all stared at you and you stared at them for a long,long, LONG moment of silence. Nothing but the crackling fire to break the silence.  Until Aizetsu spoke.

"Y-Y/n. I-Im sorry. We were supposed to leave before you got back inside."

You didn't speak at first. Only stared at the four of them in utter bewilderment. Scanning over all four of them slowly.... before slowly asking. "What...ARE you all?"

"We're elementals. E-Except for Urogi, obviously."

"Elementals?! ...As in the fae creatures that control aspects of nature!?"

Aizetsu nodded. "Yes. I'm s-s-so sorry for not telling you before-"

"SKIP THE APOLOGIES!!" You jumped when Mr. Red  Eyes snapped with a growl. "WE GOT AIZETSU AND THAT'S ALL WE NEEDED!! NOW LET'S GO HOME!!"

"Uh...We can't? Aizetsu can't walk like this," the harpy spoke to red eyes, "And Karaku's still poisoned. What are supposed to do? Carry them both while you hop on one leg?"

"YOU CAN USE YOUR ARMS FOR THEM AND CARRY ME WITH YOUR FEET TALONS AS YOU FLY YOU IDIOT!!"

"I STILL HAVE ARROWS LODGED IN MY WINGS!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CARRY ALL THREE OF YOU LET ALONE FLY?!"

You just... blinked as the two men began to argue and Aizetsu tried and failed to get them to stop bickering. What was happening right now? You still stared as they argued before looking at the green eyed man and was surprised to find him slyly smiling at you. He gave a half lidded look before winking and you deadpanned back at him. Before he suddenly stiffened and shot into a leaned over position. The sounds of wretching followed making all three of his...brothers(???) shut up and look behind them as you paled. Again silence rang supreme. Until the brothers looked at one another awkwardly.. before they slowly looked at you.

You stared blankly. "....Did he just vomit on my floor?"

"Yyyeeeaaah. Sorry about that," Yellow Eyes said slowly looking at you, "He's hasn't been feeling so good since getting jabbed with a poison dart. He'll live but it has to wear off-"

"HE PUKED ALL OVER MY CLEAN FLOOR!", You bellowed catching all four off guard from the sudden RAGE you felt staring at the mess the green eyed man made before pausing seeing the trail of red pooling from your open front door all the way to where the men were standing there. "YOU'RE TRAILING BLOOD?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? I JUST CLEANED MY HOUSE THIS MORNING!!" YOU POINTED AT THE BATHROOM. "ALL OF YOU! GET IN THERE AND WASH YOURSELVES OFF!!"

"WHAT?! AND WHO ARE YOU TO BOSS US AROUND!?", Red eyes snapped back instantly.

"YOU'RE COVERED IN BLOOD AND STILL DRIPPING IT!! AND YOU PUKED ON MY FLOOR!! GO WASH YOURSELVES OFF OR ELSE!!"

"Or else what?" He hissed exposing his fangs growling and narrowing his eyes. "Do you seriously think a girl like you can scare me? I'd like to see you try to make me do anything!"

Your eyes narrowed at him and a large scowl appeared on your face.

**""

"Are you still hungry, Aizetsu?" You smiled at the man's face cradled in your lap as he stared at you.

He gulped nervously face red and pointy ears pinned to his head. "I-Im good," he squeaked out which made you giggle at him.

Last night had been a big whirlwind. Sekido had not expected the iron angry grip on his ear as you dragged his limping, half hopping, cursing form into the bathroom and scared Urogi enough with your irate yelling at him to drag his other two brothers into the bathroom after Sekido. Then with the limited light you had, you cleaned the blood trails and the vomit as you heard arguing and water being splashed about in your bathroom from the brothers irritating you further. It. Took. FOREVER. To properly clean everything up and air out the foul smells of copper and stomach.  Don't even get you started on how much you had to wrestle Sekido down and fight him in order to force him to lay down and strap his broken leg in a splint. Which still left you with a few cuts from him wrestling with him. Nothing serious but it still annoyed you to hell and back.

"I'm real sorry about the mess last night, Sweet cheeks." Your head turned deadpanned to the green eyed demon. He was laid next to Aizetsu with a wet towel over his forehead and a clean bucket next to him in case he felt like getting sick again. "Do I get to have some food too?"

Your brow rose. "Is your stomach going to be able to handle it?"

"It's been hours. My stomachs settled and I emptied it out completely. ...I'm kinda hungry to be honest."

You sighed but moved to get him some food too. "Fine. But if you feel like you're about to be sick, you better let me know. You can't take the antidote anyways on an empty stomach."

Karaku lit up as he watched you grab another bowl of soup and come over to position his head the same way you did Aizetsu's. In your lap cradling his head and lifting the bowl to his lips. Last night you had also learnt their names and conditions. The one you currently fed was called Karaku and he'd been shot by a poisonous dart. The poison wasn't enough to kill him, just immobilize him and make him sick but you were familiar with the herb used to make the poison and knew the antidote to it. He'll be fine but it'll take time to get out of his systems completely. Aizetsu still had that obvious wound on his chest that needed to be mended but he'll be ok in time. Urogi, the harpy, was the least hurt. He had a few arrows lodged in his left wing you had to carefully extract and stitch up the small wounds but overall he could walk, talk, and if it wasn't for how close his left wing was held to his back compared to the right one you'd never tell something was wrong with him. Sekido (the only one you had to physically fight-) was the second one mostly ok, but his leg was broken and you had to maneuver it back into place before forcing it into a splint to keep it still enough to heal correctly. He was also the most stubborn of them all. Currently he laid propped up against a wall angrily eating a bowl of soup Urogi had given him earlier.  He muttered curses between his at first but had shut up and stared silently when you started treating the others after fighting with him. Especially when you cradled Aizetsu and then Karaku with such gentleness as if they were cracked porcelain cups ready to chip away again. Red eyes blinked slowly as you wiped at Karaku's smirking mouth.

"Are you thirsty? I have some tea."

He gave a purr of content. "Sure. If it means I can get to look at your beautiful face more.~"

You just stared blankly at him more. "Flattery will literally get you no where. I'm still angry with you all for stealing my chicken-"

"Hey! Urogi was the one who stole it for food!"

"I was hungry and it was convienet!" Urogi wisely shut up as you snapped a scowl at him. Awkwardly he shuffled in the blanket wrapped around him. "Um...When can we have our clothes back?"

"Once they're done drying from the wash and I meand them. They were all filthy. Until then the spare clothes I gave you will do."

That was another thing about her. She insisted on taking care of them full despite them being obviously not human and could pose quite a threat. Perhaps her concern or anger clouded her judgement of danger but it...was very strange to him. Eventually she finished up taking care of Karaku and turned back towards Urogi with a frown.

"You're lucky I don't charge you for stealing my hen. They're not exactly cheap to replace! And who just walks on another person's property and steals their animals!?"

"Um...A hungry person?" You scowled harder. "Shutting up now!"

You groaned before just shaking your head. "Are any of you still hungry? I can get you some more."

"I'm fine," Sekido bluntly stated before turning away from you. "You're bothering me too much!"

You frowned further before rolling your eyes and walking away. "Well if you get hungry again let me know and I'll get you all back some more. I'm gonna go outside and see if your clothes are dry. I can nend them afterwards and give them back."

"Do you want some help?"

You looked at Aizetsu. "In your conditions? No. I'll be fine. You just rest up and get better-"

"It shouldn't take long! Our healing process is faster than you humans!", Sekido snapped annoyed.

"Really?...How long will it take all of you to fully heal then?"

"My little cuts should heal by the end of tomorrow," Urogi chirped proudly before looking over his brothers, "Them...I'm not so sure. Maybe a..." His eyes squinted as he thought hard on it. "Week? Maybe two weeks? Can't take longer than that though!" He smiled confidently. "We should be out of your hair before the blood moon."

"Is that really in two weeks?''

You really had lost track of time then. You just hoped that there wouldn't be anymore Fae creatures showing up like this unannounced. You were already having enough trouble wrapping your mind around these four that suddenly dropped in on you unannounced. You didn't need anything else also stopping by.

"Y-Y/n?" Your attention went back to Karaku suddenly waving at you with an upset look on his face. "Uh. Hey Sweetie. Can you get me another set towel for me? I don't...feel too good-"

"THROW UP ON MY FLOOR AGAIN AND I'LL MAKE YOU CLEAN IT!"

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

It was pretty awkward taking care of four men (Elementals at that) in your home. Mostly because they would NOT. STOP. ARGUING. You managed to get their names down. Urogi and Karaku would often poke jabs at Sekido who would yell back at the two laughing at him and attempt to swing that staff of his at them-... Until you wrestled it away from him and wouldn't give it back.

"GIVE ME BACK MY STAFF!!"

"You can have it back when you all leave! You can't just try to hit them when you're all hurt, Dummy!"

And no the staff was put in the barn with the rest of the farm tools. And this was only the second day they were there. Aizetsu kept profusely apologizing for his brothers' actions even though you assured him it was alright. However the third day was when things started to get ... interesting. Karaku was awfully quiet. Only lying down with his eyes closed other than when he asked for some food or drink from you. You checked him over. He was still sick and he seemed to finally be feeling it. Hopefully his body would heal soon and the medicine would be helpful. But it didn't seem to be anything serious. At least not at that time. You left early right after retreating their conditions and making sure they had something to eat. You'd need to purchase more blankets and  bandages for them all. However you were never expecting the storm when you returned almost three hours later.

"S-Sekido...Am I going to die?"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!! YOU ARE NOT  GOING TO DIE!!!"

A firm hand squeezed onto Karaku's arm like a lifeline, angry viens bunched up as the tense silence hung into the air. Karaku's chest rose and fell in raspy breaths as it hurt to breath. Everything felt too hot, too cold, too- A choked so escaped from his mouth as Aizetsu laid on his  side and  patted his shoulder. 

"It's ok! You're g-g-gonna be ok. Breath. O-Ok?"

"DAMMIT!! WHERE'S UROGI WITH THAT GIRL!?"

No sooner than he said that the front door slammed open and said harpy came jumping in quickly dragging a woman's cursing and angry body behind him. 

"WE'RE HERE!" said harpy yanked you over making you stumble and dropped the basket in your hands spilling everything over the floor. "I GOT HER DON'T WORRY!!"

"What the hell is going on here?!", you shouted pulling and yanking at Urogi's iron grip around your arm. "Your brother snatched me up in the middle of the path! He's lucky no one saw him fly-"

Anything else you were going to say died on your tongue as you saw the scene Urogi pushed you towards. It was the three that couldn't move yet. Sekido was sprawled across the floor in an awkward position on Karaku's left side death gripping his arm and glaring at you. It looked like he dragged himself all the way across the home just to lay beside his brother. Aizetsu was painfully sitting up on Karaku's other side where he's always been since you took him in only he looked panicked at you.

"Help him please!," he pleaded panicked voice wavering, "He's having trouble breathing!"

Urogi squawked as you forcing pushed him away and immediately ran over to Karaku. Jumping over Sekido's body and knelt by Karaku's head. A hand immediately plopped itself onto his forehead between his horns. A second hand pressed to his cheek making his blink up his green eyes at you. You stared at him silently.. Before you sighed and moved your hands from him.

"It's the poison isn't it?! He's not gonna die is he? "

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH HIM!?"

"He's running a small fever." Both brothers fell silent and just .. blinked at you as you stood up and crossed your arms. "He'll be fine. I just need to make him some herbal tea. You all are over worrying yourselves."

There was silence as they all looked at one another. 

"You mean... He's not gonna die?"

"No. He's not even in any danger." Aizetsu immediately sighed flopping back down to the floor and Sekido mumbled curses under his breath removing his hand from Karaku's arm. "I'll make you all some food while I'm at it... but first I better move you back to bed-"

"IM STAYING RIGHT WHERE IM LAYING!!", Sekido yelled from his awkward laying position.

You didn't feel like arguing with this. "*Sigh* Fine. I'll move your futon over here but I'm looking over your leg first.  You might've harmed it crawling over here."

Sekido did not fight you struggling to move him back into position and fixing it where he laid down next to his brothers with his splintered leg propped up with a few pillows. Just pouted and watched you closely with narrowed eyes as you went about making  them some food and started handing them out bowls. By now Aizetsu was able to sit up and you didn't need to take care of him but you did still need to help out Karaku whom purred out as you cradled him. 

"Y-Y-You're a real angel. You k-know that?"

You rolled your eyes but smiled. "No. I'm more of a devil myself "

For the first time all day, Karaku smiled even as you held up the cup to his lips to drink.  "Ooh.~ Even better. Because that's exactly my type.~"

Oh be quiet and drink." He chuckled despite himself and you just pushed the cup into his lips. ...But paused feeling the hair on his head. The long black hair was clean and soft but it was also tangled. They needed that taken cared of too. "Do you think you can sit up if you try?"

Your question caught the man off guard but he shrugged. "I mean I can try but I don't know...Why?"

"Because Im taking care of you. Now come on and try."

Karaku was confused but shrugged and proceeded to try and get himself into a sitting up position. He struggled a bit but you pushed his back and Aizetsu reached over to pull his arm so he was able to sit up. He blinked as you handed him the cup and told him to drink it as you just got up and walked over to the shelf in your house.

"Hey, Sweet cheeks...What are you doing?"

You grabbed something and turned around revealing a brush. "Taking care of you like I said. All four watched as you once again stepped around them all until you were seated behind Karaku and he paused feeling you touch his hair. "So messy.. Can't be healthy for your scalp. Hold still."

Karaku's eyes widened as did. The strategic touch was light and he didn't move as she hummed and just started untangling the unruly mane of black hair cascading down his back. Everyone's surprised eyes were on you as you worked on him and used the brush you had in your possession. Brushing and gently prying apart knots in the black locks until the brush was going through without any resistance. Only then did you stop and smile. 

"There. All better."

Karaku didn't say anything. Only reach up a hand  in awe at the gentle treatment. You smiled at your work shuffling back to admire it... before your eyes wondered over to Sekido. His hair was in the same tangled mesh Karaku's was. Automatically you just reached over to gently grab the strands but jumped as he snapped his head around to snarl red eyes at you.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"Helping you."

"WITH WHAT?!"

"Your hair?" You rose a brow pointing at your own head of hair to clarify. "It's all tangled and I thought the reason we came back here was to take care of you two." You reached out aga- Two hands snapped up to cover the top of his head. "Gyutaro, how am I supposed to help you if you do that? Move your hands."

"NO!! I don't like being touched!!"

"Oh... That's ok. I don't like that either." You held up the comb. "Then you can use this and do it yourself."

"NO!!"

"Then one of your brothers can do it."

"NO!!"

.....You deadpanned. "Not this again. Why must you Always be stubborn? Look just do it."

"NO!!"

"Either you do it or I'll hold you down and do it myself! That's bad for your hair and scalp health!"

"N-"

"Just do it, Sekido!" Karaku said admiring his own hair with a hand. "Quit being a big baby."

"Who's side are you on?!" He yelled at him as you took his distraction to grab one of the loose straggly strands of hair. "I SAID N-"

He froze. Something soft and gentle touched his head which automatically made him freeze. His body instinctively standing on end and a thumb and finger curiously tugged gently at a strand of hair....But no hard metal comb yanked through his scalp. Instead two gentle hands caressed the strands and gently began to weave out the tangled big and small so slowly it didn't even pinch. A hum of a woman's patient voice sneaking through as she worked. The murmurs of a lullaby echoed and gentleness wafted with it. And all of his brothers watched as she hummed.

Silence. Other than the lulling memories of melodies and the soft touch that was left behind.

"Heart. Beats. Fast. Colors and promises. How to be brave? How can I love when I'm afraid to fall? But watching you stand alone?" You gently pried apart two strands of black hair as Sekido remained still. However his brothers' eyes all widened seeing his face. "But watching you stand alone, all of my doubts suddenly go away some how."

Aizetsu looked down as he watched Sekido's hands grip into the fabric. Urogi fell silent as Sekido didn't make any moves to stop her. And Karaku stared in absolute shock as tears weld up in those red eyes and freely flowed down his face from the gentle treatment.

"One step closer. I have died everyday waiting for you. Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years. I'll love you for a thousand more. " You continued working through the hair which was surprisingly easy to brush through. "Time stands still. Beauty in all she is.  I will be brave. I will not let anything anything take away what's right in front of me. Every breath. Every hour has come to this."

Sekido's arms lightly shook as she nearly completed her work and red eyes watery glanced at the shocked brothers. They all looked incredibly shocked at him.

"One step closer. I have died everyday waiting for you. Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years. I'll love you for a thousand more. And all along I believed I would find you. Time has brought your heart to me. I have loved you for a thousand years. I'll love you for a thousand more."

You finished up Sekido and leaned back to look at your handywork. However he just slammed his eyes shut from view of his brothers and snapped his head away so you didn't have any clue he was even crying. Instead you rose a brow. Jeez. You weren't expecting a thank you but that was a bit rude of him. You looked over at Aizetsu next. The brothers were so busy still staring at Sekido in shock that they didn't see you walk around to sit next to Aizetsu until you touched his hair making him jump and look at you in shock.

"Hush little baby. Don't you cry. Everything's going to be alright. Stiffen up that upper lip little baby. I told you I am here to hold you through the night. I know Mommy's not here right now and we don't know why. We fear what we feel inside."Aizetsu's blue eyes widened to the size of plates as you gently combed through his hair which went through easily. "It may seem crazy, Little Baby. But I promise we're gonna be alright."

You kept going on to finish your job humming all the while to yourself. Unknowingly to you, Sekido wasn't the only one who was now crying. Aizetsu felt himself starting to cry from the gentle treatment and humming the woman gave him. Larg fat tears stung his eyes before flowing down his cheeks and dropping onto his blanketed covered lap. You hummed along until you were finished before standing up and turning to Urogi still frozen there. 

"Ok. Now it's your turn." He didn't respond. "Urogi?" He still didn't say anything making you raise a brow confused before looking behind you and looking shocked as Aizetsu cried. "A-Aizetsu!" You immediately went to grab his shoulders. "Are you ok? I wasn't too rough was I? Oh no. Did I bump into your injury?"

He didn't answer for a long, long, LONG MOMENT. Before he slowly looked right right in the eyes.

"A-Are you single?"

You blanked. Staring at him for a bit before you blinked. "...What?"

"Yo-You don't have a-a-any lovers right?," he managed to stutter out catching the attention of the the other three. "Y-Y-You're N-Not engaged t-t-to anyone else...R-Right?"

You just... slowly blinked at him. "....What?"

You jumped as two shaking hands gently grabbed your cheeks. "Y-Y-You're so kind..So beautiful. Can I...PLEASE can I...W-WILL YOU BE MY WIFE!?" He ended up shouting that last bit rather loudly. 

Silence rang out as your draw tried to work itself as he still stared watery eyed and cutely into your eyes. "......WHAT?!"

"Aizetsu." All eyes turned to Sekido as he furiously wiped his face before snapping at him. "Correct yourself. She won't be 'YOUR' wife." Aizetsu's face fell before Sekido's eyes turned to your squished cheeked frozen face. "Shell be OUR wife."

"WHAT?!"

"I SECOND THAT MOTION!" Karaku piped up instantly.

"NE THIRD!," Urogi chirped waving an arm around as you went blank.

"Wait...WHAT ARE YOU ALL TALKING ABOUT?!"

"From this day on we're courting you. We're going to provide our wife with anything she needs."

Sekido looked at you seriously and you froze staring at them all. Before slowly realization crawled over you and all you could mutter was three words.

"Screw my life."

Quietly you stepped closer as and closer and CLOSER to the bush silently. Slowly behind the henhouse you went and stopped right in front of the bush. The wind blew swaying it's branches creepily and looked like thrashing arms. You grabbed a handful and silently and slowly pulled them back.

And you froze at what you saw-

The winds howled as the darkness crept across the skies. The darkness behind the bush shielded your form from the moonlight which cascaded down between the trees and clouds in the sky. The shadows danced and branches creaked as the wind blew them about. Like arms beckoning you closer to grab you away in their rough grip. Drag you into the shadows never to be seen again. You cracked an opening in the branches and looked out. The darkened sky looked out over the entire area. Tree branches swayed and night fell upon the ground. However you froze as your eyes met a sickening sight.

R E D.

The coldness of the air bit down hard on your skin, like painful bee stings pricking your skin. The terror far greater than seeing a thousand wolves sunk in. A hand flew to cover your mouth as a foul urge to vomit rose and a sickening copper smell filtered through the air. 

RED!!

That was the color painted everywhere on the ground displayed before you. And there...lying face down slumped over was a man's body. A canvas for the color. Your eyes shrank in terror and your ears gained a ringing sound all on their own drowning out any noise. 

A DEAD BODY.

In your backyard and lying right in front of your face. How-...Where did it come from?! Who was this!? Where did it come from?! You wretched yourself away from the bush in shock and leaned over slightly. The urge to vomit riding as you did everything you could to keep it down. The bush branches snapping back into place hiding the sight from you. Automatically you gave a few coughs and gulped down air in an attempt to calm yourself head spinning. There was a dead man on your property! Oh gods! What if someone thought you were responsible for this!? You could be tried for murders-

Wait...

How did you know he was actually dead?

That one thought made you freeze in your tracks instantly. That's right...How did you know for certain that he was dead? You just merely saw him covered in blood with a gash on his back. Your head turned back to the bush. He...he could've been hurt and tried reaching your house for help. What if he was laying there suffering?! That thought perked you back up into going back to the bush and cautiously reaching out to slightly pull the branches again. The body was still there unmoving. It...sure LOOKED dead but you couldn't tell in the dark. If he was still alive..you had to help him. You couldn't just leave someone to bleed out. The unmoving form still remained unmoving even as you noisily pushed through the bush and stood right next to the head....It was definitely a man. You could tell by how Large the body was and how muscular the exposed skin was. In the limited moonlight you were able to make out long hair and bangs that mostly covered his face and he laid in a position that suggested that he'd collapsed by himself.  But the question still remained...Was he still alive?

You hesitated again ...but slowly you reached over to the face laying on its side and touched the long bangs covering his eyes. It was .. surprisingly soft and silky to the touch and you slowly pulled it away from the face to examine it. The right side of a man's face greeted you.  You nearly jumped back at what you saw. His right eye was closed obviously either unconscious or dead, and read streaks ran down his face in water dripping patterns from a cut on his forehead. However...that wasn't the strangest bit. There was an odd flame looking birthmark on his neck and part of his right cheek. Odd. You'd never seen a birthmark like that before. However you didn't pay it much mind. Your hand instead went to almost touch his lips and flinched back feeling a weak warm breath blow across your fingertips. You reeled back in shock, hand to your chest, and jumping 

HE WAS ALIVE!!

Hands grabbed his right shoulder and HEAVED. Barely moving an inch, but slowly the body turned, and with a thud whoever he was collapsed onto his back. A shocked gasp escaped from your throat upon purple eyes seeing his front body. Oh gods...So much blood. His body was practically DRENCHED in the red color! And you found out why. Mr. Unknown had the front of his shirt ripped to pieces to where it was barely hanging on over his shoulders. A large gash across his front from his left shoulder and ending just above his right hip was exposed to you. Definitely bigger than the gash along his back. And there was a third smaller gash along his right collar bone ending near his bicep. There was so much blood..How was he even still alive!? You also saw he had more of those flame like birthmarks on the upper left corner of his face. How odd. You reached out to touch it- But froze as a strong hand snatched you hand.

A pair of eyes opened up and gazed up at the blurry figure above him. Not making any sense of the blurry, spinning vision. Until the eyes rolled up into the back of his head and the last thing he saw was a glimpse of purple.

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

Warm. 

Everything was warm once feeling returned to his body. Which was odd. He was lying on the cold hard ground last he remembered. Logic was of course the first thing to return to him. His thinking was always faster than his reflexes. Then the feeling of his body settled in. Warmth...but incredible aching, throbbing soreness. It throbbed and panged his body. Hmm..So he wasn't dead after all. It was too painful to be heaven and not painful enough to be hell, and too annoying to be purgatory. So he was Still alive but had passed out for a short while. An acceptable fate. Now...where was he?

Eyes slowly opened themselves up to the world blinking rapidly at the light and his vision blurred until he could see...A one roomed house? It was mostly empty. A coffee table square in the middle, a picture frame or two holding a painting of someone on the walls, a basket in the corner, a shelf full of dishes and other small items, a fireplace with a fire currently going, and a few other bland things. Nothing that really stood out as anything important to him. But who lived here? Why was he inside? How did he get here? And who touched him? 

His question was answered when the door opened and the figure of a woman in a blue kimono walked in. The smell of wood drew his attention to the logs she was carrying. Silently he watched as she slid the sliding door back closed with a foot before continuing on to the fireplace and proceeding to feed the fire the wood. He laid there silently staring at her legs as she worked, feeling too weak to look up just yet and not wanting to give himself away just yet. The sounds of a metal poker scraping against the fire appeared for a little while before it too went away and the legs turned to face him. They didn't move again for a long moment before he felt a hand touch his blanketed shoulder- Faster than either expected his left hand shot up to tightly grip a much smaller wrist and squeezed down just enough to get the other body to freeze.

"Who are you and where am I?"

His eyes turned upwards slowly tilting his head...and he gave pause at the shocked face staring at him. The soft features looking as if sculpted by an angel. Soft, warm, and very beautiful. Definitely a woman. You stared at him in shock at how fast the man moved despite the fact that he was still extremely hurt and had blood loss. Whoever he was, he was extremely trained if he could react this fast. You jumped as he lightly squeezed your wrist. It didn't hurt, not at all, but you couldn't move. This man was obviously serious. So taking a breath..you exhaled slowly to calm yourself.

"Calm yourself," you spoke holding up your free hand despite his face already being an odd calm, "Relax back. You might reopen your wounds-"

"Answer me."

"My name is Y/n. Y/n Tamayo. This is my home. I found you unconscious outside last night and brought you in here."

You heard him him eyes looking you up and down.. before he slowly let go of your wrist and lowered his arm back down but paused when he saw the white wrapped around his palm and held his hand out to look at the bandages wrapped around it. Before his eyes slowly looked down at his now uncovered torso and saw even more bandages snuggly wrapped around his entire upper body, over his right shoulder, and part of his upper right arm. A hand reached up to feel his head and again found more bandages wrapped around his forehead. The throbbing soreness he's been feeling eminated from most of the bandaged spots. And a deep inhale made him aware of some kind of ointment or herbal treatment under them. 

"...You have treated my wounds."

You nodded finally smiling at him. "I did. My mother's a doctor so I know a few medical treatments."

"My sword. Where is it?"

"It's by the table. You were passed out so I didn't know what to do with it otherwise." He looked back to you. "Your shirt was also ruined but I managed to save your other clothes. They're washed and drying outside so you should be able to get them back soon."

"I see ..Again he looked back to his body. "What of the state of my injuries?"

"You have a few large gashes across your back, chest, and shoulder here," you gestured to his torso. "But they're not deep at all and should heal rather quickly. You have a few cuts also but they're even smaller and should heal faster." You then frowned. "However I am worried about how much blood you managed to lose. There was so much. I honestly thought you were dead when I first saw you."

"I'll live," he said simply before sighing through his nose. "Is there anyone else that lives here?"

You shook your head. "No. Just me-"

"Where does that door there lead?" He pointed out the Smaller sliding door near the shelf.

"Oh. That leads into my bathroom." You blinked before looking at him. "My house isn't that-"

You blinked at the man who was sitting up. ...The man was .. sitting up. The man was sitting up despite his blood loss- He sighed through his nose before pulling the blanket to drap around his shoulders and slowly struggled to stand up. Your jaw dropped in disbelief as he was able to stand up and turned keeping the blanket draped over himself. Eventually you shook you head and snapped after him.

"Hey! W-Wait a minute!" He stopped when you grabbed the blanket around him and tugged back. "Where do you think you're going?!"

"To bathe." He turned his head back to you. "Please bring me my clothes." He then tugged the blanket out of your hands and continued on his way. Grabbing a towel from the shelf and entering your bathroom.

You stood there stunned for a very long time opening and closing your mouth like a fish before you looked at the empty futon and then back to the door as the faint sounds of running water started up. ....HOW WAS HE ABLE TO STAND AND WALK RIGHT NOW?! HE SHOUDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO SIT UP!! But there he was. You were absolutely stunned to say the least, but did as he asked and got the clothes you cleaned from the line. You ended up just quickly shoving them inside closing your eyes and slamming the door back shut to give him respect of privacy. He still took his sweet time however and the next time he opened the door he was fully clothed minus a shirt. Steam escaped from the room behind him as he approached your sitting form at the table but he didn't even acknowledge you. Just reaching out to grab the sword off the table. He stood there examining the sheath of the blade with a calm face... before he paused. His eyes went wide as his arm flew to clutch his stomach as a wave of pain and dizzing nausea came over him. He stumbled two steps to the right before something grabbed onto him barely able to lift him up.

"I TOLD you! You're body's too weak to stand yet. C'mon. Come lay back down." You some how managed to hold up his heavy body just enough to make it back to the futon and help him sit down but he refused to lay down no matter how hard you pushed him to lay back so you gave up and just looked at him breathing heavily. "There. Now don't try that again. You need to recover."

His hair was down now completely cascading down his back and slightly wet covering most of his back but he still turned to you peeking through his hair. "It seems...so. I must take some time to recover."

"I also need you to remove your coat." He raised a brow at you. "To replace the bandages you removed. It'd be better if I treated them properly."

He remained silent but placed the sword on his lap and reached up to silently remove his black and purple checkered coat. You blinked but quickly looked away with red rising to your cheeks. Right! You'd better get those bandages. You were surprised at how silent and calm he was. Not once did he flinch or make a hurt face when you retreated his injuries. Only silently raising his arms and moving his hair when you wrapped new clean bandages around his torso red faced. He was...very physically fit. When you were finished he just silently pulled the coat back over his shoulders.

"You should be fine now but you should rest." He hummed in response. ".... What's your name?"

"Why do you need to know?"

You rose a brow. "Well considering I found a stranger bleeding near my home and treated him without asking for payment in return I think a name would be the least you could give me."

"I owe nothing."

"Maybe not but it would be polite. I can't keep calling you Mr. Stranger."

There was silence again before he said one word. "Kokushibo."

You blinked before smiling. "Well it's nice to meet you, Mr. Kokushibo. Would you tell me what you were doing outside my home?''

He hummed again cracking an eye open at you. "Nosey aren't you?"

"Concerned is more like it. You'd be too if you found a bloodied man outside your home." You then glanced at the sword on his lap. It was a long katana most likely. "...Are you a samurai?"

A large hand clasped around the sword in an instant. ".... I am a warrior." He settled on saying carefully after studying your face for a long moment.  "I was engaged in battle before coming here."

Your brow rose. "Combat in the middle of the woods?"

"I prefer traveling without trouble following. The forest provides a peaceful cover. However I miscalculated an ambush. I will not make the same mistake."

Who attacked him? Other samurai? You've seen these men a few times while in town but never spoke to one until now. "....But do I have to worry about trouble coming here?"

"...No. I have already assured that I wouldn't be dealing with them again."

You decided not to delve further into that. Wasn't your business anyways. At least you didn't have to worry about trouble showing up on your doorstep. You slowly closed the box containing your medical kit. "I'll have to buy some more supplies in town. ...Are you hungry? A full stomach would help you feel better."

He hummed again. " You're cooking beef stew in the fireplace." He nodded. "I will take it."

"And water." He again looked at you. "You lost a lot of blood. You need fluids and get rehydrated fast or else something bad might happen." You stood up and turned away from him. "I'd rather not have my guest collapsing on me again." Walking over to the shelf, you placed the box back. "You can stay here until you recover, but I think it might be a good idea if I had my mother come look at you-"

"NO." You turned around blinking at him as he narrowed his eyes at you. "I won't have anyone else seeing me or knowing I am here. I will stay until I am well enough to walk within a week but until then no one else will know I'm here."

The intensity of the state he was giving you reminded you of a wolf staring at a rabbit. ..And you suddenly had a thought that perhaps you had better stay out of whatever business this man had. So you nodded and he relaxed back but still stared at you. Watching as you set about getting him a plate stuffed full of rice and beef and whatever else you decided to give him. 

"Thank you." He said plainly before just grabbing a pair of chopsticks to start eating. 

"I hope you don't mind such a meager meal. I don't have exactly have access to top meat."

"This will be enough for now but I will need more later to fuel my body's regeneration rate." He said before just silently putting a chunk of the food in his mouth... before pausing before just looking at the food.

You noticed that and tilted your head. "Is something wrong? It's too hot isn't it?"

He was slow to respond. "No... It's quite good. I rarely have home cooked foods." Mostly he feasted on prey he caught these last few decades and home cooked meals like this were rare these days. 

You smiled at him. "Thank you. If you're still hungry later then you're welcome to take more of if you can't move just ask me and I'll get you more." A jug full of water and a cup was placed next to him.  "Here's some water. Drink some. I'm going to clean up the mess you made of my bathroom. Next time don't leave your old bandages next to the tub."

"My apologies."

He did not say anything else as you left to clean up the bathroom and dispose of the old slightly bloodied bandages he had wrapped around himself. Collecting the dishes he set aside once he was finished with it. He stayed like that for the rest of the day, just silently sitting there and looking like he was in deep meditation. You didn't disturb him still feeling strange from the intense look he gave you earlier. However you did comply with him when he asked for more food before retiring to the futon you set up. Not wanting to disturb him, you just pulled out a spare set of blankets from the shelf and curled up near the front door just in case you needed to jump out for whatever reason. However you woke up the next morning in surprise to find the man sound asleep still. 

Seeing as you still had a quiet morning to yourself, you quietly made your way out to start your chores which wasn't too long a job but  you thought that the man would've been awake now. You were surprised to see that he wasn't. Instead he remained there in the same position you saw him in when you first got up. Long hair splayed all around him. But what caught your attention towards him was the twitching of his eyelids. He looked incredibly bothered by something. So when a hand touched his forehead, his eyes snapped open immediately to look at you.

"You're running a fever...It doesn't feel too high thankfully. I have some fever medicine in my kit. I'll give you some and you should feel fine later."

He merely hummed before closing his eyes back shut. "Do what you must."

You smiled and made to move..but paused. Removing your hand you stared at his bare forehead in confusion. ".... That's strange. Didn't you have a cut on your forehead?"

"You're mistaken." He didn't bother opening his eyes.

You stared at him before opening your mouth. That's not true. You DID treat a cut on his forehead but again you decided not to bother fighting him and again treat him with a herbal tea infused with the medicine. He opened his eyes and would've sat up to take the drink from you, but blinked as all of a sudden a hand pushed itself under his head and lifted him with extreme gentleness he'd never felt before. As if he was cracked glass and at any moment could shatter. Something warm and herbal smelling wafted over his lips as you cradled his head and held the cup to his lips.

"Here. Drink."

The eyes stared up at yours and how soft your features were... before they glanced at the cup, and slowly opened his mouth. It was enough for you to tilt the cup for him to drink taking great care to not spill any on him.  Making sure to also give him breaks between gulps to allow him to breath until it was empty. He'll also need something solid in his stomach. Good thing you still had leftovers from dinner last night. He didn't make any moves to stop you from cradling his head and feeding him until he seemed to be full enough and you gently encouraged him to sit back up. You needed to treat his wounds again. He seemed to struggle to sit up by himself so you had to push him up into a sitting position before you could again treat him. He just remained silent and compliant throughout the entire process until he was laying back down and a cool wet towel was being pressed against his forehead. 

"There you go. You should feel better soon. Is there anything else you want?"

"No. This should suffice."

You smiled at him again. "Well you should be well for now. I'll come back later and get you some more water after I finish cleaning the house. For now rest."

He looked at you closely. "You're doing your duties even while caring for someone else fully?"

"Well ..Yes. You're my guest, and I should be a good host but I shouldn't neglect my chores either."

"Hm. The markings of a devoted housewife." He nodded. "Your husband must be very pleased with a woman like you."

You paused blinking.. before slowly looking at him with a look. "I'm not married." His eyes looked back to you. "I'm not engaged either. I clean my home and provide for my own person."

His brow rose higher than before. "A woman living alone and running a farm by herself?" The eyes scanned you up and down. That was unheard of.  "With how young and beautiful you are? A woman by your age is usually married or engaged to be married soon. It's unheard of to hear that you're not."

You paused. Before your face lit up a light pink at his words but despite that you shook your head with a frown. "No. I like living by myself and providing for just me. It's simpler and more peaceful."

"You do not want to be married? Or starting a family?"

You gave a thoughtful look. "Well..I think it would be nice to  settle down eventually, but it shouldn't be forced. Marriage is supposed to be about love for one another, not just what I look like."

"You haven't gotten any suitors?"

You shook your head picking up a bucket. "No. I have but most of the ones I've gotten have always been pushy or only wanted to marry me because they thought I was pretty or for some other selfish reason. Living a bit far from town helps but sometimes someone still has the audacity to come down here and try their luck. Some more pushy than others. A lot of the time they don't like hearing no."

Kokushibo silently seemed to be giving a thoughtful, considerate look to what you had to say. "I see."

He said nothing else as his eyes closed once again and you left to fetch a pail of water from your well. If he wanted to rest then you wouldn't disturb him. Only rolling up your sleeves/bottom of your kimono before starting to scrub the floors. He remained still as you worked even as you moved furniture and pushed him and the futon over at one point to clean under him. He merely perked an eye open, before immediately closing it again unbothered by anything. Made no difference to you. You just continued to go about your business dusting, sweeping, mopping, etc. You again changed the towel on his forehead and fed him more later in the day but it wasn't anything special. However come the third morning he was there you started to think maybe this man wasn't human. You had woken up as usual and gotten up but froze when you found the back door open and he was just sitting there already helping himself to what must've been  the last of the large pot of stew and rice you made. How the heck was he able to eat so much? He noticed you before you could even say something. 

"Apologies for devouring your food. If I wish to regenerate fully faster, I need more sustenance to sustain the energy my body uses to generate the healing process. But rest assured this only means I won't be a bother for you sooner."

You blinked looking at where he had been resting the day before then at him opening your mouth.. before just closing it. "It's..not a problem. You must be really hungry. I'll cook you a few eggs."

He only tilted his head slightly as you silently went over to make his bed, without complaining about it to him, before exciting the home to begin your chores. A woman who didn't complain about things he did and just offered him more food without a second thought. The markings of a good woman who'd take good care of her husband and the home when he was away. However she seemed very stubborn minded about remaining single. She'd most likely die alone. He'd just finished the food you'd given him and you took his plate away with a smile when a knocking noise from the front door caught your attention. Kokushibo merely cracked an eye open from his meditative state. Neither of you moved and then the knocking came back again but louder.

"Who could that be?," you mumbled putting the plates to the side.

"A man." From the presence he sensed and by the smell, it was a male around the same age as you and from the smell of animals, he was either a hunter or was wearing some kind of animal pelts.

You hesitated looking at him both wondering how he knew that and a bit concerned. He said he didn't want anyone to know that he was here, but he didn't make any moves to hide or move out of sight...You supposed it would just be ok to answer the door, you just had to make sure to not accidentally show Kokushibo was there. So with a sigh you steeled yourself with a smile and walked on over to the front door, just sliding it open enough to peek your head out... before you blinked and your face frowned.

"What are you doing here?" Kokushibo's head perked up at the heavy distaste in your tone.

"I came to see the love of my life.~ Isn't it obvious?~ I missed you so much.~", came a gruff but young male's voice he'd never heard before.

Behind the door you placed a hand on your hip. "You're not allowed back in town. You were banned after you almost killed that elder a year ago."

"It was an honest mistake-"

"You got drunk and picked a fight with that poor old man for no reason! On top of that you dishonored your family and that was on top of the pile of horrible things you've done!"

"You don't live in town. This is a decent ways from that place, so I'm not breaking any laws." Kokushibo's head turned to the side and rose a brow seeing a hand caress the side of your head through the doorway. "I missed you.~"

SLAP!

The hand was harshly slapped away from your face. "GET OFF MY PROPERTY!!" You bellowed out at him in a tone that surprised Kokushibo could come from such a soft lady. ''I don't know who you think you are but you're not welcome here! You're NEVER welcome here! You disgust me to no end! Now get off my property! I don't want to see you again!"

There was an instant reaction to your words. One of which being that you were shoved back harshly. Enough to send you stumbling back and falling to the floor as the sliding door slammed open and someone stepped inside. The someone was a man about her age maybe a year or two older with a few scars and clothing made from animal skins. Ah. That explained the smell of animals. He walked in initially with a smirk on his face but paused upon seeing the face of another man staring back at him calmly and silently. You shook your head scooting back from the new man entering your home and glared at him. The two men silently stared at one another before finally the first one sneered in anger and pointed at Kokushibo. 

"Who the hell are you?!", he demanded.

"Who I am is not important for you to know," he responded back calmly only making the newcomer angrier.

"What?! Did you get married or something while I was gone?!" He snapped to you in question.

"So what if I did?!"

"SO YOU GOT MARRIED!?"

"Again that's none of your business! I don't owe you any explanation on what goes on in my life! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!"

The man didn't. Instead he snarled at Kokushibo who took his sweet time standing up and turning to face him. His calm expression beyond repair making him even more so. 

"I believe she had asked you to leave this house," he spoke more calmly half lidded eyes staring at him. You looked up at him. Holy crap...he was a lot taller than he looked. 

"Tch. And what right do you have to it?," he asked silently sizing the samurai up.

"None. I am nothing but a mere guest to this household however you are not. Now you had best be on your way. I would find it improper for you to stay any longer."

Perhaps it was the previous blood loss that had dulled his senses or the fact he didn't take this man as a threat (and to be perfectly honest he wasn't a threat at all) but when a hand shot out he stiffened awaiting the blow- However it-...Never came?

The smell of blood filled his nose after a body flew up and something metallic and shiny slashed across your face. A cut formed on your cheek. Pain exploded as you yelled out stumbling back until you collided with a body. Kokushibo blinked as you fell against him easily catching you in one strong arm as you gritted your teeth and clutched your cheek as a cut bled out on. Kokushibo slowly blinked as you felt tests start to stream down your face. Kokushibo slowly let his eyes grow wide before looking at the man who also seemed surprised as he held up a dagger.

"Leave him alone!," you bellowed out at the other man, "He's hurt enough! Just leave us alone! GET OUT! GET OUT!! GET OUT!!"

Well..that escalated rather quickly. He stared at the woman starting to cry in his arms then back to the man holding the knife. Her body was slowly slid until she was gently placed on the floor. Purple eyes blinked as he easily stepped over and placed himself between her and the other man. 

"You have been told to leave. If you don't wish bodily harm upon you, you'll honor the request."

The other man stared at him before daring to growl. "Who's gonna make me? You?"

"Obviously. Normally I wouldn't care of what business or purpose you have with her, but you attacked my hostess. I can't simply let that slide."

"I'm not going to let a woman order me around like a weakling. And I'm sure as hell not going to let you get between me and my business!"

An arm was raised up high and the dagger was raised only to be swiped down- And grabbed by a large fist faster than either could comprehend. Shocked eyes stared into the calm face framed by burgundy hair.

CRACK-

Your body curled up on itself as a man's shriek echoed throughout the home. Pain wailing through his hand and up his arm shooting off like fireworks. The knife fell to the ground with a clatter by their feet as Kokushibo effortlessly and calmly crushed the man's hand. It was all a quick blur. His hand swiping from the hand to his neck, grabbing him by the throat and lifting up. You watched shocked as Kokushibo was able to effortlessly lift up the dangling man like he was nothing and walk him to the open front door struggling and wheezing for air grabbing at the calloused hand clamped around his throat. Until the samurai stopped just in the doorway.

"A man's place is to protect and provide for the woman he devotes his life to. Your proclamations of love are as empty as your threats. You are neither a man nor a worthy lover. It's only because I'm being courteous to my hostess that you live. She just cleaned last night and I'd hate to make a mess and ruin all her hard work. But make no mistakes. Should our paths cross again for whatever reason..." The calm eyes narrowed as the grip increased. "I will be the last thing you see before death claims you."

The man's body dropped like a ragdoll with a thud and a large gasp left his mouth followed by a current of coughs as sweet oxygen filled his lungs. He simply watched him wriggle and struggle like the pathetic worm he was before he was able to scowl and struggle himself away. He stood there until he was no longer in sight and then some before closing the door in front of him. Silence resumed for a long moment.

"...That was incredibly stupid of you." You blinked as he turned to look at you. "I didn't ask you to defend me and if you do it again I'll be sure it's the last time you do."

You ...just blinked. Staring at him as tears continued to roll down your cheeks before you scowled. "I-"

"Should be the one protected," he stated bluntly, "It's a man's job to protect the women not the other way around. You've already done me a great deed by feeding me, giving me shelter, and treating my wounds without a thing in return. I owe your safety at least in return." You said nothing as he walked on over to the shelf and grabbed the box you kept your medical supplies in. "Now treat the wound. It will be better if you did."

You wiped at your face before nodding. "F-Fine. But remove your coat so I can care for your wounds in return.''

"There is no need. They will be fully healed by tomorrow anyways."

That wasn't true. The gashes on him weren't deep but they'd take a long time to heal fully. "Even still, it'd be better to treat the wounds until they heal fully and I said I'd take care of you until you healed fully."

He regarded you for a long moment. "A woman who insists on treating others before herself...You would be an ideal wife if the right man wished to court you." You deadpanned at him. "Nevertheless I agree but treat your cheek first."

You didn't argue against that or when he suddenly pressed a cloth to your face to wipe off the tears and blood from your cut. Your eyes just widened as a hand tilted your head up to look at him and he continued working...a redness spreading across your face much to his inner amusement.

"Who was that man?" His voice made you jump.

"W-What?"

"He seemed to know you. Was he a past lover?"

You scowled in his hold. "He wishes. No. Not even remotely."

He hummed. "He seems to think otherwise."

"His family owns a successful fur trading business in town. Because of that he's very spoiled.  He thinks he can get away with anything but last year he was exiled from town because he almost killed a man after he got drunk."

"What is his business with you?"

"Nothing. His parents tried to convince mine to make an arranged marriage between us as children and I guess since I've told him no he can't seem to get over it. But I'm afraid he might make good on that loophole." He hummed wiping around your cut. "Technically I don't live in town. It's an hour away down the path. So if he comes back here then he wouldn't be breaking the law.''

"If he returns, he does." You blinked as he seriously spoke. "I warned him. If he so chooses to not listen to that warning then he'll face the consequences of his own actions. I never go back on my word."

You blinked at him before pulling away red faced. "Y-You didn't have to do that."

"I did what my role entails." The rustling of clothing had you look over and freeze as his purple and black checkered coat dropped to his feet and exposed his torso to you. "Now you may treat me like you wanted." Your eyes stared at his toned chest- "It's rude to stare."

Jumping you scrambled grabbing your medical kit as he just calmly raised an arm to allow you to quickly pull away the old bandages and trying (and failing-) to not stare at his torso and his scars-...Wait. The bandages fell away from his skin and you froze staring at his wounds. Except..they weren't wounds. They weren't even scars! They were just light markings that looked extremely faded to the point that they were barely present. You just...stared at them.

Wounds don't heal that fast.

Staring silently you slowly looked up at his eyes. "Is something the matter?"

You opened and closed your mouth but quickly shook your head no. "N-No! You're healing up quite nicely! You were right when you said you'd be better in a week!" You offered a smile. "After this I'll make you some more food and drink. Do you like tea?"

"That's fine....You mentioned that you had no lover?"

You shook your head busing yourself by just removing his old bandages trying not to think too much about the mysterious scars. He... probably just had a rare healing rate. Or the wounds weren't as serious as you thought at first 

"No. Most men only wanted me for my looks or my parents money. My father paints and my mother is a good doctor. They make a good living but I'd rather make my own way."

"Would you ever accept a courtship?"

"Well...Yes. I might if the man wasn't interested in my looks or money. Like you for example. You don't seem to care much about those things. If someone as unmaterialistic as you proposed to me or if I asked I would hope he said yes.Uh...N-No offense."

"None taken." He raised his arm higher looking over you carefully before closing his eyes with a hum. "Like me?" 

"Y-Yes. But that's rare to happen-"

"I accept."

You paused holding up a clean roll of bandages. "...What?"

"I accept your proposal." He looked back to you. "But I will court you properly first, Wife."

The roll of bandages dropped to the floor

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

Kokushibo did not leave when he stayed an entire week.

His proclamation of Courting you caught you so off guard that for the longest moment you were just...well dumbfounded. Acting on autopilot being too stunned to speak just finishing bandaging him and cleaning up the small mess Nori left behind. Kokushibo took the dagger Nori left, but you had no idea what he did with it. He only returned to what he had been doing before Nori showed up, which was meditate for the rest of the day until it was finally nighttime. Kokushibo insisted on you taking back your futon and you still bring in shock just laid down staring at the ceiling until you fell asleep. You awoke the next morning to once again finding Kokushibo silently meditating in the corner helping himself to what must've been a full jug of water. Yesterday's events shot through your mind and you shot up sitting up immediately.

"I see you're awake," he stared plainly, "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to sleep in the entire morning. I'm quite hungry."

You snapped to him with a frown. "You said you were courting me yesterday!"

"Yes."

"YOU SAID YOU WERE COURTING ME YESTERDAY!," You shouted realization finally slapping you fully awake.

"Yes."

You pointed at him. "Why?!"

"You are a well woman and I have yet to be treated like this even before I met you." He drank some more. "And you asked me for my hand in marriage."

"No I didn't!"

"Didn't you?" His eyes opened slightly to look at you. "You wanted a husband like me and said if I were to ask you or you were to ask me you'd either accept or hoped that I would accept. And I have. However I intend to go about this properly. I'll court you for a while before out wedding."

Your jaw dropped as your eyes practically bugged out of your skull. "I-..." 

Oh gods. You HAD asked him hadn't you!? You got yourself engaged to a stranger who had just showed up on your doorstep four days ago! Now he was looking at you expectantly waiting for you to cook for him again! This isn't what you imagined what your eventually engagement would be like! You didn't even know him! You had to break this off now!

"I-It wasn't my intention to!" You quickly said making him turn a brow, "I was only using yu as an example of what I'd like in a husband-"

"And here I am. That problem is solved."

"We don't even know each other that well!"

"That's what the courting process is for. We will know one another in time."

"I-I don't want to be engaged right now-"

"Then you shouldn't have asked me unintentionally or not. I have already accepted. I might change my mind later and break this arrangement but for now I am content with what I see."

"I don't like people who just want to court me for selfish reasons."

"None of my reasons for accepting your proposal were selfish. I accepted because I am content with how you have treated me with kindness and how you go about your daily life. I do not care about money or any property you have. Your beauty is a factor I like but it's not a main reason. Now if you're done giving me reasons to say no I'd like you to cook for me."

"B-B-But our lifestyles contradict each other!," you said in a last ditch effort to convince him otherwise. "I-Im not willing to move away from my parents home and I worked too hard on this farm to abandon it! You'll be traveling around far and wide -"

"And I'll have a home and wife to return to whenever I may need her. I have no interest in making you leave with me whenever I go. That would be inconvenient for us both. My work will be kept separated from home. Now will you be cooking me a meal?"

You deflated only looking at him before sighing and moving to get him the food he asked for. If he was still recovering from the blood loss then he shouldn't push himself until he was fully recovered. He mentioned it would take him a week to recover right? Today was the fourth day so he'll only be here for another three days at most. Maybe he'd forget about you once he left. But for now you'd keep your promise and care for him. It was the least you could do after he drove Nori away. Hopefully that would keep him away too...

Oh how wrong you were about that. 

You ended up serving him more eggs and fruit from your back orchard. He didn't seem to mind however and thanked you before taking it. Leaving you to just go about your chores until retiring that night. The next two days were relatively the same. He'd meditate or watch as you went about your own chores or ask you to cook for him which you obliged. You also checked over his injuries only to find they had healed to the point that there wasn't even any scars left behind. You'd never seen anything like in on another man. Even your father had small scars from burning himself on a stove or cutting himself on a widdling tool. Perhaps he was born with fast metabolism that fueled his body's healing? Would be why he ate so much. You didn't bring it up. You did however try to convince him anyways you could to convince him to call off this engagement but he refused every turn. You were feeling relief on the seventh day. It'd be his last day here before he left apparently and you wouldn't stop him. However you weren't expecting him to ask you for a brush for his hair. Huh... come to think of it his hair had been worn down outside of the ponytail he had when you found it.

"I'll fix your hair for you if you'd like me to," you offered which caught him off guard as he blinked at you in light surprise, "I can style hair a little bit. My mother showed me how to, so I can put your hair back up if you want."

Kokushibo just slowly blinked again before closing his eyes with an exhale through his nose. "Do as you wish."

You smiled in return at him and went to fetch your brush. He didn't move but did lightly open his eyes when he heard you return and grab a strand of his long soft hair. It was soft to the touch and you took gently care in pulling apart the small knots you felt before even pulling the brush through. He found the treatment acceptable so allowed it to continue. There was silence for a long time as you worked until you spoke again.

"You have beautiful hair... You're a very handsome man."

You were surprised when a chuckle escaped from him and even offered you a small smile. "Being bold are we?"

"I-Im only being polite!" 

"Don't be fooled. I'm happy my future wife has attraction for me." Your face went red again. "But any flirtations will have to wait longer. I'll be leaving tonight." You blinked at him. "I'll have to return to my Master and inform him on where I've been before he becomes displeased with my absence. I'll return within two weeks time before the eclipse is here."

Master? So he was a samurai for a warlord? Or some kind of noble perhaps? You didn't remember there being any near here. He was from far away wasn't he? However if he was going to be away for a while then you'd be able to have time to yourself again at least for a little while. So you only smiled and nodded.

"Are you strong enough to travel?"

"And defend myself. I owe you my thanks for my body's recovery."

"You did the healing yourself so there's no need to thank me. But I won't let you go on an empty stomach. I'll make you look presentable and cool you a large meal before you go. Can't have you hungry."

"What a doting wife I have."

"Don't push your luck."

That's how his last day with you ended. With you tying his hair back how you first found him and making sure he ate well. It was sundown when he stepped out your door and turned back to you. You handed him a small cloth bag with some fruit from your orchard for his travels and he bowed to you before surprising you when he caressed your lightly injured cheek.

"Don't forget me. I will return for you soon."

Your face lit up a red as he smiled before turning again and beginning to walk away. Not down the path to town though but through the woods. You watched as he left silently and just disappeared into the night.

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

The moon shined red as blood tonight as shadows moved.

Quiet night. Unholy night of beasts. Feasting their sights upon the stray women who dare stay out at night when the full moon rises, lighting the pathway for the beasts to claim their prey. Gnashing teeth, snarling fangs waiting to take a bite into innocent flesh where the terrible claws miss. Waiting to snatch you away down into their dark abyss never to return. He was none what so ever concerned about traveling alone tonight. He had better places to be and anyone who dared be foolish enough to tangle with him would never be heard from again. One look at him would deter most creatures away. But his business was not with them.

He was here for the woman.

The woman of purple eyes and far beauty. He never went back on his word and he had indeed returned to the home seeking companionship. However from the first sight of the house he could tell something about tonight was aniss.

Something wasn't right.

The darkness both swallowed him up and closed off the ways both in front and behind him making each end of the pathway difficult to see with the already limited vision he had. Heightened senses were one thing he had been thankful to have retained from years of harsh training to his body and mind. Closing off all senses to be more enlightened to one's world in a different light. Each echo of his footfalls ringing in his mind as the airways of his body forced himself to absorb more oxygen out of the air and each heart beat thudding against his ribcage. Throbbing sensation reaching from his head to his feet with every passing second he was surrounded by the buzzing swarm of danger. Enlightened by the stings of fear. Danger. Dread. Doom. Like many wasps penetrating his most basic human emotions and swelling them up to the point of combusting dangerously all over the peeping, teasing darkness. The soft silk touch of his yakata met his hand. It was hard to move...Hard to will it to move running along the soft fabric to something more smooth and hard. Both basic instinct wasps forcing him to do something so familiar to combat the combustible feelings. To grab at which to protect him and cut it away like a sickeningly sweet cake of misery and despair. Instincts wailing to protect himself from dangers he had yet to see. Had yet to reveal themselves to him. Hopefully to be chased away by the sounds of the silver blade being unsheathed and held out into the darkness to cut it's tainting self down a notch. That his willpower will always prevail over it. Each door slowly passing a tainting gateway. Each with a promise of safety behind it and perhaps even it had occupants inside using it. taking up it's offering of safety from the darkness now dead asleep highly unaware of the sword wielding warrier just roaming outside arm outstretched and staring down the one that dared teased him the most with it's fake promise of protection.

And that promise he would soon come to learn was broken and not even promise to one individual soon enough. As sweat formed on his skin in an attempt to cool it from the harsh tainting from the moment he was face to face with the door that broke it's sacred promise. At first glance to one in the dark it was as taunting as all the others he had just passed, but if one took time to see it's true mockery and failure hidden by the teasing darkness they would've seen it. The remnants of a beast. Looking as though it had clawed and kicked it's way at the door's sacred locks to be allowed entry inside the room beyond it. In it's wake leaving the door in misery and ruins. A slight opening between itself and the wall where one could look into the room beyond it and see nothing but more darkness laughing back at you.

It begged for him to open it further, to peek further into the darkness beyond the door that should have protected the occupant inside. The apartment was still, quite, far too quite for his liking. The broken splintered door only left so little to memory, and with cautious pushed aside Goemon shoved the door open to reveal the horror to his eyes. His eyes widened: there where obvious signs of struggle, evident by the turned over coffee table and the furniture pieces that lay toppled on their side as though someone had carelessly kicked it over in its rampage. Goemon treaded carefully inside the apartment, his shoe crunching on the remains of a picture frame that had been knocked over, its broken shiny cover a perfect match of the doorway half hanging from its hinges - the cover to what lay beyond broken to bits. Someone clearly had been here and there was very obvious signs of a struggle.

And SHE was gone.

Taken by something or chased out he wasn't sure. But the entire small home was wrecked. Then he smelt it. A familiar smell of a human male and animal pelts. It sent a rigid feeling through his veins before an intensify in calm, silent rage. A rage so intense that he felt nothing but calm. Well now...if someone wished to see his wrath so be it. But let it not be said he didn't warn him. 

"LET GO OF ME!!" The rage and desperation in your struggling was all for nothing as you were continually dragged against your will towards the destination of your kidnapper's choosing. You didn't know what was worse. The sting of the ropes forced around your arms forcing your arms to your body, or the too big white kimono that was forced over your head. A tacky excuse for a wedding kimono. "HELP!! SOMEONE HELP ME!!"

"SHUT. UP." A man's voice hissed near your ear and painfully pulled your body uncomfortably close to his face as Nori hissed. "No one's gonna help you. They're too scared of getting carried away by invisible monsters." You winced as he gave a hasher tug. "And no one will suspect a thing. They'll just think you got carried off by a bad monster and forget all about you. And by the time anyone else thinks otherwise we'll be long gone." He chuckled next to your head making you lean forward away from him. ''Won't we, My Little Wife? I just need to get refuge at the temple and have one of the monks bless our union."

You hissed leaning away from his rotten breath. You had to get help! Where was everyone!? No one even peeked their eyes out to see your yelling through the windows. Your screams and cries of help echoing out through the night and going unanswered. You were being kidnapped and no one was going to help you! Nori laughed again behind you and you gritted your teeth before leaning forward more and with all of the strength in your jaw, you bit down onto his bandaged broken hand. Nori's reaction was instant. He. SHRIEKED. He shrieked in pain in ways you've never heard a man scream before but you continued to bite down when he started flailing. Taking the opportunity to catch him off guard, your head snapped back releasing his hand to collided the back of your head with his nose painfully. Your head throbbed immediately after but it worked. He let go.

You RAN. 

your legs moved your body in a speed you've never thought was possible back up the road where you were dragged from. Your heart pounded in your throat. The back of your head throbbed from where it made contact with Nori. And behind you you heard his hellish screaming. Your footsteps echoed throughout the empty silent streets giving away your position as you continued to run- Until something slammed into your back hard enough to send you flying forward and landing painfully onto your face.

"You stupid girl!" He snarled above your struggling form trying to get yourself up without your arms to lift you. "I swear when I get done with you you'll be nothing but a-"

"A what?"

Nori snapped up to the voice and you froze from the intensity behind it but relieved that at least SOMEONE else was here to possibly help you. Nori's face contorted into one of absolute horror at the sight before him. His scream cut off by a hand wrapped around his throat before lifting him up as you continued to struggle. Eventually your head lifted up and you froze at the sight of a hundred miniature legs and you followed them up until they connected to a segmented body..It's shiny outer shell shined I the red moonlight but you could see anymore than that due to your position. Nori was raised until he was staring in horror. His face reflected in six eyes shiny from the moonlight.

"I warned you." A gutteral hissing sound left his throat the jaw unhinged and two mandables pushed themselves out from the maw.

Nori shrieked.

Your eyes clenched shut hearing his scream end with a sickening crack sound and then there was a loud thud of something else behind you. You froze not daring to move. Until something was suddenly raked down your back and you were suddenly freed from the ropes. But that doesn't mean you were out of danger yet as something Snatched you up by the back of the kimono and pulled up into two arms and carried up by hundreds of those mini legs until you were twisted into held up bridal style as something turned and you snapped your head up...only to feel absolute utter horror as not one but three pairs of sinister eyes stared at you from above. Your mouth fell open as the man... Creature??? Walked away

carrying you bridal style in it's arms.

"Oh my gods... Kokushibo."

The six eyes stared at you in acknowledgement to your words before he spoke.

"I told you. I make it a point to always keep my word, and I intend to keep my word on keeping you."

Quietly you stepped closer as and closer and CLOSER to the bush silently. Slowly behind the henhouse you went and stopped right in front of the bush. The wind blew swaying it's branches creepily and looked like thrashing arms. You grabbed a handful and silently and slowly pulled them back.

And you froze at what you saw-

The winds howled as the darkness crept across the skies. The darkness behind the bush shielded your form from the moonlight which cascaded down between the trees and clouds in the sky. The shadows danced and branches creaked as the wind blew them about. Like arms beckoning you closer to grab you away in their rough grip. Drag you into the shadows never to be seen again. The coldness of the air bit down hard on your skin, like painful bee stings pricking your skin. The terror far greater than seeing a thousand wolves sunk in. 

c r a c k

A snapping of bones crunched between teeth. A splatter of red laid across the grass. Feathers coated in the red liquid of life laid there discarded. Unwanted by the maw that consumed the flesh between its teeth. Purple irises shook, watered at the sight before them. A hunched shadow devoured everything in its claws. Chew. Swallow. Devour. Chew. Swallow. Devour. Down the gullet and never to be returned again. Never before seen by prying eyes. A low hiss of air gurgled from the frothing mouth. Like a wheezing choke. A second later a bone escaped from the maw with a choke, spat out to the ground thudding along. A sigh escaped the maw, as if the bone had been uncomfortable in its mouth. Your body felt rigid. Frozen in utter horror as your mind struggled to comprehend the mass sitting before you. The horrors of it all as your jaw opened up in terror and the smell of blood combed into your senses-

Sniff.

An ear flickered from the top of the head. The mouth paused mid bite into the small body and slowly raised up. Stringy black hair fading to black cascaded down it's spine. 

SNIFF. SNIFF.

Loud questioning sniffs filled the air-

C R A C K-

An inhuman snap of its neck sounded as it snapped to you. And you froze as yellowed eyes stared at your very soul. And for a long moment neither of you moved for a long moment until there was a chittering noise and a half eaten chicken dropped to the ground from his claws. 

IT WAS HER. THE WOMAN FROM THE HOUSE.

Bones crackled and creaked as the creature rose inhuman slowly. High. Higher. And then higher. Your head slowly followed the thing up as the bone crackling stopped and you found yourself staring into the eyes of a man's- No...Beast's...It- ..YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT!!  It was  like you were looking at a cross between a man's and animal's face red blood smeared his jaws from the chicken it had been eating however he stopped and stared down it's nose at you easily with it's height. Your hiding place behind the bush no longer secure as it continued to stare at your petrified form. There wasn't enough moonlight to fully see what it was standing in the shadows except for part of its face which tilted.... before a wide maw of fangs smirked down at you. Without warning it leaned down and you clamped your eyes shut on instinct. Surely this is the day you died.

SNIFF SNIFF??

You froze more as a warm breath blew over the top of your head and something heavy loomed over you. You didn't see it. But you sure as hell F E L T IT!! However a touch to your head made your eyes pop open. Your body didn't even move being too scared but your eyes opened to stare blankly at the leaves of the bush, too scared to look up and see what it was sniffing curiously at your head. The thing above had touched you, and currently had a strand of hair being held in his hands curiously.

What a pretty color. He's never seen a shade of f/c  so pretty before. And it felt so soft and silky in his hands. And she even smells nice. Like flowers and fruit. Such a clean and fresh and pure scent.

It made him unintentionally release a growl. "You're lucky you know... Being able to have such delicious traits." A raspy voice spoke out of nowhere. 

Your pupils shrank so much they nearly disappeared.

T H I S.  T H I N G  C O U L D  T A L K?!

"Do you find me scary? Ugly?", the voice rasped out, like a man with a severely sore throat trying hard to speak after smoking for a hundred years. "It must be nice...Having a roof over your head. A warm meal in your stomach. And a soft bed to sleep in." A growl escaped his throat like a dog. "A pretty thing like you. I have trouble finding any food as your kind constantly hunts me. I can't even catch a break sometimes."

What was it talking about?! What did it want?! ...Food. It mentioned food right?! Your mind flashed back unpleasantly to the once nice hen it had been eating. It was hungry. Whatever this thing was...It. Was. HUNGRY. WERE YOU NEXT ON THE MENU?! Your scared mind raced at a hundred miles a minute. You were going to die and no one would ever know what happened to you. That thought alone was terrifying enough but you hadn't any idea what 'it' even was that was going to be harming you...Wait. It..It wanted food right? That's why it was here. You then felt the weight of s thing in your pocket. There was a piece of cooked meat in your pocket. A very delicious seasoned good piece of meat you'd gotten in town while looking for a good bear trap for the 'wolf'. Perhaps you could use it to distract it. At least long enough for you to get back inside. There wasn't any guarantee it was full proof..but what else were you going to do? Ever so slowly, your hand reached for your pocket-

"What are you doing, Pretty thing?" A small tug on the strand of hair still in it's class reminded you of how close it was.

"You're hungry. I can't let you go hungry. It wouldn't be right."

Have you ever experienced an emotion of fear so strong it rendered you completely numb? That's why you came off so calm when in reality you were absolutely terrified. You felt the eyes of whatever it was locked on your hand as it reached into the pocket and wrapped around a hard object folded in paper. Numbly it was pulled out and held up near your head where you heard more sniffing. 

"Pork?"

"Seasoned and cooked. It's yours if you want it."

There wasn't a hesitation before it was snatched from your hand and there was a pleased hum and a moment later you heard a loud tearing noise and messy chewing. The same smacking and chewing noises you heard from the thing eating the chicken, only you didn't hear the sickening cracking of bones...And the touch finally left your hair. The form of whatever it was leaving to stand up too preoccupied with the delicious meat melting in his mouth. Such a beautiful taste. With the looming form partially gone. A numb stiff leg slowly stretched out and took a step back. Nothing happened. She took  another soft, quiet, and careful step back. Another one. Another step. And another. Your numb form made it past the henhouse slowly and then to the middle of the backyard not daring to look up at whatever it was-

"Where are you going, Pretty Thing?"

Your body again froze at the voice. But you were SO CLOSE to your open backdoor. SO CLOSE TO SAFETY!! But you didn't even know how fast this thing could move. One wrong move and you could be dead.

"... I'm going inside. It's getting late and I'm very tired. I want to go to sleep."

There was a silence as the thing stared at the women... intrigued. No one had really given him an answer like that before. It made him chuckle after a moment. "A nap? You must be pretty bold to want to take a nap right now while I'm standing in front of you...And so hungry ~ A pretty little thing like you might make for a decent dinner.~"

There was more silence and after a moment purple eyes rose to stare at the yellow ones shining from the shadows. You saw a wide fanged grin but could barely make out the rest of the tall body. 

"... Your hunger is not my problem." In an instant, the smile vanished and the eyes blinked. "I have you my own food and there's plenty of fruit and vegetables behind you. If you're still hungry, go have your fill there. I won't stop you from taking it. Now I'm going inside."

You felt the eyes still stock still as you both stared down at each other before you heard the thing make a questioning noise. "...Eh?"

"You heard me. Take what you need from my orchard but I refuse to be anything's food. I've fought too hard for everything I have now."

Again there was an awkward silence and you faintly saw the thing eventually tilt its head at you. As if confused. "Hmph...Bold words for someone so brave...or stupid?"

"I'm not stupid. But I am cautious about you. You're hungry so you can have my orchard."

"Hmm. Tempting. But what if I want meat?~"

"By the looks of it you already raided my henhouse and I already fed you. If you want more meat then there's a stream with fish in it behind you too. I'm not going to feed myself to you." You continued to stare down the creature. "I should be angry but I'll compromise instead. Just take your fill and leave please."

"...And what if I don't want too, Pretty Thing?'

"Then I'll just not talk to you, Pretty Eyes.~" You cooed back to him which... REALLY caught him off guard a he just stared at you.

"....E-EH?!"

Oh?...Was that a stutter?....Wait... Maybe catching it off guard would give you a chance to escape!! It didn't seem to be used to its assumed food talking back. That could be a good thing.

"You must be rather lonely. Calling me pretty at least four times now. I honestly don't know if you want to flirt with me or just jump straight to the kissing bit."

You jumped suddenly hearing a choked dear bleat cut off by a wheezing noise from the creature. "K-K-KISS?!"

"Yes. That's why you're complimenting me right? Although your eyes are rather pretty too. They remind me of shiny gold coins or sunflowers. So pretty." Another weird inhuman sputtering noise was choked out before you fared to turn around as it seemed distracted. "But never the less, I'm tired. Good night."

You then turned and walked to your door. Not run. If you ran them it might've identified you as prey like any other predator. You got into the doorway and turned to close the door behind you. It slid shut as you slowly reached over to click the lock shut. There you stood quietly as silence ensued. And then all the panic and fear hit you at once. THUD!! Your body slumped against the door as your arms pressed against the hard wood as you collars to your knees. However your encounter was far from over when you heard it. A snort. A loud snort like an annoyed horse sounded out just behind the door where your head was lying on it, and then there was a louder sniffling noise as you dared not to move. Then there was a humming noise.

"You don't mean those things. My eyes arent that pretty...Are they?"

"Yes." You didn't know why you answered that. Maybe it was out of fear or automatic politeness but the voice fell silent for a second time.

"...Are you a human? You're really soft looking for one. Are you sure you're not a cupid or Angel?"

"..No."

"Figures as much. You smell human enough....You don't smell of any males either. That means you're not taken are you?" That was more of a statement than question.

"....Why?"

"Why not, Pretty Thing?~ You're definitely pretty enough to drive those crazy enough to fight over you. I've seen you drive other males away... Usually pretty girls like all that attention. Y'know."

Despite your fear an annoyance bubbled out. "I don't. If all they want from me is my looks when that's superficial. Looks aren't everything."

"Hm...That hadn't been my experience. Most people go for looks first-"

"I don't." Your stern voice cut him off. "If I did I would've jumped into the arms of the tailor who came here. If I was looking at any material reasons first then I would've gone with that glasses wearing snob for his money. But I didn't do either now did I? I'm not shallow."

Again another hum. "....Not shallow huh? I bet you're lying about that. I bet you'd marry the first handsome face to walk down here. Wouldn't you? It wouldn't even matter if he was a bad person as long as he had a beautiful face and nice body!"

"I promise you I'd Marry a beast before I did that."

There was silence behind the door before there was a hiss and something pressed against the wood in the area you were from the other side. The breathing had gotten slightly heavier than before. "A beast..like me?"

"Not without  being courted I wouldn't. I won't marry a stranger."

A cheek pressed against the wood as if he could see your every detail. "Is that a promise?"

"....a promise..." What you said wasn't a yes or no but it was something you repeated a bit disoriented by the paralyzing fear.

However someone did take it as a yes. Someone who couldn't believe his ears. Someone who froze and shook in shock. He couldn't believe it. Someone as beautiful as her...and someone as ugly looking as him. He couldn't believe it. 

And it was all for him.

She was so pretty. So soft. So PERFECT.

A L L   H I S

He wanted to feel her soft cheeks on his hands the moment he saw her days ago. She was so pretty. HIS PRETTY LITTLE THING. An involuntary growl escaped from his throat as he pawed at the stupid wood. Not as pretty as his precious sister but she was still more beautiful than any human he's ever seen. He wanted her. His pretty. But he had to wait. He needed to proof he had some worth to give if not any beauty.

"Pretty Thing. You don't know what you do to me... I'll be back. Soon."

You didn't hear his last sentences. Slumping against the door and letting the darkness claim you.

You awoke the next morning with a gasp and terror shooting through you veins. You pushed yourself away from the door rapidly with a shout of terror and scrambling back away from the still locked door. But soon calmed down realizing that you were alone. A quick look out the window was enough to convince you to carefully open the door and look out seeing no signs of anything. No strange creatures with yellow eyes and blood on their face. You were beginning to think that maybe last night had been nothing but a dream until you investigated the area around your chicken coop and froze at the sight of feathers and specks of blood scattered all over the ground. There wasn't any remains, but the feathers and blood droplets was enough to convince you that whatever happened last night was far from a dream. Even more so when you counted your chickens. You had fourteen...but now there was only thirteen. And you had a good idea about where the missing one went. You felt a deep fear form in your body and for a long, long time all you could do was stare off at nothing as your brain tried to process it. All you could do is just....stare at the mess that was once a prize winning hen. Until you got enough sense to whip around yourself. Nothing was there now but it was quite obvious with how skittish your cow and chickens were.

You didn't know what to think!! You had no idea what to do! The only thing you thought of to do was to just look over your animals to make sure they were alright before retreating back into your own home armed with an ax from your small barn usually only used for firewood and locking both doors up tightly. You remained there for what must've been hours. The sun slowly trickling across the sky until it started to slowly go down. The duration of the day being paranoid and checking out your curtains every few minutes or so. However you didn't dare go to the window when sundown approached and eventually night fell. You stationed yourself by the small fireplace curled your knees up to your chest and clutched the axe to yourself. And waited. Perhaps nothing would happen if you pretended to not be home. So you remained silent and still. No fire going. With the doors locked. Curtains closed. Then it was just the darkness and you. Cold silence as you just sat there. High alert as the night rang out....Until you weren't. You must've dozed off at some point because the next thing you knew there was a shrill cry.

A sickly shrill cry left the darkness and reverberated off the walls. Followed by a metal clang. Your axe fell thudding to the ground from your startled form. Your form frozen to the  spot...What was- It happened again. Closer this time. A snarking howling noise that sounded like a wolf but...not. Much More...Worse! It was loud enough to make you curl up more and then you froze as a shadow passed by your window. Ice seeped into your veins as you eyes shrank to the size of pins and ever so slowly your head  turned to the window and you completely froze as you saw it. A silhouette of what seemed to be a dog's head was seen just behind your curtains against the windows. A large mountain of a creature stood there. Pointed ears flicked as there was a loud smelling noise. All you could do was continue to sit there and stare absolutely terrified...until whatever it was lumbered away from the window You continued to sit there as the faint footsteps faded away and long after it went away. Safe to say you got no sleep that night.

The next morning you felt safer with the sunlight lighting up the world and felt safe enough to gather your wits enough to make the hour long trip to town. Every step you took was filled with paranoia from the last few nights. Looking constantly over your shoulders and gazing at every tree you passed as is something would pop out any minute to snatch you away. Thank the gods that you made it through to the town without any trouble. You decided that you DEFINITELY needed that bear trap after all. Something was going on...And that thought was only solidified by the tense air you walked into. You had blinked surprised to see barely any people out today despite it being a Saturday morning and very warm out. Usually there'd be a ton of people out, but today there seemed to be a certain fog heavy in the air. Only a few people were out today and all seemed to have this scared look about them. Looking around quickly or keeping their heads down and speed walking by. That was weird. But you didn't have time to think about that. You just made your way back to the black smiths where weapons and traps were sold. The air from the town left a strange feeling the more you walked and it solidified itself when you found and entered the shop. Once you did, you were surprised when the blacksmith jumped. A large sword he was holding dropping to the ground with a clatter as he whirled around to you...but soon he sighed and gave a glare.

"Dam it! Why do you women always make it a habit to bother us at the worst times?!"

You blinked before frowning. "That's some way to talk to a customer. I'm just here to buy a bear trap. The biggest one you've got."

"Well you're plum outta luck, Girlie!," he sneered before pointing at a wall, "Because I'm completely out of stock!"

You turned and were shocked to see that the wall that had been littered with traps two days before was now completely empty. "What happened?"

He snorted. "I sold them all. That's what. Everyone's been charging in here demanding weapons and traps and whatever else I have to combat the beast."

Your head turned to him with a snap. ".... Beast? What beast?"

He snorted. "Like you didn't hear." You continued to stare at him and be scoffed again before leaning on the counter. "Four nights ago some beast slaughtered a cow or two from a little farm on the outskirts of town. The farmer claimed it was a gigantic wolf he saw slaughter his bulls. A few hunters were in here the night after intending to go after the creature."

Wait....you remembered seeing them almost three nights ago now. A small group of hunters examining the knives in the corner. One tried to flirt with you the first time you were here making you leave early. You were starting to regret not buying one when you did.

"Their bodies were found slaughtered and ripped apart the next morning. Barely anything was left." Your eyes widened in pure horror as he continued to speak. "Then the next night a slew of livestock was slaughtered and even more was killed last night! Everyone is now arming themselves for whatever evil is closing in." His eyes narrowed. "If I were you, I'd go home and not come back until this whole thing passes. It's dangerous to walk alone right now. Haven't you seen any signs?"

"I...lost a chicken two days ago."

"Then take that as a warning or else you'll be another chicken to the beast."

You left soon after that speed walking your way home  a new fear bobbing in your mind like a log floating in a powerful river. What was happening around here?! Did it have something to do with the thing that you saw last night? Did that creature who spoke to you cause all this terror? This was a thing that had you sinking further and further into your thoughts walking in the woods back towards your house surrounded by trees and woods and-

"Pretty Thing.~"

You froze. Body rigid and ice cold as a voice cut through the air...No. No! Your mind must've been playing tricks on you! There was no way that was what you thought it wa- Tree branches snapped and brush rustled as something BIG slithered out of the shadows and stopped somewhere behind your  frozen form. A snort followed by the clip clopping of hooves followed a little bit...only to stop even closer to you. There you remained frozen until something else hissed your name.

"Turn around."

You didn't want to. Really you didn't. You'd be stupid to even do so...but ...Your eyes slowly turned until they couldn't no more. Your head followed after followed by your body until you looked all the way behind you. And. You. FROZE. At. What. You. Saw. Deer like legs partially covered by worn gray pants stood on the ground. A long tail with swishing long hair similar to a horse swished at its feet. The torso's structure was... HORRIBLE! Thin. So, so, SO thin it was. You could see the bones under the grey skin and the surprisingly strong muscle structure gripping onto the bones for fear life. Your eyes continued upwards and froze. A bore hung from the air by its back legs, obviously dead but still looking fresh as if it hadn't been deceased for very long. But that's not what made you freeze. Black and yellow eyes half lidded stared at you as a wide smile of fangs grinned. The face framed but wavy long black-dark green hair that was mostly in a long ponytail cascading down his back. Two deer like ears flickered from the tops of his head. And his entire body had black splotchy birthmarks all over him. After a moment of just staring at Each other, the events of two nights before hit you like a ton of bricks and you stared frozen. After a long moment he chuckled again and leaned down to look at you closer. Face inches away.

"Didn't think I would be back, Pretty?"

"Holy hell..." You whispered under your breath getting a closer look at his face making him chuckle. 

"Do I look scarier in sunlight, Little Rabbit?"

"You're hot-" 

You froze as soon as the words left your mouth and the creature also froze. Both of you staring at one another for a long, long moment.

"...What?"

"What?" You mimicked before slowly taking a step back, and turning around-

"Not. So. Fast." A raspy voice spoke making you pause again and you once again froze -

THUD!!

You squealed out as the boat was dropped in front of you landing on the ground by your feet with a loud thud. And something lanky slunk in front of you from behind and sat on his hunches beside the board. You continued to stare at the wild pig before slowly looking to the creature still in fear as he just ....stared back at you. For a long moment no one spoke. You continued to stare at this....This ...THING as he silently stared back expectantly. What did it want?! Was it going to eat you?! Was it waiting for you to run?! It's eyes flickered down to the ground and then back to you with anticipation and you blinked looking back down to the pig....Was it waiting for you to acknowledge the...pig? You looked between the two a few more times.

"That's...a boar-"

"No shit "

You jumped in shock not only hearing it talk but seeing it's mouth move. It tilted its head even more as if waiting for you to say something else.

"It's...a very big boar-"

"THE biggest. Nice and fat. Good food." He made some kind of half thrum half purr with his throat looking all of a sudden...anxious? "I-I'm a good provider. I bring back the best prey."

You just...stared before slowly nodding unsure of what to do and mostly terrified about making whatever he was upset. "I...Yes. Oh wow. This pig sure looks..." You looked back to it. Dead? "...Big. There would surely be good bacon and pork from a pig that size.

With a slightly anxious look still the thing leaned over to look at your face and you froze as it seemed to be studying you. "....You don't like it."

...You blinked. "What?"

He growled out before leaning back making you jump and expecting to be killed now...but instead he just silently dragged the boat back to him by the legs with a huff. "You don't like it." He eyed the corpse as if trying to find anything wrong with it.".. I'll bring back something better. More plump...An elk. Maybe a nice bear."

"No! No, no. I like pork!" You quickly held up your hands making him snap to you. You didn't want him to get the idea of him bringing himself back a human mainly you, so you quickly turned to appeasing him. "Porks delicious! It's a very good pig!" You assured him with a forced smile.

He still stared at you before giving a loud...whine?? "You're only saying that to spare my feelings."

"No really. The pig is fine. It just needs to be butchered properly."

He looked back to you..and then he moved. It was so fast it had you freezing. You froze as he pushed his face into your face and for a long moment everything was still...until he made some kind of noise and you still stared...was he waiting for you to say something again? 

"Um..." Hesitantly you reached up a hand and unsurely pat his head like you would a dog's. "There, there?"

You watched as his eyes widened in awe. She-...She was responding to his proposal. Someone as pretty as her. He chattered before freezing as the hand scratched an area- THUMP THUMP- You blinked again and looked over hearing a large thumping noise only to find the large tail thudding against the ground hair swishing as you scratched his eats sticking from his head. ...Did this thing seriously like head scratches? It might've been cute if it weren't so scary. Eventually whatever it was suddenly planted it's face into your shoulder making you pause as it just leaned against you.

"P-Pretty... You're just...so pretty."

You blanked again. "Um...Thank you? But W-Who are you?"

"Gyutaro," he mumbled without even looking up. "My mate would need to know that-"

A glass shattering noise went off in your head. "..... What?"

"Mine." You felt two arms suddenly but gently wrap around you in some kind of hug. "You're mine now-"

"What are you talking about?!'' With a whine you suddenly pulled his head away from you and held it away from your shoulder. "I don't know what you mean by that but I don't think you're thinking straight."

"You said you'd marry a beast! ME! Before you married a man!" He growled back before he again leaned into you again, this time your arm, 'You promised yourself to me and now you're mine!"

GOOD HOLY FUCK THAT WASN'T A DREAM EITHER!! WHAT HAD YOU DONE!?!? YOU PROMISED YOURSELF TO A-....TO A-.....A...

"What even ARE you?"

He chuckled cracking an amused eye open to stare at you amused. "Guess?~"

Guess?! How were you supposed to guess what he was when he wouldn't tell you?! You just blankly stared at him up and down before landing on his strange deer like legs. What kind of creatures had these legs?!

"Are you...a pan?"

He barked a laugh. "No."

Your brows furrowed more. "...Are you a..faun?"

He snorted shaking his head no against your arm. "Not even close."

"Then what are you?"

"You humans call my kind wendigo."

"Wendigo...I've never heard of such a creature."

"Lucky thing ~" He mused pushing his cheek further into your hand. "All mine too." He blinked as you pulled your hand away to rub your own shocked face.

"I must be loosing my mind. This can't be real."

"I'm literally in front of you."

You looked back to him. "W-Well... I can't be with you."

"Why? Is the pig not enough? I-Ill provide better meat for you! I promise!"

"It's not the pig that's the problem! You've been terrorizing the town!"

For once Gyutaro's face paused.....he blinked. "What?'

"Yo-You've been rampaging through town killing people and livestock! Y-You devoured my chicken!"

"The chicken I ate." He furrowed his brows. "I haven't killed any humans." Not around this area at least- "And I haven't killed any farmers pets aside from the chicken."

You stared at him for a long, long moment. ".... You mean...You haven't been killing animals A-And people for the last four days?"

"I haven't even been in this area for four days!" He barked now a bit annoyed he'd be accused of something. "I've only been here twice. Once two days ago when you promised your hand to me and now today!"

"So...You WEREN'T the shadow thing creeping around my window last night?"

Again you both stared at one another silently before his face slowly contorted into rage. A hiss escaped his throat. You jumped as he shot up to his towering height and grabbed your shoulder with a hiss.

"Show me."

The boat was picked up and flung over his shoulder as he made you walk the whole rest of the way to your house and around to the back which was...awkward as you were mostly silent the entire way there. What if he was lying?! What if he really was the one who's responsible for all the death?! What if there WAS two monsters running around here?! The thought made you feel afraid. But you gestured to the window where you saw the shadow last night.

"It was here but I never saw what it was, only it's shadow."

The boar was again dropped without a thought as Gyutaro(he said that was his name) leaned over the window and inhaled deeply before instantly turning to a sour expression with his nose wrinkled up and teeth exposed in a disgusted expression. 

"What is it?"

"Blood and sweat. Smells like a wolf... almost."

"A wolf?" You looked at the window. That must've been a giant wolf.

"I said almost...smells disgusting and... odd."

You stared at him. "...Well everyone's been saying that it was a wolf. What else could it have been?"

"Something else that's dangerous."

Again silence rang out as you stared at the window... before groaning and reaching a hand up to rub your head. You needed to go sit down for a moment. Gyutaro perked back up hearing the back door open and you step inside- only to stop and turn around once you felt something slip in under your arm and slink itself inside. Gyutaro slunk inside on all fours dragging the boar in his mouth and dropped it on the floor before circling and sitting back on his legs looking at you expectantly. 

"Cozy home. My sister will be expecting to be able to have room too."

You just stared at the mess he made before dropping your arms. "I think we're going to need to have a talk but not right now I need to have some time to myself. " His face dropped as you pointed out the door. "I need to think about everything that's happening but it's not your fault. It's just something I need  to do for myself."

He still stared at you further before giving a guilty look like that of a kicked puppy and like before slinked out the same way he went inside before he sat outside and sat down on his hunches with a kicked puppy look as you closed the door. He felt his ears press flat to his head as you didn't open the door again. Was something wrong? Did you not like the pig after all? He would have to prove himself to her in a different way. And he knew just how he was going to do it.

******"*************************************************************************

The night was on you again. The sleeping form of a girl in bed caught the appeal of all to see. You  managed to clean up the mess Gyutaro made and take care of the pig he brought you, which took most of the rest of that day and barely sleeping the last two nights on too of all the work had you dead tired enough to fall asleep instantly despite the fear. ... However it wasn't a peaceful night as evil lurked near. A figure lurked closer and closer to the window. A large snout made it's way up to the window and inhaled deeply.

Warm body. Fresh blood. 

CARNAGE.

You were awoken by a loud scraping noise against the door. Followed by a sickening crash noise as something on the other side of the door where broke through. A scream echoing out through the night as you turned and shrieked at what you saw. Long black claws sunk themselves into your shutters ripping the flimsy window protection away and revealed a deformed head of the wolf. It's disgusting maw opened up in a loud cry flinging spit all over your window frothing from its mouth. 

CRASH!!

A glass shattering noise went off as a black hand shoved through the mirror as an inhuman arm shot through and flailed about. A spray of glass rained upon you and on instinct you flung your arms up to shield yourself from the spray of shattered glass. One moment she sat there screaming, the next she was scrambling on hands and knees into the bathroom and slamming the door shut behind her. The arm flailed about scratching up the walls and searching for some purchase of entry way. Or it would've been if something hadn't cut down through its shoulder leaving a gash and spray of blood splattering against the side of the house. A loud whining of pain sounded out and the creature retreated. A loud deadly symphony of howls,  snarls, and demonic sounding deer bleats that had you clamping your hands over your ears and curling into the fetal position against the bathroom door. You stayed that way even as the sounds stopped. Even as something loudly kicked your backdoor in wide open scattering pieces of wood everywhere. Even as you heard something sniffing around. Even as hoof steps approached the door. Even as the bathroom door was slammed open. YOU. SHRIEKED. BODY backing away from the door and scared of your incoming death as a hand wrapped around your ankle and yanked your form back into an...embrace?? You sat frozen as an equally scary but more familiar form pressed you into him and for a long moment you sat froze...until you spoke.

"Gyutaro?"

"I told you.." he hissed pressing your form further into him. "You're M I N E."

"Brother, are you done with this stupid game yet?!" A shrill new voice made you jump. "Just grab the human and let's go home already!"

"Not yet...You take her home. I have one more thing."

You felt like passing out before looking at the creature. "Home...W-What home?"

A cheek pressed against your forehead. "My home. ... You're going to be kept safe."

And his.

*****************************************************"****************

The sunlight shown down on the tiles of a home in the morning. Warming up the world as it lit up like a candle. A field held all silent and sprung flowers in its glory. However it was stained by a red trail  tailing behind the stumbling body.

One step. Two steps. 

THUD 

Stumbling to his knees only to pick himself back up with a pant and keep going back towards the small home in the field. If he could get inside he could stop the bleeding. He NEEDED to stop the bleeding. One last stumble and the body landed face first to the soft grass wriggling and forcing himself up- Until a black hoof pushed him back down. 

"Werewolf....No wonder you smelt an odd mix of human and animal. Your whole body carries the stench of death on it. ..Too bad. You have such a handsome face to go along with such an ugly curse...Shehe. How ironic! You were so easy to track too! Leaking like a river like that! Now I've never eaten a werewolf before and I'm fucking hungry from not eating for a few days! Let's see what you taste like shall we?!"

.A scream echoed throughout the field and then once more silence resumed.