【 ʟᴏʀᴅ ᴏғ ᴛᴇɴɢᴜ 】

      Another keen left the girl’s lips as she brought the bowl of soup to her mouth, sipping it slowly. She couldnt taste a thing. Once his hand touched against her forehead, her eyes closed instantly. A cooed leaving her throat. Her head almost leaning into it. It was so cool and it felt so good. 

      “Mmn..” Misao hummed lightly, furthering her lean. She bowl of soup slowly tilting with each inch.

            ❝I said drink it; not spill it.❞ He warned, his opposite hand lifting in a       fluid gesture, catching the lip of the bowl with his fingertips and tipping it       back into balance in her tiny, frail hands. He had long since mastered the       art of keeping his accident-prone bride out of traction. He took note of her       alleviated sigh, and left his chillier fingers against her forehead until the       temperature from her fever had bled through to his hand and left it too       warm to tell the difference. Only then did he withdraw to the washroom,       gone for what seemed like only a fraction of a second before he'd returned       with a cool, damp washcloth. 

            ❝...here.❞ He knelt and draped the towelette across her sweat-       misted forehead to counter her fever. His tone wasn't soft by nature, but       concern was evident in the stern manner of his instructions. His carry left       little room for argument.

          【🌹】 ——     If nothing else, Kurama prided himself on two things:                                his preparation, and his judge of character. This Lord                                seemed to bear no ill-intent, as he’d originally expected.                                Should he possess a heady blood-lust, or be falsifying                                his hospitality, it would be apparent to the fox; instead,                                he seemed to be inherently friendly. So long as he was,                                Kurama would endeavor to be polite in return. As they                                passed by a man of tall stature with broad shoulders,                                clearly one of the crow’s subordinates, Kurama gave                                a respectful incline of his head and a slight bow as he                                followed after the Clan’s Head. In turn, the man who’d                                been addressed responded to the request swiftly.                                            “You’ll have to forgive my gall, Usui-san.                                             It’s rare that I encounter a demon in these                                             parts that means well; please understand.”

            ❝Unfortunately I understand it all too well.❞       He regrettably informed the other as he settled down at the kotatsu table       adorning the center of the main room. Nearly every demon he came       across wanted little more than to devour his love, his senka, for the       furthering of they and their clans. Sagami returned in a timely fashion, and       one as quiet as he had departed at that, placing the tea before his Master       and the guest and distributing the warmth into a pair of cups.

              ❝...I assume that you have questions, then.❞       The clan head asserted. After all, he'd said he was some sort of       investigative presence from the Spirit World. It would be a political folly       to treat this man as anything but an Ambassador. 

            ❝...I'd be perfectly willing to answer any of your inquiries.❞ 

"Is that right? Now what do you think I would be capable of doing all by myself?" The sound of irritation was present in her voice. It seemed that her thoughts were correct about him thinking that she was a potentially dangerous creature. Though, she could try to convince him that she wasn’t some tengu of bad intent, however that was going to take a while for her to do since her mood was beginning to turn sour from their interactions so far.

            ❝Not much if I'm your opponent.❞ He warned her; she clearly had as       little idea of who he was as he did in her regard. Still, he wasn't foolish       enough to immediately assume that she was a threat... he simply couldn't       dismiss it as a possibility.  

            ❝...but that doesn't have to be the case. Tell me, what business do you       have here in the place?❞ 

A small glare was shot his way and she grumbled a little but she tried not to let it get to her, there was no use in making enemies in an unknown place.

"Of course I know why I am from… all I know is I woke up here and I have no idea how." She most likely sounded crazy but it was all she could offer at the moment.

            While he had some sympathy for the candidly confused girl, he was a       demon... and truthfully, it wasn't really his problem. He turned his back to       her and gestured with one long arm down the road.

            ❝...the city is that way. You'll find an embassy there. That should at       least get you started, if you have ID anyway.❞

      “I’m sorry.." The peach almost whined out as she rubbed her nose. Her attentions slowly turning towards the bowl of soup as he spoke. Fingers slowly cradling it to her face as she hid behind it. A pout forming.                               Shots  h u r t .

            His bristled disposition quickly abated; it was difficult to remain       agitated when she was so clearly suffering for her mistake. Besides       which... the sniffled way she wiped at her nose with her tiny fist half       covered by the oversized sleeve of her sweater... it was pretty cute.

            ❝...I certainly hope so.❞ He exhaled, though the bite had fled from       his tone. One large, lithe hand reached out to brush her bangs aside,       covering her forehead in his cool fingers to test her temperature.        ❝...drink your soup.❞

A small grumble escaped her when she heard what he had to say—he wasn’t exactly the politest of people and it made her fold her arms over her chest and narrow her eyes at him. “Excuse me?! Not everybody will know their way around here.” Perhaps, she was a little defensive but she was cold, tired and grumpy.

            ❝But most at least know what country they're in.❞       He countered in a deadpan; this girl was completely clueless and more       than the least bit disoriented on all accounts. 

            ❝...do you even remember where you're from? Or why you're here?❞

"My nature?" Even as polite as he sounded, the woman couldn’t help but feel offended at his words. "Please explain, I’m dying to know.” Her eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms under her chest, waiting for his answer. If her suspicions were correct on him thinking that she was some kind of threat, then she wasn’t going to be acting friendly towards him from this point on.

            ❝A demon, namely-- particularly one with no affiliation.❞       He explained quite candidly. Demons without purpose who wandered the       area put Misao at risk with their appetites and selfishness-- and that was       something he couldn't allow: a threat to her well being.

          【🌹】 ——     Blood-lust was simply something that Kurama chose                                not to dwell upon; of course he felt it, every demon                                felt it…even men felt it…but he’d long-since overcome                                the lack of self-control necessary to act upon it. He’d                                much prefer that cup of tea. The proffered show of                                peace brought his weapon down from the thorned                                curl of his whip to the insignificant (or seemingly so)                                bud of a seed once more within his palm, which was                                easily tucked away beneath his layered, fiery hair.                                “Unless you’d prefer that I decide otherwise.”                                Perhaps he was joking—surely so; his humor was                                as dry as the smile upon the Lord’s lips, stepping                                onto the property line with a surprisingly substantial                                crack of energy as he passed through the barrier.                                He’d suppressed it well, but his power was immense,                                and by the sheer pressure of the air about them…he                                could assume that this tengu was not unlike him in                                that regard. All the same, he’d prefer to make peace.                                                            “Tea sounds lovely. Thank you.”

            ❝Hardly.❞ He chuckled, taking a step back before turning on his heel       to pass back through the gate of his home, anticipating the other to follow.       It seemed that he didn't pose a threat at the present moment-- so what use       was there in fighting? Still, he would have to keep an eye on the relative       stranger... and he was exponentially interested in exactly what he was       doing here. What better way to discover than to ask outright? 

            ❝--Sagami.❞ He called out to his daitengu as he passed through the       sliding paper door. ❝...put some tea on for our guest.❞

   She coughed.

                     ❝Unbelievable.❞

            He chided in an exasperated sigh, setting a       tray carting a bowl of soup over her bedridden lap.  

            ❝...you just couldn't take your flu shot       like I told you, hm? And now look at you.❞

"Clan? I’m not really from one, but I am from the Tengu World." She replied. Nyo found it strange that she was being asked what clan she was from and not what kind of creature she was. It would seem that he was familiar with her race, which piqued her curiosity on wanting to know how this man knew.

            ❝Hm... so you're a straggler, then.❞ He wagered; a nomad, most       likely. She didn't have a family, then.  ❝…My name is Usui Kyou. My       apologies, but I can't have a demon of your nature wondering around here       aimlessly.❞

"Japan?!" Ruby hues widened as she looked around her in slight panic and bit down on her lower lip. How on Gaia had she gotten here?! A sense of panic overcame her but she tried to remain calm and cool. "I actually… —I’m lost."

            ❝...I can tell.❞ He deadpanned; this girl looked like she was shocked       by his response. How could she not have known what continent she was       on!? Although in all technicality Japan wasn't a continent, but it was the       principal of the thing.

          【🌹】 ——     Usui—he recognized this name, though it was spoken                                with an ancient tongue. As the blade was lowered in                                defense, so was the fox’s whip to the level of his                                stomach, held stiffly at his ribs to block his abdomen                                should the demon be lying; after all, Kurama was as                                lax to trust this man blindly as he was in return.                                "The Spirit World interferes where they must."                                He responded coolly, his emerald eyes taking in                                the appearance, scrutinizing. "I merely wanted to                                ascertain that you weren’t a threat to this place.                                I do recognize that name—you are the head of                                your clan, you say?” If so, Kurama may yet owe                                him some sort of explanation.

            ❝I am...❞ He responded, the majority of his apprehensions having       been abated by the other's explanations. Besides which, Kyou was a       relatively good judge of character, particularly when it came to other       demons-- and this one was either exceptionally apt at cloaking his       bloodlust or he simply didn't possess any. Either way, he didn't appear to       pose a threat... at least not at this point and time. And so he sheathed his       blade and continued the conversation more in manner of a gentleman,       with the air of the title he carried.  

             ❝Then is it safe to assume that you've decided I'm not?❞ He dared       with a wry smile, folding his arms into the sleeves of his suikan.         ❝…because if so, perhaps you'd like to come in for a cup of tea?❞

               Hearing his voice, her attention         perked. Her brown doe then picking         up to his, freezing in his gaze. Feeling         his hand encase her chin, blush         instantly heated her face. Wide eyes         slowly relaxing as her lips rose to his         own. The senka not even trying to         resist his allure. Her eyes finally         shutting as his lips captured hers.

                Blush deepening, Misao’s cheeks           darkened in color. Her frail fingers           picking up only to grip the fabric of his           shirt, pulling him closer. That was the           shy girl’s way of asking for more.

            The color that rose in her cheeks stoked a fire in his soul,       a beast in his belly that possessed an unquenchable thirst for her       and her alone; her touch, her taste, her scent... like peaches.

            The tip of his silver tongue slipped out to drag across the pout       of her lower lip, baying entrance before prying her lips apart with a       snag of his teeth to indulge her silent plea. The way her tiny fingers       twisted in the fabric of his shirt made it feel like the layer of clothing       was on fire, itching at his skin. It burned for him to remove it, to shed       the barriers between them-- but surely her skin would sear him even       more deliciously.

            Lips forming into an exaggerated          pout, Misao’s eyes cast to the side.         A huff then leaving her lips. Clearly         both of them werent acting their ages.         Taking a moment, she glancing up at         him. Her pout never leaving as she         scooted towards him. Leaning forward,         Misao then slowly placed a kiss on his         cheek. That was her way of giving.

            ❝…❞ He paused momentarily to savor the press of her lips       against his cheek; like velvet against steel. The weight of his lids       was heavy and difficult to resist in their urge to flutter shut, but no       --there was a time and place for that. This was the time for something       else.

             ❝...oh no you don't.❞ He muttered as she drew back just slightly,       his fingers unfurling to cup her delicate chin and turn her retreating       face back toward his own, sealing his lips over her own in a kiss sans       permission...and any remorse, frankly.

"Oh! These are your grounds?" She acted surprise upon learning that she trespassing on someone’s territory. "I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I was just simply passing by."

            That was as likely a story as anyone had ever conceived. Still, he       didn't recognize her as a member of his own clan, and as the Head he       knew each member by face and name. That was enough to arouse his       suspicions. ❝…what clan do you hail from?❞

Perhaps it was just the way it came across but she seemed as though she could sense some hostility in his voice making her feel a little uncomfortable within his presence. The look on his face wasn’t too inviting and she found herself regretting that decision almost immediately—feeling a little wary of him now. “Just wondering it you could perhaps tell me where I am?”

            ❝You're in Japan; specifically, you're standing at the gate of the       Usui home, of which I'm head. As such-- was there something I could       help you with? Were you looking for something, or someone?❞