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CHAPTER XI

Almost eight months have past since Tou-san found out about my relationship with Raizen. Eversince that day, he seems to have more time for me. He taught me how to use simple spells and even introduced me to one of his visitors. Today I have turned thirteen. He promised me he would take me to ningenkai and he did. It was such a beautiful place. It was so warm and radiant. An aura of serenity seem to surround it and the people living in it. I had wanted to stay longer, but Tou-san insisted that we headed home.

Back home, he gave me a silver youko as a gift. It was just a pup and he told me that if I took good care of it, he would grow up to be a beautiful fox-spirit. I was very happy that day, but there was something missing...

"Raizen...I wonder what you're doing right now..."

"Later that evening, my pet youko and I were playing in the yard. Tou-san left for another job and told me not to leave the premises. He told the guards not to let anyone in either. I chased happily after my new friend and landed on top of him. He gave a growl and bit my wrist playfully. I laughed and picked him up, ruffling his thick soft fur.

"I've got you now, little youko!" I said cheerfully, "Now I will suck your blood!"

I nibbled at his neck and hugged him tight as we both collapsed on the ground, panting hard with laughter. When I caught my breath, I lay back with my friend and stroked his fur gently.

"Tou-san said he found you alone in the wilderness," I said to the little pup, "he said your parents were killed by bad youki."

The youko looked up at me, his huge golden eyes full of sorrow.

"Don't worry little kitsune, I'll take care of you!" I lift him up in the air then hugged him tight, "I lost my real parents too, long ago. But Tou-san took care of me and raised me as his own."

The little fox spirit licked the tip of my nose. I giggled and scratched him behind the ear.

"Don't worry, you'll never be as lonely as I used to be, I'll always be here for you, I promise..."

"And I for you..." said a familiar voice from behind me.

I sat up startled and saw Raizen standing before me. His hand was stained with blood and he was trying desperately to wipe it off, afraid I might see it.

"Raizen!" I cried as I rose to my feet and ran to him. He smiled at me and wrapped me in a warm embrace.

"Fera," he whispered in my ear, "how I missed you so..." I felt his hand moving restlessly on my back and lowered down my body, I pulled away and looked up at him, startled. The strange look was in his eyes again, his lips parted as he took quick breaths.

"Raizen would you stop staring at me like that?" I asked, looking away."How did you get in any way? Tou-san placed wards all over the place!"

"I have my ways." was the simple reply.

There was a sudden tug on my robe and I remembered my little kitsune. He stared up at me, looking annoyed at being left out.

"Oh, I almost forgot all about you," I said with a smile. I picked him up and showed him to Raizen "this is my new friend, he's a fox spirit. Tou-san gave him to me as a present."

"It looks like he would grow up to be a strong yuuki." he replied as he smiled at me and held me closer. His brown eyes locked with mine as he leaned over to give me a kiss. I wanted to pull away, but something inside me told me to keep still as I felt his restless hands move over my body. I had no idea how much I missed his touch, his advances towards me.

We were still lost in that kiss when I heard a yelp. My eyes fluttered open and looked down, for between Raizen and I was my kitsune, sandwiched between us.

"Raizen, wait!" I gasped.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked, looking down at me, his brown eyes full of concern.

"I...I can't do this..."

"Why not?" he asked again, caressing my lips. I tried to look away, afraid I might loose myself in his gaze. "Fera," he whispered in my ear. "I need you, don't you want me, too?" I tried to push him away, but he held on even more. I didn't notice when my fox slipped away.

He started kissing my neck, and before I knew it, we were both lying on the ground, his weight above me. I felt my heart pounding inside my chest, about to burst, but Raizen suddenly stopped.

Startled, and a little disappointed, I looked up at him. He was staring sternly at the opposite direction.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Fera, will you be mine?" he asked back. "Will you be mine forever?" I looked at his eyes. Lonely eyes pleading at me. I felt like I knew his pain.

"Yes." I answered back as I placed my arms around him.

"Then it's settled." said he. He lifted me up in his arms and carried me away.

"Matte kudasai!" I cried, "Where are you taking me?!"

"Home."

"But I can't just leave here!" I said, trying to get free from his arms.

"Don't you want to be with me?"

"Well, yes, but..."

"Then come live with me!"

"But tou-san..."

"He can come for you any time." replied Raien, "He can even stay if he wishes!"

Just then, my Father's men came, accompanied by a small child of about 3 years. He had silky white hair and golden eyes, a pair of fox's ears and a tail swinging nervously behind him.

"Raizen!" cried the head of the group, "Let Fera go!"

Raizen didn't let me go. He turned around and started to run with me in his arms. The soldiers ran after us, throwing spears at Raizen, trying hard not to hit me. When they got closer, Raizen suddenly turned around and aimed a finger at them. Something quivered inside me as I felt his chi rise and power accumulate at the tip of his finger.

"Raizen! Yamero!" I cried, pulling his arm. A light, blinding as the sun, formed before us, turning into a huge ball of energy and barely missing my father's soldiers. The force threw us back. I felt Raizen's arms hold me protectively as we hit the ground, last thing I saw were his concerned eyes, looking at me, his lips making no sound. Everything went black.

When I came to, I was lying on a soft bed. The smell of fresh flowers greeted my senses. I opened my eyes and realized I was in a different place. It was a strange room, round and spacey, opposite me was a balcony over seeing the plains of Makai. I sat up at the sound of footsteps, silk rustling around me. I faced the door as Raizen came in.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, holding my hand.

"Hai." I answered with a smile. I saw a bandage around his chest. "Raizen! You're wounded!"

"It's nothing." he replied.

"I'm sorry, I never should have..."

"It's all right," he replied, stopping me, "We're together now, that's all that matters."

With that, he claimed my lips and entered the bed with me. I placed my hands around him, as his body lowered over mine. I felt his hand slip down my waist, his kisses became hungrier. I tried to gasp for breath but only ended up moaning as a strange feeling over came me. Raizen slipped the robe off my body, his kisses trailing down my chest. I thought I was going crazy, but then, there was a sudden knock on the door and in came Mayef, wearing a bright tunic and a golden crown around his forehead.

"Raizen, we have a visi..."

Mayef never got to finish what he was about to say. He looked at us, his jaw dropping, and suddenly looked away, quite embarrassed.

"What is she doing here?!" he asked angrily.

"I brought her back with me yesterday." replied Raizen casually.

"Why didn't you tell me about it?!"

"You were not yet here when I arrived, we were asleep when you came, and you've already left when I woke up." explained Raizen as he sat up beside me.

"No wonder he was so angry..." mumbled Mayef.

"Who?" Raizen asked with no concern. Mayef looked back at him angrily.

"Broveta."

At the mention of my Father's name, I suddenly stiffened. Cold sweet dripped from my chin. I began to panic with fear.

"It's okay, Fera, I'll take care of everything." assured Raizen.

"But you don't understand!" I cried, "Tou-san is very powerful! He has never lost to anyone!"

"Fera, he won't do me any harm," he said, trying to calm me down.

The room suddenly quivered. A transportation spell. I looked wildly at the direction and was met by my Father's angry eyes. Raizen felt his presence and faced his direction, but as he did, an invisible force lifted him up and hurled him across the room.

"Raizen!" I screamed, reaching out to him. Tou-san was suddenly before me. His stone cold eyes full of anger.

"No...!" cried Raizen, raising himself up, "get away from her..." Tou-san looked at him, sending him across the room again.

"Raizen!" called Mayef with concern.

"Yamero!" I cried, holding on to my Father. "Please stop it!"

He didn't even look at me. He raised his hand, a dark sphere emerged from the darkness and aimed it at Raizen. I screamed. Afraid to look at what might happen.

"I told you to leave my Fera alone." he said. "Now, you die."

"Never!" screamed Raizen. He collected his chi at the tip of his finger and aimed as the dark sphere approached him.

The room shook as raw energy hit each other, sending shock waves in all directions. My Father's hit was stronger. Raizen stood wide-eyed as the sphere approached him. I cried as the room was filled with dust and smoke.

Tou-san didn't move. He kept his gaze at Raizen's direction until the dust settled down. I gave a deep breath as I saw two figures before us.

"Broveta. Take Fera and leave." said Mayef, a protective shield around them.

"No!" cried Raizen on his knees.

"Shut up, Raizen." said Mayef. "You know well we are no match against him. You see," he continued, "Broveta is using the Meneer's powers against us."

Raizen was silent. He looked at Tou-san with wide eyes. I looked up at him too, not really understanding what was going on.

"That's the real reason why he wants to keep her under his custody, so that he could use her forever. The real reason he imprisons her is to keep the other Menears from finding her."

"You are a wise one, Mayef," replied my Father, just as Raizen's men came into the room, startled, they began to charge Tou-saan. "But I'm afraid there's nothing you can do about it."

Tou-san raised his hand, a sphere of blinding light formed in his palm, stopping everyone in their paths. He alone was able to move.

"Remember that trick, Fera?" he asked, smiling down at me. "You used to love that when you were younger, you even used it on me once." he faced Raizen and slowly walked towards his direction. "You see...I had to, 'borrow' your powers for you still couldn't control it back then. I wanted you to live like a normal child, away from evil." He stood before Raizen, a flaming sword of dark fire formed in his clenched fist. "None of this would have happened if it wasn't for you, Mozoku!" he said bitterly.

"Tou-san, NO!" I yelled.

"You could kill me, Broveta," said Raizen, stairing angrily at him, "But you could never get your daughter back ever again!"

"Kissama!!" hissed my Father. He raised the flaming sword and aimed it at Raizen's neck.

"NOOO!" Yelled Mayef helplessly.

"YAMEROOO!!!" I screamed. I tried to shut my eyes but could not move. I tried to stop him, pushing everything I could muster up in my body, just to save my Raizen. Suddenly there came a sound from within me, like the heart beat of a once dead person coming back to life. I suddenly lifted myself to my feet.

Tou-san sent the sword down upon Raizen. He kept his eyes on his. Never looking away. The sword never touched him. It suddenly disappeared, to my Father's surprise. He looked at me with disbelief as I stared back at him.

"Fera!" he cried as he went to my side. I could'n move, yet saw everything clearly.

The room suddenly lighted up as a golden radience filled the room, coming from the golden sign upon my head. The power that once was drained from it have finally returned.

"Fera! My child, speak to me!" said he, as he gently shook me, his loving eyes filled with concern. "This is all your fault!" he yelled, facing Raizen's direction, but Raizen was already right behind him, and with a thrust, took Father's heart in his hands and crushed it before his eyes.

Blood spattered all over the place. Tou-san slowly turned around and faced me, his eyes brimming with tears. His blood warm against my cold skin. It dripped down my body as his lips moved without a sound.

"Fera," he tried to say. "I'm so sorry."

I felt warm tears fall down my face as my father's life left him. My hands finally moved and I stoke the head of the man I knew since childhood.

"Fera." called Raizen from beside me. "Daijoubu...Now, we are free..."

Raizen pulled me away and embraced me. The dead body fell, leaving a dark puddle on the floor. He was really gone, but now I have Raizen. I know he would let no evil befall me. He loves me, and I love him.

Eien.

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END OF CHAP XI

Hey there! Next one up, how things are faring back in Makai!

Enjoy!