Akihiko turned towards Oniru and said "You're not meant for fighting."
"Then, what am I meant for? I'm here to protect Milord!" Oniru said.
"Your physicals and potentials" Akihiko said "Cannot be controlled by a man, you need.…a woman to control you."
"A woman? But how is that possible? A woman Demigod does not exist! Demigods are always male!" Oniru said.
"....I don't know." Akihiko said and left the scene.
Near the lake
"You are here again?" Serenity, now known as Kanae, said.
"I'm worried about something." Oniru said.
"What?" Kanae asked.
"Can a lady Demigod exist?" Oniru asked.
"I have never seen any lady Demigod, but, if she does exist somewhere, I want to meet her. But why do you ask? Did you see one?" Kanae said.
"...No, forget it." Oniru said as he got up.
"You know, I have a good news for you." Kanae said.
"News?" Onriu said.
"'Fire in Him', is here." Kanae said.
"REALLY?!" Oniru said as a smile spread across his delighted face.
"Yes, he has come to meet Milord. Would you like to meet him?" Oniru said.
"OF COURSE! IT'S BEEN 23 YEARS SINCE I LAST MET HIM." Oniru said "Let's leave right away!"
"Yes!"
At Lord Honsei's lodgings
"'Fire!!!!" Oniru shouted as he flapped his wings and flew towards a white fox.
"How are you, Music? Or should I call you 'Oniru'?" The fox said with a smile.
"Any is fine!" Oniru said "Tell me Fire, how have you been?"
"It was fun across the world, but now I'm old, so I'll drop travelling once and for all. I'm thinking of reincarnation." Fire said.
"NO! NOT YET!!" Onriru said "You have to stay with me and Serene for another 1 year. Although I never want you to reincarnate."
[Note: Reincarnation for a star means- going back to the sky and form a new star. Such stars never return to Earth again. Every star can undergo this process once they feel that they are 'Old' or when they cannot keep up with the human world's pace anymore]
"Alright alright, but not more than one year." Fire said.
"One year should do." Oniru said with a smile.
"Ah...You are Oniru?" Lord Honsei said as he walked out of his room, into the garden- towards Oniru. He was a Demigod too, but he had a divine aura like no other Demigod, which was soothing and calming.
"Y-Yes?" Oniru said.
"I'm Honsei Karamaru- The demigod of Matchmaking. Nice to meet you." Lord Honsei said as he bowed.
"The pleasure is mine." Oniru said as he bowed too.
"Your wings are beautiful." Lord Honsei said.
"Arigatou gozaimasu (Thank you very much)" Oniru said.
"Fire, have you seen the lake yet? It's completely different now." Kanae said.
"Really? Then, let's go." Fire said and both of them ran off towards the lake.
"Oniru." Lord Honsei said.
"Yes, Lord." Oniru said.
"Can we have tea together?" Lord Honsei asked.
Both lord Honsei and Oniru sat under the cherry blossoms in Lord Honsei's garden, where they drank tea.
"Oniru, do you like my star spirit?" Lord Honsei said after a long pause.
"HUH?" Oniru said as he almost dropped his cup "Pardon, I didn't get you."
"I mean, you like Kanae don't you. I can see it in your eyes" Lord Honsei said.
Oniru blushed and looked the other way "Well, both she and I have formed contracts so it really doesn't matter."
"It does. Because, she loves you just as much. You cannot hide it from the Demigod of matchmaking."
"...Maybe...But, it's impossible. This love can never reciprocate." Oniru said.
"Of course it can. Have faith. I'm supporting both of you."
"That's very kind of you, Honsei sama."
"Is that so? Well, I have some chores at town today, so I'll be taking my leave."
"At town?"
"I am a priest after all." Lord Honsei said and left the garden.
"Oniru!! Fire went home. Seems like he's sick. Where is the Lord?" Serene said.
"He's off to the town, now I'll take my leave too." Oniru said as he got up.
"No Un-" Kanae said as she grabbed Oniru's kimono.
"What?" Oniru said as he turned back.
"I...just...Could you.…bend a little, Oniru?"
Oniru leaned towards as she took out a hair pin and fixed it on Oniru's hair.
"I knew it! It looks so good on you, Oniru" Kanae said.
Oniru smiled "Thank you, but I don't have anything to give back to you"
"....You...can.....still give me...something." Kanae said as she blushed and looked at the fallen leaves beneath her feet.
"What is it?" Oniru asked with a smile.
"I...nothing...." Kanae said and ran inside the mansion. She looked at Oniru and said "Oniru...come again."
Oniru smiled and said "I will". Then he opened his wings and flew away.
Back at Akihiko's mansion at night
"Oniru, where have you been these past few days?" Akihiko said as he took a sip of his sake.
"W-What do you mean, Milord?" Oniru said.
Akihiko smiled and said "You think I wouldn't notice? Are you seeing some other star spirit?"
"...I am….not." Oniru said.
"...Is that so, then it's alright. Let me warn you beforehand, if I find anything that's fishy, I'll forget that you are my star spirit." Akihiko said.
"...Yes." Oniru said.
"Now then, let's get to the important talk. Oniru, open the Cascadia map." Akihiko said.
Oniru moved his hands over the floor, and a small blue colored hologram opened in front of them with a small red dot at one corner.
"So, only one Demigod's left. After we deal with him, I'll be crowned the gatekeeper." Akihiko said.
'Wait! This place...isn't this Lord Honsei's place?' Oniru thought.
"Let's go for a hunt tomorrow." Akihiko said and left the room.
Oniru just sat and stared at the floor.
'I...I HAVE TO TELL THEM TO RUN AWAY!!! SERENITY, I'LL SAVE YOU!! IT'S 7 HOURS TILL MORNING, THAT SHOULD DO!' Oniru said as he got up.
He drew out his winds and from the balcony, he flew towards the huge, red moon. 'I can't use my powers in an eclipse, so I must reach there within one hour!' Oniru thought as he flapped his wings harder and flew at his maximum speed. He was panicked and stressed. The sky was covered by dark clouds and it started raining heavily.
'FASTER! FASTER! I HAVE TO REACH THERE!!!' Oniru said inside his head and within half an hour, he was inside Lord Honsei's garden.
"HONSEI SAMA!!!" Oniru shouted as he ran through the hallways of the mansion.
"*Yawn* Who is it?" Lord Honsei said as he got out of his chamber.
"HONSEI SAMA!!" Oniru said as he grabbed Lord Honsei's hand, and said "Run! You have to run away from here overnight!!! Take Serenity and run!!"
"Are you alright? What happened??" Lord Honsei said and he looked at Oniru.
"THERE'S NO TIME FOR THAT!!! HURRY UP!!!!" Oniru said.
"Calm down, do you need some water?" Lord Honsei said.
"Oh no, but you may need some now."
Oniru suddenly turned back and found Akihiko.
"Great work, Oniru. I never thought you'd be so restless to see me as the gatekeeper." Akihiko said.
"No, Stop, Milord, I beg you!!!" Oniru said.
"Akihiko smiled and slowly moved and hugged Oniru.
"Mi-Milord?" Oniru said but suddenly, he felt a sharp pain into his stomach. He had been stabbed. Akihiko moved away and said "Oniru! You are here to kill! This is an order from your master, the Lord Demigod himself!"
"NO, I DON'T WANT TO!!!" Oniru shouted.
Oniru's blood took the form of a red thread. One end of the thread was attached to Oniru's wound while the other end wrapped around Akihiko's wrist. The bond was formed.
"I WISH FOR THE 2nd FORM OF MAGIX-COME ONIRU!" Akihiko said.
Oniru's body started shining bright like a star and took the form of a sword.
Akihiko grabbed the sword and said "Now's your chance, Demigod of Matchmaking. Get your star spirit out."
The clouds rumbled and lightning lit up Akihiko and Honsei's faces.
"Kanae!!!" Honsei shouted.
"What is it, Milord?" Kanae said as she reached Lord Honsei from some other room. She looked at Akihiko and hid behind Honsei.
"Kanae, we'll...have to fight, can you?" Lord Honsei said.
"....Yes, I can!" Kanae said.
Lord Honsei took out a pin from his hair and made a small slit on Kanae's finger.
"KANAE, come forth and fulfill my wish.This is an order from your master, the Lord Demigod himself!"
The bond was formed.
"SECOND SPELL!!" Honsei shouted and Kanae turned into a sword.
"So, you'll be using the same tool as me. Now I know...that I'll win!!" Akihiko said and ran towards Honsei. Honsei dodged him and ran towards the garden.
"Running can't get you anywhere!!" Akihiko said, his eyes shone bright red.
"I know, but, if I can save the people I can love from you, I'll do it!" Honsei said.
"HA! FOOL!" Akihiko said as he ran towards Honsei.
'NO! MILORD, DON'T!!! I DON'T WANT TO!!!! PLEASE DON'T KILL THEM!!!' Oniru said from inside his sword form.
"SHUT UP, SERVANT!!!!" Akihiko said as he lashed towards Honsei. Honsei dodged him again.
"Damn! These clothes are getting in my way!!" Akihiko said as he threw away the upper kimono covering.
Then, he jumped towards Honsei. Honsei covered his face with his hand but Akihiko pierced his sword right through Honsei's hand. Magic energy flowed from Honsei's hand.
"Any last wishes, Demigod?" Akihiko said.
-To be continued