With everyone gone from the hall besides Mizuki, Sanemaru, and the two armored spider demons, the purple dressed bear demon takes her time sashaying to a web-imprisoned steed.
Fire ombre braids are tangled up in the green-oozing cocoon of death that has left only his face untouched. Pinned to the stone wall in the large space between the garden's door and the tusked outer edge of the throne, the guards jump to attention when Mizuki approaches.
"Phew, I am so glad you're here. Listen, I don't know what the word going around is, but there's been some sort of mix-up. I brought the girl back but I'm getting treated like some kind of criminal. Get me out of this poisonous, acid wrap so we can get this cleared up."
Facing the helpless traitor on death row, Mizuki's eyebrow raises, "You didn't betray us then?"
"Me?" Shaking his head 'no', feeling the gelatinous goo trickle from his right cheek to his temple, Sanemaru's face scrunches in disgust.
"No, never! She was hard to find at first. My nose isn't as good as yours," he keeps his eyes on Mizuki's apathetic expression.
"So then, you're not the one that killed the wolves?"
"Pfft," Sanemaru's ears dance within the web, only to get held tighter in place, "After I finally track down one of her campsites, they get there thinking I'm holding out and go balls to the wall ready to face down, ass out my coffee ass. You know all they care about is fucking and hunting!"
"Hn," Mizuki snorts with a slight eye roll, "And the shadow guards that tried to detain you for answers, you didn't kill them to escape from Ryu?"
"Ha!" Sanemaru bursts out with a maniacal cynicism, "My hand to the moon, they attacked when I was recovering under the care of an untrustworthy Yama Uba that repaid the best lay of her life by trying to eat me in my sleep!"
Grumbling into a neigh, "I'm telling you everything around that ningen is trouble. I've never felt so foolish trying to retrieve one person. And as if she had the help of Izanagi herself–!"
"That's how she disappeared for five days?!" asking louder in surprise than intended, Mizuki glances at the armed, humanoid spiders posted on opposite sides of Sanemaru. As they jump to attention after getting caught eavesdropping, their faces turn stoic.
Mizuki kneels in front of Sanemaru's face to whisper, "Your tracker was confused, too."
"See?!" The steed's momentary shock from her honesty wears off when he speaks to paint himself as obedient, "You think I'd be dumb enough to betray the Dragon King with Hansuke's presence popping in and out?"
Muttering disgruntled, "I can't believe you thought I'd choose her over you."
Slapping the steed with clawed fingertips that slice his cheek open, she quickly stands to tower over him. Turning her back to him, "Only you did choose her over me!"
Sanemaru's face reads, "Ohhhh Fuck," as he waits for whatever happens next.
*****
The pleasure Ryu visibly gets from Umeko's every reaction, and the clear anticipation of what's to come, severely disturbs her memory of Tsukiyomi's face.
Tearing his host's body from the girl and sliding backward in the air until he stands beside the bed, she's left staring at Ryu's back. Remaining silent, unsure of who to address as she keeps her eyes on him, Umeko sits up in the comforters.
The soothing, empty tone of Tsukiyomi floods her ears, "You should have stayed gone."
Though he didn't turn to face her, she knew that was Tsukiyomi's disconnected emotion.
"We're past that now, I can't change what happened. My lord. . .can you please tell me what the dragon was saying about me being your sacrifice?"
Crawling towards him after a moment, his silence urges her to find his face, "What's a fail-safe?"
"Irrelevant."
She pauses just before touching his shoulder, It doesn't seem irrelevant. . .
At a loss on how to press the topic further with a banished, possessed god, Umeko sits back on her legs bewildered.
Holding no variation in his emotionless tone, "Only death awaits you."
Tsukiyomi shifts to keep his back to her every time she crawls to different spots on the round bed to try and catch even a tiny glimpse of his face.
Groaning in frustration from the lack of straight answers, "Death awaits everyone," she corrects her tone with humility and respect before opening her mouth again to her lord.
"Tsukiyomi-sama, please," remaining mindful of her position and power as it relates to him, "Ryu gave you control to tell me in your own words."
Dropping her legs off the edge of the bed, puzzled, "Aren't I even allowed to ask why?"
Reaching to touch his shoulder a second time, doubting every word of Ryu though she knows he's never been known to lie, her hand falls to her lap at the sound of his voice.
"Nineteen years ago, on the night of a full moon, I dreamed of a solitary plum tree. Blossoms bloomed while ripe with dark fruit, in a lifeless field of snow. Weeping at its base was a white-haired man, and red petals bled around him."
And I thought I had weird dreams. What's the point of–. . .
"Three seasons later," tilting his head ever so slightly, only to regain his upright, unaffected composure, "A piece of Takamagahara emerged from this world in a mortal form."
Turning to face Umeko, his expression blank as stone, "On that winter's night, the Plum Blossom Child was born destined for bloodshed and grief. Bound as the vessel for my stripped powers, my father's hand ensured our paths would cross."
Listening to him speak eloquently and detached while telling her about some special kid nearly drives a dagger through the girl's heart when she realizes he's talking about her.
"I avoided Sankan no Machi at all costs."
Sitting in silence, the weight of this newfound knowledge rests heavy on her shoulders. Threatening to pummel her chest first into hell, his voice keeps her sanity intact.
"Until I met the sacrifice who sought me out for salvation. Only to discover you had no knowledge of this Tsukiyomi."
Glancing at her out of the corner of his eye before a dramatically slow blink, "The deliverer of your fate was sent to save you with one hand, and destroy you with the other."
Gripping at the edge of the bed to keep from jumping up out of raw emotion, Umeko's entire body tenses, "W-w-what're you saying? Are you telling me Y-y-you're the reason everything. . ."
Muttering under her breath, "Everyone. . ."
Searching the gilded fabric tousled in her lap for answers, "That's why you were so nice to me?"
Gutted, shattered, jumbled up inside, He felt guilty? He showed me pity all along. . .? That means. . .the way I feel about him–I?!
"I was–," clearing out the frog in her throat when a raspy whisper arrests her voice, "I was made to feel this way about you?"
Clenching her jaw, "Is–," her nostrils flare until she convinces her teeth to separate, "Is my love for you. . .even real?"
Sadness, anger, betrayal, and other difficult emotions that she's never before felt plagues her mind. Filled with doubt, feeling suffocated without anything covering her face, faithlessness weighs heavy on her chest.
Having the very purpose of her existence thrown into her face as part of a grand scheme to benefit the son of the creator, her mind wonders if the existence of everyone that perished in Sankan no Machi were also created to be victims of their preordained fate.
Unsure if the silence drowning her ears into ringing has been short or long, she's sure something within her is breaking into a million pieces.
Tsukiyomi remains silent and apathetic as she processes her internal thoughts into a way that can be communicated.
"If you felt when I was born then you. . ."
Pointing accusingly as his gaze remains lowered, Umeko's hand trembles in the space between them, "Y-y-you felt my pain?"
Inhaling sharply, abating the emotion swelling up inside her nasal cavity enough to sting her eyes into producing tears, "My whole life you felt my fear? My sadness?! M-m-my. . .!"
Umeko falls silent.
Could he also feel every time me and Nobu. . .?
Swallowing hard, displacing her shame to replace it with blame, "You knew the bandits were killing everyone a–a-and you. . .?"
Groaning from the depths of the pit of her stomach as she hunches, hugging herself, "You didn't know avoiding me would make everyone else suffer?"
Snot bubbles from her nose when she shudders through a restrained exhale, "You could've saved everyone by coming to get me. They could've had a happy ending even though I would've. . ."
Clutching the blankets as the first of many tears dribbles down her face to plummet onto glittering fabric, "I would've been yours anyways! Without the loss of everyone I have ever known. . ."
Her voice lowers to an enraged whisper, "And still you. . ."
Wanting to shove his shoulder only to clutch her dress instead, "You let them die?!"
Umeko's voice raises even higher in the heat of the moment, "This can't be true!" echoing through the circular, domed room.
"Ningen."
Tsukiyomi says authoritatively enough to wrangle her emotions under control.
Staring into her shattering soul, magically repairing it with the peaceful waters of his voice, "You saw the wrath of the beast that night you looked upon me. My foot in your land would have left mortals warring a monster until everyone, except you, would have perished."
Mouth falling slightly agape from the cold honesty leaving his perfectly shaded lips, Tsukiyomi waves his left hand then turns his shoulder to her, "My hand in the death of all your enemies would not have brought anyone's salvation."
Running his clawed right hand dusted with iridescent scales through dominantly black tresses, "These events were set to pass and I have no power over the laws that came before me," Tsukiyomi examines the new wave developing in his long hair.
Tossing his hair back before facing Umeko, the afflicted creature drops to his knees to meet her at eye level, "Only you had the freedom to choose."
Attempting to search her eyes, only to find her blank cinnamon gaze cast down into her lap, he slides warm knuckles up the toffee apple of her cheek to collect cooling tears.
Turning her cheek from the warmth of his comforting hand to look away, Umeko feels the ghost of his fingers on her skin.
"Returning to me has closed you off from a desired end," he rises swiftly to his feet, "And I can no longer delay our destiny. All that you do with your free will now affects the balance."
Fuck that. Fuck you! What?! This is insane. I'm nobody. Nothing! How can everything be up to me? Why was I chosen to be so important?! This is so fucked.
Struggling to look at him, the girl's limbs become dead weight attached to a limp body as he watches her, "I didn't know how right I was. . ."
She chuckles quietly more at herself than at him, "When I told you everything I have is thanks to you."
Shaking her head 'no' while staring at caramel knuckles fisting the golden silk around her thighs, "My life was yours to do with as you pleased the night you made me yours."
Grasping weakly at his sleeve, she can barely support the weight of her own arm while staring up into his mismatched eyes, "It's funny that you threatened to kill me before I got to know you."
I'm so dumb and hopeless. How can I say this stuff? I'm a fool for feeling this way about him!
Whimpering in her throat, I should be mad, I know. But I can't get mad. I should want to run away but. . .I need to be with him. How is any of this possible?!
"And I'm so glad," sniffing up her snot, "I got to know you, because. . ."
Staring into his platinum blue eye while pretending the red one doesn't exist in her peripheral, I can't choose to love him if I was made to love him. . .can I? I hate this. I hate all of it! I don't understand my own ass-backward feelings!
"My life felt like a dream every moment I spent with you."
Fuming in her head, I can't stop telling him how I feel and that makes me so mad! But, I might never get another chance. Lord Izanagi no Mikoto, how could you leave all this out when I was right in front of you?!
Tsukiyomi's voice draws her from the edge of outwardly rampaging her conflicted emotions, "The greatest dream of all, is a life where such moments could be everlasting in the forms we now hold."
Oh Tsuki. . .
Shaking her head in disbelief, "You know we're all doomed if it's up to me right? I'm not you. I'm a wimp. I'm scared. I'm weak. And selfish. Don't forget powerless!"
Grumbling discontent, "Utterly powerless even though your power's inside me. Someone as useless as me is—!"
Umeko feels reality squeeze her heart when Tsukiyomi gently lays his index finger upon her lips to silence the negative self-talk.
Weak to his touch, tears run out the corners of her eyes; staring into him, searching for anything to hold onto so she doesn't drift away dejected, his voice anchors her.
Weathering her through a storm that's close to uprooting her, "The first time you looked into these eyes of hellfire and rage, rather than fear for what I might do to you. . ."
Tsukiyomi pauses before placing his hand on top of hers, "I saw hope."
Firmly holding her hand in his, "In the eyes of a helpless, victimized, mortal girl. . .with nothing left to live for, you faced the monster inside me yet still saw me."
Breathing calmly as she hangs onto his every word, "Hope I would let you live. Hope I would let you die. Hope I would make you what I am to thrive."
Cupping her cheek in his free hand, "Without trying, you, an innocent ningen, became my source of hope."
Brushing her cheek with the side of his thumb, "I was angry at father for making your future my responsibility. "
Staring at her lips, "My burden."
Staring at her beating heart, "My salvation."
Withdrawing his hands from her, Tsukiyomi rises to his feet, "Fate demands I throw you to the afterlife. For what?"
Scanning the room as he clutches the air in one hand, scavenging for reasons, "Dominion? Ascension? Reverence?"
His fingers ball into a fist before dropping to his side, "Nothing is worth the cost of the air in your lungs."
Umeko feels the rage swirling inside him despite a tranquil exterior; her body is stricken with remorse when joy creeps in at hearing how deeply he cares about her. After all this time, she finally knows her love was not unrequited.
Trying not to let the suffocating weight of decisions that must be made stifle her newfound sliver of bliss, Umeko grabs his hand.
Raising it to stroke her cheek with closed eyes, she memorizes every ridge and wrinkle. Turning her mouth to his palm, smiling into it, she delicately kisses lined flesh.
A sickening feeling hurtles into her gut when an oddly timed chuckle vibrates his throat.
"What's funny?"
Staring up into his eyes, a frightening panic spreads throughout her nervous system when his remaining blue eye bleeds red.
No!
The fact of Ryu's dominance over Tsukiyomi strengthens before her very eyes.
Pulling her close as she fights against his chest, "You were given the truth and still choose his touch?"
Ridiculing her, "That's just plain toxic, if you ask me."
Jerking her to bounce against him a few times, "Now that we're on the same scroll," knocking the futile fight out of her, "You know the bullshit dilemma that's been thrown into this pussy-juicing lap."
*****
"Toroi, Doji," Mizuki glances to the Tsuchigumo, addressing them derogatorily out of their names.
"Leave us!" Mizuki orders them, their presence disappearing quickly as the bear's eyes burn red.
"Sweet! They're gone. Nice act, right? C'mon girl," trying to wriggle free only to get zapped and poison gas released, "Get that fine ass over here and let me out so we can save Umeko."
"No, Sane," she responds firmly, finishing her statement under her breath, "I want her to suffer."
"Why?" shouting in question, "What's she ever done to you?!"
Attempting to transform into his real self, the webs vibrate and sizzle while spreading more ooze onto him.
Furrowing her brow, "She took him from me," she eyes Sanemaru all butt hurt.
"She took you from me, too," Mizuki balls her fists. Stomping her lilac-socked foot in a pout, "Her name's in everyone's mouth, including Heika Ryu."
Screaming at Sanemaru, "What does she have that I don't?!" she falls to her knees in front of the bound stud.
Ensuring his words are palatable before opening his mouth, "Mizu. . ."
Violet eyes rise from cobblestone to storm gray irises.
"When it comes to Tsukiyomi, she can't take someone you never had," he bites his bottom lip with a wince, unsure of her next reaction.
Seeing her melancholic stupor remain undiminished, "And with me," he swallows hard hoping to force the blood pooling in his head back down–or up.
"I tried for you, many times, because I love you. But–."
Mizuki points in his face, disgruntled, "You only ever wanted sex!" to accuse him with hurt eyes.
Staring back at the floor, "Tsukiyomi never wanted anything from me. . ."
Grumbling quietly to himself, "You're right, I admit, my approach could've been planned better but back then I didn't know the difference between sex and love."
Mizuki hunches over at his words; in that instant, Sanemaru realized the bear fell prey to Ryu's advances because she didn't know the difference either.
Compassionate to her position, from knowing her past, Sanemaru's whisper quiets the gravel rustling behind his own hurt, "But you never once looked at me the way you looked at him."
Mizuki crawls closer to her friend on all fours, examining his face as he tells his side, "I watched you throw yourself at him, over and over, getting your feelings hurt again and again. I'd be vibing off a good time's energy, then having to put my life on pause so you could murder my nights crying about how unwanted you are when you were wanted by me."
Rolling his eyes at her expression, "Judging by the look on your face, you never even noticed my feelings for you because you were too busy looking in the wrong place while making someone that wanted you feel unwanted."
Wrestling with the inside of the cocoon, finding himself encompassed in acidic stickiness that makes his skin burn and blister, "As for Ryu, NO ONE has him."
Giving up the physical fight, knowing his only chance at surviving is by Mizuki shredding the webs apart from the outside, "He's a few shoes short of set."
Bunching his eyebrows, Sanemaru pleads with his oldest friend and fellow servant, "Now, please let me down?!"
Motionless to his winces and the scent of his blood as parts of the web begin to eat through skin that's not covered by his slightly more endurable clothes, Mizuki cries silently.
Roughly wiping her tears away, "Ryu chose me as his queen because he wants me."
Staring blankly at Sanemaru's bemusement, "You should remain still, Sane. Your death will be more painful if you continue to struggle," Mizuki informs him from her spot on the floor.
Visibly trying to remain calm as red lightning illuminates his eyes, "If he cared about you, he wouldn't stick the welcome mat of a kami he's possessing onto every available doorstep!"
Cringing at the sight of her tear-gathering, red violet glare, Sanemaru softens his tone, "I would never, ever, have done that to you in a million years unless you told me it was okay."
Chuckling bashfully at the tiny hint of her twitching smile, "Which means, if he chose you as his, and I'm just guessing here, would he be in Lord Tsukiyomi's bedroom And body right now tormenting that defenseless girl?"
All humor from the moment drops when Mizuki snarls irate; the blood-red haze of her fury overtakes the usual neon violet that makes her unmistakable at a distance.
"Mizuki, please. . .I'm begging you," Sanemaru looks upon Mizuki with desperate eyes, "Cut me free?"
Her furious gaze overflows with tears though a twisting, snarling muzzle that begins to give away her true, bearish nature.
Shutting her eyes with a scoff, Mizuki turns her back to him.
The happy-go-lucky stallion's cries of pain echo in the hall with every repeated attempt to blast or burn his immobile self out of there.