About 360 or so years ago...
"Yonamine, wait! Where are you going?"
"Be back next year, old people!"
Yonamine was your typical rebellious teenage girl. No regard for her parents' feelings about certain traditions, loves to eat late-night snacks, yawns during meetings or dance practice. You know, the usual. It just so happened that today she was to meet a noble's son for potential betrothal, and that's when she snuck into the stables to take a fine gray horse and bolt it out of the house. Her mother cursed herself often for teaching Yonamine how to ride horses as a young girl, but Yonamine was more than elated that she knew how to escape and where she could without a guard immediately stopping her in her tracks. Unfortunately, for her father's sake, she also started taking an interest in a boy of the holy warrior clan: Manzo Fukuyama. She wasn't much of a flirt because she was quote-on-quote socially awkward around said boy, but she really liked him and didn't want to marry or court someone else. Manzo had always been kind to her, and he often fussed at her to stop being so bratty, but she hardly paid attention to the warnings. She instead hung around him and found that they shared much in common. The friendship they had developed over time simply changed to a sort of longing and fondness for Yonamine. The problem was that she wasn't sure if Manzo felt the same way. She could only hope that one day he would return those feelings.
Not wanting to dwell on her feelings, Yonamine dashed out into the forest outside of Sozosora's walls and simply enjoyed the chasing rabbits out into the fields of flowers. She led the horse through the upturned tree roots until she made it to a treehouse that she and Manzo built together. They messed up its design quite a few times before they were satisfied with the final details. Once it was complete with everything they wanted in a dream hideout, that was the day that Yonamine knew that what she felt for Manzo was more than just a platonic bond between her and her confidant. It was something special, something that made her heart sing for him. She didn't want to share that feeling with anyone else. She was selfish... when it came to Manzo, and he let her be that.
"What's your excuse this time, Nani?" a familiar voice asked from the treehouse.
She pulled the reigns back on the horse and laughed excitedly when she saw a pair of feet waving at her. She called out brightly, "How's it goin', Zo?"
A bite into a crunchy fruit sounded before the holy warrior above her said with a mouth full, "You know, some girls look forward to meeting their hubby-to-be. Are you not putting your standards in the suggestion box?"
"Anymore fruit up there?" Yonamine asked, hopping off the horse with a thump.
"None for you," Manzo replied, biting into his fruit again.
She pouted before smirking and saying playfully, "Fine, I'll tell the captain of the clan that you saw me riding off and left me to starve on my own."
"Correction, I saw nothing. You came up to me while I was on lunch break, and you only saw my boots."
"Oh?" Yonamine said, raising an eyebrow shrewdly. "Perhaps you'd like to explain to the captain what you saw at the freshwater pond when I ran away last time."
"Only if you tell your old man what you saw at the waterfall on my scarce day off," Manzo returned, bouncing his foot a bit. Another bite sounded before he said with a mouthful, "Unlike some people I could name, the rest of us have the decency to turn around when we're not in the ideal state of dress."
Boldly, Yonamine then said, "Then we're even. We're not decent around each other."
"Don't give me that!" Manzo dragged, biting again. "I turned around. I don't see how you can bathe in cold water anyway."
"I don't know why you bother asking why I don't want to marry," Yonamine said, putting her hands on her hips. "You gonna hog all the fruit or what?"
"I said none for you," Manzo repeated, crunching on something that couldn't have possibly been some fruit. He then continued through audible munching, "I also said to go write down what you want in a husband, put it into a suggestion box, bring it to your father, and let him bring it to the matchmaker. Things would be so much easier for you if you just did that instead. Less visits from random men, less feasts to prepare, the whole shebang."
Yonamine was quiet for a moment until she finally admitted with a sad look in her eyes, "The man I want won't let me propose to him."
Manzo stopped chewing and stopped moving to lay in silence. He knew who she wanted to marry. He knew she had been running away to this treehouse to make wishes or spend the night out on purpose. He knew that her going to the clearwater pond to bathe was intentional. He even knew why she didn't turn away when she found him swimming naked or even just enjoying his time off for the summer. The man she wanted was right there and yet the furthest from her reach. The holy warriors are to never mingle with the nobles. Protection is their priority. They are the guardians of the Himawari Jewel and keepers of the Korenaga Tate.
"If you have the guy in mind, tell your old man," Manzo finally said, bouncing his foot again. "He'll probably jump for joy that his little girl will stop running away if it's him at the dinner table."
"No... he won't..." Yonamine said, a tear rolling down her cheek. "The man won't show."
"Why?" Manzo asked softly, wanting to hear her say the reason. It's the only way she'll understand the situation - the only way their friendship will remain intact.
"Because he doesn't care about me," Yonamine whimpered, tears freely flowing down. Manzo was angered by these words. They weren't true in the slightest. He furrowed his brow, gritted the back of his teeth, and lifted himself up with a quickness once he heard her continue to say, "He doesn't love me!"
"Nani!" Manzo called, but she had already run off.
Her deep brown, honey hair tied in a ponytail swinging like a pendulum as she ran further into the forest. She wasn't dressed in her junihitoe today. She was in her battle attire...
She didn't know the area by the time her lungs collapsed from exhaustion. Her entire body was in mourning. How many more times did she have to be reminded that she couldn't be with Manzo beyond their friendship? What else could she do to convince him otherwise? To convince everyone otherwise? Hearing a twig snapping, she looked up to see a red cow looking at her with curiosity. She crawled backwards a few centimeters before someone hooked under her arm and pulled her up. She yelped in fear until she remembered that she could fight and maneuvered herself out of whoever's grasp to jump into a defensive guard.
"I am the sword that guards the heavens..." Yonamine said under her breath.
She summoned a beam of light from her hands that took the shape of a naginata and pointed it at a man with brown skin and silver hair. His fangs were protruding out of his mouth in a scowl, and his dark brows were furrowed with displeasure. Before Yonamine could strike, the man revealed his own sword and his pupils shrunk. It was a demon disguised as a man! Those pointed ears and glowing eyes were the gateway to a beastly transformation soon to erupt if she wasted anymore time.
"You are in youkai territory, girl. Why are you here?" the man questioned.
"Youkai territory?" Yonamine questioned, shifting her gaze quickly from the red cow to the man. "Outside of my home?"
"She is harmless, Lord Toga," the red cow said, shifting his nose cutely. "You startled her. Do you not smell her tears?"
"I did," Toga said, sheathing his sword to show he, too, was harmless. "That's why I helped her up... until she tried to slap me. You are in youkai territory, young lady. This is no place for a human woman. Do you need an escort back home?"
"N-n-no," Yonamine replied, blinked. She put away her weapon of light and stood straight to look at both demons carefully. "Wh-who are you?"
"Toga of the House of Inu. This is Shishido. We caught your scent near the temple border. Who are you?" Toga asked a bit gently and with concern.
"I'm... I'm Yonamine. You're not really as aggressive as the other demons," Yonamine said, pinching the fabric on her right hips. It was a small nervous habit of hers.
Toga chuckled at this and said, "I've no ill will towards humans as long as they're nice. Not to get personal or anything, but why were you crying before?"
"Oh, uh..." she started, looking down sadly. "Just a stupid tradition back at home."
"Ah, not ready to marry?" Shishido asked, plucking a bunch of flowers from a nearby bush. "I can't offer you refuge from such a thing at the temple, but I can direct you to the Camellia Gazebo. You'll be safe there."
"Pardon me for asking, but... what does a demon do at a temple exactly? Do you have your own gods or something?" Yonamine asked, tilting her head cutely.
"I don't know about that, but we do study something called the Shimabukuro Law," Toga answered with a soft smile. "It's like a set of principles that teach us how to live more peacefully and to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. It's not foolproof and very few youkai follow it, but it is there and it helps us develop a tolerance for all living creatures beyond ourselves. My wife and father have taught me this law."
"You've a wife?" Yonamine questioned, blushing from the notion. Though he seemed dangerous, Toga had an affability about him that made him seem more like an embodiment of a warrior's spirit versus a killer. Maybe he was training to be a guardian spirit. She didn't know demons married, so perhaps they took on more human customs. She then asked, "Demons can marry?"
"We're not much different from you, Lady Yonamine," Toga replied. "My wife, on the other hand, is your opposite. Not at all as shy."
"I'm not shy!" Yonamine corrected, stomping her foot.
Amused, Toga said, "Oh, you're actually a little fiery. Good to know! Well, if you're not shy, then you must know what wives do. That why you're not trying to marry right away?"
Yonamine blushed for about two seconds before boldly saying, "If you must know, I look forward to that! My... the man I... The one I want to share that moment with won't let me propose to him."
"That's a thing in your village?" Toga asked, curious. "I've never heard of women proposing to men."
"The holy warriors of my village aren't allowed to marry, least of all to nobles," Yonamine said quietly, looking at her feet.
"... my wife rejected me at first, too," Toga admitted, making Yonamine pop her head up. "We didn't marry officially until after my son was born. That's partly why I'm at the temple. Shishido has a puzzle for him to play with that's handmade. My little bundle of terror seems to like those. Don't give up just yet, Yonamine. My darling wanted to break tradition the way you're doing now. I didn't know this was such a popular movement among the women: proposing to their men. But I saw why it was so significant to her. It wasn't the tradition of marriage she was fighting against. It was the removal of our voices in the matter. Men are trained to live conveniently when it comes to customs. It's not always about our feelings any more than it is for a woman. Women, unfortunately, are expendable in the stricter households. Men are not. Whatever makes things easier or more efficient for the household is how we navigate through life. The ramifications of going against that are costly and strongly inconvenient for many. If your groom is rejecting you, or implying that he is, because of custom, don't take it to heart. Show why you're willing to go against custom for him. If you can do that... you will give him his voice. My wife stands down for no man. She proved herself to me in a way no other woman could easily do. It was my turn to prove myself to her. What have you done to show your husband that you are willing to fight alone if it means he'll get to have a say in what he chooses to do as a holy warrior? Not just in marriage but in serving your temple or the noble class?"
"Nani!"
Yonamine sharply turned around at the sound of Manzo's voice before whispering to herself, "What can I do... to prove...?"
"Nani!"
Toga's eyes lowered with some glee, seeing himself and Milady in the exact same position these humans were in. He then said, "Your husband is worried. Go."
"He's not my husband, though," Yonamine whispered, tearing up. "I..."
"He is," Shishido said, huffing before a chortle came out. "That's why he's so desperate to find you. You got through to him."
"Will I ever see you again, Lord Toga?" Yonamine asked, hope in her eyes.
"Is that a wedding invite, Yonamine?" Toga asked.
Yonamine lightly laughed at him before biting her lip and running into his arms to hug him. She then rushed over to Shishido and kissed his cheek. She bowed in front of them and whispered, "Thank you so much."