Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Iruma pulled his bow taut as he stared down the monstrous lizard demon before him. Adorned in the clothing of a shrine priestess, he stood his ground as reiki gathered into the shaft of his arrow, glowing pink, before releasing it straight into the reptile demon's chest. It screeched loudly while cursing as the purifying reiki ate it from the inside out, until it finally collapsed upon itself. 

Iruma took in a deep breath before exhaling in relief. It had been the third demon this week that had intruded upon their tiny village's boarders, and he still had a few wrapped injuries from the boar demon that had tried to gorge him on its tusks two suns ago.

"Miko-sama." An elderly woman shuffled beside him as some of the young men came to collect and make use of the demon's remains.

Iruma smiled kindly, his long blue hair tied low in a more traditional style befitting his supposed gender and station. He pitched his voice as his disposition leaned toward a slight frame that thankfully fooled the villagers into believing he was the female sacrifice his parents had lied for him to be. "Yes, Obaa-sama?"

The elderly woman hummed while leaning against her walking cane, her voice worn and graveled with age. "It won't be long now, with how frequent the attacks have become over the past lunar cycle."

Iruma's heart sped up in fear as he kept his features as friendly, welcoming, and innocent as usual. "You think so?"

The old woman huffed before stating gravely, "Aye, I've witnessed two brides to 've been taken after such similar increases in attacks." She shrugged with apathy as she began to walk back towards the village while leaning heavily with uneven steps on her wooden cane. "Ye'd best prepare yerself. C'nt be more than the moon's waning into pitch, now."

Iruma swallowed thickly against the tightening of his throat before sedately following after. He had until the New Moon.

Iruma had played the role of the chosen sacrificial bride for as long as he could remember. 

"Hunny, isn't it wonderful that Irumi-chan was chosen as the sacrifice? We get the first of the harvest, and because she's our only daughter and heir, we don't even have to work!"

Iruma's grip unconsciously tightened upon his bow before relaxing with a practiced sigh. His entire life had been leading up to this moment- every sunrise, to the eventual shifting of the moon. At the end of it all, as he was made to participate in each yearly ceremony, each demon hunt, at every passing season-

Someday, during his fifteenth year, the ayakashi that had made a pact of protection with his village would come to collect their sacrifice, and with it, his village would continue to be blessed with prosperity and protection for generations. 

His life was a token sacrifice for the comfort of the many. As such, he was granted special powers to protect him from both demon and human alike, as well as the ability to heal sickness and the wounds of others. He could purify evil, was agile, and he never fell sick.

Iruma wondered, idly, as he separated from the rest of the villagers and made the lonely treck up the tiny shrine's steps to where he lived alone, how angry the ones who he'd been presented to as a girl when he'd been a child would feel about the human's betrayal towards their pact?

'Irumi' was to have been given every comfort during what little life she would live along with her fellow humans. More than simply the absolute basics for survival than she had been, certainly, she was to have been loved most of all. 

Yet, she was made to live a Spartan lifestyle of chastity and constant purification, where no red blooded meat was to ever touch her lips. Winters were miserable thanks to the lack of fat on her bones, and no furs of dead animals were spared for her tiny one roomed shrine she called home. She repaired what drafts she could, and kept the hearth tended so as to not freeze to death in winter.

He sighed softly as he released his long hair from it's low ponytail while collecting the needed necessities, glancing at the blood and tears upon his miko garments, before heading out to find a stream far enough away to not be seen by another soul.

When he was a child, his parents had made him promise no one would learn of his true gender, lest the entire village be slaughtered in revenge.

Iruma didn't much like the idea of being killed because of his parent's greed, let alone causing the deaths of everyone else, so he obeyed.

(Admittedly, now that he was older, he wondered why they felt so confident that he and the villagers wouldn't be slaughtered after he was taken away and discovered, anyhow-

He always found reason to drop such thoughts after that.)

Iruma found his usual purification pool and began to repair and clean his miko garments while dressed in a simple white under kimono.

By the time he finished and was ready to begin his daily cleansing ritual, the sky was turning gold and red with the setting of the sun. He sighed softly to himself as he forced himself to enter the still-cold waters, as spring this year had tended towards chill for longer than hoped. He raised his face towards the warm toned sky and stared up at the final sliver of moon that had made its ascent early. 

Tomorrow. 

Tomorrow would be the day he was to be taken away and wed.

Chapter Text

His mother woke him before the first sliver of sunlight, a bucket of perfumed water in hand. "Wake up Irumi-chan! It's time to begin your wedding preparations!" She giggled and clapped her hands, as if there was absolutely nothing wrong with sending her only child to die. 

Of course, they'd been living as if he were dead his whole life, so he shouldn't have been surprised. 

(It didn't hurt any less, though.)

She left in a hurry, more than likely to collect the garments necessary to keep up his charade before taking him into the village to be perfumed, painted, and dressed for his wedding. He'd need extra padding where it was lacking, while pretending such curves were being flattened out as was tradition.

Iruma had barely managed to finish drying off from wiping down with the provided perfumed water before his mother appeared again. She made a face, recalling his true gender as if it displeased her greatly, before shrugging with a wide smile on her face. "Alright Irumi-chan, it's time to begin getting dressed!"

Iruma simply nodded, swiftly twirling his hair into a low bun while using an old demon rib bone to keep it in place. He had no ornamental sticks of his own, but he knew he would be dressed lavishly for this occasion.

He straightened, and together he and his mother began the arduous process of adding extra layers to his hips and chest, before doing a full and proper wrap to disguise the purpose of those extra layers.

The wrappings restricted his movement, so his mother dressed him in the most base layers of his wedding kimono, before wrapping him in a violet kimono, swiftly tying it, and looking him over. She hummed, eyeing the work they had done to keep up their ruse, before nodding in approval. She clapped happily, before helping him put on tabi and carefully slipping into his geta.

His mother took out the bone from his hair to allow it to hang free, placed a piece of thin fabric over his head to act as a veil, and guided him out of the tiny shrine he had called home since he was four years old for the last time. 

His mother didn't look back to ensure sure footing while pulling him along by the hand, so he kept his head bowed and eyes low to keep his step, and walked onward.

Each step brought on a new sliver of nervousness, as he would be surrounded by women touching him all morning, only to be placed upon a palanquin, paraded to the center of town, where he would then be handed over and carried by an entourage of ayakashi. 

Iruma took in a deep calming breath, trying to go over the various lessons his parents had been forced to allow him so that he could be prepared for this day. 

(Because if they hadn't been forced, he would absolutely not know how to read or write as was necessary and dictated for his station.)

A sliding of shoji, and the scent of incense and perfume nearly overwhelmed him. He barely remembered to slip out of his geta before stepping into the room where he would be "pampered" for the day. 

An elder woman with a serious expression came over to him once his veil and purple outer kimono were removed. "Please drink this, Irumi-sama. It will help calm your nerves, as well as keep you from needing drink or food until much later tonight."

Iruma kept his face blank as he internally grimaced at the eerie concoction. It was a devious black-purple color, as it bubbled ominously in the cup.

It smelled of both familiar and unknown herbs, and he abruptly realized this must be the elixir used by the ayakashi to keep their bride calm. Iruma took a deep breath and swiftly drank the horrid liquid, hoping against instinct that it wasn't poison, because it would be beyond foolish to poison a sacrifice the day they were to die anyway.

A warmth pooled in his stomach unlike anything he'd ever experienced as the woman took the cup from his swiftly loosening hand. 

He almost stumbled as he was led to a chair and settled, before a girl perhaps a few years older than him began to brush his hair for the mandatory 100 strokes. 

Perfumed oil was carefully run through his hair to bring out a glossy shine, while others cleaned his hands and under his nails. Lotions were used to soften his skin, while another woman lifted his head so as to begin painting his wedding makeup on. 

The elixir was truly magnificent, since Iruma had no idea how he would have gotten through any of his beautification if not for being drugged. He was in a strange purgatory of bliss. He felt floaty, there were flowers and butterflies, and-

Well, the elixir probably wouldn't have effected him so strongly if he'd had some meat in his diet, in retrospect. 

The ladies were quietly baffled with how heavily he was affected. Even the Obaa-sama that was observing the preparations.

Hours passed in a haze, and soon the final piece to his many layered white and red wedding kimono was placed over his very ornately styled hair. The wedding veil blocked out so much of the world around him, that it helped reground him from his haze.

Hands guided him carefully into his wedding geta, down a short path, and then cautiously up the three steps before settling upon the palanquin.

There was no cushion to make his final trip through the village any kinder or more comfortable.

A few of the younger girls were crying, "Thank you Miko-sama!" And "Irumi-sama-!"

He shut them off, closing his ears off from their sad attempts at sympathy and praise. They were all just glad it wasn't them.

The palanquin was lifted by four village men, and then the parade began. 

If nothing else, Iruma was just glad that he had something covering him so that he wasn't being baked by the afternoon sun.

Villagers lined the street for his procession- this was a celebration of his coming death, after all, and then he was set down to wait. 

Silence swiftly reigned as the entire village waited with bated breath.

Iruma temporarily regained some of his mind as he partially lifted his gaze, just as two shadows appeared in the distance. 

Like a mirage they wavered into sight, and then they were solid and full of color. 

One had red hair that was cut into a strange bob that was also long and braided with cat ears. They wore a striking red kimono with black hakama, as a purple-black tail swished behind them. 

The other had short purple-black hair with two upturned curls that could look like horns, as well as an intimidating sharp gaze. He wore a deep purple kimono with black hakama. 

Truly odd colors for such an occasion. 

Even odder that there were only two of them. 

The village head made to meet them, as their voices echoed and swayed in a tongue that made his head hurt. 

Iruma had sensed and defeated many demons during his eleven years as an active miko.

This was his first time knowingly meeting ayakashi, and if it hadn't been for being drugged, he would have passed out in fear or attacked.

As it was, he could only curl his hands into fists while minding his wedding finery.

He swallowed thickly, and before he knew it his palanquin was moving. 

Iruma would later find out they'd summoned bat familiars to deal with the labor of carrying him. As it was, all he knew was that the red one walked ahead of him, while the other acted as a rear guard.

Something in the air warped, and his reiki reacted to it by coating his skin in protection from what felt like stomach rolling miasma.

The one in front lifted their head slightly as the one behind him grumbled in the foreign tones from earlier, before Iruma heard a sharp finger snap.

The red one spoke with a glance backward. "We should make it to the ceremony hall in just under an hour, so please endure any discomfort."

Iruma blinked, before simply nodding at that information. 

The red one observed him for an intense moment before simply returning to their vigil. 

A near hour's journey through foreign land felt like so long. 

The moment he was made to carefully stand and descend the palanquin, made him wish it had been longer. 

His legs were half dead and in pain, and he was forced to lean against the red one heavily as they kept their face neutral. 

The other was more blatant in agitation as he clicked his tongue. "Not even a damn cushion. The hell were they thinking?!"

The red head gave him a sharp look, something communicated above his had as the other flinched reflexively. 

"My name is Opera." Iruma blinked and glanced up at the red one in confusion. "I will be one of your primary attendants from today onward. I am your servant and protector, as your status shall be second only to our great Master, Lord Sullivan."

Opera made a slight mischievous smirk, "And over there is Kalego. He will not only be your protector, but the one who protects the chosen Grooms, and shall be your educator from now on."

Iruma's brain tried to keep up with this information. He went to speak, but found himself unable to do so as the words flew from his mind. He felt himself forcibly relax again, docile. 

Kalego and Opera paused at that, clearly noticing the odd behavior, before a note rang out.

Kalego clicked his tongue, "Dammit. Those stupid humans did something to her."

Opera face was grave, "And we should have noticed sooner."

Kalego took a deep breath before sighing loudly in displeasure, "You are, annoyingly, correct."

The two glanced to one another before looking to him. He simply stood, staring with a blank expression. 

Kalego shook his head and gently passed him fully into Opera's care before stepping ahead to kneel by the entry shoji. He bowed slightly as Iruma and Opera stood before the entry as it was opened. Kalego's voice rang out, "Here arrives your bride. Let the ceremony begin."

Iruma didn't have the chance to be frozen in shock before he was presented to thirteen groomsmen-

Male and female alike.

Chapter Text

With great care Iruma was guided to his place in the center of the room. It felt like a solemn affair, with only what he could equate to a priest, and his thirteen soon-to-be husbands.

He was settled upon a lush cushion, and he kept his eyes down to keep courage.

Words ebbed and flowed over and around him. Ceremonial words that were so different, and yet so similar in sentiment to the human ones he had aided in officiating.

Too soon, as his senses sharpened back into clarity to feel crushed by the surrounding youki of the ayakashi he was surrounded by, he was handed a saucer of clear sake.

The scent cleared the fog of his mind further despite its clearly mild flavor and strength. 

"A sip shall be taken for each Groom as announced, with a final sip for your Bride, as you are bound for eternity."

Iruma almost smirked at that, finding it funny that they would talk of eternity when he would find his end this very eve. 

He carefully lifted the cup as all the other Groomsmen present did also, and each name was then announced.

Asmodeus Alice

Azazel Ameri

Valac Clara

Sabnock Sabro

Shax Lied

Ix Elizabetta

Avari Gyari

Crocell Kerori

Andro M Jazz

Picero Agares

Gaap Goemon

Purson Soi

Allocer Schneider

For each name each took a short sip in staccato, with his false name as the last.

Irumi

A final sip to empty his soul-

"Let us begin our celebration of a new era, ushered in by our new Bride!"

Iruma felt heat build despite how hollow his body felt, while warmth slowly pooled deep into his belly. A hand carefully removed the ceremonial saucer from his hands, before a flurry of motion went through the room. Servants brought each their own tray, as a delectable feast was laid before each of the Bridal procession. 

Iruma stared at the tray loaded to the brim with warm foods he had never seen before, but more than that-

There was meat. Loads of it, intermixed with other various fried foods. 

If he had not been drugged earlier that day, and then made to drink a saucer of sake on an empty stomach, he more than likely would have dug in to the point of illness.

As it was, he could only swallow thickly, as he panicked and tried to keep himself from heaving from the heavy scents overtaking the room. 

Iruma closed his eyes to center himself, before a gentle touch startled him from his moment of fretful meditation.

He looked up in the direction of the Groom who had come over to his side, his heavy veil blocking most of his sight, only revealing the same ceremonial black and white ensemble that each Groom wore, beside him.

The female voice was soft, as a gentle aroma filtered through and calmed him from proximity. A small bowl of lightly flavored vegetables was offered to him, "Is this more to your liking, Irumi-chan?"

Iruma blinked, processing the gentle words before nodding as he pitched his voice into a familiar soprano, "Y-yes. Thank you."

He flushed, hoping he wasn't offending anyone as he shakily lifted his hands to take the offered dish. There was another shuffle, and swiftly the heavily scented meats and fried foods on his tray were replaced with lighter offerings from every Groom's meal.

Differently seasoned vegetables, breads, and grain, all of differing origin were placed before him. Some looked similar to what he had known, while others were a complete curiosity. 

Iruma's stomach settled, and the kind onee-san gave him one more gentle squeeze before returning to her place.

Taking chopsticks in hand, he finally took a bite of the wedding banquet before him. 

He didn't notice the tears of joy that spilled onto his finery, as the wonderful flavors overwhelmed him. 

At least, as he was to die that night, he'd have had a truly wonderful meal. 

It was after some unknown number of hours that Iruma's body finally caught up to the day and demanded attention. Opera, without any prompting, came to his side and aided him to his feet. "Your Bride shall refresh herself before her first wedding night."

There seemed to be a positive acknowledgement, before Iruma was led down a much quieter, and notably cooler, hallway.

It was a silent walk, and despite what was to come, Iruma finally decided he would be fine with whatever the outcome would be-

Because if there was one thing he'd realized over the course of the evening, it was that something was not exactly correct with his understanding of the situation. 

However, he did not have enough of an understanding to even begin asking questions of necessity, and quite frankly, he was simply too scared to verbalize any of his concerns.

Opera opened a door and guided Iruma to the center of the room before pausing and taking hold of his hands. "Your first Groom shall soon arrive to aid in removing your heavier layers so that you can move freely on your own."

There was something in their tone that was missing from their face that had him alert. Iruma nodded, lacking any reason to decline such an offer since he was literally trapped in his bridal layers.

They stood there for a long moment, holding his hands and observing him, before taking a small breath and speaking quietly. "You will not come to harm, here."

Iruma's world came to a pause for a moment, before he lifted his head in an attempt to meet their eyes, "Eh?"

Opera gently squeezed his hands. "You are no sacrifice to be laid upon an alter and bled dry. You are an awaited cherished Bride, and this generation's hope that was lost to mine."

Iruma's eyes widened, something within their words and tone a clue to a much deeper meaning, causing him to immediately want to reach out and comfort them, before they bowed and slipped away.

He stood with his hands still aloft for a long moment, staring at the place Opera had been, before allowing his arms to drop listlessly to his side with a quivering exhale.

To think, that he would disappoint such aching hope.

Chapter Text

Asmodeus Alice, along with his fellow thirteen chosen, had been thoroughly trained for this auspicious occasion.

Having the honor of marrying the chosen Bride of their generation, despite what sacrifices he and the other males would be made to make of their bodies, was imperative for the Netherworld's future.

Female Ayakashi were growing ever slimmer in number, and in turn, too few children were being born despite the Magicks and Elixirs available to all.

It did not help that the past two Brides had perished in some manner or another far too soon, further slimming their numbers due to the loss of their blessing.

Alice took in a deep breath and sighed softly to himself as Opera escorted their near-silent and terrified Bride to her first resting chamber of the evening. He, Ameri, and Clara would be visiting her deeper into the night, and he had to prepare himself so that-

"Silence!"

Alice's train of thought stumbled to a halt as each Groom snapped to attention at Kalego-sensei's command.

Kalego observed each of them harshly, a blatant agitation to his step and posture as Balam-sensei shuffled into line beside him.

Kalego sniffed harshly to himself before addressing them again. "I'm sure it is clear, even to you ignorant brats, that something has been wrong with your Bride all evening, yes?"

Each nodded. Even Gyari, who was the least invested in this endeavor and had only joined to ensure her ability to take Kerori as a mate once their initial obligations had been fulfilled, agreed.

Kalego crossed his arms in deep contemplation, his eyes landing heavily upon Alice as he prepared his next words.

"It would be too suspicious to postpone tradition so that we can get a clear read of the situation." Kalego's youki pressed against Alice and his two partners for the evening. "Even so, you three must absolutely prioritize your Bride's emotional well-being over expectation. If she is scared, you will do everything you can to comfort her- even if it means leaving her to herself for the evening, understood?"

Alice, Ameri, and Clara nodded in understanding.

"We are skipping the elixirs as well."

All of them paused at that before Allocer spoke up first, "What do you mean?"

Kalego shifted his gaze to his partner, and Shichirou shifted his mask before answering, "We are changing things under the assumption that the Bride was heavily drugged before her arrival. Any further mixing of Magic or medicinal brews could be dangerous to her health."

Alice narrowed his eyes in thought before glancing over to Clara.

Clara's lips were pursed in deep thought, an abnormally mature look on her face before meeting his eyes with concern.

Alice couldn't be more grateful to be sharing their first wedding night together, with her at his back to cover what he lacked.

Alice stood at his Bride's door for a moment to center himself, before taking the plunge and sliding the shoji that separated them open.

The Bride cut off a squeak as she sat straighter, refreshed and dressed in a simple, yet ornately patterned, white and red two-layer kimono. A sheer veil covered her features, and Alice swallowed at the thought that he would be the first to touch and see her.

The lessons and etiquette that had been drilled into him throughout his life kept him grounded, but Kalego's words had shaken the firm foundation he'd built for himself and his expectations for the evening.

He closed the shoji gently behind him, confident that Ameri and Clara were on standby one room over, and a gentle flare of youki away.

Alice cautiously moved closer to his Bride before slowly bringing himself to his knees before her, nearly touching, as he settled onto his legs. He kept his hands placed placidly on his thighs, "I am Asmodeus Alice, but you may feel free to call me Azz."

Irumi tilted her head slightly in a way that, if he could see her face, would be sure to be adorable before she replied softly, "A-ah, thank you… Azz-kun?"

Alice allowed himself a tiny self indulgent smile at that, before broadcasting his movements toward her.

Irumi froze for a moment, before clearly forcing herself to relax and lean just slightly forward as a sign of submission.

Alice paused in his movement, "Irumi-sama?" Irumi hummed questionably in response before he continued, "May I remove your veil, to see your face?"

Irumi's hands clenched at her thighs, clearly warring with her thoughts, before nodding. "You may."

Alice removed the fabric from between them and felt completely enchanted by their Bride as he unconsciously perfectly folded the sheer fabric and set it beside him.

Yet, beneath the rouge and makeup, Alice noted how thin she was. There was an abnormal gauntness to her that spoke of long neglect of their beloved Bride, who should have never wanted for anything in all of her years living in the Human Realm.

Alice's eyes narrowed, and he missed the way Irumi flinched as he instinctively shifted closer. Irumi gasped at his proximity, and in his haste to understand, he reached to open the folds of her kimono before her reiki reared up as she flung her arms forward to press against his chest. "No!"

Alice felt his youki react to protect him as he swiftly retreated, pulling himself away from the glowing pink burn, while trying to make sense of the shift in vocal tone he heard.

Irumi scuttled away from him, pulling the folds of her garment further closed while breathing heavily, with eyes far too wide and fearful of him.

Alice never wanted to see such fear upon her features again, and it was his own impulsiveness in his care for her that was to blame.

Alice did not move closer, but instead he repositioned himself, placed his hands flat upon the tatami, and pressed his forehead to the floor in repentance. "I apologize, I did not mean to frighten you so."

Irumi was silent for a long while as she came to settle her breathing, before finding her voice that wobbled in familiar soprano. "Then why..?"

Alice took in a deep breath before exhaling slowly. He then sat up once more so that he could meet her eyes. "Because you are my wife, and I want nothing but your health and happiness."

Irumi seemed to still at that, silently mouthing and tasting his words before tilting her head and replying questionably, "My health and happiness?"

Alice nodded as warmth colored his cheeks, "Yes!"

Irumi seemed to wonder at that with thoughtful pursed lips that distressed him, until her eyes slowly shifted to the side in deep private contemplation. A tense heartbeat of a moment passed before she met his gaze once more after too-long silence. Her voice was soft, starting in the expected soprano, before ending in a surprisingly strong alto. "Even if… I'm lying to you?"

Alice straightened, stiff as he catalogued everything before him. He lifted himself up to his feet before slowly walking towards his Bride.

Irumi watched him, her reiki a glimmering layer close to her skin as her posture became defensive once more, before Alice settled uncomfortably close to her just as he had at the start.

Alice waited with surprising patience, waiting until Irumi seemed to relent to some sort of agonizing fate. Her eyes grew glossy as she inhaled sharply, before seeming too slump in defeat. "Azz-kun, I'm a boy."

Alice's eyes widened as Irumi personally unfolded her top half to show the proof of her flat chest. "My parents lied to everyone, and I-"

Alice lurched, not to further disrobe her, but to swiftly place her-his kimono back into place to spare his dignity and terror.

Throughout their learned history, the gender of their Bride had never really mattered- it simply affected what sort of elixirs and mental support training that generation would need.

But this Bride, having been presented to them wrapped in finery, was clearly showing blatant signs of abuse and neglect. Not only that, but he had clearly been forced to comply with the lie of his gender to fool everyone around them for, and he could only assume as such, his parent's personal gain.

Alice's blood could not stand for this, and though he knew Clara would be best in that moment, Alice chose to be selfish and hug his Bride tightly into himself, as he fought tears of both distress and hurt.

Irumi gasped, startled and confused by his actions, before slowly easing uncomfortably into his hold.

They sat there for a long moment, as Alice swallowed his anger for his Bride's sake as he mentally straightened out precisely what he would be reporting to Balam-sensei that very evening.

It took longer than he would have liked to calm himself down enough to gently pull back to ask a new question, "Who do you want to be then, my Bride?"

Irumi blinked, a light entering her eyes as she inhaled sharply, a brittle form of hope transforming his face and countenance. "Iruma." Tears gathered and began to slip down his cheeks, "I want to be the boy my parents and village never allowed or wanted me to be. Iruma."

Alice thumbed away Iruma's tears as he flared his youki to summon Clara to his side, "Then that is precisely who you shall be from now onward."

The shoji opened, and Alice passed his Bride over to his partner with few, yet poignant, words. "This is our Bride, Iruma. I leave him into your care, Valac Clara."

He excused himself, Ameri appearing beside him as he met her at the doorway and slid the shoji shut. With a grave shared glance, they went to report to Balam, Kalego, and Opera his findings.

Chapter Text

"This is our Bride, Iruma. I leave him into your care, Valac Clara."

AzzAzz thought he was so clever with that, didn't he? He was adorable, so unfortunately she had to forgive him for that.

Perhaps, if it had been two years ago when they'd first formally met, it would have been a different story wrought with arguments and misunderstanding, but nowadays that was no longer the case.

AzzAzz could be stupid, but he'd given her a whole bunch of information with just those two sentences.

Their Bride's proper name was Iruma. She was also actually a he-

And considering he'd been passed into her arms directly, it let her know that Iruma was tense and shaking.

She smiled warmly as her adorable new Bride looked up to her with such trepidation. That just wouldn't do!

Clara shifted and gracefully picked up Iruma as he let out a small adorable squeak before moving over to the futon that had been lying in wait in the center of the room, to settle herself and her Bride there.

Funny how it'd actually be used for resting instead of its original planned propose, but that was okay!

She actually preferred it this way! She and AzzAzz had only just recently gotten into kissing, though he furiously proclaimed it was to practice for their first wedding night, and how it'd be advantageous for her too-

Well. Nevermind that! She had a job to accomplish right now, and AzzAzz and Scarlet-chan were counting on her!

Meeting her Bride's flushed gaze also solidified just who else was unknowingly counting on her as well.

Clara tilted her head, "Iruma-chi?"

He tilted his head bashfully in silent question, "Y-yeah?"

Oh. He had a very pretty voice, now that she finally had a moment in quiet to hear it. Kerori-chan would love him. "Are you comfy, or would you like to take off your outer kimono?"

She was asking a perfectly innocent and understandable question, yet, his eyes widened with a hint of fear at her with a broad range of mixed feelings before moving his focus downward. "Uhm, I think I'd like to keep it on for now."

Clara nodded sagely, "Okie dokie!" She grinned brightly, and for whatever reason, her Bride seemed surprised and baffled! The poor boy truly had no idea what was in store for him from now on, but that was okay!

They'd all teach and take care of him, one day at a time!

She sighed softly, laying down and relaxing into the futon before pulling Iruma into her, nearly wrapping herself around him, with how she so easily tangled their limbs together despite their state of overdress.

Iruma squirmed awkwardly due to their new shared position, flushing a bright red as he tried to say something, but she knew what she was doing!

She began to hum a melody, which gave him pause, and she tucked his head under her chin. "You're safe with me, my precious Bride."

Iruma was quiet, as her humming slowly seeped into him and made him naturally drowsy and relaxed. Yet, he fought it just as all the boys had when first introduced to her brand of nightly comfort, blinking in uneven time as he mumbled, "'M a boy, so I should be… a Groom."

She snorted softly despite her humming before responding, as she nuzzled her face into his hair. "Silly Iruma-chi… you're our Bride, and we're your Grooms. Boys and girls alike."

Iruma tried to shift to look at her, but she refused to let him as he gave up with a huff. "Have you ever wanted to be a Bride?"

She could hear the genuine curiosity mixed in with his losing fight to stay awake.

She was silent for a long moment while running a hand over his hair soothingly.

Clara took in a deep breath before murmuring into his hair, "Ayakashi have mates. We're just borrowing your human terms to assist in your understanding and comfort."

…

Silence. His breathing fully smoothing out into the sleep she'd been aiming for.

Clara smiled towards herself in the tiniest bit of self depreciation before giggling quietly while squeezing Iruma into her chest.

Iruma, Clara knew, would be someone she loved from the bottom of her heart in no time flat.

Iruma woke up slowly, and he instinctively knew it was later than his usual hour of waking.

Yet, a large part of him didn't want to acknowledge the world and get up just yet. He had experienced an entire day of being drugged, miserable, and scared, only to end up being discovered, comforted, and then soothed into proper sleep.

He was comfortable and warm. Both terms common enough, yet entirely foreign when referring to himself and his life until now.

He took in a deep breath as he became fully aware of himself, meanwhile burying his face into the lemongrass scented plush beneath and beside him.

-That is, until his brain kicked in, and his survival instinct alerted him with a snap of awakening at the feeling of the ayakashi's youki wrapped protectively around his person.

The Miko Iruma, a fifteen year old male human Bride that had only been married the day before, but otherwise had never had much of any intimate or affectionate physical contact with anyone was immediately overwhelmed, embarrassed, and self conscious.

Iruma felt himself flush as his eyes shifted downward at the state of his Groom's kimono and general vicinity. He then noted Clara's uniquely shaped jagged teeth when focusing upwards instead of onto the chest he was tucked into.

His initial embarrassment and terror fell away at the sight of her. His Groom was practically melted into the futon beneath them, as she smiled in her sleep with the softest of snores while drool pooled out of her mouth. Her cheeks were flushed in contentment, and the almost-flare of his reiki receeded back to the depths of his being, his soul, as he found himself enraptured by how adorable she was.

Iruma smiled unconsciously at her innocent expression in sleep, and slowly relaxed back into the futon beneath him as he took in another deep breath of her scent, and laid his head gently into the crook of her arm once more.

He had never been allowed the chance to simply… be. To rest in the morning's silence. The novelty of having another body wrapped around his was new, and he slowly found himself capable of ignoring the chaste propriety drilled into him, because he was now married, not to one individual, but thirteen.

Iruma furrowed his brows while pursing his lips in thought.

Up until now, he had been told he had to stay physically pure, never allowing another to sully her, most importantly in bed, lest she lose her Miko Powers. Yet, she wasn't being sacrificed in some purifying ritual, here, or "marrying the gods" as some of her lessons had alluded to.

So… what was going on? What was her purpose here?

What had happened to Opera's hope? Was the feline ayakashi alluding to the Bride of the generation before her's?

She had so many questions-

The shoji slid open with a sharp snap, two bodies- one less familiar than the other peering in, before Azz took in a sharp breath and huffed lightly in amusement at the sight of them.

Iruma had barely lifted his head to meet Azz's magenta colored gaze, before Iruma acknowledged the golden-rust colored eyes of his third Groom.

Azz tilted his head, seeming to have a moment of indecision, before bowing slightly and stepping in. The third followed after, gently closing the shoji shut, before both settled beside the futon behind Clara's back.

Iruma couldn't help but feel as if he'd been caught doing something scandalous, despite the illogical nature of his reaction. Yet, Iruma quickly found himself enraptured by the emotion of deep love and affection Azz seemed to be broadcasting towards the girl wrapped around his person.

With a light cough from the rust-toned girl, Azz shook himself out of his internal musings and scowled as he gently shook Clara. "Wake up you silly girl! Our Bride needs to be checked on by Balam-sensei!"

Clara snorted softly, scrunching her face in annoyance before waking up with blinking eyes as she glanced around in confusion. She then seemed to notice Iruma in her arms before she wiped the drool from her face and kissed him, full and deep in the mouth first thing in the morning!

First and foremost, it should absolutely be known that Iruma, in all of his fifteen years, had never experienced kissing for himself. It made sense of course, all things considered, and he'd seen those in love, married and courting alike, kiss long and deep-

However, seeing as he wasn't the least bit mentally prepared to experience such intimacy for himself, flailed in a mini panic with an unconscious noise, before Clara was pulled back by the scruff of her kimono by a red faced and incensed Azz. "You!"

Clara wasn't the least bit repentant as she smiled with pure indulgence towards him, "G' morning Iruma-chi! Didjya sleep well?"

Iruma thought his face would burst into flames, but he found himself somehow disappointed that he hadn't had the chance to kiss Clara back, despite how awkward and not exactly pleasant his first kiss, let alone a kiss first thing in the morning, was.

Iruma glanced to the side while clearing his throat, "Y-yeah, good morning to you, too, Clara." He bashfully glanced between Azz and the other girl as he resettled his kimono layers and sat up properly. "Good morning Azz-kun and…" His eyes shifted from the cuddling green and pink duo to the third present Groom.

The taller girl blinked, before flushing slightly and straightening her posture, "I am Azazel Ameri." She gave a short bow in greeting, "It is a pleasure to greet you this lovely morning."

Iruma gave a hesitant smile as he nodded his head in acknowledgement and greeting. "It's nice to meet you as well, Ameri-san."

Azz smoothly stood while bringing up Clara along with him, still held close to his chest while nearly dangling in his arms. "We will leave you in peace for now, Iruma-sama, but shall return before long so as to take you to be examined by Balam-sensei."

Ameri lifted herself to her feet as well next to Azz, and Iruma couldn't help but stand as well. "Who's Balam-sensei?"

Ameri answered, "He's our medical examiner, and the one who looks out for our health. He'd like to simply take an initial examination to see if there's anything we should focus on in terms of your immediate care."

Iruma eyes widened, however Azz gave him a comforting look. "I informed him, Opera-san, and Kalego-sensei of what happened last night."

Iruma couldn't help but slump slightly at that in defeat, "O-oh…"

Azz's eyes softened in slight distress. "I apologize for speaking of such things without asking, but I was very serious about how important your health and well-being is for us."

Iruma clasped his hands over his chest, shifting in discomfort while refusing to meet their eyes before eventually nodding. "I…" He glanced up towards the three of them, "Am I in trouble?"

They all hummed in confused unison before Clara tilted her head in question, "Did ya wanna be a girl?"

Iruma blinked at her, before lowering a brow in awkward confusion. "N-not really, it's just what the adults expected-"

Clara burst from Azz's hold and glommed onto him with a joyous giggle, "Then you've done nothing wrong! So don'tchya worry, Iruma-chi! We're gonna take super duper good care of you, and we'll have loads of fun, and smoochies while we get to know one another!"

Iruma flushed, having no idea what sort of expression he could be making, other than it being one he'd never made before.

Azz cleared his throat, "We have also procured some new garments for you to change into later for your comfort."

Iruma mentally paused, blinking at that information before tilting his head and looking at him curiously. "New clothes?"

Clara petted the back of his head kindly while beaming up at him, "AzzAzz is a rich boy, he'll only allow the best of the best for his Bride!" She snickered before pulling back and glancing at Ameri, "Scarlet-chan's also loaded, so I'm sure she's bought some new gifts that are suitable for her Bride's tastes, right?"

Ameri flushed, her fox-like ears flicking low for a moment before popping back up with pride, "Of course!"

After that, the three ayakashi excused themselves so that he could take some time to refresh himself with his usual morning routine.

He opened the closet once such tasks were completed, and curiously pulled out an aged clothing box which held a rather soft cotton kimono, simple, but with a beautiful blue to violet ombre with black feathers and wind swirls.

He pulled it out and dressed himself in the feminine finery that had been originally prepared for his arrival.

He supposed, considering the quality, that it would have been quite soothing to wear after the sort of night he should have originally had as a woman-

He paused his thoughts at that, before lifting out a small box that had been hidden within the folds of the solid dark grey obi for her current ensemble.

She opened the thin wooden box cautiously, and there within was an aged diary.

Merize

Iruma stared at the name, before gently closing the lid and placing it back into the original storage box she'd pulled it from to read the name engraved on its front.

Azazel

Iruma pursed her lips for a moment, before closing the storage box lid, and sliding the closet door shut. She wrapped and tied her obi with practiced familiarity before wandering over to the mirror attached to a small low vanity. She settled before it, examined her face for a time in introspection, before going through the drawers to locate a brush to finish preparing for the day.

Several brush strokes later, and she pulled out a ribbon to tie her hair with.

She paused, looking over the various hair pins that had been prepared for her use upon arrival and realized-

For all that she had desperately wanted to be the boy she had been born as, she had also wistfully wanted to experience the small things that so many girls took for granted, to feel beautiful.

He shakily picked up a closed seashell and opened it, finding the expected red rouge within-

He put it on after a moment's hesitation, and after another short pause in thought, found another compact with pressed red powder and carefully dabbed and smoothed it out around his eyes.

Iruma returned the makeup where he found it and looked at himself.

His eyes warmed, before he stubbornly shook his head to dislodge the desire to cry, and stood to his feet.

His bruised stomach hurt, and his calf and bicep wounds ached with the need for further attention.

Iruma focused on the pain to straighten out his emotions, opened the shoji, and stepped out into the hall to wait.

Chapter Text

It didn't take long for one of his Grooms to arrive to guide him. He shifted his gaze from the floor to her much taller stature, as Ameri stepped beside him with a small welcoming smile. "Are you ready, Iruma?"

He nodded as she lifted her hand to take his, while giving his current attire a swift examination. Iruma grasped her hand before shifting their position and intertwining his fingers with her's, as he gave her a welcoming smile.

Ameri flushed at his boldness, not realizing he was under a slightly incorrect assumption due to Clara's forwardness that morning, and she coughed lightly into her free hand before pulling him along with flushed cheeks. "That kimono looks lovely on you."

Iruma felt his face warm as he gently tightened his grip on her hand, "Thank you, Ameri-san." He glanced up at her shyly, "You look lovely today as well."

Ameri's eyes widened at his compliment as her cheeks warmed further. She was wearing a sleeveless black kimono top with white accents, light pink arm covers, and orange hakama. It wasn't anything special in her mind, but she couldn't help but be a little happy her Bride approved of her attire.

She once again glanced at his kimono, before a memory clicked as she recalled her father showing her that very same garment while she was growing up when talking about her-

Ameri inhaled sharply, realizing it must have been one of her family's wedding gifts, before the words stuck in her throat and forced her to purse her lips in thought. What was her father up to..?

Iruma, if he had noticed her behavior, didn't mention it as he was slightly distracted by the ornate compound they called home. He was bright eyed and smiling with a warmth to his cheeks that eased the worries clogged in her chest as they made their way further in.

Soon enough they made it to the medical office Balam-sensei tended to stay in, and knocked on the doorframe as she announced, "I have arrived with my Bride, Iruma."

"Come in."

Iruma couldn't help but squeeze Ameri's hand, as he quickly became nervous while he was guided towards the larger bird-like Ayakashi. The older Ayakashi seemed to give him a smile behind their mask in an attempt to calm him, but it wasn't the Ayakashi themself that made him nervous.

The older Ayakashi motioned with their hand towards the stool, "If you wouldn't mind standing there for now so I can take notes about my observations before sitting, I would appreciate it."

Iruma found their voice pleasant despite their mask and nodded, releasing his intertwined hand from Ameri's, and standing where he'd been directed. He shuffled awkwardly, clasping his hands low and feeling the texture of the hem of his sleeves in an attempt to try and calm himself.

Ameri stood nearby, which was also a comfort.

"Uhm…"

The Ayakashi paused in their writing to glance up at him from under long silver grey hair, "Yes, Iruma-kun?"

Iruma smiled awkwardly, "I'm sorry but… what was your name again?"

The Ayakashi stiffened before seeming to flush slightly, "Ah! My apologies, I should have started with that." He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly before bowing slightly, "I am Balam Shichirou, the medical practitioner and a teacher of biological studies here, within the Babyls family compound."

Iruma went blank for a moment with that information, gaining more insight into the place he was presently living. He then smiled, "Thank you Balam-sensei." He bowed slightly, "Please take care of me."

Balam smiled warmly before tilting his head, "Does it feel more natural for you to speak in that higher tone, Iruma-kun?"

Iruma's fingers twitched at the question, mildly startled by the observation before slowly shaking his head in slight disquiet. "I'm just…used to speaking like this, since my parents were very insistent that absolutely no one could find out I wasn't a girl. I, uhm… I don't really know how to be… or act like myself?" He clenched his hands tightly before releasing them, "The thought of actually being allowed to live as a boy is, honestly, frightening, now that it seems I'll be able to."

Balam hummed thoughtfully before continuing his writing his notes, "I see."

Balam paused before finishing what he was writing so that he could ask another question. "I apologize if there is some sort of moral or religious reason against it, but would you please allow me to see your upper body? Asmodeus' report last night was rather concerning."

Iruma shifted before slowly shaking his head, "It should be alright, I've just never shown my body to anyone else…"

Balam nodded in sympathy, "Again, I apologize for the discomfort."

Iruma took in a deep breath before freezing, his mind reminding him of not only how ugly his body was, but his injuries. He grimaced deeply, before beginning the process of unwinding the obi around his waist. He glanced at Ameri, "Would you mind holding this and the kimono?"

Ameri started at the abrupt address, before warmth colored her cheeks lightly, "A-ah, no, that's perfectly fine. I'll take them "

Iruma gave her a somewhat bashful smile before finishing what he'd started, and handing the two pieces over. He then carefully maneuvered his under kimono off of his shoulders, so that the top half was somewhat bunched at his waist.

Balam straightened, swiftly acknowledging the large bruise across his stomach, how visible his rib and collar bones were, as well as the injury on his left bicep. He narrowed his eyes, "How did you get these injuries?" It came out a little more aggressive than intended, but the sight of their latest Bride's state was abhorrent.

Iruma swallowed thickly as he avoided eye contact and slightly covered his front with his arms in shame, "Ah, uhm… earlier this week I messed up while facing a panther demon that had been prowling around and attacked some villagers… and then a few days ago I got rammed by a boar demon…" His voice trailed off, leaving an awkward tension in the room.

Balam took in a slow deep breath to calm himself before exhaling lightly, "Are there any other injuries I should be aware of?"

Iruma shuffled, before bending down slightly to lift his under kimono up enough to reveal the injury on his right leg, "This was also from the panther demon."

Balam stared at it before nodding. "You may sit."

Iruma paused, before mentally shrugging and sitting down on the waiting stool. Balam then stood and went to collect some herbs and some dressings for his injuries. "I will be putting a medicinal paste on your stomach to help it heal faster."

Iruma brightened at that, "Oh, thank you Balam-sensei!" He smiled, and the older Ayakashi could barely handle looking at him, in lieu of a creeping anger at those who had dared to neglect this poor child.

He'd certainly be needing a stiff drink later that afternoon to stave off the anger.

Iruma watched him trustingly as Balam eventually came over with the needed supplies, and began to spread a viscous green paste that had a somewhat strong herbal scent. Yet, despite the smell, Iruma found the aroma comforting, and the immediate cooling sensation was a plus.

Soon enough Balam was done, and placed a large cut of dressing fabric over it to protect Iruma's clothes from the concoction.

Balam then addressed the injury on his arm, carefully removing the now soiled wrappings while frowning under his mask. What he saw concerned him, as the injury looked somewhat poorly taken care of, and slower to heal. He looked to the human before him, "Are you normally so slow to heal from wounds? This looks like it's on the verge of becoming infected."

Iruma glanced at it, seemingly unconcerned as he shrugged with his free shoulder, "I think that might be because I had to heal a few of the village men who got injured before I got to where the panther demon first attacked." He pressed his lips in thought, "Though, I don't think I'm healing too much slower than usual… and anyway, if it starts to hurt or act up, I usually just use my purification powers to cleanse any infection I might be getting. I've never been sick or gotten a fever, so-"

Iruma cut off his words as Balam's hand unintentionally tightened on his arm, and with a glance, he saw that Ameri was staring at him with sickened horror and anger.

Balam had a similar look, though the anger felt a great deal stronger since he was literally touching him. Iruma could feel the ironclad control Balam had over his youki, despite the clear urge he clearly had to lash out. Iruma couldn't help but swallow thickly before he croaked, "…Did I say something wrong?"

Balam closed his eyes tightly as he tried to pull back his more immediate emotions, before he was finally able to answer Iruma's question a while he turned and gently cupped his cheek with a shaking hand. "From now on you are under our protection, Iruma. In the future, please do not hide any injuries from anyone- we will immediately set to heal any and all wounds you receive, understood?"

Iruma inhaled sharply, feeling the cacoon of Balam's youki as he tried to soothe Iruma's hurts with his presence. It is then that something clicks in the back of Iruma's mind, and finds himself unable to hold back as he asks softly, "Were you a Groom once, too?"

Balam flinches, surprised by the question before furrowing his brows while unconsciously cleaning and sanitizing Iruma's wound. The human sucks in a breath of air with a wince, but Balam, despite his misgivings, decides to distract him with the truth of the matter. "Yes. Kalego, Opera-senpai, and I were part of the last generation of failed Grooms."

Iruma's eyes widened before he grimaced, "If it's too difficult to talk about, you don't have to-"

Balam shook his head before petting Iruma's head with a tired sigh, "You should know what has happened to the last two generations who came before you, as both were unusually short lived."

Iruma flushed lightly at Balam's affection, unused to such simple things, before nodding slightly. "I'd… Actually really appreciate that." He smiled as Balam finished slathering his wound with an ointment and redressing it.

Balam then motioned for Iruma's leg wound and began working on that as he spoke. "Our Bride, while somewhat subdued at first, was quick to grow agitated during our first wedding night. Things were handled somewhat differently then, and Opera was our generation's first chosen Groom for the wedding's eve. There had been some hope that, with their particularly undefined appearance and pleasant voice, that they might be able to calm down her stronger emotions. The plan was to have Opera explain the purpose of the elixirs, and to then allow the Bride to choose which one to take so that Opera would consume the leftover choice."

Balam took in a deep breath and sighed, "Unbeknownst to us, the Bride in her time alone, mixed both of the elixirs together along with a poison so that when she made her choice, Opera drank it first. While distracted, the Bride stabbed them with a poison laced blade that she'd hidden on her person that mutated into a pervasive curse upon their body. She then swiftly consumed and subsequently succumbed to the poisoned elixir she'd mixed so that she would 'stay pure until death' and perished. Opera survived… but their body was left permanently damaged by the mixed magic and poison."

Iruma was stunned for a moment before a deep well of compassion sprang up for Opera, "That must have been… hard."

Balam took in a deep breath and exhaled, "It was a gravely unfortunate result, to lose our Bride on our wedding night. We are branded as a failed generation, so we have been judged much more harshly in our shortcomings in trying to resolve the issues that continue to pervade the Netherworld. The loss of our generation's blessing, after having waited twenty years since the one before ours was also cut short, was a heavy blow to all."

Balam set Iruma's newly bandaged leg on the ground before straightening. "I will give you more ointment, dressings, and healing pumice for that bruise, so that you can refresh yourself without having to come all the way here. If you need anything more, be sure to tell one of your Grooms or Opera, and they will immediately fetch any medicinal necessities you might need, understood?"

Iruma nodded, "Yes sir!"

Balam huffed lightly with a smile before gently waving his hand, "You may redress yourself while I write down a meal plan to aid in healing your body's lack of nutrients."

Iruma nodded as he stood and began putting on and fixing his under kimono. He allowed Balam some time to write before his curiosity got the best of him again, "So what happened to the generation before yours?"

Balam paused, as Ameri also stiffened in the middle of preparing to hand over the kimono Iruma had chosen to wear for the day.

Balam glanced at Ameri before motioning slightly with his head, "That might be best left to Henri-kun… but if you must know something, it is that Ameri was the only child born during that generation, some forty or so years ago."

Iruma nodded absently as he settled the ombre kimono on his person and tied it before taking the dark grey obi and freezing. He glanced between Ameri and Balam in confusion. Ameri looked barely older than sixteen, while Balam was slightly more difficult to place due to his mask and overall stature. "F-forty years ago?!"

Ameri flushed while Balam blinked in confusion before realizing his error. "Iruma-kun, we Ayakashi age much more slowly than humans. Our literal years don't equate to our mental age. I suppose I would be considered somewhere around twenty to thirty years old by human standards, but I'm literally 65 years old in human numbered years. I still haven't even reached my prime, which might not be for a few hundred years, yet."

Iruma couldn't help but gape at him, "So even though the others I've been married to seem like they're about my age…"

Balam slightly nodded his head, "They are all around forty human years old, give or take five."

Ameri finished tying Iruma's obi for him, and he decided right then and there he needed to sit down to absorb that information.

Balam scratched at his cheek, "Sorry that that information surprised you?"

Iruma had a blank look on his face for a long moment before he seemed to slowly come back to himself with a slow shake of his head, "No… I suppose that makes sense…" He scrunched his face in thought before smoothing out once more as he looked Balam in the eyes, "So then why is the Bride chosen to be taken at fifteen?" That seemed to be the chosen age for past Brides to be taken away.

Balam tilted his head with a slight frown before humming, "Well, for several centuries, the average human has been rather short lived due to various internal and external factors… and forty seems to be about the oldest most reach. Of course, there are some who luck out to live much longer, but women, especially when it comes to their birthing years, tend to have a high mortality rate."

Iruma blinked at the logic behind such a choice as it made a terrible amount of sense, considering the number of births he'd aided in as a midwife. "So, it's because by fifteen the human Bride would generally be considered an adult, and middle aged by living standards?"

Balam shrugged helplessly, "Unfortunately. It would be preferable to have you wait a few years before, well… " He trailed of awkwardly before clearing his throat, "As it stands, with the information I've gotten just in this examination today, I can safely say we can buy a few months at minimum for your body to heal and get stronger before returning to the subject of offspring."

Iruma flushed at that, his hand twitching in reflex before gripping his knees, "…Oh." He nodded dumbly, "That's… good to know?"

Balam sighed heavily while rubbing the back of his head, "Well, moving on from that subject, I will be requesting that you have five small meals per day, with a small amount of meat so that your body has a chance to adapt to the addition to your diet before upping the amount per day."

Iruma's eyes widened as he straightened, "But- isn't that really inconvenient for everyone?!"

Balam gave him an odd look, "Not at all. Our staff is fully prepared to do whatever it takes for you to be healthy, Iruma-kun. Nothing is too much for this generation's Bride. Ask, and we will do our utmost best to provide it to you, no matter how trivial."

Iruma shrunk into himself with a flush, barely able to comprehend such lavishness. "O-oh…" He lightly scratched at his cheek before glancing up at Balam, "If you say so…"

Balam hummed before pressing, "Please inform us of any and all of your needs to be comfortable, alright?"

Iruma winced at the word that was the root of his greatest weakness and nodded stiffly, "Alright."

Balam nodded before motioning to Ameri, "You may go and join the others for breakfast." Balam smiled, "I hope you are able to properly meet your Grooms and have a pleasant time getting to know one another."

Iruma nodded absently as he took Ameri's offered hand, "Ah- uhn." He smiled back, "I hope so too "

Chapter Text

Iruma knew that Ameri hadn't wanted to leave his side so soon, but halfway towards where they were to eat with the others, Ameri was summoned by a servant. She had turned to him with a small reluctant smile, "I apologize Iruma… I had asked my father to collect some things for you after learning your true gender, and-"

Iruma straightened with a quick shake of his head and a small wave of his hands, "Don't worry about it!" He gave her an awkward smile, "I've already inconvenienced everyone enough with this as is. You don't have to apologize!"

Ameri searched him before taking a deep breath and sighing softly to herself with a small nod in half-hearted agreement, "Alright. However, I will finish bringing you to the others so I won't worry about you getting lost."

Iruma's eyes widened before he flushed, feeling somewhat helpless in the fact that he knew so little about the new place that he would be living in for the foreseeable future.

Ameri took an few extra steps ahead before standing in front of a door where there is the sound of amicable conversation and the scent of food, before she opened the shoji with a slight bow. "Our Bride Iruma arrives."

There is silence, and Iruma's throat closes in nervousness. What does such silence mean? It makes his hands clammy, and he can't help but grip them as he comes to stand next to Ameri at the door. He shifted into a slight bow of greeting, before lifting his head to glance at all of them.

Most of the girls had started on their plates, but for whatever reason, none of the boys had. Iruma mentally puzzled at this, before Ameri gently pressed his back, forcing him to take a few unsure steps forward into the room.

Clara bounced up with her arms raised, "Iruma-chi, Iruma-chi! We've been waitin' for ya to show up for breakfast! Was your time with Balam-sensei scary?"

Iruma blinked, trying to process Clara's words while also trying to navigate the new strangeness that seems to have settled upon his Miko senses.

He smiled awkwardly as Azz took her hand and guided Iruma to her place. Her breakfast is simple, a scoop of rice, a small cup of seasoned vegetables, and half a fish are ready and waiting as she settled upon her legs at the low meal tray. "Uhm, no. Balam-sensei was really pleasant to talk to, and I learned a lot from him despite our short time together."

Clara seemed rather happy about that as Azz returned to his own food with a hum, "Well, I'm certainly glad you didn't find Master Balam scary. Most find him rather intimidating."

Iruma glanced at her food, before looking over at everyone else. She faltered slightly, unsure of the expected food etiquette.

Before, usually women couldn't eat until the men had started, yet, it almost seemed as if almost everyone were waiting for him before eating.

She cautiously took her chopsticks, feeling unnaturally nervous as twelve swirls of youki seemed to focus entirely upon her, before she hesitantly took a careful first bite of her meal. She caught the dark grey gaze of a silver haired ayakashi that made her think of a large wildcat, who nodded with a pleased swell of his youki that seemed to say, 'That was the correct choice,' before beginning to eat his meal.

The other males joined in, along with the few females that had chosen to wait for her as well, and Iruma decided that he should just concentrate on eating everything on his plate, so that the time and effort gone into making it wouldn't go to waste.

…Which was unfortunately difficult, as a very specific swirl of youki kept shifting in a way that came off as aggressive… or did they mean to be a threat to her?

Iruma swallowed thickly with a grimace, before shakily pressing her chopsticks into the tender flesh of the fish that had been placed before her.

She had smelled cooked fish before, and had even desperately wanted to taste it, back in the Human Realm. Yet, for some reason, the fact that she would actually be allowed to eat it caused something of an internal battle within her.

Was this really okay? Will eating this taint my soul and weaken my reiki?

She felt her eyes warm in frustration.

Her years of doing just as she had been instructed were now being contradicted. What was actually right, and what was truly wrong?

However, there was another part of her that felt intense guilt at the thought of not eating the fish, as it had already been butchered and cooked solely for her benefit.

Iruma took in a deep breath before placing the piece of fish into her mouth.

It practically melted on her tongue, as citrus and mild seasonings mixed in with a little bit of salt and charcoal overwhelmed her taste buds.

It was impossible now, to fight the tears that had warmed her eyes as they made trails down her cheeks while she carefully ate each piece, thanking everyone from the fish, the hunters, the cooks, to the servants who had brought the food for her to taste and enjoy.

"Tch, seeing a man cry over food is just unsightly."

Iruma froze, and whatever warm ambiance had been present died an instant cold death as the youki around and inside of her swirled in a nauseating pool that settled heavily upon her very soul, as if to test a crushing weight upon it.

All eyes were pinned upon the speaker, a yellow blonde female that wore her hair in two large pigtails. Her golden eyes were sharp, proud, and full of judgement. Her youki was feline in nature, wild, and electric. Her cropped black kimono top was daring in a way he had never witnessed before as it showed off her stomach, while she wore hakama without anything else under it despite the sharp long slits along the sides. She bared her fangs at him, "To think the Bride I've been waiting for would be so ugly."

Iruma nearly dropped her chopsticks, as the feeling of ice cold fox-wolf-like youki swirled and snapped around the electric feline's. "Gyari."

The light blue haired girl with similar colored eyes sitting next to Gyari glared sharply under a fringe of bangs, dressed in a dark fuchsia kimono with swirls of wind and snowflakes throughout and black obi. The literal temperature of the room dropped, frost covering walls, and Azz, who had begun to stand in anger along with some others, slowly backed down back into sitting as ice continued to develop everywhere except where Iruma sat.

Gyari turned to the ice ayakashi, "But Kuromu! I was prepared for our Bride to not be as beautiful as you because no one can even compare, but look at him!" She snapped an accusatory arm in Iruma's direction, "He's just so plain and ugly!"

Iruma's hand shook as he lowered his head while nearly biting clear through his lip, and decided he needed to put his chopsticks down now before he dropped them. He felt nauseous, everyone's youki was swirling with such severe discomfort and anger that it made him want to heave from the foreign weight of it. What even was this??? This strange feeling swirling and swelling within him!?

He hated it. Just as much as he hated himself.

Iruma stood sharply, causing eyes to shift to him as he felt his blood rush and nearly caused himself to white out from the abruptness of the action, but he refused to allow himself any weakness in front of so many strangers.

Iruma doesn't know what possessed him in that moment, as every ugly and unsightly feeling he'd bottled up over his lifetime seemed to boil over into his reiki as it reacted to his emotions and gathered into his palm as he stumbled his way into her space.

He met Grayi's embittered spiteful eyes, lifted his hand, and struck her across her cheek as she gasped and faltered at the burn of his reiki upon her face as it purified some of her oozing youki.

Iruma panted, unable to take in the expressions of those around him- whose names he didn't even fucking remember, who he, in that moment, didn't give a single damn to begin to recall, because he was truly in his own personal hell.

His voice is low and full of agony as he yelled, "I know that!" He gasps, breathing harshly as he feels lightheaded from sensory overload and his own body's weakness, "I know I'm ugly and undesirable!" He lifted his head as a manic self hatred takes over while fighting of laughter, bringing his hands to his face as his fingers dig into his skin. "I have never been the person anyone has ever wanted. I will never be good enough for anyone because I wasn't born as the girl everyone expected me to be! I'm weak, I'm only good for what I can give up for the sake of everyone else, and I can't even be good enough as a boy either!"

Iruma takes a few unsteady steps back as he drags his fingers off of his face and feels nothing but sicksicksick of everything.

He smiled bitterly as years of resentment slipped down as tears on his cheeks, "If only I had been married to the gods like those old women liked to whisper just loud enough for me to hear. Being lain upon a stone slate and bled as a sacrifice, or thrown of a cliff for the continued prosperity of my village would have been so much easier than whatever this shit is."

Iruma turned towards the shoji that would lead out to the outside, where there would be air, and space, and a way for him to run away from these godforsaken ugly miserable feelings.

He half stumbled as he made his way over, and couldn't help but snap the shoji open with an unnecessary amount of force before stepping out and half-heartedly snapping it closed behind him.

He didn't know where his steps would take him, but anywhere that wasn't drowning in his ugly emotions, and the oppressive weight of twelve(-thirteen?) swirls of youki would be better than this.

He apologized to everyone who'd prepared his breakfast and had shown him any affection whatsoever, as he threw up his small breakfast and ran.

Henri was prepared for a lot of things.

Henri was not prepared to be struck into stunned silence at the sight of his daughter's Bride.

His youki swirled in agonized recollection and tried to reach out as the new Bride looked sososo much like his Merize and wore her clothing, while he momentarily forgot about the forty some years since her passing and their grown fledgling daughter beside him.

Of course he was swiftly brought back to his senses as the young boy slapped Gyari, and poured his agonized little heart out at his most spiteful Groom before stumbling out and leaving a murky miasmic clash of feelings behind.

Henri took in a deep breath as he recollected himself from his momentary stumble through memory lane, before one of the Grooms, Purson Soi, stood. Soi silently began walking to the still slightly open shoji Iruma had left behind before stating, "I'll follow him."

His soft tone snaps some of the fledglings out of their stupors as Shax Lied scrambles to his feet, "Should I come, too?"

Soi glanced back at his friend with a tiny smile and shake of his head, "No, I think he's overwhelmed enough. Let me ease him into my youki, and explain some things, since I don't think he understands even half of what happened during our wedding ceremony, yesterday."

Lied grimaced before nodding, "Gotcha."

Soi nodded, sharing a quick glance between Asmodeus and Ameri, before his eyes met Henri's in startled acknowledgement. Soi bowed his head slightly, before disappearing and closing the door softly in his wake.

Uninvited hands appeared under his suit jacket and crawled up his waist as a long familiar warm body cuddled up behind him, "Well if it isn't a sight for sore eyes, long time no see Henri-kun~"

Henri took in a deep patient breath as old familiar habits kicked in while gently pulling over-familiar hands out of his clothes, "Yes it has, Raim, and I wish it were under far better circumstances."

He and Raim were part of the same group of Grooms, and despite all that had happened, Raim and Sabzan were the only ones of his generation that he still had any sort of regular contact with.

Raim hummed at his words before shifting from behind him to observe the fallout between Bride and Grooms. She crossed her arms over her chest, shifted her hip just so, and hummed dramatically with a slightly annoyed pout, "You kids couldn't avoid upsetting your Bride for even just the first twenty six hours?" She threw up her arms up in agitation as she stepped angrily into the room, "Your marriage bond hasn't even settled yet! What are you kids even doing, after all of our lessons about cherishing your Bride!?"

Gyari was hunched into herself, an agitated and embarrassed flush to her cheeks as she held back tears from the continued burn of Iruma's reiki. "Well, you all always said we'd find our Bride beautiful beyond compare, and he just isn't."

Raim froze, before she slowly turned and looked down at her most difficult student with a most terrifying look in her eyes. She had gone cold, as a glimmer of coming retribution shone in her eyes as she bent down seductively in anger and motioned with a hook of her finger, "You will be coming with me, and once Balam-kun fixes that cheek of yours, you'll be going through a thorough reeducation, understood?"

Gyari's ears managed to sink as the flush across her cheeks deepened, chastised, and responded with an obedient nod.

Raim stood back up and made her exit out of the room, fully expecting Gyari to follow, as the prideful diva lifted herself to her feet and followed after.

There was a still silence for a drawn out moment before Henri took in a deep breath, gently guided Ameri into the room, and closed the shoji behind him.

He had much to investigate, and great deal to teach these young fledglings. Yet, despite all of that, Iruma's own education was placed as an absolute priority above all else.

Everything else would follow after.

Chapter Text

Iruma opened his eyes to a wooden ceiling, the feeling of open air, and a pleasant mat beneath him. There was a recently refreshed wet cloth on his forehead, and he glanced to the left towards the calm youki beside him.

His hands are cupped over one another on top of his obi, and his fingers twitch as his senses try and reach out further-

The deep voice is like a whisper, "Shh, don't stretch out just yet."

Iruma blinked sluggishly at that, before pursing his over dry mouth and staring at the nothing by his side.

There is a soft sigh, and then he hears another sound-

Thunk

A familiar string reverberation. Iruma shifts his gaze away from the nothing towards the other presence. He doesn't know this Ayakashi, but they are dressed in dark green hakama, and a light green kimono. Their lime green hair somehow reminds him of cabbage, but it is the glowing green youki-infused bow that peaks his interest.

The short Ayakashi shifts his stance, takes out another arrow, and gets into position to aim in a form that is so beautiful, it makes Iruma take in a deep breath of awe at the art of it.

A gentle hand rests against his cheek, and Iruma shifts his focus back to the now-someone, as he meets the gray-blue eyes of the quiet Ayakashi tending to him.

The other's hair is bobbed and a light lavender. The Ayakashi gives him a very tiny smile before pulling his hand back and filling an unnoticed cup with tea. There is no steam, so it isn't hot, and Iruma wonders about what he's up to.

The Ayakashi feels like a bat covered in mist. It is strange, and he wonders at the calmness of it. It doesn't swirl, but merely rests near his own.

"My name is Purson Soi." Soi shifts, moves the cloth from his forehead, and pulls Iruma to rest sitting up against him. Iruma can't help but flush at how easily the other can move him, but now he can watch the other Ayakashi more easily.

Purson, in a move that almost makes Iruma squeak, gently nuzzles into his neck while squeezing him around the waist, before simply resting the side of his head against Iruma's while offering him the tea. "It isn't hot, since we weren't sure if that'd make you sick again. It has ginger and honey in it."

Iruma flushed, nodding slightly as Soi's youki continued to simply act as a nearby calm anchor. Iruma carefully shifted to take the cup with both hands, afraid he might spill the contents with how weak he felt. Soi kindly kept his hand nearby, until he was sure Iruma had managed a few careful sips that soothed his throat and stomach, before gently taking the cup away.

Iruma finally looked back up and flinched, realizing the other Ayakashi had turned to watch them.

The older Ayakashi brightened, "You're awake!" He grinned, "I think you gave poor Purson-kun a scare since you passed out near the barrier!"

Soi's body grew warm behind him as his own face flushed from embarrassment. "O-oh?" Iruma glanced back towards his Groom, who kept his face slightly turned away and just out of his peripheral.

Soi squeezed him around the waist again, shifting the two of them until they were both comfortable, with Iruma tucked in his lap, while Soi sat in a loose pretzel style around him.

"I got pretty scared with how close you got to the barrier."

Iruma frowned before a pang of bitterness shot through him, "So, just like in my village, I'm not allowed to leave here, either?"

Soi stiffened as he looked at him in surprised shock, while the other Ayakashi frowned deeply in concern.

The older Ayakashi set his bow on his back, his green youki receding back into his body, before cautiously moving closer to settle himself on his legs a few feet away from him. The older Ayakashi studied him silently, and Iruma grimaced, wondering once again why he was acting so strangely-

A brush

He feels the subtle misstep of the older, who quickly attempts to recover and hide what just happened.

Iruma can't help but wonder, "Like Balam-sensei, are you also a previous Groom?'

The other flushes, shrinking slightly into his shoulders with an awkward look on his face before rubbing the back of his head in defeat. The older Ayakashi sighs softly, before placing his hands on his thighs and bowing slightly, "I am Bars Robin." He straightens with an awkward smile in his face, "While I technically… was a Groom from that generation, I was also considered too young and on reserve."

Iruma blinked at the phrasing before huffing with a flat tone to his voice, "So you would've had to wait a few years before having a kid."

Robin stared at him agape for a second before slapping a hand to his face with a weird frustration to it, "I mean, technically yes, but that's not all of what a Bride or Groom is good for."

Iruma couldn't hide his surprise, "It's not just about s-"

Soi slapped a hand against his mouth, and there was a look between the two, before Robin pulled at his collar to loosen it and growl out a sigh.

Soi took in a deep breath, and Iruma felt himself breathe in with him as the other's calm seemed to cautiously try and steep into him.

Iruma decided to let him.

Soi spoke gently, "While the elders are focusing on our dwindling number of births, Robin-sensei and the others have been moreso focused on our education and cultivating our innate abilities. However, in your case, from what I can tell… I think, once you get better, it would be best to focus on the root of the problem."

Iruma frowned, placing his hands over Soi's in silent question.

"Once you feel it, you'll understand why it isn't good for any of us to leave the barrier set around Babyls' grounds."

Iruma pursed his lips before resting fully against Soi, closing his eyes, and finally allowing his senses to stretch out and feel.

He immediately felt Soi and Robin's youki, yet, he allowed himself a moment to understand the feel of them and their differences.

Soi seemed to nudge him lightly, so Iruma then spread his senses further out. There was a lot of nature, and unknown living creatures, until-

His senses touched the barrier, and when he did it seemed to acknowledge him, before it indulged his curiosity by allowing his senses just outside-

Iruma gagged, ricocheting his senses back into himself as Soi assisted in bracing him as he heaved.

The horrible miasma the barrier was keeping out was nauseatingly oppressive, and it was then that Iruma understood as he panted and tried to recollect himself from throwing up what little tea he'd drank.

His voice was weak and shaky, "The miasma…."

Soi nodded while rubbing his back, "Yeah. That's kind of a bigger problem then popping out babies."

Iruma snorted, before slowly pulling himself back up to slightly face his Groom. Soi was watching him, curious and careful, and Iruma felt like he could allow himself to trust this Ayakashi. He swallowed dryly, before wrapping his arms around him and resting fully into Soi's stronger build with an exhausted slump.

Soi waited a moment before holding him back, similarly leaning into him as their heads came to rest against one another.

It was silent for a long time between the three of them, as Iruma thought over the simple truth that he'd learned.

Well, that was until his stomach growled and made him flush.

Soi snorted and huffed as he hugged him with a hidden grin, "Hungry?"

Iruma pouted, "…I did throw up my breakfast..." He felt super bad and embarrassed about it.

Soi nuzzled against the side of his head, "Robin-sensei has some rice balls, if that's okay?"

Iruma nodded, "Mmm."

Iruma pulled back, and after making sure he wouldn't tip over, Soi nodded and got up to get the mentioned food.

Iruma shifted onto his legs and picked up his cup to take a few more sips to calm down his stomach again.

Robin observed him with the same sort of strange melancholy as the others of his generation. Iruma sighed silently before setting down the cup and turning his attention back to the green Ayakashi. "You're an archer?"

Robin blinked before his eyes widened with excitement, "Yup! It's my family's specialty, though big sis is way better then me!"

Iruma's eyes widened, "Specialty? Like being able to wrap your youki along the bow and arrow?"

Robin nodded enthusiastically as Soi returned and settled next to him, placing a rice ball into his hand. Iruma unconsciously began to eat it, not even looking as he hummed in thought. He swallowed, "I used a bow and arrow myself when hunting demons."

Soi raised a brow, "Really?"

Iruma glanced at him with a smile and another bite before looking over Robin's shoulder to the targets out in the distance behind him. "I was never formerly trained, but since I can infuse my arrows with reiki, so long as I believed it'd hit, I had a decent mark."

Robin's excitement dimmed into a concerned frown, "So you still missed a lot?"

His tone was genuine, so Iruma didn't feel particularly bad about it and shrugged. "Everyone misses sometimes."

Iruma felt himself be pulled into Soi's side as the other frowned deeply. Iruma tilted his head at his partner as he finished off the given rice ball.

Soi took in a deep breath before huffing, "Can I be honest?" Iruma blinked and nodded as Soi continued, "Your village was shit."

Iruma froze before snorting into a hand, and suddenly found himself giggling while leaning into the other. "Soi, that's not nice."

Soi pouted, "Every tiny thing I hear about them makes them sound completely incompetent at raising our beloved Bride." He took in a deep breath before exhaling, "I hope, that when the investigation is over, that we end ties with them."

Iruma froze, his tiny amount of amusement sinking into his stomach as he turned to look at his partner in horror, "Huh?"

Robin suddenly placed a gentle hand on his cheek and brought Iruma's focus to him. "Iruma-kun, something's been going… I don't know, backwards in your village over the last century. I don't know what it is, but humans have been advancing in technology, yet your village has been stagnant."

Soi nodded as he continued, "The adults think it might be best to release them from our promise, and let the outside world acclimate them to the present."

Iruma slumped slightly into Robin's hand, "But… what about the demons?"

Robin hummed in thought, "I think Border Patrol has a plan, but honestly, that village is no longer your concern, so don't worry about it."

Iruma felt a sharp pang of indignation at that, his reiki sparking, before Soi's more passive youki pulled it into himself and soothed it.

Iruma stiffened at the feeling, gasping softly as he turned to his Groom, "What-"

Soi nuzzled into Iruma's face, and he couldn't help but respond to Soi's gentle pulling, before he explained, "That village let you go without a single cry to beg for your life. Your time protecting them is over, and you no longer have to give yourself up for them."

Iruma stilled and tried to understand and examine that.

It was a strange thing, but there was no relief from it. "Yet I'm still responsible for the lives of others."

Soi sighed softly, "But you're no longer alone." He pulled back and met his eyes, "We, your Groomsmen, are here to protect and strengthen you."

"We are with you, so let us in, okay?"

Iruma took in a sharp breath as tears gathered. He'd been alone, and lonely for so long, that the thought of letting another in felt almost impossible.

The Miko swallowed harshly, before wrapping her arms around him and pressing in.

It was just past noon when Lied and Elizabetta wandered over to the Archer's practice area and came upon a fascinating scene.

Their Bride was dressed in practice clothes similar to Robin's, except in the traditional white kimono and black hakama. Iruma was wearing gloves appropriate for the sport, and was being observed and shifted by Robin on fixing long standing bad habits.

Iruma's hair was tied back simply, sweat rolling down his temple in concentration, before loosing another arrow that fell only three feet short of the target instead of the number of scattered arrows before him.

Elizabetta was impressed, because clearly he'd been trying to simply hit the target for some time.

On the other hand, Lied wandered over to Soi, who was sitting on the short steps up to the platform the Archer's were shooting from. He was slumped against the building, his face flushed as he stared at the ground with his hand covering part of his mouth.

Lied slowly raised an eyebrow at the state of him, "You okay, man?"

Soi was still zoned out for a moment before blinking and meeting his eyes, "Y'know, for someone who clearly has no experience in kissing, he's strangely really good at it. And like, sure, I really would've preferred for my first kiss to be with a girl, but he was dressed like one so it didn't feel so weird? But also, why did he decide to kiss me? I didn't even think about biting, or tongue, but somehow it got really hot? And deep? Before he abruptly broke off and asked if he could get lessons on shooting his bow? So then I felt kinda dumped after carrying him over when he'd fainted, and maybe I should've just brought him back to Balam-sensei instead-"

Lied slapped a hand onto Soi's shoulder and gripped to make him shut up, "First off, T.M.I."

Soi gave him a dull look.

The two communicated silently before continuing, "So he's at least a good kisser?"

Soi sighed with a gutteral growl to it before slapping Lied's hand off his shoulder, "I don't wanna talk about it."

Lied raised a brow, "But you totally just did?"

Soi whined and buried his face into his hands, "I still wanna make out with a pretty girl…"

Elizabetta looked back and forth between the two Grooms and their Bride before smiling with a hand on her cheek. "I hope I get the chance to kiss him soon, myself."

Lied stiffened as he kept his head hidden while biting his lip to keep from crying.

Soi looked at her in his own sort of envy, "Getting him to trust you and rest into your youki seems to be the way to do it."

Elizabeth tilted her head before her eyes widened in understanding, "Ah, so the sort of thing Clara-chan does with Asmodeus and us girls all the time."

Lied and Soi tilted their heads at her, and she just smiled at them mysteriously.

Robin's voice brought them out of their conversation with a short yell, as a pink glow covered arrow hit the bullseye on the center target, before bursting into pink flames in the distance.

The four Ayakashi stared impressed, before Iruma huffed shortly in tested patience and turned to find a towel. He then froze at the sight of Lied and Elizabetta and flushed, "Uhm!?"

Elizabetta smiled just so and hopped onto the platform while grabbing a nearby towel and passing it over to her much shorter Bride, "Are you feeling better, Iruma-kun?"

Iruma couldn't help the blush on his face from such a beautiful girl seeing his slight emotional outburst of frustration, before he abruptly recognized her voice. "Oh!" He brightened with a smile that unknowingly dazzled her, "You're the Groom from yesterday!"

It was silent for a second, before Iruma bowed slightly in a panic, "Uhm! I mean! You're the nice onee-san who noticed I couldn't eat, and-!"

Elizabetta placed a calm hand against his face as her youki swirled in a happy calm that soothed his racing heart, "Yes. My name is Ix Elizabetta, though you can call me as you wish."

Iruma felt his face flush completely as he looked up towards the taller Groom, "A-ah, uhn." He nodded, "Thank you, onee-san."

Elizabetta smiled, and gave him a short kiss on the temple before squeezing his hand and stepping back. She looked out toward the arrow littered field, "So what happened here?"

Iruma glanced over as a flustered put out look took over his features, "Robin-sensei wouldn't let me use my Miko Powers to aim, and said I had to get better accuracy naturally first."

Lied stepped up beside them with a whistle, "You really know how to zone in and concentrate once you have a goal, huh?"

Iruma shrugged as he looked the shorter blond over, "I think this much focus is normal?"

Lied shook his head to himself in disbelief before meeting the Miko's questioning eyes with a grin, "I'm Shax Lied! Robin-sensei is my Master, who helps me focus my abilities!" He gave him his hand, and Iruma awkwardly shook it in greeting, baffled by the unfamiliar action.

It then struck Iruma that he could actually ask personal questions. "So what is it that you guys can do?"

Lied and Elizabetta glanced at one another before she responded first, "I can diffuse my scent into the air to calm or attract others based on my level of affection for them."

Lied nodded with crossed arms, "And I can steal people's senses!"

Iruma was surprised by that before Soi appeared beside him, which made him jump in surprise, "I can disappear, though it'd be better to say that I can make myself undetectable to others."

Iruma blinked, "O-oh…" He took in a deep breath and brightened, "That all sounds so cool!" He grinned, and all three of his Grooms were instantly charmed.

Lied hooked an arm into Iruma's, "So, d'ya want a tour, or do somethin' else?"

Iruma hummed, glancing down at the bow still in his hand, before glancing out across the field. He took in a deep breath, "…I think… I'd like a bath."

Soi snorted while Elizabetta smiled, "Well, let's not keep our Bride waiting then. I can certainly get behind a boy wanting to keep himself clean."

Iruma sensed a mischievous undertone and glanced at the taller girl, before a deep flush took over his body.

Robin-sensei snorted and pushed him off, "You kids take care of your Bride," He pointed to the arrows behind him, "I'll take care of this mess and have Iruma-kun's kimono cleaned and returned by tonight."

The teens nodded as they dragged their baffled Bride along, chattering about anything and nothing, and somehow…

…Somehow Iruma found himself easing into and enjoying the conversation, too.

Chapter Text

After spending the afternoon with Elizabetta, Lied, and Soi, Iruma was finally left to himself in his room for a few hours to recharge and refresh himself before dinner. He was happy to see the kimono he'd worn earlier that day ready and waiting for him upon his return. He was quick to redress himself in the blue to violet ombre kimono with wind swirls and black feathers once more, before putting the dark grey obi on and settling the fabric over himself.

He was… comfortable, despite the ache in his muscles from his archery practice.

Iruma glanced at the nearby floor length mirror, partially hidden by a dressing partition, and moved to stand in front of it. His hair was loose, and he had removed the makeup from that morning.

He stood still for a long moment, observing himself. He took in a deep breath before carefully running a hand over one sleeve to smooth it out, before doing the same to the other.

He frowned, tracing his a hand over his obi before pausing. "…I'm not hungry."

It was a strange realization, as he recalled the random foods the others would suddenly turn to him with and simply start feeding him while still talking. Had he… just snacked all day without realizing? Why was it that he could so easily trust his Grooms with feeding him strange foods with smiles on their faces?

Maybe that was why? Because one of them would turn to him without a word and a big smile, and simply start hand feeding him? The feel of their youki seemed to seep into him at those times, as they ate the same foods with him, and it almost felt as if their souls were intertwining and meshing into each other?

Iruma flushed. What in the world had gotten into him? He shook his head harshly before leaving the mirror behind to look into his closet once more.

He opened it, and pulled out the same storage box that had held the kimono he currently wore. There was a shift inside, and he opened it to reveal the small box hidden within. He pulled it out, closed the bin and closet, and settled himself at a small low desk with a freshly lit lamp.

He gently set down the box before carefully opening the lid, rereading the name from this morning. Merize. Iruma's heart began to race, from what, he wasn't exactly sure, before cautiously lifting the journal out of its container.

He moved the box that had held it aside, and gently placed the old journal on the desk. It was in wonderful condition, considering its possible age. He traced a gentle hand over the cover, before finally opening it to its first entry.

It was a strange comfort, to see familiar letters despite the slightly aged way of speaking. At times some words were less known to him, so he struggled, but it was simply a day in the life of the girl who had once lived in the same position as himself.

A previous Bride. Loved, adored, and cherished by the village she was raised in.

It left a strange empty feeling in his chest, to know that his position wasn't meant to be so full of solitude and distance. To be forced to survive on his own at a young age, scraping pieces of the tiniest comforts for himself. The village had once loved their Bride to be and cared for her properly.

One, two, three entries in and it still feels like another colorful and vivid world compared to the frigid grey he experienced, before the passage ended on a strange note.

Outsiders have arrived, but their intentions seem suspicious to me. Still, we shall lodge them until the present uptick in demon attacks subsides.

My wedding is fast approaching, yet, I fear it not.

Perhaps I shall finally experience my first love, and that is why my heart races so?

Iruma frowned at that, gently tracing and mouthing the words.

An inkling of memory from his lessons, speaking of the arrival of outside missionaries to their village a few weeks before a previous Bride had been taken.

Iruma lifted his head to stare blankly ahead of him. Maybe that was why things had changed? Their village was incredibly insular, but occasionally the barrier wavered to allow "fresh blood" in, or else they would've been marrying cousins and siblings centuries ago.

Iruma brought a knuckle to his lips in thought.

That had to have been what had caused such a drastic shift in the village's approach to the Bride and its tradition.

Iruma took in a deep breath before shaking his head and closing the journal for now. He settled it back within its box and placed it within one of the desk drawers before a cautious caress of youki brushed his shoulder.

Iruma startled with a yelp, before turning sharply to look at the other that had entered his room unnoticed.

Iruma gaped at the tall Ayakashi that sat patiently on his legs in the center of his room observing him. "Wha-who are you?!?"

Iruma flushed at his rudeness, but he hadn't thought himself so absorbed in his reading and thoughts to have missed such a strong presence of youki- especially that of a previous Groom.

Because he was quickly noticing a familiarity with those that were not his.

Iruma was unfamiliar with the sort of clothing this tall, rust colored hair Ayakashi was wearing. However, it must have been an up and coming modern human style that his village simply hadn't come into contact with, as well as his unusual eyewear.

The other had also been flustered at his reaction, though in what way, Iruma wasn't sure of as the older cleared his throat and spoke. "My apologies for frightening you, Iruma-kun. My name is Azazel Henri, and I am a former Groom from two generations ago."

Iruma blinked, swiftly realizing why he wasn't put off by the familiarity of the other's youki. "Oh! So your Ameri-san's father?"

Henri nodded, "Yes." His eyes shifted to the place Iruma had stored the journal he'd hidden, "I see you found Merize's memoir?"

Iruma paused before clasping his hands, "A-ah, uhn. I… did. Is it alright… for me to read it?"

Henri simply observed him for a moment before nodding in affirmation, "Yes. I hid it there in hopes that the present Bride might find some comfort from it." His eyes shifted into compassion, "How are you feeling?"

Iruma tilted his head at the question as he resettled himself on his legs closer to the other in the center of his room. "I…" He trailed off, unsure of what sort of answer the older Ayakashi was looking for.

Henri gave him a slightly stiff smile before huffing to himself softly. "I am here to give you some level of explanation as to what happened during your wedding ceremony, since it seems that your village didn't give you any of the traditional training that was due to your station outside of barely teaching you to read and harness your reiki."

Iruma wasn't able to stop himself before blurting, "Oh no, I kind of figured harnessing reiki out on my own, too."

Henri's eyes widened in alarm, "…You were not apprenticed to an elder Miko?"

Iruma shook his head, "There were religious practitioners and those that came through the village on a seldom occasion, I guess, but no one had any reiki within the village to speak of, so I was simply taught prayers, mantra, and rotes."

Henri's face turned pale before he harshly rubbed at the bridge of his nose between the eyes, "I… see." He sighed audibly, a low growl reverberating under his breath, before meeting Iruma's eyes, "Then I will teach you what I can, as well as what I'd already planned on."

Iruma's eyes widened, "But!" He took in a sharp breath to try and space his words carefully, "Aren't Reiki and Youki opposed to one another?"

Henri smirked slightly to himself, "Yes, yet it is in their opposition harmony and similarities can be found. Also, Ameri inherited a small amount of her mother's blessing as a Miko. Not to the same degree as a full blooded human or yourself of course, but she is capable of sensing things I cannot, and even purifying small levels of malice through touch."

Iruma's eyes widened in surprise, before understanding just how dedicated this Groom must have been to his Bride, and how much he more than likely sacrificed and allowed harm to come to himself for the sake of their daughter's growth.

Iruma flushed lightly, a strange warmth bubbling that gathered from within as his eyes warmed with a strange onset of tears.

Henri flinched, "Hm!? What- are you alright, Iruma-kun?!"

Iruma sniffed, a mixture of foreign feelings overcoming him, as if he were possessed by a whisper of memory as he smiled at Henri with the love and warmth of someone else, "For some reason it just made me so happy to hear that..!"

Henri stared at him with wide eyes, before Iruma felt more like himself again and wiped away the trace of tears, "I'm glad to know that a child born between a human and an Ayakashi can be loved and raised so well, I guess?" He blinked the strange rush of feelings away before smiling hesitantly at Henri. "Is that weird?"

Henri resettled himself by swiftly straightening out his suit jacket and rubbing his hands down his sleeves as if he, too, were quietly disturbed at what had just come over Iruma.

Or perhaps, it was to settle a memory long gone?

Henri coughed into his hand to reset the mood, "I suppose not." He shifted the topic to his original purpose, "I wanted to know how much of yesterday's ceremony you were lucid for?"

Iruma went blank as his brain tried to recall anything other than the tones of the words spoken, "Uhm… the… names of my Grooms…kinda?"

Henri stared at him.

Iruma felt his face flush before he shrunk into himself as he squeaked, "I… kinda felt like I mostly had a handle on myself again by dinner?!"

Henri took off his glasses, set them beside himself, and sighed deeply into his hands with a few muttered curses under his breath.

Iruma shifted his gaze to the floor, feeling as if he were about to be scolded for being reckless for some reason.

Henri recollected himself and placed his glasses back on, "I see, so that's why you were so unbalanced this morning."

Iruma blinked up at him, "Unbalanced?"

Henri nodded solemnly, "The wedding ceremony is an initiation of blending the soul and power of the Bride with their Grooms. Thus, there is an intense desire to settle such a deep connection through some form of completion. While the most obvious method would be through consummation, it is also possible to settle the blending of spirit by exchanging mating marks."

Iruma, despite his midwifing and general counseling of women through their struggles of gaining children of their own, still found the thought of being part of the process himself more than he could mentally handle and desperately, desperately wanted to be uninvolved with this conversation.

Henri allowed him a moment to breathe before continuing, "I will explain mating marks to you, because it is a regular process Ayakashi participate in while taking their life-mate, however, the method might be distressing to you as a human."

Iruma took in a deep calming breath before exhaling shortly with an uncomfortable nod. He might as well prepare himself for the inevitable, now, than be surprised by the process, right?

Henri waited a moment once more, allowing Iruma space to calm down or speak up before explaining. "When taking a mate, Ayakashi bite their partners. Where is dependant on the couple, or their overall intimacy, as some Ayakashi are married for power over emotional compatability." Iruma's eyes widened in slight realization to that before nodding so that Henri could continue. "The most common and expected placement of the mark is here-" He tapped two fingers at the curve between his shoulder and neck, "However, a mating bite can technically be anywhere from the tip of one's finger to… well." He cleared his throat, "Anywhere one can bite."

Iruma's mind went blank for a moment before spiraling, causing his cheeks to flush deeply. "And I have to do this, and have it done to me, thirteen times..?! With- with all of my Grooms?!"

Henri gave him a sympathetic look and nodded, as Iruma slapped his hands to his face and went into a full body flush. That- that was a lot!

But… that also meant that depending on a bite's placement and what was going on at the time, he could panic.

Iruma brought his hands down to his chest, clasping them before closing his eyes and taking several slow and deep calming breaths to bring his emotions back under control.

After a handful of breaths he calmed down and met Henri's gaze once more. "…Alright. So… exchanging a mating… bite… can help calm down whatever this weird… magic thing that's going on?"

Henri snorted softly to himself at Iruma's wording with a small smirk, "Well, it's a little more than just a bite. You also will need to coat your teeth in reiki and seep it directly into the wound at the same time your partner seeps their youki into their mark. In that way, once a direct exchange of energies is made, the symbol of the proof of your bond will appear in a unique shape that represents your soul on the other's body."

Iruma lowered his hands to his lap and clasped them in wonder at that. Slowly, it started to make sense why an outsider wouldn't question too deeply about such a thing. If there's a mark, there must have been a deep emotional or physical exchange involved, right..?

Iruma took one last deep breath and sighed with a small smile. "Thank you, Henri-san, for taking the time to teach me about this."

Henri nodded before clarifying, "There is still much to speak of in regards to your role that I hope to clarify in the coming days."

Iruma's eyes widened, "Isn't that- but-?!"

Henri shook his head, causing Iruma to go silent, before speaking. "While there are others who are meant to be educators here, as the last to have experience with a Bride and having a child with her, I have taken it as my personal duty to ensure your understanding and education." A wistful expression crossed his face, "Merize would have loved to have pampered you and helped you through such things herself, I'm sure, if she were still here."

Iruma's chest ached at the clear emotion of love still deep and living within Henri for his deceased Bride.

It made a small, more macabre part of himself warm at the thought that if he, too, were to die, that he'd be remembered and loved so fondly long after he was gone.

A knock came to the door before being slid open by Opera, announcing that it was time for dinner, thus ending their conversation.