My Silver Protector

Chapter 6

Ginji cradles my head in his hands with a gentleness that seems foreign in the world I've been thrown in. My lips are still parted as I stare up at him. The heat in the kitsune's is almost too much, but I can't look away.

He leans so close that his lips brush mine in a tease.

A shiver of delight runs through me at the anticipation of another sweet kiss. Unfortunately, the opportunity is gone in an instant as a familiar thunder rumbles through the halls.

I gasp in shock. Ginji spins me around behind his back and I mourn the loss of him.

Another roll of thunder rumbles as Ruiju gives a growl of anger. "Little pet, where have you gone?" The endearment is lost in the ayakashi's malice-laced voice. I shiver at the underlying threat of what he'll do when he finds me. My fingers find themselves tangled up in Ginji's sleeve and I squeeze the fabric to keep my trembling in check. The warmth I felt minutes before evaporated in the wind. A horrible cold seeped into its place.

Ginji reaches for my hand behind his back, loosening the death grip on his sleeve to thread his fingers through mine. "I won't let him take you away, Aoi-san."

I don't ask how he plans to overrule Ruiju and Ranmaru. I trust Ginji with my life, but I'm afraid he will get himself hurt protecting this pathetic human in the den of ayakashi. I feel so useless having to be protected time and again.

I squeeze his hand in response.

"Well, well, what's this? Little pet has found another master?" Raiju-sama appears in front of us.

"You touched her. Taking advantage of her low status," Ginji's voice is lethal.

"I don't see it as your business what I do with my servant. She's nothing more than a human slave. She's lucky I haven't eaten her yet." It seems Raiju loves ruffling Ginji's 'fur'. Literally.

I can't help the tremor that travels down my arm to the hand that holds Ginji's like a life preserver.

The kitsune in front of me bristles; his hair standing out in a fluff. "If you've come for her, she's not going back with you."

Ruiji holds back his head and laughs as if Ginji just told him the funniest joke. "You would defy Ranmaru-sama's orders? The human was given to me to do with as I please. What right do you have?" Raiju's words made sense, but it didn't make the circumstances right.

"I'll give you anything you wish, just let Aoi-san go."

"No!" I protest against Ginji's foolish words. He's selling his soul to the devil!

"It's okay, Aoi-san." But even as he spoke the words, the unsettling grin on Raiju-sama's face is getting bigger.

The Thunder God asked for my biggest fear. "Give me your position in the Inn. Everyone knows that your loyalties lie with Odanna-sama. I'd be doing you a favor. You can have your precious human and do what you will with her." his tone suggested something inappropriate and I can't help my cheeks flushing pink. I'm glad Ginji can't see my reaction.

"If that is what you wish then so be it." Ginji seals the deal.

"I'll be in your rooms to sign a contract later today." Raiju sends a small smirk my way before walking off.

Is it possible to feel dirty by someone staring at you? I hide my face into Ginji's kimono, fighting off a shiver. "How could you do such a thing, Ginji?"

The kitsune turns around to face me, his kimono slips from my grasp. His light blue eyes bore into mine. "How could I not do such a thing for your sake?"

"What will become of you now?" I'm so afraid that Ginji will find himself locked away without a status to protect himself with. What will happen to him now? Will Ranmaru-sama send him back to Tenjin-ya?

Ginji doesn't reply and leads me away on the opposite hall of Raiju's rooms. I look behind us, almost expecting us being chased but not a soul stands in the hallways.

I feel like a little child being held by the hand like this, but perhaps that's to be expected with so many decades perhaps centuries between us. I'm not offended by this feeling. Ginji has this way about him that makes me feel so safe. Safer than even Odanna-sama. Thinking of the ogre makes me feel cold at my thought of betrayal. The whole of Tenjin-ya thinks of me as his bride. Odanna expects me to marry him if I don't pay back my grandfather's debt. What would he think of such a confession between Ginji and I? Our kiss... My lips tingle at just the thought of the sweet moment shared between us before Raiju found us. I think I've longed for the moment to happen for so long. I don't even remember when it began. I'm a traitor but I can't seem to force myself to care. I care for Odanna but not in this way.

We stop in front of a doorway and I'm led inside. A spacious living quarters the size of Raiju-sama's but I don't want to think of that ayakashi.

"I hope you can find your situation a little better than the dungeon." Ginji smiles.

I turn to him, my emotions trying to spill out of me. There's too many trying to crowd their way to the surface. "Thank you, Ginji-san."

He doesn't respond with words but with a gentle kiss, cradling my face in his hands.

Right here at this moment, I know I've come home.

I kiss him back. "I love you."