"Hah! You're not bad, human! You're just like I was in my youth; wild and powerful!"
I look at the old man sitting to my left with a smile. This is Nurarihyon, the leader of the East Japan Youkai faction. I know he deserves that title; I can feel the true depth of his strength. At first glance, he appears to be nothing more than an aging Youkai, but beneath that facade, I sense a cold, chaotic power ready to destroy anyone who dares to fight him recklessly.
"Thank you." I smile thinly and take a sip of sake. "That means a lot coming from someone of your standing."
"Bah! I'm just a retired old man. My compliments don't carry much weight these days."
"Then the world is blind."
He stares at me for a few seconds before erupting into a full-bellied laugh. The younger Youkai nearby cast him bewildered glances. To them, he seems harmless, but their underestimation will be their downfall if they ever cross him. They might think of me as an idiot for accepting his compliment as if it means something. They don't know the truth, and I know this old bastard is the one creating this image for himself.
"Haaaaa~ It has been a long time since anyone said that to me. So! Tell me, how are you able to tame her?"
"What do you mean?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, come now. You know exactly what I mean. Yasaka is no delicate flower. She is wild and mischievous. She is the true embodiment of a fox."
"I don't see her that way, Nurarihyon. To me, Yasaka is sweet. Is she wild? Absolutely. She fights like someone possessed by a vengeful spirit. But she is also a gentle soul who loves gardening and meditating with me to practice Senjutsu."
"Her? Meditating? Now you're just lying. I'm the one who taught her the basics of Senjutsu, and let me tell you, she can't sit still for more than two minutes."
"Well… now that you mention it… she did struggle when we first started. But once I showed her my personal approach to Senjutsu, she learned how to find her center very quickly."
"Is that so? Is your Senjutsu really that unique? I heard about it. Is that the reason this place is full of pure natural energy?"
"Of course. Here, let me show you."
I take a deep breath and cycle through my usual Senjutsu rhythm. When I open my eyes a few minutes later, I find the others staring at me in shock, their expressions a mix of awe and curiosity. I ignore the gallery and speak to the old man.
"What do you think? Massively different, right?"
"You…" Nurarihyon looks at me with wide eyes. "Are you a complete idiot?"
"What? No 'thank you'? You just go straight to calling me stupid?"
"Because you are! How can you share such a valuable technique with others without a second thought?"
"It's just a technique. As a Sage, it's my duty to heal the planet by purifying natural energy. However, I'm also someone who loves to delegate."
"So you're spreading the technique just to make your own job easier?"
"Exactly."
Nurarihyon studies me for a moment before shaking his head with a smirk.
"I don't know if you're a fool or a genius. Perhaps both. Definitely both."
He looks toward the door as a small group approaches. I follow his gaze, and my jaw nearly hits the floor when I see Yasaka standing at the entrance of the building. She wears a stunning white gown that seems to short-circuit my brain entirely.
Her tails sway slowly and alluringly. It feels as if they are weaving a hypnotic spell around me, and it's working; I can't tear my eyes away from her.
"Go take her hands, you goof. It's your wedding day, after all."
"Right!"
Unlike a Western wedding, a Youkai ceremony doesn't require a massive crowd or a formal party right away. It is an intimate bond forged between the couple and the Gods who bear witness. The celebration can wait until tomorrow or after the ceremony. Hence, the guests are in another building.
I take Yasaka's hands, and we walk out of the building together. I spot the priests and priestesses lined up along the path to Amaterasu's shrine, just a short distance from where the guests are gathered.
As we tread the stone path, the air shifts. When we are 100 meters from the shrine, the entire structure bursts into a brilliant radiance. I shield my eyes, and as the light fades, a beautiful woman stands before us.
My Campione nature screams at me to attack, which confirms her identity. She is a Goddess. Based on the aura she radiates, she can only be Amaterasu, the Chief Goddess of the Shinto Faction.
"Who approaches our Sacred Ground?" she asks.
"I am Yasaka of the Nine Tails."
"And I am Valerian of the Millefiore Family."
"Why have you come?"
"We seek your blessing for Holy Matrimony."
"Then come forward and receive it."
We step forward, stopping just paces away. I feel her hands rest upon our heads, accompanied by a wave of warmth. I grunt as a sudden spike of divine energy surges through me, eventually settling deep within.
Is this the blessing? It doesn't bind to my soul, but rather sits just beneath my skin. It feels like protective, radiant sunlight.
The heat dissipates, and we look up at the Goddess. She nods in approval.
"Now you are connected. You are married under our watchful eye and carry our blessing. We, Amaterasu, declare you husband and wife. This bond shall endure for eternity, for not even Death shall part you."
She smiles softly.
"Go now. Enjoy your new life together under the grace of our sun."
I look at Yasaka, and as we kiss, the sound of celebration erupts behind us. My guardians are cheering wildly. I blink in surprise when I spot Byakuran, mouth full of marshmallows, waving at me.
Since when was he here? He has brought all his guardians along, and it looks like Tsuna's group is attending as well. I see Skull and Reborn catching up. At least the chaos incarnate is behaving for once.
I shake my head and wave back, which only makes them cheer louder. Luca appears to be starting a drinking competition with the other Youkai, and by the looks of it, he's winning.
I hide a smirk. I know he's cheating. He's purging the alcohol from his system using Storm Flames. It's a risky trick, but his control is precise enough to make it undetectable.
With a contented sigh, Yasaka and I walk toward the party to join our friends.
==| Line Break |==
I lie next to Yasaka, feeling the rhythm of her warm breath. I smile and let her sleep. It has been a wonderful but exhausting day. After the party ended, I still had my husbandly duties to attend to.
Yasaka is just as wild in bed as she is in a fight. If not for my status as a Campione, I'd be nothing but a withered husk of a man by now. All in all, it was a deeply satisfying day.
I stare at the ceiling and smile. I love this life, and I will protect it with everything I have.