Part 2

She knew.

The smile on her face made her look stupid and silly. Did she care? Not in the least.

Because he had proposed.

It hadn't been in the most glorious of ways; what with their naked bodies entwined and covered in sweat and the bed sheets stained with their exertions. In the heat of the moment, in the midst of their passion, her husband had proposed for her hand in marriage. And with the fury of a nova, Yasaka had kissed Ichigo yes.

Her heart bloomed.

There was a legitimacy now, to their unorthodox union. What was once the well-meaning selfishness of a divinity, was now a standing commitment to their evolving relationship.

It was real.

Hence, sitting there, utterly nude on their bed and in between his legs; her back to his chest and head tucked under his chin, Yasaka continued to smile the fool's smile. Because they were in love.

His arms around her waist, her body shook ever so lightly as his chest rumbled with a low laughter. She felt a soft kiss to the crown of her head.

"I'm sorry." His voice was gentle in his laughter, though it carried a hint of apology mired with sincerity. "I didn't mean to ask like that… I had everything planned out for weeks, but I just lost myself in the heat of the moment."

She furiously shook her head, all the while her gaze remaining on the crumpled white sheets as she did her best to hide the bashful flush on her cheeks. "No…it was perfect. The fact you even asked…you have no idea what it means to me."

She leaned back to look at him, somewhat embarrassed to show her expression and found the emotion justified as, the moment her eyes met with his, she found her vision being blurred with tears.

"Oh no, don't start crying on me," he said chidingly, though his eyes shone with mirth.

Yasaka shook her head and arched her neck. "Just shut up and kiss me."

And so he did. With a slow burn, husband and wife embraced each other tightly and Yasaka found his arms pulling her higher and deeper into the kiss.

As she broke away from him, biting her lips in a futile attempt to suppress a smile, Yasaka twisted herself in his arms and laid her head down on his shoulder.

Nuzzling into her husband, a pleased expression crossed her face as she noted the numerous love bites marking his neck and collar. Her nature of possessiveness, both as a Yōkai and as woman, found a smug satisfaction in knowing that she had marked her man.

That satisfaction lighting a fire within her and making her lean forward and nib at the skin over his collarbone.

Thankfully, Ichigo had suppressed his demonic power to its barest minimum, resulting in his physique resembling that of a highly athletic human rather than a near-virtual indestructible Devil. It had taken months of experimentation on his part, but after several rounds of love making, Ichigo had managed to control his body to the point where he could become soft and pliable, allowing her the pleasure of melding her body with her husband in full.

"You know," he began to say as he ran the fingers of one hand through her hair, "we're going to have to go buy engagement and wedding rings."

A bubbling warmth spread through her body.

"Stop it," she said, smacking his chest for added emphasis.

"Stop what?" The frown on confusion so evident she could hear it in his voice.

"Stop saying all these things," she laughed. "If you keep this up, I'm going to be so happy that I'll end up splitting my cheeks from smiling too much."

He pressed his lips to her forehead before whispering into her ear. "That's fine, I'll take responsibility and marry you anyways."

The clichéd line often delivered in some of the more ridiculous cartoons watched by Kunou caused her to giggle. The foolhardy line of a more conservative era reminded her of days when a woman's honor could be stained by simply holding hands with a man. In those days, 'taking responsibility', often equaled the modern phrase of shotgun wedding.

And on that though, a hint of a frown made its way onto her face as she touched her belly. Devils' had an abhorrently low fertility rate. With most couples only having about two to three children over a span of several centuries. Otherwise, with their active and unprotected sex life, how else would Yasaka have not managed to become pregnant with Ichigo's child?

She quickly shook her head of such thoughts.

They still had many centuries ahead to increase the number of their family, not to mention, they had the advantage of only having one Devil in their relationship. Yasaka's status as a Yōkai meant that their chances of having a child were astronomically higher than the rest of the denizens of the Underworld.

A moment of reflection passed over her eyes and Yasaka firmly took hold of his hand.

Even by Human standards, Ichigo was incredibly young. With Kunou having passed the majority of her childhood and on the verge of entering her teenage years, Ichigo was readily able to interact with her daughter.

The corners of her lips jerked. She usually found it amusing that Ichigo was significantly closer to his step-daughter's age than his wife's. Although, there were times when she found the fact infuriatingly grating. It would be best if Kunou outgrew the crush she had on her step-father. If it persisted through puberty, it might just lead to some damaging headaches.

Nevertheless, towards the subject of bearing Ichigo's children, Yasaka decided it would be best to wait a few more decades before earnestly trying to get pregnant. Her husband could use the time to mature and settle into his now immortal lifestyle.

"We should get our day going. No matter how much I want to, we can't just lay in bed all day."

His abrupt statement broke her from her musings.

Taking a quick glance at herself, Yasaka realized she was still covered in a thin veneer of sweat, her hair was in disarray and…

A strong blush broke through her cheeks and she slowly pressed her thighs together. The evidence of their intimacy all over her cream-colored skin. If any of her maids chose to walk in at this moment, Yasaka would die of absolute mortification.

"Come on," he said, pressing his lips to her bare shoulder, "let's get cleaned up."

Ten minutes later, the two of them were still in the same position, except instead of their bed, they were halfway submerged in a pool of steaming water.

Her private bathroom was as massive as the bedroom it was connected to too. The large bath, formed from a waterfall tumbling from a rock formation she had installed at the far-end of the room, was perhaps, the biggest boon of being the empress. She spent many frustrating evenings, over her four-century life, soaking and relaxing within its shimmering crystal waters.

Momentarily squirming in Ichigo's lap, Yasaka sat tranquil and content in her husband's arms as her body soaked in the mineral bath. Closing her eyes and resting her head against him, her fingers idly played with one of the many jasmine flowers floating across the surface of the water.

As they both stilled and the only audible sound became the bubbling of the spring, the beat of his heart drummed through his chest and into her ears. She focused on the noise, on that demonic organ as it moved in a steady tempo and lulled her into a meditative trance.

One breath in, one breath out.

Ever so slowly, Yasaka circulated the Chakra within her body to slow the rhythm of her own beating flesh until each deft pound fell in harmony with his.

A smile tugged at her lips.

To have her heart beat as one with her husband's…there was a majesty there…one touched with appreciation and fulfilment.

Several minutes went by, their passing marked by the matching march of their hearts.

"Is your schedule free for the day?" His voice broke the silence, but the serenity of the moment remained.

"Hmm?"

"Your schedule? Do you have time for an outing today?"

Her eyes opened and they flickered in a drowsy slumber invited by the warmth of the bath and the melody of their hearts. Yasaka took in a deep breath and let a note of clarity ring through her mind.

When Ichigo had carried her out of bed, the Sun had just touched the horizon, not yet breaking through and bringing its rise. Which mean that there was still some time before her official day began.

"I have few key meetings in the late morning, before noon," she said quietly, mentally rearranging her schedule for the next week. "The northern clans are having a territorial dispute after an underground spring filled with Yin energies was discovered."

"Yin energies?"

The question in his voice so obvious she could practically see his brows furrowed in curiosity.

"There are places," she began slowly, "where the primal Yin and Yang energies of nature physically manifest. In these places, wondrous natural phenomena occur and, sometimes, rare treasures can be found."

The cold seeping Yin of the female and the hot churning Yang of the male. These were the main founding principles of those who cultivated Chakra within their bodies and let flow the natural elements. However, the Shinto Pantheon was slightly strange in regards to the underlying principle of this precept.

Lady Amaterasu was the Sun, the source of Yang energy, yet she was a woman. Thus, at her core, she held the primal Yin of a female. Lord Tsukuyomi was the moon, the origin of Yin energy, yet he was a man. Thus, at his core, he held the primal Yang of a male. Yin within Yang, Yang within Yin.

The Sun in the moon and the moon in the Sun.

Such has been the balance since the establishment of their Pantheon.

Yasaka too, followed Lady Amaterasu in this regard. As her facet, she burned with Yang energies, yet her core was the Yin of a woman. Ichigo was a Devil and there were very few things colder than the aura and the darkness of a Devil. However, within the deepest corners of his soul, the First Flame raged, adding to his inert male Yang.

She and Ichigo balanced each other out, mirroring the foundations of their homeland. To her, it was the ultimate manner of bonding in a poetic sense.

"I see…and later in the evening? Are you free?"

Carefully balancing within her mind, who was coming in and out of her palace and when, Yasaka concluded that there was nothing overtly important in the later hours of the day.

"I have a few minor meetings," she said softly, scrunching her nose in annoyance. "No one I cannot afford to bump to tomorrow."

His arms pulled her closer as he placed his chin on top of her head. "Are you sure? I don't want you ending up in a mess because of me. We can go and choose wedding rings next weekend."

She shook her head and spoke resolutely. "I don't want to wait. I want to go and make this happen as soon as possible."

"As my princess commands," he said, kissing her cheek. After a moment passed, he then asked, "What about the wedding itself? Do you have any ideas?"

Yasaka smiled in all her glory. "Big!"

"Big?"

She nodded her head even as her eyes set with delightful determination. "Were you expecting me to say I want a small, private ceremony with just a few key friends. No noise and grandeur? Just us and our love for each other being enough to stand in for the whole, wide world?"

There was a very heavy pause as she felt him shift awkwardly behind her. "Err…would you be mad if I said yes?"

Yasaka snorted. "I'm the Empress, Ichigo. More to the point, I'm the Empress getting married. I want festivals and parades. I want foreign dignitaries and royalty fawning over me. I want bricks of gold and bags full of diamonds dropped at my feet. I want to be the envy of every woman who wishes she were me in my wedding dress that costs the GDP of a small country!"

"Wait, what!" There was certain horror in his voice. "Exactly how much money do you plan on spending?"

"Don't be stupid, Ichigo. You're paying for everything."

"Time out!" he exclaimed as he made an X with his arms in front of her face. "It's tradition for the bride's family to pay for the wedding! Why am I getting stuck dishing out the cash?"

Yasaka threw scrutinizing look over her shoulder. "We're already married. What's yours is mine and what's mine is still mine. So foot the bill, hubby."

He opened his mouth to argue, but when no coherent sound came out, he closed his eyes with a defeated sigh. "Fine, fine…whatever you want, I'll get it for you, dear."

She smiled sweetly and pecked his lips. "I love you."

"You're such a spoiled princess…"

Author's Note: The smaller, the better, I figured. Especially when factoring in I managed to type this in one measly sitting. Hope you enjoyed!