Sorry for the delay, but here is an update. I really want to thank everyone for continuing to read this and support me with your kind comments. I am really encouraged to keep writing when I get comments so please continue to do so. I also appreciate everyone who has followed and fav'd this story, I love you all. Now with no further ado, please enjoy.

Tomoe sat nervously moving his cup of sake around in his hands. He hadn't been able to speak yet. He lifted his glass to his lips and drank the whole glass, savoring the warm tingling sensation down his throat.

He started to speak without meeting Mikage's eyes.

"I am going to marry Nanami, I love her and even though it will be difficult we will make it together. I won't continue to live life without her by my side as my lover, my partner and my wife."

Tomoe turned towards Mikage. He had a sad smile on his face.

"I have never had a doubt that you love Nanami, nor have I ever doubted that she loves you… That being said the path before you will be a long and painful one. Nanami, although she is an extraordinary girl, she is human and you will outlive her. You know you cannot become human and she cannot become immortal so your time together will be short. I have seen you in pain before, but you know this will be worse Tomoe. I care so deeply for you both and you know it is my greatest desire to have you get along in the human world, but only pain for both of you lies ahead. Nanami is so young now, she has her whole life ahead of her, she may grow away from you by herself or for your own benefit."

Tomoe was trying to swallow all of the words Mikage was telling him, but he was choking up. He knew all of this. He knew every detail intimately. He didn't even realize he was crying until Mikage brushed the tears from his eyes.

"Tomoe I wish this was easy for you and I can imagine you both got swept up in the heat of the moment, but maybe you need to put some distance between you and really think things over. You need to think clearly away from this place and then come back with a clear mind so you can talk this over with Nanami."

Tomoe had no doubt in his mind that he loved Namai and that he wanted to be with her forever, but was he being selfish asking her to be bound to him for her short human life. They will never be able to have children, they will not age together. Tomoe thought about the shrine girl who had changed so much over such an insignificant period of time for him.

When Tomoe broke from his thoughts he was alone on the porch with the sake still sitting next to him. He knew what he needed to do. He went to his room and packed a bag, scrawled a quick note to Nanami and left the shrine.

….

Nanami was lying in her bed looking at the ceiling trying to tune out Mizuki who was still raving and saying disparaging things about Tomoe. She was so embarrassed she could die, but she really needed to talk to Tomoe and she really needed to talk to Mikage. She didn't foresee being able to easily talk to Tomoe right now so she decided to try and talk to Mikage.

Nanami stood and Mizuki immediately was right next to her.

"I'm going to talk to Mikage so just relax."

"I'm here to protect you Nanami so I am going with you."

"Mizuki STAY."

'Geez, I can't believe I forget that I can command them.'

Namai stepped around a very pouty Mizuki and left her room. The second she closed the door she almost bumped into Mikage who was walking down the hallway.

"Ah Nanami, would you care to chat for a bit?"

"Yes I would."

Nanami followed him to the living room and they each sat on a cushion.

"Mikage I..."

Mikage raised his hand to silence Nanami.

"Please allow me to go first my dear. Nanami you must consider your situation very carefully. We both know that you do not have long left in this world and you have yet to tell Tomoe. I know you love him and he loves you, but you also know the cost of loving a human to a yokai, he will only love you the rest of his very long life. I wish so much that I could find a way to let both of you be together, but I don't want either of you to suffer meaninglessly. Nanami you must not only consider your feelings, but Tomoe's as well. Is this really something that you want to do to him with the last months of your life. I know you did not plan on telling him this news. Please just think things over, clear your head and decide that this is want you want for the remainder of your life and all of Tomoe's."

"Mikage, I love him, I love him more than my own life which is why I left the kurama mountain and came back to be with Tomoe. I know it is unfair, but I don't want to spend the little time I have left without him. I… I'm being too selfish. I shouldn't be dragging Tomoe into this unknowingly. I know he will suffer. I know there is nothing I can do, but I don't know what to do with these feelings. I don't know if I can just walk away to spare him future pain, not now."

"Nanami, for such a young woman you are so strong and brave. I could not have asked for more in a replacement land god here in my shrine. You are a part of our family here and I do not wish to cause you pain, I just want you to think about your decisions and their consequences."

Mikage paused and looked down.

"I recommended to Tomoe that he leave and think about what he wants. He will only be gone for a short while to the demon world, but I want you both to utilize this time to clearly think about your paths. He left this for you."

Nanami reached out her shaking hand and took the letter.

"How could he just leave without saying anything to me?"

Mikage slowly made his way from the room and Nanami ripped open the letter.

Nanami,

My love,

My wife,

I must go now to think about what I have done. I have taken steps

towards you and I do not regret a single moment we spent together, but I am

confused. I love you too much to hurt you. I love you so much you are the only thought in my heart, but I must give us both some space to think about what we want. Please do not be angry at my weakness. I have not wavered in my love for you, but I feel I may have forced you down a path of destruction. Please don't hate me.

Love always,

Tomoe

Nanami crumpled the paper in her hands and ran to the door. She was crying and out of breath, but she kept running searching for Tomoe, screaming his name over and over.

'What does this mean? Does he regret what we've done? Does he not want to be with me anymore?'

Nanami fell to her knees in the forest crying and heaving from her exhaustion. Nanami heard a sound and looked up in elation thinking that Tomoe had heard her cries and come back, but it wasn't him. She saw a glowing figure.

It looked like the woman she had seen in her dreams.

'No... wait... it couldn't have been a dream, the broach...'

The figure steadily approached until she was directly in front of Namai.

"Why do you cry girl?"

Nanami was scared stiff. She couldn't say anything.

"Do you still wish to become immortal girl?"

"YES!"

Nanami shouted at her.

"Are you sure? It will be a long and difficult process human."

"I'll do anything to live longer and be with Tomoe."

"Stand girl."

Nanami did as she commanded and stood. This woman was about her height, she was gorgeous with long blonde hair and flowing green robes.

The woman grasped Nanami's hand and turned it over in hers examining her. She reached out and put one hand on each side of Nanami grasping her shoulders firmly. Her left hand reached up and pressed against the mark of her bond with Tomoe. She felt a burning and her vision began to blur.

The woman's voice sounded so distant, but she clearly heard:

"You have seven nights to settle your human affairs and then I will take you and you will come to live with me for many years Nanami. We have a contract sealed with this kiss. Meet me here in seven nights at the strike of midnight."

The woman pressed her lips to Nanami's and her world went dark.

Nanami shot up in her bed gasping for air.

Thank you everyone who has read this I hope you are enjoying the journey I have started. I really love these characters I hope I am doing them justice. Please continue to support this story and me with more comments and fav's. Until next time.

P.S. I will try to be more expedient in my updates.