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With her son being preoccupied by his lessons and her husband off doing his duties as Lord of the Kuramochi Clan, Lady Himari was left to herself as she tended to her personal garden. The day wasn't too warm, nor too chilly as she tied back the sleeves of her kimono and knelt down to take care of the weeds that had started to form around the flowers she had planted last spring.
Himari was used to being by herself. Well not really alone as she had a guard watching from nearby, making sure that she was safe while her husband was attending a meeting of some sorts with his trusted advisors. She was sure he was in capable hands. Lately she had pondered how far apart they were as a married couple compared to the years when she was brought here against her will.
Some would say it was like the tale of the Beauty and the Beast. She, a young high school student working hard to make a life for herself, while her mother and sister were florists particularly known for their elaborate bouquets at the neighboring shrine. Himari did on occasion help out the best she could, though she wasn't nearly as talented or gifted when arranging flowers. Instead, she was drawn more so to nursing school and herbology. There was no time to actually be attracted to men or wanting to settle down with one anyways.
So when Himari and her friends went to the shrine to pay her respects and good wishes for their upcoming exams, she hadn't expected the unexpected. Who would have believed her anyways when the oni heir at that time grabbed her by the arm, claiming that she was his bride, and whisked her through a portal far away back in time?
After several instances of fights and running away did she finally see the oni as more of a lover than an enemy. It wasn't but a few years later that she accepted his marriage proposal and gave birth to the new heir.
Then, when Youichi Kuramochi was two, Himari had fallen ill and was in desperate need of care. There were many days when she thought she would never live to see a future with her family, and yet her son and husband were always by her side. So when did Hirotori shift his eyes towards other things? Ah yes, the elders had persuaded him that their teachings and ways were the right way. Which in turn left him so open that he wasn't nearly himself when coming to bed and she refused to sleep with him due to the stench of alcohol that littered his mouth.
What had gone so wrong and how could she make things right again? Himari wondered as she gently ran her finger down the pedal. It was only a short while before her son would venture back through the sacred mirror to obtain his lovely bride. What would Hirotori think of them if the bride truly wasn't up to the clan's expectations? What if the bride ended up being the pink haired boy Kuramochi had met by accident when he was only a child?
Her gaze momentarily caught a blur of motion as she looked up to find a fox huddled in between two of the bushes. A fox? She blinked, looking around to see if anyone had noticed. Usually there weren't any wild creatures allowed in the palace grounds. Though wild was such a tamed word due to the yokai that were present in this era. For all she knew, the fox could be a yokai spirit. Should she dare call her guards to assist? No. There was something deep within her human consciousness that told her to be mindful of the fox before her.
"Hello?" Himari greeted the fox, tilting her head at the figure as it didn't show any signs of movement or aggression. She could have sworn the animal had an aura about it that made the fox genuinely special, though she couldn't place on her finger as to why. So instead, the Lady stared back at the creature in hopes of understanding its purpose.
"Such a strange thing you are," she found herself saying aloud as she dusted her hands off, grinning over at the fox without fear or judgment. By now the creature should have run off, but instead the fox stood in place. It's eyes were occupied on her with mild interest. Like it knew what she was saying to it. Surely not?
"I don't suppose foxes commonly journey this far from their homes. You must be searching for something or someone, correct?" Himari inquired to the fox, silently wondering why she was attempting to talk to the fox like it was actually a human being. What did she have to gain from it?
When the fox didn't make any movement towards her, Himari beckoned the fox to come closer. There was enough evidence to suggest the fox was remarkably bright and intelligent. More so the creature did as it was told, moving to approach her as if the fox belonged here and earned its respect. If this was no ordinary fox, then who or what brought them here? And why?
"Lady Himari of the Kuramochi Clan. I have come to make my presence known to you," a voice spoke through the air as kind and gentle as the morning sun. "I, Takako, formally known as your Goddess Amaterasu, would appreciate an audience with you."
A Goddess?! Himari felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment as she was stunned to be visited by such a divine creature. What did she want from her? Why the visit from so far away from her temple? Surely this was a grave mistake. No one had ever come across her in ages, and certainly uncommon to visit a mortal. Though it was hard to tell from the stories and legends she read about in the Clan's archives whether or not the goddess made frequent appearances like this, even to humans of all things.
"Let your guard down. There is much to discuss in regards to setting things right with your clan. For now, I have a proposition to make for the keepers of my sacred mirror," Takako's voice rang out peacefully through the air, melting the nerves and anxiousness within Himari's heart.
Once Himari had truly calmed down did she let herself lower her guard. Could you blame her? To be in the presence of a Goddess was truly unheard of, at least in her lifetime. The Lady of the Kuramochi Clan patted the spot beside her, allowing the fox to join her in peace. It was clear by her presence alone that there was something gravely important to discuss. But what? Unless this was in regards to her son and his chosen bride's marriage?
"I have come to discuss matters in regards to your son and future son in law's wedding day. Yes, Youichi's bride is to be a male human named Kominato Ryousuke. I know the ceremony is quite special for your clan which is why I am here to inform you of a few obstacles you face," Takako spoke as she took the offered place beside the human clan's mother, gingerly taking to cleaning her fur coat. Much so out of habit, but to also act accordingly to avoid unnecessary conflicts with the clan's guards. If Lady Himari even looked to be of harm, she knew they wouldn't hesitate to draw their weapons upon her. Even if she was the Goddess the Clan knew, served, and respected.
"There's still much to do and plenty of trials ahead for Ryou and Youichi. Even if they successfully perform the wedding rituals, I know the path for them ahead will be tough. Especially with a lack of an heir to the throne itself," Himari spoke as she let out a sigh, knowing well that there would be an uncertain path laid out for her son and future son in law.
"It's only fair as a mother and guardian that you feel worried about their futures," the Goddess spoke as she returned her attention briefly back at the Lady of the Kuramochi Clan. "You are right about withholding the tradition of keeping the oni lineage going. I have brought a few options as to what Youichi and Ryousuke can do about this dilemma. Let me show you the visions that my mirror has proclaimed to me," she continued on as the fox gestured for the human to touch her holy head to seek the answers given to her.
Himari did as she was told, humble that the goddess would allow her to openly see into the options laid out before her. As she gently placed her palm over the warmth of her furred head, a blinding light engulfed the two. Soon dissipating into a sacred room of three mirrors. Each displaying what Ryou and Youichi could do for their lineage.
*The mirrors have the answers you seek. One of a quest to find ingredients for a temporary pregnancy potion. Another to provide sacrifices of personal value from both bride and groom to produce an infant child as a gift along the riverbend. Last and certainly the hardest of the three, Ryou can choose to give up his humanity for the sake of turning into a yokai. Though in my personal opinion, it is possible with his own lineage as the Kominatos have a bond with my ancestral roots as a fox spirit. Which could then result in an infant no matter the gender of the yokai," The goddess proposed each of the options in further detail, noting the pros and cons to each as they all provided a cost from the wedded couple.
The Lady of the Kuramochi clan considered the options, thinking over each of them carefully as she tried to see the visions the Goddess foretold for their expected heir. She did not personally want Ryou to have to sacrifice his own humanity for their future heir. Stories long ago told of the great sacrifice of turning from man to beast, and there was a chance he wouldn't make it through that horrendous transformation.
"I will be sure to give my son's the choices you have laid out for them, Takako-sama," Himari spoke, bowing generously at the fox goddess before her. Whatever they chose, she would be happy for them both. "Thank you for all that you do for our Clan, as well as my family. I am always indebted to you."
The Goddess smiled as she approved of Himari's decision to tell the two of their futures for their heir. "It is an honor to have Lady Kuramochi in my presence as well." She too was fond of how her sacred mirror brought forth strong women from the future back through time to guide and share their knowledge with their chosen husbands. Yokai were not able to freely love and produce such genuine feelings openly with each other. They could not fully grasp what made humans so powerful, even in the face of danger and other obstacles that laid in their paths.
"On second thought. I believe there is another route that may open up a better alternative for your clan and produce great results in the end," Takako expressed as she saw the first two mirrors resonate with one another to form a new vision for the chosen heir to the Kuramochi throne. "Ah yes. It would seem my mirror speaks of another way to impress your clan's court. By binding each other with their chosen gifts of love for one another, the two may opt to visually display their love on the night of their wedding day. Once they have wedded, the maiden will produce the first signs of pregnancy. However, he will not be realistically pregnant like that of a human woman such as yourself, Himari," the fox explained as she told of the vision laid out before her in the palm of her hand...er paw.
"When Ryou has fully gone the necessary time to give birth, I will call upon him and Youichi to make a journey to bring the little oni child home to live a healthy life with your growing family. When the elders and clan are assembled, all will be forgiven and celebrate the birth of the Kuramochi Clan's living heir." The fox finished as she let the visions dissipate back into the reality of Himari's garden. Their meeting place is undisturbed by the guards and staff. Almost as if time had never passed at all.
As Himari opened her eyes, the fox and the goddess herself had vanished. Leaving behind a token of her gratitude for being the messenger for her son and son in law's future.