Unselfish Wish

Chapter 25- Challenging Susano'o

After holding Fumiko for several minutes, Tsukiyomi kissed her forehead gently and released her. As much as I want you, my beloved, I simply must restrain myself until our wedding... no, until you are truly of age, he thought. It was a promise he'd made to himself. She deserved that much respect and care. He was still unaware that Fumiko was not so delicate as he believed. It would come as a shock when he realized her inner strength was more than simple kindness- she understood her own power and was not afraid to wield it in the appropriate moments. She also had a playful side that she was finally feeling comfortable enough to let out. It helped having a friend like Hinata that simply accepted her, no matter what.

"I'm afraid, my darling, it's time that you go to bed and I must retreat, for now." He said. "I am beyond joyful that we are in a place of understanding and you have not spurned my affections." He stroked her hair before leaning in and kissing her briefly and chastely on the lips. "Goodnight, my love." He whispered before disappearing into thin air.

"Goodnight, my beloved." She whispered, knowing that he would hear her. She hugged herself tightly and squealed in delight. For all the difficulties yet to come, she was happy that her biggest quandary was no longer a problem- she no longer had to choose because they were the same being, and that being wanted her for eternity. God or human, really didn't matter to her.

The next morning when she awoke, she had a sense of purpose. She was not going to wait for Susano'o to appear before her. She consulted her guardian beasts, and they had proudly told her she was more than prepared to take on the god of sea and storms, even if he played tricks on her. She went down to breakfast with her parents, who grinned at her knowingly. She sighed.

"Sooo... what happened last night? That was some storm." Aiko asked, grinning.

"I bet you she found out." Fumio surmised, earning him a smack from Aiko on the shoulder. "What?"

"Of course she did, she's our daughter. She told me yesterday" Aiko sniffed. Fumio grinned widely.

"But I have another issue, now that we've resolved our... miscommunications." Fumiko said, hesitating.

"Oh?" Fumio queried, sipping his coffee.

"Susano'o is here to test me." She announced. Fumio promptly spat out his coffee, causing Aiko to spring up with a cloth to help him tidy up. "I'd like to find him first, and challenge him directly." Both her parents froze, and Fumiko giggled. "You both know I am capable, right?" They nodded in unison. Aiko resumed her cleaning.

"Actually, there is something we need to tell you." Her mother anounced. "When your grandfathers were here last, they shared something rather important."

"Oh? I guess everyone is keeping secrets these days." Fumiko sighed, a little disappointed. Did nobody trust her?

"Well, we just... I don't know really. It seemed like it should wait until Tsukiyomi finally got his identity squared away with you." Fumio hedged. It was an excuse, because what her status really meant was that she had to take her place in Takamagahara, either way. Whether as Tsukiyomi's bride or not. As a full-blooded goddess, living permanently as a human was unlikely to be acceptable. She'd have to be able to hide herself like Tuskiyomi had for years, among other things. So much protocol to go through once Amaterasu discovered her.

"Papa, please. Can you just say it already. I swear none of you give me any credit for being able to handle things. I may live my life striving for kindness and forgiveness, but this does not make me weak." She declared.

"I know this, my daughter. Fine, your grandfathers discovered when you were just a toddler that you are not a demi-god." He sighed irritably.

"I'm not?" She asked in confusion.

"No, you're something more... a full-blooded goddess in your own right." He sighed. She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. She too, understood the implications. She sat abruptly at the table. "And I'm sure Tsukiyomi told you, we're running out of time. I still don't know how Amaterasu is going to react to your status. I don't know if she will punish your grandfathers for failing to present you to her sooner." She stared at him. Who knows, as fair as she was, Amaterasu hated being lied to. Understandably, of course, but if it was bad enough, they could be killed and forced to reincarnate. They would not know her, or her parents. Her hands shook.

"I will take it upon myself to see her personally." She announced. Fumio's eyes widened. "I will take this burden on myself." I know they meant well, and wanted me to live happily, she thought, but I will not allow them to sacrifice themselves. "Papa, help me find Susano'o. The sooner we get started, the more time I will have for negotiations. Since you guys have met him, you should be able to right?" She said with a firmness they knew meant no argument was to be entertained.

"Umm, for Susano'o, your mom would have better luck with her wind abilities. Closer ties to Susano'o." Fumio crossed his arms, nodding at his wife.

"Oh, right. Can you find him, Mom?" Aiko held her palms in front of her facing each other as she gathered wind-based energy. After a few minutes, she grinned.

"I've found him, my bold child. He is at the local park, looks like he's toying with some errant Yokai. Probably caught wind of your aura." She said proudly. "Go show him who's boss, daughter." Fumiko laughed, while Fumio went pale. "My dear husband, you don't understand, do you?" He tilted his head in question. "Your daughter has been training with the four beast gods since she was a toddler. Our fathers may have been sneaky, but they never left her to her own devices as you had assumed." Aiko winked at her daughter. "I knew they trained her, I just didn't know the full-blooded part."

"I must go, I will be back. Don't worry." Fumiko smiled, glad she had dressed in her training gear. Tsukiyomi, resting in his shrine, felt her leave the barrier and sat up, porting himself into the kitchen. Aiko and Fumio were not surprised to see him appear.

"Hello, son-in-law." Aiko quipped cheerfully. Tsukiyomi paused briefly, as it was the first time she'd openly said such a thing, then remembered why he'd appeared before them in the first place. Smartly, he rememberd his manners before he burst out his true question. He bowed deeply to them both.

"Good morning, mother-in-law, father-in-law." He said as politely as he could manage. Fumio grinned at his impatience. His Fumiko for sure would bring balance to this somewhat uncontrolled god.

"Hello, Tsukiyomi. What brings you into our kitchen without using the doors?" Fumio asked. Tsukiyomi sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Do you know where Fumiko is going... without an escort?" He huffed.

"Ah... I'm not sure. She was wearing her training outfit though, so maybe she went for a run or something?" Aiko shrugged. She knew the training outfit she'd chosen made Tsukiyomi edgy. He's so cute when he gets all jealous and possessive, she thought. As he disappeared, she grinned at Fumio. "Ah, young love, hmm?" They clinked their coffees together, totally sure of their daughter's skill.

Fumiko, focusing carefully on the park in question, teleported for the first time. Her guardian beasts cheered, telling her to give that trickster what-for. The Yokai that Susano'o had been fighting with suddenly ran off, whimpering. The rumors going around the Yokai world were that she was a weak being, an easy target, but most couldn't even handle being near her for long.

Susano'o stood with his back to her, holding the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, mystified. The hair on the back of his neck lifted as he realized the presence of another kami behind him. He turned slowly, shocked to see Fumiko standing where there had been nobody previously. He flicked the Yokai blood from his blade and quirked a brow. She slowly moved to a fighting stance, with no apparent weapon but her fists. Interesting, he thought. What is she hiding, then? He knew she would not take on the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi without a weapon, regardless of demi-god status.

"No greeting, then, Tachibana Fumiko? That's not very polite." He smirked. She paused, standing and respectfully bowing.

"Good morning, Susano'o-no-Mikoto. I am Tachibana Fumiko, and I am here to officially challenge you." She rose, smiling. He returned the bow, never putting his sword aside. And he called me rude, she thought, he didn't even greet me unarmed! She resumed her attack stance and they began to circle each other. She swirled her hand briefly, and a barrier keeping everything outside it protected and preventing interference popped up.

"Clever, very clever." Susano'o mused.

"To hear praise from the trickster god brings me such joy." She quipped.

"So, little one, what exactly are you challenging me for?" He asked, truly curious. Testing had not necessarily meant combat. Most times observation was enough. Likely he'd not have made his presence known other than to maybe flirt and piss off his enamored brother.

"Two things." He was surprised. "First, the approval of my entry into Takamagahara, regardless of the marriage Tsukiyomi has proposed, and second, the unquestioned pardon of my grandfathers." His head tilted to the side. He saw Tsukiyomi fuming off to the side, clearly able to hear her, but unable to enter her barrier. Intriguing. Even he couldn't keep his siblings out if he wanted to.

"Care to share why your grandfathers might need pardon, and of course, who they are?" He knew, he just wanted to remind her that not everyone would. Takamagahara, if that's where she was headed, was a tough place. She smirked.

"Amaterasu would not have sent you to test anyone without knowing such things, but I will humor you. Fuujin and Ryuujin are my grandfathers, and the ones I seek to protect. Do you accept my challenge, god of seas and storms?"