Tamamo no Mae's First Wife Experience / Shuten Douji's Breakdown

"Abe-sama?!"

Tamamo no Mae tilted her head back and looked at the Grand Onmyoji who was hugging her.

She couldn't believe the words she had just heard from his mouth.

"Why?!"

"Abe-sama, why do you want this humble one to inherit that identity?"

"..."

[You knew that if you didn't explain clearly, Tamamo no Mae would definitely not accept this arrangement.]

[You didn't hesitate any longer.]

[You decided to tell Tamamo no Mae the truth, the whole truth.]

"Tama-chan, that's roughly it."

Abe no Taishin hugged Tamamo no Mae in his arms, his voice even lower than before.

"I hope... you can understand my thoughts."

"This—"

Having learned the truth, Tamamo no Mae was no longer excited and happy as she had been during the "education" just now.

The disbelief in her eyes was palpable as she looked at him.

"Abe-sama, please don't joke with this humble one about such things."

"How could the result of the mirror communication be like this?"

"..."

Abe no Taishin had long expected Tamamo no Mae to react this way.

"Tama-chan, I know this kind of thing is hard for you to accept."

"But—"

"This is something I have to do."

"And I... hope this choice won't affect your future life, Tama-chan, so I hope you can obtain that identity."

"Of course, if you want to leave Kyoto, Tama-chan, that's also a good choice."

"I will support you in that as well."

"..."

Tamamo no Mae looked at him before her, realizing that everything was already unchangeable.

Crystal tears slid from her beautiful eyes, dripping onto the already damp cloth.

Her lips trembled, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she fell silent.

Abe no Taishin felt a pang of heartache for her, but all he could do was apologize.

"I'm sorry, Tama-chan."

"I... have let down your feelings."

"..."

Having recovered, Tamamo no Mae squeezed out a forced smile.

"It's nothing."

"After all, if it weren't for Abe-sama... this humble one wouldn't even be qualified to sit here and admire the cherry blossoms of Kyoto."

"Everything this humble one possesses at this moment was brought to me by Abe-sama."

"What right does this humble one have to complain about all of this?"

"But—"

The fox spirit leaned against the Grand Onmyoji, listening to his heartbeat.

Having regained the sovereignty of her pleasure, she felt no joy in her heart.

"Abe-sama, can this humble one make one more request?"

"Tama-chan, go ahead, as long as it's something I can do, I will fulfill it for you."

"Abe-sama can definitely do it."

Tamamo no Mae reached out and caught a falling cherry blossom petal, placing it on Abe no Taishin's hand.

"Please, after the crowd disperses... treat this humble one as your real wife. Caress me properly, just once."

"This humble one wants to remember that feeling."

Abe no Taishin didn't answer Tamamo no Mae.

He just silently hugged her and nodded.

[You and Tamamo no Mae admired the cherry blossoms like a real couple.]

[The crowds gradually dispersed.]

[In the end, only you remained amidst the scarlet cherry blossoms.]

[You knew what kind of pain your decision would bring to Tamamo no Mae.]

[You understood that you really had to satisfy her properly, just once.]

Tamamo no Mae lay down on the cloth under the cherry blossom tree.

Before her was the Grand Onmyoji she had longed for day and night in the past season.

"Abe-sama."

"Please cherish this humble one properly."

"..."

Abe no Taishin didn't say much.

Action at this moment spoke louder than any words.

The sash around her kimono was gently untied, and the fox spirit's body lay like a delicacy in the fine kimono fabric.

Abe no Taishin looked at her before him, a myriad of thoughts in his head.

But when the words reached his lips, only a sicompliment remained.

"Tama-chan, you look so beautiful."

"Is that so?"

Tamamo no Mae wrapped her arms around the Grand Onmyoji's neck.

In those beautiful golden eyes, waves of regret flowed.

"Is Abe-sama only now discovering this humble one's beauty?"

"No," Abe no Taishin shook his head.

"I've always known, but I had my concerns."

"..."

"..."

The Grand Onmyoji and the fox spirit's eyes met.

The distance between them grew closer and closer until they were completely united, inseparable.

In both mind and body both were united now.

Tamamo no mae moaned a little as she felt him enter her sacred cave for the first time.

She had a happy expression as she remarked.

"Abe-sama, you were still seduced by this humble one in the end."

Tamamo no Mae felt the warmth in her lower abdomen, speaking words of intimacy between lovers. Tears fell uncontrollably.

This was the only time she wished that those dreams she had once had would come true.

If only she had made the Grand Onmyoji before her lose his mind a little earlier.

Then there wouldn't be this so-called sacrifice now, would there?

However—

There was no "if only" in this world.

She would not become a world-destroying fox spirit who brought disaster.

And he was destined to pay the price to save her.

But—

Within the limits of what she could do, she still hoped he could stay by her side a little longer.

Ah~

Ah~

Such moans echoed under the cherry blossoms tree.

She cried as she kissed him.

Because she knew it was going to be the last time she didn't hold back and hugged him tightly.

Her nails digging on his back as he released his essence in her cave.

She panted taking deep breaths and requested with a pleading tone.

"Ah..ah..Abe-sama, can we do it again?"

"This humble one... really loves that feeling of being one with you."

Under the cherry blossom tree, the fox spirit's cries were mournful and lingered for a long time.

The sound of spring couldn't compare to that sorrow.

[Tamamo no Mae finally agreed to your arrangements.]

[She will become the last "Fujiwara no Tokuko".]

[Under your careful arrangements, Minamoto no Raiko will no longer doubt her, and no one will link the Emperor's death to her.]

[This will ensure that she can live in a comfortable environment from now on.]

[This is your farewell gift.]

[But what you have to do is not just these things.]

[Shuten Douji and Ibaraki Douji are also targets you need to arrange for.]

"Eh? Bought for me and Ibaraki?"

Shuten Douji looked at the magnificent residence before her, a little unable to believe what she had heard.

"Hmm."

Abe no Taishin nodded, dispelling Shuten Douji's concerns.

"Go in and take a look first."

"...Okay."

As soon as she entered the residence, Shuten Douji smelled a faint fragrance of sake.

The little oni girl's nose twitched, and then she began to search around the residence.

Soon, she found the sake piled up in a certain room.

It was an astonishing quantity, even Shuten Douji, the oni king of Ōeyama, had never seen so much sake!

"So much sake!" she exclaimed.

Almost at the same time, Ibaraki Douji's loud shout came from the other side.

"So many sweets!"

"..."

"..."

The two little oni left the rooms at the same time and looked at the Grand Onmyoji.

Abe no Taishin smiled slightly:

"What's wrong?"

"Don't you like it?"

"I remember Shuten, you love drinking sake, and Ibaraki is particularly fond of eating sweet things, right?"

"That's what they say."

Shuten Douji looked very suspicious.

"But why would Mister prepare these things for me and Ibaraki for no reason?"

"It feels... so strange."

[Shuten Douji finally realized what the problem was.]

[But you were not surprised.]

[Because this was bound to happen sooner or later.]

[You told the truth to the two little oni who loved you.]

[This was what you had prepared for them in advance.]

[Money, fine sake, sweets.]

[This way, even if you were gone, they could live a good life for a long time.]

[This was the only thing you could do for them, and it was also something you had to do.]

"No way!"

Shuten Douji shouted anxiously.

"Mister, are you crazy?!"

"Why should your life be exchanged for the cow's..."

Halfway through speaking, Shuten Douji froze.

Because she suddenly understood everything.

Why?

Just because he loved her...

Such a simple truth, it was obvious at a glance.

Of course, Abe no Taishin knew what Shuten Douji was thinking at this moment.

But he had no reason to comfort her, and could only silently stroke her head.

And Ibaraki Douji spoke at this moment:

"Abe-sama, is there really no other way?"

"For example—"

Ibaraki Douji pointed to herself.

"Let this humble one die in Abe-sama's place."

"..."

Abe no Taishin looked at Ibaraki Douji's serious face—he knew she wasn't joking.

The Grand Onmyoji bent down, reached out, and pinched Ibaraki Douji's soft cheek.

"I'm sorry, Ibaraki."

"I know you really have this determination, but... I really can't do that."

"Is that so... I understand."

"Hmm, it's good that you understand."

"Hey!" Shuten Douji became anxious, "Ibaraki, how can you be so calm!"

"Mister is going to die!"

"I know."

Ibaraki Douji took the Grand Onmyoji's hand.

"But Shuten."

"I think that since Abe-sama has already made up his mind... the best thing for us to do is to support him."

"Although this humble one is also very reluctant to part with Abe-sama's big stick."

"But—"

"This humble one is also unwilling to see Abe-sama unable to protect what he cherishes."

"That would be a very cruel thing."

"..."

Shuten Douji was well aware of this.

She just couldn't accept that the person she liked was going to die for someone else.

"I hate it!"

Shuten Douji shouted.

"I don't want to support it!"

After saying these words, the little oni girl turned around and ran out of the residence the Grand Onmyoji had prepared.

"Shuten!"

Ibaraki Douji had just wanted to chase after her, but was stopped by Abe no Taishin beside her.

"Ibaraki, I'll go."

"You familiarize yourself with the surroundings here."

"..."

Ibaraki Douji looked at the Grand Onmyoji beside her and nodded.

"I understand."

[You left this residence.]

[You started looking for Shuten Douji.]

[Your goal was very clear.]

[You arrived at the sake shop.]

[You found Shuten Douji.]

"Shuten, I found you."

Abe no Taishin looked at Shuten Douji, who was hiding in the alley wiping away her tears, and said gently.

"You ran really fast."

"Eh?"

Shuten Douji looked at the Grand Onmyoji who had appeared before her with a surprised expression.

"Mister, how could you find me so quickly?!"

"Because you like this place too much."

Abe no Taishin glanced at the sake shop next to them.

"You might not have noticed it yourself... every time you come out, you will intentionally or unintentionally turn this way."

The Grand Onmyoji wasn't just making things up.

Shuten Douji's love for sake was sometimes more terrifying than even she herself understood.

"..."

Hearing these words, Shuten Douji stood up, ready to run away again.

But this time, Abe no Taishin grabbed her hand.

"Shuten, you can't run away."

"We will always have to face this kind of thing."

"..."

Shuten Douji turned her head back.

She looked at the man who was much taller than her, her small body starting to twitch.

"Waaaaahhhhh!"

The little oni girl cried, looking very disheveled.

"But I don't want to!"

"Having to watch Mister die is even more painful than not being able to drink sake!"

"..."

Abe no Taishin bent down and hugged Shuten Douji in his arms.

He gently stroked her back and whispered in her ear:

"I know."

"This kind of thing is hard for you to accept."

"But—"

"Shuten, if it were you."

"When Ibaraki was in danger, and you had a chance to save her, what would you do?"

"Wuu, uh... of course I would save Ibaraki!"

Shuten Douji cried her eyes out, her voice even trembling.

"But wuu... this situation is different!"

"No."

Abe no Taishin wiped away the tears from Shuten Douji's eyes and kissed her forehead.

"Shuten, you know they are the same."

"You would also risk your life for what you cherish, wouldn't you?"

"But without Mister, what will I do in the future!"

Shuten Douji sobbed in response.

"I wuu... I'm just a useless oni! If Mister isn't here, I wuu, I won't be able to do anything!"

"That's not true."

Abe no Taishin looked at Shuten Douji.

"Shuten is not useless at all."

"Shuten is a very powerful oni."

"Even if I'm not here, you and Ibaraki will definitely be able to live well in Heian-kyō."

"Besides—"

"Tama-chan will also take care of you."

"..."

Shuten Douji realized that the Grand Onmyoji had already thought of all the problems.

This was something he had decided after careful consideration—it could absolutely not be changed.

Realizing that the matter was inevitable, Shuten Douji buried her head in the Grand Onmyoji's chest.

Her little hands tightly clutched his clothes, and her mouth muttered softly.

"It's all that cow's fault."

"I hate that cow so much... I will never forgive her..."

"..."

[You didn't have many words to say.]

[You could only silently wait for Shuten Douji to vent her inner emotions.]

[Fortunately, this process wasn't long.]

[Perhaps, she did agree with what you had just said.]

Shuten Douji sniffled and looked up at Abe no Taishin.

She still couldn't accept this.

But she also knew she couldn't stop him.

"Mister... if you really want to do this, there's one problem, right?"

"What problem?"

"That is, how could the cow possibly kill you?"

"She clearly loves you too."

"Hmm," Abe no Taishin nodded.

"So I can't let her know everything I'm doing."

"But how is that possible?!" Shuten Douji looked at Abe no Taishin in confusion.

"If she's going to kill you, she'll definitely know who you are!"

Abe no Taishin looked at Shuten Douji in his arms, his eyes filled with determination after repeated consideration.

"That's true according to my current identity."

"So—"

"Shuten, I need your help."

"My help?"

"Hmm," Abe no Taishin nodded, then looked into the distance.

"Use your power to make Heian-kyō experience another night parade of one hundred demons."

"I want to be killed by Raiko in the name of an oni at that time."

"That way, she won't realize that something is wrong."