Authors note: Make sure to check the main fanfiction page for gameplay to story changes so you are able to follow along.
Make sure to also check out the Yokai Tamer game page for more information and to play the game yourself
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Ember spent the next few weeks in the infirmary sleeping most of the time, unaware of the growing agitation in Darius and subsequently the silence and trepidation amongst the rest of the guild who could sense it. She was unaware of his frequent visits to the infirmary and often spending long periods sitting next to her, holding her hand, and giving her a little kiss on the forehead before going again.
Vampira, on one of Ember's requests during the brief periods she was awake, had done a few tests. Ember was fearful of what Riggles may have done to her while she was unconscious and wanted to know for certain. She was sure that Darius would want to know as well. She asked Vampira to tell him after telling her so that she could manage how to handle his, and her own, emotions if her worst fears were real.
"There's nothing," Vampira said softly to her, a smile played on her lips. "Riggles may have harmed you but he didn't violate you…" Ember let out a huge sigh of relief before the small voice chimed in, crying out to be near Darius. "So how much longer do I have to stay in here?"
"I can guess what will happen if I release you into Darius' care," The miko gave Ember a very cheeky grin. "If the stitches are stable enough today, I'll ask him to take you back to your room during one of his visits."
"That's good to hear," Ember yawned, the medications helping her heal starting to draw her into sleep again. "I hope to wake up in my own bed."
~~~
Vampira sat at Ember's bedside and re-dressing the numerous wounds over her body. She expected Darius would be coming to visit soon and ask his usual question of "When can I take Ember back to our room?" Today she had a positive answer for him.
Gently she started to roll Ember over to access the large wound that stretched down the length of her back. A second pair of hands appeared taking some of the weight from her. She looked up to find Darius with a concerned look on his face.
"She'll be able to go back to your room today," Vampira said as she took the dressing down. "Her wounds have all been stable and will be to withstand a bit of…" She paused to glance up at him, catching a very light blush on his face. "Well your instincts will be driving you to… you know…"
"Is that why you held her here for so long?" he asked quietly. He could feel his face threatening to deepen the blush and he let out a huff in response.
"Of course," Vampira teased. She put the finishing touches to the bandage before helping him ease Ember back onto her back. "So you're welcome to take her back to your room whenever you like." She gave a small bow before leaving him with her in peace.
Darius looked down at Ember. She looked peaceful in her sleep. One of her tails tapped the bed lightly in time to something. Letting out a sigh, he carefully picked up and keeping in mind where her wounds were and carried her out of the infirmary.
His journey to their bedroom was slowed by League members coming over to talk to him and check on her. Each one expressing relief that Ember appeared to be comfortable and healing well. He was relieved when they finally reached their bedroom.
Once inside, Darius eased Ember onto their bed and gently covered her up with the blanket. She hadn’t stirred at all since his visit and her subsequent discharge from the infirmary into his care. His instinct was wreaking havoc in his head. Telling him to wake her up. To pin her down and reclaim her. Devour her… He shook his head hard. Ember needed her rest. No matter what his instinct wanted, Ember’s health came first.
It will help her heal. It insisted to him. She needs contact from you just like you need it from her. Darius rolled his eyes and sat down on the bed, taking off his shoes and jacket. Trust me. I’m a part of you, don’t you trust yourself?
That’s not it. He sighed. I want to take things slowly where you are concerned. He got into bed and pulled Ember close to him. She rolled over and snuggled up to him, letting out a soft purr when she finally stopped moving. Ember isn’t aware of her own instinct, so slow is best for now.
Then you need skin to skin contact if you want to go slow. His instinct gave him images of holding hands or kissing before giving way to more sexually suggestive images. Your unique instinct is linked to having that contact.
You know what it is? Darius asked as he carefully interlocked his fingers with Ember’s that rested on his chest.
I do. It replied in an almost smug tone. I can’t tell you because you need her instinct active and working to be able to use it. He could tell that if it was alive it would have been smiling at him. It suits both of you. Suits your personalities well.
Darius looked down at the top of Ember’s head thoughtfully. He wondered if their unique instinct would manifest as a skill like Takoyakii and Yukkii or whether it was an additional sense like Kirei and Chocolatte. He watched her ears flick and turn in her sleep like she was listening to something. Suits our personalities, eh? He gently stroked her hair while he thought about what their unique instinct could possibly be. Kirei and Chocky's unique instinct is the sight. Kirei has retrocognition where as Chocky has precognition. Tako and Yukkii can talk to each other telepathically.
He watched her flick her ears again and then her right one flicked like as if something was on it that she wanted to shake off. She groaned slightly and flipped over onto her back before scooting herself backwards, nuzzling into his side again. Her tails flicked up and rested across his thighs, one trailing upwards towards his chest. It wasn't often he got to watch her sleep, but when he did, her way of sleeping was strange and at times cute. He could feel her ears still moving just under his chin.
"Ember?" he asked softly. He didn't want to wake her but he didn't want her to go back to sleep if she was already awake. He wrapped both arms around her tightly. "Ember?"
"Hmmm?" Came the soft, almost muffled reply. "I'm currently not awake. Please call back again later." Darius couldn't help himself. He started laughing, startling her awake in the process.
She looked up at him confused. He took a hold of one of her ears and gave it a playful pinch eliciting a little squeak from her before tying to tuck her head under his arm to protect her ears from more pinching. "They're sensitive you know."
"I know," he replied before sitting up, taking away her little hiding spot for her ears. "I wanted to talk to you about something."
Immediately Ember shrunk back into the blankets prompting him to pull her out again. "I'm not angry that you were avoiding me." He paused seeing her disbelief. "I am frustrated that you did that but I'm not angry."
"Then what did you want to talk about?" she asked quietly. A little voice in her head cried out. It's meeeeee! It's about me! She shook her head vigorously. I won't go away.
He smiled. "That voice is your instinct," he said as he listened to his own advising him on what was happening for her. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
Ember tilted her head before leaning over and pulling out the scroll she found in nether. "This mentioned instincts as well." She handed it to him. "You're my fourth spouse but this is the first time I've heard of instincts or even had a voice in my head. What are they?"
He quickly skimmed the scroll before responding to her. "They are the manifestation of a marriage bond. When the pair have a healthy relationship it develops and become another skill that only the pair can access. For example, Tako and Yukkii are able to talk to each other telepathically. That is the unique skill they possess. Kirei and Chocky have the sight. Kirei can see the past and Chocky can see the future."
"Then what is ours?" Ember asked curiously. She had been oblivious to the extra skills the others possessed and was now quite intrigued that she shared unique skill with him. Her eyes widened realization. "That skill Gabriel used… That was his unique skill with Ginx!" Darius nodded. "So the possibilities of what our skill will be."
"Well…" he leaned in closer with a smile that made Ember shiver slightly in uncertainty. "That's what we have to find out."
The next day Vampira came by to check on Ember's wounds. She clicked her tongue disapprovingly at times causing Ember to shiver under her touch. Darius had already gone to do some training for the day so Ember had to bear the brunt of Vampira's disapproval on her own.
"If I had known he was going to be rough with you I would have held you longer," Vampira said poking the reddened areas around the stitches. Ember jumped and used her tails to swat at Vampira.
"He would have gotten more irritated with that," she replied with a smile. "I was wondering…"
"About your outfit?" Vampira asked redressing the wound on her back. "We couldn't salvage it. Hime and Spring tried to repair it but it was too far gone." The door clicked open almost punctuating her sentence. "I let Darius know about that earlier…"
Ember looked at the door and narrowed her eyes at her spouse. "So… If you knew, where did you run off to? You don't smell like you've been training." She sniffed the air again. "You smell like new fabric and flowers."
Darius gave her a wry smile. "I went to see Hime and Spring if you must know." He turned and hung a coat hanger that had a black plastic covering over whatever was inside. "I remembered you had been looking at an outfit a while back and wanted to get it eventually…" He removed the cover.
Ember's eyes widened. The outfit was the one she dreamed of having for such a long time. Long red kimono sleeves tipped with a black design along end. Cherry blossoms dotted the length of the sleeves. The short skirt came to mid thigh and gave the illusion of being loose and flowy. The tight black obi around the waist held in place with multiple tasseled ties that hung down well past the knees. Most of all, she wanted to reach out and touch the white fur collar. It looked so soft and inviting to the touch.
"You spoil me too much you know," Ember said unable to say anything else. "Thankyou."
"You spoil me in other ways," he replied with a wink. "You're welcome."
~~~
Chocolatte shook her head. Kirei had been cuddling her while she read from the books Yukkii had given her. She felt off. Knowing what this was, she closed her eyes.
She was in Darius and Ember's bedroom. From the look of it, she was standing next to the bed. Part of her told her not to look down at the bed but instead look at the door.
After a while, the door opened and in walked Siegheart before coming to an abrupt halt, his face reddening in embarrassment. He quickly and quietly retreated back out the door.
She let herself flow through the door to where Siegheart stood outside talking to Kirei and herself. She noted he was purposefully keeping his wrists covered.
"Choco?" Kirei's voice brought her back out of the vision. "You stopped turning the page. Something wrong?"
"My precognition activated," she replied. She looked out the window. "When it gets dark, we need to go to Darius and Ember's room but not go in."
"Did you see something that involves them?" Kirei asked looking concerned.
"No," she replied placing a bookmark in the book and leaning back against him. "We'll see Siegheart there…" She shook her head letting the last remnants of the fuzzy feeling to pass. "I'm not sure for what reason we meet him but I do know he will be there."
Both of them could hear the dice of change starting to rattle… Will they land on a win or will it be snake eyes and doom for the guild?
