Ichimatsu darted away from the fight, Jyushimatsu immediately covering his retreat as Karamatsu turned his full wrath onto the inugami. My fingers scrambled for a brush blindly, keeping my focus on the fight before the ao andon refocused his attention back to me. I could only gasp before he was back on top of me, a large gash cutting from his left forehead to his right cheek. His blood dripped down onto my face as a look of fury was exchanged between us.

"I've had enough, little storyteller," Karamatsu leaned close, his taloned hands ripping apart my kimono while I barely heard Ichimatsu's roar of anger over my thundering heartbeat, "You are mine."

I shouted out my protest, thrusting the brush against his skin.

The pale stallion hairs caressed the chill flesh underneath, swiping upwards from where the bristles had pressed against Karamatsu's neck. He hissed loudly as he tried to pull away from its touch, growling in defiance as Ichimatsu jumped onto Karamatsu's back and shoving him between us. I narrowly dodged the pointed handle shoved back towards my head as I pulled the brush over his eyes, intentionally blinding the ao andon before a brilliant blue glow flooded my vision.

The heavy weight that had been pressed against me momentarily pulled away, my back remaining against the floor as I covered my eyes with a kimono sleeve, wincing while a monstrous shriek sounded all around me. Claws dug into my sides as if someone was clinging to me like a lifeline, the pain ushering a pained cry from my throat before the sensation was replaced by a short release, waves of agony flushing over my nerves and skin.

I fought to utter the words of the spell through the pain, the light growing in intensity behind the sleeve before it suddenly went dark.

"(Y/n)!"

A pair of arms held me close while an uncomfortable pressure fought with the pain thrumming in my sides, drawing a moan between my lips. I slowly opened my eyes to see a worried Ichimatsu kneeling over me as his vulpine ears were fully attentive towards me, his fox-like eyes taking in every detail he could while I felt my body shift more into his lap.

"Ichimatsu..." I gave a soft smile despite the pain I still felt, "Did it work?"

"Wonderfully," He kissed me deeply, pulling away hesitantly before one of his hands shifted down to press something bulky against my left side, "I'll manage these wounds. Please rest, my beloved."

"Are they...bad?"

"Not deep enough to do any lasting damage," Another kiss interrupted him, "Karamatsu is not awake, Jyushimatsu is currently binding him. You're my priority right now."

My hands reached up and gripped the front of his kimono as tightly as I could, pulling him down for another kiss like I had been starved for it, "I love you."

Ichimatsu pressed his lips against hers, silently casting a sleeping spell over her before her head gently lolled against his left arm. Without moving much, Ichimatsu dragged over a rather large bolt of cloth that had been knocked from its shelving during the fight and rolled it into a thick pillow, carefully tucking it underneath (y/n)'s head.

It took everything in him to not slaughter Karamatsu, mortal or not.

The ao andon had taunted and tortured his beloved for too long, the kitsune hoping that his presence during the storytelling would be enough to keep the hungry fear-eater at bay. However, Karamatsu was more arrogant than Ichimatsu originally thought, the ao andon actively stripping the mortal down to her flesh while dodging all attacks aimed at him. Ichimatsu and Jyushimatsu had tried to force him into a corner, yet he slipped through their wall and feasted on (y/n)'s fear of being raped.

With the source of his food in his hands, Karamatsu grew so vain that he had begun to ignore the other two yokai actively fighting him.

Ichimatsu's eyes wandered over to the hunched form of the inugami, his eyelids lowering in shame as his own killing blow had been diverted by Jyushimatsu's fangs. The winter hues fully closed against the memory of seeing (y/n)'s chest fully bare and Karamatsu's hand reaching towards her.

Jyushimatsu had bitten down on the kitsune's forearm harshly, redirecting his own attack and switching to claws when his teeth were occupied. The inugami had been the one to protect (y/n) from further harm after he sent the kitsune flying with a bodily spin, releasing his jaw when enough momentum had built up.

The kitsune gently trailed an index finger across (y/n)'s forehead, brushing the hair away from her face before he began to fully redress her in his clothes. They weren't in any better condition, but he thought she would be more comfortable wrapped in his scent.

His hands carefully went to work stitching up the claw marks along her sides, slowly pulling the torn skin back together before placing a clean rag over them. His fingertips were dutiful in redressing his beloved, ensuring that every fiber on his ragged kimono covered her skin or stitching up the tears to fully clothe her again.

"You almost killed him."

His ears pinned back in annoyance, not wanting to discuss the topic.

"I don't blame you."

"Why?"

"I had the same intention," Jyushimatsu sat next to Ichimatsu, his gaze briefly glancing over (y/n)'s sleeping form before looking towards the kitsune, "However, I needed to protect her."

"And killing him wouldn't have been protecting her?"

"(Y/n) would be sad."

The vulpine ears lost their tension, Ichimatsu barely nodding in agreement.

"...I wish you had killed me."

Both yokai looked towards the prone form of Karamatsu, his eyes focused on the wooden ceiling above them while his hands and feet remained bound in rope.

"Your death wouldn't be enough payment for everything you've done," Ichimatsu growled, a corner of his lips lifted in disgust.

"My life won't be enough payment, either."

"That's not your decision," Jyushimatsu quipped, not facing Karamatsu anymore.

Silence filled the storehouse for a long while, only the quiet breathing of (y/n) drawing Ichimatsu's interest as he continued to fawn over her sleeping form.

"Do you think she'll want to speak to me?" Karamatsu huffed in bored amusement, "After everything I've done?"

My eyes opened gently while the sound of crackling wood filled the storehouse, feeling well rested and less injured than before as my fingers felt out the fabric covering my body.

The familiar scent of Ichimatsu was a dear comfort.

"You're awake," The kitsune spoke gently, leaning over into my field of vision before holding out a hand towards me, "Care to try sitting up?"

I only nodded while reaching out and grasping his hand, feeling him completely support me while I tested out my muscles. As I moved, I felt Ichimatsu press himself more against me, like he was using his body as a brace should I fall.

"You tended to me," My fingers barely brushed against the fabric around my sides, feeling the bulky padding between them and my skin, "Was it difficult?"

"Not for me," He offered a gentle smile before the expression fell from his face, "There is...one point of concern, though."

Ichimatsu looked from me towards my left, guiding my attention to the groveling form of Karamatsu. The renewed mortal had his forehead pressed against the backs of his hands, the palms glued to the floor while his knees were bent underneath his chest.

I could see the wounds that he had succumbed to as a yokai, the aged blood staining the dark blue fabrics of the shredded kimono Karamatsu wore.

"Karamatsu," I breathed out his name, noticing a shudder tear through his frame. It was like he was terrified of me, "Lift your head."

"I dare not, (y/n). I have caused you enough grief in this life through a gift that you willingly gave. I don't have any right to look at you anymore."

"If you will not look at me, then listen to me," My voice trembled, partially thankful that I wasn't forced to look at the face that had terrorized me, "Anything that I demand you do won't be enough to right the wrongs you've committed against me or my family. I do accept that what you did wasn't wholly your decision, but I'm not ignorant enough to wipe away everything."

"I wouldn't ask for anything else," Karamatsu verbally agreed.

"I don't want to see you ever again," I pressed my face against Ichimatsu's shoulder, closing my eyes against the rough fabric of his undertunic, "The others are meeting in Nagoya. I'd start there if you're looking for forgiveness."

"As you wish."

I waited until I heard one of the storehouse doors closed before I looked up towards Ichimatsu before casting my gaze towards Jyushimatsu standing aside, "Shall I seal you both away?"

"If that's what you want."

"It is."