As Akira walked along the dusty road, she felt the weight of her worries and fears begin to dissipate. The warm sun and the gentle breeze were soothing her soul, and she felt a sense of peace that she had not felt in a long time. The rhythm of her footsteps and the sounds of the wind and the trees were like a beautiful symphony.

She closed her eyes and breathed in the smell of nature around her. It was such a refreshing smell. She couldn't smell any wisteria nearby so that meant there wasn't any wisteria house close by. She kept walking in search for signs of life but even as the sun went down there wasn't any in sight.

As the sun began to set, Akira started to feel a twinge of worry. She had not seen a single person or village since she left Asakusa, and she was starting to wonder if she was lost.

"If I continue on this road, surely I will find something." She thought to herself, her steps becoming more determined.

But as the night fell, her fear began to grow.

She decided that she would at least find a cave to sleep in for she could not continue walking through the night. She checked to make sure her cave wasn't hiding any unwanted demons, and, satisfied with that, she built a small campfire in her cave to keep her warm. Her kusari fundo by her side, she was prepared to cut down any demon that dared to attack her.

As Akira sat by the fire, she began to feel drowsy. Her eyes fluttered as she struggled to stay awake. But the flames danced in front of her like a lullaby, and before long, she was fast asleep. But in her sleep, she had a strange and vivid dream. She was standing in a field, surrounded by a sea of wisteria. The air was heavy with the sweet scent of the flowers, and she could hear a voice calling out to her in the distance.

Bolting awake, she was startled to see three pairs of eyes looking down at her in concern. Her body acted out of instinct before her brain could process things. She found herself swinging at the demon. Lucky, Kokushibo was able to move away in time so that only his hand was cut off. The hand immediately regenerated.

"I apologize for startling you." Kokushibo said, his voice calm and reassuring. "I merely wished to check on you, as you seemed to be having a rather restless sleep." He added, his tone apologetic.

But Akira couldn't help but feel a rush of relief when she realized it was him.

"Are you alright?" He asked, his golden eyes filled with concern.

"Kokushibo-san, you're here." She said excitedly. "I'm sorry for cutting your hand. It was a reflex. And you're right, I was having quite a strange dream."

"There is no need to apologize." Kokushibo said, his face softening into a smile. "I know you did not mean to harm me. And I am most interested in hearing about your dream." He said, taking a seat next to her.

"Would you be willing to share it with me?" He asked, his voice gentle and encouraging.

She nodded her head as she sat up straight.

"It was dark and I was in a field surrounded by wisteria. I don't remember anything else but I know it was troubling. Perhaps with time I'll eventually remember what the dream was about."

"Wisteria is often associated with purification and protection." Kokushibo said, his tone was thoughtful.

"Perhaps your subconscious is telling you that you are safe and protected, even in your sleep." He added, a small smile on his face. "I am curious if the dream will come back to you."

His golden eyes were shining in the flickering light of the fire.

"Hm, perhaps you're right." She said thoughtfully before she turned and eyed him with a smile. "I'm happy to see you again, Kokushibo-san."

"I am equally happy to see you again, Akira-san." Kokushibo said, his face alight with joy. "Our last meeting was rather... unexpected."

"But I am glad that it led to our friendship." He said, the sincerity of his words evident in his eyes.

"Me too." She responded. "I wasn't sure when we'd meet again but I must admit your talent at finding me with such ease is quite welcome."

Kokushibo chuckled, a deep and pleasant sound.

"I merely followed the sound of your koto." He said, his smile was full of warmth.

"I could sense your presence from quite a distance away." He added, his tone almost teasing. "It seems you are rather talented in your own right."

"Hm, so you are saying you could hear me from far away. That's really interesting. Can you elaborate more on that?" She said, her voice piqued in interest.

"We are able to hear the sound of one's heart, and it can lead us to the person we are searching for." He explained, as if imparting a great secret. "I have always had this ability, but it is more pronounced now that I am a demon."

"It must be quite useful. If I had such skills I wouldn't have to walk for miles looking for the next place I visit." She replied with a dreamy expression. "I wouldn't be sleeping in a cave in the middle of nowhere."

"I suppose you are right." Kokushibo said, chuckling at her words.

"Though I must say, there is a certain charm to sleeping in a cave, surrounded by nature." He added, a twinkle in his eye. "It is something you would not experience while staying in a fancy inn."

"Well you are right about that." She replied with a chuckle.

She looked up at him with a smile wondering all sorts of things about him. He was still such a mystery to her even though it felt like they had known each other for years.

Kokushibo looked down at her, a thoughtful expression on his face. He could tell she was curious about him, and he wondered if it would be wise to share more about himself. He did not want to scare her away, but he did not want to hide the truth from her either.

"What would you like to know about me?" He asked, his voice gentle and sincere.

"Hm, well I already know what you like to do, even though it is a little boring and we need to change that. But you know, I never did ask you something. Your name is Kokushibo right? But what is it you would like me to call you? Is there a shortcut? A nickname even?"

Kokushibo was taken aback by her question, not expecting her to ask such a thing. But he found himself pleased by her thoughtfulness, and he smiled.

"You may call me Koku, if you wish." He said, his voice soft.

It was a name he had not been called in centuries, but he found that he liked the sound of it coming from her lips. Part of him wanted her to call him by the name he had used when he was still a human but he didn't know if he was ready to revisit that part of his life. He would rather make new memories with her than revisit the old bitter ones.

"Koku," Akira tried it out. "It sounds so cute. Is there any nickname you want to call me by? I've never really had one so I can't really think of one at the top of my head."

She said this with a slight blush.

"I think Akira is a beautiful name, and it does not need a nickname." Kokushibo said, his eyes full of admiration. "You should not feel the need to change it."

"Thank you , I'm glad you think that." She replied with a close eyed smile. "So - Koku, tell me a little more about yourself. Something no one else knows. If that's okay with you."

Kokushibo was silent for a moment, as he considered what to tell her. He decided to share something that had been on his mind for a long time.

"When I was a child, before I became a demon, I had a deep love of literature." He said, his voice was quiet and thoughtful.

"I would spend hours reading and writing poems." He said, his face softening. "I have not thought of those things in a long time."

"Ah so you write?" She exclaimed in wonder. "I would love to read one of your poems one day. So what were your favorite pieces of literature?"

"There are many, but one of my favorites is The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter." Kokushibo said, a nostalgic look on his face. "I found the story of the moon princess, Kaguya-hime, to be so enchanting and magical. It made me feel as if I had been transported to another world."

His eyes were glistening with wonder as he recalled these memories.

"And the poetry in the work is so beautiful, it is hard to describe."

"It must have been an excellent story if you give it such praise. Next time I come across a library I will make sure to look for it." She replied with a fond smile.

"I would highly recommend it." Kokushibo said, his eyes lighting up at the thought of someone else enjoying the tale as much as he did. "Another one of my favorites is The Tale of Genji."

"Wow it seems you have some interesting hobbies, Koku-san." She replied, her curiosity piqued."So what else can you tell me about yourself. What other things did you enjoy doing as a child?"

"I enjoyed learning about the world." Kokushibo said, his voice filled with nostalgia. "I loved reading about different cultures and places. I wanted to travel the world and see everything there was to see. But I never got the chance, and I never will."

There was a touch of sadness in his tone as he talked about this.

"You don't have to sound so sad. I'm positive you will get the opportunity to travel." She told him with an encouraging smile. "Perhaps you can show me the places you love to visit some day. I mean it's only fair that you know about my dango shop that I know about that place special to you as well. Wouldn't you agree, Koku-san?"

"You're right." Kokushibo said, his eyes lighting up at her words. "It is only fair that you know about my favorite places, just as I know about your dango shop."

"And I think I would like that very much." He added, a little shyly. "To have someone to share these things with."

Akira couldn't help but be a little flustered with how he was looking at her all of a sudden. It caused a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was such a foreign feeling. She wondered what could possibly be going on in his mind.

"Well, I believe I owe you a song ..."

"Your company is more than enough." He said, his voice soft and genuine. "But I would be honored to hear you play. You have such a gift, Akira-san."

"You flatter me, Koku-san. But I did promise you a song. Let me play one for you." She replied as she took out her koto and began to play the song she had composed for him.

Kokushibo listened to the song with rapt attention, his eyes focused solely on Akira. The notes flowed through the air, like a river of sound. It was a piece that he had never heard before, and yet it felt as if it had been written just for him. As the song came to an end, he let out a sigh of contentment.

"It was beautiful." He said, his voice was full of emotion.

"Thank you." She said with a slight blush. "I'm pleased that you enjoyed it."

"It was more than just enjoyment." Kokushibo said, his eyes meeting hers. "It was like a breath of fresh air, a respite from the darkness of my life. I can't thank you enough for that."

She looked up at him with a smile on her face.

"Well I will say that of all my listeners, playing for you was quite enjoyable."

"And of all the people I have listened to, you are by far the most talented." Kokushibo said, a small smile on his lips. "I must confess, I have never heard such beautiful music before. You are a true artist, Akira-san."

She looked down at her hands as she found that the intensity in his eyes flustered her even more. She didn't know why she was feeling so flustered. He was not the first man she had talked to. So what was it about him?

Akira could not put her finger on it, but there was something about Kokushibo that drew her in. It was more than just his good looks or his kind words. It was something deeper, something she couldn't quite name. But whatever it was, she found herself drawn to him, like a moth to a flame.

"Koku-san, I know it's so sudden for me to ask but-"

"You may ask me anything, Akira-san." Kokushibo said, his voice gentle and reassuring. "I will answer to the best of my ability." He added, his eyes full of sincerity.

He felt a strange sense of anticipation, as if he was about to hear something important.

"Will you stay for the night. Your company is strangely comforting. I would rather have you here than be all alone." She replied, her heart beat erratic all of a sudden.

Kokushibo was taken aback by her request, but he found himself unable to refuse. He wanted to be near her, to stay close to her. He did not know why, but he felt drawn to her in a way he had never felt before.

"If you are sure, I would be honored to stay." He said, his voice was steady and calm.

"Yes I am sure." She replied all too happily.

"Then I will gladly stay by your side, Akira-san." Kokushibo said, his eyes warm and soft.

He did not know why he felt the need to protect her, but it was a powerful urge, one he could not ignore.

"I will guard you through the night." He added, his tone firm and protective. 

"I appreciate that, Koku-san." She replied with a smile. "Of course you don't have to guard me. I'm more than capable of defending myself. I seem to recall I fared quite well against you."

"You are indeed a capable warrior, Akira-san." Kokushibo said, a hint of pride in his voice. "But that does not mean I will not watch over you."I would feel remiss if I did not."

His eyes held hers, his expression intense. His gaze ignited that unfamiliar feeling in the pit of her stomach again, a feeling of butterflies fluttering in her stomach. The more he looked at her like that, the more she felt flustered.

"Then I will feel honored to be under your care."

"It is my honor to be able to care for you." Kokushibo said, his voice deep and sincere. "I am glad that you trust me enough to allow this."

His tone was soft and gentle. It was a strange feeling, to have someone trust him so completely. He had not felt that in a long time, if ever.

"Well trust is an important thing I'm building relationships." She said with a blush. "I mean - of course I trust you. You surprisingly make it easy to."

Kokushibo felt a flutter in his chest at her words. He had never thought of trust as something that could be built, something that could be developed over time. But now, with Akira, he could see the truth of those words.

"I am honored to have earned your trust." He said, his words honest and heartfelt. "I will strive to continue to deserve it."

She gave him a warm smile before she suddenly found herself yawning.

The yawn made Kokushibo smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"It seems it is time for you to get some rest, Akira-san." He said, his tone gentle and understanding. "You can sleep peacefully, knowing I will be here to watch over you."

"Of course, Koku-san." She replied with a smile as she proceeded to lie down. "Will you still be here when I wake up?"

"I will not leave your side, Akira-san." Kokushibo said, his voice filled with conviction. "I will be here when you wake, and I will be here when you sleep."

His gaze never left hers. It was as if he was determined to be there for her, no matter what.

His words warmed her heart and filled her with hope as she slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep.