“This scent…”

Issei watched with bated breath as colossal black coils crushed the faces of mountains and the titanic beast glided through the jagged peaks, its eyes glowing like twin ultraviolet suns through the dark clouds amassed over its form. 

“This tremor in the world…”

An earth-rending roar sent a shockwave, shattering peaks and flattening trees. Issei was thrown from his feet and, try as he might, he was ragdolled in the furious gale as he bounced hard over the rocky ground. With each tumble, his body protested as sharp stone struck and broke his skin. 

“I know you… I sense you… Ddraig.”

And through the flares of pain and dull ache, Issei gritted his teeth as he pushed himself up to one knee. He took a deep breath and made to stand, but as he did so and set his sight forward, the air in his lungs froze cold. Because right before him was the great slit eye of the immense black dragon that the Demon Lord had summoned against him. 

The dragon’s mouth parted, revealing rows upon rows of ivory fangs and just as quickly, it snapped them shut, sending the wind blasting across his face. Issei gulped the nervous lump in his throat, but nevertheless, he steeled himself. Or at least he tried to. This was his tribulation to overcome, the hurdle he had to cross in order for him to finally unlock his Balance Breaker. 

But the dragon before him seemed content to ignore him in favor of its kin that slumbered within his soul. 

“Do you remember me, my kin?”

But there was a sudden shift as the black slit in the glowing purple eye narrowed and it turned the slightest degree.

“And you,” Issei flinched as he felt the dragon’s mind seize him. “Mortal child damned by the guile of Devils. You whose soul imprisons one of the Heavenly Two… tell me, has Ddraig yet spoken my name?” 

Issei felt his mouth run dry and slowly, painfully, he shook his head. 

The black dragon’s eyes seemed to shine manically, and its great form rumbled with laughter; a dark sound sending peals of thunder through the sky and shivers through Issei’s body. 

“No,” the dragon sneered. “He would not. Ddraig would not deny me an old delight. Such are the old ways. If lessons are to be imparted, then let this be the first – Wyrmkind are a boastful lot. You seek the Welsh Emperor’s power? Then you will need the conceit to perch upon eternity as he did.” 

The gigantic serpentine dragon rose to its full height and Issei threw his arms over his face as a sky-shattering cry shook all of Infernity. Hundreds of bolts of lightning erupted across the churning black clouds and arced from the ancient dragon’s horns and down the spikes that trailed its spine.

I Am the Amassing Cloud Fang!

The Wyrm Who Sundered the Bleak Skies of Yomi! 

With a Motion’s Claw I Raise One Hundred Dead!

With a Moment’s Breath I Rain Miasma on Kingdoms!

With a Mountain’s Will I Ravage Valleys on the Earth! 

I Am So’unga! 

And I Have Returned from Hell!

=======

Ichigo sat on the edge of a jagged cliff, one leg hanging loosely over the drop while his elbow rested against his knee, gaze fixed on the chaos below. The mountains trembled with each movement of So’unga’s massive body, black coils carving through the crags as its claws slammed into the earth where Issei had been a heartbeat earlier, shattering stone and sending fragments spraying through the air.

Issei ran hard, boots skidding over loose rock as he leapt across broken ledges and narrow ridges, his movements fast but uneven, driven more by instinct than control. Behind him, the dragon’s jaws snapped down, tearing through the ground with brutal force as entire sections of earth were ripped free and hurled aside. The terrain collapsed in its wake, cliffs breaking and boulders tumbling as the boy barely kept ahead of the destruction.

Ichigo’s posture remained relaxed, though his eyes tracked every movement with quiet precision, watching how Issei moved, how he faltered, and how he recovered.

At one point the boy even let out an outraged yell. “Give me a break, you shitty black sack of scales!” 

And as Issei roll dodged another swipe of So’unga’s deadly talons, his arm gleamed crimson as Boosted Gear came to life and Ddraig’s presence magnified, subtly pushing back against the Hell Wyrm’s. Though, nowhere near enough to make a beneficial difference to Issei. 

“Do you not think the Black Wind will kill the child, beloved?” 

Ichigo looked to his left to see Tiamat standing there, her sapphire eyes narrowed as she tracked Issei and the various perilous tumbles he made for survival’s sake. Briefly, his eyes raked over her, and he noted the sky-blue skirt and the white corset she was wearing. 

“You look beautiful,” he said with a quiet amusement. 

Her eyes flickered from the rampaging dragon and its fleeing prey over to him. She wrinkled her nose and let out an imperious sniff. “I am always beautiful.” 

“And arrogant,” he responded, smiling at the habitual play between them. But then he returned his attention to the fray in the valley below. “So’unga knows not to take it too far, I’ve got a tight leash around his neck, after all.” 

Tiamat let out a humph and said, “Your talent for taming lesser beasts never ceases to amaze me.” 

Ichigo stood up and brushed off his pants, and then, instinctively, he put an arm around her waist and pulled her against him, planting a soft kiss to her temple. “Yeah, I’ve always been good with wild things. Case in point, a certain overbearing Dragon King,” he said teasingly. 

She glared up at him for a moment, but, nonetheless, leaned deeper against him. 

“Besides,” Ichigo said, “Do you really care if Issei dies?” 

Her lips pulled back as she bared her teeth and the slant of her eyes grew slightly feral. “Not even remotely.” And yet, in a sudden turn, Tiamat’s features softened considerably, her gaze becoming a touch maternal. “But the death of Ddraig’s pitiful prison would greatly trouble that child.”

Ichigo gave her an indulgent smile, knowing all too well what sudden emotion was flickering through her mind. He leaned in for a second kiss on the side of her head.  “I was about to head to Kyoto – Yasaka asked me to stop for that quick favor. Want to tag along?” 

She contemplated for a moment and then nodded quietly. 

And in that same moment, So’unga let out a great roar, its eyes glowing bright against the dark of its scales. The dragon’s claw carved through the mountainside in a single, sweeping motion, its talons digging deep as the stone offered no resistance at all. The ground split open along the path of its strike, a widening chasm tearing through the range until an entire mountain collapsed inward, swallowed by the newly formed gorge. 

From within the depths, a thick, purplish-black miasma surged upward, rolling over the broken terrain in heavy waves that clung to the air and stained the wind. Within that choking haze, numerous silhouettes began to rise. One after another, maimed figures pulled themselves free of the abyss, their movements slow and uneven as they dragged their ruined bodies onto solid ground. Soon there were dozens, no, a hundred shambling corpses moving forward in silence, drawn into sluggish motion by the monstrous will of the dragon above.

“Are you kidding me!” Issei’s indignant cry carried over the screaming winds. “You’re a necromancer too!?” 

Ichigo’s mouth twisted sourly, given his psychopomp heritage and the lingering curse of Hollows that plagued Japan, he had an immense dislike for the undead and necromancy. However, So’unga’s brand of death magic left the souls of the dead unmolested. The ancient dragon only reanimated corpses. 

“Still,” he said, a hint of mischief coloring his voice, “not many dragons use such nuanced magic. Most just settle for raw elemental destruction.” 

Tiamat threw him a sideways glance even as her chin lifting a touch arrogantly. “You are impressed far too easily, beloved. Parlor tricks are for those who do not possess unfiltered, raw might.” 

He let out a low chuckle. “If you say so, beautiful.” 

But Tiamat then leaned her head against his shoulder and the two watched for several more minutes as So’unga chased Issei through the mountains. And in that moment, Ichigo thought to himself this was the single oddest date he’d ever had… well, except for that one time he and Tiamat had gotten stuck in a dimension with nothing but shrimp. 

The places Sinner-hunting landed him… 

But Ichigo’s gaze returned to on the slope below as Issei crashed into the first wave of the undead, his movement stuttering for only a fraction of a second before instinct forced him forward again. His shoulders tightened as he drove a punch straight through the nearest body, the Longinus, Boosted Gear, flaring crimson along his arm as the impact tore the decayed body apart and sent its pieces hurtling back into the others.

Ichigo nodded in appreciation. At least the boy was putting up a fight now, no longer hesitating. 

Nevertheless, the dead closed in from all sides, their movements slow but relentless, forcing Issei into constant motion as he climbed higher along the jagged crags. His sneakers scraped against narrow the footholds when the loose stone broke beneath him as grasping and rotted hands reached for his legs. But Issei twisted sharply, arm snapping forward as the gauntlet pulsed and he cried out “Scatter Shot!” 

Instantly, the Longinus discharged a spread of red draconic bullets, the many blasts fanning outward and shredding through dozens of corpses in a single burst, clearing a path just long enough for him to lunge forward again.

But behind him, So’unga’s claw dragged across the mountainside with a casual wave, and another hundred bodies pulled themselves from the torn earth to replace the fallen.

“Argh!” Issei screamed in frustration, both hands tugging at his brown hair. “Enough with the add spawns!” 

Ichigo’s lips twitched in amusement as Issei then pushed himself harder, the rhythm of his movement shifting under the mounting pressure of a fresh wave of undead enemies. But then Ichigo raised a curious brow as he sensed Issei’s power rise a level, and the boy braced himself on a narrow ledge, drawing in a deep breath even the emerald jewel on the back of Boosted Gear shone brightly.  

“Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!” 

And with each mechanical cry, Issei’s power doubled until it was several times the scale of what it was prior. Ichigo looked on appreciatively, imagining for himself what such an ability would do. If he could double his power near-instantly and continuously? He could probably unleash a world ending Getsuga even in his base form. 

No wonder Ddraig was so feared. 

His gaze flashed back to the conflict below when Issei released it all at once, exhaling a massive torrent of dragon fire that spread wide across the slope, engulfing the advancing dead and burning the mountainside clean in a searing bright orange and yellow light. And for the duration of the breath, the sky above the mountains took on fiery glow. 

Ichigo nodded to himself. “Not bad, not bad at all.” 

If Issei could unlock Balance Breaker, he could probably give nearly every High-class King a decent fight. Hell, if he could master his Balance Breaker, within the current generation of Devils, he’d be the only one capable of combating Sairaorg Bael directly. 

“Kid’s not bad,” Ichigo said, running an idle hand up and down Tiamat’s back. “He might get his Balance Breaker within the day.”

“He is far off from the might of the Welsh Emperor,” Tiamat said closely, causing Ichigo to roll his eyes. 

Because who wasn’t? He highly doubted that, even with his training, Issei would rise to rival one of the Heavenly Dragons in full might on his own. Perhaps, in time, he could master the Boosted Gear in full. Perhaps he could even unlock a sub-species of his Balance Breaker, develop it into a unique evolution. 

But Issei himself? Without the Longinus to grow to equal Ddraig? Ichigo deemed it impossible. 

But… then again… never say never. 

After all, he never thought he’d be standing here helping Boosted Gear’s newest wielder to unlock its power. Especially with Tiamat standing right next to him. But for all her ancient enmity with Ddraig, she wasn’t about to make things difficult for him by killing someone who he had accepted into his charge.

And, despite his outlandish perverseness, Issei wasn’t exactly an evil being who deserved to be murdered simply for being born as the prison of her ancient enemy. 

That being said, Ichigo had read about some of Issei’s school antics in his profile… there had been some outright criminal activities in them. Spying on the girls’ locker room as they changed and watched them in the shower… Verbally harassing girls and asking for their measurements and openly creeping on them… 

Apparently both Sona and Rias had realized that the boy had a powerful Sacred Gear, and they had used their magic and family influence to protect Issei from any serious consequences from what essentially amounted to sexual harassment. Otherwise, the numerous aggrieved girls and their families would have seen Issei expelled and probably sent to a juvenile detention center.

Ichigo held back a sigh. The abuse of authority and all that.

However, Ichigo sensed Tiamat pick up his thoughts from their mental bond, and he could feel Tiamat’s disdain and contempt for the boy, even as her nose scrunched in distaste. And yet, he also felt a thin sense of… vindication? 

He held back a snort as realized that she felt a sort of petty joy in knowing that Ddraig was stuck with such a deplorable host for, potentially, the next several centuries. 

Shaking his head, he leaned over and stole a quick kiss from Tiamat, and then said, “C’mon, we’ve seen enough of this. Let’s grab a light dinner and then head to Kyoto.” 

And with that, they both slipped through the folds of dimensions. 

=======

Ichigo stood across from Yasaka, watching as his wife looked about curiously. She had changed out of her usual loose kimonos and into robes covered in light armor: a segmented cuirass over her chest, a pair of spaulders on both shoulders and leather bound faulds over her thighs. 

All in all, his wife looked ready for war. Especially with the long sword strapped to her side. 

“So, this is one of Beelzebub’s vaunted dimensions,” she said, glancing around appreciatively. 

Ichigo followed her gaze, his eyes tracing over the pocket world and taking in every detail. In this false world, the sky stretched endlessly in shades of yellow and burnt orange, as though the world were caught in an unending sunset. The light cast long, dull shadows across a barren expanse of brown rock that extended to the horizon without interruption. The ground was dry, uneven, and lifeless, broken only by the occasional rise of distant mountains. These peaks stood far apart from one another, isolated and stark against the glowing sky, their silhouettes dark and unmoving in the perpetual dusk.

It was one of Ajuka’s more pleasant space-times, but, nonetheless, the purpose it was built for was one for training - to withstand the might of numerous Ultimate-class powers clashing against one another. 

“Like I said before, an hour on Earth is about two weeks here,” Ichigo noted casually. “With this, no one will notice you have gone from Kyoto and there won’t be any abnormal consequences to the leylines from a prolonged absence on your part.”

Yasaka gave him a small, reassuring smile. “Thank you for this, dear.” But then her smile dipped slightly and she looked away towards the horizon, her expression becoming wistful. “I need to become stronger. I haven’t progressed in my training in decades, especially since Kunou was born. What little free time I had-”

She cut herself off, and Ichigo could see the sudden guilt in her eyes, of having used her daughter as an excuse for her martial stagnation. Not that Ichigo would blame either of the two Kitsune. Undoubtedly, Yasaka was incredibly busy with ruling an entire mythic nation and dealing with all of its internal and foreign issues. What free time Yasaka had these days, she reserved for Kunou… and him.

But then, it was a matter of course for Ichigo to step up and procure one of Ajuka’s sub-spaces for Yasaka. What were husbands for, after all? Besides, it’s not like he couldn’t afford it. Even if that cheapskate Ajuka refused to give him a discount… greedy bastard. 

“What do you want to work on first?” Ichigo asked with a kind smile, tactfully moving past her lingering guilt. 

Yasaka blinked once and then smoothly drew the sword at her waist, a long chokuto, a single-edged straight sword that was common in ancient Japan. Its pommel held a round golden jewel, and it had a slight curve to its handle, which was wrapped in a tight cord of dragon scale leather. 

And as the blade rang clear as Yasaka pulled it fully out of its sheath, it poured forth with an abundance of solar radiance and Ichigo could feel the entire dimension suddenly fill with Holy power. Every mote of dust bathed in a soft and ineffable light that was anathema to everything he stood for. He eyed his wife’s weapon carefully, casting an appreciative glance over its gleaming edge. 

Tenkō Hōgai

A Holy Sword forged by Inari Ōkami herself well over a thousand years ago and gifted to Yasaka’s grandmother. It had been the hallmark of the Kitsune Clan that ruled mythic Japan from Kyoto since ancient times. Yasaka’s grandmother had passed it on to her daughter, who had passed it on to Yasaka in turn when the previous Empress apotheosized and joined Inari and Amaterasu in Takamagahara. 

“I was hoping to work off the rust from my kenjutsu.” And Yasaka gave an expert twirl of the sword, suggesting to Ichigo that there was no actual rust in his wife’s swordsmanship. 

“You seem mighty comfortable with your movements to me,” he said with some mirth. 

Yasaka gave him a thankful smile and said, “It has been a full decade since my last true battle. I’m sure there are some kinks I need to hammer out.” 

Ichigo gave a roguish chuckle. “You know me, I’m always ready to hammer your kinks.” 

Yasaka instantly blushed. “Darling! Behave!” 

“Oh, come on, princess,” he said nonchalantly. “There’s literally no one here but you and me.” 

She fixed him with a stern glare. “Need I remind you that this is serious and I am on the cusp of a civil war?” 

Ichigo shrugged. “And I’m already in the middle of one. It’s like what you told me on my last visit; don’t let the role consume you. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to help you get stronger. But that also includes helping you relax.”

She rolled her eyes, but, nonetheless, Ichigo could see a hint of acceptance and gratitude within them. 

“Anyways,” Ichigo leaned down and grabbed a single rock in his hand, “what are the rules?” 

“No rules, just don’t do anything that will have either of us going to bed angry,” she said simply. 

Ichigo chuckled. “I don’t know, princess. The last time I went to bed with an angry you, I really enjoyed it.” 

“I-chi-go!”

He immediately raised both hands defensively. “Okay, okay! I’m getting serious now!” 

And then Ichigo held out his free hand and Zangetsu burned its way into existence, his soul-sword screaming against reality and unleashing a gargantuan torrent of unseen demonic power that blanket the realm. The ground beneath his feet instantly cracked and burned molten and the holy energies of Yasaka’s sword clashed with Zangetsu’s demonic throes. Miles upon miles of the surrounding environment erupted with sparks of warring light and shadow as the two diametric forces clashed.

“Ready?” He asked with a raised brow. 

Yasaka gave a deft nod, and Ichigo tossed the rock in his hand into the air. He locked gazes with his wife, both of them honing a sharp steel in their eyes, and as soon as the rock hit the ground, they both vanished and instantly reappeared in the middle ground, their swords ringing through the world. 

Ichigo stepped in first, driving a direct thrust toward Yasaka’s centerline, his shoulders rolling through the motion as Zangetsu cut forward with lethal intent. Yasaka shifted a half-step to the side, her blade turning just enough to catch his and guide it past her body, the force of his strike sliding harmlessly along her edge. She then proceeded to press forward. Her wrist rotated and her sword snapped back toward his ribs in a clean, economical return.

Ichigo twisted his torso, letting the strike glance across his guard before he answered with a heavy overhand cut aimed straight for her head. The blow came fast and hard, carrying enough weight to shatter stone, but Yasaka met it with precision rather than strength, angling her blade to deflect and stepping inside his reach as the impact rang through the air. Her footwork remained tight, controlled, each movement conserving effort while forcing him to adjust.

He pressed on without pause, driving another thrust, then a horizontal slash toward her midsection, each strike direct, relentless. Yasaka continued to redirect: her blade catching and turning his attacks aside with minimal motion, using his momentum against him as she carved short, precise counters into the openings his aggression created.

And as the entire exchange happened within in a single second, Ichigo already came to understand the core of Yasaka’s swordplay. The very essence of her center was like flowing water, strong currents that served to redirect and control the opponents flow – and then use the stolen force to press a counteroffensive. 

It was an elegant and refined style; one that heavily focused on taking control of the rhythm of battle. And beyond just her technical footwork and the fluid movement of her arms, Ichigo could perceive something deeper happening within the Kyūbi Empress. Yasaka was a radiant beacon of sacred energy, and even then, there were oceans of chakra within her, moving congruently with her holy power in powerful whirlpools. 

As their swords met again and the air rang with their battle, Ichigo’s eyes briefly widened as he began to understand. 

Yasaka’s sword movements were identical to how the energy within her body was moving. She had made herself into a living engine of power that mystically linked to and vastly augmented her kenjutsu. 

Oh, it’s just like…

Ichigo frequently used his own power as second weapon, brutally shattering reality around him as he unleashed waves of demonic energy. But all those years ago, back when he first trained with Yoruichi and Old Man Zangetsu beneath the Sōkyoku Hill, he had done something very similar. 

She had condensed all of her considerable power into her physical frame. 

He had been wrong – the essence of her center wasn’t flowing water. Those countless swirling strands of power within her weren’t the currents of the ocean. They were the sun. That was the essence of Yasaka’s swordsmanship: the radiant star that dominated the sky. An engine of chakra and holy energies clashing together like a nuclear furnace, held together by her iron will and creating a well of gravity that pushed and pulled all things in its orbits. 

What a beautiful display of genius, he thought, even as he found himself falling in love with her all over again.

However, in that moment, Yasaka’s blade slid up the edge of his, unleashing a shower of searing sparks and Ichigo was forced to quickly move duck his head as his wife nearly cut it off. 

He gave her an impish smile. “A bit telegraphed. You’ll have to be faster than that.” 

Yasaka’s eyes narrowed even as they began to glow gold. And the air around her shimmered in a haze as Yasaka began to emit the heat of the Sun, vaporizing rock and burning the atmosphere away, creating a vacuum that drew in the air and only further caused the heat to skyrocket. 

“Now we’re talking,” he said, a hint of feral delight creeping into his voice. 

And as Ichigo’s own aura rose to match hers, a kingdom’s worth of land was instantly incinerated by their combined heat, leaving nothing but a black and molten chasm as everything quickly began to disintegrate around them. 

Yasaka struck first with a sweeping horizontal cut.

Ichigo met her advance with a measured step back as their blades flared to life, heat spilling from both edges until the air itself shimmered and warped around them. Yasaka burned bright, her presence swelling into something radiant and commanding, each movement of her sword trailing arcs of golden fire that carved through the space between them. Ichigo answered in kind, Zangetsu wreathed in a darker, hungrier blaze that bled outward like a malignant star, its heat pressing low and heavy against reality.

She drove forward, her strikes coming faster now, no longer content to redirect alone. A downward cut forced him to brace and turn it aside, the clash sending a violent surge of heat rippling through the terrain and causing a whole mountain to instantly vaporize into nothingness.

But she followed immediately, pivoting into a rising slash that chased his guard upward before stepping in with a thrust aimed at his chest. Ichigo shifted just enough to let it pass, his blade catching hers at the last instant and sliding it off course.

He did not rush to answer. His shoulders remained loose, his stance grounded as he watched hawkishly as her rhythm tightened, watched for the slight delay in her recovery after each committed strike. When he moved, it was precise and lethal. A short, direct cut which slipped into the opening she left at her flank, but just slow enough that Yasaka could easily parry and learn from an otherwise deadly mistake.

His wife’s eyes sharpened, and she adjusted at once, pressing forward again with renewed focus as their blazing forms clashed once more. 

Zangetsu and Tenkō Hōgai turned molten where their steeled edges cut into one another, and as Ichigo leaned in, putting his body weight against their sword, he suddenly had a mischievous idea. Using his significantly greater physical strength, he forced their sword-lock to his right and looked at his glaring wife dead in the eye. 

And then he stole a kiss. 

Yasaka’s eyes widened immediately and she jumped away, her expression turning furious. “You! Ichigo! You said you were done with your nonsense!”

He gave a slight shrug. “I’m sorry, I really couldn’t help myself. You’re too damn cute when you glare like that.” 

Yasaka’s gaze turned downright venomous and, yes, Ichigo did admit to himself that he was being a bit of a dick. But, even if he never wanted to purposefully send her into a berserk rage, he was the Sin of Wrath. Annoying and teasing his wife was part of the job… at least, he thought so. 

But Yasaka’s fury did not relent. 

Her blade carved a bright arc, sending a destructive beam of light in his direction… not too unlike his own Getsuga, he noted. 

As Ichigo turned it aside with a casual flick of Zangetsu, he suddenly felt a deep shift in her soul. A surge of power gathered at her back and nine tails burst forth in a flare of gold, fanning wide before snapping forward with violent intent. They came from every angle at once, each strike carrying the crushing weight of several mountains, forcing him to move Zangetsu in tight, efficient motions as he caught, deflected, and absorbed the impacts. The force traveled through his arms and into his stance, the ground his feet rippling in shockwaves as he held his position against the barrage.

She pressed him for only a heartbeat more though, before breaking away and creating space between them, her beautiful golden form sliding back across the scorched terrain. Ichigo straightened, rolling his shoulders once as he watched her reset, his gaze sharpening as her tails rose behind her and stilled. Yasaka then lifted Tenkō Hōgai above her head, its burning golden edge blazing brighter as the air bent inward toward her.

Quick enough, Yasaka shone bright, her power increasing several folds and he even briefly sensed Amaterasu’s presence dipping into the mortal plane through her High Priestess.

A vast radiance gathered behind Yasaka, coalescing into the shape of a golden sun, its presence filling the dimension with suffocating heat. Her tails extended outward, rigid and aligned, each one igniting as molten energy poured from their tips, forming towering blades of searing gold that mirrored her own.

Oh boy… even for him, that was a concerning amount of holy power.

Yasaka’s arm came down.

“Yōhō.”

The nine colossal blades followed in perfect unison, descending with overwhelming force as the world was swallowed in a surge of holy fire. The impact bloomed outward in a roaring nova, golden light devouring everything in its path as it crashed over Ichigo’s position and consumed him entirely.

=======

Yasaka stared as the entire realm and, more importantly, her husband was consumed in furious sunlight. A radiant bloom that annihilated everything for several hundred miles. But it wasn’t enough, she knew it wasn’t enough.

If ever the day came where she could call forth the full power of the Sun, even then, it would not be enough to truly hurt her husband. He who was armored from head to toe in the terror of the First Flame, of Hell itself. She could have dropped all the fire in Creation on his head, and she doubted he’d even notice. 

And there were times when Yasaka wondered if Ichigo himself realized just how horrifying he was. The day that she met him, near three years ago now, even then he was immensely powerful. A well of gravity, of dark and malicious power, that tugged at the folds of reality with every step he took. And then when the other Crown Princes forcibly mantled him as their sibling, he had become even more monstrous. 

And still he smiled, still he laughed with her daughter and held her gentle in his arms. For all the Anger and Hate they had put inside him, it only seemed to make him even warmer, even more loving. And she thought to herself - that his near-limitless capacity for love is what made him blind to his own horror. Because wherever he walked, the rest of the supernatural world bowed, they averted their gaze as Satan strode smiling. 

But he never seemed to notice; he never seemed to care. 

No, her Ichigo only ever kept his eyes on those he loved. Those he deemed worthy of his affection. So secure and comfortable, cradled in his dread power, he never concerned himself with the whispers and fearmongering left in his wake. And, oddly enough, it brought a certain level of security to her as well. That he was so self-assured, that he was so confident, it made her believe it herself. 

Ichigo made her feel… safe.

And it was in that safety that she felt so secure in unleashing one of her most powerful abilities, infused with her enormous reserves of chakra and holy power. And even a sliver of borrowed divinity from her Lady. 

As the light of the Radiant Sun dimmed, and all that was left was a kingdom’s worth of land reduced to a burning crater of molten gold, Yasaka’s eyes went wide and her heart beat with a powerful tremor. 

She was wrong. 

Because her husband stood there, stoic and poised, with a single arm stretched out in front of him in defense. And it was burned black. 

His left arm was completely charred and even partially disintegrated. As charcoaled flesh crumbled away from parts of his forearm and blackened bone was revealed underneath, Yasaka felt bile creep into her throat.

“You…,” her voice trembled, a surge of emotions choking her. “You idiot!”

In less than a second, she was by his side, a quivering hand reaching up to his decimated arm but stopping just an inch away out of fear she would destroy what was left. 

“Why didn’t you protect yourself!?” She cried. “What on earth possessed you to take on that attack, one infused with holy and divine energy, with your physical body?!”

Strangely enough, her Ichigo merely looked over to his hand with some macabre fascination and then flexed his blackened and skeletal fingers. 

“Eh,” he said with an infuriatingly casual shrug. “I was curious to see how much holy power my physical body could withstand. Gotta say, princess, was not expecting a touch of borrowed divinity. Good job.” 

She stared at him flabbergasted. “Good-good job? … are you insane!? You idiot! You single brain-celled demonic brick for brains ass of a husband!”

And to her increasing furor, Ichigo merely gave her an indulgent smile. 

“Sweetheart, relax. I’m fine. Look.” And he brought his hand before her and, within seconds, his high-speed regeneration saw his arm whole and immaculate once more. 

“See?” He said with the same infuriating smile. 

Yasaka took a deep breath through her nose, put Tenkō Hōgai back into its sheath… and then proceeded to punch her husband straight in the gut! 

“Oof!” Ichigo doubled over gripping his abdomen, but given the still twitching corner of his lips, she knew all too well that she hadn’t really hurt him. So, with a big ‘humph’ Yasaka crossed her arms and turned around, a mighty pout on her lips. 

“Oh, come on,” he groaned from behind. “Yasaka, I’m perfectly fine! There’s no way that attack could have killed me! It was just one arm! And I regenerated it instantly!” 

She knew that! Did he think her stupid? But that wasn’t the point! Did he think she wanted to see him so heavily injured? Even if it was a minor thing to him. And by her own hand no less? 

Yes, they were in the middle of a spar, but she had specifically said not to do anything that would make them go to bed angry! Bah! He could be so inconsiderate sometimes! 

She continued to ignore him and refused to turn around even as Ichigo continued to call her name.

After several futile moments, she heard Ichigo let out an exasperated sigh from behind her, and the sound only further fueled her fury as her eyes widened and her nostrils flared. How dare he sigh! She was the one who was utterly incensed here! 

“Yasaka,” he called softly, even as she felt his arms around her waist and she was suddenly pulled from behind against his chest. And as shock of orange hair came into her peripheral view from behind her head, she felt him kiss her temple. “I’m sorry.” 

And then another kiss, this one slightly slower, where her jaw touched her cheek. 

“I’m sorry,” he repeated. “I should have asked you first. But I thought you’d hold back out of fear of hurting me, I wanted to see you at your full strength.” 

She narrowed her eyes further and kept her arms crossed, even as Ichigo dropped his chin onto her shoulder. 

“I won’t do it again,” he promised. But after several more moments when she continued to give him the silent treatment, Ichigo kissed her cheek once more. “I love you.” 

Of course he loved her! How was that ever in doubt? 

“And I promise I’ll stop being an idiot and take things seriously.” 

She snorted. As if! That was one promise Satan definitely would never be able to keep! The day that Ichigo stopped being stupid and reckless would be the day when Amaterasu-sama would decide to become a gravure idol! 

Never gonna happen!

But then, much to her surprise, Ichigo nuzzled against her and gave a firm kiss on her neck, even briefly nipping at the softness of her skin with his teeth. She let out a yelp and turned to glare at him. “Are you seriously trying to seduce me even in this situation.” 

But as she made the mistake of finally acknowledging him, her husband smiled down with devilish triumph. 

“I will always try and seduce you.” 

“Y-You-mmph! ~Mmm~”

And Ichigo stole Yasaka’s lips. 

=======

12 Hours Earlier

Yasaka moved slowly along the stone path, her steps unhurried, her attention turned inward rather than to the garden around her. Butterflies drifted lazily through the warm air, their wings catching the light as they passed, while small birds flitted between branches overhead, their soft calls barely registering in her thoughts. In the nearby pond, golden koi broke the surface in smooth arcs before slipping back beneath the water, sending gentle ripples across the glassy surface. 

She continued on without pause, her gaze distant, her expression quiet as the world carried on around her unnoticed.

Mythic Japan was now officially fractured as Tsukiyomi-sama’s quiet and subtle machinations over the centuries finally bore fruit. While Kyoto ever remained a bastion of Amaterasu-sama’s faithful, the southern coasts and their daimyo Yōkai had turned traitor, offering their allegiances to the Lord of the Night. While unsurprising, given the southern prefectures had long held many loyal adherents to the Moon, it was still an immense blow to the once proud unity under her reign. 

There hadn’t been open defiance against the Kitsune Clan’s rule since her own mother sat on the throne, and that particular incident was well over five-hundred years ago. Five hundred years of unified peace had so suddenly ended. Even now, she had been forced to order troop movements through Japan, but with extreme caution lest the other side automatically assume hostilities and preemptively attack. 

If possible, Yasaka wanted to avoid bloodshed as much as possible and keep her lands from the ruin of war. Unlike her husband, she didn’t live in the magically enriched realms that made up the Underworld. A supernatural war in Japan would be geographically and ecologically disastrous. 

She turned her gaze to the sky, to the bright hues of the late morning just before high noon. It was her favorite time of day, the most productive time of day. Sadly, her thoughts were so consumed with the innumerable things she had to do and the equally innumerable things that worried her that she couldn’t even pretend to be productive. 

Which was why she was now taking a slow walk, trying to ease her mind - and failing miserably at that. 

Yasaka let out a tired sigh… things were not going well.  

However, in that moment, she perked up and Yasaka’s golden tails, flowing ethereally behind her, suddenly froze. And in the next second, she lashed out with her tails and tore an entire tree apart, the searing touch of her sun-lit fur reducing the wood and leaves to smoldering ashes.

Instantly, a shadow leapt away and fell before her, slowly coalescing into the smiling form of her childhood friend and one time lover. 

“One heck of a greeting, Hime,” Akihiko said with a playful smile.

But Yasaka merely stood there with her hands folded within her sleeves, her expression frigid and emotionless. And Akihiko was quick to pick up on her building anger as he held up two hands in his defense and took a nervous step back. 

“Wait, hold up, Yasaka! I’m not looking for a fight!” 

But none of that mattered to her. “I warned you,” she said austerely, “I told you to never return, that you were banished from my palace.” 

 “I’m sorry! But Yasaka, please! You’re in danger!” 

Her eyes narrowed at the desperate plea in his voice, and as she said nothing more and continued to glare, he took it as an invitation to continue on. 

“Things are getting dangerous! The southern lords are a hair’s length away from openly rebelling and more and more of the fringe clans are talking about taking the Night’s side,” Akihiko said worriedly. “And you’re right in the center of it, Yasaka!” 

“I’ve noticed,” she said sardonically, not caring to keep the bite out of her tone. 

“And by proxy…” he said cautiously, “So is Kunou.” 

Yasaka’s lips curled and she could begin to feel her teeth sharpen into fangs in her mouth as her anger continued to build. “Take care, Akihiko. You are treading on thin ice.” 

“Yasaka, please! I’m not your enemy!” He responded anxiously. “I don’t want either of you in the middle of a civil war! Or any war! But so long as you stay here, so long as you’re bound to Amaterasu you and our daughter are stuck fighting her wars!” 

“Her wars?” She echoed venomously. “This is not her war. My Lady was not the one to start thi- oh…. oh, Akihiko.” And the rage in her stilled for a second as realization hit her, and painfully at that too. “You’ve taken his side, haven’t you? Is that what this is? Has the Night commanded you to convince me to betray my Lady?” 

“No!” Akihiko yelled immediately. “That’s not what this is! I’m on no one’s side except your side, Yasaka! On our daughter’s side! Our side! Our family’s! I don’t give a damn what goes on in Takamagahara! Just like they don’t care about us! I just want you and Kunou safe and away from all this madness!” 

And he motioned helplessly, pleading with her. “Yasaka, please. Just come with me, we can leave it all behind! We can find some place, far removed from the Immortal Tears and their never-ending rivalry and live in peace. Staying here in Japan out of some misguided loyalty to an uncaring divine will only needlessly put Kunou in danger!” 

Misguided? She yelled in the confines of her own mind.

And that was it, that was all that she needed to hear. He really thought that she was stubbornly putting her daughter in danger out of one-sided zealotry? Akihiko truly did not understand the bond that was between her and Amaterasu-sama, the metaphysical link that made her more than just a priestess, but a facet of the Rising Sun. 

It was not some foolish, blind religious dogma that bound her to Amaterasu-sama, it was a deep fundamental part of her very existence. 

“I warned you,” she said coldly. 

“Y-Yasaka?” He asked uncertainly. 

“At least that way, I could have kept what fond memories I had of you untainted.” 

Because she had a daughter, because she had a husband, because she had an entire empire to look after. She could not make that mistake; she could not afford any sentimental notion that would jeopardize everything she considered hers. Her daughter, her husband, her empire. All hers. Kitsune were greedy creatures, and Yasaka would never give up what was hers. 

Her tails unfurled like banners of the Dawn, golden and radiant and filled with solar rage. 

“Die, Akihiko,” she said emotionlessly.

“Hime! Wait! No!” 

But as the fury of the Sun descended upon him, Yasaka was shocked to see a phantom serpent blacker than midnight arise from Akihiko’s form and cover him in a protective cocoon. And in the next second, the abyssal serpent spirited him away. 

=======

Ichigo stared at the burnt orange sky as he lay on his back utterly nude, the volcanic rock around still molten as he and Yasaka had unleashed much of their energies in their wild lovemaking. He looked down from the sky and at his equally as nude wife sprawled across his chest as she absently traced circles along his chest with her finger. 

“So that’s why you wanted the sudden training regiment,” he said as he put his hand on the back of her thin waist. 

Yasaka let out a small hum. 

Ophis.

And the simple thought of the Infinite Ouroboros’ name darkened his mind and cast a slight gloam over reality, darkening the hues and colors of the artificial world. 

“Akihiko has been empowered by the Void,” Yasaka murmured softly. “I never thought his desperation and obsession would lead him so astray. That he would cast his lot with Khaos Brigade and betray me personally by siding with Tsukiyomi-sama.”

Ichigo gently patted his wife on the back. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think he was lying. I don’t think he’s on anyone’s side. Well, except for his.” 

Yasaka snorted disdainfully. “Certainly not mine. He may be my oldest friend, but I will never allow him and his obsession to harm my family.” 

And with that, Yasaka pulled away and sat up, straddling his waist. She then reached down and cupped his face and stared deep into his eyes, and he could feel her very soul reach out towards his. 

“Ichigo…”

He said nothing and merely continued to stare into those golden eyes. 

“You are Kunou’s father. Just as you will be the father for all my children in the future. I don’t want any other husband; I don’t want any other man. Just you, for the rest of my, hopefully, immortal life.” 

Ichigo felt his wife’s sunlight blossom in his chest, and he reached up and slowly pulled her down for a kiss. “I love you, princess.” 

“I love you too, dear… now get dressed so I can kick your ass all over again.” 

And Ichigo laughed as he hugged her tightly. 

=======

A/N: Apologies for the delay in the upload of this chapter. I, unfortunately, got entangled in some family drama. Anyone else have a distant uncle that always speaks without thinking and manages to insult everyone in the room?

Anyways, it was fun finally writing So'unga and giving him some long overdue justice. It was also a bit of a flex chapter, Ichigo's regneration can now actively work against holy and divine energies, making his durability much higher now. Oh, and Yasaka is fully resolved to kill Akihiko now.

Poor bastard, got his daughter and childhood friend taken from him by that brightly colored haired no good punk!

天煌豊刈 (Tenkō Hōgai) - Heavenly Raidiance, Bountiful Reaper

陽崩 (Yōhō) - Solar Collapse

Obviously, Yasaka has her mythical solar powers through Amaterasu. But the Shinto deity of the harvest and foxes is, of course, Inari. Crops are sown and when they are harvested, they are reaped. Naturally, I couldn't ignore juxtaposing it with Ichigo and his Soul Reaper origins. It's also a lovely parallel with Ichigo's Resurrección, which I had revealed on Discord last year.

天魔 斬月 (Tenma Zangetsu) - Heavenly Demon, Slaying Moon