“I do feel grateful but I would never force myself to fake interest. All the times I smiled at you or did anything for you, was because I truly felt it. And I want you to know that now.”

Jin lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. "I can tell that now, and I feel foolish for ever thinking you might act otherwise." It still baffled him that this lovely goddess could want a simple wandering mortal like himself. He would thank Seriyuu for small favors, though, and happily live with her so long as she would let him. He still worried a little that she would tire of him someday, but he dismissed that thought. For now he would take it one day at a time and make as many good memories as possible for them both.

“I…I wanted to…look nice for you…”

Jin looked at her, and smiled. "You always look lovely, Shiho. Always." He was reminded, for just a second, of her bathing in the stream and his cheeks tinged faintly pink. Would she be mad if he told her he'd seen her? Perhaps he'd finally work up the nerve to tell her once they reached their room at the inn. "But I must admit that outfit does suit you."

“I also have something for you…”

Jin grinned. He wondered what she had for him. He had not gotten many gifts during his life. He got his flute from his mother, but nothing else really came to mind. Whatever it was, he knew he'd love and treasure it. He reached the inn, and entered, holding the door so Shiho and Gojou could enter. Gojou instantly darted about checking out the others in the common room. The innkeeper looked at the dog with alarm.

"Hey, you can't-!"

Jin used his ability to tell Gojou to stay by his side. "He's with me, sorry. He'll behave himself, though, won't you, Gojou?" The dog wagged his tail happily.

The Innkeeper shook his head but smiled. "Only for you, Jin, you know that?" He then noticed Shiho. "Afternoon, Miss."

Jin grinned. "She's with me too." Those four words made his heart soar. He started for their room, nodding to the innkeeper. "I'll be around later to earn my keep."

"You actually paid this time." The elderly man replied. "Enjoy yourself for once. You young people work too hard..."

Jin led Shiho and Gojou to their room. He fished the key from his pocket and unlocked the door, holding that door for them as well, though he still hadn't released her hand. He closed the door. Once he was sure they were alone, he tugged gently on her hand and pulled her to him, embracing her warmly. He then tilted her chin up and kissed her lips in a gentle but passionate kiss.

He puleld back and smiled at her, looking into her emerald eyes for a long moment. He then took a step back and reached into his pocket, pulling out the small box holding the ring he's bought. He held it out to her and smiled, feeling just a little shy. "I hope you like it." The silver band with a single green gem had reminded him of her, simple but beautiful, and he hoped she'd like it.

”I can tell that now, and I feel foolish for ever thinking you might act otherwise.”

Shiho smiled when he kissed her hand and blushed lightly but she shook her head. “It does not matter, at least not anymore.” She then smiled as she walked alongside him, she hoped he would know how handsome he was in her eyes and how much she loved him for the person he was. Her eyes looked shyly away thinking about watching him bathe by the lake and she decided she would tell him once they reached wherever Jin was taking her, oh yes he said an Inn not long ago. She ran a hand through her long violet hair and then looked up at him, she said a bit more shyly than she intended, “Jin? I…I have something to tell you when we get to the Inn.” She hoped he would not feel offence but if he did she and every intention of making it up to him and if that did not work then she would ask for his forgiveness or do whatever he deemed would do for eaves dropping on the man she was in love with when they had not yet confessed their love for each other. She had probably seen what she should not have and should be truly irate at Gojou but, she could not deny she and liked what she had seen.

“You always look lovely, Shiho. Always…But I must admit that outfit does suit you.”

She felt her cheeks colour but she smiled at him and held his hand lovingly, her eyes never looking anywhere else while they walked on. She admired his long dark hair and his deep purple eyes. If he had not told her he was a mortal she would not have believed him, he might as well be a god. Maybe his Seishi skills gave him a more ethereal look, but it made her heart melt. She laughed when Gojou played with her free hand and she looked down at their third family member.

She smiled when Jin grinned at the mention of a present for him. It was not much but it came from her heart and it was rather symbolic, hopefully he would like it. No, she turned to look at him, he would love it. Yes, she knew that now, she was beginning to actually read his gestures, his personality, ever since they revealed their mutual love it was becoming easier for them to understand one another. She giggled softly and embraced him as they walked for a moment before she stood next to him as he opened the door of the Inn. Usually she was not too fond of Inns whenever she and to do tasks for the Fiend and had to travel, men were brutal and when drunk a hundred times worse. But she did not mind now, because she was travelling with her beloved knight. And she trusted him because he never let her down, besides, she had just seen him in the middle of a battle, he was quite formidable in either form…

"Hey, you can't-!"

"He's with me, sorry. He'll behave himself, though, won't you, Gojou?"

“Only for you, Jin, you know that? Afternoon, Miss."

"She's with me too…I’ll be around later to earn my keep."

"You actually paid this time…Enjoy yourself for once. You young people work too hard…”

Shiho smiled at the man and bowed her head in greeting and blushed lightly when Jin said she was travelling with him, she felt pride as well though and the turned to smile at him and her eyes shone bright.

She followed him through the common room and toward the stairs, she climbed up ensuring Gojou followed behind them and once he opened the for to their room she entered and placed her bags on the table with her free hand and was about to give him what she brought for him when she felt him pull her hand and she soon fond herself surrounded by his loving embrace and she smiled gently and closed her eyes, feeling safe and loved as she did so. She sighed and could not hide the joy she felt, in all honesty, she had dreamed of being in his arms, of kissing his lips and then suddenly it had happened and she felt the happiest person in the world. Jin loved her, nothing could be better than that. She felt his hand lift her chin and her eyes met his before they closed in anticipation with the sweet kiss, she ran her arms through his neck and kissed him back fora moment until he pulled back.

"I hope you like it.”

She watched him with curiosity as he looked inside his pocket and then handed her a small box. She smiled softly at him and then was about to open it when she remembered her own gift. She turned toward the table and then took out a package, it was the cover for his flute with the emblem of a wolf in it, he would be able to carry his flute like he did his sword form now on, she smiled softly and then turned toward him with a smile and said, “Likewise…” she also hoped her gut was right and he would actually like it.

She then busied herself with opening the little box and when she saw what was inside she gasped, she looked at the beautiful silver band and then…a gem that was the colour of her eyes. She blushed and looked at it in disbelief for a long moment, before she held it carefully and placed it in her finger, it seemed to fit perfectly, she felt teary eyes and then she smiled at him and giggled softly, she then launched her arms around his neck and kissed his lips repeatedly before she embraced him warmly, “Oh Jin, you are so wonderful!” Why did he make it so hard for her not to love him more and more?

“It does not matter, at least not anymore. Jin? I…I have something to tell you when we get to the Inn.”

Jin nodded. He agreed, it didn't matter now. All that mattered was he was with the woman he loved. He looked over when she said she had something to tell him. It reminded him that he needed to tell her about seeing her bathe that morning. Would it upset her? Would she wish to not be in a relationship after all, thinking him a pervert or something? Still, love meant honesty, and he did love her, so he would be honest. He nodded again. "I have something to tell you too, my little goddess." They would exchange gifts, and then they would exchange confessions, and hopefully he'd still be able to hold her after all was said and done.

“Likewise…”

Jin accepted the package, and opened it, stealing glances up at Shiho as he did so he could see her reaction to his gift. He felt his heart swell when he saw the case for his flute with a wolf on it. It made sense, considering his mother gave him his flute, that his beloved should give him something to carry it in. "Thank you, Shiho, I love it." He took his flute from his nearby pack and put it in the new case. He had just fastened it to his belt when she launched herself into his arms and kissed him.

“Oh Jin, you are so wonderful!”

Jin returned the kiss, holding her close for a long moment. He enjoyed the feel of her soft, warm body next to his own. "I am glad you like it, my love. I wanted to do something nice for you." He pulled back, and his amethyst eyes met her emerald ones. Now was as good a time as any to make his confession. He kissed her lips once more before he spoke.

"I hope you will still find me wonderful after I say what I have to say next..." He pulled away from her some, holding her now at arms length so she would know he was serious about what he was fixing to say. "This morning, when I woke, I could not find you in the cave. I asked Gojou if he knew were you'd gone, and he led me...to the stream where you were bathing." He blushed faintly, feeling terrible for betraying her trust and spying on her. "I confess, though I shouldn't have, I watched for a moment. You ere just so lovely...so angelic, I could not help myself." He reached up to caress her cheek gently. "I do hope that you can forgive me, my love. I did not mean to intrude, and I did not watch for long."

His confession made, he waited patiently for her response, hoping she would not be angry. It hadn't been intentional really, he'd followed Gojou without knowing what the dog was leading him to. The dog in question hopped up onto the bed and curled up, watching them, and wagging his tail lazily. He didn't see what the big deal was about that morning, though both of his people seemed to have been upset by it...and enjoyed it...all at once. Humans were so confusing sometimes...

"I have something to tell you too, my little goddess."

Shiho looked up at Jin for a moment wondering what he was going to tell her. She was very curious, that was the reason she met Jin in the first place, right? She had heard his music accompany her singing and she had followed it almost as if she had been charmed by the beauty of the music he played. And here she was now, holding hands with him and knew that she would never feel this way about anyone else but him. He was her warrior and she had seen just how strong and cunning he could be both as a wolf and as a man. In a way, remembering how he had fought to protect her those two times made her blush, made her feel pride in his skills and she found that slightly attractive in him. She even loved the way he walked aware that people were giving him strange looks when eh had carried her or when she kissed him back at the alley, and he still smiled and did not care at all if others looked or thought…whatever they may think. She smiled up at him and then embraced his arm with both of her hands and leaned her head on his shoulder, was he aware of his much she loved him already? It was so beautiful and at the same time so painful she felt it hurt, but it was a pleasant pain.

"Thank you, Shiho, I love it.”

She was so happy when she saw the happiness in his face it seemed she had guessed well that his flute had an important place in his heart. Perhaps one day she would learn the reason for this. But she did not want to pry on his life, yet, she wanted to learn all about him. She smiled at him and said, “That is how I will always think of you… my lone wolf.” She caressed his cheek and then looked at the bag, the flute fitted perfectly and the cover seemed to hang well on the belt, he would be able to easily fight or even run with that in his belt. She was truly happy with her choice and she caressed the wolf on the case with one finger fondly. He truly was her wolf.

"I am glad you like it, my love. I wanted to do something nice for you.”

She smiled at his words and blushed lightly. He really was a wonderful person and he did all these things just to please her, she truly felt unworthy of all the attention he granted her but she loved the man and she looked deeply into his eyes, “It will be my greatest treasure after you, of course.” She moved a lock of beautiful purple hair from his face, it was the perfect excuse to touch his hair. How she loved him… She allowed him to hold her for a while longer until he pulled back and his face looked a bit more serious but she welcomed the kiss he granted her. She knew that it did not matter how many times they kissed, it would always feel this wonderful. As wonderful as Jin was.

"I hope you will still find me wonderful after I say what I have to say next… This morning, when I woke, I could not find you in the cave. I asked Gojou if he knew were you'd gone, and he led me...to the stream where you were bathing… I confess, though I shouldn't have, I watched for a moment. You ere just so lovely...so angelic, I could not help myself.”

Shiho felt her heartbeat increase and she blushed deeply looking away. He had watched her? And not only that but he found her beautiful? But she was not like other ladies who seemed to have blossomed overnight, they truly looked like beautiful women. What did he find so alluring about her?

“I do hope that you can forgive me, my love. I did not mean to intrude, and I did not watch for long.”

She blushed even more but finally looked up at Jin and said softly, “You truly find me that…beauiful? Surely there are many more ladies far prettier…” But then she realised that he had gone silent and said, “It would be hypocritical of me to not understand your position because…” She eyed Gojou for a moment before she looked back at Jin, “I noticed you were gone form the cave this morning and Gojou told me to follow and I did not know he would… guide me to the lake where you would be bathing. I’ll confess I also watched you for a moment, you looked so handsome though…” She blushed and looked away, “I am so sorry.”