When she’d grabbed his hand, it startled him. He quickly cleared his throat and felt his face heat up. To say that he was embarrassed would be an understatement. He smiled slightly as she leaned into him and began to link their fingers together. Chikage just knew that it would make her happy but at the same time when she agreed to it, he was surprised. There was only a few meters left before they entered the gates back home. He would enjoy it as much as he could. So in order to do that, he slowed his pace a bit. “I’m glad that you’re happy. I will try to be part of it as much as I can…but if you need help the other girls are not quite as…diabolical as her.”<br/><br/>When he said ‘her’, it left sort of a bad taste in his mouth. He knew she would understand who he was referring to anyway. He just chose not to speak of her name at the moment. He didn’t want to ruin the tenderness of the air. “And we can have it wherever you like and by that I mean….whichever village you choose. If you want it to be where the little girl can see and the others then we can go there. If you want it here, we can do that as well and make accommodations for at least her to join us.” A man of his caliber never tended to do things like this. He never had thoughts like this either. He’d have to make sure he did it properly with some sort of item that symbolized their union for the others to understand. Although they were both marked, that was more of a private thing.<br/><br/>When they arrived at the front of the gates, he stopped and looked at their hands. Slowly, but reluctantly, he removed his hand from hers but quickly looked into her eyes. With haste, he gave her a kiss and smirked a bit before stepping through the gates. Immediately the elderly in the village began to greet them both with the utmost respect.<br/><br/>“Welcome back Lord Chikage,” One woman began as she bowed before him. Her eyes narrowed to the Mishiko behind him and then quickly lightened up. “And Lady Mishiko, it’s a pleasant surprise to see you again.” An elderly male nodded in agreement beside her the woman greeted Mishiko. It was exactly as he had promised her. Many of the people loved her and sure they hadn’t asked him what happened to her but most people didn’t approach Chikage. Soon, many of the villagers began to flood out of their homes and began to murmur amongst themselves as the couple headed towards the mansion.<br/><br/>Many of the murmurs were of shock and of course they were because of seeing Mishiko come back. Perhaps the people knew more about what happened than he had. The way that they looked at her was of surprise, but at the same time they were of fear. They feared seeing the dark side of Chikage because somehow, after seeing his people’s faces, he knew that they knew about what happened. They were happy to see her again, but not thrilled to the possibility of seeing Natsu’s head on a stake.<br/><br/>As he headed to the front doors of the mansion, he was greeted by Amagiri and Kyo. They too, looked surprised. But they were only surprised because he had given them the impression that she had left and not known where she had gone to. He would be sure to give them a very brief answer to their questioning looks later. Next, he was greeted by Anki and Mira. When he approached them, they were already in deep bows, but when they raised their bodies they gasped at the sight of Mishiko. Anki covered her mouth with the sleeve of her purple kimono and Mira shifted uncomfortably in their gold kimono. Neither could believe what their eyes were seeing and neither could look at Mishiko.<br/><br/>They were afraid for Natsu. Natsu was one who was over them all. If there was anything that they could do without having to suffer for it, they would’ve done it. It was especially difficult for them without Amagiri or Kyo around. Without them, Natsu did a lot of things that Chikage wouldn’t take kindly to.<br/><br/>It almost felt like an eon before Chikage uttered the question that meant the end, “Where is Natsu?” He was calm. Well, he was as calm as he could’ve been. He had been waiting for this moment since Mishiko uttered the words that sealed Natsu’s fate. Time and time again, he had warned that woman. Now there would be no more chances. At first, Mira looked away, unable to answer and then Anki stepped forward with a voice as strong as it could’ve been in the presence of Mishiko and Chikage.<br/><br/>“She’s in the onsen bathing.” Anki muttered quietly before making room for Chikage to continue forward. As he glided through the mansion, he was silent. It was almost as if he were deciding what he would do first to her. How would he humiliate her as she had done to his beau? How would he hurt her as much as she had hurt him? When he’d arrived to the onsen door, through the shoji door he could see the silhouette of Natsu. She had been cleaning and priming herself for his return while Mishiko had been out alone in the world and uncertain if she would ever see him again.<br/><br/>He turned to his love, his crimson hues holding no life in them.  “Is there anything you want to say before we enter? Is there perhaps anything specifically you want me to do? Or perhaps…you want to do to her?”