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Athena headed off to apologize to Yokou. " You still out here?" she called.
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Yokou looked up at her voice, feeling immensely relieved. She hadn't left! "I'm here. Are you...are you staying...?" He asked, sounding kind of pathetic.
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"Of course not even a herd of stamping Lori's could get me to leave you." Athena chuckled.
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Yokou smiled, which was somewhat unsettling in his current form. "I'm glad. Athena...it may not be safe to stay this close to me. I would never hurt you intentionally, but if I lost control...maybe you should have stayed away for the night..." His smile disappeared and was replaced with regret and worry. The full moon was out completely now, and though he was still in control, he wasn't sure how long that would last.
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"Well I don't have anywhere else to go." Athena played with her hair. "And it's not like I can stay at an inn alone." she shivered "Bad things happen to girls alone in that town and Lori's home won't fit the both of us." she sighed.
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Yokou nodded and glanced away. It was just one night. Surely he could keep control for that long? "I'm sure it will be fine. I don't want you to leave." He said, starting to reach out a hand to her. He caught sight of his deformed, clawed hand however, and pulled it back quickly in shame. "Just...if I start acting strangely, run to your room and lock the door, and don't come out until dawn. Okay?"
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"Okay." Athena patted his clawed and smiled. "I'm going to go bath." she stretched and headed off humming softly.
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Yokou nodded. "I'm going to stay here for now. I like the night air..." He said, watching her go.
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Athena showered then wearing her new night dress she went into the kitchen to get something to drink.
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From the shadows behind her, a voice sounded. "You look beautiful tonight, Athena." Yokou's voice was soft and velvety, almost seductive if it weren't so cold.
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Athena yelped. "Jeez warn a girl." She blushed tugging at her dress.
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Yokou smiled a little. "Sorry. It's too easy to blend in with the shadows in this form." He said, stepping forward a bit more so that she could see him. "Can I ask you something?"
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"Sure." Athena smiled at him taking a sip of the juice she had poured.
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"How does on prove, beyond any doubt, that they love someone?" Yokou asked sincerely. "I want to show you that I love you, in my own special way. But I don't think you would like my demonstration. And the only other option I know of is...not acceptable for unmarried couples." He continued, sounding somewhat innocent and naive.
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"You show me you love me everyday when you don't treat me like a slave." Athena was a pink color. "You don't have to prove anything to me."
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Yokou shook his head. "I understand that, but I want to show you. I want to demonstrate, like men do with flowers sometimes. But not with flowers. I want to do something big for you. Something like...hurting the people who hurt you." His eyes lit up with an idea. "I know! I'll find your previous masters, and I'll burn them for you! Then once they're dead, I'll buy their mansions and give them to you as a gift. Would you like that?" He asked proudly, like a child who brought home a flower for his mother.
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"Um no." Athena blinked "that's creepy and way to much house." She backed away "I'm going to bed know."
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Yokou pouted, reaching out for her. "Wait, don't go. I didn't realize you'd think it was creepy. What if I brought one of them to be your servant, instead?" He asked hopefully. He clearly wanted very much to please her. "Or...I could get you some flowers? Athena, I want..." He paused, looking confused for a moment. "Run. Run, fast!" Suddenly, his voice was normal again, though it was panicked. He stumbled backwards as if he was fighting someone.
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Athena didn't hesitate running to her room and locking him out she leaned against the door panting.
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It was only moments later when Yokou started pounding at her door. "Athena? Athena, please let me in. Please, I'm sorry. I know I told you to run, but I'm better now." He begged from outside. His voice sounded perfectly normal, if a bit frightened, but what gave him away was the fact that he wouldn't stop banging at the door.
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"I'm not going to open the door your not yourself." Athena was really hoping the door would hold up.
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Yokou's voice changed again, this time sounding enraged, almost beastly. "You will open the door, or I will knock it down! Your choice is simple, girl. Either you submit to me, or I will take what I want." He growled dangerously through the door. "You have five minutes to decide. Will you be my queen, Athena? Will you- Don't do it! Whatever you do, do NOT open the door! Listen, Athena, the door won't open or fall as long as you trace the pattern there with the sage leaves on the dresser. Just trace them over and picture something you think of as indestructible, and you'll be-" He cut himself off with a long, anguished howl. If she looked, there were a bunch of sage leaves placed on her dresser, and on the door a pattern that looked like her name surrounded by Celtic knots.
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Athena hurried to do what he said picturing a steel door that couldn't be destroyed by anything.
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As Yokou recovered from his Gollum moment, he resumed pounding on the door. There was an obvious difference, now, though. Where before the door been shaking, now it wasn't even vibrating. His pounding seemed to have no effect at all. Even as he shot fire at it, it simply wouldn't budge, wouldn't burn, wouldn't give. Eventually, he exhausted himself and fell to the floor, weak but still conscious. The blackness receded from his skin and his claws and fangs retracted. The wings folded down and melted into his back, and soon enough he looked human again. He lay crumpled on the floor outside of Athena's room, tears streaking his face, as the last of the night passed and dawn broke.
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Athena sat as far away from the door as possible not getting up to check on him she just stared at the door frowning softly.
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