Haku was just as she had always been. Over a decade spent frozen had preserved her youthful face. She was still a little unaccustomed to Anyo's passionate kisses, but she was delighted and offered no resistance, letting him take what he wanted.
But as Anyo's kisses intensified, Dotō watched in seething fury. Unable to bear seeing the goddess in his heart defiled like this any longer, he forced his way through the oppressive aura and roared as he attacked Anyo.
Without even looking at him, Anyo sent a blade flying through the air. It pierced Dotō's legs in an instant, severing the nerves that allowed him to walk. He collapsed to the ground, crippled.
His mood spoiled by the interruption, Anyo stopped kissing her. Stroking Haku's unchanged face, he whispered, "How could you bear to leave me for so long?"
Haku came back to her senses after the kiss and said, "I couldn't, but I knew you would find me."
"If you disappear again, I really won't look for you next time," Anyo said petulantly.
Haku could clearly feel the lingering fear in Anyo's heart. She put her arms around him of her own accord and said gently, "I won't. There won't be a next time."
Those simple words put Anyo's heart at ease.
The others, who had been watching for quite some time, came over. Kikyo spoke first. "Dad, isn't there something you should be telling me?"
Haku glanced at Kikyo and quickly realized something from her appearance. "She's...?" she asked in shock.
"Yes, her name is Kikyo. She's my daughter." After introducing her, Anyo told Kikyo, "Sweetheart, her name is Haku. You can call her your little mom from now on."
"Little mom?" Kikyo drew out the words, her face full of disbelief. *He's being this brazen about