Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Shadows ❯ blood, part 1 ( Chapter 15 )

Shadows

*******

chapter 10

*******

blood, part 1

*******

Yohji stretched his long legs and hurried towards the office. He couldn't believe that Kira had let Aya go off with some stranger like that, token or no token. Granted, she seemed shaken up about something, but with the presents that kept showing up now wasn't a good time to leave the redhead unattended. What did he have to do, baby-sit the man twenty-four seven to make sure he didn't end up in trouble of one sort or another? Not that it would be such a bad thing, especially if he could manage to keep Aya in their bed most of that time….

His thoughts dwelling on his mate, Yohji began to pick up on the confusion and burgeoning lust that Aya was feeling. Not liking that mix of emotions, he quickened his pace. When they turned into anger and shock, he ran to the office. Tossing open the door, he found Aya approaching a light-brown haired stranger who was holding a staff in his hands, his lover's face eerily inhuman and a shadow blade in his hand. That meant only one thing: the unknown bastard had done something to cause Aya to be after his blood. It was all that Yohji needed to know. Growling savagely, he reached for his weapon.

"You're fucking dead." He tossed golden threads at the man and was surprised when the man blocked them with his staff. Yohji snarled and pulled the threads back for another toss just as Jo entered the office.

"Yohji, what the hell are you doing?"

Wasn't it obvious? He was killing some bastard who'd done something to Aya. Sparing a quick glance at his mate, who was standing perfectly immobile with violet eyes fixed on him, Yohji threw out the strands again. For some reason they couldn't cut through the staff, though he wanted them to, but at least they wrapped around the weapon and enabled him to jerk it forward. As he'd hoped, the bastard didn't let go of it and came at him, as Yohji punched him in the stomach with all of his enhanced strength. Hopefully he'd damaged something inside.

The stranger let out a wheeze of pain and crumpled to the ground, Yohji falling with him being sure to pin him to the floor. He grabbed the man by the throat and started to choke him, his vision hazy with red. The scent of the man's sweat hit him, the same scent that clung to Aya, which he could smell even while several feet away from the kage. Something inside of him snapped. Dead. The man was dead. He touched Aya. He touched _Yohji's_ mate, had come into _Yohji's_ house, _Yohji's_ territory, and he'd die for it. Painfully.

There was a tug on Yohji's hair, yanking his head back. Growling savagely, he stared at Jo, who was screaming in his face about something. But the words weren't sinking in; all that mattered was the man beneath him, whose struggles were starting to grow weaker. Jerking his head out of the woman's grasp, Yohji caught sight of Aya, who was still standing there, his eyes shining behind the strands of his hair and his face expressionless except for the tiny smile teasing at his lips.

The next thing he knew something slammed into him, knocking him completely off the stranger. It was more by the man's scent than actual sight of him that Yohji knew it was Mickey sitting on his back, and that odd occurrence helped to snap him out of his rage.

"Yohji, what the hell are you doing? You just can't kill some customer! You…" Mickey suddenly fell quiet, and with good reason. As Yohji watched, Aya went from being perfectly still to appearing at his side in the blink of an eye, the shadow blade pressing against Mickey's throat as he snarled softly. The emotions that he was picking off the man were a maelstrom of anger and protectiveness. He shifted up off the ground, sending Mickey falling backwards, away from the blade. When Aya slid forward to finish slitting the man's throat, Yohji snatched his lover and yanked him into his arms. As he held on to the struggling kage, he heard Mickey scrambling away from the two of them.

Stroking a hand through Aya's hair, Yohji gazed down at the pale, expressionless face. "Aya, love, it's okay. Mickey wasn't trying to hurt me." He knew that what had triggered Aya's kage nature had been the sight of him being pinned down, and he tried to reassure his mate. When Aya only stared at him, growling under his breath like an annoyed cat, Yohji tilted up the man's chin and kissed him.

It took Aya a moment to respond, but when he did he latched on to Yohji with all his strength, kissing him back with a passion. Smelling the other man on his love awakened Yohji's fury again, but was instantly distracted by the redhead in his arms. Aya squirmed about until he was sitting on Yohji's lap, grinding their hips together and purring loudly. Threading his fingers through silky crimson locks, Yohji tugged Aya's head to the side and fastened his mouth on the man's neck, growling all the while. As soon as there was a new mark on the pale column one of his hands fell down to tear at the laces of Aya's shirt, snapping them with ease as he set about disrobing the man. His, Aya was his, and that infuriating scent would be replaced completely by his own, Aya would be marked inside and out as Yohji's, plainly off limits to the rest of the world….

He'd managed to get the man's shirt off and had just ripped the laces of the grey trousers when something cold and gritty splashed over the two of them. Clutching a hissing Aya to his chest, Yohji looked around for the reason behind this latest assault.

*******

Masato lay on the floor with Yohji on top of him and tried desperately to pry the younger man's hands off his throat. But his son proved to be the stronger of the two of them, and soon all he could do was paw feebly at the man's wrists as his lungs burned for air and his vision grew dark. In the background he heard a woman screaming.

"Yohji! Stop it! You can't kill him! Are you listening to me? Aya, _do_ something, don't just stand there!" She fell silent for a moment. "Mickey! Koyu! Help!" The woman then rushed over to their side and grabbed Yohji by the hair, yanking his head in her direction with a strained grunt. "Stop it, Yotan. I mean it! I won't let you murder him!"

Next there was the sound of running feet. "Jo, what the hell?"

"Mickey, stop him!"

One minute Yohji was on his chest, and the next Masato was able to breathe again. Weakly rolling over, he saw one of the biggest men he'd ever seen wrestle his son to the floor and sit on his back, pinning him down. Silently cheering the man on, Masato drew ragged breaths of air into his burning lungs.

"Yohji, what the hell are you doing? You just can't kill some customer! You…" At the moment the man, Mickey, he was guessing, was trying to talk sense into the enraged blond, then Aya was standing next to him with a black knife descending towards his throat. Masato hadn't even seen the man move, and as he watched, Mickey's throat started to bleed. Then Yohji tossed the burly man backwards and gathered Aya into his arms.

Expecting to see Aya attack his son and helpless to do anything about that, Masato was stunned when Yohji whispered something to… whatever the hell the redhead was and stroked Aya's hair. The blood rushing through his veins prevented him from hearing the words, and as Masato tried to sit up Yohji suddenly kissed the strange man.

He could only stare at the couple at the surprising development, especially when the black blade vanished into thin air. Aya wrapped his arms around the blond, and the two of them kissed each other passionately. Not even the arrival of other people into the office could distract Masato or them. He felt his hunger rise to the fore at the sight before him and ended up coughing when he tried to growl with his abused throat.

Yohji grabbed Aya by the hair and jerked his head to the side as he shifted his mouth downward. Aya purred; the sound audible even over Yohji's growls and the hushed questions coming from the other observers then there was the sound of leather string snapping. Yohji only moved away from the smaller man's neck when he tore the Aya's shirt and jerkin off him, revealing pale skin and a horribly scarred back.

"Ah, Jo, did you call us in here to see Yotan fuck Aya? Not that I'm complaining, but I don't think they know we're even here."

"They will in about two seconds. Touya, give me that bucket. I'm not going to let things go any further."

"Spoil sport."

Masato tore his eyes off the couple long enough to see a teenaged boy hand a mop bucket to the woman, who grimly took a step closer to Aya and Yohji. She then tossed the contents of the bucket, which appeared to be dirty water, directly onto the two men, drenching them.

They broke apart immediately, Aya sounding like a cat that had just been tossed in a bath and Yohji growling louder than a pack of dogs. Green eyes blinked from behind dark blond strands plastered against his face, thankfully becoming clearer by the second.

"What the hell did you do that for?" Yohji sputtered as he tucked his hair behind his ears. He glanced down at Aya, who was still hissing and was once again holding a dark knife in his hand. The blond paled and smacked aside the hand that was holding the weapon, which immediately vanished. Yohji then held Aya close to him and stared bleakly at the assembled crowd.

Everyone was silent for a moment and the large man, Mickey, who had pretty much been hidden from view by the huge desk, shakily stood to his feet with a bloody hand clutched around his throat.

"Mick! What happened to you? Are you alright?" A young man with waist length black hair rushed over to the wounded one, ripping at the hem of his short gold robe as he did so. A slightly older man dressed in Harper red was right on his heels.

Mickey accepted the cloth and hugged the longhaired man with one arm for a brief moment. "I'm fine, Teddy, it's just a scratch." He dabbed at the wound with the makeshift rag, smearing drying blood around his throat. Then Mickey turned to face Yohji. "Is he under control now?"

"… just give us a little space, Mick. He thought you were attacking me." Yohji cuddled a still hissing Aya to his chest, his hand combing through the man's hair. "Don't… don't come near us for a bit." Yohji's eyes hardened as he spoke, and he paused in the soothing gesture to touch two fingers to the weapon around his wrist. One that Masato recognized as the gift he'd left with Miyuki for their child. No doubt about it, Yohji was his son; only someone of his bloodline could use the magical object.

"What the hell is going on here?" Teddy shouted. "Jo's screaming for help, Mickey's been hurt, and you and Aya are all but fucking on the floor. And what's with this guy over here?" A thumb was jerked in Masato's direction.

Jo shook her head and set the bucket down. "Touya, go help Ani and Kira with the customers, and don't let anyone back here until I say so."

"But Jo-"

"_Now_, Touya."

The teenaged boy left the room with a sulky expression on his face, his feet dragging as he looked back at everyone until Jo slammed the door shut behind him. Then the middle-aged woman took a deep breath and rested her fists on her hips. She glanced around the room, paling visibly when she looked at Yohji and Aya, then glared at Masato when her eyes rested on him. He immediately sat up straighter and held out a hand for his staff. The enchanted weapon rolled across the floor and returned to him.

"Drop the weapon now." Jo's voice rang with authority, and between it and Yohji's renewed snarls, Masato did as he was told. At least the weapon was close by in case someone decided to attack him again.

"I have a token, one the… former owner gave me. I was promised sanctuary here, not violence."

Jo's brown eyes glared at him. "I know who gave you the damn token, and I know who you are. About damn time you showed up, but did it have to be at a time when we could do without any new trouble? Sit there and don't say a word until I tell you you can talk."

He got the impression it would be a very wise thing if he just sat there quietly and did what she said. Having lived over a century, Masato liked to think he'd developed rather good survival instincts and had the sense to listen to them. They were telling him to remain still and silent at the moment.

"Jo, you know who the hell this prick is?" Yohji's voice still contained a hint of a growl, and the glare he was giving Masato made Jo's look friendly. For a moment Masato started to growl at his son, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end, but he stopped when the woman cleared her throat.

"Indeed I do, Yotan. Your mother gave me a description of him years ago, since she expected him to return. I'd like you to meet your father."

Masato was torn between anger at Jo for revealing his secret, amusement at the dumbstruck expression on Yohji and the other men's faces, and confusion that the woman knew about him. If she could recognize him so easily, that meant….

His weapon was in hand before he even gave it any thought, and Masato surged to his feet. Only to have shadows scurry across the room and attach themselves to him, trapping his limbs to his side and sending him crashing to the floor. He heard Yohji quietly start cursing, Aya's loud hisses and the gasps coming from the humans in the room. He started to curse himself, until it finally sunk in what the hell Aya had to be. The knowledge stunned him silent and motionless.

"Aya, love, stop it. Please." Yohji's voice was thick with worry as he stroked the kage's hair, seeming as if he was attempting to get a response from the redhead. Aya stared blankly at Masato for a moment and then closed his eyes, a low growl rumbling in his throat as he tucked his head under Yohji's chin.

"Is he what I think he is?" Teddy asked in a quavering voice.

"I'm afraid so, Teddy," the Harper responded quietly.

"Fuck."

"Very eloquently put. `Fuck' indeed. Yohji, is… is he alright?"

Yohji sighed and rested his cheek on the top of Aya's head. "I don't know Koyu, I can't seem to get him to return to normal. Could everyone please stop trying to attack us or throw things at us? And if anyone breathes so much as a word of what he is outside of this room, I'll fucking hunt you down and gut you." Emerald green eyes glared at everyone for a second and then closed. Yohji pressed a kiss to the top of Aya's head and opened his eyes to scowl at Masato. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Now that wasn't the reaction he'd expected from his son when they met. Then Masato scratched at his stubbled chin, wondering what he'd been expecting after all. He'd never given the matter much thought other than returning to the Koneko, finding out if his son was a bound or not, teaching him about his power and then moving on.

"I came here to see if you…" What the hell was he trying to hide at this point? Everyone in the room had to know what the two of them were, and considering that there was a kage present and no one was screaming in terror or trying to behead it, these people had to be as accepting of bounds as Miyuki had been.

"I came here to see if you'd taken after me." Masato rubbed his sore throat. "I'll go out on a limb and say `yes'. You're most definitely a succubae-bound like me, judging from the way you tried to kill me just now. I, ah, take it he's yours?" He gazed pointedly at Aya. "That you're lovers?"

Yohji glared at him and spat out one word. "Mates."

Shit. No wonder his son had tried to kill him. It would have been bad enough if he'd tried to infringe on the other bound's latest meal, but his mate…. To quote young Teddy, `fuck'. His son was mated to a kage. Just fucking dandy. They'd all be dead in a matter of hours at this rate.

"Ah, that complicates things a bit." But it explained Aya's intoxicating scent. The aura of a succubae-bound clung to him, mixed in with his own exotic aroma. That was why he'd attracted Masato, that and his beauty. Though it sort of repulsed Masato now to know that it was in part Yohji's scent clinging to the kage that had aroused him so. That at least could be blamed for his nature being confused into thinking it had found a similar companion and wanting him.

"Not in the least. It's real simple, actually. You get anywhere near him, and I kill you. You touch him again, and I kill you. Tell anyone about him, and you'll be lucky if I'm the one who kills you." Yohji then directed his glare at the humans; the expression softening with worry as he stared at them. "Please, don't tell anyone about him."

"We won't, Yotan. He's one of us." Jo spoke the words in a hushed tone of voice, and after a moment's hesitation slowly crossed the room to stand in front of the couple. Yohji and Aya didn't growl or hiss at her presence, which seemed to encourage her to sink down onto her knees and reach out a trembling hand to tug on a crimson eartail. At her touch Aya jerked his head to the side, his eyes staring at the woman for a moment before he blinked. The first emotion that Masato had seen since he'd kissed the man crossed the pale face, showing confusion.

"Yohji?"

"I'm here, cat. You feeling… more yourself at the moment?" Aya sighed and tucked his head back under Yohji's chin. Jo smiled gently at the couple and let her hand fall down. Yohji regarded her calmly for a moment. "How long have you known?"

Masato was confused about the question, until Jo clarified it with an answer. "That you're a bound? Your mother confided in me after you hit puberty and started chasing after anything on two legs, and I in return told Mickey and Teddy. The whole staff knows; we've only kept on the strays who don't hate bounds because of you… and the Koneko's policy. We guessed that Aya was a bound as well, considering how the two of you hit it off, but… we never… Yotan, we can't let anyone else find out. He won't be safe if they know about him." The blond sighed in relief, a wry smile twisting his lips for a moment, and then two pairs of eyes, one brown and one green, turned to look at Masato.

The feeling of danger returned, and Masato's fingers itched for his weapon. "Well I'm sure as hell not stupid enough to tell anyone that you have a kage here, especially not when he's mated to my son. Besides, it's not as if you don't have any leverage of your own. If word got out about me, I'd have a score of wizards and all of the Guards after me for my head and my blood." Yoru alone would probably tear the city apart looking for him.

"You wouldn't have to worry about them. Like Yotan said, you'll be lucky if he's the one to kill you if you start spilling secrets." Teddy, who had appeared as a relatively harmless young man until that moment, suddenly had a disturbingly menacing look on his face, and his tone of voice actually caused Masato to shiver. The two other men, Koyu and Mickey, closed in behind their friend. Even with a dozen decades of fighting expertise and enhanced speed and strength, Masato didn't fancy his odds against them. Especially not when Jo started to glare at him as well. Miyuki would have been damn proud of her staff if she'd been alive, at the way they came together to protect their own. A pain arced through his chest at the thought of his dead mate.

"How many times do I have to say it? I won't tell a soul, my word on that. He's my son, I wouldn't do anything to harm him… or his mate." That would be suicide, to try for either young man. Masato didn't think much of his chances against an enraged and protective succubae-bound or kage. The Harper could likely recite dozens and dozens of tales about what those creatures had done when their lovers had been threatened.

Yohji growled softly at the promise. "Don't think to play the devoted father bit here, asshole. You're several years late by my calculations. What, you finally show up because you need a free bath and meal?"

Highly conscious of his ragged appearance and tattered clothes, Masato glared at his son and started to growl back at him, his hand inching towards his weapon. It was pure instinct, one succubae-bound challenging another, and only the sound of Aya hissing again stilled his movement before he could do something regrettable, such as try to attack Yohji again.

The hiss came to an abrupt end when Jo yanked forcefully on a long strand of red hair. "Stop it, Aya. How many times have I told you and Yotan to quit with the growls? Keep it up and I'll slap some sense into you."

Masato could only stare in wonder at the woman, wondering just when her rather painful and gruesome death would descend upon her. Judging from the shocked looks on the three young men's faces, he wasn't alone. As for Yohji, he just chuckled.

Aya blinked his eyes and whined softly, snatching back his hair as he did so. He mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like `I'm sorry' and rubbed his hands over his bare chest. Mickey stepped forward and picked up the shirt that lay abandoned on the floor and handed it to the kage. Aya accepted the clothing and nodded his head.

"Sorry." This time the word was said a bit louder and clearer, and it made Mickey smile. He waited until Aya was dressed before answering.

"Don't be. You were defending Yohji, so I don't have a problem with it." Mickey fingered his neck, which was no longer bleeding. "I'm just grateful that you didn't finish what you started."

"Hey, does this mean we can't pick on Yohji anymore? It's not fair if he's gonna be hiding behind Aya from now on. I thin-mph."

The Harper sighed and wrapped a hand around Teddy's mouth, muffling whatever else he had to say on the matter. "You never know when to be quiet, do you? If the excitement's all over here, I think we should go clean up Mickey's neck and assure the staff that everything's all right." Koyu chewed on his lip for a moment before continuing. "I also think… I think it would be best if the others knew about our new guest and Aya."

Yohji growled for a moment and flinched when Jo raised her hand threateningly. "Okay, I guess they should know as well, but…"

"I'll be sure to impress on them the need for secrecy. And being a Harper, I can come up with a lot of gruesome examples of what will happen to them if they say a thing." Koyu smiled at the couple then jerked the still muzzled Teddy out of the room with him. Mickey followed at their heels.

Jo reached out and tucked back Aya's bangs as she rose to her feet. "I think I better go as well. Yotan… why don't you let Aya come with me? He needs to get out of those soaking clothes and wash off, and you should talk to your father alone."

"He wouldn't be soaked if you hadn't tossed a bucket of water on us," Yohji muttered. "Dirty water at that. Gods, we both stink now." That didn't seem to prevent him from nuzzling Aya's wet hair. "Wait a second, why is it alright for me to be soaking wet and not him?"

"Well, the next time the two of you decide to have sex in front of an audience I'll be sure to toss clean water on you instead," Jo huffed. "As for Aya, he doesn't cause me nearly as much aggravation as you do. And don't tell me you don't relish the chance of coming down with a cold so you can spend all your time in bed." She glared at Yohji for a moment and held out her hand to Aya.

Yohji ducked his head and nuzzled his mate's neck. "Cat…."

"I want a bath, Yohji. Don't be long, I'll be waiting for you downstairs." Aya kissed his mate on the lips, the intimate gesture becoming more impassioned with each second, until Jo cleared her throat rather loudly. Both men could be heard sighing as they broke apart. As graceful as his nickname, Aya rose to his feet, one hand clutching the waistband of his pants, and he walked behind Jo out of the room. Masato couldn't help but stare at the man, awestruck by his beauty and grace.

A savage growl snapped him out of his reverie. He glanced away from the just closed door to find his son scowling at him once more, his teeth bared. Fighting down the instinctive response that called for him to do the same, Masato crossed the room and opened a window. Hopefully fresh air not smelling like the two of them would calm them down. Why did his son have to be a succubae-bound too? He knew that one of his ancestors had been an elemental-bound, why couldn't Yohji have taken after that woman and not him? It would make things so much easier. Gods, he'd really fucked things up, hitting on the man's mate like that. If he was in Yohji's shoes… it was a miracle that he wasn't dead right now. Guess he had the humans to thank for that.

"The more you drag things out by growling at me, the longer this is going to take. You don't want to keep Aya waiting, do you?"

Yohji snarled and huffed for a few seconds and then took a seat in the chair behind the desk. For a moment Masato remembered Miyuki sitting behind her desk, her head cocked at the exact same angle as Yohji's at the moment, the way it always was when she would tell Masato about all the work she had to do. "Gods, you look so much like her."

"So I've been told. Can't say that I'm unhappy about that, after meeting you in the flesh. Least I took after the decent parent."

Masato's eyes narrowed at the insult, but he forced himself to calmly take a seat in one of the room's chairs. "You know, we'll never get anywhere if we keep on with the pissing contest here. It's part of succubae-bound nature for two of our kind not to get along when we cross each other's paths, unless it's to… mate with each other. Which clearly won't happen since we're related." Masato shivered in distaste at the idea, and Yohji did the same. "I'm sorry that I tried to feed off Aya, it won't happen again." No wonder the man had been able to resist him like that, considering his nature. Masato was damn lucky he wasn't dead, after hitting on a kage. Not to mention an attached one at that.

"I don't ever want to see you so much as touch him again, do you hear me? Relation or not, you'll be dead."

He knew that Yohji's nature called for the threat to be made and only sighed and nodded his head in response. "I promise to never touch him again. Can we talk like two civilized beings now?"

"No." Yohji's eyes narrowed in anger yet again that afternoon. "You didn't answer my question. Why the hell are you back now? I know what I am, and I don't need your help with it. The only one here who gave a damn about you is dead, so just go away."

Biting back on his temper, Masato ground his teeth together. "I'm sorry that I didn't come sooner, but I've been a wee bit busy the past two decades. You've been living all safe and sound here while I've been roaming all over the fucking country and beyond, drawing attention away from you and your mother. And don't tell me that you don't need me, not when you can't control your nature. Hell, you nearly fucked the man you love in front of an audience moments ago. Jo is right about all the growling and snarling too; you can't carry on like that. Someone who knows anything about bounds will spot you by that alone."

Yohji didn't seem impressed with his sacrifice or his advice. "I know that, and I'm working on it. I just found out that I was a bound a couple weeks ago, no thanks to you. I'm learning how to control my nature through books and have been getting better."

That comment shook Masato out of the shock over the fact that Yohji had just found out what he was. "You can't learn everything from a book. They can only explain so much. No, you need me, judging from your behavior back there. You were actually going to feed off Aya in front of a crowd. Do you have any idea how insanely dangerous that would have been if it had happened with anyone other than your friends? Need I remind you that if they find out about you, they'll find out about him too?"

"Don't you fucking pretend to care, you asshole. You left Mom alone for all those years, not giving a damn about her and me. She waited for you until her death five years ago. Do you even know she's dead?"

Masato growled and clenched his fists around the chair's arm, cracking the oak. "I fucking felt her death all the way in Thracia you little shit. She was _my_ mate. The woman I left, defenseless and pregnant, because she didn't want to risk any danger to you. Do you have any fucking idea how much I suffered walking away from her? The pain involved? Just think of leaving Aya and you'll have a clue. The only reason I could do that at all was because we were so newly mated. As it was, her death nearly killed me." After he'd felt her soul depart this world, Masato had stopped caring about everything and everyone. He'd wandered about aimlessly for several years. It was only the memory of his promise and the possibility that his child had survived that made him continue living and had brought him back to the Koneko, which was filled with memories of what he'd lost, only to come face to face with an ungrateful child.

Yohji's anger seemed to fade at his words, and he jerked a hand through his hair as he blew out a breath of air. "The two of you were really mates? I thought it wasn't possible to live without each other. I mean, Aya and I…." His son flushed slightly and straightened his white tunic. "I'd never leave him, never. I'd rather die first."

"Yeah, well then you must have one of the really strong bondings then. I've heard it's always more… intense when two bounds mate, unlike a bound and human. But it still felt as if I was tearing my heart out with each step I took from Miyuki's side. It never would have happened if she hadn't been so insistent on keeping you alive and safe. She chose you over me." That was spoken with some bitterness, and Masato tried to control his anger and jealousy towards his own child. When Miyuki had found out she was pregnant and realized the danger he'd posed to the babe… she really had chosen Yohji over him. Not that Masato could hold that against the woman. She'd wanted a child so incredibly bad and had thought she'd never have one of her own. At least he'd given her that much.

He dispelled the painful memories with a shake of his head. "How the hell did you not know what you were until a few weeks ago?"

"Well… I sorta have these friends who are soul gaki-bounds." Yohji toyed with his bracelet as he tossed a significant look Masato's way. "Who better remain safe during and after your visit, or else. They were in cahoots with Mom and kept me from figuring things out on my own. It wasn't until I met and mated with Aya that I found out what I was."

"Which was just a few weeks ago? How the hell did you feed all this time?" Masato knew he was repeating himself somewhat, but he really needed to know if the Guards were going to be pounding on the Koneko's door at any moment, attracted by his son's outlandish behavior. A few human corpses bled dry of energy would certainly get their attention.

Yohji flushed again, his cheeks remaining red for several seconds. "Well, it helped that I lived in an inn. No one thought anything of me sleeping with all the customers, other than the fact that I was a slut. They just chalked it up to rampaging hormones and all."

It made sense. That was in part what had attracted Masato to the Koneko in the first place, the fact that it was an inn and he'd be able to feed from different people during his stay and not risk draining one person too much. That and he'd heard a rumor that bounds had never been turned away from the establishment or harmed during their stay there. Later on Miyuki had confided in him that his race fell under the inn's stray policy and were to receive whatever aid they required.

"Well, you're lucky that you've found a mate, and that he's a bound. You won't have to go whoring about any longer." He received a glare for that last bit, but Masato didn't give a damn. _He_ still had to do that whoring around, thanks to the man in front of him, and it had gotten tiresome decades ago. For a moment he missed Miyuki so much it hurt, like a knife being stabbed deep inside his chest. "Give me a day or two to rest up and I'll start training you properly. We obviously need to work on controlling your appetite and making it more beneficial for you. How are you with glamour and compelling?"

"What?"

"Great, I thought as much. So much for the damn books. I just hope you don't have to unlearn all the shit they taught you. Now I want a meal, a bath and a bed."

Rubbing his forehead, Yohji sighed. "Can I convince you to stay at another inn? Or to leave the damn city completely?"

"No."

"Great. All right, give me a few seconds here." Yohji pressed his lips together and tapped his finger against his temple. "We really don't have any spare beds, other than the one in Naoe's room." A nasty little smile formed on the blond's lips, one that Masato decided he didn't like in the slightest.

"I can't share a room with another person unless I'm feeding off them. Who's this Naoe?" Maybe that would be a solution to his hunger. Once he had this person alone, Masato was sure he could convince them to sleep with him.

"A close friend of Aya's."

"No fucking way then." He'd already pissed off Aya by hitting on him, he wasn't going to do it again by feeding off the kage's friend.

Yohji sighed, a disappointed frown on his lips. "I guess it wasn't a good idea to begin with, Omi and Aya would kill me. All right, how about this? We put you in Kira's room since she's spending her nights with Mickey anyway. Just be prepared for lots of pink and frills."

Not the most ideal sleeping arrangement that he'd ever had, but Masato just grunted his acceptance. It was better than sleeping in some field or barn, which he'd been doing a lot of lately.

"I'll take it. Just so you know - I will be feeding while I'm here. Is anyone else, other than Aya and this Naoe, to be considered off limits?"

"The Koneko's staff and anyone under eighteen. And before you protest those rules, let me tell you that Mom was the one who set them. Don't like them, go stay somewhere else or just go away." Yohji gazed at him challengingly.

Oh, he was sure his son would love it if he went elsewhere. Masato smiled charmingly at the man. "No, they sound perfectly acceptable to me."

"Hmph. Well, I'm off for a bath. I assume you know your way around the place, and I'll let Mickey and Jo know about your sleeping arrangements." Yohji rose from his seat and stretched his lanky body. Masato took in his son's appearance, grateful that Yohji was more like his mother than him. With the triangular face, lips that were made for smiling or smirking, the emerald green eyes and the thin yet muscled body; he really did look like his mother. The only thing Yohji had gotten from him, other than his bound nature, had been his height, dark blond hair and golden skin. Which reminded Masato that he had to reapply the dye to his hair the first chance he got. Yoru might still be on the lookout for a blond man with hazel eyes.

Masato rose to his feet as well. He walked over to the door, intent on treating himself to a well-cooked meal and paused in opening the door when he felt Yohji's hand on his shoulder. Turning around to face his son, he was instantly punched in the jaw and sent crashing to the floor. As he growled softly and tried to gather his dazed wits about him, Yohji spoke in a calm and threatening manner.

"Don't even fucking think of touching Aya again, or I'll string your body from the North Gate's tower for the birds to feast upon. Don't even look at him." That said, Yohji stepped over him and went on his way.

Rubbing his sore jaw, Masato sighed and closed his eyes. One of these days he'd find out why Fate loved to torture him so. Not relishing his stay here at the Koneko, thanks to painful memories and an insanely jealous bound who also happened to be his son, he pushed himself off the ground. One thing he had to say for the boy though, he sure as hell had one mean right hook.

*******

Aya rested his head on the rim of the hot tub, wondering what was taking Yohji so long. He'd felt a flare of anger and murderous intent a few minutes ago, and then the feeling had died down, only to be replaced with a sense of anticipation and hunger. Yohji should be here any moment now, and Aya found his body tightening with arousal as he thought of what was sure to happen once his mate appeared. His kage nature purred and longed for it, for the reassurance that the man was fine and uninjured. A bit disturbed by that part of himself because of what had happened earlier, Aya shifted about in the water.

There was a clicking sound and Yohji walked into the room with a frown on his face. "You didn't lock the door properly, love."

"Yes I did, I even heard the lock click into place." The first thing Aya had done after finding the bathing room to be empty was slam the door shut behind him and lock it before hurrying over to the hot spring. He knew Yohji had a key to the door, the man even held it in his hand at that moment.

Yohji set aside his key and his blue robe on a bench then started to pull off his soaked and dirty clothes. "It just opened when I touched it. Ah well, it's locked now, and no one should bother us. If any of the staff comes down here, very well knowing that we're taking a bath, it's obvious that they want to be killed and I'll happily oblige them." Stripping off the last of his clothes, Yohji sauntered over to the bath and pulled out a bucket of hot water. Aya watched as the man rinsed himself off, taking in the way that the water cascaded down Yohji's golden body, his eyes riveted on his mate's tumescent erection, which seemed to harden even more under his gaze.

Smiling wickedly, Yohji winked at him and quickly scrubbed himself clean. In less than two minutes the man was hopping into the water and making a beeline for Aya. Letting himself be pulled into Yohji's embrace, Aya purred softly and lifted his face, his lips parted and wet. Yohji didn't waste any time in kissing him, sucking the breath out of Aya and making him shiver in pleasure.

Normally he would protest having sex with Yohji in the bath, but the two of them were alone and Aya needed his mate too much. He ran his hands over golden skin, seeking any bruises and cuts and finding none. Yohji was fine, was more than fine judging from the crushing hold the man's arms had around him, but Aya could still see him lying still on the floor, Mickey sitting on him. That's what had triggered his true nature past any hopes of reining it in, revealing what he was in front of Jo and the others.

Clutching Yohji's long hair in his hands, Aya jerked the man's head away from his and started sucking on Yohji's neck. He needed Yohji so desperately, needed to feel the man inside him and his sense of warmth and life. Aya grabbed one of Yohji's hands and tugged it downward, pressing it against his ass as he wrapped his other hand around the man's cock and began to stroke it.

"Oh gods Aya… I want you so bad."

Aya pulled away from Yohji's neck only long enough to growl out a few words. "I'm yours. Take me Yotan, _now_." He pinned Yohji against the side of the tub and straddled his lap, his mouth back on his mate's neck and his hand on Yohji's cock. Wriggling his hips for added effect, Aya decided that someone was being a little slow on picking up the hint and growled deep in the back of his throat as he removed his hand from his mate's cock. He had to have Yohji now, and if the man wouldn't help him get ready, he'd do it himself.

As his fingers started to press against his tight opening, Yohji suddenly growled and knocked his hands away. "Mine." Yohji's finger easily slid inside of him, aided by the water and the sex earlier in the guest bedroom, as Aya purred in pleasure. This was what he wanted, Yohji within him, but it needed to be deeper, much deeper. Thrusting his hips backward, Aya took the finger in as far as it would go, mewling around his mouthful of Yohji's skin. He pumped his hand faster, causing the blond to shudder and moan. Another finger was shoved inside him, causing Aya to bite down on Yohji's neck and mewl again.

Rubbing his hand along Yohji's nipples, Aya pulled back from the man's bruised neck and frowned. "_Yo~tan_." The word came out in a sibilant hiss as Aya's true nature overwhelmed his control for a second time that day.

"Shh, cat. We have all-"

"_Do it_." When Yohji tried to still his thrusting hips, Aya snarled and snatched at the man's arms. Using Yohji's surprise to his benefit, he positioned the long limbs along the side of the tub and called shadows to hold them still. The older bound cursed softly and struggled against the restraints, only to suck in his breath as Aya grabbed his penis once more. Holding the hard cock in position, he shoved his hips downward, taking all of it inside in one fast, hard thrust.

There was a flash of pain, quickly fading as his body adjusted to the sudden invasion. It had been almost nothing and had been expected, so didn't matter at all to Aya. What did matter was Yohji inside him, stretching and filling him, confirming that the two of them were together and always would be, that nothing would separate them in the foreseeable future. Yohji was his, always and ever, and the want and need Aya felt for him would never go away. He'd given everything up for Yohji, all for this.

Leveraging himself up with his knees on the tub's bench, Aya rose until Yohji's cock would have slipped out of his body if not for his muscles clenching tightly around it. Then he slammed back down again, this time tilting his hips the slightest bit. Any memory of pain was instantly forgotten as the penis rubbed against his sweet spot, making him gasp out loud. Yohji moaned in response, his breath catching as Aya lifted himself again. The feel of Yohji's girth sliding in and out of him, aided by the hot water, was driving Aya wild with pleasure.

Repeating the frantic motions, Aya purred as he rained kisses on Yohji's face and neck, riding the man with an ever-increasing pace. Ecstasy washed through him, stealing away his breath until he panted for air.

"Aya… please… my arms. Wanna hold you, stroke you. Gods you feel soooo good." Yohji's words slowly making sense, Aya did as the man asked him, commanding the shadows to release their hold. He was instantly rewarded as Yohji grabbed his hip with one hand, pulling him down even harder, and the other stroked his cock. The ecstasy increased, darkening Aya's vision as it filled his body, his skin tingling with Yohji's magic. A mouth fastened to his neck, causing Aya to purr strongly enough that his teeth chattered together from the vibrations.

Everything was pleasure, warmth and Yohji, enveloping Aya completely. All that mattered was taking the man deep inside him again and again, feeling waves of bliss coursing through his body with each thrust. With a choked cry, Aya felt himself shatter from the pleasure, his body trembling and his vision dark with sparks of light that came and disappeared in waves.

He felt so tired and sated, only the hands on his hips kept him moving even as his upper body slumped against Yohji. Several heartbeats later more warmth flooded into him, causing Aya to shiver as his arms weakly curled around the other man's shoulders.

The two of them remained still for a few minutes, their heartbeats and panting breaths in sync. Water flowed around and against Aya's oversensitive skin, making him shiver ever so slightly, and the hands on his hips sliding along his back, pulling him close to Yohji's chest.

"Cat…." A kiss was pressed against his left temple. "Fuck."

"Hn."

"I don't know what the hell got into you just now, but I must say I liked it very much." Yohji's breath was still a touch labored, and his tone was wry and warm. His hand tugged gently on one of Aya's eartails, but Aya didn't have the energy to do more than snarl, and even then the sound came out a half purr. He rested his head on Yohji's shoulder and sighed in contentment.

Yohji started to massage the back of his neck, above where the scars started. Aya purred and rubbed his cheek against the man's skin, his body melting bonelessly against his lover.

"Aya… my dad's staying here to teach me about my powers. Do my blood pressure a favor and stay the hell away from him until he gives up and goes away. I don't trust him around you."

"Huhn." Aya nipped Yohji's shoulder for his over protectiveness, since he'd been handling Masato fine on his own before the blond had shown up. "He surprised me at first, with his scent and magic being so much like yours, but that won't happen again." The stranger's magic wouldn't affect him anymore, now that he knew to be on guard against it.

"The bastard's nothing like me," Yohji growled. "Well, other than our natures. I don't think I want to know exactly what happened in the office before I showed up, since Jo and Ani would kill me for the mess I'd make of the man's body. You know, I don't even know his name, and the asshole has carte blanche to stay at the Koneko as long as he wants."

"It's Masato. At least that's what he told Kira and me."

"Ah. Well, it's clear I wasn't named after him, thankfully." Yohji kissed him on his nose. "Why did the man have to show up now? We don't have enough problems that he has to decide that now would be a wonderful time to assume his fatherly duties?"

Aya didn't say anything, just rested his head on Yohji's shoulder. For a moment he thought of his sister, and how he would give anything for the girl to be alive once more. He had no one in this world besides Yohji and Nagi, and didn't think any relatives would be making their presence known in the future.

A low chuckle had Aya raising his head and looking at his mate questioningly. The man offered him a smile as he brushed back the bangs that were falling in Aya's eyes. "I just realized that I should be pissed as all hell at Jo and the crew for knowing that I was a bound and not saying a word. I really was the last one to find out, and that irritates the hell out of me."

Chewing on his bottom lip, Aya toyed with a strand of Yohji's hair. "Yohji, do you think-"

"They won't tell a soul, Aya. It's like Jo said, you're one of us now. And even if that wasn't the case, they know I'll never let anything harm you. Your secret's safe. Besides, they had to know sometime, since you're staying. Not that I wanted them to find out what you are by you nearly slitting Mickey's throat."

Aya felt the blood rush to his cheeks and he lowered his eyes, staring at the dark blond strand of hair he was playing with. "I… when I… let my bound nature take control, or it snatches it away from me it's not like I lose myself, but that I'm no longer trying to be only half a person. When that happens, I can't stop myself; I don't want to stop myself. All I saw was Mickey on top of you, pinning you down." All that had mattered was freeing Yohji and keeping him safe. Aya would kill almost anyone to do that and never feel an ounce of regret.

Yohji's hand stroked through his hair before resuming kneading his neck. "I know what you mean, Aya. Hell, I nearly committed patricide because of smelling Masato on you, and I'll follow through with it if he ever touches you again. I'm just glad you didn't kill Mickey; I have no clue how he does the books. It would be a nightmare to figure them out if he was dead."

Rolling his eyes, Aya rested his head on Yohji's shoulder and nipped at his mate's flesh. That earned him having his name whined out and a tug on an eartail. Aya licked his tongue over the red mark and the huge bruise on Yohji's neck as well, smiling slightly as he did so.

Yohji shivered at the touch, making Aya aware that his lover was still buried inside him. As the man's cock started to harden, he mewled and pressed his hips downward. Yohji's hand tilted Aya's chin up and his mouth was claimed for a kiss.

When it ended Yohji returned his hands to Aya's hips, holding him still as the succubae-bound thrust upward the tiniest bit.

"Yotan…."

"I love how you purr out my name, cat." Yohji took to sucking on his earlobe, then blowing on the damp flesh and nuzzling just below it. "I love how you feel, so tight and hot. I love how I can smell my scent on your skin, how it comes from your pores when we're done. As soon as I'm done fucking you I want to do it again and again. You drive me to distraction. You make my heart ache from happiness, as weird as that sounds. I've smiled more these past few weeks with you than in the past year. I know it can't all be good times for us -- that we've troubles we have to face, but I don't care. You're mine and I'm yours, all we need is to be together. All I want is for you to be happy."

Tightening his muscles around the thick cock buried so deep inside him, Aya moaned Yohji's name again and closed his eyes. His head fell backwards, exposing his neck, and a sense of languidness filled him as once more he felt his energy start to flow into his mate. There were nightmares and pain lying in wait for them, battles that had to be fought and sacrifices that had to be made, but all Aya wanted were moments like this, the two of them lost in each other.

"Then fuck me, Yotan. Make me happy."

Lips brushed against his neck as Yohji moved inside him. "Yes, love."

*******

Schuldig stepped into the Koneko, eager for a few drinks, some stimulating conversation and a bite to eat. Plus it always put him in a good mood to see Naoe and Yohji fight like two siblings, with Aya sitting there with his face becoming more and more impassive but his eyes changing from violet to a stormy lavender/grey as he became angrier and angrier with the two. One of these days the kage was going to lose it and smack both idiots, if the men in question were lucky, and Schuldig wanted to be there when that happened. Now that he'd resigned himself to never having Yohji, he was starting to enjoy the other redhead's presence. Aya might be quiet and withdrawn, but he didn't seem to miss a thing, and when he did speak, it was usually worth the wait. He also made Yohji deliriously happy. Just being in the couple's presence was enough to give him a buzz that helped to kill his jealousy.

Heading to their table, Schuldig sighed when he saw his new papa sitting there. Botan had a frown on his face, which meant the man must be in a bad mood over something. Well, that had officially made his night. The wizard wasn't bad, all in all, but having stopped by at his mother's for some scones and coffee yesterday morning and finding Botan sitting at the table, dressed in a robe and little else, well…. Schuldig didn't like contemplating the thought of his mother having a sex life, especially with a man she'd just met. That just creeped him out, and he was used to being the focus of the woman's life. It didn't help matters any that he'd been celibate the past couple weeks, being too busy running errands for his father and preparing things for his departure to have any fun.

Omi and Naoe were present as well, the younger teen sitting by Aya's side and dividing his attention between the crown prince and his friend. That left two people missing; Schuldig knew that Jei was on the other side of town, talking to a pack of flesh gaki-bounds, and his father must be busy as well. Good, he got to eat a meal in peace without the Prick harping on him to do this and do that. Technically there were a few other people missing as well, Yohji's friends Lilla and Ken primarily, but they weren't bounds and so weren't privy to any private conversations. Schuldig much preferred it when he didn't have to monitor what he said when he wanted to spend an evening drinking with friends. Once Omi left he wouldn't have to worry about that.

He waved at Yohji as he took a seat next to Botan. Now that he was up close and past the veil of shadows that Aya cast to keep curious eyes from watching the table, Schuldig could tell that he'd be leaving with one hell of a buzz tonight. Yohji looked like the cat that had snared a plump juicy canary, his lush lips tugged back in a wide smile and his eyes sparkling. The man practically glowed, which meant he'd been snacking pretty heavily on Aya that day. As for the kage, he was paler than normal and leaning against Yohji, his head resting on the man's shoulder. His movements were languid and his eyes heavy lidded. Hell, Aya didn't seem to mind for once that both Yohji and Naoe kept scooping more food onto his plate and pouring him more tea the second he set his cup down. Yohji must have drained him damn near dry for him to be that complacent. Reading Omi's thoughts, Schuldig found out the two bounds had been mother-henning the redhead since dinner had started. Botan's mind was filled with the thought that he wouldn't be able to talk to Aya much tonight about being a kage, as Yohji was in a fiercely protective mood and didn't seem to want to let his mate out of his sight. There was a flash of a brown haired stranger, but Schuldig didn't follow that thought, being much more interested in eating instead.

"Care to spare some food for this starving redhead? I'd like to think I'm just as gorgeous and even more hungry."

Yohji laughed and tossed a roll his way. "Knowing the two of you, you're definitely the hungrier one. We've been saving the chicken legs just for you, though a certain little demon keeps trying to snatch them." Schuldig started salivating as Yohji slid a tray of the drumsticks his way. He loved dark meat, and was happy that his friend remembered that and watched out for him.

"Hmph. Aya likes dark meat; I was trying to get them for him. You need to take better care of him, you stupid idiot."

"You little shit, I snagged a few thighs for him instead. And shut your mouth, I take care of him just fine."

"Yeah, that's why you had to practically carry him to the table, Kudoh."

Schuldig caught the man in question's eye as he started to nibble on a chicken leg. Aya wrinkled his nose and rolled his eyes, which were definitely stormy. Hmm, maybe he'd see that smacking happen tonight. Good thing he had a front row seat for it.

"Omi, could you pass me the wine before these two start throwing things at each other?"

Botan groaned and whispered under his breath, "Don't give them any ideas, Schuldig." He picked from the wizard's mind that this had been the seventh fight to break out in the past twenty minutes. Botan was considering a retreat back to the palace to resume renewing wards just for some peace and quiet, but he was waiting for Aya to blow up as well. Schuldig hoped that Yohji had left the man with enough energy for it to be a spectacular scene.

"Schuldig, tell the little demon here that I do to know how to take care of someone." Yohji broke off glaring at Naoe to look beseechingly at him.

He just had to play the devil's advocate tonight. "I don't know, Yotan. I remember you killing a grand total of eleven goldfish by the time you were nine, which was two more than Teddy. It was bad enough that your mother refused to let you try to win them at the festivals anymore. Now you're looking after a person?" Schuldig quickly jerked his feet back from what he was sure would have been a vicious kick from Yohji, if it had landed.

<Hey, what's your problem tonight? You deliberately tried to break my leg just then.>

Yohji glared at him while Naoe patted Aya's hand and reassured him that someone responsible was there to make sure he was looked after. Aya snarled under his breath something about being surrounded by idiots and snatched his hand away.

"I can too look after someone! Hell, if it wasn't for me Aya would be curled up in some dark room reading a book, and never seeing the light of day," Yohji proclaimed indignantly.

"At least that way he'd have some energy left to eat, let along do anything else. I'm surprised he's not limping by now!" Naoe leaned over Aya to glare at Yohji, who looked a hair's breadth from snarling at him.

The sound of flesh being smacked filled their corner of the inn, quickly followed by two cries of pain. Yohji and Naoe started to rub their sore heads, which Aya had just whapped, staring abjectly at their abuser.

"You're both idiots. I don't need anyone to look after me."

Yohji yanked on an eartail. "The hell you don't. I've never seen anyone who needed a babysitter more than you do. There's no telling what trouble you'll get into if someone isn't watching out for you."

"You need protection from _him_, Aya." Naoe glared at Yohji before handing a cup of tea to Aya. "He's determined to suck the life out of you."

Omi and Botan were desperate not to burst out laughing at the look on Aya's face and the scowls Yohji and Naoe were receiving for their thick-headedness. Deciding this was one of the funniest nights here yet, and that Aya was about to do a very good impression of a cat spitting in anger, Schuldig started to chuckle under his breath.

"Am I interrupting something here?"

Yohji turned away from Naoe to scowl at the table's visitor. "Yes, so go the hell away."

Surprised by how angry his friend sounded, Schuldig stopped laughing and glanced over at the stranger. He took in the tall, broad shoulders, the faded and thin clothes which did little to hide the muscles on the man's body, and was hard pressed not to start drooling. The man had light brown hair and golden hazel eyes set in a handsome face graced with a dusting of stubble. Not his usual type, but there was something about the man that made it difficult for Schuldig to look away.

"Ignore Yotan, he's being bested by a fifteen year old so he's a touch grouchy at the moment. I'm Schuldig." He held out his hand to the stranger and scooted over on the bench to create some room beside him.

A tingle ran through his body when the man shook his hand. "I'm Masato. It's a pleasure to meet you." Schuldig smiled when Masato sat down next to him. Hearing a growling sound, Schuldig looked over at his friend, who was busy glaring at Masato. When the newcomer glanced Yohji's way, the growl became more pronounced.

<Yotan, what the hell do you have against this man? You might not be on the prowl anymore now that you have your `cat', but I am and he's sexy as all hell.> Even the man's scent was sexy, and Schuldig tried to figure out how he could sniff Masato and not be too obvious about it. The scent reminded him of someone, but he was interrupted before he could figure it out.

`Sexy? Him?' Yohji's face blanched and he shook his head. `Schuldig, that man is my father. He's a succubae-bound looking for a meal, so leave him the hell alone.'

Yohji's father? So this was the mysterious man who didn't seem to be able to count years? Schuldig suddenly decided he wasn't going to hold that against him. He smiled at Masato as he poured him some wine. Understanding some of Yohji's anger at the man, as both of them had spent a good portion of their childhood complaining about absent fathers, Schuldig was still puzzled over why his friend was so hostile. Unable to pick his thoughts for the reason why, Schuldig resolved to himself to get some answers to his questions later. Right now, though, he was going to enjoy this Masato's presence. Damn, his whole body was tingling now.

"So, how long are you staying at the Koneko?" Schuldig asked coyly, his eyes heavy lidded and a seductive smile on his face. He spared a quick thought to Yohji, who had finally stopped growling. <Masato's your dad? Why do I get the Prick and you get the sexy beast? Do you think if I ask him nicely enough he'll sprinkle me with sugar before he takes a bite?>

Yohji started choking on the wine he'd swallowed, his eyes bulging and staring at Schuldig with horror. Aya frowned and patted his mate on the back, glancing at Yohji, Masato and Schuldig as he started to bite his bottom lip. As for Masato, he chuckled and sipped his wine, his hand sliding under the table to stroke Schuldig's thigh.

Schuldig had met other succubae-bounds before, and had even slept with one or two of them, but he'd never felt such a strong tingle of pleasure with them, and all Masato was doing was touching his leg through his pants. Imagining what that touch would feel like on his naked skin, he grasped Masato's hand and placed it on his crotch. Schuldig could feel the man's surprise at his forwardness, and then his delight at finding such an eager meal. Even the feel of Masato's thoughts was delightful, helping to mask out the mental pressure from all the other patrons.

Masato set his wine down to turn around and look at Schuldig, and the tingle became stronger. Arching his back in pleasure, Schuldig pressed the man's hand against him even tighter.

"Masato, remember that list I mentioned earlier? I want to add a new name to it right now." Yohji's voice sounded frantic, and he had to pound on the table to get their attention.

"Yohji, I don't tell you what to eat, so don't tell me. He's willing and over eighteen, so back off." Masato leaned in to nuzzle Schuldig's neck. "Right?"

<Yotan, if you ruin this for me I'll… I'll give Aya a list of every patron in this room that you've fucked.> Schuldig moaned softly at the feel of a stubbled cheek brushing against his neck. Oh yes, he was going to have this man. His mother was having sex, for the gods' sakes, why the hell couldn't he have a little fun? Considering how Yohji was hung, he was guaranteed that at least. Assuming that Yohji took after his father. He damn well better. Unable to resist taking a peek, Schuldig did a quick mental scan and ascertained that it was indeed a succubae-bound trait, at least for this particular family. Goodie.

"Uhm, is there something in the wine tonight? I thought there was no molesting allowed at the tables until nine o'clock." Omi's voice was wry, and something hit Schuldig on the side of his head. Snarling, Schuldig pulled away from Masato to glare at the brat, who then stuck his tongue out at him. "You better take that somewhere else before Jo dumps a pitcher of water on you."

"Omi, you genki bastard, I oughta-"

A loud sneeze cut off Schuldig's verbal abuse, and the whole table turned to stare at Aya. The redhead was rubbing his nose, a frown on his face.

"Don't mention Jo and water."

Yohji pulled his mate close and nuzzled him on the cheek. "Are you okay, cat? You feel a little warm. Don't tell me you're coming down with a cold because of Jo."

"What did Jo do to the two of you? Were the two of you making out in the garden?" Omi shook his head. "I heard her tell you that if she caught you out there skipping work again, she'd toss the both of you in the pond. Aren't you ever going to learn some self control, Yohji?"

Yohji scowled at Omi while Aya sneezed again. "I don't understand, I never get colds." Aya shivered slightly, his frown fading into a look of confusion.

Nagi handed him his cup of tea, wrapping pale hands around it and urging it towards Aya's mouth. "You never had a pervert… wearing you out all the time. This is all Yohji's fault."

"Yeah," Omi chimed in. "He probably bribed Botan to make you sick so you'd have to stay in bed."

"Listen, the both of you can go to hell. Why am I being abused tonight?" Yohji tugged on one of Aya's eartails and pressed his mouth against the man's neck. "We really should get you into bed, you know. The little demon can bring up a pot of tea for you, and I'll keep you warm." The last was said in a tone of voice so husky it sent shivers down Schuldig's spine. He felt a brief flash of jealousy and a pain in his heart.

Aya smiled, ever so slightly, and as he started to purr he tilted his head back until it rested on Yohji's shoulder, his neck arched and exposed. Schuldig couldn't look away from the man, snared as he was by the kage's beauty and the irresistible sight of that bared, slender throat. Beside him he felt Masato shifting about on the bench, radiating hunger and lust as his attention rested on Aya.

Yohji seemed to notice what had his father entranced too, and stopped stroking Aya's cheek to look in Masato's direction. Schuldig was shocked by the expression on his friend's face, pure hatred and anger that twisted Yohji's visage into an inhuman mask. Before the man could even start growling, though, Aya yanked his mate's head down and kissed him.

A cold presence pushed against Schuldig's mind. `Get Masato out of here, _now_.' Not needing Aya to repeat that order, Schuldig grabbed the older succubae-bound's hand and dragged him away from the table. Sparing a quick thought to blur the last couple of seconds from Omi's mind, who was wondering what had come over his friends, Schuldig didn't stop until the two of them were out of the room. Then Masato seemed to come back to himself and started to drag him towards the private section of the Koneko.

A scan of the man's mind revealed the events of the afternoon, with Masato mistakenly trying to feed from Aya and his disastrous first meeting with Yohji. No wonder Yotan had told Schuldig to stay away from the man. Well, he guessed it was his friend's fault that he now found himself in Kira's room all alone with Masato.

"You really tried to hit on Aya?"

Masato's eyes went wide, and Schuldig found himself pushed against a wall as the man pressed against him. Rather happy with the tingle that spread through his body at the contact, he didn't try to push Masato away. In fact he pressed against the man and purred.

Masato leaned in close to him and sniffed his neck. "You're a bound, aren't you? Soul gaki?"

<Very impressive. I didn't know you could tell that by scent alone.>

Masato smiled down at Schuldig, his eyes sparkling and a wolfish smile on his lips. "Succubae-bounds rely very much on their sense of smell, on being able to read if we've snared our prey sufficiently enough to move in for dinner. With a bit of time and experience, one can tell more than that. Besides, Yohji mentioned having some soul gaki-bound friends."

"Yes, I can `see' that." Schuldig slid his hands up Masato's chest and rested them on the man's broad shoulders. "That was an incredibly stupid thing to do, making a play for Aya. You're lucky Yohji didn't kill you."

"He sure as hell tried." Masato sighed and leaned his head closer to Schuldig's. "Doesn't help that I was an idiot back there in the dining room, but I'm so damn hungry."

It had tempted even Schuldig, the sight of another bound's neck offered up like that. Smiling wickedly, he decided to do something about both of their appetites. He'd been deprived of one meal tonight, time to work on sating another type of hunger. Schuldig rested his head against the wall, baring his neck.

<Well then, why don't you have a bite?>

The comment earned him a lustful grin. "I think I like you, Schuldig. Especially when you come up with such wonderful suggestions." Schuldig could read from Masato's thoughts his eagerness to appease his hunger and his joy at being able to do so with another bound, someone he wouldn't have to pretend with.

When Masato next spoke, it was in a voice reminiscent of Yohji's earlier, husky and laden with want. "I've been hungry for a very long time. Are you sure?"

Growling softly, Schuldig jerked Masato's head down closer to his. Why did the man have to be so damn tall and stubborn? "Yes, I'm sure." He'd been hungry for a while himself and couldn't recall the last time he'd wanted someone this badly, if ever.

"I don't want to hold back."

<Then don't.>

Masato stilled for a second, and then Schuldig moaned as his mind and emotions were assaulted with a wave of desire so strong he became painfully hard. From Masato came the thought that he wasn't going to hold back any longer, that he would take Schuldig up on his offer and revel in the brief period of freedom from control and illusions. That was the only clear thought in Schuldig's head, as his mind lost it under the barrage, reduced to a primitive state of just feeling. His world narrowed down to Masato's tongue in his mouth and the hands stroking his body.

His claws unsheathed and tore at Masato's tunic, the sound of cloth ripping being echoed as Masato ripped the seam of his shirt apart. The instant their skin came in contact the both of them moaned as their lust increased, and their pants went the way of their shirts.

Everything was a jumble of pleasure and need to Schuldig, his mind so deep inside Masato's, drinking in the man's emotions as he in turn was fed from, he wasn't aware at all when he'd been pulled away from the wall. Masato tried to steer them towards the bed, but one of them tripped, falling just short of the furniture. Someone's arm knocked into the nightstand, sending various items scattering across the floor.

As their bodies lost contact Masato snarled savagely and grabbed ahold of Schuldig, jerking him back to his feet. They gave walking another try, but as they were unwilling to stop kissing each other the whole while, they once again stumbled along until they crashed into a vanity table.

Schuldig found himself turned around and bent over the table with Masato pressing against his back. A hungry mouth fastened onto his neck, causing him to groan in pleasure. The sound choked off when Masato's hand wrapped around his cock and started to stroke it, causing him to shudder and push back against the man.

Teeth clamped onto his skin, a flash of pain that quickly became bliss, and his hands clasped Masato's hips, urging him forward. Schuldig had never wanted anything as much as he wanted Masato inside him, wanted this damn hunger to be sated. They were feeding off each other, but it still wasn't enough.

The scent of gardenias filled the room, and then Masato pushed a slick finger inside him, causing Schuldig to cry out the man's name. The hand around his cock clenched almost painfully tight, relaxing only when another finger was added and both of them brushed against that spot inside him.

That flash of pleasure proved to be too much for Masato, and Schuldig arched his back as something enormous and hard was shoved into him, stretching him painfully. But the hurt immediately faded as Masato's power washed through him, and within seconds he was pushing back against the succubae-bound, trying to take the thick cock in even deeper. Each thrust only made Schuldig all the more needy until he was sobbing as he was roughly shoved against the table again and again. Cosmetics and perfumes were sent flying as the vanity repeatedly smacked into the wall.

Schuldig could feel the energy flow out of him and into Masato, at an ever increasing pace as the thrusts became more frantic. The man's mouth fastened to his neck again, sucking and biting on it as Schuldig tilted his head even more to the side. Everything was pure bliss, was nothing but that emotion and hunger. He'd never experienced anything like this, and as the pleasure coursed through him a tear slid down his cheek.

Then the world shattered, the pleasure setting him on fire until his whole body felt seared and tingling. With a hoarse cry Masato came, and the two of them slumped over the table.

It took several moments for Schuldig to separate their thoughts, and he could only bonelessly lie on the table as Masato pulled out of him. The loss of contact with the man hurt, the solid presence withdrawing and leaving him achingly empty. Large hands gently lifted him off the table and carried him to the bed.

Masato lay down next to him, nuzzling Schuldig's neck and pulling him close. His body still tingling from the orgasm, Schuldig moaned at the feel of a stubbled cheek brushing against his sensitive skin. From Masato came an image of his very bruised neck, looking a lot like Aya's on some mornings.

<I think you're part flesh gaki-bound from the way you attacked my throat.>

There was a low rumble that turned into a chuckle after a moment. "No, I'm not a flesh gaki-bound. Though I'm still hungry as one."

Schuldig opened an eye and stared at his lover in shock. "You're still hungry after _that_?" His voice was hoarse, his throat a touch sore. He seemed to remember hearing someone screaming a few minutes ago, and assumed that it must have been himself. A memory from Masato confirmed the suspicion. The man had adored hearing Schuldig repeatedly call out his name as he'd fucked him senseless.

That wasn't the only thing he was picking up from Masato. The latest image involved the two of them on the bed, and more of him being fucked senseless and screaming. Schuldig moaned, half in pleasure and half in exasperation of having to actually move so quickly after the previous bout of sex.

<You've got to be kidding me. We just finished.>

"I told you, I'm very hungry." Masato kissed him on the mouth, and just when Schuldig worked up the energy to kiss him back, the man shifted away from him. "If you object to having your neck bruised any more, I guess I'll have to find something else to nibble on." As Masato kissed a trail down his stomach, Schuldig caught the thought that he wasn't going to be left alone until Masato's appetite had been fully appeased. About to protest that he wasn't sure if he had that much energy or stamina left in him, Schuldig moaned as the man took him into his mouth. With more skill than he'd ever imagined a person to possess, Masato quickly had him becoming hard again.

<Just… oh fuck. Just how hungry are you?>

`Very, very hungry. Gods, you taste so good. I'm never going to be able to get enough of you.'

Schuldig moaned again as his hips started to thrust upward into Masato's mouth. Maybe he should have listened to Yohji's advice after all.

*******

Yohji stroked a hand through the crimson bangs that covered Aya's face. His mate grunted softly and tried to bury his face into the pillow, but after a minute opened an eye to glare weakly at him. Smiling in return, Yohji leaned down and kissed Aya on the forehead.

"I'm going downstairs to grab us something to eat." Aya just closed his eyes and went back to sleep, but Yohji felt better knowing that if the man woke up while he was gone, Aya wouldn't worry over his absence.

Rising from the bed, he quickly washed himself off and pulled on a pair of dark green pants and a light gold shirt. Deciding he didn't need to wear any boots as he'd be spending most of his day in bed, Yohji slid a pair of black leather slippers onto his feet and left the room.

He waved at several people who called out good morning to him and decided he'd get something to eat down here before taking up a tray for Aya. His cat needed the extra bit of sleep after last night, and that way Yohji could concentrate on feeding Aya and not himself. Heading for his usual table, he was surprised to find Schuldig sitting there.

The man looked like hell. His neck was one huge bruise, bearing several bite marks as well, and he looked almost as exhausted as Aya. Clothes a couple sizes too big hung on his slender frame, making Schuldig appear smaller than he really was.

"I see you didn't take my advice."

Schuldig shot him a dirty look and sipped at his drink, which smelled like tea and honey. Then the redhead opened his mouth and croaked. "Fuck off, Yotan."

"Gods, Schu, you sound almost as bad as Aya, and he has the excuse of having a cold. What the hell happened last night?"

<Well, to help keep you from killing your father, I let the man drag me off to his room and fuck me silly. When Masato tells you he's hungry, you better damn well believe he's hungry. We didn't stop until just a couple of hours ago, and I'm not sure if I have the energy to make it home.>

The image of his best friend and the asshole that was his father having sex made Yohji shudder in horror. It was almost enough to put him off his appetite forever.

"I warned you, didn't I, to stay the hell away from him. Listen to me next time."

Schuldig just grunted and sipped his tea. Ani came over and kissed Yohji on the cheek before asking him what he wanted for breakfast, and after he told her his order he asked for a few plates to be made up for Aya, along with a huge pot of Jo's special brew that worked wonders against colds. Considering the fact that it was half grain alcohol, Aya wouldn't be feeling stuffy and achy for much longer. Hell, he wouldn't be feeling much at all other than drunk, even with his bound tolerance.

Waiting until Ani was gone, Schuldig finally responded. <Well, at least Masato won't be hungry enough to look at your cat anymore.>

Yohji growled for a moment before shaking his head. Aya wasn't going to cheat on him with anybody, and if Masato tried something again, his mate would kill the man. That thought almost made Yohji wish his father would try something, but then his jealousy flared again and he had some difficulty stopping himself from rising from the bench, tracking Masato down and removing the man's head from his body.

When he managed to get control of himself Yohji found Schuldig looking at him oddly. "Yes?"

<Let me guess, you were thinking about your father just then. Gods, Yohji, why do you want to kill the man so badly? Because he hit on Aya before knowing that he was your mate?>

`It's… I think it's a succubae thing. Sorta like when flesh gaki-bounds get into a fight over a dead body because they can't share a meal. I can't stand the thought of him here in the Koneko and near Aya.'

Schuldig gazed at him wearily for a moment. <So what are you going to do, kick him out? He has that token your mom gave him.>

Yohji sighed and played with a strand of his hair. He pitched his voice low so no one could overhear them. "No, I think I have to let him stay now. He offered to teach me to train my power, and I need that, desperately. Aya's up in bed, utterly drained and suffering a cold. Which is something, according to him, that kage shouldn't get. I think I'm responsible for that, draining him so much yesterday until he can't even fight off a human illness."

<Why did you drain him so much?>

"Because… gods, Schu, he's so fucking delicious." Yohji's voice was hoarse from thinking about Aya and the way he tasted, the sunlight that filled him when he pleasured his mate. "Add to that the fact that he's been so worried lately, and since I can't take him fretting I try and distract him from his fears." Schuldig made a face at the distraction comment. "I know, it's probably just an excuse for me to ravish him silly. It doesn't help that Masato showed up and I'm filled with this anger and jealousy the moment he looks at Aya…." Yohji rested his head on the table and thought of last night.

He really would have chased Masato down if Aya hadn't distracted him. As tired as the man had been, Yohji had dragged him up to their room and had sex with him, and then again each time he'd thought of his father being in a room below them. It was only when Aya had curled up in a ball, worn out, coughing and his nose running, that Yohji had realized just how much he'd drained his mate. The cold had become much worse, proving Naoe correct that it was his fault that Aya was suffering one in the first place. Yohji had tried to return some of Aya's energy, but no matter how much he took, he could only give back a fraction of it.

"I need to learn how to control my hunger. If Aya wasn't what he was… if he was human he'd probably be dead by now." That thought had occurred to Yohji last night, and it had terrified him. There was no way in hell he'd be able to go on living without Aya. There was also no way Aya could go on being constantly drained, even if his kage nature would keep him alive. So the only option Yohji had was to suffer Masato's presence and learn whatever he could from the other bound. He wouldn't let his father leave until he felt assured he wouldn't harm Aya anymore.

"I'm going to take up Masato on his offer to teach me."

<It's the best thing, Yotan. He can teach you much better than Mom or I could.>

"Yeah, well you don't have to sound so excited about it, Schu. Gods, you really do look like shit. Maybe you should stay away from the Koneko until he's gone."

Schuldig glared at Yohji as he rubbed his throat. <I'm not a child, Yohji, and I was a hundred percent willing last night. Well, at least the first couple times, but I really wasn't complaining even after that. I might be sore, bruised and tattered around the edges, but it was still the best night of sex I ever had.>

"Please, Schu, I don't want to know the details," Yohji pleaded. "It's gross enough just thinking about you screwing a man old enough to be your dad. Hell, for all we know, he's old enough to be the Prick's dad." He really, really didn't need this in his life at the moment.

Smiling, Schuldig rose to his feet. <Well, I think I'm going to crash at my mom's. I'll be back later, so pass that on to Masato for me. Bye.>

Yohji gritted his teeth as he watched his friend limp away from him, courtesy of his bastard father. `Are you sure you can walk that far?'

<Bite me, Kudoh.>

`From the looks of it, someone already did, repeatedly.'

Well, at least he got the last word in, as all Schuldig did was give him the finger and continued to limp out of the Koneko. That was one thing in his favor today. Then Yohji thought of Aya upstairs in their bed, Masato sleeping off draining Schuldig dry, and what Naoe and Jo were going to do to him when they found out about Aya, and he felt the sudden impulse to join Schu at Cass'. It wasn't going to be a very good day.

As if the gods agreed with him, Yohji caught sight of Jo bearing down on him, a tray of food in her hands and fire in her eyes. Sliding down in his seat, Yohji wondered if it was an option for him to hide under the table until the woman no longer wanted his head. A whimper escaped from his throat.

*******

Cassandra looked up from her mug as Crawford and Jei walked into her kitchen. She had two mugs of coffee waiting on the table for them.

"Why did you call us here, Cass?"

"And a good day to you, Crawford. Feh, still no manners from you I see." Jei smiled at her and sat down at the table, quietly muttering a "thanks" for the coffee. Crawford glared at her for a moment before joining his partner. Both men appeared tired, and she was willing to bet that they hadn't seen their beds for some time. They had much to do, and little time before the wedding to get it done.

"Schuldig is upstairs sleeping. He came to my house this morning with an interesting bit of news. It appears that Yohji's father has returned."

Crawford's right eyebrow arched at the news. "Isn't his father a bound?"

"Succubae-bound to be exact." She sipped her tea as she waited for that fact to sink in. It didn't take long for Crawford to frown and shove his mug away from him.

"I don't understand, why didn't we foresee this? You didn't know about it, did you?" The look Crawford gave her suggested that he wouldn't put such a thing past Cassandra.

Resisting the urge to toss her mug at the man, Cassandra gritted her teeth. "I saw nothing about him returning. I knew he would, but not when, and certainly not that it would be during all this." She sighed before she continued on. "It gets worse; he's Schuldig's mate."

"WHAT?"

Jei chuckled at the sight of his partner's face. "Gods, Crawford, are you trying to wake the dead?" He got a scowl for his good humor.

Crawford then turned the look on Cassandra. "His mate? You knew he had a mate out there and you didn't tell me?"

"I wasn't sure when he'd come, and thought it wouldn't happen for another couple years. Besides, nothing you do will change anything. They're meant to be together." She wasn't going to sit here and listen to Crawford blame her. "I didn't tell you for that reason, and because I knew you'd only try to include the man in any future schemes."

"If they're mates I damn well have to." Crawford jerked a hand through his hair, knocking his glasses off-kilter on his nose. "Do you realize how much the man can jeopardize our plans? What if he doesn't want to accompany us to Esset and convinces Schuldig not to go? Shit." Falling silent for a moment, Crawford adjusted his glasses. "Maybe we can keep them apart before they mate."

Cassandra barely prevented herself from gloating as she spoke. "Too late. They slept together last night, which is why my brat is upstairs sleeping, even through your little outburst. It's too late now."

"Sleeping is not the same as mating. There's still time."

"Crawford, get over it. They fucked already. Do you want to drag Schuldig to Esset with a furious and jealous succubae-bound on our trail? That's sheer suicide." Jei said succinctly before drinking more of his coffee. Cassandra smiled at the man, remembering why she'd always liked him. If she hadn't foreseen the lovers Fate had in store for them, she would have tried to be more than friends with him. That would have driven Crawford nuts.

Mumbling, the older precog pulled his mug back in front of him and glared down at it. "This seriously complicates things. Now we have another person's actions to consider, another person who can cause things to go awry and doom us all."

"It might not be all bad. Schuldig will have someone to look after him, and you'll have another bound to present to the Elders in place of the kage." Cassandra tried to look on the bright side of things, too happy that her son had found his mate to dwell on the negative. Now she wouldn't have to worry about him so.

It was Jei who vocalized her fears. "Maybe he'll help and maybe he won't. What has me more worried is that the two of you didn't see this. If something as important as Schuldig's mate has slipped your attention, what else has?"

*******

Shuuichi looked down at the seating chart before him and snarled. "Does it really matter who the hell we have seated at table fourteen as opposed to table fifteen?" For the past week they'd made absolutely no headway on the seating chart for the wedding reception, and he was ready to tear the damn piece of paper to shreds.

"Honey, you know better than that. If we snub the wrong person we'll never hear the end of it." Manx rubbed his shoulder for a moment and then returned her attention to the chart. "Perhaps if we put the lords of prefectures twenty-four through thirty at table fourteen, and the others at fifteen?"

He had a headache. Wanting nothing more than to drag his fiancée back to his quarters for some privacy, Shuuichi returned his attention to the diagram. Once he got this out of the way, and about a dozen other matters related to the wedding, then he could relax. It was certain that Manx wouldn't until the task was done. At least she now had a successor to hand most of her duties over to, so she wasn't wearying herself thin between two different jobs.

"That will free up table sixteen then, where we can put the Judges together. That might work."

Manx smiled at him and kissed Shuuichi on the lips. Wishing he could deepen the kiss, Shuuichi reminded himself of the several pages and Guards in the room with them. Now wasn't the time. Later on they could snuggle together and enjoy each other, and he could inquire about his wayward son then. At the thought of Mamoru experiencing his first love and a bit of freedom, Shuuichi felt some of his headache vanish.

They managed to make headway on the seating chart for the next hour, until the thing was almost done. Then a page nervously stepped into the room, clearing her throat to get Shuuichi's attention. His dark eyes narrowed when he saw her trembling form, and spied Birman standing behind her, his Spymaster's face solemn and guarded.

"Your Highness…"

"Yes, I see her." Shuuichi waved Birman inside the chamber. "You have a report for me?" It couldn't be about his son, or Birman would be worried and not angry. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach that he knew what she was about to say and clutched Manx's hand in his.

"It's my duty to report to you, Sire, that your brother, his two sons and their retinue have just entered the city's North Gate. They should arrive at the palace within the hour."

*******

33