Chapter 4

Kurama's hand tightened around the ring and he stuffed it into his pocket. He turned from the dance scene and took a drink of whatever was in his glass. It was about this time that Rexi did break from Tyuki's grasp and go back to the room they had been offered to stay in. Tyuki followed her silently; making sure no one followed them. He didn't notice Kurama's hard gaze nor that when he disappeared into the room Kurama rose and followed them.

Rexi was getting ready for bed when Tyuki entered the room. She turned, covering her naked chest when he entered. "Oh, Tyuki, if you'll wait outside for another moment I'll get decent. I really did mean to get some rest though." She said as the man neared her, a look she couldn't describe crossing his face as he looked at her there with the ankle length skirt and a plain cloth hiding what was beneath from view.

"Come now Rexi. I've seen you without a shirt on before." He told her with a laugh as he did look away for a moment but that was just so he could put the latch down on the door that he closed behind him.

She laughed, as she turned, revealing the smooth skin of her back to him as she bent over and grabbed the bra she had been wearing under her dress outfit. While her back was turned he came forward silently, his gentle fingers running up over the flawless skin he had dreamed about so much since she had left. She jerked and turned to look at him over her shoulder. Her eyes locked with him and she was reminded of the face that they were at the perfect time to marry. That was when the hormones in a Ysandi's body were at their highest. It was no wonder that he had followed her in here.

"I'm sorry Tyuki. I'm not interested in having a relationship like that just yet." She told him before he grabbed her shoulder and pulled him back against her, an arm going around her front so that it strapped her arms to her chest.

"You seemed willing to have a relationship with that foreigner." He told her soft as he smelled her hair and then kissed her ear softly. She could hardly breathe. First there was the shock that he would find her interesting. Then there was the fact he was wearing a perfume of some kind that made her eyes widen and her body wanting nothing more than to stay there with him. He was going to seduce her if he kept standing so close. And she'd have no defenses against it. Maze was back at the party, closing off his connection as she had asked him to do while she slept. He would not know anything was wrong unless he peaked in on her.

"Kurama? It was a mistake." She whispered, feeling woozy suddenly. "We haven't been truly romantic for many years. In fact we just decided it would be better to see others."

"Then what is the matter with me? You are staying aren't you? You could be my wife. I've been waiting for you to return. I'm wealthy. I could offer you all that you and your Bond would ever want." He told her as his fingers played with her side making her squirm in his grasp a little. He grinned down at her.

"You are my friend Tyuki." She replied looking up at him. His black hair hung over jade eyes that she lost herself in once she looked into them. If she imagined just right she could see him with the red head that she truly wished had walked in on her with this thought in mind. But then he was kissing her and they were not the lips she had become accustomed too.

He pressed her back against the bad mat, climbing on top of her. She still held the red shirt up to cover her chest. He began to take it away and then someone was pounding on the door. She had just started to fall under the spell of the lust perfume. She jerked and looked up at Tyuki as he looked at the door. He pressed his hand down on her lips when she made to cry out.

"Rexi, are you in there? Come on open up. I'm tired and I want to go to sleep." called an obviously cranky Kurama. Tyuki frowned at the door hoping he'd go away as he used his other hand to pull the shirt away from Rexi's chest. With his hand over her mouth, he began to kiss her neck and further down. She struggled, making small noises as he touched places that only Yoko had before. She used one hand to cover her chest form his assault and reached out with her hand and scratched at him. He used his other hand to hold down the hand as he hissed as a cut opened on his cheek.

He didn't see it coming. Kurama had called upon a seed he had left in the room to come and unlatch the door. When he'd entered, he'd seen the scratch on Tyuki's face and the way he was holding her down. That was all he needed. He pulled out his rose whip and whipped it around Tyuki's neck. "You do one more thing to Rexi, and I'll be forced to decapitate you." Kurama said softly. It was a deadly soft voice he had only ever used when Karasu had threatened Rexi at the Dark Tournament and against her sister.

Tyuki froze as the deadly sharp thorns touched his neck. Slowly he released her wrist and stood up, his hands raised in surrender. She scrambled away, pulling her shirt on over her quickly. She looked from Kurama to Tyuki and then couldn't help it. She walked over to Tyuki and started to pummel him. Kurama pulled his rose whip away without injuring the man as he sat back and watched. An amused look appeared on his face as a young woman came running in to stare as Tyuki was thrown onto the ground by a very angry Rexi. Soon Tyuki lay there unconscious and Rexi was dusting off her hands.

"If you don't get him out of here now, I'll turn my anger out on you." She said, glaring at the woman who was obviously his Bond. The woman rushed forward and started to pull him away, returning glare for glare. She then turned to look as Kurama neared her. Her jaw set. What was he going to say to her about being weak enough to be taken advantage of like that? He stopped when he was at the door.

"I'll wait outside while you finish changing." He told her and went outside and closed the door behind him. She had hoped that he would say something at her. It felt as if he didn't really care what happened now.

She turned and changed into a button up shirt that was loose just enough to be comfortable and then some pajama pants. When she was done, she opened the door and told him she was done. She quickly went to her bed and laid down with her back to him as he started to change as well. She kept her back turned until she heard him sit down. She rose and turned to look at him, her hands fiddling in front of her nervously.

"Yes Rexi?" he asked when he noticed that she stood there, trying to think of something to say. "What is it? I was right about wanting to get some sleep."

She felt bad for taking up so much time and bowed to him. "Thank you for getting Tyuki off me. I'm sorry to bother you." She told him before turning to go back to bed.

He rose quickly and walked over, grabbing her shoulder as she turned to get into bed, turned her and kissed her. At least that was what he wanted to do. Instead, he remained where he had been sitting and then turned to lay down with a muttered welcome. She smiled softly at that and fell asleep quickly as the exhaust from that day's happenings started to accumulate in her body. They were to go to Yomi's side the next day and they had a long way to go. They'd be traveling alone for two days at least.