Chapter Seven:

Bold & Delicious

Retsu hadn't been called "Little Retsu" in a long time. Cautiously, he opened the door and found himself staring at a curvaceous body clad in silver and black.

"Hi, Retsu." Came the soft purr. "You remember me, don't you?"

It took Retsu a moment or two to realize his eyes were focused on Okamio's curves and not on her face and he blinked, feeling flustered.

Okamio, her silver and black hair draped over one shoulder, smiled at him, her eyes glinting with mischief. "You've certainly done a lot of growing up, haven't you? Look at you. The last time I saw you, you were just a little boy. Now, you're a man… and a very handsome one at that."

Retsu blushed. "Okamio-san…" he looked away. "Your words are flattering, but… you are my brother's girlfriend…."

"Ex-girlfriend." Okamio corrected. "We were finished the moment I smelled Ran on him."

"You know?" Retsu asked.

Okamio sized him up, licking her lips. Retsu swore he could have seen fangs in her mouth. "Of course I know. One of my powers is heightened senses, almost like an animal. I stood a distance from the building and I smelled your brother's scent… and then, I smelled her scent. It was all over him… seeped into every pore." She brushed past him into the bedroom and seemed to blend into the darkness. She turned to him, her eyes glowing a golden yellow. "So, if he's going to hurt me in such a fashion… then I'm going to do something I've been wanting to do since I saw that you've finally grown up."

Moving faster than he anticipated she would, Okamio turned and pressed him against the door, pressing their lips together in a kiss so passionate that it rendered Retsu completely motionless. And once she noticed how he was standing still in shock, she licked his ear. "Don't worry, little Retsu… I'll take good care of you." There was the sound of cloth ripping as she tore open the blue silk shirt he wore. "I'm very gentle…" She inhaled his smell and let it seep into her body, her fingers caressing the bare skin as his shirt and the white one he wore underneath fell to the ground. "Such soft, smooth skin… feels like silk."

She began to kiss his neck, alternating between kisses and sucking, reveling in the sounds Retsu made as his body began to respond. "Okamio-san…"

"Shhhh…" She murmured. "Don't think… just feel."

Their lips met again and Retsu began to understand. This felt good… it was nice to have a woman pay attention to him for a change instead of Gou. And Okamio was one of the loveliest women he'd ever seen.

Carefully, his hands reached up her back were they'd begun to unlace the laces that kept her dress on her body. Slowly, black and silver floated down her skin. His fingers touched her skin, reveling in its warmth.

She smiled. This is going to be LOTS of fun.

Long chuckled as he watched the lights in Retsu's room go out. This was the perfect plan to drive the lovers apart and it was going to have a greater impact once Gou discovered Okamio with his younger brother.

"It's almost like child's play." Long murmured as he turned away.

"I don't know…" Mele said as Rinshis fitted her for her black and gold wedding gown. In the mess that had been Okamio's beat down on Rio, they'd almost forgotten about the wedding. "…Somehow this doesn't look right without any green on it."

"But black and gold look so good on you, Mele-sama." Shiwa said. "You're going to make Rio-sama a spectacular bride!"

"I'm just used to wearing a lot of green, that's all." Mele admitted. "I'm a chameleon. I'm not supposed to be black… or gold… or any color like that. Just green… and that's when I'm NOT blending in."

"Perhaps we should ask Rio-sama to wear green instead of his usual black leather." Shiwa teased. "Perhaps it will look good on him instead."

That made Mele laugh. She took another look at herself as a Rinshi finished lacing the gown. She did look wonderful. "You know… I think I know what this needs."

"What would that be, Mele-sama?" Shiwa asked

"I wish I had my human hairstyle back. Then maybe I'd look better." Mele focused her Rinki on changing her hairstyle and then, a shift of energy rippled through the air and just like that, Mele's hair had extended down her back and over her shoulders, black like midnight. "Hey! I did it!"

"Oh, Mele-sama… how did you do it?" Shiwa was slightly confused.

"I'm not sure." Mele said as she examined the strands for a moment. "I just focused my Rinki and it was done!"

"Perhaps your powers are expanding. Maybe being able to hold your own against the Legendary Okamio-sama proves that your true potential has been unlocked!"

The thought of Okamio made Mele's blood boil and she clenched her fists. "How dare she lay a finger on Rio-sama! Who does she think she is?"

"The daughter of two Kenma, that's who." Rio's voice, very strained from effort was coming from the door. "She told me so."

"Well, we know that Maku-sama is her father, so that means…" Shiwa began.

"…that Rageku-sama is her mother!" Mele finished. "But…" She was confused. "She didn't show any signs of her mother's techniques"

"That's because her father…" Rio limped into the room and sat down in a chair. "… is responsible for most of her training."

"Rio-sama, what are you doing out of bed?" Shiwa asked. "You should be resting!"

"I heard Mele was being fitted for her gown." Rio said. "I wanted to see how she'd look in it." He smiled as he took her in. "You look… beautiful." He paused. "Did you change your hair or something? It looks nice."

Mele's eyes widened and she turned away. "I think the dress fits. Shiwa, would you make sure nothing happens to it?" She was avoiding the gaze of her future husband. Mele stepped behind a screen to disrobe and emerged, dressed in an emerald green robe. "Rio-sama, you should be in bed," She murmured as she helped him up.

"Rio." He corrected.

"What?" She asked, confused.

"There's no need to call me Rio-sama anymore, Mele. " He murmured. Please… call me Rio."

Mele turned slightly pinkish and she tested the name out. "Rio…"

Rio gave her a small smile at the sound of her voice speaking his name. Finally… I'm going to have just about everything I want… and she's going to share it with me. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Ran stretched until her toes curled. She felt absolutely delicious and satisfied. Gou was an amazing lover.

"That was delicious." Ran murmured as she curled against Gou. "You are incredible." After spending an entire day together doing their special "training", Ran was finally worn out.

Gou nodded softly, as Ran's lips met his and they shared a deep kiss. But a part of Gou couldn't let go of the fact that sooner or later, he'd have to face Okamio. And that when that happened, she would smell Ran all over him…

He didn't want to think about what she'd do next.

But Gou had to admit, after making love to something that was technically considered a walking corpse, that Ran, with her warmth, her curves and her pure heart, was a refreshing change of pace.

And he couldn't ignore the scent of her eagerness. Her pheromones were so strong it was almost overpowering. He had to have more… and more… and more.

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." Gou murmured as his arm gently caressed her warm back. "I haven't made love like that in a long time."

"You've been making love to something undead…" Ran said matter of factly. "There's a big difference between that and a warm body." She wriggled against him to prove her point.

There was definitely a change. Instead of trying to ignore the fact there was no heartbeat beside him, there was the welcoming sound of Ran's heart as their chests pressed close together. Instead of cold, there was warmth. And all of it was packaged with Ran's winning smile.

He sighed. He knew it wasn't going to be easy and that he'd have to face Okamio, whom he still cared for. But the feelings he felt towards Ran seemed to cut into him deeper than his love for Okamio had. Maybe because this time… it wasn't a forbidden love. With Ran, they could share their love freely instead of being forced to hide it like he had with Okamio. Even though she had long been exiled from the Rin Jyu Den, she was still considered to be one of them and being with her had been frowned upon.

It wouldn't be like that anymore.

He smiled wistfully as Ran closed her eyes and began to doze off, but as his own eyes began to close, he wondered where Okamio could have gone and what she was up to.

She did say she had unfinished business with Rio…

If only Gou knew that Okamio was just a few doors away, teasing and tempting his baby brother….

The GekiFan provided an excellent cover for Okamio as she waved it gently over her body, teasing Retsu and encouraging him to come closer.

"This won't be any fun if you don't participate." She murmured as Retsu, still half naked watched her with fascination. "Come on, little Retsu. It's all right."

Retsu approached the bed carefully, his eyes still roaming up and down Okamio's body, taking in every curve and dip. A small smile emerged on his face. "I'm not sure I have a technique for this." He admitted.

Okamio chuckled. "That's all right, darling." She said. "Tonight, I'll show you my Fantastic Technique."

Retsu inched ever closer, and he sat down beside her legs, still encased in a pair of black leather boots that went all the way up to her thighs. His hands gently caressed the leather and carefully, he pulled the right boot off, and then the left boot. Gently, he massaged her legs, reveling in the soft moans she made.

"Higher, Retsu…" She encouraged as he moved up higher and higher, as his head bent down and kissed her thigh.

His kisses went higher and higher and with each kiss came a small nip. As he went higher, he found the apex of her thighs blocked by the fan.

She shook a finger at him. "Not yet.' She murmured. "You have a little ways to go."

Meanwhile, Jan was so confused and frustrated over what he'd seen Gou and Ran doing that he wasn't sleeping. He just sat up in bed, pulling at his hair and making exasperated noises. "But what were they up do? Why were they making funny noises and movements? Why can't I figure it out?!"

Upset and angry, Jan shrieked "Ujauja!" and burst out of the room. He was going to get some answers.

Gorie Yen, Sharkie Chan and Miki had tried… and failed rather miserably to explain the concept of human mating to Jan. Sharkie couldn't figured it out, Gorie's attempts only confused Jan more and Miki (who'd gone through the same thing when explaining sex to Natsume), had managed to get as far as "It's something humans to in order to produce babies" before Jan got lost. Luckily, Jan had gotten the baby making part because he'd seen animals do it. As Miki found out, Jan didn't quite understand why humans did it.

Jan banged on the door of Gou's bedroom; nearly breaking it down and a rather annoyed Gou answered him.

"What is it, Jan?"

"What are you doing?" Jan cried. "What caused you to want more? Ujauja!"

Gou sighed. "It's how humans mate, but they do it because they like to do it." He explained, hoping it would go trough Jan's skull.

Jan stared. "I don't get it."

Ran covered herself, got up and said. "Wakiwaki, Jan."

Gou was confused. "What?"

Ran simply smiled.

Jan's eyes widened. "Oh! I get it now!"

Ran gave Gou a smile. "See? You have to speak his language."

Gou nodded, but he was still confused. Jan was an odd one that was for sure.

"Oh!" Jan remembered something. "The crazy wolf-lady is here!"

"What?" Gou wasn't sure what Jan meant by crazy wolf-lady.

"Okamio was outside a little while ago, but nikiniki! She's gone!"

Gou's heart dropped into his chest. If Okamio had been outside the building that meant that she would have smelled Ran's scent mixed in with his… and in the most intimate way possible. There was no need to tell her; when she saw him again, she'd know.

And she would not be happy about it.

The influence of Long's golden liquid was now making its way into Retsu, thanks to Okamio's intoxicating kisses. If anything, Okamio was positive that if Retsu was going to help her destroy his brother emotionally, that she was going to make him enjoy the ride.

"I like you." Retsu admitted blankly, staring at Okamio for a moment. A second later, there was more emotion in his voice. "I've always liked you, Okamio-san! When I was young, I hoped I would find a girlfriend as lovely as you when I grew up."

Okamio blushed softly. "Well then, little Retsu… I'll make this very worth your while." She pulled him down to her and kissed him again, her fingers running over his smooth back.

Her hands went lower and lower and Retsu gasped as she hit that sweet spot. She was encouraging him. There was a lick in the shell of his ear and a whisper of "It's all right… I don't bite… much."

Long was watching from the shadows of the bedroom, chuckling. Things were going better than he expected. Perhaps he should go and prepare for Okamio's return to her former glory. And then… after what felt like centuries of waiting, he'd have the beautiful mistress of the Wolf-fist as his bride.

He smiled. Not only would he have her back, he could also say that he had some fun with it.

"Retsu!" Jan found himself pounding on yet another door hours later. "Are you awake?"

Retsu's eyes opened slowly, a dizzying warmth in his body as he heard Jan pounding on the door. He looked towards his right and found Okamio, sprawled out, naked and sleeping, GekiFan resting on her chest. Retsu almost yelled.

A golden eye opened and Okamio smiled. "Did you enjoy yourself?"

He wasn't sure how to respond to that.

She smiled and pulled him close for a kiss, her tongue licking his lips as they kissed.

"I did." He murmured.

She smiled. "I'm glad." She pinched his cheeks. "Cute little Retsu… although I should begin thinking of you as a man now. You've done so much growing up…" Her fingers gripped his arms as his kisses moved towards her neck, his inky black hair tickling her face.

"RETSU!" Jan yelled, startling Okamio.

"I should go…" She murmured, slinking towards the window. As much as she wanted to stay and cuddle with him, she had to leave.

"Oh, you don't have to…' Retsu said.

Okamio gave him a smirk as she opened the window. "Don't worry…. I'll be back."

There was a howling noise as she became a black wolf and then vanished from view.

Long was waiting for her.

"Did it work?" He asked.

She smiled. "Oh, I think I gave him a good enough taste of what I have to offer. I'll be going back later. This won't be fun until Gou catches us." There was a laugh as Long wrapped her in a silver colored robe. "But… I did make little Retsu into a man at last." She looked up at Retsu's bedroom window.

Long inwardly laughed. Okamio was already beginning to lose that pesky humanity. He knew that breaking the curse wouldn't be that easy, but he was getting close. He kissed her throat. "Did he satisfy you?"

"Long, don't ask such questions." Okamio replied. "That's not your place."

"What were you trying to accomplish anyway?" He asked as they slunk off into the shadows.

'Tension between the brothers." Okamio replied. "You see, I brainwashed Retsu into believing that what his brother has done to me by sleeping with the Cheetah girl is a very bad thing. Retsu's now on my side." There was a devious glint in her eye as she spoke. "I'm going to drive a wedge into this group so deep it will take forever to get out."

"You sound like your old self." Long remarked.

Okamio gave him a look. "Don't start with me again." She murmured.

His hand slowly made its way up one side of her body and he gave her a devious smile. "How about I start again and you tell me when you've had enough?""

She laughed. "I think I can handle that."

Rio had fallen asleep again beside Mele and she tenderly pulled a blanket over him to cover him.

"You are quite fond of Rio-chan, aren't you, Mele?" Rageku had observed the action from the doorway of Rio's bedroom.

"Of course!" Mele almost instinctively felt the need to defend her love. "Why wouldn't I be marrying him if I didn't love him?"

The concept of marriage for love was a new one to Rageku, who was used to the Rin Jyu Den way of marriage for power. That was how she'd managed to get stuck with Maku for a while and become pregnant with Okamio. "That is not how things are done here." She replied, calmly. "Mele-chan, you are very lucky. You and Rio-chan are all set to usher in a new era of Rin Jyu Den… perhaps the two of you will even restore us to our former glory."

The idea brought joy to her voice as she spoke. "Perhaps Mele-chan, you will follow in Rio-chan's footsteps and achieve Dorinki as he has."

That reminded Mele of a question she'd been meaning to ask. "Why does Okamio have Dorinki? I mean, I know it is not my place to ask such questions…"

"My darling Okamio…" Rageku sounded wistful. "The day of her birth was my proudest moment. But from the moment of her birth, Maku-sama wanted to train her to follow in his footsteps… in the way of the Bear-ken. I wanted her to choose her own fist and her own path." Rageku smoothed out her dress as she paced, a heavy sigh in her heart. "But Maku-sama pushed her and brutalized her and his explanation was that she would never learn unless she was pushed. I was furious… but powerless."

Rageku's voice seemed to echo that of a mother who'd lost her child. Mele could almost feel her pain. How horrible it must have been to watch helplessly as her only child suffered Maku's brutality and seemingly endless fury. "That sounds almost unbearable, Rageku-sama."

"It was much worse to watch." Rageku admitted. "Okamio would be bruised often from head to foot, and struggled, but she endured. I was so proud of her for that. She was determined to learn the fist of her choosing, the wolf-fist and she excelled." If Rageku had a mouth, she would have smiled. "But Maku-sama pushed her so hard that she finally snapped… and achieved Dorinki." Rageku turned to look at Mele. "Okamio's fury and rage at Maku-sama enabled her to achieve it. I was as proud as could be, up until I saw her go down the same path behind her father. I warned her, but she said she'd be all right. And then… came the curse."

"The curse?" Mele asked. "Okamio's cursed?"

"Yes… she ran afoul of a Geki Jyu Ken master, and he cursed her, binding her Rinki and forcing her to live with the sins of what she'd done." The Sea Kenma sounded like her heart was breaking. "Maku-sama…" Rageku gasped, on the verge of tears. "… exiled her from Rin Jyu Ken Aku Gata, calling her a disgrace. After that… I never saw her again until now." Rageku had to sit down on the edge of the bed, no longer able to bear the brunt of her personal pain. "My only child… our child and he treated her like trash instead of trying to save her… I haven't felt greater pain since Sha-fu rejected my love…."

"Is there a way to break the curse?" Mele asked.

Rageku sniffled. "Well, yes. But… it involves some kind of breaking of a seal. I don't know the details." She sighed. "I always figured that since he managed to bind her Rinki. She has enough to do her attacks, but the majority of it… was sealed up. Probably to protect the humanity he cursed her with. "

"So…" Mele was confused. "This Geki Jyuken master cursed her… with a soul?"

"Something like that, yes." Rageku sighed. "Mele-chan… I would do anything to get my daughter back… but I do not know how to break the curse."

Mele bit her lip and thought for a moment. Perhaps it was time she paid Long a visit…

She knew that Okamio, if restored could possibly take over the Rin Jyu Den like Maku had, but she thought perhaps it would make up for all that Rageku had done for her and taught her. She would always be grateful to the Kenma of the Sea for being her teacher.

Jan disliked tension. He wasn't entirely sure as to what it was, but he knew that something was going on between Gou and Retsu.

Retsu was giving his brother dirty looks and Gou looked quite confused. Whenever Gou inquired as to what was going on, Retsu would clam up.

Ran, who to Jan, now smelled like Gou, came in late and proceeded to get a little too cozy with Gou. She would flash him a smile and a wink and Gou would return it.

Jan was now really confused. "Gou… I thought you liked the Wolf-Lady."

"Isn't it obvious that he doesn't?" Retsu asked. "And to think that Okamio was willing to give up everything she knew to be with you, Gou-niisan. And this how you repay her? By falling in love and cheating with Ran?"

"Retsu, what I do isn't any of your business."

"Wait until she sees you again and smells Ran all over you." Retsu warned. "All hell's going to break loose!"

Ran cracked her knuckles. "Nonsense. I can take her."

At this Jan had to speak. "Wolf-lady is old… and is kenakena!" Jan began to do his frustrated run around the room. "And she's gochigochi!"

Gou was now glaring at his younger brother. "Retsu, you're not going to run off, find her and tell her, are you?"

"I don't have to." The Jaguar-fist user said, smugly. "She already knows."

Gou's heart, which was already in his stomach, plummeted to his feet. "She knows?"

"She was by here last night…and I saw the look on her face. She wasn't happy." Retsu smirked. "Just wait until she gets her hands on you."

Something told Gou that Retsu knew more than he was telling and the Shigeki Master leaned in and gave his younger brother a sniff. Just then, he caught a whiff of Okamio's smell. And then… it hit him.

"Okamio was with YOU wasn't she?" Gou yelled. "You slept with her!"

"You slept with Ran, Gou-niisan." Retsu smirked. "She turned to me for comfort…" There was a golden glint in his eye. "…. and I did her better than you ever did."

"What was that?" Gou shouted.

"You heard me." Retsu's ego was showing. "She enjoyed herself more in one night with me than she ever did the whole time she was with you. I kept her satisfied."

"You egotistical little brat!" Gou yelled, his fist moving to punch Retsu right in that overly pretty face of his. But Retsu moved smoothly and he easily blocked his brother's punch.

"Out of practice, Gou-niisan?"

At that, all hell broke lose as the two engaged in a violent fistfight, punching, kicking, pulling on clothing… Gou was furious, but also heartbroken, for he knew now that Okamio was not coming back to him. Not after she smelled Ran's scent mixed with his own.

But the pain was intensified by the fact that Okamio had slept with his brother and that Retsu had been a better lover. That was just a blow to his ego and he wasn't going to stop until he beat Retsu bloody.

Just as he pulled back his fist for a punch, there was a smell in the air. He could smell Okamio and she was close by. He had to fix things between them and without another word, he left, chasing after the smell.

Okamio's smell was strongest inside Gou's bedroom. When he opened the door, she was there, dressed in silver and smiling. "Hi, Gou." She said with a devious smile. "I hope you enjoyed your night with Ran."

"How could you?"

"How could you?" Okamio asked. "I loved you with everything I had and you… tossed it away. And for what?" She snorted.

"Feeling a warm body beside me for the first time in forever." Gou admitted. "Okamio, you're cold when we made love. You were always cold… it was… unsettling."

Okamio's eyes turned that same wolfish yellow they usually did when she was angry and her Rinki fired up. "Is that so?" She asked as she got up. "You traded love for warm flesh?" Before he could stop her, she pressed him against the door of his room, her hand around his throat. "I'll give you warm flesh… by shredding it off your bones!"

The seal that was holding Okamio's Rinki in place was beginning to break.

Okamio pulled back her fist… but she couldn't do it. She couldn't hurt him. She still loved him. Even though she could smell another woman all over him, she loved him. She'd nearly given up everything for him a decade ago and would do it again in a heartbeat… even if he did betray her.

"It's not my fault I'm not a fucking human being, you know." She said, coldly. "You think I enjoy being in limbo… unable to be a Rin Jyu Ken and unable to be a Geki Jyu Ken? Do you think I like being the enemy of everyone? I don't. You made me hate my life less. With you, I could see happiness… something I'd grown to crave and envision a future with you. You were my ticket to something more than what I had. And I loved it. I loved you."

"You slept with my brother!" Gou choked out.

"You slept with cheetah girl!"

"Her name is Ran."

"I don't give a damn what her name is! I loved you and you betrayed me when you KNEW I was going to come back for you!"

"I didn't even know if I'd see you alive again!"

"I'm fucking undead! I can't die unless one of you people destroys me! I was going to come back to you and you knew that! I took to sleep only because Rio wounded me that badly. I was looking forward to being in your arms again… to hold you close to me. To feel your skin warm against my own. And you… you didn't even care. You threw it all away… for her. I hope she makes you happy… and that it was worth betraying me!" With that she let go and dove out the window and ran away.

Okamio had become the black wolf again and she streaked away, faster than he could see her… but as she left, she used the spell she'd cast on Retsu to call him to her.

She called Retsu to the bedroom in Long's den that he'd set up for her. Mostly, she shared Long's bed, but sometimes, she had her own room. The bedroom was decorated in black and silver, with wolf symbolism all over, most importantly, in the two wolves on both sides of Okamio's king sized bed.

Retsu, eyes glowing yellow, appeared in the darkness of the doorway. "You called for me, Okamio-sama?"

"Retsu, come." Okamio murmured. "Come lay with me for a while."

Retsu came and he laid beside Okamio, letting him stroke his hair like he was a pet. "Your brother is now meaningless to me, Retsu. If I didn't have this curse… I'd have killed him already… but some part of me still cares for him." She caressed his face. "But… I am very thankful you see things my way." She kissed his lips, passing on more of the golden liquid into him. Her fingers ran through his hair. "My cute little jaguar… stay with me a while."

"I will stay with you however long you wish me to stay, Okamio-sama." Retsu murmured, his lips still close to hers.

She smiled. "Good boy." The words came out in a coo. "You'll be much better than your brother, won't you?"

"In every way possible."

Her fingers began undoing the snaps on his blue silk jacket. "That's just what I wanted to hear, little Retsu."

"Mele-sama, you calling me was quite the surprise." Long murmured as he graced the Chameleon-ken user with his presence. "Did you change your hair? It looks lovely."

"Long, I need your help. I want to do something for Rageku-sama before my wedding in three days." Mele cut to the chase. "I want to know if you know how to break the curse on Okamio."

"What brought this on?"

"She's Rageku-sama's only daughter and Rageku-sama misses her." Mele replied. "So, tell me: do you know how to break it or not?"

"I do… and don't worry… Okamio will be back to her old self in time for you and Rio to take a honeymoon." Long chuckled.

"What are you talking about?" Mele was confused, and the look Long was giving her wasn't helping.

"Don't you worry…" The Dragon-ken user replied. "Everything is falling into place."

Just like I planned…