Disclaimer: Writing this disclaimer has begun to pain me… will it ever end?

Chapter 9: Wake-up Call

The next morning brought Kaoru warmth and comfort, and her body was so relaxed into the blankets and fluff of her futon. It was nice to sleep under a roof again, and even better knowing it was a house of sanctuary. Here were her friends. Here was safety. Here there was no worry. Everyone was safe, and with this thought came joy.

A smile twitched onto her lips, and her consciousness floated in that barrier between reality and dreams. With a happy hum deep in the back of her throat she readjusted her limbs lazily. Through the last thread of her dreams she heard laughter: soft; amused; and deep. It was a sound she had grown used to. Lips twitching wider in response, she hung on gamely to that image, but the electric tingle of her scalp banished the last of her daze.

Heavy lids blinked open, and she let the details of the room come into focus slowly. The breath in her throat caught, however, when she found her companion had decided to join her.

"Finally awake, little bluebird?" Possessively his fingers dug deeper into her hair, and they encircled her neck with callused skin. "Having good dreams?" His voice dropped to a whisper as if the knowledge were a secret between the two of them. Unable to find her own voice she nodded her head silently, and her cyan irises felt trapped by the golden hue of his as she stared up into the shadowed regions of his face.

Their situation was entirely intimate, and his proximity warmed her body to an almost blistering level. With his legs straddling her hips and his weight braced on a forearm his other hand was as always against her neck. Touching. Claiming. The cape that tied at his throat covered their bodies. It hung off his back to drape onto the floor in pools of darkness, and the cowl shielded the scarlet wealth of his hair. Only his bangs escaped their hide-a-way to trail down over her cheeks and tickle her forehead and nose. There was a sharp smell about them as if he were spicy and wild, and though it itched her nostrils and she wanted to sneeze she found that she could not hate the scent. It reminded Kaoru of her mother's lost herbal garden, and she had loved that place of Zen.

"My gift was a pleasant one, then?" A rough scrape of his thumb brushed up her jaw, and his eyes left hers to follow the passage. "I hope my repayment is just as desirable. Letting you stay here, even for a night, has given me much trouble. We are off schedule now, little bird."

"Payment?" Breathless and trying to catch up she realized only belatedly that none of his actions ever came without a price. He expected something in return for every allowance he gave to her, and in letting her stay here with her friends she would now be expected to compensate him for the "gift." I will have to be careful from now on.

"Yes." His voice spoke as if there could be no other way. "A small token. I am not unfair."

A harsh swallow hurt her throat, and she altered the placement of her limbs again to minimize the contact of their bodies. "W-what… did you have in mind?"

Golden irises burned to a blazing amber, and his features were triumphant and eager. "Just a small taste. Nothing more." Blue eyes darkened to the height of midnight, and Kaoru bit her lip to stall her whimper of anxiety as his lips dropped to her chin. Uncomfortable heat burned her skin, and his mouth paused briefly to test the rapid jump of her pulse. Then his fingers were tugging on the collar of her yukata to bare part of her shoulder to his sight and touch. Every one of her muscles twitched almost forcefully, and Kaoru turned her head away to try and concentrate on something, anything else.

"The bruise has disappeared, little Kaoru." The dark quality of his voice interrupted her forced distraction, and she focused on the experimental squeeze of his fingers along the cord of muscle branching from her neck. "Does it still hurt you?"

Blunt nails dug into the blankets as she fisted her hands, and she felt her tendons complain of the strain she was placing them under. "Only with the knowledge of where it came from."

"Hmm… a bruise on your memory, perhaps? You cannot forget whose teeth gave it to you." Kaoru blinked open stunned blue irises. She never would have thought his understanding could be so deep. "Would you like for me to replace that memory?" Briefly his teeth grazed the same spot, and she shivered involuntarily. "I rather like the idea." A thoughtful pause filled her senses, but the promising omen was lost on her preoccupied mind. "Yes. I believe I will."

Almost immediately his mouth closed over her shoulder, and his teeth nipped at her skin sharply. An angry gasp was forced from her lips, and her back bowed underneath him. The sensation lasted only a moment. It was a brief passing of pain that was soon lost to the soothing lick of his tongue as it smoothed over the ache.

"Now, little bird, you will think only of me." There was something demanding in his tone as if he were daring her to disagree. "You will see this moment as the pain throbs and know who you belong to. Even after the mark has vanished from your skin you will still feel the bite of my teeth and remember."

Some heavy emotion was pressing into her sternum, and it forced her lungs to take in only short, quick breaths. She felt as if she had just finished running a circuit through the village. As if she had been dodging in and out of houses to allude her pursuers. The feeling in her chest was nothing like the misery and despair she had felt when captured, though. This emotion prickled her ribs, and though she knew and despised her helplessness she was unable to worry over his intentions. It is because I have already agreed to give myself to him. In this way I have consensually decided that he may take what he wants, whereas before everything was forcefully stolen. I feel nothing but acceptance of my payment. Nothing more. Nothing less.

"You taste so wonderful, bluebird." A note of longing was now present in his tone, and Kaoru bit her lip in preparation. Long fingers were fisted into her hair, the shoulder pushed into her collarbone was tense, and his mouth had traveled to the small patch of flesh behind her ear. "I… had planned to wait…"

For one crazy second Kaoru wondered if he was preparing to eat her. He certainly seemed unable to keep from massaging every inch of her neck with his teeth. His words, while disjointed, told her nothing of his intentions but how much he enjoyed her flavor on his tongue. It had a slightly sensual quality to it, though, and Kaoru wasn't sure if the process would be that much different than sex at all. More pain, she conceded, if he plans on eating me alive.

"Kaoru! You've slept long enough!" A creak of the floorboards told of Kazumi's impending presence before the shoji opened with a soft swoosh. "Honestly, you were never this…" Kazumi's breath caught at the scene she encountered, and one foot took an involuntary step back at the low, animalistic growl that issued from the demon's throat. He had not appreciated the interruption. "W-what are you… doing in here?" Slim fingers were shaking around the tray she held, but Kazumi clenched her jaw and took a firm step into the room. "How did you get in here? You're not welcome. Y-you should leave at once."

"I go wherever my little bluebird goes." The demon was angered and annoyed by her presence. With easy grace he rolled off of Kaoru and away from the door. In the same smooth motion he lifted Kaoru easily up off the futon and angled her body into his chest. "Did you think these flimsy walls would be enough to keep me out?"

"Of course not. I merely forgot that you would have no knowledge or care of a woman's privacy." Kazumi was showing more courage than Kaoru would have given her credit for, and she watched as the girl glared at the demon's shadowed features. "It is normally considered respectable for a man not to enter a woman's bedroom."

"I waited until the rest of you were gone, but do not expect me to feel such sympathies for this one." Possessively his hand reached around to brush over Kaoru's cheek. "She belongs to me."

"It surprises me that you had that much decency, but I still cannot approve of your presence. If my mistress were to find out you were up here we would get into trouble. Possibly shown the street."

Kaoru could sense Kazumi's desperation, and she could tell at last where it had stemmed from. Gently she untangled herself from her companion's grip, and tried to persuade him to do as the girl asked. "I do not wish to get her or the little ones into any trouble because of my presence, Himura-san. Please do not cause a scene."

For several tense seconds his eyes probed hers, but then he sighed and stood gracefully to his feet. "Very well. I will meet you outside."

"But you can't go out the front door. People might see…" Kazumi blinked, and she was suddenly unsure if she was really seeing what her eyes were telling her she was. The spot that had been occupied by the demon only a moment before was empty. There was no sight of him anywhere in the room. "…you."

Kaoru's laugh was slightly strained, and it brought Kazumi back to her surroundings. "He… does that sometimes."

"Oh." In a daze Kazumi knelt by the futon and settled the tray onto the floor carefully. "You… said his name. Himura?"

"Yes. Himura was the name he gave when I asked." After a quick readjustment of her clothing, Kaoru knelt on the edge of the futon and accepted a bowl of rice when offered. "Thank you."

"Kaoru…" The younger girl's voice was shaky and unsure. "Has that demon… has he…?" She swallowed and looked her full in the face. "When I came in it seemed like he was…" Kaoru watched as the girl's eyes slid from hers and then they widened. Her small, cute mouth parted to hang slack, and then her fingers reached forward swiftly. "Did he do that?"

Kaoru squeaked in alarm and leaned back as the other girl's hand brought attention to her bruised shoulder. Her own fingers slapped themselves over the bright mark, and her cheeks flushed as she dropped her gaze to her food. "It's nothing, Kazumi-san. You shouldn't worry."

"Kaoru, he… he bit you!" The tray was moved to create more room, and Kazumi slid closer to her friend while she tried to pry her fingers from her neck.

"I said it's nothing."

"What if he's got some disease, Kaoru? What if…" Her voice lowered to a whisper, and she stared at Kaoru with dilated pupils. "What if he's got rabies?"

Laughter burst from her lips, and Kaoru shook her head. "Kazumi, he's a demon, not an animal."

"Well, fine, but you could still get an infection. He's probably never cleaned his teeth."

"They looked white to me." An indifferent shrug increased her friend's exasperation, and Kaoru giggled. "Besides, he didn't even break skin."

"Are you sure? Demon's like blood, you know. I've heard they're worse than vampires." Kazumi pleaded with her to let go as she tugged on her arm. "Why don't you let me have a look, just to be sure?"

"Come one, Kazu, I think I'd know if I was bleeding." Her voice snapped, and hurt blossomed on Kazumi's face. With a contrite sigh Kaoru patted her on the arm. "Just don't worry about it. It was nothing." To deter the continuation of the conversation she tucked her yukata a bit more firmly around her neck and then set to eating her meal. Reluctantly Kazumi gave up.

With the disappearance of the food Kaoru rolled up the futon and started digging through the pack for clothes. She would be wearing her newly washed kimono, but with a few alterations. Some of the warmer clothing Himura had purchased for her the day before would be added, and the few ragged looking original pieces would be thrown away. Kaoru gratefully thanked Kazumi after she helped her with the obi. Lastly a small, brown package was unearthed, and she tore off the paper with a smile. The new hair ribbon seemed so beautiful as she fingered it fondly, and her smile became almost genuine. Though it had been a practical gesture it was still a nice one.

"That's beautiful, Kaoru-san." After a peek over her shoulder Kazumi stared in awe at the silk. "When did you get that?"

"Himura-san bought it for me yesterday."

Slim fingers jerked back and Kazumi turned away. It was apparent she was uninterested in anything that demon would purchase. "How nice of him to give you a ribbon in exchange for your life."

"Kazumi…" Kaoru sighed and picked up her comb to run the teeth through her hair. After situating the long strands into a high ponytail she deftly wrapping the long ribbon around them and knotted it in a pretty bow. Much more comfortable now that she didn't have that hot mess itching her neck she bent to repack the bag. "It's a good thing the color will be a nice compliment to the scarf you gave me. They are both so dark and rich."

"I suppose so."

The smile turned sad at the sorrow in Kazumi's voice, and Kaoru picked up the pack and the leather case with her two books inside. It was a wonder, to be honest, that he had not demanded any type of payment for the book escapade. After considering his actions in the hut and then again that morning it seemed any request or permission he gave to her when it came to something she wanted required compensation from her in return. Maybe it had simply been the interruption from the tall man at the bookstore since his presence had made her demon companion angry and unreasonable, or maybe it had been the appearance of the four girls that had distracted him from the confrontation over the books. Either way it was a debt left unattended and if that were the case she wanted to pay it back as soon as possible before he realized his negligence. That way there would be no more scenes like that morning. This time it would be on her own terms.