Chapter Nine

"Oi, Sano. Are you ever going to actually complete the bet? If not, you lose by default," Yahiko reminded, a smirk gracing his lips. He eyed the rooster headed male as his fingers impatiently tapped the smooth surface of the dining table.

"Timing," Sano replied with a grin, "It's all about timing."

"What is?" Kaoru's melodic voice interrupted. All eyes fell upon her at that moment. Kaoru stood in the entrance of the doorway, Battousai right beside her with a hand placed at the small of her back.

The four present stood immediately and bowed formally before the royal couple.

"Milord, milady," they all echoed.

"At ease," Battousai called at as he gazed down as his fidgeting mate.

"Must they do that?" Kaoru questioned softly, but due to their heightened hearing all four members of the council heard anyways.

"It's a show of our respect, my lady queen," Soujiro answered, the ever present smile on his face.

Kaoru nodded slowly.

She looked over at Sano with a curious look in her eyes.

"Oh, you never answered me," Kaoru said.

Sano sweatdropped, and looked at Battousai with an anxious look.

"Hiding something, Sano?" Battousai questioned, his gaze turning to a glare as he looked his long time friend.

"Nothing, my lord, just some personal matters that I'm sure my lady queen will rather not be informed of," Sano answered, his voice stiff.

Kaoru let out a huff of indignation but let the subject go as she moved forward and took her seat. Battousai sitting down afterwards.

Snapping his fingers as large platters were spread out before the six.

Kaoru noticed it, there was no liquid blood filling the crystal goblets.

She sent a questioning look at Battousai, and he let out a chuckle.

"We can feed on many things, koi," Battousai replied as he lifted up a tray cover revealing what look to be raw veal, blood still oozing.

Kaoru gagged visibly. 'At least it isn't human blood.' She thought to herself.

Watching as each of the guys take a slab of meat, Kaoru reached out for a more appetizing dish. She smiled brightly as she spotted the large juicy strawberries.

Battousai subtlety watched his mate as she adorably munched contentedly on the juicy red berries. He gave one of his rare smiles at her glittering eyes before digging into his own meal.

Kaoru watched the young demon across from her. He looked no older than fourteen yet his eyes told her that he had experienced far more than she could ever know.

"Yahiko, is it?" Kaoru asked, gaining everybody's attention again.

The young boy looked up from his fifth helping of raw meat.

"Hai," he replied before taking a rather large bite.

She smiled brightly.

"You remind me of someone I know," she murmured, her brows furrowing together, "His name was Yutaro, he was my neighbor." Her voice was wistful, but the second she uttered his name all utensils were dropped and everybody held a serious look.

"Kaoru, describe this boy to us," Battousai ordered, his voice a mere hiss.

Kaoru hesitated for a moment, but she knew better than to ignore a direct order.

"He's only twelve or so and he has copper brown hair. He's as stubborn as a mule, but he could be very sweet at times. I grew very close to him after he moved in next door," Kaoru said still confused, "Why?"

Battousai ignored her question, but his eyes narrowed at her description.

"Did he ever do anything to you?" Aoshi questioned his voice gravely serious.

Kaoru shook her head, still confused as ever.

"Why are you guys all so worked up over Yutaro? He's just a harmless boy I used to know," Kaoru defended, a frown marring her face.

"That's just it, Jou-chan. Yutaro wasn't a boy, he's an infamous demon assassin," Sano replied.

Kaoru gasped out loud and quickly glanced at her mate who merely nodded.

"Many demons have encompassed themselves in the human world," Battousai said.

"I can't believe it," Kaoru murmured, cradling her head in her hands. Battousai stood and easily lifted Kaoru's petite form in his arms, placing her head just under his chin. Kaoru made no objections as her mate's soothing scent momentarily made her forget about what she had just learned about her old neighbor.

Nuzzling his neck slightly Kaoru asked softly, "How much more do I not know?"

Battousai stiffened slightly.

"Do you truly wish to know, love?"

Kaoru remained silent for a moment, lying still in his embrace.

"No, I don't. I have you now, and that's all that matters," Kaoru whispered, placing a kiss at Battousai's jaw.

Battousai's inner glee was immeasurable at that moment as he brought his lips down closer to his mate's only to be stopped with a rude...

"Oi, Milord, we're still here you know," Sano interrupted, feeling slightly nauseous. Glancing over at Aoshi's solid frozen form at that moment, he stifled a laugh. The ice prince was sitting there with his eyes sealed closed, apparently there was only so much a brother could take.

Kaoru blushed hotly and tried to remove herself from Battousai's grasp but to no avail. His arms were stronger than steel.

Letting out an exasperated sigh Kaoru refused to meet all the others' eyes and hid her face in Battousai's chest, willing the hotness in her cheeks to cool down.

Battousai smirked slightly as he gazed down at his obviously mortified mate.

"We shall be in my chambers. Aoshi, be sure to check up on Yutaro and his movements," Battousai announced, walking out of the dining room within a flash.

Aoshi left a moment later.

Yahiko glanced at Sano and smirked, "Tick. Tock." He sang mockingly.

Soujiro smiled all the while.

In the bedchambers.

"I can't believe I did that in front of them. In front of the boy! In front of Aoshi!" Kaoru groaned in embarrassment as Battousai set her down on their plush oversized bed.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, love. And Yahiko is hardly a boy," Battousai crooned comfortingly, rubbing her back in small circles, "I was very surprised by your words though, koi."

Kaoru looked up at Battousai with thoughtful eyes.

Her mouth opened slightly, but for a moment no words escaped.

Battousai continued his actions, almost as if to urge her on.

"What exactly does it entail, becoming your mate fully and accepting you?" Kaoru questioned her voice steady.

Battousai answered almost immediately, "We'd be together…forever."

Kaoru gently took his hands in hers and shyly met his gaze, "I'd like that."

Battousai didn't need any more encouragement as he lowered to claim her sweet lips as his own.

Kaoru's nimble fingers entangled themselves into Battousai's crimson locks as she let out a moan of pleasure as Battousai traced down her jaw line down to her soft mounds.

"Tell me, Koi," Battousai urged as he pressed a palm against her core, his lips against her chest, "Tell me what you want."

Kaoru closed her eyes in ecstasy as she writhed against Battousai's touch.

"You," she moaned as Battousai continued his ministrations, "Only you."

Battousai flashed a feral grin as he complied with her wishes, and that night Battousai claimed what had always been his.

The next morning Kaoru awoke lying with her limbs intertwined with Battousai's, and his hand resting upon her naked chest so that his silky locks spilled across her.

He slept soundly, with Kaoru encompassed within his possessive hold.

She smiled softly as her gaze traveled down to the mark that now adorned Battousai's muscle clad shoulder. It wasn't as intricate as Battousai's own mark on her, but it proved its purpose as she lightly brushed it Battousai let out a slight grunt and he rolled over slightly.

Kaoru giggled at this.

"He's like an overgrown puppy dog," Kaoru said with a laugh, knowing that she was probably the only person in the world that was allowed to see this side of him.

Now that she was no longer trapped under him Kaoru allowed herself to stretch her aching muscles, wincing at the pain that remained in her lower body.

"I really need to go exercising," Kaoru thought aloud as she felt guilt for allowing Battousai to spoil her by basically carrying her around everywhere.

She stood and easily wrapped herself in one of the countless silk sheets that adorned their gigantic bed.

Knowing that Battousai would be upset with her if she left without saying a word, Kaoru searched around the room to find a writing pad and pencil. When all she could find was an ivory sheet and a feather pen Kaoru let out an exasperated sigh.

"I'd never wanted an Office Max more," Kaoru said, as she let out another dejected sigh and began to write her short note.

With a smile Kaoru placed the note on her side of the bed and kissed Battousai softly of the cheek before exiting their bedchambers.

Practically skipping down to the courtyard Kaoru didn't notice the fact that she was still dressed in her makeshift sheet dress.

She opened the heavy doors with a grin and was delighted to see that her spot under the towering cedar tree remained as she remembered it.

"At last!" she said aloud as she went over to her spot and settled down to relax.

"Jou-chan?" a deep voice called out. Sano was surprised to feel Kaoru's warm aura without that of his lord's accompanying it.

"Hai, Sano?" Kaoru replied, she stood and turned to find the tall brunette man that she'd become familiar with.

Sano's smile faltered as he saw that his lady queen was dressed in nothing more than a thin sheet that looked as if it was fall right off with the merest brush, but then he recalled Yahiko's bet with him and a devious grin was plastered on his face.

"My lady queen, I have a gift for you," Sano said taking a menacing step forward.

Kaoru looked back at Sano with a confused look, and then was instantly aware of her attire, or should I say lack of attire.

"Oh, my-"

She wasn't able to finish her sentence as Sano's lips lightly brushed themselves against hers. Kaoru's eyes opened wide as she registered what was happening, and she felt a deep burning in her mark as she tried fruitlessly to push Sano's towering form away from her own.

Sano turned around abruptly as he felt a strong flare of power radiate from behind him.

His warm chocolate brown eyes clashed with Battousai's deadly amber ones, and he smiled sheepishly.

"My lord, there's a very god explanation for all this," Sano said.

"I'm glad, I wouldn't want to kill an elder without a good explanation," Battousai replied.

Sano took a huge gulp as he took a step back accidentally knocking into Kaoru's petite form causing her to trip back over an uprooted root.

With a yelp of pain Kaoru felt her ankle twist out of place and felt herself being caught in the familiar arms of her mate.

Battousai internally cursed at himself for allowing such a thing to happen because he was momentarily distracted in his all consuming anger at the idiot rooster.

Cradling his mate in his arms Battousai crooned soft words of comfort and for a brief moment he directed a glared at Sano. His eyes alone relayed his thoughts, 'Your punishment will come in due time."

Sano watched as his lord and lady disappeared back into their chambers with a bittersweet feeling.

A loud guffawing came from behind him and Sano turned to see Yahiko trying to control himself.

"I…can't…believe…you….actually…did….that!" Yahiko got out between bursts of laughs, tears of mirth trailing down his face, "I think your whole theory on timing just went down the drain.

Sano punched Yahiko lightly on the shoulder.

"I still won the bet, fair and square," Sano reminded.

"You did, but now - you're a dead man walking," Yahiko joked.

Sano blanched at this, but didn't deny it.

"How much can he do, seriously? I am his best friend," Sano reasoned.

"Dude, you just made out with the love of his life against her will. While she was dressed in nothing but a bedsheet!" Yahiko replied, and Sano let out another groan.

"That was a stupid stupid bet."

A.N. I think I'm going o put this story on hiatus for a while. I know I said I was going to post this a while ago, but after rereading it before I left for vacation I was just so unhappy with it, so I rewrote the entire thing.