09/11/2007 11:55:00

Chapter Ten:

One Night And One More Time

Okamio was falling in love. From the moment she'd caught wind of his scent and from the moment he'd held her in his arms, Okamio knew deep down in her human heart that Fukami Gou was the man she was destined to be with. She loved being with him and she could tell that he loved being with her.

Even if Master Sha-Fu had told Gou again and again that falling in love with a Rin Jyu Ken was dangerous… and forbidden. Gou didn't care. Love was love… especially when it was something as important and special as true love.

So, they snuck around… and they did so every time they wanted to see each other. They would meet in the woods under the full moon's light and some nights, they would spend in the warmth of one another's arms.

Nights like tonight were no exception. They had met in their usual place and made love under the stars and Okamio had curled up, content, next to him, listening to his heartbeat inside his broad chest.

"Okamio?" He murmured softly, causing her to stir.

"What is it?" She asked sleepily, one eye opening and looking up at him.

"Let's get married." Gou said. "You can come and live with me and take care of Retsu and we'll be a family."

The words made Okamio's heart leap with joy. "You really mean it?"

"Of course." Gou murmured, presenting her with a beautiful silver band with a wolf's head carefully engraved on it. "Why else would I propose marriage if I didn't mean it?"

Okamio gasped, her hand over her mouth. Tears filled her dark eyes as Gou slid the ring on her outstretched hand. "Gou…"

"I love you, Okamio." He said. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

And I love you, too, Gou." She kissed him then, pressing her body close to his, trying to absorb all of the warmth he had into her skin. "I will for as long as I live…"

The memory faded like a dream as Gou woke up slowly from his nap, unable to really function properly knowing that Retsu and Okamio were gone. He sighed, rolling over onto one side. His fingers idly stroked the empty spot beside him.

"I have to get them back." He muttered to himself. "Whatever it takes, I'll have Okamio and Retsu back." His heart felt heavy, as he looked at the spot Okamio had once occupied in his life and the spot she'd forever have in his heart.

But what if there is no way to restore the curse?

"From this point forward, I will be handling your training, Rio-chan." Okamio said as she regarded Rio with a slightly lustful eye. "My father has placed his faith in me… even if he doesn't think much of you."

Rio made a noise that showed he was all right with it. He kept kneeling, his head down. Even if Okamio wasn't a Kenma, she still commanded the same level of respect they did.

Okamio smirked. "Joining you will be my own pupil, Retsu. I trust you two may get along… somewhat. Retsu is very new to the ways of Rin Jyu Ken Aku Gata, but he is a fast learner." The mistress of the wolf-fist knelt before Rio and forced him to look up into her eyes. "Kind of like you, Rio-chan."

Rio resisted the urge to try and fight Okamio. He was growing sick of her arrogance and overconfidence. She was just like her father… but beautiful, like her mother.

"And don't even think of using your Dorinki on me. Yours is just a mere spark. I've refined and streamlined my technique for years and years. I'd wipe you out in a second."

Okamio smirked and then turned her attention to Mele. "So much potential you have." She said. "We shouldn't waste it. You'll accompany me while your friend Shiwa takes care of our new guest."

"Yes, of course." Mele said. Her opinion of Okamio wasn't much better than Rio's, but Mele knew that Okamio, like her father, had a hair trigger temper. Going along with what she wanted was a lot easier than getting into an un-winnable fight.

"A guest?" Retsu, who was standing a few feet behind his mistress, asked. "What sort of guest?"

"Apparently, the Gekirangers were supposed to get a new member named Ken. Thankfully, Mele's right hand, Shiwa, managed to intercept him before he got very far." Okamio paused. "Although… Shiwa did fail to say where she's keeping him…"

Ken's head felt fuzzy as his eyes opened. "Ow." He murmured. "My head hurts."

"Yeah, sorry about that." Came a female voice. "I think hit you a little too hard."

A flash of gold and Shiwa appeared at the foot of the bed, dressed in a silk robe instead of her golden dress. She smiled. "Although that's okay. You're going to be nice and comfy for a while as you stay here as my personal guest." Shiwa giggled. "Can't have you going around becoming a Gekiranger and all that."

Ken pulled at his arms, but was surprised to find that Shiwa had tied him down to her large bed. "Where am I?"

"Oh, my personal mountain retreat. Eagles like high up spots to build their nest. I made this one for myself back when I was still a human woman." Shiwa smiled. "No one will ever think to look for you here. And that means I get to have your delicious self all to myself." She licked her lips. "Oh, you will be so tasty… I can't wait to sink my talons into you."

"What do you MEAN Ken's missing?" Miki cried into the phone. "That's ridiculous! I just spoke to him!"

"Did something happen?" Ran asked.

Miki held up a finger for a second. "Are you SURE he's gone? Did you actually look?" There was a pause and then in frustration, Miki hung up. "Our fifth Gekiranger is missing." She said at last. "He got off the train and then vanished… although there was some mention of a woman in a gold dress…"

"Could it have been Okamio?" Sha-Fu asked.

"Okamio wouldn't kidnap someone." Gou wasn't letting what had happened change how he felt. "She already has Retsu. What would she want with this Ken person?"

"That's why I don't think it was her." Miki said. "Besides, the last person to see him didn't even get a good look at the woman. I'm just worried about Ken's safety. He can't transform right now and if he got drawn into a fight with Okamio or another member of Rin Jyu Den… something could happen to him."

While they had been right to worry, they didn't need to quite so much. Ken was currently trapped in a bedroom with an amorous Shiwa, who had no plans on killing him.

She just wanted to fuck his brains out.

"You know, you don't have to do this. I mean, what did I ever do to you? Osu, why do you want to kill me?"

Shiwa laughed and crawled on top of him. "Kill you?" She asked, shocked. "Why would I want to do that?" She stared into his eyes. "Oh, Ken… I don't want to hurt you… unless of course, you happen to LIKE it rough…" She kissed his lips then, giggling as his facial hair tickled her smooth skin. "But… I don't use force." Her lips were inches from his. "So, just tell me no, and you'll go free."

Ken opened his mouth, but the word didn't come.

The smile on Shiwa's mouth grew larger. "Oh, so does that mean you'll stay awhile? Don't worry… no one knows you're here, not even Mele-sama. No one's going to hurt you. I was supposed to, but I changed my mind. I'd much rather get to know you then kill you." There was the sound of the zipper of Ken's jacket coming undone. "But of course… that can come afterwards…"

Her kisses were intoxicating and as much as Ken wanted to pull away from the bewitching Eagle-ken, he couldn't. Firstly, because she'd tied him up, but also because she intrigued him. It took guts to do what she'd done and even if she was evil, he admired her for it.

She let his hands go free, and surprisingly, he didn't take the opportunity to bolt. Instead he pulled her tightly against him and kept kissing her. And she kept laughing as his kisses moved further and further down.

"You look angry." Long remarked as Okamio entered his den, throwing off her coat in frustration. "Bad day?"

"Rio is the biggest Son of a Bitch that I have ever met in my entire life." Okamio snapped. "I have never met a man that I wanted to kill more than I wanted to kill him. No wonder my father hates him."

"I take it he didn't listen to you today."

"He said he didn't need to and that why should he have to be my lapdog when my father refuses to train him? Has it occurred to that little brat that my father thinks he's worthless?!"

"There, there, darling." Long murmured, embracing his bride to be from behind. "You'll just have to beat it into him. You know that." He kissed her neck. "Where is your pupil?"

"Resting." Okamio smiled. "He's still quite worn out from his lessons."

"Does that mean that I finally have you to myself?"

She smiled. "I believe it does."

Long took the opportunity to lock the doors to his bedroom and he smiled wickedly. "Well then… my beautiful bride-to-be, I intend to do anything and everything to you."

Okamio laughed. "You can try, Darling. You can try."

At those words, his robes seemed to open and he pulled her tight against him, devouring her mouth with his, and backing them up towards his large bed.

She hit the bed back first, his lips moving down toward her neck, his fingers unlacing the straps on her dress. She moaned softly, "Long…"

"Shhhh… I'll take good care of you… don't I always?"

"Gou?" Ran murmured, knocking on the door. "Are you all right?"

"Oh, Ran." Gou didn't turn to look at her. "Don't worry about me. I'll be all right."

"It's not right. You shouldn't be in here all alone." She said. "You'll never heal if you shut yourself away." She touched his arm.

Gou looked at her. "Why are you being so kind to me?"

"I'm Honest Heart." Ran smiled. "I'm nice to everyone."

Gou looked at her for a moment and he could have sworn he saw Okamio's smiling face instead of Ran. He pulled her to him and kissed her, without giving it much thought. Ran was not a substitute, as he was truly beginning to fall for her.

But some part of his heart still protested. It was impossible to love two women at once… wasn't it?

Making love to Long had never been anything short of incredibly satisfying to the incredibly polygamous Okamio (she never believed in taking just one lover), which was why, even after she'd been cursed, she'd kept coming back to him.

Of course now that the curse had been lifted, the sex just seemed to get better…

"Okamio?" Long asked as she stretched and curled beside him. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Anything." She was still coming down off her post lovemaking haze, her head still in a pleasant daze.

Long presented her with a golden ring shaped like a Chinese dragon. "How does being a bride of the Gen Jyu Ken sound to you?"

Okamio gasped, her eyes wide. "Long, are you sure?" She asked. "I mean the last time you asked, it didn't exactly end well…"

"Shhhh…" He placed a finger to her lips. "This time, things will be different. I promise. So how about it? Will you marry me?"

Overjoyed, she nodded and Long slid the ring on her finger. He kissed her again and smiled. "My lovely Okamio-chan… now you'll truly be mine."

"Rio, you shouldn't be so tense around Okamio-sama." Mele murmured as she massaged Rio's bare back. "She could tell Maku-sama… and he could wipe you off the face of the earth without thinking about it." She sighed. "Or he'll let her do it."

"Then, let her." Rio snapped. "The stupid bitch… who does she think she is?"

"She's the daughter of Maku-sama and Rageku-sama." Mele reminded him. "I know you hate hearing that, but that's the truth… and don't forget that she's much stronger than you are now. But I believe that it will change and that you'll be able to defeat her in a fight. I have faith in you, Rio-sama." She kissed his shoulder blade. "But trying to incite her to kill you isn't very smart."

"Her arrogance is annoying and so is her overconfidence." Rio sounded more peeved by the second. "She sounds as arrogant as her stupid father."

"You should give Maku-sama more credit than that. After all, he did raise a child."

"Whom he trained to become as brutal and angry as he was. That's not parenting… that's just grooming."

"Rio, please be careful of what you say… you know how bad Maku-sama's temper is. Even if they don't like each other, sometimes you can tell that he is, no matter what he says, quite proud of her."

The Lion-ken user made a frustrated noise and snorted as Mele worked a particularly tense knot in his back. "Proud my ass." He grumbled. "She's an arrogant piece of work."

"Rio-sama…"

"I'm entitled to my own opinion, you know." Rio muttered.

"Yes, I know, but Rio-sama, you must try to keep it to yourself. Okamio-sama is in charge of your training now and if she found out you were talking about her behind her back, she'd have your head on a silver platter… God knows what she'd do with the rest of you."

"I'm not afraid of someone like Okamio. She's a complete lunatic."

Mele sighed. "Rio… you should be. I have total confidence that you will be become stronger than her at some point, but… at the moment, she's on a level that is unreachable." She paused and braced herself for what had to come next. "And you forget; She's already defeated you easily. She won't think twice of doing it again. She said so."

Rio's entire body went tense at Mele's words. He knew she was right. Okamio was not only older than most members of Rin Jyu Ken Aku Gata, but she was also incredibly powerful. She'd had centuries of practice refining her powers and her skills. He wasn't sure if he could ever match her level.

"Mele…." He began as the Chameleon-fist user redoubled her efforts.

"Rio-sama, please… for the sake of continuing your training." She said. "You might not get where you need to be if she refuses to train you… or worse."

Rio grunted. "Fine. I'll… get along with her."

Mele smiled. "Rio-sama... I have faith in you." She kissed her husband's shoulder and kept massaging. "You'll beat her… I know you will."

Shiwa sighed as she came down from her incredible high. She curled up next to him, her fingers gently playing with the hair on his muscular chest. "You're incredibly strong. It's impressive." She looked at him, drinking in the sight of his black curly hair flowing around his well-defined face, the facial hair on his face and chin, and the broad smile he wore. "That was… well, that was beyond anything I could have even imagined."

"Osu. I aim to please." Ken chuckled. "But I must ask you… why were you laughing when I kiss you?"

"It's the hair on your face." Shiwa admitted. "Your facial hair tickles."

"You mean like this?" He asked as his face nuzzled hers and his chin brushed her cheek. Shiwa started to laugh. The coarse hair tickled the smooth skin as their lips met for another kiss.

"Your aura is a little off." He admitted. "I don't sense pure Rinki from you. There's…. something else."

Shiwa turned a slight pink. "Oh… well… perhaps it is my new human form."

"Perhaps." Ken kissed her fully once more, pressing her close to his strong body. "Osu."

Shiwa sighed, but then a new feeling blossomed in her undead heart. As her eyes closed once more for the sweet embrace of sleep, the new feeling seemed to grow. And as it grew, she wondered. Was she falling for this handsome new Gekiranger?

Gou could see her wolf-form as soon as it ascended to the top of the rock formation. In the light of the moon, her midnight black fur seemed to glow and he could make out the lean sinew under the fur as she moved down, towards him. Her eyes, a golden yellow, were alert and aware, and it was only a few seconds before she caught wind of his smell and turned her attention to him.

Gou smiled as the black wolf bounded downwards to him, nuzzling him eagerly once it was by his side. The wolf made a low growling noise before it shifted form to Okamio.

This was not the first time Gou had witnessed Okamio transform from wolf to human, but it was the first time she'd been naked when she became human. His eyes widened before he averted them. "Okamio…"

Okamio looked down and covered herself in a panic. "Oh my goodness!" She cried. "Well, that's never happened before."

Gou took off his shirt and handed it to her, giving her a way to cover her body. "Here. Get decent."

Within a moment, Okamio was covered and she embraced Gou, inhaling his scent. "Oh, I wasn't sure if I'd find you here."

"How have you been?" he asked. "I haven't heard from you in a while. I was beginning to worry."

"I had to go to the North for a while. A Kensei sensed my presence and came looking for me." Okamio sighed. Her hand caressed his face, and for a brief second, her hand felt warm.

Gou kissed her. "Come stay with me." He said. "You'll be warm and safe in the church."

"No, it's all right." She murmured. "I am fine out here. Don't forget, your master can sense me. I want to stay hidden so… I don't have to fight."

He remembered. Even though Okamio no longer possessed the dark heart that had made her Rin Jyu Den and had a human heart and soul and a capacity for love, she was still considered to be one of them. And therefore, he'd been encouraged to stay away from her.

Their love would forever be considered forbidden.

Okamio looked up at him. "You should stay away from me." She murmured. "No matter how much it hurts. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'll hurt more if you leave me." He admitted. "I love you, Okamio. I don't care what everyone else thinks. I want to be with you… Rin Jyu Den or not."

The memory woke Okamio up with a start, and she shook it off. The dreadful memory of her past with GekiViolet, made her shudder. She clenched her fists as she sat up in bed, gathering the golden silk sheets of Long's bed to her.

Her Rinki intensified as her fury sank in. She despised herself for being so weak and desperate and falling in love with a mere human being. Even though he'd possessed unbelievable power, she still hated herself for loving him. It had been the ultimate show of her weakness for another user of the Wolf-fist.

"I'll kill him." She hissed. "I will."

"What is it, Okamio?" Long asked as he opened his eyes.

"I'm going to murder Fukami Gou." She murmured. "If I want to make sure I stay the way I am now, I have to sever the final tie to my humanity and that means… that Gou must die."

"But what of your pupil?" Long asked.

"Retsu is staying with me. " Okamio reminded him. "He and I are quite fond of one another and he still has much to learn. And besides… he will be the ultimate device for destroying Gou."

She got up from the bed and slowly sauntered out of the room, covering herself in her heavy fur coat as she went. "That reminds me…. I should go pay my pupil a little visit."

Retsu was practicing with his RinFans, his body moving gracefully with each carefully choreographed movement, his muscles flexing, his skin covered by a fine sheen of sweat. His black hair was beginning to stick to his forehead and Okamio found herself unable to tear her eyes away. Even if she did just make love to Long, she found that warmth coming back…

"Retsu-chan." She cooed, shifting so her fur revealed a little cleavage. "I think its time you showed your new strength to those of the Geki Jyu Ken."

Retsu paused. "Okamio-sama… do you really think I'm ready?"

Okamio nodded. She just had to… prod him a little. "I think you have the potential to take down your brother and Jan and Ran." She smiled. "After all, your brother is the one who abandoned you to defeat Rio… but he survived, and never came back to see you until recently, and he betrayed me, your mistress, preferring a warm body over true love. I think it's high time someone took him down a notch. And I think you can do it… Retsu-chan."

That seemed to be the spark that ignited Retsu's anger and his fury and the Rinki began to show, a violent shade of navy blue. His eyes glowed yellow as he regarded his mistress, fans in hand.

"You're right, Okamio-sama… I will make Gou-niisan pay for what he's done… to you and to me."

Okamio smiled, her own eyes shimmering yellow. "Yes you will…" She opened the fur robe. "Come."

Retsu came, as always and embraced his mistress, kissing her with everything in him, especially that one part of him that ached inside for perfection. Gou's death would be the best display of his new skills and he would make her proud of him.

Ken was surprised when he woke up once more and found Shiwa gone. He sat up in the bed, looking around. "Shiwa-chan?" He called. "Where'd you go?" She wouldn't leave him all alone up in the mountains, would she?

"Oh, Ken!" Shiwa popped out from behind a screen, dressed in her gold robe. "You're awake. I thought I'd let you sleep."

Ken smiled softly at the sight of the girl all flustered. "I didn't think Rin Jyu Den members got all embarrassed or kept Geki Jyu Kens as pets or something." He joked.

"If Okamio-sama could love a human, why can't I?" Shiwa asked, before covering her mouth. "I shouldn't have said that…."

Ken was mildly surprised, but he'd long since figured that Shiwa had grown fond of him. If she hadn't, he'd be dead. "You like me… that way?"

Shiwa was red in the face. "If Mele-sama finds out that I let you live, she's going to kill me… but you were too cute to kill!" She sighed. "What am I going to do with you? I can't let you go free… What to do, what to do?"

She didn't expect him to get up, push her against the wall and kiss her again, this time… with passion.

Shiwa's entire body seized up when Ken kissed her. His warmth, the heat, the fire in those lips burned into her skin. Was this how Okamio-sama felt when she first knew a human touch?

She couldn't help the giggle that escaped her as his hair brushed her warm cheek. "It still tickles." She admitted, shyly. "Do that again."

He kissed her again, sliding the robe off her shoulders and pressing her close to him. His skin felt glorious against hers and she could feel the lean muscles tense, and then relax as she gave in. If she concentrated enough, she could almost feel his Geki flowing into hers via their passionate kiss.

If this was anything like the way Okamio had felt when she'd loved Gou, then Shiwa understood why Okamio had left the Rin Jyu Den.

Right now, becoming a Geki Jyu Ken sounded more and more tempting.

"I can smell him on you." Maku snarled as Okamio strode into the Rin Jyu Den, her coat wrapped tightly around her body. "I smell the scent of a filthy Gen Jyu Ken. If it's the same one who almost lead you astray before…"

"Shut up, Father!" Okamio spat. "You don't know shit. You're the one who cast me aside, saying that I wasn't strong enough or good enough to achieve your precious Dorinki! And when I did, you only pushed me harder. You were never appreciative, never proud, always degrading me and humiliating me! ME! Your own flesh and blood! How could you not expect me to stray?"

"Into the arms of a dragon?" Maku snapped. "He's not good enough for you. And that filthy human pupil of yours? What is he, your latest sex toy?"

"What business is it of yours what I do?" Okamio roared, her fury reaching a fever pitch. "You never cared before. So what if I'm keeping Retsu as a toy? He's more dedicated to Rin Jyu Ken and to me than anyone else I've taught. And unlike how you were never proud of me or how I could never do enough to make you fucking happy, Retsu strives to make me, his mistress and his lover happy and proud by pushing himself, like I did, to his very limits to achieve perfection."

"He's human! Humans are worthless animals. They're not worthy of the powers bestowed on us."

"Which we achieved through TRAINING." Okamio was seeing red. "And Retsu is dedicated to his training. So, you, be quiet. Or I'll make you be quiet."

"You think you can take me on?" Maku laughed. "I could wipe the floor with you."

Okamio finally turned and stared at her father, a growl coming out of her throat. She focused her energy into a large wolf made purely out of Dorinki and stared at her father, assuming the posture of the alpha female. "Do you really think so?"

Maku roared and swiped at Okamio, barely missing her head as she sidestepped and lunged at him, snarling.

Father and daughter engaged in a violent fistfight, tearing, scratching, punching, kicking and launching attack after attack, all with the intention of either doing serious harm or aiming to kill.

Okamio had had enough of her father, enough of his arrogance and pride, enough of his hatred and fury. He wasn't going to stop her from being with Long. Not this time. Never again.

The attacks kept coming in brutal fashion, Okamio finally gaining the upper hand over Maku, forcing him back with her own violent Dorinki, beating relentlessly, aiming straight for the throat. She struck him hard enough to send him into a column nearby and then, her Dorinki grew stronger as her hatred grew deeper.

The Dorinki-created wolf charged at Maku, effectively knocking him back into a wall as Okamio approached, cracking her knuckles. "Had enough, father?" She asked, coldly. "I guess you're too out of practice to handle me."

Maku wheezed as he struggled to get up. He wasn't about to be bested by his insolent daughter. "You obnoxious little bitch."

"Of course." She tossed her hair. "I learned from the best."

This just made him angrier than usual and he lunged for her, this time managing to smack her in the face and send her into a wall. "You're just like your whorish mother: rude, inconsiderate and a slut! I should have snapped your neck while you were still in the crib!"

Something in Okamio snapped. "Don't you dare talk about Mother that way. She lived in fear of you! She would often hide me where you couldn't go just to ensure I survived long enough to grow up. You reduced her, the Kenma of the Sea, to nothing more than what she was in your eyes: a spineless jellyfish, when in reality, Mother has a will of steel and more power than you'll ever even imagine. And for that, I'll never forgive you!" Okamio's fury came out in a deafening howl. "Rin Jyu Wolf-ken Rinki! Ookami Gai Sou!" Okamio's body was glad in her black armor and she roared again, thrusting out all of her power and sending Maku flying into the courtyard.

Maku wasn't about to take defeat lying down and he engaged his daughter, now in her stronger armored form, into another violent brawl.

This time, Rageku, fearing for her daughter's life, was watching them.

Okamio was, to Maku's glee, stronger than Rio, and much smarter in how she attacked. Every move was carefully planned to counter his move, resulting in her once more gaining the upper hand.

"How dare you abandon your home for the arms of that filthy, disgusting dragon!" He yelled as Okamio moved faster. They were almost claw-to-claw. "I gave you life, you ungrateful brat!"

"What life?" Okamio asked. "All I knew was your training. If it wasn't for Mother, I'd have fucking lost my mind!"

"That was the point! I would not allow anyone to call my daughter a weakling. I wanted you to become strong… stronger than anyone who'd ever come before or since. And this is how you thank me? By turning your back on your family and your lessons? By falling in love with a Gen Jyu Ken?"

"Long loves me." Okamio snarled. "He wants me to be happy. And I will be happy with him! I WILL NOT LET YOU STOP ME!" The next attack, a full on blast of Okamio's Dorinki, sent Maku flying into a wall, effectively knocking him out cold.

Okamio fell to her knees, her armor vanishing. She was exhausted.

"Okamio…" Rageku was by her side, helping her daughter.

"I'm not leaving the Rin Jyu Den, Mother." Okamio said. "But I did fall in love with Long. He wants to marry me, like he did before. We're going to have something special. I just know it." The words came out in a wheeze, and she found it hard to stand.

"You must rest." Rageku said. "I'll take over Rio-chan's training, but for now, you must rest."

"Mother, I…" Okamio's eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed in her mother's arms, exhausted from the use of Dorinki.

"Okamio-sama!" Retsu yelled as he ran out into the courtyard, holding Okamio's coat. "What happened to her Rageku-sama?"

"She took on Maku-sama…." Rageku couldn't hold back her pride in her daughter. "… and won."

Okamio awoke sometime later, surprised to find Retsu pressing a cool cloth to her head. "Retsu-chan?" Her vision was fuzzy and her body still felt weak from the fight with Maku. "Is that you?"

"I'm right here, Okamio-sama." Retsu said. "How are you feeling?"

"Dizzy." Okamio replied. "Did I really defeat my father?"

"Yes… Rageku-sama saw the whole thing. It was an impressive fight… even if you used so much Dorinki… I'm guessing that's what is making you feel so strange. You should rest. I'll be right here by your side."

Okamio sighed and nodded, too tired to fight with him about it. She closed her eyes as he wiped her forehead.

Okamio-sama has great power and wisdom. Retsu thought as she fell asleep. I should do my best to make her proud and defeat GekiViolet! He was tempted to go out and find him and defeat him, but first, he had to make sure Okamio would be all right. He smoothed the silver and black hair away from her forehead and kissed it.

For your honor, Okamio-sama… I will defeat GekiViolet!

Gou kept pounding the punching bag over and over, trying to get his mind off Okamio. He'd been thinking a lot about her lately, about the relationship they'd once had and how quickly everything seemed to have changed. He gave it a few good kicks and another punch before pausing for breath.

Why is she still on my mind? I have Ran now. I shouldn't still be thinking of her. He wondered.

I'm still on your mind because you still love me Gou.Okamio's voice whispered into his ear. That may never change. You still feel guilty. Alpha wolves have a single mate until one of them dies. And you know, deep in your heart… that I will forever be your alpha female.

The words resonated through Gou's mind as he punched the bag harder and harder. He remembered the sweetness of Okamio's kisses, the warmth of her touch and the softness of her fur when she curled up against him in wolf-form. He sighed. "Man… looks like I may have to defeat her just to stop thinking of her."

It took Okamio two days before she was back on her feet and functioning again, her power surprisingly intact, given the magnitude of the way she had unleashed herself on her father. So, once she was up and running again, and not wanting to be rusty, she challenged Rio to a fight.

"You've got to be kidding me." Rio said as Okamio stood before him, dressed in her usual silver and black. "You're barely functioning."

Okamio snorted. "Does it look like I'm kidding? This is you new training exercise. And your goal is to see if you can either defeat me in a match or draw."

"Okamio, this is a mistake." Rageku said, trying to dissuade the Wolf-Fist. "You are barely functioning as it is. You don't have enough in you to fight Rio-chan and survive."

"Mother, please, I have to do this while I still have the will to do so." Okamio appreciated her mother's concern. "You always told me I could anything as long as my mind thought I was capable."

"It's suicide, Okamio-sama!" Retsu pleaded. "Please, rethink this."

Okamio looked at her mother and then at her pupil and then she stared at Rio. "That arrogant little boy told his bride he wasn't afraid of me. I'm going to make him afraid of me. " She cracked her knuckles.

Rio smirked. "You think you can take me on?"

"I'm going to wipe that smile right off your face." Okamio snarled.

"I'd love to see you try." Rio boasted.

That did it. Okamio lunged at Rio, managing to knock her fist into his jaw, causing him to reel backwards a little. She didn't give him enough time to recover before she began battering him with her fists and feet, punching and kicking over and over.

Rio dodged a good chunk, but it was clear from her viciousness and from the force behind her attacks that Okamio was treating it like serious business. After a moment of two of being caught off guard, Rio began to fight back.

They were matched in their viciousness and their determination to defeat each other, but that was the similarities ended. It was clear that Rio had not learned from his previous encounter with Okamio and he was beginning to get cocky in his movements. He thought that Okamio's condition would make for an easy win.

Oh, how wrong he was.

For every move Rio made, she had a counter and the counters were pretty vicious. She knocked Rio into a wall, and then pinned his arms above his head, moving her face in real close.

"If you think that I'm just going to give it up to you without a fight, you're kidding yourself." She hissed, her lips close to his. "Your arrogance is going to be the end of you… if your lust for power doesn't do you in first."

"And what about your lusting… not for power, but for pleasures of the flesh. Won't they do you in?"

"Bullshit." Okamio's body was close to his and he could almost feel her fury coming off in waves. "If they were going to do me in, they'd have done it already." One hand grabbed his throat and choked him. "Instead, I think I'm going to do you in."

Rio struggled, but managed to kick Okamio hard enough that it forced her to let go and she fell to the floor.

There was a low growling noise coming out of her throat as she began to get up, her Rinki reeking of violence and a bloodlust so primal it could only come from a hunter.

Rio wasted no time. "Rinki Ga Sou!" His armor-clad body stood before the fallen Okamio, poised for victory.

Okamio groaned and forced her body to roll over so she had maybe a glimmer of hope for escape.

"Okamio-sama!" Retsu cried, but Rageku stopped him.

"Remember, Retsu-chan… this is Rio-chan's training exercise." She said. "I know you want to, but you can't interfere."

Rio was smirking behind his helmet as Okamio struggled to move. "Rin Jyu Lion-ken Ringi! Shishi Hokoha!" The large Rinki infused Lion charged at Okamio and sent her flying backwards into the altar at the front of the room.

In genuine pain, yet impressed by Rio's skill, Okamio collapsed on the stone, unable to will her body to move. Defeating her father had taken much more out of her than she'd though or… Rio was definitely improving.

But as the possibility of Rio beating her grew larger and larger with each advancing step he took, so did Okamio's anger. I did not spend all this time training and perfecting and growing stronger than ever before to be bested by a child! I will not let him defeat me while I am at my weakest! Forcing herself to work through the pain, Okamio rose to her feat.

"Rin Jyu Wolf-Ken! Rinki! Ookami Gai Sou!" Okamio's black and silver armor appeared and she faced Rio, armor to armor. "Little boy, I'm very impressed." She said. "You almost had me there for a minute. If you weren't otherwise attached, I'd have you for a lover."

"But I thought…" Rio was confused.

"I don't believe in monogamy." Okamio explained. "I've always had lots of lovers and they always knew about each other. Even her voice was smirking as she stalked closer to Rio until she was so close that their armor was pressing against each other. "But it's such a shame that you have a Rin Rinshi for a bride. That means I can't touch you. I'll just have to settle for kicking your ass." She punched him square in the chest, with enough force to send him a few feet backward.

Rio snarled and dove at her, and they re-engaged in their brawl, black and gold clashing with black and silver, wolf against lion. It was a seemingly epic match of wits and skill.

And unlike their previous fight, this time they seemed to be equally matched.

Okamio was furious that she couldn't defeat this little brat quickly. But she had to admit that the first time, she'd caught him off guard and pulverized him before he even knew what hit him. This time, he was ready for her.

So, finally, she decided to end this her way.

As Rio came charging towards her, Okamio unleashed her own Rinki infused wolf on him and it effectively managed to send him flying into the wall near Retsu. The attack had hit him so hard that it send him out of his armor.

Rio, bruised and bloody, collapsed on the floor.

Okamio became herself again and she smirked. "Better luck next time, little boy." Her Rinki bathed her in a violet colored aura as she stared down at him. "Although you're getting stronger. You almost had me there for a minute."

"Rio-sama!" Mele came charging in and she glared at Okamio. "What did you do?"

"Taught him to stop being cocky." Okamio snapped. "You might want to hammer that into your husband's head before my next lesson." She turned on her heel and left the room, Retsu close behind.

"Rio-sama, are you all right?" Mele asked as she cradled her husband close to her.

"I hate that woman." Rio grunted. "I hate her, I hate her, I hate her."

Ran watched silently as Gou continued pounding the punching bags. She was concerned for him. Watching the man she loved suffer like this was driving her crazy. She felt that she had to act.

But how?

How could she ever hope to defeat someone like Okamio and be sure that she'd have Gou's heart once and for all?

Ran wasn't sure how… but she knew she'd find a way.