OMG! This chapter, you guys are in for a treat! Sorry about the wait for it though, it took some time to work out all the kinks and to make sure we presented it with our best foot forward. I am also sorry about not getting this out in time for Christmas, you'll forgive us won't you? We did make this chapter longer than any of our other chapters, I wanted you guys to get a good look into what was going on! Again we look forward to you reading it and telling us what you think! Merry late Chistmas, everyone! Please enjoy!
Kyoga's POV
I was shell shocked. Just when Reiji attacked, Ayame was clinging to me. Claws had run though her and just into my abdomen, our blood mixing together. The smell of her sweet blood spilled sickly sweet as it ran down in-between us. I hadn't even seen her move.
My eyes never left her figure as she clung to my chest, not a sound escaped her lips in pain. Anger flowed through me, she couldn't be dead. Tears of relief gathered in my eyes when I heard her cough.
I felt her body tense up underneath me, perhaps from the pain. Then she looked up at me. Her deep, warm, chocolate brown eyes burning with happiness as she smiled up at me. My system shot straight into hyperdrive as her smile burned bright, making my heart leap and drop at the same beauty and horror of her smile as a pair of Okami claws were buried in her back. The image forever burned into my mind. I was intensely angry, and at the same time incandescently happy.
"You stupid girl, why did you do that?" I asked in a whisper, trying hard to keep my voice from breaking. Her answering laugh sounding, like the summer wind chimes, had enough power to stop my heart. This small fragile human girl, handled me like putty in her small dainty hands. She came into my world and lit a fire, that I simply could not put out. I couldn't be without her, not ever. Even when she died, I could never take another.
Without warning she pulled herself closer, her small slender arms somehow finding a way to pull us even closer, her eyes enrapturing me body and soul.
"So I can do this anytime I want." Ayame said, answering my rhetorical question as her lips laid claim to mine. I immediately returned the kiss, ravishing the feeling between us. Feeling her warm lips move against mine, stirring the demon inside me.
Then my hands were loose, the rope's binding power gone. At the same moment, Ayame fell away from me, the strength leaving her body as Reiji roughly, ripped his claws out of us.
"Ayame!" My arms moving instinctively to catch her. Leaning over her, I moved us away from Reiji's claws and to the opposite end of the room. The other guys followed, after breaking the rope the bound them.
Looking down at the girl in my arms, I called her name over and over again, but she didn't respond. Her normally blushed skin now alarmingly pail; she was loosing too much blood.
"Let me see her." Samon said, taking Ayame from my arms. I growled at him, but Samon paid no mind. Samon began pushing his energy into her, all I could do was watch, when the sound of a sword unsheathing caught my ear.
Reiji stood with his black sword at his side. Blood dripping from the claws on his other hand, Ayame's blood. A rage like no other filled me, as he licked her blood from his claws. I had never stooped to killing another person, but Reiji would be the one I wouldn't think twice about. The demon in side me roared in unison, craving the feeling of his blood on my claws, as he licked the claws tainted with Ayame's blood.
I turned facing him off, the others following suit. Miyabi stood at my side, I could feel the rage rolling off him in waves just like mine. As canine brothers, it's something we both instinctively new together. I could tell just how deeply he cared about Ayame, and how much his own inner demon demanded his blood. Yet somehow I could tell that even though he deeply cared for Ayame, despite all his lewd jokes, he respected what Ayame and I had.
Miyabi nodded at my gaze, one which I returned. I trusted Miyabi with my life, that had not changed. He protected Ayame in every way I would, his kitsunebi would burn until his dying breath.
I looked back on Reiji, just this one time I would become a monster as the humans sometimes accused us as. Just this one time, I would taste blood on my fangs. After glaring for just a moment at each other, I shot at Reiji, unleashing my claws on him.
Ayame's POV
I felt heavy, I couldn't move. I swear I hadn't been gone for more than a minuet. My blood warmed and boiled under my skin. A power that I had , but never acknowledged before flowed through me. I felt the power that the guys had always talked about rise within me. The sent of Iris' in bloom from when I was a kid traveling with my parents tickled my senses.
I stood in a field looking at me as a little girl, my hair braided sweetly over my shoulder, a yellow sun dress draped over my shoulders. Flowers had been braided into my hair by my mother, my chocolate brown eyes looked up at me in wonder. I could here my parents laughing in the background somewhere when the wind rushed through the field, my vision turning and spinning. The little girl Ayame no longer stood in front of me, instead Asami stood where the girl once was. This field, it was the same one from my dreams!
I looked at her, neither one of us saying a word as the wind blew gently, like wolfs running through the grass. A gentle smile touched her eyes, her eyes darting off to the sides where four other girls that I knew but also didn't. Another life, another time. Each one of them, loved an akayashi from each of the clans, each one a child of first light. It was in them that mononoke village was birthed. Then it hit me. What I was meant to do. I wasn't simply meant to give birth, I was to enrich the village, protect it and make it prosper. My role was different from Kyoga's but just as important.
I felt the power within me bloom, making the scent of Iris flowers around me intensify. Asami, returned her eyes back to me, her hand stretched out towards my chest. When her hand connected with the blood that was still pouring out from my wound, a new scent caught the wind, chrysanthemum. It mixed with the scent that poured from mine.
Then the other girls from other clans reached their fingers towards me. Each one adding a new aroma to the air, a vision of the men that had joined to create the mononoke village flashed before my eyes. Violets of the Yukibito clan, lemon grass of the Oni clan, cherry blossoms of the Tengu clan, and jasmine of the Kitsune clan rushed through my senses. The vision around me swirled again until all that I could see where mixed colors and the scents that surrounded me.
Kyoga's POV
I was about to rush in for another attack when Ayame's scent spiked. I felt the other guys and Reiji look over in Ayame's direction. The smell of sweet iris covered the room, the smell cleared my mind. In the sudden rush, I could faintly smell chrysanthemums, cherry blossoms, lemon grass, jasmine and lavender. Power rushed into me, healing my body, before long I was a full strength again. My power growing beyond what it had ever been, my claws becoming lighter in my hand, my ayakashi power rolling off me sweeping the floor like a light mist.
I used this opportunity, while Reiji was distracted by the sudden raise in the other's abilities, and leapt at him. I raised my now lightened claws that felt like a simple extension of my hand, aiming for his chest. I would rip out his heart.
"Ahhhh!" I roared as brought my claw down, Reiji quickly dodged but was caught off guard as my claws unleashed a rush of power. The attack hit him straight across the chest where three lines of blood gushed and splattered onto the floor. Reiji's eye widened in shock and in pain, and he let out a low deadly growl of his own.
I was on top of him again in a matter of seconds, my claws crashing into his as sparks were sent flying into the air around us. I twisted my wrist and dislodged his defenses before I raised my claws again, bringing them down over his head. Reiji was quick and dodged my barrage of attacks, my hand connecting with the floor where he just was, shattering the stone underneath. I looked around, having finally got him on the defense. Reiji had very good senses, he knew when danger was coming and when to get out of the way, however he wouldn't get that lucky today.
"Oh, no you don't!" Shinra yelled out as he was suddenly standing between Reiji and the door, blocking his escape. That wasn't my imagination, Shinra was way faster than usual. Shinra's eyes suddenly zoned in and within seconds, Reiji's sword was sent flying. Raising up his sword again, he brought the grip down on Reiji's shoulder that I had just hit, a loud crack following his attack as ayakashi power clashed.
Looking at Shinra's sword, it had drastically changed. The sword glowed white hot, like someone had left it in a furnace, however it was hard as bone. It flowed with his ayakashi power, the power surrounding space around it as it pulsed. If Shinra got anywhere close with his sword, it was most likely fatal.
"Not to shabby, little Oni!" I laughed. Shinra, who had been serious until now, scrunched his face in anger.
"Stop calling me that, you stupid wolf!" Shinra yelled back, his eyes leaving Reiji to took back at me. In that moment of weakness, Reiji moved to attack him, eye set to kill.
"Shinra, keep your head in the fight! You stupid Oni." Chikage whispered under his breath, his fan suddenly releasing a wind that tossed Reiji back against the back wall. Blood rushed from his wounds that were suddenly made deeper by Chikage's blow.
Chikage's fan rested in his hand, wind smelling of cherry blossoms ran through the feathers. The fan itself pulsed with a raw power, almost as it it were alive. Unlike Shinra's sword that openly displayed it's power, Chikage's fan was more subtle. Like talons, it gripped Reiji to the wall.
"What'd you-" Shinra yelled having heard Chikage's side gesture.
"Enough of that, Shinra. Pay attention." Yuki called out form over by Ayame as he froze Reiji's claws solid and shattering them. Now was my chance to kill Reiji, now that he was defenseless, I would make him pay for everything he put not just Ayame through but my whole village. It was over.
Before I could raise my claws to run Reiji through, my senses rang loudly as Ayakashi power gathered behind me. I turned to look in the direction my instincts were screaming from.
I noticed Miyabi's shaking form as he stood staring at his hands shaking uncontrollably, his eyes widened with power. I stared at him curiously, his eyes darkening as Ayakashi power began rolling off him in tremendous amounts. My eyes widened as a blood thirsty look clouded over his sense of reason, his demonic side taking over.
Suddenly his eyes flicked up to were Reiji was pinned to the wall under a barrage of attacks by the others. It was like he didn't see anything else, a predator who stealthily stalked his prey. Miyabi crouched down, I watched nervously as his muscles under his skin rippled impatiently. Before I could react Miyabi flew past me and thrusted his claws into Reiji's neck.
The guys around me, stopped as Miyabi stood front and center. Even they could tell that something was wrong, their eyes wide a new apprehensive tension locking their muscles. Miyabi's tail swished behind him pleasantly as his demon relished in the sensation of blood pouring from where Miyabi's fingers protruded into Reiji's neck. A sensation reverberating through Miaybi's spine as he shivered.
"So... this is what true power feels like."
Miyabi POV
Power mixed with anger surged through my body, the sheer amount of it all almost overwhelming. My nose was filled with Jasmine and Iris, edging me on the brink of insanity. The fox demon in side of me roared with a destructive rage, a taste for blood pulsing from within it's center.
My eyes were wide, as I stood staring at my shaking hand. My hand's felt bone dry, as my claw ached with the need to spill blood. Images of Ayame bruised and broken clouded my mind, images of another woman… from another time, dark red spilling from her chest as I held her in my arms. The demon inside me yowled again impatiently, I wanted blood.
My vision flickered up, my eyes zeroing in on what I wanted. Pinned and helpless by the Tengu clan, I chuckled to myself at the irony of it all. I crouched, my muscled flexing, deliciously, under my skin as I readied to pounce on my target. I would make him pay dearly for every drop of sweet blood he caused to escape from her body; the amount of blood in his body could not surmount to the debt he had rung up simply by touching her sweet skin.
I was on Reiji with my claw dug deep inside his neck before anyone had time to blink their eyes. I reveled in the sight of Reiji's blood that trickled down his neck from where my claws, enjoying the feel of him trying to tear away my hand from his throat and keep his airway open, I smiled. Reiji's eye widened in fear, as he watched my smile grow tight. I tightened my hand around his airway, wanting to watch him slip in and out of death's door, over and over again.
"So… this is what true power feels like." I spoke out softly, the voice that came out of my throat was a far cry away from what I usually sounded like, but I couldn't care less.
"Miyabi," A voice called out to me, I turned towards the voice. I was half way tempted to just ignore whoever it was, but there was something there that made me turn. The person who had called out to me, was Kyoga, his green eyes were watching me wearily as he continued in a firm voice.
"Let him go. He's not yours to deal with." Kyoga said, his eyes narrowing. Our powers that surged around our bodies, now clashed against each other as they battled for dominance.
I chuckled as neither one of us was going to back down, both of us craved blood equally, but I couldn't allow for that. I tightened my hand even more, I would be the one to end this.
"No, I won't allow it. This bastard needs to pay for what he's done, I'm going to make him scream so loud that his cries drown out every scream of Ayame's that still echo inside my ear." I said my eyes falling back on Reiji that is still having trouble breathing under my claws.
Tell me, Reiji, is this the age of weakness and shame you were talking about, or is it you that is weak and shameful?" Reiji's eye widened even more at my words, fear consuming it as my words toyed with his mind.
"Did you enjoy feeling her skin under your hand? Did you revel in her suffering as I am yours? Did have your fill at the sight of her blood?" I asked gently, making my voice sound even sinister. Reiji's eye flicked over to Ayame, who I could hear struggling to continue breathing. The sound ignited my hatred all over again.
"You're too late, that girl wont live to see the light of another day." Reiji struggled to form the words under my hand. I ripped him from the wall, and slammed his head back into it. The blow sent small rocks crumbling down upon us, the stone behind him cracking under my hand. The stone cut and unraveled his eye patch as it fell from his face down at our feet. Reiji's cursed eye stared back at me, as a black triangle contrasted heavily against the red of his eye.
The sight of the curse repulsed me. Marked as a traitor, how ridiculous. For their mistake, I will finish this. My claws grew longer with power and sharpened into a single point, my kistunenebi around me burned hotter as my thirst for his blood grew insurmountably as it became the only thing that mattered in the world to me.
"You are disgusting. Enjoy a lifetime in Hell!" I said without any emotion I raised my hand as Kitsunebi rushed around it. Someone called out to me, but I paid them no mind as I moved to deliver the final blow.
Kyoga's POV
"Stop." I grabbed Miyabi's hand firmly with my own just as he was about to stab Reiji with his claw. The Kitsunebi burn my hand before they were extinguished. Miyabi's eyes flashed towards me as the cut into a deadly glare. His golden eyes, hardly golden anymore as they were filled with darkness from his inner demon.
"You dare stop me, wolf? In case you don't remember this bastard nearly killed Ayame. I'm doing you guys a favor." Miyabi lashed out with his tongue. I looked coldly at him, this was not the Miyabi I swore to fight next to and defiantly not the one who always found a way to cheer Ayame up when I couldn't. I shuddered at the thought of Ayame being anywhere near Miaybi as he was now.
"Believe me, I want him dead probably more than you do. However, as you are now, you're not doing it for her, you're doing it for you." I told him. Miaybi clenched his jaw, trying to refute my statement, slowly his eyes began to brighten slowly, the hard gold returning to their molten, warm state. Miyabi's eyes flickered back towards Reiji, who stared back coldly, enticingly, Miyabi's face scrunched with anger and desire to kill him burned anew.
"Ayame, wouldn't want that blood on your hands." I told him, Miyabi's face began to firmly resolve. This was not the man that I fought next to since we were pup and kit. Miyabi had always been strong because he was clever in ways no one ever expected him to be, but I wasn't foolish enough to believe that a part of Ayame's heart wasn't his, if he did this he would change forever. It had bothered me before, and I became jealous of the relationship that had bloomed between the two of them.
When I found Miyabi and Ayame together back at the castle, I reacted just as I had justly been expected to. But I see now that Miyabi truly cared for her in the same way I did, and he was the less fortunate one in that way, but that didn't mean that because I held Ayame's heart that she didn't care for Miyabi deeply in return. As her lover, it was my job to protect that part of Ayame's heart as well not just the part that I held.
I looked a Miyabi, his feeling written clearly across his face for once, if the table ever did turn and Ayame wanted Miyabi like she wanted me I doubt I would stop her from achieving that happiness. She was more to me than that, and seeing it from this perspective I couldn't forcefully cut him out of her heart either. So I couldn't let Miyabi become the very thing that would hurt Ayame most.
It was only a moment that passed in between us, as Reiji sensed our hesitation, and summoned a flame the wrapped around his body. Miyabi and I jumped back at the same time, the other guys standing next to us. Reiji's flame grew as it warmed the space around us. Yuki combated the sudden rise of the temperature of the air, but that would only work for so long as Reiji's flame grew hotter and hotter. I looked back at Ayame, a sweat forming on her knitted brow, her labored breathing turning into gasps as the air around us grew hot and dry, it was like breathing in he flames themselves for her.
I narrowed my eyes back at Reiji, flames surrounded him in an intense display of raw power. Looking into his eyes, was like looking into the eyes of a wild beast. Reiji, in a final attempt to destroy us, gave himself into the demon inside of himself. Reiji's face contorted, his shape transforming into something not human. Reiji's form shifted, his hands becoming claws, black hair grew over haunched muscles that lengthened as his body enlarged. His mouth elongated, rows of sharp teeth sharpened into points like pin needles glistened back, only Reiji's red eyes remained as they glared, deadly, back at us as Reiji's true form appeared.
Miyabi and I took stance next to each other, the other guys following suit beside us. I glanced over at the same time Miyabi glanced towards me. Words were not needed, we knew just how nervous the other was. In training they talked about an ayakashis who sometimes gave into their demon selfs, but it hadn't been seen in many, many years and never in a million years did we expect to face someone who did.
Teaching's from long ago played through my head. I narrowed my eyes again at Reiji's wolf form, this would not be an easy fight. I looked towards the other guys, it was clear that each of them to was concerned about how this battle would pan out. I extend my claws out as I turned again back towards Reiji, his red eyes locked on me. It was obvious I was the initial target, I would be pleasantly surprised if I made it out of here with my life, not to mention lightly scathed.
Reiji charged, his fangs bared as he aimed for me. I dodged and landed a few feet away, I turned to see a claw aimed straight for me. I took the brunt force of the blow as I was slammed up against the far wall. Reji blocked all of our attacks, and we were slowly running out of stem as we where all unable to turn the tables.
Then Reiji reared his head, flames ignited and grew exponentially. I looked towards Ayame and Samon just as Reiji's flame struck out.
"Ayame!" I screamed, there was nothing I could do to stop it. I watched as if life was rolling by in slow motion as Ayame and Samon were hit head on. Suddenly as the attack began, the flames were disbursed. Samon had quickly placed himself in between Ayame and the attack but even Samon's body was equipped to fully block an attack like that so suddenly. Samon's back was slightly burned, his energy shield having been blasted out by the intensity of the attack. I looked at Ayame, her body unhurt by the heat, I breathed I sigh of relief.
However, something grey caught my eye. Standing next to Ayame was a wolf that I didn't recognize. His front paw had been extended over Ayame's body, his head bent low as his bright blue eyes glared at Reiji's black wolf form his teeth. Something about the wolf itself didn't present a danger to Ayame, even though it's teeth were a mere few inches from her exposed throat.
I stared at the wolf's blue eyes in shock, thinking I had seen them somewhere before. I looked back and forth between the two wolf's who bared their teeth at one another. My eyes widened, I had seen these eyes before in a text from the Okami clan. I stared back as Akio and Reiji stood off against each other. Akio stepped over Ayame, diverting Reiji's attention away from her as the two of them circled the room. I moved over to check on Samon, who grunted that he was okay as he continued to heal Ayame saying that she was in much worse condition. At his statement I nodded, running my hand over Ayame's pale cheek.
I looked back at the two wolfs each one shifting to have a better advantage over the other. Then, faster than a bullet from a gun the two forces clashed. Teeth pulling at each of their throats, as nasty snarls sounded through the air. I stood on edge as I watched them, the hair on the back of my neck hackling up at the sound. Just watching this was a horror all of it's own.
In the beginning it was hard to tell which wolf had the advantage, but time soon did tell. Akio's claws racked themselves across Reiji's face that created an opening. Akio's teeth latched onto Reji's neck digging in as his powerful jaws did the rest. I quickly looked away, for one reason or another, weather it was because I simply didn't want to see it or the grief that I felt radiating off of Akio as he ended the life of his only brother. I held onto Ayame's hand as Reiji soon became nothing more than a bad memory.
Akio's energy changed and I turned towards him once more. His form took a more common form than before, with a face that I recognized as well as the other guys who simply stared speechless. Akio's blue eyes locked with mine as he spoke.
"I apologize that problems that I refused to fully face have cost you so much grief, clan head. There is no way I could ever apologize enough for that." Then his eyes drifted down to Ayame. His eyes drank her in, he looked tired.
"That girl has amazing powers, you would do well to take care of her." Akio told me, our eyes holding each others for a moment more. I nodded to him in acknowledgment and thanks. Akio gently returned my answer with a nod of his own, and then he was gone.
Just as I was about to turn back to Ayame, it happened. Samon and I were suddenly tossed across the room as all chaos ensued. Ayame's normal scent of Iris shot through the roof, burning my nose. I shielded myself against the radiating pulsation Ayame emitted.
"You're freakin' kidding me!" Shinra grunted as he shielded himself as well. "It's always one thing after the other with you two!" I ignored him, as I looked back at Ayame. Had she always held this much power? I had no idea what had triggered her, and I had no clue as how to stop it.
Power rolled off her in sheets, like over half of the power she wielded had been sealed away and only small amounts of it had been seeping through the seal after she had awakened. It was like standing outside in a hurricane and I could barely keep my footing. Ayame's body was lifted from the floor, a light had taken over her eyes. I called out to her, but it was like she couldn't hear me. The power within her clashed, as lightning sizzled in the air around her. She was loosing control, her power overriding her.
I pushed against the waves that crashed into me like twenty foot waves. I could hear her heart beat, as it beat wildly inside her chest, causing her wound to open once again. If this didn't stop, if she didn't regain control, she could die.
Ayame's POV
All I could understand was my body was hot, I felt like something inside of it was ripping me apart. Tears gathered in my eyes as each pulse of my heart unleashed a new wave of pain upon my body.
My body ached all over, every inch of me pulsating in pain with each wave. The power running through my veins was great, greater than I could have ever imagined. Before, I never acknowledged it, it was like a seal had been placed on me and when I had awakened under the blood moon, it was like just a piece of that seal had begun to slip.
Now with the seal seemingly gone, the power was out of control. Fear weld up within me, fear that not Reiji had been my undoing but myself. I grasped at it trying to control it, but it was like trying to hold back water with your bare hands, and I was drowning in it.
Not only that, but I was also worried about the child I was carrying. Tears flowed down my face, as I sobbed in fear, what if I had already lost it? I had taken a serious beating, been stabbed though my chest, surly bleed out, and now this. My hand shook, as my situation began to over whelm me.
Kyoga's POV
A rush of power pushed me back, and I braced myself against losing anymore ground as I continued to call out to her. I looked at her, tears had begun to flow out of her eyes.
My heart broke at the site. I hated to see her cry, at times I had no idea what to do when she cried and her tears smelled heavily of salt that burned my nose. However painful for me, I treasured every moment her tears had brought me closer to loving her.
I used all my strength and pushed back. I reached out towards her curled body, calling out her name again. I was so close, and the waves that rolled off of her because stronger as the cut through my cloths and nicked my skin. Even if she killed me, I would find a way to save her, and I would never let her go. I grasped her hand and pulled her into my chest. I held her hand and brought it to my lips.
"Please, Ayame, come back to me," I spoke into her ear, tears of my own gathering in my eyes as I said this.
"Don't let go, not yet. Without you, I could never be a man worthy of anything in this world or the next. So as pitiful as I am, please, come back. Save me all over again." I kissed her hand, putting my whole heart into it, when a light consumed us both.
Ayame's POV
I felt a warmth begin to cradle me, a scent I knew fluttered across my nose. I instantly knew who it was. I called out to him, although it seemed as if my mouth was disconnected and I couldn't speak. I tried opening my eyes, but they remained shut as my body pulsed in pain. I felt him holding my hand, I felt the strength of his arm as he held my waist to him. I cried out again and again, trying to find some kind of control when I heard him whisper into my ear.
"Please, Ayame, come back to me," I listened and my heart broke. Never in my life had I heard him sound quite like this. I tried calling out to him again, to tell him I was, but my voice was locked away somewhere.
"Don't let go, not yet. Without you, I could never be a man worthy of anything in this world or the next. So as pitiful as I am, please, come back and save me all over again." His breath tickled the top of my hand, and I felt his lips place a kiss along my knuckles, before everything stopped.
I opened my eyes, a whiteness surrounded me, with little speck of light floating around. A little speck of light floated down and rested on my stomach. The light was filled with Ayakashi power and that of Asami's. All that was left was a feeling, her feelings and they were fading.
A light brush of something touched my wrist, looking down I could see the fang Akio gave Asami beginning to fade. As the fang began to fade, I felt the power of my blood running through me. Not in the way it had, but controlled.
I thought over what had happened. I was a human trying to fit into a world of Ayakashi, it was an impossibility. I realized that Reiji had been true in some way, that our worlds could never mix. I felt just how far apart our worlds where… I was terrified. Then I knew, because of that fear I retracted from everything that had anything to do with Ayakashi, even the special blood… I had lost control.
I looked back at the light that rested on my stomach. Asami was right, I never acknowledged myself. I had a lot to look forward to. I relaxed and smiled as I watched the lights that surrounded me float towards the sky as the fang on my bracelet faded along with them and myself.
Kyoga's POV
I held onto Ayame's hand as Samon, again pushed his energy into her. I watched as her wound began to come together, however that didn't ease my tension. For humans, our healing powers only had limited effects, but we could move until she was more stable. The other guys gathered around us, worried looks on all of their faces.
I kept my eyes on her's, silently begging for her to open them. Somehow, her powers had soothed over, her heart beating at a regular rhythm. Her hand was still cold, probably due to the loss of blood.
Ayame had become my weakness, I was haunted by the look of pain on her face as Reiji had beat her, nearly killed her. Until her eyes would open again, I felt that those memories would consume me.
Suddenly, her face moved. I pushed some hair out of her face, calling out her name gently. Her eyebrows knitted together, her fingers slowly closing to grasp my hand. Her breathing kicked in a notch, and I felt her pulse jump under my hand. Slowly her eyes opened, and moved straight towards me.
"K-Kyoga.." She called out weakly. Tears threatened to run out of my eyes as I looked into her deep brown eyes. I was so relieved as I hugged her loosely, since Samon was still healing her from the inside.
"Ayame-" Was all that I was able to get out as I held her. I swore I would never let go of her, I couldn't go on living if it wasn't with her.
"Kyoga… I can't breathe." Ayame choked out. and I slowly let her go, everything but her hand. I pushed some sweat off her brow, as I looked into her eyes again.
"You came back." I said just so her ears would hear, cupping her face in my hand. I saw her eyes return to their normal warmth, as she blessed me with one more smile.
"Of course I did, I have to save you all over again." She said, as she reached her hand out to cup my face as well. My eyes opened wide, I had said that when she was in that state, but I had never dreamt that she had heard it.
"You said that, right? It brought me back," She said holding my hand, "Seems we save each other." I couldn't take it anymore, if she talked anymore then I really would cry. I crashed my lips down on hers, swallowing all her smart remarks that I was sure to come.
I could kiss her for the rest of my life and be completely happy. I slowly licked her lips, begging for entrance, which she granted. I kissed her over and over again, memorizing her face with my lips.
I would have kept going had she not moved, her breathing ragged but only from that kiss. She nestled into my chest.
Ayame POV
Kyoga's moth covered mine as I was about to say something else. I was shocked at first, never feeling this much passion coming from him all at once. Slowly I relaxed into the kiss, allowing him to take over. I knew the guys were all watching, but we both needed this. I felt his tongue trace over my bottom lip begging for entrance, his fang gently bitting my lip in its urgency. I easily granted it and he explored the inside of my mouth, and I struggled to hold back moans of pleasure.
My head spun as fast as a top, my breathing erratic, my heart pounding in my ears and ringing with my love for him. I eventually had to break away, having forgotten how to breathe, and I rested my head on his chest as he held me.
Then a thought came back to me as I drifted in and out of consciousness. There was something that I still needed to tell him. I fought against the undercurrent that was pulling me under. I heard Kyoga ask something in concern as he continued to hold me. I heard Samon reply about something about having lost too much blood and that we needed to move. Maybe that was why I was so tired, but I had to tell him.
"Kyoga…" I called out to him in a slur. I reached out for him, and his hand found mine. His voice was deep and it lulled me deeper into the dreams that I fought.
"Just rest for now, We're going home." He said and I felt the ground leave from under me. I struggled as now a rocking sensation had begun as Kyoga walked with me in his arms.
"Kyoga… wait…. I need to tell you… something…" I pressed on, defiantly losing this battle as my words slurred together. I pushed against his arms, trying to stop the swaying motion, yet even though I pushed with all my might, it seemed my effort went unnoticed by Kyoga. I glared at my hand that simply seemed to rest on his chest.
"Rest for now. We can talk later, beautiful." Kyoga said gently, a rumble reverberating through his well defined and very comfortable chest. Unfortunately I was gone before I could refute any of it.
All right! Well, whatcha think? I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and will look forward to the next chapters to come. Keep tooned, because the next chapter is practically written and we are just working on a few more things. I'd also like to make sure that J-ninja receives a proper thanks, without her this chapter would not have been written this way and I just want you to know I absolutely adore your work! Thank you for being my Beta for this story! Lots of love guys! I hope that you enjoyed your Chirstmas , from the Moonlightangels!