Sechsundzwangzigste Kapitel: Ein Kampf um eine andere Sorte
May 7 Late Evening - May 8 Early Afternoon
Previously on Familievermaechtnis, The Covenant had struck again, and this time, they have cast the blackest of black magic to achieve their goals, forcing Jaiden to elicit the help of her little brother's friends in order to protect him. Can Ban's family and friends protect him from a nightmare that has plagued him and dictated his entire life?
It was late and the cool spring breeze caressed against Shido's flesh, causing him to shiver. He quietly walked up the massive lawn of his mate's home and was immediately greeted by Mozart, the miniature Border Collie who served as Madoka's Service Dog. The wild-haired Native frowned at the small dog's behavior. The Seeing-Eye dog rarely left Madoka's side, not since she was kidnapped by his clan's enemies.
~ChiChi with Mistress.~ Mozart yipped, sensing his Alpha's disapproval.
Shido nodded in understanding and relaxed a bit, knowing that if ChiChi's massive frame did not deter any would-be kidnappers then she could always squeeze the enemy to death. Plus, oddly enough the Boa Constrictor liked Madoka, who never shied away from the massive snake.
~Alpha gone many moons~ The Border Collie whimpered, ~Alpha not like Mistress?~
"What?!" The Beast Master gasped then shook his head, "No, I love her… I … I want to make her my mate… where did you hear that I don't like her?!"
Yes, he had been away from Madoka and his animals for too long for his liking, but he was not about to ignore the request from his Alpha. Captain DarkRiver had asked him to help protect Midou, and he was honored that she asked him, especially since the American had a true kinship with her inner Beast - an ability that those of his clan coveted.
Of course, the brunette should have known that the task was easier said than done.
Shido had never seen Snakes-for-Brain be so… twitchy. The brunette can honestly say that he even understood why. It was a week ago that something happened… what it was, he did know… but he remembered… one moment, he was asleep with Madoka in his arms, and the next, he, his animals and even his petite mate bolted awake in a cold sweat and a primal fear that had clawed its way into their souls. The Beast Master knew that Midou must have felt it as well as his Alpha and those like her, and he also knew that whoever was responsible for whatever happened were the ones after the Jagan-wielder.
The only reason why he came back tonight to the mansion was because Midou had finally snapped and decked him - not with his usual strength but hard enough to get his message across, and that message was for Shido to back off. The Beast Master knew when to make a tactical retreat, which he did, and besides Paul had told the wild-haired brunette that he would continue watching the agitated quarter German.
Well, the Native also had asked his little furry friends to keep an eye on the GetBackers. The young man had a light smile as he remembered his Alpha teasing him about calling the city's rodents his 'little friends'. And asking the little furry creatures to help was not a sign that Shido did not trust the former detective, but he knew that the more eyes were on the trouble-magnet pair was better for everyone all around.
But now to this problem at hand… why did Mozart think that he did not like Madoka? Had she said something about him being away for so long? Had he said something to make her think that he did not love her?
~Fake Red bring males for Mistress.~
Shdio's blood froze in terror before his body sprang into action. He immediately knew of whom the Miniature Border Collie was talking of.
He easily leapt over Mozart's tiny body as he went into a full out sprint up the lawn.
The main door opened, just as he was about to break down the barrier.
He ran up the stairs, taking three to four steps at a time and not bothering to acknowledge the butler, who had opened the door for him.
Immediately he heard the harsh sounds that his Chosen was making on a violin… not her Stradivarius but another violin. It was just as an expensive instrument as the Stradivarius; however, Madoka had no real love for it because it was a gift from her stepmother. While Shido was never one for stereotypes, Madoka's stepmother - Mrs. Rachel Murdoff-Otowa - was the stereotypical stepmother.
Mrs. Murdoff-Otowa, as she demanded to be called without the traditional Japanese honor-fics or just plain Madame, had wormed her way into Otowa-san's life, just shortly after Madoka's mother had passed away. The woman had manipulated and schemed her way into high society and would have had complete control of Otowa-san's fortune if it were not for the fact that half of Otowa Incorporation shares actually belonged to Madoka, who would inherit the shares and its fortunes when she turned 21 years old…
But in all honesty, Shido did not care about the Otowa wealth and fortune nor did he care for the high society scheming that the Madame was apparently planning. All he cared about at that moment was his beautiful mate, who was right now violently scrapping the bow across the violin strings in attempts to dispelling angry tension in her tiny frame or in attempts to destroy the violin.
Shido threw open the double doors to the room, causing the horrible screeching sound to echo from the violin and come to sudden and deafening stop.
"Shido?!" Madoka gasped as she turned to the sound of his entrance.
The short haired brunette's eyes instantly scanned the room for any threat while at the same time a deep growl vibrated from deep within his chest… a sound a predator protecting his mate and territory… seeing no signs of any threat, the Beast Master crossed the room in three quick steps and gathered his petite mate into his arms. He buried his face into the crook of her neck. Absently he knew that she had dropped the violin in favor of wrapping her arms around him, but he did not care.
She was here and there in his arms.
He began kissing and nibbling along her slender neck.
She bore more of her flesh for him to mark.
He captured and assaulted her lips, swallowing her moans of pleasure.
She felt him pull her closer to his strong frame.
His hands on her hips and bottom, lifting her up.
She immediately wrapped her legs around his waist.
He stalked to the far wall, pinning his mate between the wall and him.
She gasped for air as she felt his teeth bite down on the junction between her neck and shoulder.
"Mine!" Shido growled.
"Yours!" Madoka breathlessly whispered.
May 8th
Madoka slowly returned to the land of wakefulness by the gentle caress of her boyfriend's strong hand on her stomach. The first time that Shido had rubbed her abdomen, she had giggled and told him that that she was not one of those lucky Buddha. And even though she was born blind, she knew her man well enough to know that he was blushing. However, it did not stop him from continuing his caress, and she was not about to ask him to stop either. The belly-rub made her feel safe and cherished. She especially loved it when Shido would just surround her with his body.
She shifted around so to feel his steady heartbeat against her cheek. She longed to belong to her wild man in all ways, but her noble Beast Master refused to claim her until she was twenty. One more year and then we'll be one. The famed violinist mentally sighed.
Shido tightened his hold around his beautiful mate and breathed in her scent. He gave a quiet purr; pleased that his scent had mingled with her's. Unfortunately his scent will not remain permanent unless he claimed her outright. And by the gods, the brunette male wanted nothing more than to claim her as his but not yet…
"Shido…" Madoka whispered.
"Hm…"
"What's wrong?"
He could answer that question in so many ways, but he knew what she was really asking.
"The Madame is bringing men here." The Beast Master growled.
The petite long-haired brunette stilled.
"How…?" She could not finish her question. She was confused. How did her boyfriend know of her stepmother's schemes when Madoka only just found out hours ago?
"Mozart told me." He frowned when he felt her body relaxed. "Madoka?"
"Shido, love, my stepmother is throwing a ball this Friday." The violinist explained, "She's trying to find a rich and influential husband for me."
He was silent while his mouth became dry and his heart seemed to stop at the thought of losing his beautiful mate to another.
"Shido!" She cried when she felt her boyfriend's erratic heartbeat, "Shido! I already have chosen the man I'm going to marry!"
His arms relaxed around her tiny frame as he slowly drew away but was immediately stopped when she grabbed hold of his face.
"You! I will marry you! And no other!" Madoka declared as she rubbed her nose against his own.
The Beast Master blinked as her words slowly registered in his mind.
"Oh…" He mumbled before a silly love-struck grin became plastered on his face. He had always known that Madoka loved him, but it was also really nice to hear it. He strengthened his hold on the thin violinist, causing her to giggle.
"Yes, 'oh', my silly love…" She replied, taking comfort that Shido was not going to leave her.
"But what about this party?" He frowned.
"I don't know." She sighed, "My stepmother arranged it all, and I can't put a stop to it…"
Shido stayed quiet, just keeping hold of his mate and listen as she drifted back to sleep. Slowly he pulled away and covered her up in some blankets. As he slipped out of bed, Mozart and Tahj the Cheetah jumped onto the bed and curled themselves around the sleeping blind girl. The brunette nodded his head as he quietly slipped out of the room.
He walked down the hallway to the Master Study and began looking through the drawers of the massive desk in the middle of the study. He did not know what he was looking for but knew that he had to look something.
"Can I help you, Fuyuki-san?"
The Beast Master snapped around and glared at Kyoshiro, Madoka's newest butler.
Kyoshiro was not a tall man nor was he a thin man. He was not even an exceptionally good-looking man. In fact, he was small, stocky-built and was a homely-looking man with a nasty habit of moving about silently as a ghost even with a prosthetic leg and a slight limp. However, despite all that, Shido cannot help but sense that there was more to the man than Kyoshiro was letting everyone to believe.
"Fuyuki-san?" Kyoshiro called again when the brunette did not immediately answered.
"What do you know of this party?"
"A foolish endeavor." The butler answered as he approached the desk.
Shido watched him warily as Kyoshiro opened the very bottom drawer and removed a simple box.
"These are blank invitations for the event." The butler explained then gave the Beast Master a knowing and yet an impish grin, "The Madame, however, failed to invite Madoka-san's friends to the festivities… an oversight that I am sure you will correct…?"
The brunette looked between the box and Kyoshiro, trying to see what the butler's angle was but could not see it. His mate did not seem to have any luck in hiring trustworthy servants but… his own instincts were telling him that Madoka's mysterious new servant really did want to help in putting the proverbial monkey wench in the Madame's plot. Cautiously Shido took the box of invitations from Kyoshiro and muttered his thanks.
"Oh! Is there something special I should have prepared?" Kyoshiro asked just before leaving the Master Study.
"Hunh?"
"Any food preferences or allergies I should know…" The butler clarified.
"Oh… uhm… Kazuki is allergic to strawberries and Ginji hates tomatoes and uhm… I think that's… oh wait! Coffee!" Shido blurted as he remembered that two people he was going to invite were avid coffee drinkers. "There's going to be at least serious coffee-drinkers so… I guess, make sure you have the good stuff… whatever that is."
Kyoshiro arched a brow at the odd request.
"And what would be the good stuff?"
The brunette shrugged.
"Dunno… something German, I guess."
The butler nodded his head and left the Beast Master to his task.