The Search For A Mate

Chapter 36

Tara slipped into the garden. It didn't take her long to spot him. Shura was walking next to the pond. She went into his arms and he kissed her lightly. The more time she spent in his company, the more she understood her parents. "I'm glad you could come. Now that the rebels have been defeated, maybe things can get back to normal." Shura frowned. "Getting back to normal means I will have increased duties. My father is insistent that I be able to run Gendar as soon as possible. He says times are too uncertain to leave anything to chance. And he is right."

Tara took his hand as they began to walk. "That means I won't get to see you very often. Mother and Father will be returning to the Ningenkai soon." Shura sighed. "Then we will have to make the most of the time we have." She kicked at a pebble. "Why is Uncle Yomi so set on you being able to run Gendar now? He is young. He will rule for many years." Shura stared across the pond. "He intends to compete in the next tournament. If he wins, he will leave me to run Gendar."

"Don't you intend to compete again?" "No. I am not ready to rule the Makai. I have been arrogant in the past. I thought that the power to defeat your opponents was all that was necessary to rule. I was wrong. I have learned so many things. The Makai is changing. Your father and his friends have had great influence on the politics of the Makai. I still have a lot to learn before I am ready to rule. When I am satisfied that I have learned all that I need, I will compete again."

Tara nodded in understanding. She had no doubt that one day he would achieve his goal. He was a powerful demon and a skilled fighter. With the sense to realize that it wasn't enough just to win the tournament. He needed to be prepared for what came after. That was the real challenge. He would be a good leader when the time came. Whether he ruled Gendar, or all of the Makai.

They walked in silence, content to bask in the other's company. Tara felt the energy signature approaching. "Shura. It's Father. You have to go now." He stopped to stare at her. "He doesn't know I'm here? You didn't tell him you were meeting me, did you?" She shook her head as he grasped her hand tighter. He pulled her along behind him, but not toward concealment. He was heading directly to her father.

Shura stopped as Kurama rounded the corner. He pulled Tara forward. "I apologize, General Kurama. I was under the impression you knew I was here. I agreed that nothing would go on behind your back. Apparently Tara had other thoughts. I will take my leave now." He stalked angrily out of the garden, leaving Tara staring open mouthed at his retreating back.

Kurama frowned at his daughter. "Sneaking around behind my back is not like you. What brought this on?" She looked at the ground. "I wanted to see him. I didn't think you approved." Kurama steered her to a bench and they sat down. "Shura and I have come to an understanding. I will allow him to spend time with you as long as certain guidelines are followed. The first of those being that you will not hide from your family. He has assured me his intentions are honorable. Sneaking around belies that."

He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry, Father. I disappointed you and made Shura angry." "You have to understand. Shura is man of honor. Your actions questioned that honor. Some men guard their honor more jealously than a mate. Without honor, a man's word is unreliable. Shura gave me his word that I could trust him with you. That he would never betray that trust. Your actions could have been interpreted as his betrayal of my trust. In which case I would have the right to revoke my approval of the relationship."

Tara gasped. "It wasn't his…." Kurama held up his hand. "I know it wasn't. That is why I will not revoke my approval. You will, however, be punished. You are to remain in your room for the rest of today." She hung her head. "Yes, Father." She stood up. He reached for her hand. "If you wish to write a letter of apology, I will make certain a messenger gets it to Gendar today." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you."

He watched her leave. Beth had been right. Their daughter was well on her way to being in love. Once Shura calmed down, he had no doubt that Tara would be receiving another lecture. He got up to return to the castle. Shura wasn't that bad as prospective son in laws went. He certainly could have done a lot worse. The more he thought about it, the more he felt he couldn't have done any better. That's if he thought about it at all. He tried not to. It meant acknowledging his little girl was growing up. He shook his head and went in search of a messenger.

Kuwabara was pacing the entry hall. Yukina and the kids were due to arrive any minute. It had been late last night when he got back. By the time Kurama had mixed the solution to take the dye out of his hair, it had been too late to go home. He called Yukina this morning and suggested she come here. He knew she never turned down an opportunity to spend time visiting her brother. She would also want to be here to help Rayna once she learned what happened.

The portal opened and his family came through. He dragged Yukina into his arms and gave her a long kiss. "I missed you, baby." "I missed you too, Kazuma." She pulled back to look him over. There were no visible changes and no wounds that she could see. The kids jumped him. "Daddy!" They both chorused. He threw his son over one shoulder and scooped his daughter up in the crook of his other arm. Yukina followed them up the stairs, giggling as they went. He was still her Kazuma.

Yusuke was pacing his room. He was waiting for Keiko's arrival, but without the same anticipation. He would have stalled longer if he could, but with the rebels defeated, Koenma declared that Keiko needed to return to her mate. That translated to she was being a pain in the ass and Koenma couldn't wait to get rid of her.

He was beginning to rethink not telling her about their plan ahead of time. Of course it was far too late now. He wondered if she had forgiven him yet? Of course she hadn't. She never forgave him until after she got to yell at him. Minutes later she stepped out of the portal. He had no time to say anything before his head snapped to the side. "Yusuke, you jerk!" Sometimes, he thought, very little had changed since junior high.

Rayna and her father had spent a long time talking. Something they had not done in a very long time. They had both been just too busy she supposed. Motaro held his daughter's hands in his. He had been reluctant to let go of them. It seemed too short a time since he had held Briara's hand, and now he would never again be able to.

He hoped he had made it clear that she was not to blame for Briara's anguish and his mistakes. "Lord Hiei was quite adamant that I not allow you to feel blame or guilt for your actions." She looked up. Her father had not mentioned Hiei since they had begun to talk. Motaro allowed a small smile. "He threatened to keep you from me if I did. I'd say he is very much in love with you." Rayna wanted to believe that was true.

He reached up to tilt her head to the side. "I see he was impatient as well." He nodded as he examined the small black dragon reared on it's hind legs with a lightning bolt held possessively in it's claws. Rayna blushed. He laughed and hugged her. "You are now the lady of the castle. With more political power in your possession than I could ever hope to have. It's funny really. I was always the one with the ambition. You never had an ounce of it."

She could only laugh at his assessment. "Oh, Father. I had more ambition than you ever knew. Only my ambition was not of a political nature. My only ambition was to be loved. And to be loved for myself." He held her close. "You've achieved it." She sighed. "If only I could be sure of that." He set her away from him. "Never doubt it. He showed me your fight from his perspective using the jagan. I could feel what he felt while watching you. He might not understand it, or acknowledge it, but he loves you." Rayna's eyes were wide as his words sunk in.

Hiei was in his office trying to get some work done. He'd accomplished very little. His mind kept wandering. Mukuro had been in twice wanting to know when she could have her office back. What in the seven hells could they be talking about all this time? He certainly never found the man that interesting.

He had risen from his chair to go investigate when Rayna knocked on the door. He let her in. He studied her face, looking for any sign of her feelings. She cocked her head to the side and did the same. Looking for any sign that her father's words were true. Not seeing the answers he sought, Hiei asked. "Do you feel better since talking with your father?" She nodded. "He helped me understand a few things." And gave me more to think about, she thought.

She had learned a few things about her stubborn mate in these last weeks. If he was uncertain what his feelings were, there was no way he would ever tell her. She would not hear it from him until he was ready. Well, he was without a doubt stubborn. But she was patient. And thanks to her father, she had hope.

She sat down on the corner of his desk. "How do you get anything done without a computer?" He snorted. "The same way I entertain myself without one of those idiot boxes. The fox keeps asking the same thing." She hid her amusement. "He never offered to teach you how to use one. Did he?" Hiei sighed. "No." "I'll be getting one for my office. If you like, I'll teach you how to use it." "I don't see the need, but I'll humor you." She found an interesting spot on the opposite wall when she could no longer hide the smile. Oh yes. Definitely stubborn.

Rayna decided to give him a break from the teasing. "One of the servants said that Yukina and the kids were here." Hiei nodded. "She arrived an hour or so ago. You were still in Mukuro's office with your father." "I bet Kuwabara was glad to see them. I know he missed them." "Hn. He misses a lot. His brain tops the list." She giggled. She couldn't help it. "You know, I don't think I've heard you say two kind words about him since we met. He really is a nice man."

"And you have to have confidence in his abilities if you agreed to send him on the undercover mission. Why do you always insult him? I don't understand. He treats you the same way. To listen to the two of you, one would think his name is 'oaf' and yours is 'shrimp'. You'd think the world would end if either of you were nice to the other." "You mean it won't?" She shook her head as she realized he was teasing her.

Beth opened the door to Tara's room. "I brought you some dinner." Tara was laid out on her bed staring at the ceiling. "Not hungry." Beth set the tray down on the table and grabbed one of the vegetables. "You sure? It's good." She munched on the vegetable as she sat down on the bed. Tara turned away from her mother. Beth stroked her daughter's hair only to have her hand pushed away. "I'm not in the mood mother. I don't want to be cheered up. I'm sorry."

Beth seemed to ponder that statement for a moment. "Not in the mood, huh?" She stood up. "Then I don't suppose you are in the mood for this either?" Tara lay still as her mother walked to the door before curiosity got the better of her. "What Mother?" Beth stopped at the door and turned around to face her daughter again. Tara had her head turned slightly in Beth's direction. Beth could not hide the grin as she waved the letter. "This was delivered a few minutes ago. By a messenger from Gendar."

Tara was off the bed like a shot. She grabbed the letter and tore it open. After reading it for the third time, she smiled and walked over to the table and started picking at the dinner Beth had brought. Beth had her arms crossed, leaning on the door. "Well? What does it say?" Tara looked up. "Mother! It's private." Beth nodded with a grin. "Ok. As a fox, I guess you are old enough to receive private messages from young men. But if you want to talk, you know where I am." Beth closed the door behind her as Tara sat down to seriously eat her dinner rather than pick at it.

She smiled and read the letter again.

Tara,

I accept your apology. You are forgiven. I will bring a picnic lunch with me when I pick you up at noon tomorrow. You WILL tell your father I am coming.

Shura

He was almost as arrogant as his father. And Uncle Hiei, of course. Almost. But she thought it was rather cute. Not that she would ever tell him that. She finished her dinner, then emptied her closet onto the bed. There had to be something in there suitable for her picnic with Shura.

Rayna got ready for bed still thinking about her father's words. He had told her there was nothing else she could have done, and he was glad he hadn't lost both his daughters. He had told her about Briara's human mother and how much he had loved her. He loved Rayna's mother too of course, but it was a love that had grown with time. She knew that she had to give Hiei time. He was already possessive and protective. It was enough for now.

To be continued….