Godai was invited tag along for their practice week as well—and by invited, it really meant Neuro forced him to join them. The demon mentioned something about getting a sense of the new group's dynamic. All personal slaves, tools, and other human utensils included!

Teaching Kazue that week however, had gone somewhat different than Yako had imagined initially.

She and the schoolgirl were quite similar on the surface...though once they worked out on the field and in the city, scanning authentic crime scenes, little quirks and mannerisms in Kazue began to pop up more and more, which in the end actually set her apart from Yako.

The innocent glow in her dark eyes slowly melted away to unveil genuine spunkiness, a pure and healthy interest. The job, altogether, had its funny way of bringing her out of her shell and she never held back when it came to gathering information. Never questioned the advice she was offered. Whereas Yako fancied her high-school-self to be fascinated by their work more through necessity, analyzing everything deeply from the sidelines; Kazue on the other hand, clearly had a stronger adventurous streak. Inwardly, she craved the action and responded well to physical exercise and self-involvement.

Neuro and Yako were both relatively impressed by her excitement.

By the end of the week, Kazue even requested Godai to give her a shooting lesson on the rooftop over the weekend, and insisted that Yako should come watch.

Godai lined up his current empty cans along the wooden plank held up by two tall bricks they usually used as a target mantel, and then he gingery handed the new girl the loaded weapon. "Now remember what I just told'ya. Aim level and keep your fingers in the right in place before the trigger is pulled."

Kazue nodded eagerly. Godai then gestured her to get into stance before backing away towards Yako standing in the background.

With a sharp blast, they watched her release the first bullet. It was a miss. But right on the second try, can number one flew off the plank, squarely penetrated.

They heard her giggle with delight.

Yako crossed her arms and leaned closer to her associate's ear. "So, how do you like her this far?"

"Eh," Godai shrugged, seemingly unaffected. "She's okay, I guess. Determined little thing—sort of weird sometimes."

"Weird is good for Neuro."

Godai shrugged again. "...What's with you two lately?"

That was sure stealthy.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Yako scoffed at him teasingly.

"Word on the street is that the boss has been seen leaving your apartment at odd hours of the day. Are you...actually...?" Godai cleared his throat, leaving the inquiry open-ended. To him, there was no real proper or non-embarrassing way to completely ask that question.

But Yako understood, and she was witty about it. "It may be best to keep those rumors to yourself, Godai-san, or Neuro will probably have your tongue."

In reality, that's all he needed. "Gotcha."

Two Weeks Following

The sound of glass shattering came swiftly, and it went swiftly too.

Neuro had just broken the third reading lamp she bought within days by lifting her upon the nearby dresser and brushing it away. Though really, Yako was just thankful she hadn't broken a bone so far. And she was thankful for how well she could actually keep up with the physical pace of things so far.

It wasn't until they started partaking in the "official couple" things, had Yako fully realized just how strong the Mating Season's impact was on Neuro all along. Out in public Neuro still managed to act like his typical (falsely-innocent) self enough to keep up regular appearances. Like how everyone expected him to do. But she had become the single other person who beheld the side he was repressing. Because once her bedroom door would slide shut and he knew they couldn't be disturbed or overheard by anyone, Neuro's whole mindset shifted sideways as the rest of the world was blurred out.

Their very first time, for instance, had shown a different Neuro; one who certainly never existed before the Season hit. That night of consummation was extreme and bit nerve-wracking, since Neuro had nearly lost his control at first and almost transformed on her...there was a fleeting hazy mass of long colored feathers folding around her. Yet overall...it had been the most electrifying, sensual experience she'd most likely ever endured in her lifetime.

With her, during these bedroom episodes, Neuro's guard crumbled down to dust and he yielded to his urges. And because of that, he trusted her completely. Yako personally thought it was sort of cute—well, before the seriousness of his wish landed upon her. Neuro was ashamed of it sometimes, ashamed of something he had no control over. And although the Mating Season was taking its natural toll on him, he needed her as much as he needed her support while waiting for the "worse of it" to end.

Growing out of the stages of adolescence and slowly crossing that agonizing threshold into final maturity, was never a kind procedure for anyone.

Yako remembered the time she reached her year; and how all her hormones had their evil way of possessing her, making her eat more than her usual vast portions and then they would tug and pull her emotions this way and that way...

They're on the bed again, remembering each other's rhythms, the hidden places of pleasure until they harmonized and completed together.

In the morning, they had maneuvered into a more affectionate position where Yako sat on her knees between his legs causally bent on either side of her. Her hands rested at base of neck as he claimed her mouth once more.

"You're wrong you know," she said suddenly and quietly amid his short, firm kisses.

Another kiss, and another. Finally he asked, "About what?"

"I'm not the Ultimate Mystery."

"The scent is coming from within you." affirmed Neuro without reconsideration, "It must be you."

Yako pressed a hand against his bare shoulder, drawing back to make him listen for a second. "It's coming from you, too!"

"Me?" he asked, mildly annoyed by her change of mood.

"I meant...that it's coming from both us. You're bringing it of me, and I'm trying to pull it out of you. We are making it happen, together." She exhaled, looking deep into those powerful emerald eyes of his. The Ultimate Mystery was everything they were now. Why hadn't he considered that angle yet? "It's love, Neuro. Love is ultimate. And only by living side by side will we ever have a chance to work it out and get the answers."

After staring at her for a short while, he silently leaned into her lips again. Yako sighed against the kiss and her hands slowly went back up around his warm neck. Neuro shifted both of them closer together, chest to chest with only the sheet still lingering between them. The cool touch of her exposed skin against his feverish heat felt refreshing. His throat purred slightly with the comfort.

The tips of his claws gently trialed down the curve of her spine as Yako noticed something new.

When she felt a funny tingling sensation around her lips, she pried her eyes open a little, and beneath her lashes, she saw a thin line of violet mist flooding from her mouth, going into his and soon she heard him swallow it down.

She didn't know what to make of it. Has this always been happening?

He was coaxing something out of her, some extra energy cycling through her body she didn't even know she had.

Neuro deepened the contact. Then it dawned on her. He listened to her and now he was trying it out for size.

He was feeding from her.

I realize most of the chapters by now have a few typos here and there. And I will go back and revise them some day. I am just so grateful for how people are still following and favoring this story :)