Roses and Regrets
Roses and Regrets
Chapter 38
Kurama felt like he had been punched in the gut. She had asked him if he were just playing with her. What was he? A last fling before marriage? That hurt. She hadn't told him. That hurt worse. She'd been a virgin, damn it. How could she have given him what rightfully belonged to someone else? He reached for the man's hand as Beth got between them.
She was screaming at the man in English. "Can you not take no for an answer? I've tried to be nice about it, but apparently that's not working. Let me make it clear. Once and for all. NO! I will not marry a man I don't love. I don't love you. I will never love you. Leave me alone. Go home. Stop stalking me. Did I leave anything out?" She turned on her heel and climbed the stairs leaving mouths hanging open behind her.
Kurama took a step to follow her when a restraining hand was placed on his arm. His eyes narrowed in warning. "Please remove your hand." "I'm going to talk to her and I don't need you tagging along." Kurama's voice was calmness itself. "I believe she made her wishes in the matter quite clear." Carl's hand tightened on Kurama's arm. "And I believe I just told you to butt out." He looked down his nose at Kurama's shorter, and he snorted, more feminine form.
"I'll ask you again to remove your hand." "Well why don't you make me, pipsqueak?" Carl never saw the punch that sent him into the wall. Kurama had done his best to pull the punch so he didn't do the obnoxious human any permanent damage. Satisfied that the man would not be getting up any time soon, Kurama bowed politely to the others. "I am sorry. Forgive my bad manners." He went up the stairs leaving Beth's mother and aunt to attend to the unconscious man.
Keiko's mother was wide eyed as she helped her sister check the man for injuries. "I have never seen Shuichi get angry before. What could have brought it on?" There was a strangled snort from where Keiko's father had just discovered something very interesting outside. Keiko got out half a giggle before she clapped both hands over her mouth and fled to the kitchen. He unrestrained laughter could be faintly heard through the closed door.
When Kurama reached Beth's room, her door was open. He leaned against the doorframe as he watched her angrily throwing things into her suitcase. She heard a noise behind her and turned ready to lay into that moron again. She relaxed with a sigh. "I'm sorry you had to see that. I thought I had made it clear to him. I can't believe Mother let him come."
He pushed away from the door and walked over to put his arms around her. "If you finish packing quickly, you shouldn't have to talk to him again before we go." "Did he leave?" He raked a hand through his hair and looked a little sheepish. "Not exactly." She eyed him suspiciously. "What did I miss?" "Oh, nothing really. Can I help with anything?"
She poked his chest. "Don't give me that innocent act. I'm not buying it, mister. What did you do?" He looked at the floor. "Well, he made it clear he was coming up here. I made it clear he wasn't." Her lips twitched. "You won." "I won," he confirmed with a grin. She covered her mouth to suppress her laughter. When she had it somewhat under control, she kissed him on the cheek. "Help me get this stuff in the car before he wakes up."
Kurama carried her suitcases to the car and put them in the trunk. He went back for the box of things she had acquired after she got here. Beth was talking with her mother. "Carl is still unconscious. I can't say I approve of the behavior, but he was provoked. Your young man is strong." She closed her eyes and smiled. "He reminds me a little of your father. Is it serious?" Beth nodded. "On my part anyway." Her mother smiled and put an arm around her. "I don't know him well yet, but after what I saw, I'd say on his part too."
"That nitwit of a sister of mine said he was soooo polite, soooo intelligent. She made him sound boring as hell. I'm glad to see there's more to him." She hugged Beth tight. "We'll get through this. There's no way in hell I'm going to let them put you in prison for Paul's murder. We will find the real killer. I just wish I could get in touch with Russ." Beth choked. Her mother misunderstood. "I know. They think you had something to do with his disappearance. When we find him, he'll clear this up."
Beth looked away from her mother. She hated lying to her. "Go on. Your young man is waiting. I'll see you tomorrow." She kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. "I like him." They heard a groan from the direction where Carl still lay on the floor. Beth quickly kissed her mother's cheek. "Bye."
She almost ran over Kurama at the door. "Is everything in the car?" she asked. "Yes." She steered him back out the door. "Good. The moron is coming to, and I want to be somewhere else when he does." She barely gave him time to open her door. She sat back with a sigh when he put the car in gear.
She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. "That idiot gives me such a headache." "You want to talk about it?" "Nothing to talk about, really. I met him in college. We dated a couple of times. He thought we hit it off and I didn't. He was in a rush to settle down and at that time I wasn't. He seemed nice enough, just not for me. He asked, I said no. I think his brain has a problem wrapping itself around that word. He's asked eight times. I've told him no eight times. I think maybe I tried too hard not to hurt his feelings."
Kurama's earlier feelings of jealousy had vanished when he found out that she wasn't engaged to be married. Now he almost felt sorry for the man. Not. Beth was his. He would not wait around for someone else to claim her. He just had to be subtle so he didn't scare her off.
She had not been spooked by her first look at Youko. He would need to give her some quality time with his alter ego. She would have to learn to be comfortable with him in both forms. Now where could he take her that a seven foot fox demon wouldn't attract too much attention?
To be continued….