Kyle woke up shortly before the shift again, his body starting to adjust to be used to the pain. He no longer yelled and yowled with it, but just grunted and moaned in agony until it was finished. It was probably better he was quiet, because Kisa could keep sleeping instead of being woken up at the crack of dawn like he was.

He sat up groggily in bed to see someone in his room, baring his teeth in warning before his eyes focused.

Calm down, it is the godmother. Jasa said tiredly, letting out a long leopard yawn. Why was he so tired? Had keeping up all night really worn him down that much?

Driscilla sat in a large red chair across the room, her pink fluffy gown puffed around her as she tapped the arm of the throne idly. She looked up as he sat up in bed, and smirked. "About time you woke up, boy. Did you have a long night? Not much sleep?"

Kyle couldn't help but glare at her at what she was hinting at. "No, I've only known her for a week. I'm not going to push myself at her."

"Well hurry up! You only have three weeks left." She tapped her wrist where a watch would be. "After that it's bye bye kitty and hello halo."

Kyle made an odd face when a terrible thought came to him. "What will happen to Jasa if I die?"

Driscilla's smile fell suddenly, and she shook her head slowly. "elder souls cannot go to heaven. It doesn't work that way."

"But…" If he can't go to heaven did he go to…? "He said this was his last reincarnation. Is he going to go to hell or something?" He couldn't imagine Jasa in a place so terrible. He was a good leopard… a good soul. Why would it work that way?

"He will just… poof." She brought up her hands in a motion of dispersing.

"Poof?" Kyle frowned in confusion.

"Yes, poof. He'll cease to exist. There is no heaven or hell for elder souls- they just… end." Driscilla shrugged as if it was no big deal.

Holy shit. When he died, Jasa ceased to exist. A whole new pressure was on him to succeed now- not only for his sake, but for the leopard's.

Do not fret about me, Kyle. Jasa said softly. I am honored that you would want me to continue life with you so much, but it will be what it will be. I have lived a long time- I am not afraid of ending.

Kyle shook his head firmly. "I'm not going to let him die like that. Can't you just keep him going in my body afterward or something? Just give it to him?"

"It doesn't work like that, Kyle. He has to be bound to a human soul." The godmother shook her head.

Kyle gritted his teeth in frustration. He didn't want Jasa to die just because he had failed at a seemingly impossible goal. No one's fate should be tied to another's precarious situation like this. "Alright…" He ground out angrily.

"So- tell me how it's been going." Driscilla said, her smile returning. "Have you made any moves yet?"

"I kissed her." Kyle said, smiling softly at the memory.

"Okay, and what else?" Driscilla raised her eyebrows expectantly.

"She kissed back? That's about it." Kyle growled. How could he be expected to do more than that? He was damn proud that she had kissed him in return.

"Oh dear…" Driscilla sighed. "Well, you only have three more weeks left until it ends. She has to love you, Kyle. The deal was for her to fall in love with you, not the other way around." She grinned knowingly.

Kyle stared in shock at her words. What did she mean by that? Yeah he felt a lot for Kira, but was that…? No, it couldn't be. He had only known her for a week. People didn't fall in love in a week's time.

Did they?

Of course they do. Jasa purred. Especially because she is our mate. The Pull will bring her to us, or us to her eventually. There is no fighting it for long.

He still didn't know what the 'Pull' thing Jasa kept talking about, but he could guess what it meant. He doubted Kira would give in to something like that.

You may be surprised. Jasa answered with a grin.

"Well Pull or not, you two have to hurry. We're heading out in three weeks, whether you like it or not." She said firmly. She jumped when Backstreet Boys started playing again, taking out her cell phone and flipping it open. "Alright, time to go. Remember what I said, boys." She said, and disappeared in a puff of glitter and smoke.

"Kyle…?" A soft voice came from the doorway. Kyle nearly jumped out of the bed in alarm, realizing he was sleeping in only his boxers.

"Just a minute!" He said, searching frantically for his pants, pulling them on just in time for Kira to peek in the door.

"I thought I heard someone else." She said curiously, looking around the room.

"Yeah that was er… my aunt. She uses magic to communicate with me." Kind of the truth. God, he hated lying to her.

"Your aunt uses magic?" She asked, her voice louder. She almost sounded happy to hear about that.

"Yeah, no big deal, right? You can come in now if you want." Now that he had his pants on. Jeez, he sure didn't want to stand in front of her in his boxers. Who knew what would happen.

Okay, he knew exactly what would happen, and that would be the most embarrassing thing ever.

"I… wanted to talk with you." She said softly, looking at his fur with no fear whatsoever now. He was a bit surprised by that. Usually she was a bit uneasy when he was in his leopard form- but now she seemed to accept it all of a sudden. Had something happened while Jasa had taken over?

Just listen. Jasa said reassuringly. I did nothing you wouldn't approve of, there is no need for alarm.

Well, that was good to hear. He had been worried for a minute. He tensed when she came to sit on the bed beside him, so different from her previous wariness that it made his fur stand on end. He didn't know what was okay and what wasn't anymore… oh, this could turn out bad.

"I spoke with Jasa last night." She said softly, setting a hand on his and making his breath catch in his throat. "I know he knows what I am, and you probably don't… so I wanted to tell you."

Jasa knew what was different about her? He couldn't help but feel a bit hurt that the leopard hadn't told him.

It is not my place to say. She should be the one to tell you with her own words- not me.

Okay, well that was understandable, then. Jasa was just being his normal noble self.

"I didn't tell you before because I was terrified you would react the same as everyone else. Even my mother started crying when she found out." She hesitated for a moment, pain flashing through her eyes. Kyle raised his other hand, placing it on her shoulder reassuringly, wanting to make the pain go away. Oh, Driscilla was right. He was long gone. How had he not realized it before?

"People somehow found out and started to hunt me down. I tried to avoid them as best I could, and I even left home to protect my mother… but… they always found me somehow." She leaned into his touch, sighing sadly. "I don't want you to get hurt because of me, either. I'd hate to see you suffer because of what I am."

"I'm different too, Kira." Kyle insisted. "They could hunt me down too, if they chose to. I can defend myself- and I can defend you. Nothing will happen to you while you're here. Not while I'm still breathing." It was a vow he meant with his complete body and soul. So sincere that it terrified him.

She looked up at him, her deep blue eyes warm. "I'm a witch. I can grow plants, and I can move rock and stone. I have a bond with the earth, and can feel when it suffers at man's hand. I know it's a terrifying amount of power, but…" She looked down, not able to watch his face.

Kyle smiled softly, gently tilting her chin back up so that she looked into his eyes. "I'm not afraid of magic, Kira. I'm definitely not afraid of you. The power you're talking about sounds amazing- so much more special than my fur and claws. You don't have to be scared of my rejecting you, or being wary of you. I know you won't hurt me, just as I won't hurt you."

Kira's breath hitched as her eyes started turning misty. He hated that people had caused her so much pain- that she couldn't trust anyone easily. He leaned down and took her into his arms, sliding her onto his lap so he could comfort her. "There's no need for you to be afraid anymore. Not while you're here." He said softly, burying his face in her hair.

She wrapped her arms around him and clung to him, her body wracked with sobs as she cried. He wasn't sure if it was a happy cry or a sad cry, but whatever it was, he was here for her.