Author's Note: Here's the next installment...as we continue to climb to the climax... I also would like to say I'm sorry for yet, once again, irregular update time...my workload increased ten-fold and so...I'm really trying my best to update as soon as I can...so please bear with me again...now, onto the chapter...

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STOLEN HEARTS

Chapter 17: I Miss You

Reilan glared at one of the soldiers, "Even if you are our allies don't think that you can get away easily with breaking of our rules."

"But sire –"

"No buts, soldiers. You will give me ten thousand push ups now!" he said. Reasoning is simply out of the question.

The soldier had the gall to smirk at him. "You are not my lord to punish me."

"Then I suggest you leave our estate," Reilan said icily, then turned to leave.

"Lord Yomi will, of course, be informed about this," the soldier called after him, Reilan had to control his irritation to keep from blasting the youko to the next dimension.

He hated this situation. He hated the kitsune. And most of all, he hated Yomi.

He had never met a youko so full of himself. He insists utmost respect for him but did not give any to those under him.

Even Reilan had been subject of his disrespect. Though technically, he's the second-in-command, indirectly, he's a leader of the keep especially when Kurama's indisposed or not in the condition to perform his duties.

And Yomi never failed to scorn and insult him whenever there's a chance.

Of course, the kitsune didn't help in the matter. Though he didn't trust Yomi, he saw the advantage of having Yomi as an ally. It also didn't help that the kitsune was now cross with everyone in the area.

He didn't know the details of what happened between the couple but they haven't been speaking to one another for more than a week now. And this certainly isn't good for everyone because the cold war they've declared against each other was slowly driving Kurama to the edge.

Botan, on the other hand, looked miserable, and the way she tried to appear cheerful only made her look more pitiful.

But one thing that indicated their fight was serious was when she asked that her things be moved to the adjoining room. Of course, that room really meant for the lady of the keep but since Kurama planned to sleep with his wife every night if possible, he saw no need for her to have a separate room.

That wasn't the case now. And if the locked door that connects their room was any indication, then their lord and mistress hadn't been intimate with one another for a week now.

"Good morning," she greeted and forced a smile on her lips.

"Milady!" Naomi greeted her in return and hesitated. Usually, her mistress was easily approachable but since she and her husband had a fight, she's usually not herself. "Uh, do you want some breakfast?"

"No, thank you. I'm not really hungry," she said and smiled, pointedly ignoring how Naomi's face fell.

As always, she hadn't slept well last night, thinking of where she'd gone wrong, wanting to cry for all the heartaches and pain her husband's refusal of her heart caused. And the few hours she managed to doze off, she dreamt of their nights together, when he would hold her in his arms until she fell asleep.

So, during mornings, her head spin a little from lack of sleep, and thus, she couldn't bear to eat something, fearing she wouldn't be able to stomach it, anyway.

Of course, we should not forget that since her cold war with her husband, she naturally lost all her appetite.

She would have apologized under the normal circumstances, if only for the reason of living in peace with him, but since that day, whenever she's in the same room with him, all she could think of was how he broke her heart.

She exited the keep and was walking down the grounds when someone called her.

"Botan!"

She whirled and allowed a small smile to escape her lips. "Reilan. How are you this morning?"

Reilan nodded enthusiastically. "I'm good. And you?"

"Fine."

It was a short conversation, but something that kept them sane from the situation they're in.

Reilan continued on his duties and Botan went on her way and as she paused to talk to some cubs, the back of her neck began to itch – a sign that someone's watching her – again. This past few days, whenever she was outside, she always get a feeling that someone was watching her. She ignored it that time but this time, it was something different. She tried not to shiver.

The cubs bid her goodbye and she whirled around to see if she was indeed right with her assumption – that someone was watching her. What she saw made her look away so fast, and hurriedly went on her way, heart thumping furiously.

He looked at her hungrily; eyes full of lust.

She closed her eyes tightly, willing the image to go away, but she only managed to shudder involuntarily from fear.

He woke up and choked when he realized that a bitter fluid was being forced down her throat. When it was done, the girl turned around and continued her work, standing beside the table as she leaned one of her arms on the table, her back on him.

"What the hell was that?" he asked.

She stiffened, probably surprised that he was now awake. "Something to keep you from dying?" Yukina snapped back at him and continued working.

"I know that," he muttered, "how long have I been here?"

"A couple of days."

"And that's the only thing I've been stomaching? No wonder I feel so weak," he said.

"That thing only healed your wounds and kept you alive when you're supposed to die," she retorted.

He ignored the comment. "What's in that bitter drink, anyway?" Kuronue asked, as he tried to get up from the bed.

As if sensing his intention, she turned to him and glared that he suddenly lied down again. "Oh, some barks, roots and a couple of leaves of trees. There's a couple of grasses and herbs, too. I put some water in it and boiled it."

Kuronue paled, "And you made me drink that for a couple of days?"

"Can't see anything wrong with it," she said cheerfully, mocking the getting worked-up youko. She was tired of taking care of him, and thus, she doesn't have enough energy to deal with his – err...whatever this is.

"Nothing wrong with it? You made me drink some potion brewed from leaves, barks, roots and grasses. You fed me a bloody tree, Yukina! What do you think of me, some goddamn garden?" he yelled and glared at her.

But Yukina glared back. Under normal circumstances, she would be intimidated and shrink away from him, maybe a little shy around him since she liked him. But she was too tired from taking care of him and his ungratefulness didn't help one bit.

"Had I known you'll be an ungrateful moron, I would have left you to die," she sniffed and went out the door.

Kuronue, left there lying restlessly on the bed, for the first time recognized the surroundings. It was one of the private huts the kitsune used to get away from the responsibilities of his estate, most of the time with a woman, when he wasn't married yet.

And now, it suddenly dawned him. That for a couple of days, no one, aside from Yukina, was with him. Maybe because the place is good for him to recover quickly, maybe for the secrecy of the matter, or maybe the kitsune just did that for the heck of it.

But no matter what the reason is, he still appeared ungrateful in front of the one who patiently cured him. He sighed and went to sleep, taking with him the feelings of guilt.

When he woke up, it was already afternoon, and Yukina was still nowhere to be seen.

Another ten minutes had passed before Yukina appeared, newly bathed if her wet hair was any indication.

She didn't pay any attention to him when she entered, not even a glance to let him know she saw him, instead, she went to the fire and poured some brewed potion in a cup. Then, she went to him and guided him to the cup, "Here. You need to drink this."

Kuronue did not complain, and not only because he felt guilty for being a moron just like what she said. But also because she smelled so good and when he was nestled to her like that, he felt her breast against his head and it was enough for his thoughts to wander.

He frowned at the taste, though. And after he had finished the cup-full of potion, "I'm hungry."

Yukina blinked at him then smiled, "that's nice. I've cooked some broth for you."

Kuronue scowled. "Broth? How am I going to be full with that?"

"It's thickened with gruel," she said as she poured the broth in a bowl.

"Like that will help. Listen, I need real food. Bread, steak, and cheese would be nice," he said, a growl forming low in his throat.

She went to him, "You can't stomach it. Your stomach had shrunk because you haven't eaten for about ten days."

Impatience got the better of him, "I need to fight in a war, woman. How do you expect me to do that if I don't eat real food?"

Yukina sighed and put the bowl down. "Look, if you eat this several times a day, your stomach might loosen a little and maybe in two days you can eat normal food already."

"Two days? But –"

"No buts, Kuronue. I'm tired and I've done a lot of work for you. I won't let you intimidate me and force me to hasten your recovery, got it?" she said as she assisted him again to guide the bowl to him as he eat.

"Sure."

Yukina looked at him suspiciously. "Why are you being so accommodating all of a sudden?"

Kuronue grinned at her, "You look so sexy getting worked up like that."

Yukina blushed. "Here, eat this," she said and was about to hand it to him, leave him to fend for himself.

But Kuronue would not let him leave, he reached for her arms. "Aren't you going to assist me?" he asked and winked at her.

Needless to say, Yukina blushed the whole time because of Kuronue's shameless flirting.

She walked down the hallway towards her chambers, oblivious to the fact that someone was intensely looking at her.

"Milady," he greeted and stepped out of the shadow, revealing himself to her.

She jumped in surprise. "Lord Yomi," she acknowledged stiffly.

"You're retiring for the night already?" he asked, arching an eyebrow at her.

"I've had a long day."

Yomi nodded. "I see. And how is your husband?"

"He's fine," she answered timidly and prayed that he would conclude the conversation already. She didn't like talking to him in the dark – and deserted – hallway.

"I noticed that you haven't talked to each other that much," he said and stepped towards her, making him uncomfortably close to her, she stepped backward.

"My husband has a lot of things in his mind right now. It's nothing personal," she said, defending her marriage without realizing it.

"You're a beautiful woman, milady. I hope your husband recognizes tour worth," he said and tried to caressed her cheeks.

She jerked from it. "I'm sure my husband recognizes my worth. Not just my physical appearance," she said.

Yomi smirked at her. "But I know you're missing him. Especially at night when you're wanting to feel him in between your thighs, eh?"

Botan let out a horrified gasp. "How dare you –"

Yomi caught her hand before she had the chance to slap him. "I can take care of you, give you a good time. Keep your door unlocked for tonight."

He was about to kiss her, but fear gave her the strength of five men, shoving him and slamming the door shut.

When she heard his footsteps moving away from her chamber, she slid down the floor and cried.

Even the comfort of her husband's body next to her did nothing to calm her nerves.

Later that night, when she heard her husband retire for the night, his even breathing told her he was asleep already, she opened the adjoining door for the first time since she moved to the other room, and climbed to bed.

But still, even beside him and knowing he won't let anything happen to her, she's still afraid because they weren't touching. It would have been better if he would wrap his arms around her.

He did not. And her added fear made herself lie down stiffly on bed and tremble every now and then.

At last, when she couldn't take it anymore, she wrapped her arms around her husband and used his broad chest as a pillow.

Hurt or not by her husband's harsh words and for breaking her heart, she would not deny herself the calmness of her nerves.

She was drifting off to sleep when a soft knock from her room woke her up. She knew instantly who was that person and trembled violently as she wrapped her arms tighter around her husband.

He grunted and rolled, until he was on top of her, and slept again. Instead of feeling uncomfortable, she found the familiar weight on top of her pleasant and calming, she never noticed that the intruder knocking on the other room gave up and left.

Back when she was still sleeping with her husband, she found it endearing that whenever he's asleep, he would unconsciously roll them together until he was on top of her, making his body serve as a blanket and at the same time, shield for her protection.

No one also knew about the way he unconsciously nuzzle her neck and whisper her name in her ears at night, making shivers run down her spine and making her squirm.

And as much as she hated to deny it, that bastard Yomi was right. She missed her husband, especially at night, but not because of the sexual act, as he had insinuated, but because of what he does unconsciously.

When he wrapped his arms tightly around her, her eyes moistened for she knew if he were aware of what he's doing, he would surely stop.

"I miss you," he whispered in her ears then nuzzled her neck.

He will never be aware of it, but that action made her sigh contentedly, her heart beating wildly.

He may not love her now, but surely, he care enough for her, even a little, to let her enter his subconscious.

It would be enough for her.

Long minutes passed by and her husband's sensuous way of nuzzling her neck and the gentle way he caressed her skin calmed her nerves and made her relax.

A few minutes later and she was already drifting to sleep when he whispered her name and sighed contentedly in her ear.

And she vowed that she would make him love her even if it killed her.

And for the first time this week, she went to sleep with her eyes dry, and a small smile on her face.

Author's Note: Ahahaha...now isn't that sweet? I think it's sweet, lol...and I've done what you want me to...I didn't kill dear Kuron...so be nice and thank me by leaving a review, alright? This time, tell me what you want to happen to our dear Lady Botan...

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