Author's Note: Heya again! Just wanted to let everyone know that the end of this chapter is a bit lime-y!!! Sorry if that causes any problems with anyone! I try not to put such detailed things in unless they're important to the over-all story…Like Jea's first time, or things like that! Enjoy!!!!

Wolfie

Chapter Forty Eight

Phalyssa cuddled Aruka in her lap, stroking his hair as he wept. She murmured soothingly the whole time, reassuring him that he was not a monster.

After about fifteen minutes, his weeping slowed to a few hiccup-sobs. Phalyssa inspected her wet, slimy shirt and his sticky fur. "C'mon, let's get you cleaned up…"

Grabbing her own pack, she led him out, signaling to her mother with one hand. Jea nodded and made a shooing motion with her hands.

As the duo wandered down the hall, Aruka wrapped his tail around Phalyssa's waist; it was his favorite gesture to show friendly affection.

They spent fifteen minutes searching before they found the baths. There were two; one for women, and one for men. Phalyssa entered the women's one, stripping off her shirt.

Before she could do anything else, she heard screaming and shouting from the men's bath. A moment later, Aruka's pink nose appeared in the doorway. "Phalyssa? They won't lemme in…They keep calling me a monster…" He sniffled.

The silver haired teen grabbed her shirt and followed Aruka to the men's baths, where a guard had appeared. He shook his fist at her and demanded that she not allow the 'oni' to wander free. Though the grasp she had of the language was rudimentary, her ability to read people told her that the man was more fearful than angry.

Sighing, she said, "C'mon, Aruka. Let's get you cleaned up." Phalyssa marched determinedly into the men's bath, Aruka in tow.

They had it to themselves. Aruka had unintentionally scared away the people. The young woman turned and sat on a bench with her back to the heated pool. "Go ahead and bath, Aruka. No one will bother you."

Furry arms wrapped around her, and a mane tickled her cheek. "Thanks, Phalyssa," Aruka whispered, licking her cheek with a pink cat tongue.

With a splash, Aruka jumped into the pool and began scrubbing his skin and short, downy fur free of dirt, blood, and snot. He watched his companion's back, his brain suddenly coming in to sharp focus. Reaching for the shampoo, he squelched the urge concerning Phalyssa that rose suddenly in his loins.

But it was so hard! Gods, she was beautiful. Her silvery hair was so shiny and soft, her pale skin smooth and warm… And her eyes—How they sparkled when she looked his way!

Aruka washed his mane and dunked his head under cold water to end his train of thought. Then, the leonine teen wrapped a large, absorbent towel around his waist to dry off and to prevent his embarrassment from becoming public.

"Okay, Phalyssa," he said. "Your turn."

Phalyssa caught the change in his voice and glanced at him. He was smiling at her, green-gold eyes gleaming mischievously. "Aruka? What're you doing?"

"Nuthin…" He stuck his paws behind his back, feigning innocence.

"Yeah…sure…" Phalyssa darted at him. Aruka sidestepped her and caught her with his tail, just before she went flying into the pool. Phalyssa giggled madly, not even noticing that part of the tail was wrapped around her bosom.

Unfortunately, he misjudged the slippery floor. Both of them ended up in the pool.

The dunking turned in to a game of water tag. The two teens chased each other around, splashing and enjoying themselves.

Phalyssa wrapped her arms around his soggy chest and hugged him tightly. "Gotcha, Aruka…" She looked up into warm eyes.

Aruka picked her up and exited the pool, still hugging her close. Settling on the floor, he nuzzled her neck, before turning semi-serious. "Listen, Phalyssa, I don't know how long I'm gonna be like this…" The 17-year old indicated his mature personality by tapping the side of his skull. "There were some things I wanted to tell you…" Taking a deep breath, Aruka steadied himself.

"Thank you for everything. You saved me from death—even though you didn't know me. You have been the first friend I've ever had, and the very best best friend in the world," he whispered throatily, his sincerity and emotion bringing tears to both his own eyes, "and most of the time, I'm about as useful as the worthless personality that controls me! I've wanted so hard to talk to you on a level basis—but he always takes that away from me! I want to give you something back for being my friend, but—" He began to weep bitterly.

"All those years…In that gods forsaken pit….I had no one for comfort but them…I let him run and deal…so I didn't have to… I didn't want to think not seeing the sun…About the fact that I was there, and my family was dead because of me…I couldn't stand it…and now…I don't know how to contain him… I don't know how to contain him…so I can give you something back for being my friend…"

Phalyssa hugged her red haired friend close. "It's okay, Aruka. I don't mind. You're still my friend, no matter what…and believe it or not…you have given me something back…"

"What?"

When dichromatic eyes met green-gold, Phalyssa felt a surge of uncontrollable warmth in her middle. In an instant she pressed her warm lips against his.

Aruka panicked at first. —Uh oh! Her father will kill me! He made me promise….wait a minute…I promised that I would not behave in any way she deemed inappropriate and unwanted… But she started this…She must like me!—

His thoughts trailed off as Phalyssa's action became more desperate. She was clutching him, moaning against his lips. The teen's tail tight around her waist, and he began to kiss her neck, leaving little nip marks down her throat. Phalyssa gasped out his name, running her hands through his rufus mane, and stroking his head and shoulders. Aruka began to purr, running a cat like tongue over her neck, jawline, and collarbone.

Phalyssa shivered with pleasure; the Shifter boy's touch was like a fire that coursed through her body. Then she discovered she was privy to another sensual aspect courtesy of her mother's elven blood—her ears were super sensitive. Aruka had begun to nibble lightly on them, and the silver haired girl was practically writhing in ecstasy, crying out her companion's name.

Aruka's body tingled in a very pleasant manner wherever Phalyssa touched. Her hand trailed down his side and reached his tail. The lion youth sucked in a surprised breath between his teeth. "Whoa…" he moaned, reaching a hand to stroke her cheek. "Phalyssa…I…"

"Hush," she whispered, capturing his lips. "You don't have to say it. I know."

He continued to squirm, panting out his pleasure as Phalyssa moved lower on his naked body. Somewhere, Aruka's insistent claws shredded her clothing, never marking her skin.

Phalyssa had pushed him to the ground and pivoted 180° to continue her exploration of his nether regions, and Aruka found himself mesmerized by the sight of her straddling his torso on hands and knees.

When her mouth closed around the source of his inner fire, the teenager could no longer resist the invitation and set out to please her, his feline tongue causing sensations she never imagined.