Mayumi Taisho raced down the stairs of the dilapidated inn with Galver closing in on her. Breathlessly she reached the bottom and ran towards the inn area admist the crowd of customers and Gavlers other workers. Mayumi ducked underneath a vacant table and peered around the room at her surroundings. The room was cluttered with tables mostly, the large bar table took up most of the space. She watched the females and males that Gavler had make their ways through the crowd enticing their services for money. Mayumi watched wide eyed as they openly were performing actions that she had thought only went on behind closed doors. The thick air hung with the smell of alcohol, vomit, and what she presumed was sex. She wrinkled her nose at the disgusting scent that permeated around her scorching her throat with each breath she took.

'Why did I ever leave home?' Mayumi thought to herself. Hot tears stung her eyes as she thought of her beautiful home, the dense, lush forests of the makai. It had been a safe haven for the imps for thousands of years until sightings of the legendary bandit Yoko Kurama spread around her clan like wild fire. The elders had caused quite a stir with the lashings of their tongues which only caused fear and mild panic among the younger imps except for Mayumi. Her best friend Miroku Katsume had said he saw the silver fox for a moment before he ran away which only sparked her intrigue.

"Mayu where are you going? Your not going to leave the forest are you?" He had asked her amazed at her defiance.
"I have to Mio! I have to see Kurama and according to what Kuraki said he's on the outskirts so the only way to see him is to leave the forest. I won't be gone long just long enough to see him." She retorted.

"But Mayu there are slave traders beyond the barriers of the forest and thieves and huge demons who could swallow you whole!"

Mayumi had merely smiled and walked past him. She looked behind her shoulder at her long time friend and waved. More tears welled her eyes as his last words rung in her ears.

"Mayumi if you leave the forest don't even bother to look back. If you do get out of here don't' look back whatever you do."

"There you are you little bitch!" Gavler grabbed her by the arm roughly pulling her to her feet. She was brought out of her day dream to be faced with a very angry demon male which she was not accustomed to.

"How DARE you take flight like that again. Just for that I'll chain you to the bed!" He screamed as he pulled her back towards the stair well that lead to the rooms.

"NO I WON'T! LET ME GO YOU FIEND!" She screamed at the top of her lungs desperately looking around for help but finding nothing no one was even acknowledged that she was in trouble. "STOP STRUGGLING SLUT!" He spat at her.
"NO NO NOOOO!" She yelled back.
"YOU NEED TO LEARN YOUR PLACE GIRL! I WILL BREAK YOU IN!" He shouted his face turning crimson red. His hand came down hard upon her cheek causing her to fall to the ground.

"What is going on Gavler? You know I don't like such noise." A deep, rich voice came from above them. Mayumi looked up to see a man towering above her and Gavler. Her mouth opened wide as she examined him in the candle light. Long silvery hair that tumbled gracefully down his back side. His eye's were a piercing yellow that bore into her but held no malice, well chiseled features that suited his demeanor. Muscular arms sent shivers through her body as his tail swished somewhat irritably.

"Oh uh Ryouko. I was just, um teaching the new girl her place sir that's all." Gavler somewhat bowed as he trembled before this Ryouko. His ears twitched as he listened not very much interested in what Gavler was saying but more at Mayumi.

"A new girl huh? This is just a child Gavler barely even a girl." Ryouko said of her. Gavler somewhat shrugged through his trembling.

"She was a quick easy find. I thought she would be an easy lay.." "You were mistaken?" Ryouko asked somewhat amused.
"The stupid skank scratched at my eyes and ran." Gavler said glancing down at her meningcily. Ryouko let out a short chuckle and peered down at her.

"What a coincidence. I have been looking for someone knew." Ryouko said looking down at her seemingly interested.

"Well, I uh was going, to um, take her. You can have her after I'm done of course but uh…" Gavler stammered. Ryouko grabbed Gavler by the hair and pulled him up to his eye level.

"I'm weary of your sloppy seconds Gavler. You should be grateful that I allow your miserable establishment in my territory. Now start acting that way." Ryouko hissed and threw Gavler into the wall where he lay defeated. Mayumi wanted to jump to her feet and laugh at him but her body wouldn't move, she lay motionless.

A large slender hand reached down in front of her. Mayumi looked up to see Ryouko standing above her.
"Come along now. I don't have all night." He said. Mayumi nodded her head briskly and extended her hand towards his. He snatched it up and pulled her to her feet. She looked up at him in awe, he was so tall.

"Where are your quarters?" He said bringing her out of her thoughts.
"Uh, this way." Mayumi said pointing down the hallway. Ryouki held her hand tightly as she lead him through the narrow dusty corridor. Candles flickered as they walked by as if bowing before the pair and paying homage.

Mayumi quietly opened the door and stepped inside the small room. There was no window and no furniture except for a run down cot that had seen better days.

"This is what Gavler gave you for a chamber?" Ryouko said looking somewhat disgusted at his surroundings. Mayumi nodded somewhat embarrassed to bring a being that radiated so much elegance and beauty into such deplorable conditions.

"Well it's not much but at least it's better than being outside." Mayumi said.
"The wilderness is not bad. I prefer it myself." He said.
"You wouldn't if you were a young female." She said. Ryouko looked down at her.
"Tell me your name girl." "Mayumi, Mayumi Taisho." "Mayumi?" He said almost in a whisper. " Mine is…." "Ryouko." She said blandly. He gave a half smile and nodded.
"Yes. Here that is what I am known as." He said amused finally letting go of her hand. He dusted off the cot, not that it did much good, before sitting down. He stared at her with that cocky grin screwed into place as if he could read her mind.
"Tell me how did one such as yourself come into this situation?" "I don't want to talk about it if it's all the same to you." She said looking in another direction.
"Fair enough. We all have our secrets." "So what's yours?" Mayumi asked glancing at him.
"If I told you it would no longer be a secret would it?" "No I guess not." She said somewhat distracted.

"I heard you came searching for Yoko Kurama. Is that true?" Ryouko asked. Mayumi shot her attention back on him. Slowly she nodded.
"How did you know that?" "I was traveling through Kintaro Forest and I heard the inhabitants talking of one of their own young ones taking flight. I assumed it was you." "Yeah well you know what they say about assuming." "I am right aren't I?" "I was barely outside of the woods when those traders grabbed me. I never even caught a glimpse of him. It's not fair." She said on the verge of tears.
"Life rarely is."

Ryouko extended his hand and placed it next to him inviting her to sit next to him. Hesitantly Mayumi advanced, cautiously she sat.
"I suppose you want payment for helping me." She said after some time.
"You have nothing I want girl." "But you told Gavler that…." "Forget about it." He said getting up to leave and walked gracefully to the door. Before he turned the knob he glanced back at her.
"Listen to me and listen carefully Mayumi. I am going to tell Gavler that you are my mate and no one is to touch you. He will not question you about it however he will pay closer attention to you." "Why?" "To see if you still have the presence of a virgin or that of one whom has been sexually active. I suggest you pop that cherry of yours. I will return in a month and if anyone lays a hand on you let me know." He said without even looking back. "Cherry?" She asked confused. Ryouko turned to look at her and he shook his head.
"You really are a naïve one aren't you?" He said advancing towards her.

Gently he laid her back on the cot and placed his hands on her face.

"I want you to know now that I will not do anything to harm you. Do you trust me Mayumi Taisho?"

Mayumi nods as he takes one of her hands and leads it down her body towards the hem of her dress.

"Uhhhhh…" She begins.

"Do you trust me?" Ryouko whispers seductively. Mayumi nods and stares into his impenetrable gaze. He leads her hand under her dress to her most private area. Mayumi gasps as he thrusts her own fingers deep inside herself ripping the thin layer of flesh. Ryouko removes her hand and brings it up to his lips and seemingly innocently licks her fingers clean.

Without another word he stood and exited the room. Mayumi lay on the cot for a few moments more waiting for the throbbing pain to cease. Her eyes become heavy and she begins to doze haunted by the tall demon male Ryouko who was so strange to her yet so enchanting.

A hard knock on the door awakes her as it creaks open. One of the other females steps in. Mayumi observes that she's gorgeous with her jet black hair and pale teal eyes.

"Hey you okay kid. I saw what happened earlier."

Mayumi sits up and nods.
"Yes I'm fine thank you." "Good to hear. Gaivler ripped me apart my first night here. I hate it when he does that shit. My name's Kinta." She says sitting next to Mayumi.
"Mayumi, Mayumi Taisho." "No one can really believe that he stood up for you." "Who, oh Ryouko? Yeah he's alright I suppose." "Ryouko. Ha. Yeah that's what we're supposed to call him here. Ah, but everyone here knows who that sexy really fox is. We just call him Ryouko to throw off the bounty hunters."

Mayumi's stomach dropped.
"What other name does he go by." "What were you raised under a rock?" "No. A dense forest." "Same thing I suppose. That's Yoko Kurama and it seems he has taken a liking to you Mayumi Taisho."