Chapter 20: Part 2

Natalia licked her lips. "I don't have all day Yukino, but I suppose I can't oppose his decision."

Lei felt a bead of sweat trickle down his face. Yukino clutched his arms tighter and gave him a suspicious stare. "What do you mean by that?" Yukino asked, genuinely confused.

"If he doesn't want me to take you away, I suppose I can't do anything about it." Natalia said with a sheepish grin. Yukino looked at Lei's face, his eyes were glued to Natalia. A nervous expression masked his face. Yukino tugged at his robes. "Lei? Something wrong?"

Natalia flung her waist-length hair and laughed. "You haven't told anyone anything about yourself!" she guffawed. Lei inched backwards. "No one needs to know anything." he spat. A small crowd had gathered around their booth. Lei frowned, this was bad! Very bad!

"Tell me, what is the successor to the Yang Dynasty of Kunlun, doing in a place so far from his homeland." she said with a grin.

The gravity of those words dawned on Yukino. "Successor?" she muttered with wonder in her voice.

"I suggest you leave, if you don't I will be forced to call on the proper… authorities." Azami said with a calm expression on her face. Natalia frowned and approached Azami. Their eyes met and they looked like they were about to pounce on each other. Natalia seized up the girl and walked past her. "I guess coming here wasn't that fruitless, I did get a kiss from a prince." Natalia exclaimed.

The crimson bird landed on Lei's head. "Boss, I think our cover's blown." It croaked. Lei shot it an aggravated glance. "Obviously." he spat. The small crowd around them suddenly seemed much bigger, it seemed every girl within earshot wanted to get their kiss, from a prince!

Lei quickly pulled out a small flask from within his robes. He lifted into the air and sent it crashing on the cobblestone streets. "Azami. Yukino. Rae. I'll see you guys back at you know where." he shouted, thick mist enveloped the immediate surrounding and Lei escaped.

Azami idly balanced the pommel of her katana in her palm as she listened to Lei's story, she showed the slightest interest. Rae and Yukino seemed much more eager to her his tale.

"So basically, I didn't want to get hitched at the age of fifteen, so I left for Rune Midgard the day before my wedding with Ai." Lei explained.

Yukino took in a deep breath and finally said. "That's the most—" Rae covered Yukino's mouth. "Pathetic excuse of a story I've ever heard!" Rae finished. Azami smiled. "My sentiments, exactly." the kendo girl sighed.

"Please don't tell anyone ok!" Lei begged them.

Azami re-sheathed her blade and stood up. "That's not a problem, we wouldn't. The question is, do you think any of the girls traced you back to the tower?"

Lei shook his head. "I doubt it."

Azami rubbed her chin. "I just hope your right. I don't intend to become your bodyguard in the future." she stated coldly. "as for now, we all need to get some sleep." she added.

Lei sat on the balcony, if rumors spread he would find himself back on a barge to Kunlun. The bird perched on his shoulders pecked his ears again. "Hey would you listen and stop spacing out!" Pyre chirped.

"What!"

"Are you sure you can trust those girls?"

Lei smiled weakly. "Yes."

The door swung open and a Azami sat on the ledge. "I suppose I can trust you after overhearing that..." The bird flew to Azami's shoulders. "Told you she's the prettiest of them all!" Pyre exclaimed while flapping it's wings. Azami shot the bird a cold glance. "Ever heard of the expression, flattery gets you nowhere?" she hissed. The bird flew back to Lei's outstretched hand.

Azami cleared her throat. "You should thank me." she said. Lei's brow formed a crease. "Why?" he asked, confused and genuinely interested. The girl lifted a small vial containing a pink mixture. "This mixture is a powerful narcotic that can erase short-term memories." she said calmly.

"What will I do with that?" Lei asked nervously.

Azami removed the cork. "I put a few ounces of this in Yukino and Rae's drinks. By now they should have no recollection of today's events." she told him. Lei scratched his head and eyed it nervously. "Have you ever used that on me?" he asked.

Azami blushed furiously and gave him an angry look. "That doesn't concern you." she accidentally blurted out. She brought the vial to her lips. "I'm going to do you this favor, I know it wouldn't be normal, If any of us knew about your secret…" she tilted the vial and swallowed its contents. "I trust you'll take me to my room without doing anything ecchi."

Lei draped the blanket over Azami's now sleeping form. Pyre flapped over to Azami's pillow. "I take it she likes you." the bird said. Lei smiled. "I sure do hope so." He replied.

"So…"

"So what?"

"Now's your big chance to score." The bird said with a slight quiver in its voice. Lei looked at Azami's sleeping figure, she wouldn't wake up in this drugged state… He could do anything he wanted to. Lei bent down and kissed her cheeks. "Thank you." he murmured softly.

Pyre bit his ears. "What! Just a kiss on the cheeks!"

"What do you want me to do!" he snarled back.

"Lemme think… Hey how about losing your virginity?" the bird squawked sarcastically.

"Hmm… Let me think about it." Lei eyed Azami's sleeping form from head to toe.