~Cifra~

Chapter Ten

-o-

Disclaimer: This story is purely fanfiction. Digimon and all its characters does not belong to me in anyway.

Warning: This story contains mature content and sexual themes. Please do NOT read unless you are 18 years or older.

Please Read: This chapter contain MxM sex scenes. I will put a [scene start] and [scene end] for your convenience. TL;DR at the bottom of the chapter.

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing my story! I appreciate your comments and support, it means so much to me. This chapter is dedicated to you.

-o-

I didn't go to work the next two days. I didn't even get out of bed.

Kyo did everything for me. He went to the convenience store and bought me food. He took care of me, without saying a word. And not once did he cipher energy.

Finally on the third day, I was done wallowing in despair. I woke up early that morning with fire burning in my veins, and determination renewed. No matter how helpless and depressed I felt, my resolve had hardened. Nothing was going to stop me from getting Rika back.

I came out to the living room and found Kyo asleep on the couch, still in his human form. He looked so tired, and his eyebrows were pinched together in distress. Poor Kyo. He probably feels like this is his fault. Has he even been eating properly? I bent over and kissed his forehead, then passed by him into the kitchen to make breakfast.

When I finished, I came out and found him watching me from the couch, completely silent. I offered him a sheepish smile. "Thank you for bearing with me," I said quietly. "I get pretty lame when I feel hopeless. But don't worry, I'm over myself now."

He blinked, but made no reply.

"Are you hungry?" I handed him an omelet with rice, then came and sat down next to him on the couch with my own plate. He just watched me warily. "You should try eating as a human," I said. "It's great."

His eyes grew sad, and he stared down at his plate with a sigh. Still, he wouldn't speak.

"Kyo, I'm sorry. Please don't blame yourself. We rushed into it too quickly, but that's because Rika is involved. She's horrible at waiting." I chuckled a little, although my heart hurt thinking about her. "We can still save her. We can get stronger. It was terrible of me to give up like that, I'm sorry."

Finally, he lifted his head and looked back at me. "I'm afraid," he said quietly. He shivered once, and looked once more at his plate. "I've never been afraid before. Not like this. But the thought of losing you, of losing Rika… it makes me so terrified, I don't know what to do."

"I know," I said. "I feel the same."

"Seeing Rika, seeing what she means to you, it's strange. I find myself feeling love for her too. I want to protect her. To save her. I want to return her to you, where she belongs." He hesitated, then blushed awkwardly. "I also can't stop thinking about her..."

I grinned, but wasn't sure whether that made me glad or jealous. "I know," I chuckled. "She does that to you. But don't think it's easy for me to share her with you…or to share you with her." I stopped eating, staring at him with a gravely serious expression on my face. "I want you for myself, Kyo."

He looked at me, bewildered. Finally, he set his plate aside, and I did the same. With one hand, he pushed me slowly onto my back. "I want you all to myself too," he whispered. You don't know how jealous it made me when she touched you like that.

"I'm already yours," I whispered back. My heart fluttered in my chest. "That can never change now."

He kissed me, a shy blush crossing his face, and I pulled him closer so that I could show him how it was done. He was helpless against my onslaught. I really am a good kisser, I grinned, releasing him for air.

You don't make this easy, he sighed, meeting my eyes.

I laughed. "No more despair. I'm going to make you stronger, Kyo. Let's take Rika back, together."

Sinking into the throngs of passion, our bodies intertwined for a long, long time.

-o-

[scene start]

"K-Kyo," I panted, my face pressed against the bed. I had to gasp to breathe, but I barely noticed anything besides the heat and the pleasure. "M-move a little…t-to the left…Mmmm! Y-yeah….right there…"

He pumped into me, with one arm around my waist and his hand sliding up and down my burning, wet shaft, while his other hand was locked with mine above my head. This was a new position for him, but he listened when I told him what felt good and what didn't, and it hurt a lot less this time because of it. It was so strange to feel his burning rod inside me, but at the same time it felt so good I couldn't stand it.

When he wasn't inside me, it drove me insane.

"H-harder!" I moaned, gasping as he hit my sweet spot inside me. I don't care how weird this is…damn… so good…

"How can you…" his voice failed when I moaned, and I felt his membrane bulge suddenly inside me. It seemed that the sound of my voice aroused him drastically. How can you keep going? He finally asked, unable to speak out loud.

I didn't even know how to answer him. Conditioned by Rika, perhaps? Or the Digital World? Working out? Turning my head toward him, I gave him a look, demanding to be kissed.

Just like Rika, he could not resist me either. Falling upon me at once, he kissed me with desperate passion.

"Y-you're….getting better…at that," I grinned. "Ah-AH! Mmmmm~~~…" I shuddered in ecstasy, and watched as the glow around him grew brighter and brighter. It was so intense, it seemed to smother both of us. It's weird but, it almost feels like he isn't even using magic anymore, just absorbing it.

He blushed, growing shy suddenly. I'm not used to this, he complained.

"What, kissing?" I smirked. I turned over onto my back, and he let me without complaint. Re-positioning himself above me with my legs on either side of him, he began to slam into me once more. "Aaaa… Hmm… Mmm… Kyo…" I arched my back, gasping. "A-a little r-right…y-yes…YES….Ahhh…."

Stop it! He hissed, silencing me with his mouth. Are you trying to drive me crazy?

I would have answered him but…

…but it was many hours later that I found myself waking up in my bed. Kyo was lying on top of me, breathing deeply. A sheet covered our bodies, but other than that we were completely naked, and covered in sweat and semen.

I lifted a hand and stroked his hair, smirking at him.

But even that action was too much. It threw me into unconsciousness.

[scene end]

-o-

"You look terrible."

I peeked one eye open and looked upwards, seeing Kyo's human form standing by my bed. "What do you want?" I mumbled.

"It's time for work."

"No."

"Takato…" He sighed, crossing his arms with an expression of distaste. "Isn't work important? You're going to lose your job this way. Don't you realize you've missed four days of work?"

"What are you, my Mom?" I complained. I sat up, groaning at the stiffness in my limbs. I was still completely sapped, but at least my back and hips didn't hurt as bad as before. Maybe I'm becoming used to it? I blushed, looking away at the sudden increase in heart rate that that thought brought me.

Kyo groaned, turning away and covering his face with one hand. "I can't keep up with you," he whispered. "How do you do that? It's just non-stop…"

"Shut up," I gumbled, whacking him with a pillow. "I'm going to shower and get dressed. I'll go to stupid work." It took great effort to climb out of bed, but he did not offer to help me. He probably was afraid of touching me right now. Idiot, I thought, blushing. Who's fault does he think this is?

It took a great deal of time to finally get ready for the day. When I walked out the door with the feline Kyo upon my shoulders, I knew that I was going to be late.

He was right, missing four days without notice was unacceptable. I might even lose my job. Why can't I think about anything except getting Rika back? I sighed.

Well…there was one other thing I was thinking about…

Rika was right, Kyo huffed, sticking his claws into me. You are a raging hormone beast. I don't even have to use magic anymore.

"Sh-shut up," I mumbled. But I couldn't hide the embarrassment from my face. Taking deep breaths until I calmed down, I strode into work with determination. I just had to get through the day. I could do that. ...right?

"Matsuda-san!" Satou cried, as soon as I exited the elevator. He walked with me to my cubicle. "Welcome back! You're so lucky, being sent on a business trip for Nakamura-san. How was Shizouka this time of year? Did you get any Shizuoka Green Tea?"

I blinked, and then followed my instincts and went with it. "Ah, it was great, thank you. Sorry, I didn't bring any souvenirs. Maybe next time?"

He patted my shoulder, then pet Kyo on the head casually. "No worries. Glad to have you back. We'll see you at the meeting today."

"Right," I smiled, seating myself at my computer with a tired sigh. After a moment, I stared helplessly up at the ceiling. "I'm too tired for this," I complained under my breath.

Kyo settled onto his normal spot on my desk, and curled up to take a nap.

"I probably need to go see Nakamura-san first, though. He apparently covered for me," I said. I glanced at Kyo, and smirked when I saw his expression. "What, you don't want to come with me this time?"

I'll stay here, he said slowly, eyeing me with suspicion. You're too much for me right now. Don't worry, you'll be fine without me. He won't dare try to do anything when I'm this much stronger than him.

"How do you compare to…" I paused, and let my sentence stay unfinished. I could answer my own question. He's still not strong enough. It may be even more effective because we love each other, but the fact remains that he's got a lot more power built up over a greater length of time. If we're going to defeat him, it's going to be…

Get going, Takato.

I nodded. "Right. I'll be back." Swiftly, I left my cubicle and walked toward my boss's office, wasting no time in knocking on the door. Hearing permission to enter, I opened and closed the door behind me.

He looked unsurprised to see me, until he noticed that Kyo was not with me. "Matsuda-san," he said, confused. "Ah…you are alone today? Is everything…"

"Everything is fine, thank you," I bowed respectfully. "I came to say thank you, because you covered for me while I was gone."

He sighed, a small smile crossing his face. "Yes, think nothing of it. I was told about your—ah, how should I put it?—Your mission? Very romantic."

I blushed, glancing away in embarrassment. Great, so even my boss knows? He must know what it means for me to make my Erus stronger…

He chuckled at my expression. "You must have a very strong will," he said gently. "Good for you. Don't worry, I have decided that, until your mission is completed, you can take off time from work when the situation demands it. I'll tell people that you are on a business trip for me, researching other marketing techniques for the quarterly summary. In return, you must do work from home when you can." He paused, glancing at his bird, then nodded at turned back to me. "When this is all over, whether you win or lose, you must promise to come back to work as normal."

"Why would you do all this for me?" I blurted. "I'm nothing special…"

"Matsuda," he cut me off. "You are very talented. Your work is exceptional, and you are always the one we count on to make good decisions and keep us on our deadlines. I am a businessman, and I know the value of my assets." He folded his hands together, leaning forward to study me with a small smirk. "Think of it this way… In taking care of you, I am securing my own future. You will feel a sense of loyalty to me, and my company. I keep a valuable asset, and can get away with not giving you a promotion for a while yet."

Ah. So instead of a promotion, I was getting time off to save Rika, and keeping my job security. I smiled, coming forward to hold out my hand. "Sounds like a good deal to me," I said firmly.

He shook my hand, pleased. "Very well then. You can leave whenever you like, come in whenever you like, and do most of your work from home. But hurry back, Matsuda-san. I can't wait forever."

"Neither can I," I said quietly. Bowing once more to both of them, I left the room and returned to my cubicle, but paused just before entering it. I could hear someone inside, talking to Kyo in a quiet voice. Curious, I inched forward until I could see inside.

Satou-san was there, sitting in my chair and stroking Kyo's fur with a slightly distressed expression on his face. "I just don't know what to do," he was saying forlornly. "Maybe I should get a pet too? What do you think, Kyo? You're a smart cat, I can tell. You probably even understand what I'm saying. Or maybe you just understand Matsuda. He's always like that. Animals just understand him instinctively, and he just understands them. I've never seen anything like it before. Did you know that he once calmed down a spooked horse just by talking to it? It was running down the street, endangering everything, and he just told it to stop and calm down. How does that even happen?"

I walked in, clearing my throat gently.

Whirling in surprise, he jumped from my chair. "Oh Matsuda! Ah, this was nothing, I was just petting your cat. He's so calm and well behaved. How do you do it?"

"It has nothing to do with me," I smirked. "He's just a really great cat."

Kyo peeked at me, trying to decide whether to be flattered or annoyed.

"I was just telling him about the spooked horse…"

"I heard." I chuckled, directing him out of my small office space, and patted his back. "Why don't you get a pet? A dog would be a good pet for you. One of those big ones, like a Great Dane or a Labrador. They'd be perfect for your personality."

"You really think so?" Satou cheered up.

I nodded. "Or get a girl," I amended.

"Hey!" He wailed. "That's not fair!"

"We're at work, Satou," I laughed. "Hurry and prepare for the meeting."

Sulking at me, he hurried off and left me to myself. Grateful for his absence—and amused by his genuine personality—I focused on my work so that I too, could be ready for the meeting.

You're in a good mood, Kyo remarked tiredly.

I stroked his head, smiling. "I'll tell you all about it later."

I already know. He turned away, closing his eyes for a nap. The Erus told me.

"Well good for you." I rolled my eyes.

Alright. Time to focus.

-o-

Are you really that good with animals? Kyo asked, looking up at me from his position, curled up on my lap. We were sitting on the couch, watching TV, back at my apartment.

"What, are you worried about what Satou said?" I asked, chuckling. "I guess I'm good with animals. It's easy, if you know how to act. Animals are simple, and respond predictably depending on your mood, attitude, composure, and tone. Your body language also plays a great deal in making them trust you."

Rika said something… he paused and cocked his head, as though deciding to rephrase himself. She said to ask you about the Digital World.

"That's probably a big reason for the way I am," I admitted, turning off the TV. If I was going to reminisce about those times, I didn't want any distractions. "It might take a while to tell the story, but it's a fond memory of mine. A sad one, too."

He looked up at me expectantly, just waiting.

So I started at the beginning, when I was ten years old… and told him everything. How Guilmon came to be, how we protected our world from the Devas, and how we went to the Digital World to save Calumon. His eyes were wide with awe as I recounted our struggles both there and back home against the D-Reaper, and he seemed even more alarmed when he heard how Rika, Henry, Ryo and I could biomerge with our partners. When I finished with how we had to say good bye, and how we hadn't been able to see them again, he seemed to understand my sadness instinctively.

"The four of us who could biomerge were never the same after that," I said quietly. "We were able to see energy differently, like a glowing light, because part of us is still digital. But even before that, I've always had somewhat psychic dreams, and my instincts have been really strong. I was the strongest one of our group. Even today, I'm still the strongest, even when I don't feel very strong."

Kyo snorted, looking away with a smirk on his face. You're like a monster, he teased.

I scowled, growing feisty. "Oh I'm a monster, am I?" Grabbing him and sweeping him into my arms, I rushed him to my bed and threw myself onto it, scrambling under the covers. I clutched his little cat body to my chest under the covers and grinned at him. "Just for that, you're going to have to sleep under the covers with me tonight."

What! Are you trying to suffocate me? He complained, trying to twist out of my grasp.

I didn't let him, and instead brought him closer to my face so I could kiss his fur repeatedly. "You can't escape," I murmured, relishing how he shivered and stopped struggling at once. It was always the same. He was helpless when I kissed him. "If you really want me to stop," I said quietly, scratching his chin and kissing his head, his neck, and back over and over, "I'll stop."

Y-you're…impossible…

I could feel the contented purr rumbling through his belly, and it made me feel triumphant. "Yes," I whispered into his fur, sending shivers down his spine. "I win."

He froze for a moment, and then suddenly he was human, pinning me down to the bed with a flustered expression on his face. I loved it. I don't like it when you say that, he scolded me, trying to regain his authority as my Erus. It makes me angry.

"Does it?" I asked. "Or does it make you feel competitive?"

He hesitated, then once more he became flustered, covering his face with one hand. "You… you and Rika… you're both…" his voice died off with a groan. I feel like I'm sinking into a trap I can't get out from.

"You are," I said. Grabbing his head, I pulled him down into a kiss, twisting my body so that I was on top of him. He didn't resist me, and his body quivered with fear and anticipation.

He wanted this. Probably since the very first time we'd done it, he wanted it.

But of course, he would never say that out loud.

[scene start]

"Make those expressions," I whispered, unbuttoning his pants and yanking them off of him, "that only I," I tore his shirt off next, feeling his skin with my fingers, "get to see." I covered his mouth with mine, forcing him down as I ripped off my own clothes.

He breathed heavily, gasping for air when I moved my mouth to suck at his neck and collarbone. I found my way down to his penis, smirking when the touch of my tongue against it caused him to hiss and grab my hair with his hands involuntarily. His legs were quivering against me, and his back arched when I stuck his shaft inside my mouth. Stop, he said weakly. Wait…stop…

"Why?" I almost pleaded, struggling against my instincts and hormones with every ounce of my strength. I wanted nothing more than to keep going, to hear his sputtered incoherent sentences as I made him succumb to me. The prospect of being the one in charge was an exciting one. Still...

I had promised him.

I lifted my head and looked at him, trying to keep my expression blank, but I knew my desire was easily visible in my eyes. "Okay," I whispered in frustration. "I'll stop. I'm sorry..."

Kyo's pupils narrowed and widened over and over as he focused on different parts of my face, his chest heaving with short breaths and excitement. Finally, he hissed much like a cat would and gripped my hair tighter in his fingers. Idiot, he thought to me angrily, and a blush blossomed over his face. I don't... actually want you to stop. Don't take it so literally.

My smirk was wry, but I felt myself growing angry at those words. "It doesn't work that way," I insisted, pulling back and seating myself between his legs, my hands on either side of his waist. "No means no, Kyo. It always means no, and if I just pretend it doesn't, just what am I training myself to do in situations like that?" I sighed, rubbing my hand over my face. "Even when Rika and I were dating, if one of use said no and the other ignored it, everything was messed up afterwards. It hurt to think that we weren't willing to listen to each other, and trust was broken every time. That's why, there's no such thing as a safe word or playing hard to get for me. It's yes or no, and stop means stop."

His face was growing more and more awed as he spoke, as though my words were incredible to him. Goosebumps spread over his skin as he listened to me. "I've never..." he frowned, blushing as he tried to figure out what he was trying to say. "That's..." really... unique. Erus don't think that way. We cipher when we decide to, we never used to think about things like that. Our cifras are... ours. But when you say it like that, I can't help but think it's true.

"Of course it's true," I trailed my knuckles up and down his sides, enjoying how his breath hitched in his throat at the gentle caress. "It's called 'consent', and if it isn't a clear yes from all sides, then it's a no."

Kyo closed his eyes, eyebrows furrowed as he thought about it. He reached one hand out and took hold of mine, his grip tight but shaky. Once again, I have much to learn from you. From humanity. When he opened his eyes again, they were dark with lust. I want you, Takato. So much I don't understand it and can't hardly stand to be this close to you and not do anything.

"Then, ask me," I grinned. Seeing him unravel in frustration with his dick as hard as my own was bringing back my mischievous side. "Say please."

His eyes widened, and then his face flushed dark red. P...lease? He was trying. God, it was so cute.

I slid my hand across his abdomen toward his shaft, wrapping my fingers around it one by one. "I want to hear your voice," I said.

His blush grew deeper and his breath quickened at my touch. "Please?" he hissed through his teeth as though he couldn't stand waiting any longer.

It was all the encouragement I needed. Grinning, I leaned back down and took his tip into my mouth, sucking on it and enjoying his immediate groan. All of his muscles seized up as I sank lower and tried to take as much of him as I could into my mouth. His hands went back to my hair, gripping so tight it hurt. But I didn't care, it was exactly what I wanted. To make him fall apart the same way he made me fall apart so many times before.

For a short time I simply focused on his shaft with my mouth, sucking harder and harder and experimenting with bobbing my head up and down the way Rika often did to me. I had to hand it to her, this was awkward and sort of hard to get the movements figured out, but she managed it with ease. When I tasted the salty, sweet taste of his pre-cum, I paused and lifted my head. I pumped my hand up and down along his rod, smirking as more seeped out, and used it to moisten my fingers. "As you wish," I grinned, looking up at his face.

One of his hands still gripped my hair, curled tightly in his fingers, but the other he pressed against his mouth in a futile attempt to keep silent. Tears brimmed at the edges of his lashes, and sweat covered his now burning skin. His face…his face…

It drove me mad.

More, I thought desperately, sucking on his dick again with renewed vigor. With my now moistened hand, I inserted a finger into his anus. It quivered, sticking and sucking tightly against my finger. That too, made me lose control. When it barely started to loosen, I added another finger and began to pump him hard, searching for that spot. His prostate, right? I thought. But only after I stuck in a third finger and curled them upwards did I find it.

He cried out erotically, gasping and covering his eyes with his arm. "Ta-Taka-t-to!" he panted weakly. "Th-that…right th-there…Errrnnn…." His face twisted in embarrassment and ecstasy.

Suddenly he came in my mouth, and it shocked me. It was startling how easily I swallowed it, and I came up for air coughing in surprise. Okay so, I thought, baffled. Swallowing apparently… I cringed, suddenly extremely hard, really turns me on. I slipped my hand out of him, and pulled his hips upward. "I'm entering," I whispered, sticking the head of my shaft in his entrance. It was already wet with pre-cum, so it slipped inside much easier than last time. Even so, he cried out staggered syllables of my name.

"Y-you're…amazing!" I breathed, sinking into him deeper and deeper. I found his spot and ground my hips into him, until there was no space left between us.

He kept gasping and shuddering. "I-idiot!" He moaned. "Don't…grow…harder…inside me…"

"How can I help it?" I grinned, feeling his stomach with my hands and watching his face when he reacted. "You're so hot…you turn me on…so…so….bad…"

"Ah! Ahn….Nnnn…s-stop…grinding!" He forced an eye open, glaring at me with his bright green iris, nearly overtaken by the darkness of his dilated pupil. "J-just…m-move already."

Groaning, I held him closer to me for just a few more seconds, and then began to move. He was so tight, his hole kept sucking at my shaft like it didn't want to let go. Every time I pulled outward, he trembled in ecstasy, and every time I plunged into him, his back arched to meet me. Over and over our bodies slammed together.

Until time blurred.

Until there was nothing left but ecstasy and bright blue light.

It was a long, long time later that our positions were reversed. And a long time after that, I finally had no more energy left to give.

[scene end]

-o-

You're on top of me, Kyo complained, his voice rousing me from a deep sleep. If I turn back into a cat, you'll crush me.

I opened my eyes and looked at him, blinking dizzily. I was, in fact, lying on top of him, gripping him tightly with my arms around his chest. "Sorry," I mumbled, releasing him from my grasp and managing to pull myself up into a sitting position. My head throbbed terribly, and my body was aching.

But it's strange, I'm getting used to this kind of exercise. It's just stamina, right? Sooner or later, it won't be that bad anymore.

Kyo sat up, cringing and groaning, and then fell back onto the bed in defeat. "I hate you right now," he growled at me, glaring daggers at me with his eyes.

I smirked at him. "Better be careful, Kyo," I taunted. "Soon I'll get strong enough to not be affected by you draining me. What are you going to do then?"

His eyes widened in an expression of disbelief mixed with horror. What are you? He demanded incredulously. That's completely impossible!

Standing from the bed and stretching gingerly, I let out a long sigh. "Well that's the way things are going. That's how exercise is. You push yourself to your limit over and over and over, until that limit gets further and further away. Eventually, you can train yourself to get into a rhythm so that you never reach that limit, you can just keep going." I turned to grin at him. "Runners and swimmers do it all the time."

It created the desired effect. Blushing and stammering in disbelief, Kyo turned away from me and covered his burning face in his hands. What kind of world is this? The difference between Erus and Cifra is becoming too hard to define. How can a Cifra become stronger than his Erus? He sighed, sounding distressed. "Takato, you're too much for me. I can't keep up."

Laughing, I walked over and sat next to him, rubbing my knuckles along his back until he calmed down. "That's the same thing I said to Rika when we started dating," I admitted. "That thing I just said about limits and all that? She said that to me after our second night sleeping together. I practically ran away." I paused, then grinned sheepishly. "Okay, I'll be honest. I did run away from her. She scared me to death! I thought I was going to lose my life just because I couldn't keep up with her."

Kyo peered at me through his fingers, watching me suspiciously. So I need to prepare myself to deal with her, as well? He demanded.

"Probably. But my point is, when you're in love, you don't end up caring anymore. You either make it work, or you make them slow down and meet your pace." I leaned over and kissed his hair gently. "All you have to do is tell me what you're thinking. I'll listen to you. Consent, remember?"

Will you really? He snorted.

"YES. I will. I take it very seriously Kyo." I paused, checking his aura, and then found myself frowning in concern. It's a lot stronger than before, even from yesterday. Just from last night he's already like this, but… something is wrong.

I couldn't place it, and I couldn't shake the uneasiness in my gut, but somehow I knew that there was something wrong.

Something's wrong with Kyo.

"Takato," Kyo sat up, he stared into my face intently, and his pupils narrowed as he studied my expression. "What is wrong?"

"I don't know," I murmured, trying to wipe away my frown and plaster on a smile instead. "I'm just worried."

"Don't worry," he said. "I will save her."

"I know."

"So why are you worried?"

"I can't help worrying any more than I can make the rain stop," I rolled my eyes. "I'm going to make breakfast. Should we go to work today?"

He just watched me, completely silent, as I went about my day. He changed into a cat and followed me to the kitchen, and ate his food with quiet dignity. When I exited our apartment, he jumped into my arms and settled down for the ride.

Though he didn't push me, I knew that he would ask me later what was really bothering me.

Hopefully, by then, I'll figure it out, I thought.

-o-

Work was normal, and easy to get engrossed in. There was always so much to do, and problems that needed to be solved. I tackled them in a frenzy to get my mind off of the gnawing fear at the back of my mind.

Later on our way home, we stopped for dinner at Shuuji no Ramen, and took it to go. But for all my stolen glances at Kyo's aura, I couldn't determine anything wrong.

So why could I sense something that wasn't there? Was it too small to see?

Maybe it's because he's living like human, or like a real cat, instead of like an Erus. Does eating food make him weaker? I contemplated this for a while, then shook my head in conclusion. No, I had always noticed that his aura seemed strengthened by food. The more he strengthened his physical body by taking care of it, the stronger his magic seemed to be. Okay so not the food. Maybe it's changing into a human?

If that were true, then all the other Erus who had been stronger than him would have had the same problem. But I hadn't sensed anything like this in them.

So…is it sex?

I blushed, growing embarrassed and concerned all at once. It can't be that, can it? I mean, the other human Erus are having sex too. At least, the one controlling Rika is. So that can't be it either. Right?

Suddenly I stopped walking. It hit me like a sack of bricks on my head.

The other Erus may be having sex…

…but they weren't on the receiving end.

I'm such an idiot! I thought, covering my face with one hand and quickly beginning to walk again. Of course it's affecting him! He probably has an infection, and that's why I sense something wrong with his aura! I'm so stupid…

Takato, what's wrong with you? Kyo demanded. He looked up at me from my arms, placing a paw on my chest in concern. Is everything alright?

"It will be," I promised him, hurrying into my apartment and setting him on the bed. "It will be."

He just watched me with a scowl on his face, and his tail twitching agitated from side to side, while I fixed up a bowl of soup for him and pulled the left over medicine from Satou out of my cupboard. When I came back to my room, I set everything on the table.

"Kyo, I need you to turn human," I said firmly, fixing him with my gaze. I used a look that conveyed how serious I was, the one that showed I would not back down. Like everyone else I used it on, he could not resist me.

Changing into a human, he sighed and made a face as I shoved him onto the bed and covered him with blankets. "What is this about?" he demanded. "What are you doing?"

"Do you remember the first time we had sex?" I asked quietly. I placed my hand on his forehead, and nodded grimly when the burning skin confirmed my suspicions. "You got really hot and weak, remember?"

He scowled, but did not try to stop me. The gentle way that I touched his skin, the kindness with which I draped the cool cloth over his forehead… I could tell that he was comforted by them. "I heal very quickly," he said gruffly. "I'm an Erus."

"Your aura is off," I shook my head. "You have an infection, and you may recall that I will not budge on these kinds of issues. I'm going to take care of you until you're better."

Huffing to himself, Kyo closed his eyes and gave in. I suppose I'll put up with it. At least this is better than the vet.

I chuckled.

For the next several hours, I watched over him until his fever went down, and the bright aura around him stopping feeling so wrong. It was a relief to know that he was okay. He really does have quick healing, I thought, sitting beside him on the bed. At some point he had fallen asleep, and I didn't mind just watching his peaceful face while I thought things through.

There was a long way to go before we could rescue Rika, and it was too risky to try and contact her to see how things were going. He might have even moved and hidden her somewhere.

No, he is much too high and mighty to really care about us. He considers us not worth bothering about. Likely, he'll keep Rika to himself for a while, try to teach her a lesson, and then let her get back to her normal life. It makes the most sense.

Sighing, I studied Kyo's magic, trying to gauge his strength. Thinking back, I remembered that his aura had not always been this blue. Once, it had been a dull, warm color. Like red mixed with amber. The night we did it for the first time, it had taken sort of a yellow-green tint. Now it was blue.

It's kind of like the spectrums of light, I thought in surprise. Or like the heat of a star. Blue stars are much hotter than green, or yellow or red. The hottest stars are pure white. I wonder…

Instantly I remembered the dark color of the Erus we were trying to beat. It was a deep purple, sort of like a black light bulb. "So following that line of thought," I murmured, "he's one whole spectrum higher than Kyo. In order for us to beat him, I need to get Kyo's aura to be white. Then I'll know it's time to fight."

Kyo's eyes fluttered open at the sound of my voice, and he looked up at me sleepily. "Are you talking to me?" he asked, yawning and stretching his arms above his head. Even as a human, every move he made was cat-like. It made me want to see cat ears on his head.

"No, just thinking out loud," I smirked. I rubbed his soft dark hair with my hand, enjoying how he relaxed into my touches much the same way he did when he was feline. "You should have cat ears on your head even when you're a human," I told him. "It would fit you better."

He frowned, considering my words carefully. "Why do you say that? I haven't seen any human with cat ears."

"You're an Erus though," I explained innocently. "Erus choose the form of an animal that fits their personality best. And while you make a great human, you are still a cat in all of your behaviors. That's why, it makes sense for you to have cat ears, and even a cat tail, whether you're human or not." At his scowl, I laughed and grabbed my sketchbook. Moments later, I came back and quickly demonstrated what it would look like. "See? Half of a cat's expressions are told through the angle of its ears, and the position of its tail. I feel like I'm missing out here."

"That looks ridiculous."

"No, it's cute," I grinned. "And stylish, too! Trust me, you definitely need this. Doesn't it make sense for an Erus to be different from a human?"

He sat up in bed, watching me as I went back through all of my sketches of him, and drew in cat ears and a tail on every drawing. I made sure to match the angle of these additional limbs to the expressions on his face. When I had finished, I inwardly decided that, along with being incredibly more fitting for his personality, I desperately wanted to see it in real life.

I stuck the book in his hands and looked into his face pleadingly. "Please?" I whispered. I wore my most irresistible expression in my repertoire, and secretly triumphed when I saw him weakening. Yes, this will be so great!

"I do prefer to be a cat," he sighed, eyebrows knitting together in irritation. "But I can see what you're saying. Since you've drawn it so that I know what is looks like, I think I might be able to…" he paused and glanced at me, then looked away at once. You make it hard to say no.

"Come on, Kyo! It's not like you don't have the strength for it, right?"

He rolled his eyes. With a flash of light and a look of severe concentration, he gave himself black cat ears on his head, and a black tail. I watched him with a slowly growing grin on my face as he reached his hands up to feel his ears, and then moved his tail sharply from side to side.

But then he smiled.

Actually, it does feel more comfortable. It feels more like me.

Damn…I'm dying right now! I groaned, covering my face and trying to calm my breathing. So…so cute…

"Takato…" he glanced at me, and scooted backwards in irritation. One of his ears tilted sideways. Seriously, this turns you on?

"Just because it's you, Kyo," I smiled. "Because I love you. I think you look perfect." Crap, I didn't even know I was into cat ears. Rika is going to give me such a hard time for this…

I've only just recovered, idiot. How can you want to do it again already?

"I want to save Rika," I said honestly. "And you agreed to help me. Come on, I thought Erus like to get stronger. What are you afraid of?"

I'm afraid you're going to wear ME out. He turned away, ears laid back against his head. More and more I don't even feel like I'm the one in control.

"That's pretty silly," I replied. I moved closer to him, and reached a hand up to rub his head. I made sure to pay special attention to the base of his ears, where I knew it would feel best. To my satisfaction, it worked, and he gave into my petting reluctantly. "Don't you know that you can do anything you want at any time? You could force me to do or not do anything you wanted. But right now, you promised to help me save Rika. You don't know how happy that makes me…. How much it means to me…" I lowered my voice to a whisper and brought my face close to his ear.

He shivered once, as though the feel of my breath shocked him.

"Kyo, I need you," I whispered.

When he tuned, his cat-like eyes were wide and focused. Next thing I knew, he was pinning me down to the bed with his arms, kneeling over me. His ears were perked forward in anticipation, and his tail stood straight up in the air. If you say it like that, I can't hold back, he said quietly. Human urges are incredibly hard to ignore.

He's telling me? I smirked. "Just kiss me," I growled, already feeling my heart rate increasing. There were so many things that were making me desperate. Thinking of Rika, of rescuing her, and how we could spend the rest of our lives together when she was mine again; seeing Kyo's ridiculously adorable cat ears and tail, and how badly it made me want to screw him; and of course, the fact that every time he was this close to me, my hormones went insane.

What was taking him so damn long?

I can't win, he groaned, falling upon me and kissing me roughly on the mouth. Our hands explored each other's bodies, clothing was discarded on the floor immediately, and we struggled and groped each other, battling to see who could gain dominance over the other. When I ended up on top with my hand sliding down to his ass, his eyes snapped open at once. No, he hissed.

[scene start]

Suddenly I was on my back again, staring up at his face. I loved the way he gritted his teeth, with eyes so wide with desire I felt like I was sinking into them. The intensity there made me feel weak. Kyo's strength was so above my own, I couldn't even budge. "Ha…ha…hey," I breathed, gasping out my words with a faint laugh. "If you're gonna be on top, don't hold out on me."

His body trembled with a rush of desire. Don't mock me, he scowled. Without even waiting to prep me, he shoved his burning shaft into my hole all at once.

I gasped, arching my back at the sudden jolt of pain, and blindly tried to figure out why it still felt so incredible. No way, does pain turn me on, too? I choked out his name, soaking myself in my own pre-cum, as he slammed into me over and over. Somewhere at the back of my mind, a memory of Rika and I doing it came back to me. She was sitting on top of me, grinding her hips against mine with my dick fully engulfed, while she dripped hot wax on my chest and stomach. "You'll see," she had smirked at me. "The brief feeling of pain makes the pleasure that much more exciting. Trust me, you're going to learn to love this…"

Rika! I groaned. How could I have forgotten something like that? Good grief, just what did she intend to turn me into? Some kind of sex beast?

But all that memory did was make me so much more aroused.

"Ah…ah….AHHN! K-Kyo… you're s-so… h-hot… ins-side me… Nnnn~~~!" I struggled to keep my body from spasming, but he just kept getting hotter and hotter, bigger and bigger, inside me. The sound of my hole sucking against his shaft was enough to make me feel like I was going crazy. And each time he pounded into me, my whole being shuddered in ecstasy. On their own, my arms found their way around his neck.

Clinging to him tightly, I gasped and moaned over and over until he exploded inside me. The feeling was so intense, I felt like my brain snapped.

From that moment, I didn't know what I was doing anymore.

There was only the fog of extreme ecstasy, long into the night.

[scene end]

-o-

TL;DR: Takato gets over his despair at losing the fight before it even started, and after he and Kyo talk about it they have sex again. At work, Nakamura makes an agreement with Takato to give him as much time as he needs from work on the condition that he eventually comes back to work win or lose, and gives up a promotion for the next few years. At home they are about to have sex again when Takato pauses and teaches Kyo the meaning of consent, and how he will not do anything if he says "no" or "stop". Getting the okay to move forward, Takato pitches for the second time and Kyo seems to like it well enough, but gets an infection afterwards that Takato insists on taking care of. The next day, Takato convinces Kyo to have cat ears and tail while human, and of course, it turns him on. The chapter ends with them having sex again.

Hope that's helpful, and not annoying. I want to give people the chance to read the story even if they aren't fans of Takato/male pairings. Thanks so much for sticking with me, and for your patience as my upload schedule is not regular at all. Let me know what you think!

Also, feel free to PM me or add me on discord (maxifabulous#1400) if you want to join my discord server where we can talk about digimon, fanfiction, games, and anything else we like! It's still a small server, but I am on almost everyday and I love talking to you all so much, it would be fun to see you there. Until next time!

~Rukatofan