Chapter 37

Lady Erika giggled as she witnessed Lord Kuon carry Lady Kyoko out of the arena, slung over his shoulder like a sack of grain with his hand on her ass and her wings draped limply on her back. Sayou glanced at her with a confused look. She smiled. "I knew she'd find a solution to her little problem, and get her way. I guess she really is a true princess."

Sayou nodded. "I suppose I don't mind if she and Lord Kuon rule, if they keep that kind of determination."

Erika nodded in agreement. "I have no doubt that they will." She commented as the final entertainment began. Not that the previous spectacle hadn't been entertaining.

~xoxo~

Well, that was that. He really hadn't put much thought into the gravity of what he'd tried to goad his mother into all those months ago, and as much as he hated to admit it, there was no way he would have survived the tournament without years of training. Not to mention the fact that he would have never been graced with the perfectly matched little Vampire bride sitting next to him, with the other nobles around him.

Of course he knew that his mother had sent Minami to him as his future bride and he quietly accepted the fact. He'd discovered the truth months ago when he overheard her talking to Aki; although, he wasn't about to let her know that. He'd worked really hard to make the changes she'd been complaining to Aki about. At this point, he had to admit that he was the arrogant, selfish, pompous, preening ass that she had labeled him as.

At first he took offense to what he'd overheard, but the more he looked back on his behavior towards Minami, Aki, and yes... Kyoko, he realized that he was that and so much more. It wasn't a pretty picture and the words that he would spend the rest of his life "loved by many, but not special to one" resonated within him, and shattered the arrogant little boy he'd been. After that revelation, he began to woo Minami in earnest.

He felt a small gentle hand on his arm. "Sho-kun, are you okay?"

He looked into the unique red eyes of his raven-haired companion, and smiled softly. "Of course." He snaked his arm around her shoulders and leaned back in his seat. "I think we should call my mother tonight... That is... That depends on your answer to a question I need to ask you later." He told her as he looked out across the arena at the big screen.

She snuggled into him. "I think I would like that." She answered quietly with a small smile.

~xoxo~

Yuki chuckled silently as he watched Kuon claim his prize and leave. They had been warned that something could happen, but he certainly didn't expect the display of the future King and Queen. It was dazzling. He glanced over at Lory Takarada, sitting with his family and Magus Tanaka. He shivered knowing that he would certainly be next in the matchmaking scape. Although, he supposed that Kuon and Kyoko couldn't have been paired better.

He sighed knowing how busy he was going to be for the next two months. Now that the populous was introduced to Kuon Hizuri, it would only be a matter of a short time that they realized that he was indeed Ren Tsuruga. How else would he be able to explain the two month hiatus and the fact that he and Kyoko were living together? He wondered if Lory already had a plan of action. He snorted at that thought. Of course he does. He's probably had one from the beginning.

~xoxo~

"What the hell is going on, Miroku? What do you think you're doing?" The invader spat out, while struggling to break free from the blessed bindings.

Reino's spirit leaned against the wall, casually examining his manicure for effect and laughed. "What? Did you actually believe that it would be that easy once you were discovered?"

"I'm not as weak as you may think, Shadow Walker." The being touted proudly.

Reino gave him a wolfish grin, as his soul approached, slowly morphing into something that would shock, and terrify those that weren't familiar with him. Before the invader, stood a leathery winged entity, with horns as elegant as Kyoko once had, glowing violet eyes, sharpened fangs and talons, and a shimmering chitinous armor. Had he not been invaded, Reino most likely would have been able to best both Kuon and Kyoko, and made her his queen, but at this point he accepted the fact that he'd allowed himself to be taken over, and considered it an unforgivable weakness that was not befitting of a king.

"And I am not as weak as you may believe, either. Idiot, Demons and Angels do exist... And you, my adversary, have pissed one off. Not that you will be revealing that little secret." He told him, sealing the invader's voice, and preparing his own scythe for when the invading soul was expelled during the exorcism. He was looking forward to hunting, and ripping this one apart on the Ethereal Plane. He'd done too much damage to allow survival.

Miroku watched as the monks escorted a pale, shivering Reino. He wasn't certain what was happening, but could only guess that whomever was inhabiting Reino's body at the moment, was terrified by something, and was thanking every known deity that the creature within didn't discover Reino's secrets sooner. Not that it would have made that much of a difference, these monks were trained for generations in the art of expelling, and containing what most believed were mythical creatures. It would take days, perhaps weeks, but he would soon see his friend returned to him.

He set her down gently after they'd reached the room that was set aside for preparations and dressing. "Kyoko, I'm not going to force you into anything." He told her as he watched the nervous little female fidget. "Okay?" He asked softly.

She nodded. "S-Sorry, Kuon." She said in a small voice. "I'm just a little nervous." She confessed.

He smiled and hugged her. He kissed her temple. "So am I." He sighed and snuggled into her hair. "How about we take this one step at a time... Wife."

She looked up at him, hugged him and giggled. She nodded. "Okay... Husband."

He released her and stepped back. "You use the bathroom first, and I'll check to see what we have to do next..." He glanced at her mischievously. "Since we are going by the old rules."

She groaned a little. "You aren't going to let me live that down, are you?"

He looked up in thought. "Hmmm... Nope." He said with a smile.

~xoxo~

"No... We will not make them adhere to all of the old rules. It's not necessary. Besides, I will not force my daughter to endure her first night with witnesses. We all know they love each other, it's obvious. They will definitely consummate on their own and soon." Kazu ranted to the priest that had performed the unusual wedding ceremony.

"Very well Your Highness, I will trust your judgment." The older man bowed to him and left the room.

Saena rolled her eyes and shook her head. "She didn't know about that part when she told you, did she?"

Kazu gasped in mock innocence. "I have no idea what you're talking about My Queen."

"Right..." She giggled with a cocked brow. "I'll go let them know that they need to be at the palace for the reception by 4pm to get ready."

Kazu grabbed her and pulled her into his lap. "First a little celebration kiss?"

She swatted him on the shoulder and acquiesced.

She is a sneaky little thing. He thought more than once, that hour they took to prepare for their departure. First, she had forgotten her towel, and he had to bring it to her in that steamy bathroom as she showered. Then, she was having problems zipping up the back of her dress.

His fingers gently grazed up the perfect, uninterrupted skin of her back, and he softly chuckled into her ear. "Kyoko... Are you not wearing anything underneath?"

She blushed and swallowed nervously. "If I'm not?" She asked boldly in return.

He smirked. "It would be pure torture. I want to make sure you remember our first time together for the rest of our lives, and a quick little go in our dressing room will not give me time to give you the pleasures I have planned for you." He purred, leaving feathery light kisses up her neck as he stood behind her. She quietly moaned in excitement as she felt her body heat up from his ministrations. "Now..." He sighed out softly. "Are you going to let me do that? Can you wait?"

She nodded shakily and turned to look at him with a lusty look of her own. "I can wait." She whispered.

He smiled and kissed her cheek. "I promise, you won't have to wait long." He caressed her shoulder. "Now, we need to go if we want to make it to the Reception. Unless, you want to follow the all of the old rules." He smirked with a raised brow.

She looked at him a little confused.

"You didn't read all of them, did you?" He chuckled as she shook her head a little ashamedly. "We would have to consummate our union in front of witnesses."

She squeaked with wide eyes and blushed furiously. "Absolutely NOT! That will not be necessary!"

He shook his head. "Don't worry, I wouldn't have allowed it anyway, and I'm pretty sure your parents would have had something to say about it too." He assured her and gave her another hug before helping her gather her purse and sweater as they left for their limo.