Chapter 5

I'm not dead- just busy with twins and a business. Sorry guys.

VI

Angry silence reigned in the now drafty room. The two humanoid dragons sat glaring at one another while the bakaneko in the room pouted as he groomed himself in his true form beside his chosen female.

"I can't fucking believe you two!"

"It's not that bad," Chihiro growled out at her companion, who bristled further.

"I'm soaking wet and singed!" Minareru hissed.

"You would have been dead if my intended hadn't pulled you from the river!" Haku hissed back.

"I sincerely doubt she is still your intended, scale-boy!" Minareru sniffed, his humanoid form shimmering into existence as he glanced at the woman beside him.

Haku paused, turning to stare at his love unblinkingly.

"I'm still reeling at the idea of being a pedo…" Chihiro murmured, hand rubbing her face in bewilderment.

"My physical age obviously bothers you...I will go to fix this issue as soon as our conversation is done. But…Chihiro, you do love me, yes?" The dragon's eyes betrayed the nervousness he felt at the question.

"Haku...the love I held for you was that of a child. I do still love you, but it will take some adjustment. And...I also...well...I love Ru as well," Chihiro confessed, eyes on the floor.

Confronted with her first love, with the one who she still honestly felt held art of her soul...she felt torn. She longed to run into Haku's arms, but she also felt deep pain at the idea of never being lovers with Minareru again. He had become so ingrained in her life, in her heart, that it seemed unfathomable to part ways with him.

The bakaneko's eyes widened slightly as he gripped her hand. He was unsure how things would turn out- they had never really discussed a plan, or emotions really, simply enjoyed each others presence. They slept together, had mind blowing sex, cooked together, cuddled to watch shows, bathed together- honestly, he treated her like she was his mate. She felt like his mate to him. But with Haku back in the picture, and her now being a dragon...he was still unsure she would feel the same.

"I love you too mistress and I...will abide by whatever you decide to do. I remain yours either way," Minareru declared quietly, his collar chiming with his statement.

Haku stared unseeingly at the two, fighting with his instincts and heart. He could feel the love the two held for each other, a deep, well matched energy that danced about the pair, but he could also feel the strings that tied him to the woman before them, hear the beast within him screaming 'mate!'

"I...will meditate on this while I complete the aging process. I will either be able to give you up...or I will come to...accept the bakaneko into our lives. I will not make you choose Chihiro. I love you too much to hurt you like that. If you will excuse me," Haku bowed to the pair before swiftly leaving the room, mask firmly in place to hide the hurt he felt at the idea of never being able to hold his mate in his arms.

"Well...this has gone better than I expected...aside from you dying...and attacking scale-boy," Minareru commented slowly, slipping an arm around the woman beside him, who leaned into his support, trembling.

"I...don't understand. He claims to love me, says he wants me, but he...seventeen years? I don't understand why!" Chihiro growled, eyes flashing red briefly.

"Neh, come on love. I'll teach you how to transform and we can go flying."

VI

Flying was amazing. The first time she took after Haku had been instinctive. Once she saw Minareru get tossed into the river she had plummeted into the water after him.

Playing tag with the bakaneko in the air was probably the most fun she had ever had. Granted, her size and length meant she was a LOT easier to tag, but she had greater reach, and the neko never kept a close eye on her tail.

Landing beside the river, he coached her through transforming back on purpose, and she collapsed by the shore, grinning.

"Better than sex?" Minareru asked, laughing as he laid beside her.

"I wouldn't go that far, but definitely close!" Chihiro laughed.

"Heh, wait till you try it in the air!"

She stopped laughing at that and looked at her lover. He was watching the clouds drift by, arms pillowing his head as his ears twitched toward the bathhouse.

"Dragon's have this weird instinctive urge to mate in the air the first time. They do this weird twisty maneuver and dive toward the ground, kinda like we saw those eagles do on the box in your world," he continued, smiling lazily.

Chihiro reached out and squirmed until she was half draped across his relaxed form- only to find that he wasn't as relaxed as he seemed. His yellow eyes finally flicked down to meet her own golden gaze.

"What if he decides that he can't share? There's no way he will give up his mate. He may try to remove me from the equation," his ears pinned against his head when she let out a small snarl, small canines flashing as she glared toward the bathhouse.

"I won't let him hurt you. Not ever. I can finally protect you!" Chihiro declared, her form shimmering before a warm, furred body encircled his resting spot, coiled around him like a protective snake.

"If you say so fluffy," Minareru said fondly, reaching out to stroke the purring dragon, both soon giving in to sleep.

VI