Dear Readers,

Please know that if I didn't appreciate you, I wouldn't post my stories. It is because I appreciate your thoughts that I post. You help me to grow as a writer, and I appreciate that, because I can look back at past stories and see how much I've improved. I didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings. I didn't mean to insult anybody. I just wanted you all to understand that I was hurt when people were more concerned with the smut than the actual growing relationship. I have spent months working on what I have of this story, and I'm not even finished yet, not to mention all of the homework I have and the weird hours I work that keep me from getting too far into any project that isn't for school.

I love you guys to death, but some people seem to think that I'm a smut machine. While I must admit that I do enjoy writing smut scenes, I am a human being as well. It takes time to write stories, and while I like to think I'm pretty good off the top of my head, some stories do take a lot of thought before they're written, as they're being written, and even after they've been written. Besides, not everything can be smut; I'm a romantic at heart and I love innocent little moments and developing relationships as much as I like sex between two people (hopefully) in love.

Please don't express anger or disappointment when I don't go into a smut scene. While I'm more than happy to accept a suggestion or two, I'm taking the time to write out my ideas to share them with you, and it hurts my feelings to know that you aren't satisfied simply because I was writing what I wanted to and not what you wanted me to. I sincerely apologize to those of you that had nothing to do with my author's note last chapter. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I was lashing out because I was hurt, and I admit that wasn't fair to a lot of you.

Sincerely,

Reizbar-Ookami

Chapter 7

Joey snarled and punched the wall angrily. "I hate you!"

"…You're not pushing it right—" Seto began, only to be immediately hushed by a glare.

"I'll figure it out myself! Okay!"

The brunet frowned and crossed his arms as he watched his mate get angry all over again and begin bashing the wall with his tail among violent curses. After another few moments, he tried again. "If you just push—"

"I said I'd figure it out!"

Seto snorted in annoyance, then reached out for the blond's wrist. "Yes, after you injure yourself."

Joey let out a small whine. "But Seto, I wanna—" He blushed as the brunet directed his hand to the only brick that hadn't suffered from his tail. "…Oh."

"Yes, that one. Why are you so adamant on getting to our treasure, anyway? It's the same as it's always been."

"I just—I want—Ugh! I missed your birthday and I've been makin' somethin' for your next one and I need some more rubies and sapphires, okay?" Joey exclaimed, blushing a little as he crossed his arms and looked away.

Seto frowned. "You don't have to do that, Joey. I'm perfectly happy not getting a gift from you as long as I can snuggle with you instead."

"I know that!" The blond glared at him in frustration. "I wanna give ya gift! I'm not doin' it 'cause I feel I hafta! I'm doin' it 'cause I wanna do it!"

"…Oh." The brunet tilted his head and blinked at him, brows furrowing in confusion. "…Just because you want to?"

At that, the black dragon frowned. "Yeah. Just 'cause I want to."

"…If you say so," Seto conceded, crossing his arms. "I suppose if you really want to, I can't stop you. I'll admit I don't really understand, but then I've only ever gotten gifts from family, or people trying to become my mate, so you just wanting to give me a gift is a new concept. I'm sorry I don't understand."

Joey whined and reached out for his hands. "Seto… You'll get used to it. I promise. I'm gonna give you so many things just 'cause I can!"

The brunet smiled a little. "You don't have to do that just because it's new to me. If you spoil me too much, it will lose its impact, and I won't understand it the way you want me to. …Thank you, Joey. No one's ever done something so… caring for me before."

The younger boy whined again and hugged him tightly, tail twitching in aggravation. "Nyaa, Setooo… I love ya t' pieces…!"

Seto frowned and allowed the blond to nuzzle and kiss him. Was he really that pitiful in light of social norms? "…Do I get to know what you're going to give me?"

At that, the blond pulled away, hands on his hips and glaring as if offended. "It wouldn't be a surprise if ya knew what it was, Seto."

"…But I don't like surprises," he deadpanned.

Joey huffed and turned to saunter into the passage to their treasure, nose in the air at the brunet's ignorance. "You'll learn to like them, then."

Seto watched the door close behind him and blinked innocently. What? He was old enough to know what he did and didn't like, and he knew that he was happy with things; he didn't want to learn to like anything!

…He was getting grumpy and the blond wasn't even here to deal with him. Humph.

.-.-.-.-.-.

"Oil time!" Joey clasped his hands together and smiled brightly, nearly bouncing in his excitement. "I wanna do it on the bed!"

Despite his want to be a good mate, Seto's head fell forward in defeat. He didn't know what to expect from this. He just knew this was going to be a new experience, and he didn't know how he'd react; he didn't want to upset his mate, but he didn't want to hurt him by mistake if he got uncomfortable and started swinging his tail around.

But, he obediently followed his dame out of the library and back to their room, where he was directed to strip, lie out on his stomach, and spread his wings flat on the bed. He tried to relax as much as he could and let his eyes drift closed as he listened to his mate move around behind him.

Thus, he let out a surprisingly painful-sounding grunt when the blond sprang on top of him. "Ngh."

"Sorry!" Joey squeaked hurriedly, placing his knees down so he wasn't crushing him. "Sorry. I didn't realize, and—sorry." When the brunet only grunted again, he bit his bottom lip, then poured a little of the almond oil in his hands and rubbed them together. "Could ya try and relax a little more?"

Seto let out a rumble of annoyance. "I'm as relaxed as I can be. I'm sorry."

"Well, I guess I'll have to fix that, then." The blond flexed his fingers a few times before pressing his hands against the older boy's shoulders, digging his fingers into the tense muscles he found there.

The white dragon let out a stream of unintelligible curses and went boneless. He'd never felt anything like this, having his muscles forced to relax when he'd become quite used to them always being tense. This was some sort of trickery that the dragons down south must use to make their sires docile and unable to do anything but bend to their whims! He called shenanigans!

Joey smiled as he heard the brunet begin to purr deep in his chest, feeling it rumble deep through his body until he felt the light vibrations traveling through his own thighs and tail, which he'd curled around the brunet's white one. "Does that feel good, Seto?"

"…Fuckshithelldamnargh…" Seto let out a quiet whine as his nose was filled with the scent of almond, relaxing him even further as his mate began kneading his back, rubbing out all of the knotted muscles. "Nnnn…" He winced as the younger boy dug his fingers into a particularly hard knot, then let out a roar of pain. "That hurts!"

"Of course it hurts! It's the hardest muscle cramp I've ever seen!" The blond scowled as he worked at the particular knot. "Seto, have you been tense since ya were born? Holy shit! It's like massagin' a brick wall!"

The brunet let out another whine—confused, this time, and hurt. "You said it wouldn't hurt-!"

"I didn't know how stiff you'd be! I swear, Seto, this is for your own good!"

Seto tightened his hands into fists, gripping the blankets tightly as he tried desperately not to buck his mate off and scamper away. How was he supposed to feel now? His dame had promised it would feel good, but it hurt—it hurt so badly—and all he wanted to do was crawl under the bed and never come out, especially when the blond dug his fingers in harder.

Joey tried his best to get the pain over with as quickly as he could. He'd promised Seto that he wasn't going to hurt him, so he especially regretted doing this to him. But then he felt the muscle begin to relax, the knot getting smaller. He was greatly relieved when the brunet began to loosen up, body going slack again as the pain began to fade.

"Seto? Are ya okay now?"

"…You hurt me." The brunet whined quietly. "And now I can't move."

The younger boy took a moment to kiss the back of his neck, then dribbled a little more oil on his back to rub it in. "'m sorry, Seto," he cooed, before placing another kiss on his neck. "I didn't wanna hurt ya, but I needed t' rub that out. I promise."

He whined again. "Can't move…!"

"You shouldn't be movin' anyway, Seto. I'm still rubbin' this oil on ya."

Seto mewed quietly. "Is it always going to hurt like that…?"

Joey blinked at him for a moment, then smiled brightly at the thought that Seto would let him do this again. "Oh, no! If I keep doin' this, ya can't get as tense, and it won't hurt!"

"…Okay," the brunet replied, sighing. "I guess… if it won't hurt like that…" He grunted quietly as the black dragon's fingers slid down his spine. "Mm… I… I don't mind doing this again, I guess. If it makes you happy. Ngh-!" He mewed as the blond's hands slowed to a stop, rubbing gentle circles on his back, then turned his head to look at him. "…I… I want to make you feel good, too, Joey. But… what am I allowed to do after that?" he asked quietly, brows furrowing together. "You were so kind to me when you touched me, even when it hurt… I want to make you feel like that, too. Where do I touch you to do that?"

"…Let me show you," Joey purred, sitting up straight, then grabbed the brunet's hands.

The white dragon tilted his head as his hands were directed to rest at the blond's waist, then hummed in surprise as one of his hands was slid around to the base of the younger boy's tail. "Here?"

"I love when you stroke where my scales meet my skin," the blond moaned, arching into his fingers as they began stroking the spot tenderly. "Nyoooo…! Feels so good!" He gasped quietly when the older boy lightly dug his nails into his skin, dragging them across the sensitive scales beside it, then groaned helplessly and fell limp in his arms. "Oh Ra Seto that's so good!"

Seto scratched his scales lightly and nuzzled his throat. "Show me somewhere else that you like to be touched. Please?"

"I like when you touch… here…" Joey mewed, grabbing his hands and drawing them to his thighs, pressing his hands between them. "Like when ya rub 'em and nibble 'em—"

"You like when I nibble them?" the brunet asked quietly, reaching a hand up to undo the tie of his pants so he could pull them down. "I don't nibble them that often, though."

The younger boy squirmed and looked up at him pleadingly. "I wish you'd nibble them more. I like when ya leave little marks there."

Seto hummed quietly in surprise. "You like when I leave my little love-bites on you? But you always get so embarrassed…"

"But I like seein' that I'm yours," Joey cooed, then pressed up against him. "I'd like it if you left love-bites in other places, too. Like on my chest, or my neck and shoulders…"

The brunet tilted his head, eyes narrowing playfully. "What about a nice big one on your ass?"

"Wha-!" The younger boy blushed, then turned his head away in embarrassment, tail twitching a little as the brunet's nails scratched lightly across his scales. "…W-well, I suppose… I suppose if ya really wanna…" He peered up at the white dragon bashfully, then turned onto his hands and knees. Turning his head to glance back at his surprised mate, he wiggled his hips and lifted his tail out of the way.

Seto let out a rumble of confusion. "Really? I was just kidding. You… you really don't mind?"

The blond bit his bottom lip, then nodded slowly. "Yes. I'm sure I don't mind." He peeked back at the brunet and offered him an encouraging smile. "Really. In fact… I'd really like it if ya did."

The older boy whined in the back of throat. "Well… If… if you're sure, then I guess I don't mind doing it…" He grasped the black dragon's hips gently, leaning down to brush his cheek against the base of his tail before gently nuzzling against the blond's soft rump. He brushed his lips over it, smiling a little when he heard the blond keen, then began licking and nibbling softly.

Joey keened again, forcing himself to keep from squirming. "Seto, it's gonna take forever if ya do it like that. …Pretend you're kissin' my neck or something, okay?"

The brunet rumbled again, unsure of whether he wanted to continue. When he heard the younger boy mew sweetly in encouragement, however, he tightened his grip on the blond's hips and began kissing and sucking harder, kneading the blond's other cheek as he began to suck on what he deemed the perfect spot. He suckled at the spot gently, leaning back every few moments to check how dark it was, before finally deciding it was gorgeous and didn't need any more attention.

Joey peeked back at him and tilted his head. "Finished?"

"Yes." Seto tilted his head, eyeing the dark hickey on the pale skin of the blond's backside, then smiled a little. "I think it's beautiful."

The blond blushed and smiled shyly. "I'll take your word for it." He paused, then nervously bit his bottom lip. "…Will… will ya put your fingers in me, Seto?" He heard the older boy whine in complaint and flinched a little. "I know ya don't wanna, but… but my fingers aren't as long as yours, and… and I'd really like t' feel them in me."

"…But…" The white dragon whined worriedly, petting the blond's hips, then sat back and drew the smaller boy's hips closer. "…What if I…?"

Joey whimpered. "Please? I'll tell ya how, step by step." He could see the uncertainty in his mate's eyes, and he desperately wished that his sire didn't feel so apprehensive at the thought of sex, but he understood why he was so hesitant and nervous.

Seto's eyebrows twitched together for a moment, an expression of complete and utter despair at being unable to please his mate flashing for only a few seconds. After that, though, he sighed in defeat and nodded slowly. "Okay. Um… how do I…?"

"Ya gotta get 'em wet first," the younger boy explained, then turned so he was facing him. He drew the brunet's hand to his face and extended his tongue to lightly flick at the tips of his fingers, then mewled in surprise as the white dragon suddenly took some initiative and shoved his fingers in his mouth. However, he began sucking on them without a qualm, swirling his tongue to slather them with saliva.

Seto whined quietly. "You're only licking my fingers and I'm already getting hard."

Joey gently grasped his arm and moaned around his fingers. Looking up at the brunet with dark eyes, he released his fingers long enough to say, "That's a normal reaction, considerin' what we're doin'. I'm hard, too." Then, he drew his fingers back into his mouth.

The older boy glanced down and hummed quietly when he found that his mate was telling the truth, then reached out to gently stroke it. "So pretty. My pretty mate."

Tilting his head back to moan, the blond arched into the grip on his shaft and whimpered. "Oh Ra, Seto…! Nn, fingers—now—" He whined when he felt the white dragon's fingertips at his entrance and leaned back to better present himself. "Put them in—Please, please—Nyu!"

Seto slid one finger in slowly, still unsure about touching his mate in such a way even after so long since their first time. "Like this?"

"Yes, just like that-!" Joey struggled to keep from bucking down onto his finger, even as his body told him to move and warm up. "Move it a little-! In 'nd out! Around! Just—ah!"

The brunet frowned and began moving his finger slightly. "Is this right?"

The younger boy mewed and rolled his hips a couple of times, then forced himself to still again. "Yes! That's right! Nn! Put another one in! Please! Two!"

"Are you sure-?" When the blond only whimpered and raised his hips wantonly, he slid a second finger in and began moving them back and forth slowly. "Like this?"

"Ra, yes! Longer than mine—yes, yes, yes!" Joey squirmed a little before beginning to rock his hips, unable to fight his body's want for movement so he could stay warm in this cool climate. He mewed appreciatively as the brunet's fingers stroked over his special spot. "Nngh-! Yes! More! –Want more!"

"More?" Seto hesitated, then wiggled a third finger in. "More, like… this?"

"No—Want more in me—want ya in me—please put it in me!" The blond arched his back and whimpered again. "I can handle it, please—just do me! Please!"

"But… But I don't… Should I really…" He stilled his fingers awkwardly. "Are you sure?"

"Ra, yes, Seto! Just put it in me! Now!" Joey jerked his hips in frustration when he realized his fingers weren't moving. "Seto-!"

"…But I don't really…"

Growing frustrated with his lack of sexual satisfaction, the black dragon roared, "PENIS! NOW!"

The brunet whined uncomfortably, but he didn't want to say 'no' again and possibly upset him at such a crucial point in their relationship—not to mention that it would definitely ruin the mood. He'd done some research on southern dragons, and he'd found that during their… lustful stage in winter, which resulted in more agitation if they weren't satisfied. So, he pulled his fingers out and positioned himself between his legs to thrust into him. "All right."

The blond mewed in delight as the older boy finally—finally!—thrust into him. "Yes! More!"

"…All right," the brunet repeated, gripping the blankets in his hands tightly as he withdrew and thrust back into his writhing mate.

Joey arched his back and moaned as he hooked his legs over the brunet's hips. "Oh! Yes! Seto! Just a little bit further and—Yes!" He reached up to grab his shoulders and let out another sob. "Seto! Seto!"

Seto tightened his grip on the blankets as he saw tears beginning to roll down the blond's cheeks. When he started bleating and whimpering, he felt his claws pierce the cloth to dig into his palms. He felt horrible—he was a bad mate—he was hurting him again, but he couldn't stop—every time he tried, the younger boy made another cute noise of satisfaction, and he just couldn't bring himself to end it. Unclenching one of his hands, he closed his eyes tightly and reached down to grab the other boy's erection.

The blond jerked his hips upward with a helpless whine and dug his nails into the older boy's shoulders. "Oh! Ra! Please! Don't make me—Not yet—" He sobbed as the brunet tightened his grip on his shaft and shook his head quickly. "No! Please!" He let out a helpless screech as a few more strikes to the special spot inside of him broke his control and forced him to climax. "Seto!"

Seto grunted as the blond clamped down on him and closed his eyes tightly as it seemed to force his own climax. Shuddering, he dug his teeth into his bottom lip and stiffened. Once he relaxed, he looked down at the blond and sighed, then frowned.

Joey was completely limp, eyes half-closed as he tried to catch his breath. His hands had fallen back to the bed, his claws tipped in blood from digging into his shoulders. His chest was heaving from the physical exertion he'd just been put through, even as his body still trembled with aftershocks.

He looked so much like the first time, so much like when he'd raped him. He was a horrible mate for doing this to him, for making him act like this. He should have been gentler, should have just held back to begin with. Why? Why was he always hurting his mate? And he could still remember the last words, and they broke his heart.

"No… Please… Seto!"

Joey mewed as the older boy pulled out of him and looked up at him lovingly, but his sated smile soon faded into a frown as he watched the brunet get up and begin to pace. "…Seto?"

Seto flinched, then turned toward the door quickly. "I'll be right back—"

"But Seto—" The blond sat up in confusion as he left, brows furrowing together as the door slammed shut after him. After a moment, he sighed and got up to go clean himself, deciding that Seto needed a little time to himself, since he'd said before that he may never do it, but had finally given in. As he pumped water into the bathtub, however, he realized something was terribly wrong.

His cock was covered in blood. And it wasn't his.

When had Seto hurt himself? Why! How! And how'd he get it on him? Was he injured? How badly was he hurt!

Dashing from the bathroom, Joey paused only long enough to pull on a pair of pants before he rushed out the door. He had no idea where to go, though. Where would Seto go if he was hurt, other than their bedroom?

—Probably his old bedroom, so he could wallow in his guilt and self-pity.

Joey sprinted for the brunet's old bedroom and threw the door open. What he found horrified him.

Seto had flayed his own back open and was dripping blood onto the stone floor like a fountain. He was still whipping his tail against his back, even though there was little skin left to shred there, and was making no effort to even check if his wounds were healing properly underneath the onslaught. He was going to kill himself like that!

Rushing into the room, the blond hurriedly tangled his tail with the blood-streaked white one, keeping him from hitting himself again. "Seto! What the hell do ya think you're doin'? You could kill yourself like this-!"

Seto let out a pathetic rumble. "I'm a bad mate."

"I'll say, tryin' t' kill yourself-!"

"I hurt you again." He whined quietly. "I hurt you and I said I wouldn't. I'm a bad mate."

Joey frowned and hurriedly yanked him into a hug. "Oh, Seto. Ya didn't hurt me. I was happy. Ya didn't need t' do this t' yourself."

"…But you cried. You cried like the first time I took you—" the older boy began, but the blond tightened his hold on him and began to cry again.

"I love ya, Seto. I was cryin' because I was happy t' have my mate make love t' me. I wasn't hurt. Ya didn't hurt me. I was okay, I promise. Ya didn't need t' punish yourself for this." The blond began to stroke his hair slowly, nuzzling his shoulder and pressing quick kisses along his neck. "I'm sorry I made ya think ya hurt me. I was just so happy. I'm sorry."

Seto whined again. "I'm sorry. …I'm sorry…" He whined as the blond brushed his fingers against the nape of his neck. "I'm sorry."

"Ra, look at all this blood—Seto, we need t' get ya t' see Yug'," the younger boy stated, beginning to stand. "Can ya fly? I—Oh. Oh Ra." He felt his blood run cold as he saw the bases of the brunet's wings; he'd shredded the flesh down to the bone. He would never be able to fly like that.

"…Should I try?" the wounded dragon asked after a moment, frowning. "Joey?"

"Ra, no! Just—Oh, Ra, what do I—Ya know what! We're gonna—I'll just—Stay here!" Joey ordered, then sprinted back to their room.

He covered the bed with a few sheets, then laid a trail of towels from the bed to the door, so Seto wouldn't have to worry about blood on the carpet. Then, he rushed back to the other room. Could Seto even walk that far? Would he be carrying him? Would he have to drag him? How was he supposed to do this without help?

Seto was leaning in the doorway, frowning in confusion. "Joey? How bad is it? …I can't feel any pain. I think I shredded the nerves."

He couldn't feel any pain!

"…Joey?" he repeated after a moment, growing more concerned. "…Is it that bad?"

Did he not feel the blood dripping down his legs? Did he not see the puddles he'd left behind!

Deciding that he'd scold him later, he hooked the brunet's arm over his shoulders. "No, no. It's not that bad. We just need t' get ya t' the bedroom, is all. So that ya can lay down while I go get Yug'. Can ya walk that far?"

"Why wouldn't I be able to?" Seto asked after a moment, then turned to glance over his shoulder.

Joey caught his chin and yanked him down into a kiss; if he saw how much blood he'd lost, he might go into shock. Once the brunet finally got over being kissed out of the blue and began to kiss him back, he broke the kiss and smiled weakly. "No reason. …Just… Hold onto me, 'kay? I like havin' your arm around me."

The brunet tilted his head skeptically, then hugged him closer with the arm still around his shoulders. "I don't believe that's all. But all right."

"Then you're learning," the younger boy replied flippantly, placing another kiss on his chin before leading him toward the bedroom. "I want ya t' stay still while I'm gone, okay? Yug' 'll get mad if ya don't. 'nd I promise we'll have a long talk when I get home, about everything. Does that sound okay t' you?"

"…Do I have a choice?" Seto asked after a moment. When the blond shot him a dirty look, he sighed and nodded obediently. "Yes, dear."

Joey shot him another dirty look before leading him back to the bedroom and laying him on the bed. "Stay here. Don't move, okay?"

"Why can't I move?" the brunet asked, glancing up at him skeptically.

The younger boy fought the urge to begin spitting curses. "…Because I'm not medically inclined and I like seein' you alive."

Seto blinked at him, stunned, then laid his head on his arms and closed his eyes; he hadn't realized he'd hurt himself that badly. "I shall await your return. …Whether I'm awake at the time will be debatable."

"Just… try your best to stay awake?" the blond pleaded quietly. "…I really need ya t' stay awake, Seto…"

The brunet's head jerked upward slightly at the statement, then relaxed again. "I'll try."

Joey nibbled his bottom lip. "…Thank you, Seto. If it helps, try t' think about why ya got so upset, and we'll talk when I get home."

"…I will try to be awake and waiting when you return."