It was mid morning, and already the air was becoming more warm and less crisp. According to Karlof, as they neared the border of Kyoboku, the temperature would raise dramatically due to the enchantment placed around the forest. Ice had disappeared from along the banks of the river, so they were not too far away from that sudden shift in climate.

Nya knelt on the deck of the ship, affectionately called R.E.X. by the tiger. In her hands, she held her brother's hunting bow, observing it with a saddened nature. Ruby inlays danced in the light at small intervals, and the sturdy dark grey wood was as pristine as ever. Kai took great joy and confidence from his hunting trips, and therefore had equipment to match. Nya wondered with melancholy whether or not he would ever use this weapon again.

She went over everything he had said over the communication crystal. Nya knew that Kai would never knowingly agree to such an impromptu marriage, and he would have kicked, bit, and screamed until he had gotten his way. The way that he had sounded during their call was so tentative, however, and that was what worried her. What if he was under some sort of yokai spell, and he had been convinced to stay with whoever this Zane person was?

"Whatcha got there?" came a groggy yet interested voice. Nya turned her head and gave Ronin a tight-lipped look. The humanoid tiger had taken to pulling the brim of his hat over his face and dozing. One would believe he was a wax figure if they did not check his breathing. The huntress had liked the calm, quiet voyage without his dodgy presence, but now had been called to converse with him.

"My brother's weapon," she finally replied. An unsettling, dull rumble sounded from the trade master's chest.

"Y'know, I'm a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to weapons," purred the feline. "I'd be more than happy to add that thing to my collection. For the proper price, of course." Sensing his syrupy voice, the young woman recoiled, protectively gripping the bow tighter.

"Look, I know what you're trying to pull, and no, you can't have it," she grumbled. The predator huffed and leaned back again, folding his arms behind his head and furrowing his brows at the sky.

"Damn, am I gettin' that predictable?" he muttered.

"Kai and I have spent a lot of time in marketplaces," Nya shrugged before giving him an icy look. "We know a guy has shady intentions if he tries to sweet talk you. You'd probably give me fake coins for it anyway." Ronin flicked his tail and curled the side of his mouth in a lopsided frown.

"Well, whatever," he huffed. "Still a fine-lookin' bow." Nya nodded slowly, finally agreeing with the cat on something.

"Gotta bring it to my brother just in case he needs to protect himself," the huntress sighed, turning the weapon over in her hands.

"Right, right." Ronin's ears perked when the noirette picked up one of Kai's arrows and drew it, aiming somewhere off the ship. However, she was only testing to make sure that the bow still worked, and calmly let the tension simmer before placing everything back on the deck. It was obvious that the tiger, like all the yokai she had encountered, saw her as a threat, and was constantly checking to make sure she was not about to murder him. "You never did tell me why we gotta get you to Kyoboku by this afternoon."

"My brother was taken hostage, and we're gonna rescue him," Nya replied, looking the now intrigued beast dead in the eye. His tail stopped moving altogether, going limp against the wood of the ship. The pause that ensued was heavy. Too heavy.

"The hell d'ya mean 'taken hostage'?" Ronin finally asked.

"Well, we were able to talk to him once, and he said that he'd been married to a yokai after he was kidnapped."

"Married?"

"Right. Forgot you guys use the word 'bonded'."

"What? You think that…" Suddenly the big cat burst into laughter, putting a hand over his heart in his hysterical fit. "Your brother ain't been kidnapped! He's found his soulmate! God, how dumb can you humans get?" The huntress took a moment to let confusion sink in, wondering why Jay had not told her about whatever was so obvious to the tiger. She had no clue what he was talking about, but whatever it was she wanted to understand it.

"Wh-... What the hell? Soulmate?" she gaped, feeling uncertainty and anger overtake her expression.

"That's how bonding works, sweetheart. You find your soulmate, then you stick with each other for the rest of your lives." Nya recalled the relationship between Cole and Jay. At many points, the bear had called the rabbit his mate, and that they were bonded. It made sense, considering that when she and Lloyd had woken up the bunny was snuggled in his partner's arms as if none of their argument had ever happened.

"That just sounds like marriage," she sighed, only grasping the concept a little. The thief let out a long breath and folded his arms.

"Dunno what that is, but bonding is unbreakable," he shrugged.

"Unbreakable?" the noirette muttered. She looked at the wooden planks below her, thinking deeply.

Oh god. Is Kai not gonna be able to leave? I hope that he's not under this bonding spell yet. But… he said that he was married over the crystal so what if he's already… Nya shook her head to get rid of those despairing whims.

"How long will it take to get to Kyoboku?" the huntress inquired as she found new resolve. In response, the yokai just tipped his hat into its previous position over his eyes and leaned back, resting once more.

"However long it takes," he drawled, shifting his weight so he could get more comfortable.

"What do you mean?" Nya almost shouted. The partial beast snarled just slightly with a twitch in his ear, looking back up to the human with a sharp eye.

"My ship, my rules, my speed." At the statement, the girl began to fume, wanting nothing more than to be in Kyoboku at that very second so she could escape this wannabe smooth-talker bandit.

"Lloyd and I are here to save someone who's been kidnapped, and you just wanna laze around and do nothing to get us there faster?" she growled. "What a gentleman."

"You know it," the feline grinned devilishly before pointing blindly towards her. "Now put that bow away before you shoot somebody." Although she was becoming increasingly agitated, she complied, wrapping the weapon in a special blanket before placing it next to her pack.

The boat continued to drift onwards in silence, save for the few sounds of birds and the constant whispering of the water beneath them. After a little while, Karlof called for Ronin to take the helm, to which the cat begrudgingly responded, stretching with leisure before walking across the ship.

Nya arrived to focus on the goal of simply getting to their destination, but the frightening thought of losing her brother for good distracted her completely. This Zane person could not be the same beast that Jay had talked so highly of. Nobody with a pure soul could possibly just take Kai from his home without even asking for her blessing. Even if yokai culture was vastly different from her own, there was still a standard for marriage across the world… right?

"Are you okay, Nya?" The young sage's sudden appearance in front of her made her startle, but she immediately softened, not wishing to cause Lloyd any stress.

"I'm fine," she told him with a little smile. "I just wanna get to Kyoboku as soon as possible."

"You and me both," sighed the blond as he sat down next to her. "I know you're worried about Kai, and that's okay. I'm worried about him too. But you can't keep freaking out like this."

"I'm not freaking out," the huntress gasped.

"Nya," Lloyd deadpanned. "It's okay to be scared, but you have to relax. We'll find him, and we'll bring him home, okay?" She pulled her knees up and hugged them close to her chest, resting her chin on top of them. The young woman breathed, letting her anxiety go for just a moment. She pressed out a long, deep breath, then turned to face her friend.

"Okay," she muttered. "Thanks, Lloyd." The sage-in-training patted her on the back, grinning.

"No problem," he beamed. The clunky sounds of hooves drew close to them, and as the humans turned around they saw the dark yet welcoming visage of Karlof. He knelt in front of the pair and gave them some fresh water to refill their packs with.

"We get to Kyoboku dock, thirty minute," he informed them. Nya's jaw tensed, realizing that Ronin had made it sound like the journey would take much longer than it really was. "When get there, go straight in Jade Palace. Princess Harumi give directions."

"Princess Harumi?" Nya wondered aloud.

"Good princess. Care much about kingdom," the centaur nodded. His tail swished in what looked like pride. "Karlof dance with her at Cole and Jay's forge ceremony. Very nice."

"Forge ceremony," Lloyd repeated, running his hand over his chin in thought. He leaned over to the huntress and whispered, "What's that?"

"Probably like a wedding, if I were to guess," she responded, not completely sure herself. She turned her face back up to the partial horse. "Thanks, Karlof, for all of this."

"Friend of Cole is friend of Karlof too," he smiled wide, scratching his beard absentmindedly. "Besides, Ronin say you looking for brother. Karlof wish luck. You lose family, is rough. But you find him, yes?" He appeared rough, carrying the demeanor of a sailor in his features, but the yokai was also very kind and generous.

"Yeah," Nya agreed, hope sparkling in her heart.

"Docks go through castle grounds," the beast said, pointing off in the distance. Nya looked in the same direction and saw a giant palace coming up over the next tree-covered hill. They were close, and now the huntress was itching to find her sibling. "You enter through bottom and go to top to see princess." With that, the equine moved away, readying some ropes and other supplies on one side of the vessel.

The two humans remained wordless, watching as the castle drew closer with each minute that passed. Its spires were gorgeous, glimmering in the daylight. A few yokai flew around the exterior, most likely guards on patrol, and some dove down to the very docks that they were headed for. It was very likely that the beasts could see their ship coming, and were preparing to receive them.

Nya waited with hushed breath, quietly contemplating how the princess would react to their arrival. Hopefully she was as caring as Karlof had said.

"Good morning!" a few guards called from the docks as they drew near. Ronin waved back, then angled the boat so it would safely exit the current. The centaur helped his passengers get their belongings in order, then assisted the tiger with docking. Nya gave Lloyd an enthusiastic smile, happy that they were finally one step closer to reaching Kai. When the ship stopped, Karlof stepped off first, then aided the humans as they made their way onto the docks.

"Excuse me, sir," one of the palace yokai warily asked. "Are those humans that you're bringing ashore?"

"Yes," Karlof replied, nodding in a manner that showed his understanding of their worry. "Here to see princess about lost brother that was found in yokai territory." The guards looked at each other, and Nya suddenly became nervous despite her attempts to stay calm. She tried to assure herself that they would let them see Harumi. They had to. They had gotten so close to finding Kai, they could not turn back now.

"Come with us," one of the sentries finally said. The two immediately lit up, following the beasts with eager steps.

"Thank you Karlof!" the huntress called over her shoulder. "You too Ronin!" The two yokai on the boat waved back to the humans, shouting their own goodbyes. At the base of the gigantic trees that supported the structure, there was a set of doors built into the bark, with beautiful golden engravings on the front depicting legendary figures in spiritual history.

"Alright, step through here," a sentinel told them, opening one of the large doors. Once Nya and Lloyd had crossed through the entrance, he followed and walked over to a large panel on the wall. He waved his hand over a symbol of a peacock, causing it to glow a dull green color. The floor beneath them turned the same jade color, then light encased them both as they felt a fluttering sensation. When Nya opened her eyes, she flinched and nearly fell over. They were suddenly on a platform, thousands of feet in the air. In front of them were what she could assume to be the main palace doors.

"Great, more humans," a nearby guard growled to his partner. "Lemme guess, you both wanna see the princess."

"That's right," Nya told them, standing her ground. "Could you please lead us to her?" At her firm tone, the two yokai scoffed, but went over to main doors and opened them nonetheless. A grand throne room was presented to them, causing them both to gape in awe. The beautiful marble and jade colors mixed with gold astounded them. There was nothing like this back home in Jamonikai. They stepped over the scarlet carpeting until they found a set of stairs leading upwards. The sentries ushered them up, then returned to their posts.

As they climbed, a second level that formed a balcony around the outer edges of the great hall was revealed to be an indoor garden, pressed up against glass to let sunlight in. There was a soft humming sound that resonated from between the flowers, and soon they were standing on the same floor as the source of the music. Upon their arrival, a figure turned.

Time seemed to slow for Nya. The young yokai's white hair reflected the bright rays of light from the window as if it were made of the finest moondust. Her lips were tinted with ruby makeup, as were her eyes. Her flowing green robe and brilliant feathers accentuated her divine appearance. She certainly looked the part of a princess.

"Visitors!" she gasped, setting down the watering can she was holding. "And humans too! Oh my, this week has been just full of surprises!" The peacock glided over to them with a big grin, golden-colored eyes shimmering with giddy excitement.

"Greetings, I am Princess Harumi!" she beamed, allowing them to shake her hand. "What brings you here, weary travelers?" Nya looked over at Lloyd, who simply took a deep breath before nodding to her.

"We're here to find my brother, Kai," the huntress replied. Harumi's eyes widened, then after a brief pause she clapped her hands rapidly.

"He mentioned that he had a sister during his forging- I mean wedding preparations!" the princess chuckled as she shifted from foot to foot. "It must have taken you so long to reach the palace! I insist that you stay here tonight and rest before we take you to him."

"A-Actually…" the noirette interrupted, causing the half-bird to pause. "We're supposed to reach Kai by this afternoon." A little moment passed as the ruler drummed her fingers against her chin in thought, but then she shook her head and darted forward, grabbing Nya by the hand.

"Nonsense!" she giggled. "I'll simply contact his partner and inform him that we will arrive later than you told him. I'm sure he won't mind." The huntress wished to protest, but she was too focused on the feeling of the yokai's hand in hers. For a princess, she sure did have quite a few callouses covering her palm and fingers.

"Nya?" Lloyd piped up as he matched their pace. "I thought you wanted to get to Kai as soon as possible?"

"Oh, Lloyd, don't worry," the princess said in a sing-song voice. "I believe everything will work out just fine!" In stunned silence, the humans followed her. Nya had no idea how she could have possibly known his name, but chose to ignore that little flaw in logic. Considering that she was a yokai princess, it did not strike her as unnatural for her to possess some sort of bizarre magical abilities. They stepped out of the large room and into a side hallway, where a few maidens were softly chatting as they passed. The white-haired girl gave them a grin, then continued on her way.

Finally, they reached two rooms, and the princess ushered them both into a separate one. Nya had to blink rapidly to make sure that she was truly seeing the beautiful guest bedroom around her. The pillows and covers were embroidered in shades of scarlet and gold, and the walls were covered in pristine art. Through the window, she could see all the way to the horizon.

"Get yourselves comfortable," Harumi instructed them. "I'll be back to bring you to dinner later. Oh! And Nya? I'd love to hear stories about the human territory afterwards." Before the huntress could say anything else, the peacock was gone with the faint scent of peach blossoms and fresh air. She looked around her room once more before dumping her belongings haphazardly on the floor. The huntress was anxious, wishing to depart immediately, but the bed looked so comfortable after the nights she had spent in a tent. With cautious movements, she laid down and melted into the softness of the mattress.

Her mind whirled with a dilemma. She knew that Lloyd deserved a rest, especially after trying to figure out that teleportation spell. However, now that she was in Kyoboku her legs were telling her to go go go. As she stared up at the bed's canopy, her eyelids began to grow heavy, and she had to sit up to help fight the sleep that threatened to invade her system.

A soft series of clicking sounds approached, then a young yokai handmaid appeared at her door. She was carrying a rather large stone, and appeared to be searching for something as she stared at the glistening object. Nya stood and waited for her to tilt her head to look at her.

"Miss, the princess has informed me that you need to make a call," the small half-robin said. "As a human, it may be difficult for you to establish a link. May I assist you in connecting to your desired recipient?" The words blurred in Nya's head, and although she could not make out even a tiny bit of what the beast had just said, she nodded anyway.

"Then let's get started. Princess Harumi said that you are trying to reach Kai Smith, the bonded partner of Zane Julien. Is that correct?" Along with her brother, the name 'Zane' definitely rung a bell, so the spear wielder nodded once more. The yokai handed her the crystal, then took a step back. Nya felt a rush go through her system as something inside her being attached itself to the stone.

Although Kai appreciated that Zane was putting so much time aside for him, he really needed to stop taking him on dates so often. The guilt was too much for him. They were walking through the nearby marketplace, which was lively with throngs of yokai. Kai found that the buzz of shoppers and strollers reminded him of home and calmed him just slightly, but what the falcon had planned for both of them set his nerves on fire.

They were making their way to a dance hall, which was supposedly full of fellow young couples. It just seemed too coincidental that there were so many events going on for bonded pairs around the same time, but Zane reminded him just how important bonding was in yokai culture. As they neared their destination, the hunter could hear the sounds of music and laughter. His heart pounded, and even though he had told his partner that he did not know how to dance, the partial bird had only assured him that he would quickly learn.

Finally, they broke through the crowd and saw the wide platform that was shielded by a roof. In the center, a large circle of beasts gallivanted around in a distinct pattern at certain times, then at others they simply danced in what looked like random directions.

"Ready?" Zane asked, squeezing his hand.

"No," Kai replied with terror. "I told you, I can't dance!" The blond laughed and pulled him to follow, then gripped the human's waist with his free hand.

"Let me teach you, then!" the avian yokai grinned. "Follow my steps, alright?"

"Wait, Zane-!" Without a moment to collect himself, Kai was already being tugged into the fray. Thankfully, he picked up certain things quickly, so he was able to mirror his movements after only a few moments of stumbling. The problem after that was slowing down. He had a tendency to hasten his actions when he was anxious, and he ended up only narrowly avoiding stepping on the shoes of his mate multiple times. He stared down at the floor, trying his hardest to focus on not tripping or harming his partner. However, he still managed to step on the falcon's toes. "Sorry! I tried to warn you, I don't know how to dance!"

"It's alright," Zane promised, helping him get back in the rhythm. "It is obvious that you are nervous, and that is your main issue. Here, look at me." The partial bird removed his hand from his waist for a moment to tip Kai's chin up. As soon as it returned to its original placement, his grip was a little bit more firm, and it helped to guide him.

"There, now just listen to the beat of the music," the blond continued. The sounds around the hunter began to fade away as he stared into the arctic blue irises of his husband. Slide, step step. Slide, step step. He could feel the melody driving his movements, but every other sense was tuned in to the way he was being held. Because of the yokai's steady hands and calm demeanor, Kai felt safe in his arms. It was like the night of their forging ceremony, where all he could truly remember was the way that he had stuck to Zane like glue. He had just delved into an unfamiliar world, and the beast had been nothing but kind and helpful towards him. The hunter felt an involuntary smile come over him. "Wonderful. That's perfect, Kai. Now, I am going to start turning."

Despite his original protests, he was thoroughly enjoying this. As they went through the clumsy yet endearing process of spinning while moving the human found himself laughing. The dance was fast, forced him to be in rather close quarters, and was a tad uncomfortable for him, but he was having fun. They stepped up the pace as the tempo increased, and Kai was suddenly picked up and swung around before being placed back on the ground. He had forgotten how strong Zane was.

"Where'd you learn that?" the brunet asked.

"Oh, um-" the half-falcon mumbled, cheeks tinting red. "Well, I have spent most of my life around this market, and this dance is entertaining to watch. I picked up a few things in anticipation of my own bond." Kai's brows raised as his heart softened. No wonder he had been so insistent. Before they knew it, the song ended, and those around them cheered.

"Did you enjoy it?" Zane inquired with undisguised hope. The hunter nodded bashfully and allowed himself to be embraced. When they stepped back, Kai took a moment to examine his partner. His white button up, black slacks, and dress shoes were simple yet charming. In contrast, Kai had just grabbed a comfortable, soft rosewood-colored henley and jeans. He suddenly felt like he had caused the yokai's experience to be underwhelming.

"Sorry I didn't wear anything nice or try that much," Kai muttered. "If I'd known that this meant so much to you, I would've-" Suddenly, the communication crystal around his mate's neck glowed fern green and white. Zane's eyes widened and he quickly pulled the pendant into his grip.

"It's from the Palace," he said to nobody in particular as he answered the call. "Hello?"

"Am I currently speaking to Mr. Zane Julien?" a dry voice replied.

"Correct," the falcon responded. He held out his hand for Kai to take, and he led his fluffy human through the crowd until they were relatively alone. The hunter had no idea why the winged boy was receiving such an important call unannounced, but had a feeling he was about to find out. "How may I help you?"

"I have a private message for your mate. Kai Smith."

"Me?" spluttered the boy in question. Zane simply shrugged and pulled the necklace off. The blond walked away with a slight smile, moving towards a sweets shop. "Uh, hi."

"Kai, it's Nya." He swore his heart skipped a beat. Immediately his hold on the stone tightened with a mixture of glee and fear.

"Nya," he repeated. He tried to think of anything that she could be calling him for. Then it hit him. "You're at the Palace. You're almost here." She was supposed to arrive that afternoon. He had let that thought slip out of his mind through the blissful security of the dance, but now it penetrated his mind again. His eyes shifted to the faces of every yokai around him, and if any gazes fell on him he believed that they were full of malice. It was as if they all knew his secret and were shaming him for it.

"There's been a change in the plan," the huntress suddenly cut through his anxious daze. "We're staying here at the castle tonight, and we're gonna get there tomorrow. Probably in the morning." A little bit of relief passed through his system, then dissipated again when he realized that he still had to make a choice.

"Do I have to go back home?" he asked, gulping down his apprehension.

"Of course!" Nya told him. "Kai, we didn't come this far for you to not go home- uh… I mean… visit home." According to the voice he had heard earlier, there was a palace attendant in the room with his sibling. A yokai would probably report a plan to break a bond, so she most likely had to choose her words wisely.

"Zane picked up first, which means he's nearby, right?" his sibling went on. "So I'll make this short. Be ready for us tomorrow."

"Nya, we can work this out."

"No. You're not a yokai. You need to come home sometimes and visit your family."

"But, Zane-"

"Zane's okay with it," Nya interrupted. "And so are you. Thank you, I think we're done here." Her voice grew dimmer, as if she was moving away.

"Wait, Nya!" he nearly shouted. It was too late, the stone was dim again. Once more, he had been unable to speak up for himself, and Nya had only given him what she wanted him to hear before leaving him again. "Damn it!" He was seething, terrified, and just wanted to sort everything out, but he could never get anywhere with his sister if she was so set on her goals.

"Are you alright?" Zane suddenly appeared beside him with a box of chocolates in hand. "You look upset."

"No! I'm just, er, focused!" Kai spluttered, straightening his back and handing the pendant back to his partner. "I tend to get pretty intense when I'm thinking." The bird smiled with fondness and softly pressed his lips to the hunter's forehead.

"How adorable," the blond whispered with an amused tone. "Why don't we take a walk around the market and see what is available?" He took Kai's hand in his, and they began to make their way through the gathered yokai. The human did his best not to trudge, but his mind was too heavy with troubled thoughts. Even when Zane asked him if he wanted to buy anything, he only gave him distant, vague answers before moving on.

"You are not still sick, are you?" the falcon eventually asked him.

"Me? No, I'm just… tired from all the dancing," Kai said. Instantly, the yokai rushed over to a platform and situated the bags that he had acquired. "We don't have to go home if you don't want to."

"It's alright," Zane assured him. "Your well-being is my first priority." With now-practiced ease, the falcon picked up his husband and stretched his wings, ready to take off. They flew away, leisurely soaring homewards. Perhaps it was because of the way that he was being carried, or the soothing breeze against his body, but Kai felt his nerves slowly settling.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled without meaning to.

"For what?" the partial beast asked. Kai sighed, gripping the fabric of his shirt.

"For causing you all this trouble."

"You have not caused me any trouble, darling- er, Kai." The hunter shook his head.

"I'm a human, Zane. That's already bad enough," he told him, furrowing his brows. "And if I hadn't been hunting, then maybe you could've bonded with a yokai that could treat you better." They dropped in altitude, already almost back to the treehouse.

"What makes you think that?" Zane inquired. "You are already incredibly kind to me." The human scoffed as they touched down on their porch. He stood and folded his arms as soon as he was able. In what way could he have been kind to him? Even as they spoke, he was considering leaving him all alone.

"I am being serious," the falcon continued. "It is true that we have a bit of a cultural barrier between us, but you are patient enough to help me understand human romance, and you allow me to get close to you even though it is usually not customary for your kind. You allow me to leave you alone at home for hours on end, although that is terribly unfair to you. You have taken care of me when I was not feeling my best, and… You have stayed with me even though you never truly had a choice. I cannot thank you enough for that." The guilt was about to crush him, but the slow and sure embrace that he received melted his concerns. Zane's body was somewhat cold against his, seemingly cooling down his heated mindset. Ever so slowly, he hugged him back. Nya may not have listened to him, but the falcon before him could act as his anchor for the moment.

It was unfair, releasing his tension while he was continuing to lie to the yokai. For the moment however, he could not find the capacity to care. He needed just one minute of solace, which he had not had throughout the entire week. It was selfish, but it felt necessary.

"Let's go inside and have some chocolate," Zane murmured. Kai nodded before parting with him, then followed him through the front door.