Reincarnation

Chapter Two

I floated in the water, looking at the sky. I had only an hour left before I would have to become a tiger, and in the pool was where I usually spent it when I could. It was peaceful and calm.

I heard the light patter of feet, and then the disturbance in the water. I stood up, and looked around, not surprised to see Kelsey. She wore a bikini, and I grinned, sinking into the water to my shoulders, and swam towards her.

"You know," I said. "I'm always up for skinny dipping."

"You wish," she retorted, and splash me with a flick of her hand. I reached up, wiping the water from my face and laughed.

"So, how awkward was it?" I said teasingly, meaning about Ren and Kelsey's first meet in a few months.

I didn't need to explain. She frowned, and sighed, "Extremely."

"You know," I said, "You two could be making out right now. I will argue that I am the better kisser, but that's beside the point."

"Thanks for making me feel better," she said sarcastically, and made to splash me with water again, but I pounced, grabbing her around the waist and we both went barreling back into the water. Keeping my hold on her, I stood, pulling her up with me. She gasped for air, and said, "Kishan!"

"Yes?" I answered, smiling, and I released her. I ran my fingers through my hair, pushing it back from my forehead. I looked at her, amused, and I noticed how she was studying my chest. I lowered myself into the water, and met her eyes. "You know, I think that's about the fifth time you've admired my chest."

She blushed, and looked away. "I was not."

I purred, deciding not to argue with her. She always seemed to be doing that with Ren and I; not that I minded. I paused, hearing paw steps. I looked up to see the white tiger walking out from the back door. Kelsey's eyes were immediately glued to the big cat, but she didn't look at him with that shyness that she did earlier. Ren seemed to notice that also, and he came to the edge of the pool, bunched his muscles, and pounced into the water.

The splash would've soaked us if we weren't already wet. I shook my head, and then wiped the water from my face. Kelsey sputtered, wiping her face also. Ren seemed to smile, swimming over to Kelsey, and pushed up from the bottom of the pool and placed his front two paws on her shoulders. Before she said anything, he licked her chin to hairline.

"Ren!" She squealed, pulling away. Ren purred with laughter, and I couldn't help but smile as well. The young woman washed her face off in the water. She splashed him with water playfully. The white tiger turned, and went to the stairs and walked out, and then he shook out his fur. I heard Kelsey laugh as I chuckled at the spiked appearance of the white tiger's coat.

"So, when's going to be your fundraiser party?" I asked curiously. Ren softly growled. I was usually a man further into the day then Ren, and for some reason it bugged him that he couldn't answer. I grinned. He knew I did it just to annoy him.

"What kind of party?" Kelsey said, looking to me.

I shrugged. "High class people. Fancy dresses and suits. Most speak English, since it's the 'language of business' now. And waiters walking around handing out glasses of champagne and snacks. That kind of party."

"Would it be before we go?" She asked, looking at Ren. He purred in agreement.

"Is it tomorrow?" I asked. Ren stared at me. "The next day?" He growled in agreement. I rolled my eyes at the different agreements. "Have you made arrangements already?" My brother ignored me.

I sighed, and swum to the stairs and got out. My time was about up, and I didn't want to be a wet tiger. I didn't hate turning into a tiger as much as Ren seemed to; I love the feeling of that much power in my body. It was the one time Ren and I were evenly matched in strength.

I grabbed my towel and dried my hair and body, and Kelsey went over to the edge where Ren was laying and hesitantly started running her fingers through the fur on his head.

I huffed, and felt the tremor go up my arm again and through my shoulders. I put the towel down and transformed. It didn't hurt as much as it once did, but it made my muscles sore. I'm sure Ren had the same feeling.

I went over, stepping over Ren, and looked at Kelsey. I licked her cheek, and she made a disgusted noise, wiping it off with the back of her hand. I chuckled, only how tiger's can chuckle.

"Are you going to bed?" She asked.

Oh, if only I were a human. Yes, you want to join me? But I only nodded my head. She smiled, reaching up and kissed me on top of my head. I purred, and from Ren there came a small growled. I flicked him with my tail as I trotted off.

And it was the day, and the few hours, before the party that was the most boring. Since workers/servants were coming to get the place ready, and I was usually shooed away. Ren switched from tiger to human when he had to usually with these things, and let Anik handle it.

Apparently, he had decided to help today.

I was slinking in the jungle, staying out of sight, and Kelsey had decided to come with me. Ren had looked thoroughly displeased at this, and I was smiling on the inside at his displeasure. What were little brothers's for?

I led Kelsey through the trees, and we were silent companions for most of that time. I had offered to Kelsey before we left if she wanted to go out somewhere instead. But she had said that she wanted to see the jungle again.

I took some time of my day out in the jungle; I had spent most of the last years in its safety and peacefulness. It was the place I felt most at ease and like a predator. Rarely did I feel like a Prince these days.

We stopped for a rest (Well, Kelsey did) and I trotted back and changed into a human and sat down next to her on the flat rock. She took two water bottles out of her back pack and handed one of them to me.

"So," I began, gulping down a few mouthfuls of water. "I'm guessing you and Ren haven't made up yet?"

Kelsey frowned. "There's nothing to make up. We're friends."

I rolled my eyes. Even though I held Kelsey dear, I knew I wasn't competition to Ren. There was just something between them... How he looked at her, and how Kelsey looked at him when she snuck glances. I think the only reason I kept up the flirts was because they made Ren angry.

"Okay, you can keep saying that if you want to," I replied. "Just remember: you and he are going to be alone anywhere you go to search for all the Durga magical stuff."

She rolled her eyes. "Nice description," she said sarcastically. And then, "You're not coming?"

I frowned, looking away from her to the surrounding trees and wildlife. I shrugged after a moment. "I'm still debating," I admitted. What had even made me consider it was hearing about how Kelsey almost died from the Kappa... If I had been there, things would have been different. I would've stayed with Kelsey.

I would have protected her, like I should have protected Yesubai all those years ago.

I looked over at her and smiled. I raised a hand, and picked the chain up that was around her throat. I smiled at the amulet. "At least you still have my piece of the amulet."

I withdrew my hand and she picked up the amulet that was around her neck. She studied it for a moment, and let it fall back to her chest. "Of course, Kishan," Kelsey said. "Like Mr. Kadam, I plan to wear this until one of you wants it back."

"That's good," I said, and purred.

She fiddled with it for a few moments as I sipped at my water, glancing around at the surrounding wildlife. Then, she asked me without looking up, "Which one of your parents gave you this?"

"My mother," I replied, looking back over at her. "Since Ren would be the next emperor, he got our fathers. I'm not complaining, though. I'm proud to wear my mother's piece." I smiled softly, looking away, memories flooding my thoughts...

I didn't know how to hunt. My body was so much different than the one I trained in and grew in. Walking on four feet was awkward, and at first it seemed I paraded through the forest like an elephant.

My tail was the strangest thing, since I defiantly isn't have one of those before. I quickly learned it was for balance when I had tried crossing a log over a river; I ended up falling in.

I was sore, I was tired, and I felt defeated. My love was dead, I was cursed, and I had no one in the world. Me, myself, and I, that's how it was. And would be for a long time.

I had figured out how to turn into a human a few days ago, and that I had a short amount of time. But the pain... I could hardly bare it. I transformed and I ended up biting my lip not to yell out and I was shaky.

But now I was also starving.

The journey back to my home was hard, and food was hard to find; well, for me, at least. And I had never been the best hunter when I was human, so that didn't help at all. I would manage to catch small creatures, and I'd have to live off those.

But, as I was on the edge of the jungle to my kingdom, the smells of food almost made me faint with hunger. I had had at least ten pounds from the running with little breaks, and lack of nutrition in my system.

I got to the edge of the trees, closest to the village, and transformed. When I transformed, I would always have a pair of black clothes. Too bad they didn't come with a hood.

I ripped the bottom of my shirt, and wrapped it around my nose and mouth as I started at a limping run into the village.

I got a lot of weird stares, and I had to glance down at my appearance several times, expecting cuts and bruises. But no proof of the abuse the jungle had given me was there. I thought it strange, but my stomach took priority over missing cuts and bruises.

There was a cart, meats hung up. I shuffled through my clothes, and with dread I saw I had no money. The guy that owned the cart looked at me expectantly, if not with caution. I was about to grab one and run, when I felt a hand on my shoulder and then someone passing money to the cart owner.

I looked up, and was bewildered to see Anik. He ignored me for the moment, and ordered the largest hunk of meat the man had. Anik took the cloth the man wrapped the meat in, and gripped my shoulder and made a movement with his head for me to follow. I did so with question, head ducked.

He led me to the forest, where I felt the familiar tremor. I wanted to explain to Anik; I wanted to tell him how I had betrayed Dhiren...

I fell to the ground, withering, as I transformed. I was on shaky feet, head ducked, and breathing heavy. It didn't hurt as much the first time, when Lokesh had turned us into tiger's, but it so painful...

I looked up to see in surprise that Anik didn't look scared or surprised. He unwrapped the meat and placed it at my feet. I hungrily bit into it, tearing at it with teeth and claws.

"Kishan!" I looked up at my name, but didn't pause in my ravenous eating. Anik looked down at me, frowning, and took a deep breath. "Kishan, your brother had found me and explained your... situation."

I huffed. Really? Ren could explain the whole situation in the limited amount of time we were allowed? If he had, why was Anik helping me? I would think he'd shun me; maybe turn me in the moment he saw me.

"Ren told me that you had also tried to attack Lokesh, and that Yesubai was killed."

I growled, laying back my ears. I didn't need to be reminded of her death... It was still a gaping hole in my heart.

"I know how you loved her," Anik continued. "I know where Ren is - do you want me to show you?"

I growled in no. I didn't want to see my brother; I didn't think he wanted to see me. Betraying him, Yesubai getting killed, I stole his fiancé... I couldn't face him so soon.

Anik hunched down as I swallowed the last of the meat. I raised my head, and he reached forward after meeting my eyes and placed his hand on my head. "Then be safe, my friend. I am always near if you need me."

I nodded, pulling away from his hand. I tilted my head to him, looking at him. I wanted to know how my mother and father were. If they were worried...

Anik read that in my eyes. "You're mother and father is in distress and sorrow. I will watch out for them." I nodded my thanks before turning around and loping off.

A month or so later, I was near the edge of the jungle and heard that their funeral was that day.

I looked up, seeing we had been out here for a few hours. I sighed, getting up and shaking my head of the darker memories. I turned and offered my hand to Kelsey. She took it and I hoisted her up to her feet.

"Ready?" I said.

"Are we going back?"

"Yes, I think they should be done with the place by now," I said, and shrugged. And then grinned mischievously. "If not, then the workers might be scared to see a tiger walking in..."

She slapped me playfully on the shoulder. "Ren would kill you."

"Well, that's what brothers are for," I said, smiling, and switched back to my furry form.