A/N: Ugh, we keep finding errors in the writing, dammit… At least I'm able to edit this stuff. Enjoy~

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story. Many thanks to Milaya Milen Zeal for helping me write this!

Steal My Heart

Chapter 5

X*X(1 Month Later)X*X

Joshua whimpered as he sat back from vomiting once again, feeling miserable. This was the third time today he'd gotten sick, and the eighth time this week despite it being Thursday. The bearer was certain of what this meant: he was pregnant. After all, he and Neku had had sex several times during their 'honeymoon' after the mating ceremony. He also knew that Neku would discover it soon, too. This was because any youkai's scent, male and female, changed with pregnancy, and that was common knowledge. Joshua's scent would become more alluring and erotic to Neku, making the redhead more protective of him. Soon, Neku would realize his scent had changed, so Joshua would have to tell him first.

The silverette sighed, hoping he would be able to get his mate away from all the business papers Axel had been teaching him about so he could tell him. Neku had been so busy these days that he didn't even know about Joshua getting sick. Maybe Roxas could help Neku get away…

X*X*X*X*X*X*X

"Hey Joshua," Roxas greeted his fellow bearer with a smile as he entered the mated pair's bedroom. "How are you?"

"I'm not sure," Joshua admitted, shrugging one shoulder. The neko frowned, sitting on the bed with him and placing his hand comfortingly on the silverette's back.

"Want to talk about it?" the blonde inquired, and the kitsune nodded.

"I'm pregnant," he whispered. Roxas's expression instantly brightened with excitement.

"You mean it?!" he demanded eagerly, and when Joshua nodded, Roxas hugged him. "Neku's going to be so happy!"

"That's also why I want to talk to you, Roxas," the younger male murmured. "I need to tell him, but I don't want to with Axel around, seeing as Neku's been so busy with him and that stupid business work lately…"

"I understand," the neko winked. "I'll keep Axe occupied tonight. You tell Neku in private tonight."

"Thanks, Roxas, you're the best," Joshua smiled gratefully.

X*X(Later…)X*X

"Come on, Ax, let them have the night together," Roxas pleaded with his mate. "They haven't had much time together since you forced Neku into learning about the damned business paperwork."

"No. He still needs to learn," the redhead growled stubbornly.

"If you don't give them bonding time tonight, no sex for a month," the blonde spat, narrowing his eyes. Axel jolted and spluttered before glaring at Roxas.

"You wouldn't last that long, either," he argued.

"I have my ways of managing," the neko smirked. The older redhead groaned in frustration.

"Fine!" he relented. "But you owe me!"

"What, me riding you?" Roxas snorted.

"Yes."

Oh, all right. That means Neku and Joshua get at least a week together," the blonde said firmly. The youkai lord grumbled, but didn't say anything else.

X*X*X*X*X*X*X

Joshua waited anxiously for Neku to return from his 'lessons' with Axel. He felt like his heart was going to burst from his chest with anxiety. Finally, he heard Neku's familiar footsteps approaching their room. As soon as the redhead closed the door behind himself, he smiled in greeting.

"Hey," he waved from where he sat on the bed.

"…hey…" Neku mumbled, holding a hand to his head as he half-walked, half-stumbled to the bed, before he flopped down face-first. "Nrgh…"

"That draining of a day, huh?" the silverette guessed with a sympathetic look. He placed a hand on Neku's back, rubbing it soothingly.

"…mmhmm…" was all the redhead was able to get out, his tails flicking at the air a bit tiredly. Joshua's tails began to twitch with nervousness as he thought about his news again, and Neku sensed it. "…hm?" After a moment, Neku lazily rolled over onto his side so he could look at his mate without sitting up. "What's wrong?" Joshua froze, but then sighed heavily as he lowered his gaze to his lap.

"Neku, I have something I need to tell you," he murmured.

Those words clearly worried Neku, as was clear from his expression, and he forced himself to sit up to face Joshua properly. "…what?"

"I'm…pregnant…" he whispered, tears forming in his eyes. Neku blinked, twice, but he didn't say anything. He only stared at Joshua, as though trying to make sure he wasn't kidding. The silverette drew his knees to his chest at Neku's silence, a whimper escaping him.

However, Neku reached over and unfolded his mate quietly, forcing him to look up. And before Joshua could try and curl up again, the older kitsune moved over and pulled him close, resting his chin on Joshua's shoulder, simply breathing in deeply. The pregnant bearer shivered lightly as his mate's exhaled breaths tickled his neck, and he knew the redhead was trying to smell his pregnancy scent. He soon wrapped his arms around Neku, not wanting to be let go.

"…you really are…" Neku whispered finally.

"I've been getting sick while you've been with Axel for the past week, so I knew I had to be pregnant," Joshua mumbled. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you… I just didn't want you to worry about me too much…"

"…idiot…"

Before Joshua could object, Neku pulled back and swiftly kissed his mate. The smaller kitsune, although shocked by the suddenness, was quick to respond. He practically melted in the redhead's hold, grateful for Neku's presence.

After a moment of just enjoying each other's presence, Neku slowly broke the kiss, "You should've said something sooner…" he murmured. "I could've arranged something."

"I know… I'm sorry," Joshua apologized softly.

"Ssshh," Neku shushed, rubbing his mate's back. "It's okay." Joshua leaned into the touch, more grateful than ever to have Neku as his mate.

"We'll need to tell Axel soon," he pointed out. "Otherwise he'll keep dragging you away for those stupid papers."

"I know…I'll think of something…" Neku promised, reaching up and lightly scratching behind Joshua's ear. The silverette nuzzled Neku's hand, a content smile curving his lips.

"I'm surprised you're not feeling the urge to fuck me senseless right now," he said suddenly. "I remember my mother telling me the pregnancy scent can become quite influential."

"Who says I'm not?" Neku chuckled softly. "But I figured you needed this first, ne?"

"True," Joshua giggled, kissing his mate lightly. "Soon enough, though, you know my hormones will be making me VERY needy~"

"Oh really?" Neku murmured with a smirk. "And how soon would you think that to start?"

"Not sure, but we can start now," the younger kitsune purred, pressing himself against his mate. The redhead chuckled briefly, before he abruptly pushed Joshua down and locked their mouths together again. Joshua purred into the kiss before nipping at Neku's bottom lip playfully. This made Neku chuckle softly, as he licked along the other's lip, before slipping his tongue in his mouth, as his hands began tugging on their clothes.

Joshua eagerly shed his shirt to start, and managed to squirm out of his pants, leaving himself in just his underwear. And Neku wasn't far behind, tossing his shirt off to the side before he latched onto his mate's nipples with his mouth and one hand, letting the other play along the exposed skin. The silverette squeaked at the warm wetness, and he shuddered at the sensation. This made Neku chuckle as he flicked at Joshua's left nipple, while licking and suckling on the other, steadily slipping off both his own and his mate's clothes.

The younger kitsune could feel himself hardening from his mate's touches, but, since Neku enjoyed teasing and foreplay so much, he couldn't do a thing about it. But he tried by bucking his hips up against the redhead's.

Neku hissed at the contact, before he smirked and brought in his tails to keep Joshua pinned to the bed. "Stop being so impatient."

"Can't blame me…for trying," the redhead's mate panted, giving a cheeky grin.

"Maybe, maybe not…" Neku purred, curling his fingers around Joshua's cock. The silverette groaned softly at the contact, lifting his hips into the touch.

"More, Neku, please…!" the smaller kitsune whimpered.

"Needy, aren't we?" Neku purred as he sat up on his knees.

"I just know I need that amazing cock of yours inside me~" Joshua smirked.

"Oh you'll get that…just not now," Neku said with a smirk, before he licked his lips. And then he took a deep breath, opened his mouth and ducked down. Joshua gave a choked cry as his mate took his member into his mouth and began to suck him off.

"H-holy shit!" he stuttered loudly, shuddering heavily at the heat and warmth and wetness that enveloped him. The redhead chuckled around Joshua's flesh, before he began to bob his head, either licking along the flesh or sucking on it, humming as he did.

Joshua dug his fingers into Neku's hair, avoiding his ears, and struggled not to cum too soon. Neku looked up briefly from under his bangs, and, had he not had his mouth full, he would've smirked, before he began to purr, while at the same time slipping his fingers inside his mate. Joshua barely felt the intrusion, due to the amazing blowjob he was receiving, but he moaned when Neku began to purr. His tails thrashed beneath him as he continued to try not to cum.

"N…Neku…! I'm gonna cum!" he panted, but before Neku could pull away, he came into his mate's mouth with a pleasured cry. Neku hummed softly, before he began swallowing the shorter male's cum, before sitting up, purring lightly before he moved in and kissed his mate again.

Joshua kissed back with a soft purr, the volume of it increasing as he tasted himself in Neku's mouth. He could feel his cock already partially hardened again, due to Neku's swallowing, and gave a pitiful whine into his mate's mouth.

Neku silently pulled away, removing his fingers. "…ready?"

"Been ready," the smaller male breathed, relaxing himself. The redhead nodded and adjusted his position, and then moved in. Joshua moaned quietly at the smooth entry, waiting for Neku to be fully inside of him before adjusting himself to his mate's familiar length. Neku breathed out slowly, briefly kissing Joshua with a soft purr. The silverette purred back as he kissed his mate, and then whispered, "Move, Neku."

With a single nod, Neku slowly pulled out, and then immediately thrust right back in while locking their mouths together firmly. Joshua moaned into the redhead's mouth, his hands sliding up his mate's arms to grip his shoulders tightly. As Neku fell into a steady rhythm, his tails came up and began to run across Joshua's body, toying with it, teasing it, as one of them curled around his flesh and began moving in time with the redhead's thrusts.

Joshua cried out in pleasure as his member was stroked in rhythm with the powerful thrusts his mate gave. His violet eyes were wide and unseeing as stars danced across his vision from each accurate strike to his prostate. Neku allowed a small, strained chuckle at the look on his mate's face, after which he began to bite and nibble on the shorter male's throat. The pregnant bearer subconsciously tilted his head back to give Neku more access to his throat, a low moan escaping him.

The redhead smirked softly as he moved to kiss his mate again, adjusting his position to make it even better for them both. A choked cry emitted from Joshua's throat at the improvement, and he tightened his grip on Neku's shoulders. Purring from the back of his throat, Neku bared his teeth, and then bit down on Joshua's throat while both pinching both his nipples and hitting his prostate harshly.

With a strangled scream, the Joshua came from the extreme amount of stimulation, his cum releasing onto his mate's stomach, and he clenched around Neku in the process. This made Neku groan from the back of his throat, as he came shortly after with a barely suppressed cry. Joshua shuddered violently around Neku's member as his white hot seed filled him, and he gave a small whimper before going limp.

After a few moments of just laying there, Neku pulled out of his mate, before settling next to him, wrapping an arm around his waist. "Better?"

"Much…" Joshua breathed, loving the feeling of his mate's warmth so close to him, lulling him to sleep. "We'll tell Axel later…"

"Much later…" Neku agreed with a small smirk. "Mom's prolly keeping him busy, anyway…"

"I'll bet," the pregnant bearer giggled softly, turning in the redhead's arms so he could curl up against his mate's chest. "Thank you, Neku…" he mumbled against Neku's skin.

"Anytime," Neku murmured, as he pulled the covers over them both.

X*X*X*X*X*X*X

"We're almost ready to get him back," Noboru growled, looking over the stolen blueprints for the Sakuraba palace spread out all over their dining table.

"Easy, love. We'll get Yoshiya back, but I'd rather not fight if possible," Eleanora soothed, also studying the blueprints. They had been planning this for six weeks now, and they would be ready to put their plan into action in a month's time.

"I know, but be prepared to do so. That bastard won't let our boy go that easily," her mate hissed. Eleanora sighed quietly, hoping Noboru wouldn't do anything drastic.

X*X(1 Month Later)X*X

Joshua sighed heavily as he lay in bed, bored out of his mind. Ever since Axel had been told of his grandchild on the way, Joshua had been limited to staying indoors. Neku had agreed at the time, to make sure the young bearer stayed safe, but now that he was seeing how depressed Joshua was, he felt like a change of pace would be good for them both.

"…Hey, Joshua?"

"Hmm?" the pregnant bearer hummed, looking at him with curious eyes.

"You still interested in learning to play the koto?"

The younger kitsune blinked, surprised, and then perked up before carefully sitting up with a hand on his softly swollen abdomen. "You mean that?" he asked eagerly.

"Would I ask otherwise?" Neku asked in return.

"I'd love to," the silverette grinned, his tails swishing about in an excited manner.

"Well come on then," his mate said, helping the shorter up to his feet. Joshua's grin didn't fade as Neku led him to what was apparently a music room, with a variety of instruments around the room. The silverette's expression shifted to one of awe as he gazed at the instruments.

"Esh…it's been a while since we've used any of these…" Neku mumbled, looking around for a moment.

"Still, there's more than what I've ever learned to play," Joshua shrugged. He then spotted the koto, and he looked at his mate excitedly. "Ready to teach me?"

"Sure…I'm not THAT good, though… Mom likes to exaggerate…" the redhead mumbled. As they reached the koto, though, Neku paused in sitting down, before he moved over a small table, setting the koto on top of it.

"I'm ready to learn, anyway, Neku-sama," Joshua smirked. Neku's ear twitched at the honorific, making him look over in surprise, before he turned away.

"Fine…" he mumbled, as he picked up the picks. "Right, put these over your fingers," he said, handing four to Joshua, after setting four of them over his own. The silverette did as instructed, copying Neku.

"Right…now how did that tune go?" Neku murmured, more to himself than to Joshua, as he reached for the strings and began testing the strings. After a moment, though, he effortlessly fell into a rhythm and began playing a soothing tune by flicking the strings with the picks now attached to his fingers. Joshua listened to the soothing melody of the koto as Neku played, a small smile forming on his face.

Neku was focused almost entirely on the koto, his fingers gracefully moving along the strings as he played…until he hit the wrong string and he flinched. "Gah!"

"Wrong note, Neku-sama?" Joshua snickered.

"Ugh…I know," Neku sighed as he held a hand to his head. "Anyway, you want to try?"

"Sure," the smaller kitsune nodded, and tried to copy the redhead's earlier movements with his fingers.

Neku merely listened as Joshua began to pluck away at the strings, but shortly after he had begun, Neku stopped him. "You're putting too much force behind your motions. This isn't a piano; you need to be gentler with it."

"Sorry, Neku-sama," Joshua murmured, smirking internally.

Neku frowned at Joshua, one of his tails snapping at the air a bit, before he shook the matter off. "Try again." The smaller male nodded, and then tried again, this time more gentle and smooth in his motions. As the silverette played, Neku merely watched and listened quietly, his tails lightly swaying along with the tune.

Eventually, Joshua trailed off the end of the melody, and looked at his mate. "How was that, Neku-sama?"

"…" Neku blinked and looked up, as if he'd gotten lost in thought, before he frowned briefly. "It was good…" he said finally. "Better than I can manage, anyway…"

"You really don't give yourself enough credit," the pregnant bearer sighed.

"No, it's true. All I do is remember how songs are played," Neku pointed out. "I can't actually make my own music or even read scores. It's just not me."

"It's never too late to learn, Neku-sama," Joshua giggled.

Neku's tail snapped at the air briefly as he looked at his mate quietly, before he snorted. "Yeah, sure, whatever…"

Joshua then thought of a song his mother had shown him on the piano, and he figured it would be simple to translate to a koto. So he did. As the first notes floated through the air, Neku's ears twitched and he looked at his mate curiously.

It was an elaborate song, one that he had practiced many times on the piano, but never on a koto. But considering he could mentally picture the scores from the song, that was okay. His mate remained silent as he played, a strange look coming over his face, his eyes falling halfway shut as he listened.

As the song began to pick up pace, Neku rose to his feet suddenly. But before Joshua could stop playing, the redhead began to move around the room in a dance that seemed to capture the essence of the song almost perfectly. The silverette became entranced by the motions of his mate, but continued to focus on playing.

Neku's motion varied between swift and slow, depending on the rhythm of the music, as his eyes fell shut and he focused entirely on the music and his body seemed to move almost instinctively. Eventually, Joshua finished playing the song, allowing the music to trail off into silence. He looked at Neku with a warm smile.

"That was beautiful," he murmured.

Neku blinked his eyes open again, regarding his mate, before he turned his bangs between his fingers. "…thanks…"

"How was that song, though? It was something I originally was taught on the piano by my mother a few years ago," Joshua said.

"…it was cool," Neku admitted as he moved back over and sat down again. "What's its name?"

"I don't know. She never told me, but she did write it herself. Apparently she used to teach music before meeting my father," the silverette told him, leaning against his mate's shoulder. Neku hummed softly, letting Joshua lean against him. However, after a moment…

"…do you miss them?" The question surprised Joshua, but he did answer after a few moments of thought.

"Sometimes…" he confessed. "I just wonder what they're doing and what they could be up to these days. If Father is still stealing from other places, or if he's given up. If Mother is trying to keep him up, or if she's gotten depressed as well…"

"I see…" Neku murmured. "…well, maybe…!"

Suddenly, the redhead fell silent and his body stiffened as he sniffed at the air, before his expression darkened. Joshua frowned, concerned, and straightened up right as one of the stones in the floor lifted, and Noboru and Eleanora emerged, glaring at Neku.

"Let him go, Sakuraba," Noboru growled. Neku said nothing, as he stepped between the two kitsunes and Joshua, his hands curling into claws as his nails extended, while his tails curled around Joshua protectively.

"We'd rather not fight, so release him," Eleanora hissed as she and Noboru also extended their nails, the pair crouching into a defensive stance. Joshua watched worriedly, terrified for all of their safety. He watched his father especially closely, considering the overprotective nature of the man. Noboru was shaking with rage, and was nearly about to pounce at Neku, when Joshua yelled at his parents.

"STOP!" he shouted. The elder silverettes froze, as did Neku, and looked at him, confused.

"What? But…Joshua…don't you want to come home?" his mother frowned, furrowing her thin eyebrows together in confusion.

"Mother…Father… This is my home now," the pregnant bearer told her. "I'm mated to Neku. I love him, and we're going to have a baby." This made the older Kiryus stare at their son, shocked. Joshua placed a calming hand on Neku's shoulder, silently assuring him they were okay.

"What…? But… Is that why Lord Axel took you from us?" Noboru asked.

"He had planned on taking me so I could become mated to Neku. They felt I would make him happy, and so far, I think I have," Joshua explained, smiling softly at his mate. "And I'm happy, too. Of course I miss seeing you, but I want to stay with Neku."

"…" Noboru was silent, but when Eleanora sniffed the air, she smelled Joshua's pregnancy scent.

"As long as you're happy, sweetie, that's what I care about," she murmured. Looking at Neku, she asked him, "And you've been taking good care of our son, I take it?"

"…" Of course, Neku didn't reply to the question. Instead, he merely reached back and placed his hand on Joshua's shoulder, lightly pulling him up against him, with his tails wrapping around the shorter male more firmly.

"I'll take that as a yes," she smiled. "Don't worry, Joshua, we'll leave. But try and visit us when you can, okay? Besides, I'd like to meet my grandchild sometime."

"I'm sure we can arrange something," Joshua chuckled, kissing his mate's cheek to try and calm him. Noboru, however, sighed heavily, and then gave Neku a stern look.

"Treat my son well, Sakuraba, or I'll be paying you a visit," he threatened.

"…you should leave…" Neku snarled out quietly. "Before my father shows up and finds you here… He might be less forgiving then I…"

"Point taken," Eleanora nodded. "Come on, dear, we need to return home." She nudged him back into the hidden passage, and then pulled the stone back over it, hiding the tunnel. Once they were gone, Joshua relaxed fully, and then looked at his mate.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

"…I'm fine," the redhead mumbled, before he settled back down again. Joshua leaned against Neku again, his tails gently wrapping around Neku's.

"I'm glad you guys didn't fight," he murmured.

"…you're the one who stopped us," Neku pointed out quietly.

"Only because I didn't want anyone to get hurt," the silverette replied, his hand moving to rest atop his stomach.

The taller kitsune looked over, before he rested his own hand on Joshua's. "…it'll be fine…" he murmured. The pregnant bearer smiled at his mate's reassurance, and felt a flutter of excitement run through him at the thought of when their baby would start to kick.

"I love you, Neku."

Neku hummed softly, before he leaned over and kissed Joshua to his temple. "…love you, too."