Kazune woke up slowly. His mind was in a haze as he tried to remember what he had done. He looked down and saw that he was wrapped around Karin. Her cold nose was pressed into his chest and the arm under her head had fallen asleep. Being careful not to wake her, Kazune slid his arm out and pushed it down between them. He looked around and saw that it was still dark outside. It must have been near dawn though because the sky was ever so slightly blue. Kazune wouldn't have even been able to tell if it weren't for the dark silhouettes of tree branches spreading across the sky.

Feeling bored, Kazune looked back to Karin and allowed a warm glow to rise within him. He felt at ease with her by his side like this. All that time when they could not be together caught up with him and all he could muster was the urge to give her as many kisses as he could. Shuffling down, Kazune got to face level with Karin. She stirred at his movements and let out a soft groan. He began to pepper her face with light kisses as he had done before at the tavern. She began to stir more before barely opening her eyes and mumbling his name.

"Kazune? It's too early... let me sleep." She turned over, facing away from him.

This did not deter him from continuing his affections. Moving down to her shoulders, he slid her dress down a little more and planted more kisses there. Kazune wrapped his hands around her waist and leaned into her neck as he spoke.

"It's almost dawn... I want to play a little more before the day starts."

"You cannot be serious." Karin's tired voice came from over her shoulder.

"Not that way." Kazune responded. "When we get up we will have to spend time with Michiru and Suzune and all the other people in this house. I want you to myself for a little bit."

Karin faced him again, this time looking fully awake.

"Well now that I am up, what do you want to do?" She said sounding a bit irritated.

"I just felt like cuddling up to you... I don't have much in mind as far as topics to talk about." Kazune was smiling and still a little red faced from the alcohol. He finished his thoughts with a kiss to Karin's nose.

"Alright then..." Karin pressed into his torso and nuzzled him in a friendly manor.

"You can tell me about the life we will have when we go to live in the forest beyond this kingdom" Karin suggested.

"Oh, that plan... Well, where should I begin?"

"Start when we find the place we want to live."

"When we find where we are going to live... you and me are going to work together to build a small house. It wouldn't be like a normal small house either, it will be a house made of living plants, preferably inside a tree or surrounded by trees. There will be a few rooms, a lab for me to study in, a living space, a room to bathe in and best of all, the bedroom."

"And why is that the best room?" Karin teased.

"Because it will have a large bed filled with down feathers, a sturdy wooden frame with a filigree headboard and a gloriously draped canopy above it. Of course on the walls will be my toys and tools to make sure our fun continues to be interesting." Kazune said with a smile.

"That sounds very nice. Continue." Karin ordered.

"When the house is finished, I will carry you inside and we will have a place we both belong. Our very own home. We can invite guests over after that and we can keep to ourselves when we want to. I may decide to build my own separate space where I can cool down or work on projects that need absolute silence."

"You think we'll argue enough for you to need a cool down room?" Karin asked with a sad face.

"Of course we are going to argue, have you seen how we get along? Like you said, I'm your other half, right? We'll disagree and we'll make up. Plus, I'm not worried about you making me mad, I am worried about Michiru doing something boneheaded or having to deal with those who want to take everything from me again."

Karin's face lifted. She laughed her bell laugh and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I wouldn't let you leave. You are stuck with me till you die, remember?"

Kazune raised an eyebrow at her.

"I've made no such promise."

Karin's heart looked like it had sunk.

"What will our relationship be when we go live there? We've been traveling companions and now lovers but, will that change when we no longer need each other?" Karin's eyes drooped and she looked dejected.

"I am certain it will change. To be honest, I don't intend to be your lover forever." Kazune said with a straight face.

Karin's eye shot open. She looked like she was on the brink of panic.

"You don't want to?" She said nearly crying "Then why do you act like you love me?!" She cried at him. She stood up from the bed clutching the blankets to her chest. She was trembling with anger.

"Well we can't be lovers forever. Sooner or later I will make a choice as to whether or not I want to keep going as we have been."

Karin could hardly hear his voice anymore. All she saw was his amused face.

The sun was beginning to shine through the window. Kazune could see tears streaming down her face silently.

"You... you haven't changed." She said with a shivering voice. "You are still always awful to me when the sun rises. The night comes and I feel like I am the most important thing in the world to you and then the sun has to come and take those kind actions and turn them into dreams!"

"When I tell you what I feel you are going to feel silly. You'll also be mad at me for making a fool out of you but you'll be happy. I promise." Kazune spoke with a smirk.

"You know I love you, but you also know I am a sadist. Promise me you will think about how I am teasing you."

Kazune's words confused her and she was not sure how or why he was being so calm about her reactions. She straightened up her posture and put a stern look on her face. Kazune's smile widened to an open-mouthed grin. She was looking terrifying to him but he had grown to love that look.

"I'll think about it. But if you make me upset, I swear I really will make you stay with me till you die because I will kill you myself." Karin warned. Her eyes bore holes into Kazune's soul before she turned to leave his room.

Karin got to his door and opened it holding her dress shut. To both their surprise, Michiru was standing there with a stupid grin on his face. Karin's face blushed when he opened his eyes and saw how tattered her clothing was. Her bite marks were in full view now too. Looking past Karin to Kazune, who was hastily re-buttoning everything.

"Kazune-chan... it was a bad idea to eat those chocolates when you were already aroused." Michiru said pleasantly.

Karin and Kazune's heads whipped around to face Michiru.

"Those chocolates were aphrodisiacs and fairly strong ones too. I never took you for the sweet-toothed type, Kazune-chan. Otherwise I would have told you in advance."

Kazune finally understood his violent reaction to the chocolates. It wasn't the alcohol that made him looser and hungrier for Karin.

"Well then, Miss Hanazono, you must have endured quite a bit considering your master ate enough chocolates to put bunnies to shame." Michiru began to chuckle lightly before bursting into full laughter.

"M-master?! He's not..." Karin stuttered

"Nishikyori! Shut up!" Kazune seethed.

As they waited for Michiru to calm down, Karin fidgeted with her dress trying to hide and Kazune walked forward ready to hit this airheaded governor over the head.

Michiru reached up and grabbed Kazune's swinging fist.

"Ah hah, now that I've had my fun, I should tell you that I took the liberty of getting the house up and working. Breakfast is ready and it is extra special since I figured you'd be tired."

Karin pushed past Kazune and Michiru to retreat back to her room.

She left Kazune alone and within Michiru's grasp. Looking at the man before him, Kazune wished he'd let go already. Michiru did the opposite and tightened his grip just enough to let Kazune know he was not letting go anytime soon.

"What do you want now?" Kazune asked exasperated with everything.

"Just a word to the wise, you should really be more careful with Miss Hanazono. She loves you right now but you never know when someone else will take her fancy." Michiru shot Kazune a sideways glance. When their eyes met he held Kazune's shocked gaze.

"If you are implying that you will try to take her..." Kazune started.

"Not me, chap. I have other interests. Miss Hanazono is lovely and kind but she is not really my type. But the townsmen watch her very closely when she goes out. Some have approached her to lend a helping hand with groceries and other errands."

Kazune was surprised that this was the first he had heard of this. Karin must either not be interested and taking the help cause she wants it or she really is dense.

"Thank you for your thoughts, Michiru. I will have to follow her when she goes out to see what you mean."

"Fair enough." Michiru beamed as he let Kazune's arm go.

"Just out of curiosity..." Kazune said with a curious smile. "What is your type?"

"Hmm, that? I wonder..." Michiru said looking into Kazune's deep blue eyes with a sly grin. The look gave Kazune shivers

"I shall leave you to getting dressed. Come down when you and Miss Hanazono are ready." Michiru said as he stroked his fingers along the line of Kazune's jaw before turning to go down the stairs.

"That man still leaves me on edge." Kazune thought.