A/N: Finally found the time to update! Sorry for the long wait. Schoolwork and exams are truly inevitable.

So here's the next chapter... hope you'd enjoy it.

"What's wrong with those ears?" Youko asked when my hands shot up on my head. I had felt something twitching up there. I took hold of two furry, pointed things protruding on top of my head.

"E-ears…?" I repeated, sliding my hand down the side of my head, where my ears are supposed to be. Now I could only feel the side of my head itself.

Youko laughed. "The effect's worse than I expected. Now you think your ears' position is like the humans'."

My jaw dropped. Youko shook his head. He grabbed my arm and took me in front of a tall full-length mirror.

Wow, was all I could say. I couldn't help but admire the reflections I'm seeing. It seemed… surreal, something that would've only existed in my imagination. Then again, this is just a dream, isn't it?

Both of us are really tall. If I remember correctly, according to the books I've read, Youko's height is about 7 feet. As I stood side-by-side with him, I noticed I only reach up to his chest.

"So you see," he explained slowly, "we are kitsune (1), as evidenced by our fox ears and tail. You happen to be in the same race as me, a silver kitsune," Youko played with my silver hair.

I stared at my own reflection. The only thing similar to my own looks are the hazel eyes. The rest is far from what I really have, especially the body. It looked so mature, with larger breasts and wider hips.

I shivered when I felt his arm drape around my shoulders.

"Now this…" he fiddled with my left sleeve, as if he's about to pull it down, "is where I plan to make the mark."

"Um…" I tried to pry his hand away from me. I'm not going to let him see the ugly scar on my left shoulder. No one else had ever seen it, except for my mom though.

BANG! Youko grunted. He immediately pulled me closer to him, burying my head to his chest. I smiled as I took in his scent. He actually smells nice. He had this calming scent of roses.

"Oops, I must've disturbed something," I heard a male voice say.

"This better be good," Youko replied. Then he muttered to my ear, "Don't look."

"Why won't you let me see her face?" the newcomer asked. "I bet she's beautiful."

Youko tightened his grip around my waist. "She's mine. Until I officially left a mark, you won't be able to see her face."

"So you're planning to do that?" the guy laughed. "You must be crazy."

Youko sighed. "What have you come here for anyway?"

The guy cleared his throat and sounded more serious this time. "I'm proposing a new plan."

Youko heaved a dreadful sigh. "Let's talk somewhere else then. Meet me at the office."

With that, the guy left. Youko, still hugging me, whirled around until we landed gently on the bed. He was on top of me, staring at me intently. And he was too close—dangerously close—to my face.

I think I felt myself blush. "Y-Youko-san," I slid away from him to sit on the far end of the bed where the pillows are, and then hugged my knees.

"Why'd you become so shy all of a sudden?" he asked, confused. "What happened to your straightforwardness a while ago in the woods?"

"That was just… never mind." I glanced at my feet. "May I ask… what do you mean by marking me?" I looked at him, but seeing he was smirking at me, I looked away again.

Suddenly Youko was beside me. He reached out and pulled down the sleeve covering my left shoulder. I gasped. As an impulse, I pushed him away and covered the shoulder with my hand, glaring at him. How dare he…?

Wait a second. Something's strange about my shoulder. It doesn't… feel right. I couldn't feel the lump of the scar there.

Slowly, I lifted my hand to take a look… and gasped again. My eyes widened. My shoulder is bare, flawless, with no trace of the ugly scar. This body really isn't mine, but belongs to the 'me' in this dream.

"The mark I'll give you," the fox managed to get close to me again to place a soft kiss on my shoulder, "will make you my mate."

"M-mate…?" I repeated.

"Yes. In return, you'd have to mark me too, and I'll be yours," he smiled.

"But why does it have to be me?" I gulped, and then crossed my arms. "I'm sure there are others who'd be more deserving to be your mate."

"Like I said, you're a silver kitsune like me. I wouldn't want to commit to someone of a different race."

"Well, surely there are other silver kitsune out there."

Youko looked at me weirdly. "What an ignorant little girl," he poked my forehead. "Don't you know there're only a few of us? Silver kitsune are very rare."

I flushed in embarrassment as I looked away. I completely forgot about that. From what I've read, silver kitsune are few in number, so that's why they're considered a nice catch.

I changed the subject then. "But… confining me here until after you mark me seems too much…"

He sighed in frustration. "In this castle, I live with a band of thieves. They'll steal you from me unless you're already my mate."

"Oh come on, I don't think they'd do that—as if they'd even dare to try," I rolled my eyes. "I'm sure they're afraid of what will happen if they cross you."

He chuckled. "You have a point. But you never know." His smile got wiped off his face.

"So does that mean I'll be confined here until then?" I frowned.

Youko smirked. "Unless you want me to mark you now…" he leaned in, backing me up against the bed's headboard.

I shook my head immediately, blushing. Even if I think this is just a dream, I couldn't get myself to agree to that, even if I won't be able to feel him do it. Besides, I might be awake soon.

He then moved away, still smirking. "Then you'll stay here until we mated. You wouldn't allow anyone else to enter this room except for me and the maids who would give you your meals and anything else you'd ask for."

"And what if I don't…?" I challenged.

"Believe me, you have to." The smirk was gone, and his tone has changed too. "You don't know the danger you'll face once one of my men saw you… especially him."

I was about to ask what he meant by that when Youko stood up and started towards the door, sighing.

"I'll be off to work. Apparently, Yomi has come up with yet another brilliant plan," he said, stressing at the word. As he opened the door, he turned to me again. "Remember what I said, Yana-chan." Then he left.

(1) Trivia: There are no plural forms of words in Japan. So that means the word kitsune could be used for plural purposes.

Oh, and btw, the fanfiction contest ended, and unfortunately, I wasn't able to submit this story since I haven't finished it yet. Good news is, at least I'd be able to continue on with the story without having to risk quality, right?

So there you go for this chapter. Hope you guys liked it. Please tell me what you think on that gray box below... xD Questions are welcome as well. ^^