Wow, it has been two months (in my timezone)since I last updated. Gomen~

Midterms, final requirements, final exams... gah, all so stressing.

Anyway, here's the new chapter! Enjoy!

The sweet taste of his lips. The blissful sensation of being this intimately close to him. The sensuous way his hands held me.

I can't deny it. I want more.

The extra little squeeze with every hug, and the little bit of force with every kiss, contains another intention.

Yet it doesn't just hold true for Kurama.

Even if I try to hide it, I have to admit that my self-control is starting to slip away. At one point, I almost wanted to give in to his coercions, but fortunately logic and conscience saved me.

Kurama lightly bit on my lip, causing a moan to escape from me. His arms tightened around my waist, supporting my suspended self. His body pressed closer against me as something hot and moist replaced his lips.

This has to stop, I told myself as my eyes flew open.

His tongue lingered in between my lips, gently pushing to get inside.

I could feel my desire starting to overwhelm me, yet I knew I had to push it back. A tug-of-war of lust and logic ensue. I had to suppress a shiver as the conflicting emotions almost choked me.

I inhaled sharply. I couldn't take this anymore.

Holding the sides of his head, I gently pushed his face away from me. "Kurama, I'm sorry," I whispered, almost out of breath.

"What?" he frowned in confusion.

"I'm afraid I cannot move to your room," I breathed heavily.

Kurama studied me for a moment. "And why?"

"Because then I'd go crazy." Seeing him raise an eyebrow, demanding for further explanation, I continued with a sigh, "I feel you'd be more… liberated, that you won't hold back anymore... because, you know, this is your territory," I looked away from his intense stare. "And I'm scared that I might just… finally give in."

"Then why don't you?" he suggestively raised an eyebrow.

I took a deep breath as I gazed into his eyes. "I shouldn't. We shouldn't. I hope this is not too late for me to say, but Kurama, this is… wrong. We're not yet married. We shouldn't be sharing the same room, much less the same bed, as well as be this intimate with each other yet."

"And you've realized this just now?" he asked, the humor vanishing from his face.

My eyes widened for a moment before clearing my throat. "I know I've tolerated those nights we did sleep in the same bed. Maybe because I… I liked to have you beside me. But Kurama," I reached forward to touch his face, "it's not too late to make things right. I hope you'd understand. Besides, it won't be long before the wedding, right?"

Kurama's eyes closed as he sighed and carefully set me on my feet. "I see," he wrapped his arms around me, resting his chin on top of my head. "I must've frightened you with my actions. I guess I'll just have to be patient once more." He then pulled back to look at my face. He was smirking, "But don't blame me if you suddenly miss hugging me tonight."

I only rolled my eyes, not expecting him to be right once I was finally left alone in my bedroom, hugging the pillow he used to lie on. It was still filled with his scent. Kurama has never been wrong.

But it's something I need to do to prevent myself from doing something I might regret.

Truth is, I got scared. Scared that he might not want to marry me anymore once I agreed to do it, like what my own father did.

I closed my eyes as the memory of my mother's long brown hair, warm smile, and soothing voice flashed through me. My mother back in human world. I was born out of wedlock; my father left my mother a few months after she told him she's pregnant. Yet even as a single mother, she raised me to love my father regardless of what he did, to avoid holding a grudge against him.

But of course, she doesn't want me to suffer the same fate, and so she repeatedly warns me to not allow any man to bed me unless he's my husband.

Kurosagi and Shirosagi don't have any key to Kurama's bedroom. Although I trust him, I also respect my mother's wish. Besides, I don't want to be too dependent on him anymore.

Wiping away the tears I didn't realize have fallen, I focused my thoughts on something else—Yomi's plans.

"Not everyone in this castle is happy to have Youko as their leader. And mind you, we are already on the move to oust him from power," were the words he had whispered to me nights ago.

This unauthorized raid Yomi had led… is this their act of rebellion? How many are they anyway? And… who are they? What could they be thinking of doing next?

"But then, my efforts weren't in vain at all," he had also said before. Tracing back to the previous events prior to that statement, his last raid with Kurama, which has all been a huge setup, came into my mind. Could Yomi really be connected to this accident, if ever it was one?

Questions and suspicions filled my head as my eyelids got droopy. I need to talk to Yomi. Hear the truth straight from him. Even if I'd have to force it out of him. Though I hope that won't be necessary.

"Sleep, Yana," Kurama's voice ironically jolted me awake. I turned to the mini speaker-like device on the bedside table, where his voice came from. Before he sent me back to the room, he gave it to me to serve as a means of communication between us. Like a telephone, but without any annoying rings.

I placed it beside me as I spoke into it, "I was about to, when you suddenly spoke. Now I'm wide awake again."

I heard him sigh, "I thought you'd like to hear me before you drift off to sleep." I could hear him smirk as he continued, "You miss me already, I'm sure of that."

I hugged his pillow tighter, inhaling his scent once more. "How about you?" I giggled.

"I've carved your name on every wood surface here out of boredom."

"I never thought you have sense of humor," I teased.

"But of course. I would not want to ruin expensive furniture."

I rolled my eyes. "You should sleep too. Unless you want to sing me a lullaby first," I grinned.

"I'm afraid I would not entertain the idea. Now sleep. You shouldn't stay up this late."

"Hey, are you leaving tomorrow?"

"Well, yes," he sighed. "I have to trade the treasures we acquired, and then make arrangements for the wedding."

"Let me come with you."

Kurama heave a long sigh. "As much as I want to take you with me, I might be out for more than twelve hours, Yana-chan. I'm sorry."

"I understand," I replied after a moment. "Will I be able to see you in the morning though?"

"Of course, Yana-chan. Now hush. Sleep."

I giggled. "Thank you, Kurama."

"For what?"

"For listening to me. Thank you for respecting my decision."

"I want this to work, Yana-chan. If sleeping in separate rooms would make you happy, then I might as well agree to it. This would only be temporary, anyway. A few more nights, maybe?"

I smiled. "Yes, depending on when the wedding will be. How come you won't tell me?"

"Just be patient, my dear. Now sleep. You are starting to prolong the conversation again."

"But Kurama—"

"Good night," he said, and the red circle on top of the speaker that lights up when I'm talking to someone through it, went off. I could only roll my eyes and giggle to myself as I buried my head in his pillow.

"Look behind you," Kurama ordered.

Yana excitedly turned around, only to step back in horror. She almost fell into a huge chasm—with pitch darkness deep inside—on the ground. Or so it seems. She looked up at him accusingly.

Kurama chuckled. "A chasm in the middle of the woods is very unlikely, huh?" he ruffled her hair. "Oh look, it's gone now."

There lay a huge log in the chasm's place as Yana looked again. "That was… awesome," she mumbled.

They're starting on a different kind of training today: creating and breaking an illusion.

"That was just a basic example," Kurama smirked. "We will begin with creating non-moving illusions until you're good enough to proceed to conjuring up moving illusions."

"Can these illusions cause harm, Kurama?"

"It depends on your intention. Mostly, we kitsune use illusions merely for fun or to protect ourselves. Oh, watch out," he pointed behind Yana, where a brown snake is slithering towards her.

This time, she screamed and clung to Kurama's arm. "G-get rid of it, please!" she cried, hiding behind him.

The snake's hissing grew louder as it drew closer, slithering past Kurama's feet and stopping in front of her.

Yana froze in place. "K-Kurama," she closed her eyes. "This is just an illusion too, isn't it?" Hearing no answer, and the hissing come to a stop, she opened her eyes to find that the snake was gone. Looking up at Kurama, she saw him smirking.

"Sorry, just a fox," he grinned. "Now, would you like to give it a try?"

Kitsune are innate illusionists, and can create people, objects, and animals out of thin air that are indistinguishable from the real thing in all senses.

A memory of our last few training sessions flashed through me as I sat in one corner of the room, reading a book from the new stack Kurama brought in.

It's getting really boring. Kurama's been leaving a lot lately. I understand how busy he is, and I really appreciate that he's making a lot of effort for the 'grand' wedding to happen.

But all I want is to be with him right now. Blame these hormones. They're affecting my brain too much.

My musings were interrupted by my grumbling stomach. Kurosagi and Shirosagi would be here in a few moments to eat lunch with me. I couldn't help but smirk as a thought occurred to me.

"Practice makes perfect, they say," I giggled as I started working on my illusion.

The bed, dresser, closet, and kotatsu—strategically placed separately from each other—became trees with huge branches bent to almost touch the floor, which has turned into grass. In the middle of the room, I conjured up a wild river that started from the door and flowed towards the wall across from it, which has vanished along with the other walls. The ceiling became the cloudless blue sky.

Having finished recreating the river in one of the nearby forests, I rested my back against the illusion's non-existent wall and waited. Tiny footsteps could be heard scurrying down the hallway, and it didn't take long before I heard a knock on the door.

"Yana-sama?" Kurosagi's calm mature voice called. "Lunchtime!"

"Come in," I smirked, stifling a giggle.

With the jingling of keys and a turn of the knob, the door opened.

And Shirosagi's ear-splitting scream echoed outside, through the empty corridor. Kurosagi, meanwhile, was wide-eyed at the sight of the illusionary wild river at the door. I could not contain my laughter anymore as the illusion slowly faded.

"You should've… seen… your faces," I breathed in between giggles.

"That's… not nice, Yana-sama," Shirosagi pouted as her twin went outside. Some of the maids had rushed upstairs after hearing the white bunny shriek.

After reassuring them that everything's okay, Kurosagi joined us at the kotatsu, where our lunch had been set.

"You didn't have to make me sound silly," Shirosagi glared at her sister.

"What?" Kurosagi smirked. "It's just natural for you to overreact. They easily believed that you screamed that loud because you almost slipped."

"How mean," she whined as she broke her chopsticks.

I giggled, earning the twins' stares. "Sorry," I grinned, "just a fox."

They smiled back and shook their heads. Looking at each other, they spoke at the same time, "Just like him."

My eyes widened in curiosity. "Does Kurama play pranks on you too?"

"Oh if you only knew, Yana-sama," Kurosagi raised her eyebrows.

"Traps, illusions, mazes, you name it," Shirosagi added. "Mostly it's for punishment, or just for his mere entertainment."

"And it's not just us," her twin continued. "The other maids have been victims of his playful fox nature."

Two images of him—one staring down coldly at the maids he had just punished, and the other trying to keep a straight face at what his prank victims have been through—flashed through me. I don't know if I'd get creeped out or just laugh. Shaking the thought away, I swallowed my food before I said, "Speaking of the fox, do you know where he went exactly?"

"After trading, he'd probably go check your wedding dress to see if it's done," Kurosagi replied. "It's being made by the best seamstress in Makai."

"Which is why it's worth a fortune!" Shirosagi said dreamily, clasping her hands in front of her chest. "Oh, I can't wait to dress you up in it!"

I smiled, getting excited as well. "But how come he never goes into detail about these… uh, wedding stuff?"

"Um," Shirosagi looked at her equally hesitant twin before turning back to me, "it was all supposed to be a surprise, Yana-sama."

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. "Okay... so what else is he going to do today?"

"We don't know much about his business today, Yana-sama," Kurosagi said. "But what's for sure is that he won't be back anytime soon. Trading itself takes a lot of time, especially when you've got to deal with a shrewd fox."

"Oh, so I guess… he won't be back until after dinner?" I asked solemnly.

"Yes, Yana-sama," Shirosagi answered. "You could miss dinner with everyone then and eat here instead, if it makes you uncomfortable to be without the Master."

"Oh no, I don't mind eating dinner with everyone," I smiled. "I must get used to it since, well, I'm going to be his mistress, right?"

And also because Yomi would be there.

Dinner was not what I expected.

Instead of the usual nonsensical banter between the men, they were reduced to talking in low whispers, making me think twice if I was in the right room. As I entered, I was greeted with nerve-wracking stares that followed me even as I took my seat.

Every dinner, Kurama would sit at one end of the long dining table while Kuronue would sit on the other. I, meanwhile, always sat at Kurama's right. Yomi was supposed to be seated at Kuronue's right, but not tonight.

He took a seat at the head of the table—Kurama's seat.

And surprisingly, no one dared to oppose his action. They all even looked happy with it.

"Yomi-san," I started. "I believe that's not your seat."

The murmuring of the men suddenly stopped as they turned to listen to us.

Yomi just smiled. "Yana-chan, that is if Youko and Kuronue are here. But both of them are absent from tonight's dinner, which leaves the second-in-command to be in charge." He then leaned close to me, stopping just a few inches from my face, and gently tilted my chin up. "Besides, you two aren't formally married yet, right?" he smirked. "So I guess that gives me a higher position?"

I frowned as I looked away. "Fine."

The whole dinner was peaceful… and awkward.

Chopsticks hitting bowls, clinking of glasses, slurping, burping, and noisy chewing are the only sounds heard in the room. Drinks were poured from time to time, and maids hurried to give the men new servings of the meal.

But other than that, they were awfully quiet. The men would only engage in short conversations in low voices. Yes, they somehow 'behave' themselves whenever Kurama enters the room, but not like this.

Moreover, I couldn't help but notice the wary glances thrown at me every once in a while, and once I returned their gaze, they'd immediately look away. Something's surely up.

I glanced at Yomi, who gladly devoured his food. Noticing my stare, he only smiled, but didn't strike up a conversation with me. Well that was weird. And suspicious.

I slowly shook my head as I turned back to my food. Maybe I'm just exaggerating. Maybe it's just as awkward for the men to dine with me for the first time without Kurama.

As soon as we finished dinner, they all quickly dispersed out of the room. I waited for everyone else to get out before I finally stood up to follow Yomi. Discreetly. There's no better time to talk to him than right now.

Oddly though, the halls we passed were empty. The men couldn't have possibly disappeared into their rooms that fast. Besides, there are some of them who are nocturnal. Usually a lot would linger in every area of the castle after dinner.

Turning my attention back to Yomi, I found him starting on the stairs. He seems to be heading to his room. Taking a shortcut, I managed to get upstairs faster and wait for him by his bedroom door.

"My my, the tables have turned. Youko's girl is my stalker now?" he smirked, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't get your hopes up," I replied. "I came here to ask questions."

"And what would those be?"

I stepped closer towards him. "What's up with you that you had to organize a raid on your own?"

"Oh, have I worried you?"

I frowned. "Do not change the subject."

Yomi scoffed. "You're becoming more like him. Don't be as annoying as Youko, please," he smiled, caressing my cheek.

I slapped his hand away. "I am serious."

He sighed. "It's to get more money. I am a thief; it's natural for me to want more money."

"But Kurama already said no to that castle. Despite the warning, you still went there and got a lot of men killed."

"Well what can you do? Bring them back to life?"

I clenched my fist. "Is this what you meant a few nights ago?"

Yomi smirked. "Why, you caught on so quickly. Pretty smart, Yana-chan."

We stayed silent for a moment as I took a deep breath and lowered my head, allowing my bangs to cover my eyes. This is it. "Yomi-san, I am sure you haven't forgotten your last raid with Kurama."

"How could I? I almost died back there," he sounded hurt. "But you healed me, didn't you?"

Ignoring his last statement, I continued, "Then, do you remember also the time when Kurama went missing for two days, and we found him in the forest? His clothes were stained with a lot of blood."

"Yes Yana-chan. I do remember."

"Did you know whose blood that is? Or rather, whose blood those are." I glared up at him. "Your client's 'ex-friend'. Your client's bodyguards'. And more importantly, your client's blood."

"He figured out that much, huh?" Yomi grinned. "That's expected from him."

"You knew."

"But of course," Yomi bent down to whisper, "I am behind all of it."

My eyes widened. I have been suspecting him for a long time now, but hearing it come from him so casually left me speechless.

"It's too bad I got injured too. Luckily, you did your job real well," he winked at me.

My hands clenched into tight fists then unclenched again as I let out a low growl. "Do you… intend to kill Kurama?"

Yomi just chuckled. "Oh, I simply wished to kick him out of his high and mighty throne. If he does end up dead though, that's not my problem isn't it?"

Bastard. My hand flew up in a rage, my palm connecting with his face.

He put a hand over his stinging cheek… and laughed maniacally. "Did you just… slap me, Yana-chan?" he mocked.

I'm trembling. In anger. "You heartless monster."

He feigned looking hurt. "How mean, Yana-chan. Calling me something like that…"

Fired up with adrenaline, I pushed Yomi against a wall. My blood was boiling, and I just can't calm down. "I do not care whether you get hurt with what I say," my voice was laced with venom. "Just don't you dare attempt to hurt Kurama again. Or else—"

"Or else what, Yana?" he raised an amused eyebrow, his smile wiped off his stupid face.

"I will kill you, Yomi."

"Kill me?" he repeated, chuckling. "Why, you have a good sense of humor, girl."

"Yes Yomi. I will kill you, even if it means taking my last breath away from me," I glared so hard my eyes felt like they're going to bulge out of my sockets.

"How protective you are of the fox. Yet you still aren't his mate. Guess it's your fox instinct, huh?" Yomi smirked once again. "Now down."

My eyes widened as my legs suddenly numbed and gave out on me. I was forced to kneel in front of Yomi, releasing my grip on his arms.

He bent down a bit to tilt my head up so that I'd look at him. His fingers traced my left cheek down to my chin, before his hand wrapped around my neck. "The very first woman to threaten me with my life. Very impressive, Yana," his hand squeezed tighter, making it hard to breathe, "and it gets me excited."

My mouth opened as I tried to gasp for air. In desperation to get free, my balled-up fist met his cheek, and he released me. I took the chance to dart away, jumping over the railing to get a few floors down.

I could hear no sound of him following, but I know Yomi's there. Close behind. Or maybe rooms ahead, waiting for me. I gulped. If only I could run into a group of men in one of the halls, I'd be safe from any attack.

The only problem is… where are they?

Fishing through my pocket, I got the bunnies' keychain-like buzzer out and pressed the rose-shaped button. They are my only hope.

Alas, I reached the kitchen… and got thrown against the far wall. I cried out as a sharp pain ran up and down my back. The buzzer slid away from me and stopped at a fair distance. The pain reached my legs, making it hard to stand up. I crawled towards it then, my arm outstretched to reach the black box.

CRACK.

A foot stepped over the buzzer as I was about to grasp it. I looked up, frowning.

"Oops, I wasn't looking where I'm going," Yomi shrugged. He then pushed my shoulder with his other foot so that I'm lying on my back. He grinned as he bent down, drawing his face close to mine. "How many times have you attacked me, huh? Your pathetic waves, those physical attacks… ah, I didn't know you could punch hard like that," he chuckled, touching his cheek. "But if you think you could get away with hitting me, Yana-chan, you are so wrong."

I kept silent, trying to breathe normally. I could taste blood in my mouth.

"Oh, what should I do with you? Youko Kurama's baby girl, are you going to cry now? "

I slid away from him, but not before hitting my head with his forehead. As soon as I stood up though, Yomi whirled me around to face him, not giving me enough time to think.

As if I could still think clearly. That head butt wasn't much of a good idea at all. I felt so dizzy; I barely escaped his blow to my face.

I was bent on my knees from avoiding it, and as I looked up, I saw his fist going straight down at me.

I yelped, using both of my hands to stop his advancing right arm with my grip. This allowed his free arm to wrap around my shoulders.

And there it was again, the numbing feeling that spread from my shoulders down to my hands. I unwillingly released my grip on him, losing my control over my arms. With my remaining strength, I raised my knee to hit his stomach.

Yomi sputtered blood, but his hand was quick enough to grab my ankle. And it went numb from there up to my thighs. I fell on the floor, and Yomi grabbed my other leg, which got numb as well at his touch.

"What have you… done to me?" I panted as he sat me up against a wall.

Ignoring my question, Yomi grinned mischievously as his eyes scanned my figure. "Oh, how tempting." Before I knew it, he started planting chaste kisses all over my face but my lips, and then down to my neck.

"Yomi," I hissed. "Stop. Now." I couldn't move my limbs to push him off me, and it's very frustrating. "Please," I could feel the sobs threatening to rise, and the tears about to form at the sides of my eyes. No, not now. I need to look strong.

Yomi suddenly looked up and smirked. "Fine, I don't want you like this anyway. I want you screaming how you refuse to be mine. I want you thrashing to try to get me off you. I want you… violent."

"You're disgusting."

He laughed as he stood up. "So now where is the fox you're so keen on protecting? How come he couldn't save you from me? You are too blinded by your love. Your one-sided love."

"You don't know anything, Yomi. You don't know a thing about u—" I was silenced by his slap. It left a sharp stinging pain on my right cheek.

He glared down at me. "Shut. Up." Then he bent down to pick me up and carry me over his shoulder.

"W-where are you taking me?" I couldn't hide my fear in my voice anymore.

"I told you to be quiet, didn't I?" Yomi spun on his heel and headed out of the kitchen. He then turned left.

My heart thumped louder with each step he took. I was trembling. Not in anger anymore, but in fear of what he would do now that I'm in an immobile state.

Alas, Yomi stopped and shifted me so that he was carrying me bridal-style. I frowned at the term, but was soon awed at the huge wooden double doors we now faced.

"You've never been in the main ballroom, am I right?" he asked, his expression unreadable. "And now I know why. Do you?"

Not waiting for my answer, he pushed through the doors with his shoulder. My eyes widened as I saw all the men inside! So this was where they all disappeared into? I scanned the room for Kurosagi and Shirosagi, for the maids are all there too. But the bunnies were nowhere in sight.

"I have brought her, gentlemen," Yomi said as he strode inside still carrying me. "Let us through."

The men blocking the center of the room stepped back, outlining a path for Yomi to walk in. I gasped as I saw moonlight coming in from the glass-covered circle on the ceiling, in the middle of the room.

"Put me down, Yomi!" I sounded hysterical. "Please let me go!"

Yomi smirked down at me. "As you wish, Yana-chan."

Taking his last few steps towards the moonlit center, he sat me down on the floor, allowing the light of the moon to hit me directly.

Haha, long hiatus equals long chapters..

So um, is it worth the long wait? Please let me know through your reviews! :))

It's finally our semestral break! Woot! But only for two weeks though. But the first week of second sem's the 'adjustment period', so I guess I could still squeeze in an update by then. Yay! Haha.. so happy to be back. Thanks for all those who greeted me happy birthday. And for bearing with my super long hiatus.

Again, please leave a review! See you next week!

P.S. We got new pets! Bunnies! Haha, we got a brown one and a white one (it has red eyes). The white one's mine, so I named her Shirosagi. Hehe.