Chapter Eighteen

Yuzuki sighed, thinking of him again. She'd taken a secret tunnel through her bedroom to her private bath house, wishing not to be seen. She often had done this when she'd been younger, sneak off the way no one else knew.

The heat from the water did not help her own heat. She had an uncomfortable need that she knew would not be satisfied no matter what she did. Pleasing herself had never helped in the past, at least not for long.

At least she was alone, though. That part was indeed a relief. No one, not even Asuma, had seen her in such a state.

Asuma wasn't the person on her mind. What she had on her mind were green eyes, red hair, smooth skin.

She sighed once more. The person she longed for was staying right across the hall from her. It was almost tempting.

When Kurama exited his room, he saw a male yoko standing across the hall, knocking on Yuzuki's door. He was tall and had violet-silver hair.

"Yuzuki, are you in there?" he called. "I know… I know you do not wish to be disturbed… But I request your presence, just for a moment." He paused before knocking again. "Please, Yuzuki-sama, I need to see you…"

For a moment, Kurama's red-hot rage turned to boiling jealousy. How dare he try to get near Yuzuki? Try to court her? He wasn't close to being worthy of her presence.

Keeping calm, Kurama spoke up. "Yuzuki went to the West Gardens," he said. "She will not return for awhile, if you wish to meet with her there."

Almost two hours later, Yuzuki returned to her bedroom, her breathing heavier than usual. She hid the door behind the tapestry once more, only glancing at the strange tree design. Quickly she removed her robes and plopped down onto her bed.

She had a blush across her face that was delicious. Her labored breathing was music to his ears.

It wasn't until after she'd gotten under the blankets that Kurama stepped from the shadows and unveiled his youki. "Why did you reject me, Yuzuki?" he asked.

She shot up, golden eyes showing something he'd never seen in them before. "Kurama…"

"Why? Why did you turn me down all those years ago?" He could smell her even from across the room. It made it slightly hard to concentrate. "I offered you everything. Fortune, power, adventure. Why would you say no?"

"You killed Asuma."

"Bullshit! That isn't a valid reason! Why!?"

He hadn't been this angry in a long time. He honestly couldn't remember when he'd been so mad. But this strange anger was out of his control.

And so was the fresh fear emanating from the female before him. "Kurama, that was a very long time ago…"

"Why, goddamn it?" He picked up a nearby vase and threw it against the wall behind her bed. "You could have recovered with me! Had the family Asuma had never given you!"

How could he still have a hard-on? He was more angry than he was aroused. The rejection and hurt was fresh in his mind, like it had happened only a few minutes ago.

The damn aphrodisiac… Her chest was heaving and he liked it. She backed up on the bed, getting against the wall. Despite the blush on her face and the scent of her sex, she was still afraid.

"The flower must not have taken full effect on you," she mumbled. "The Mating Moon is supposed to keep emotions like yours to a minimum."

"This is a fucking minimum." God, he wanted her. Wanted to feel her skin. Wanted to hear her voice say his name. Wanted to taste her lips.

But more than that, he wanted her to know what she'd been missing out on. He wanted to keep her forever as a punishment.

That's right, Shuichi, don't ever let her leave your sight again.

"Kurama… I… I am sorry, but… you understand. I had just…" She looked away and he noticed her body shaking. "Please, leave. I cannot do this… not right now?"

"Why?"

"You know why."

"Because of this mating bullshit?" Somehow that made him angrier. "Who is it, Yuzuki? Who is it that you have your eye on?"

She didn't reply. "There was a male here at your door earlier; was it him?"

He suddenly found himself on the bed with her, looming over her petite body. He grabbed her face with one of his hands. "Tell me now, so that I can kill him, Yuzuki."

Her eyes widened. That fear… he only saw it when she faced the darkness. A tear rolled down her cheek and onto his thumb.

Kurama's emerald eyes widened. Was she… was she thinking of him? Was Kurama the one she'd been thinking about since that aphrodisiac set in?

"K-Kurama…" The vulnerability in her voice was something he'd never heard before, and it was undeniably sexy. "Please, just go back to your room…"

"It's me, isn't it?" he asked, anger dissipating. "You're most attracted to me?"

"Kurama, get out."

His anger was gone. Instead now he felt this strange, sick satisfaction. She was all his, for the next three days, if nothing else. And at this point, there was nothing she could do.

But the fear, that unadulterated look of horror in her eyes, made him feel somthing else. She was so very scared. And it made him feel… guilty?

"Are you afraid of me?" he asked. His hand slipped from her face. "Yuzuki, are you scared of me?"

"Kurama, I can't handle it." She almost sounded broken. "This feeling… with you here it's so much worse…"

"Answer my question."

He moved to sit beside her, and she quickly got off the bed. "That look in your eyes, Kurama. Do not ever look at me like that."

So she was afraid of him. Moving quickly, he moved across the bed, grabbing her by the wrist and yanking her down. He embraced her even though she struggled almost provocatively. His knees between her bare thighs, he could feel her wetness. This flower was amazing. It did absolutely phenomenal things. Through all of this, his arousal hadn't wavered.

"Don't be scared of me," he commanded. "When you're with me, you have nothing to be afraid of."

She continued to struggle. "Please let go," she pleaded.

"The flower-or lily, I should say-is quite impressive," he said, ignoring her. "While you were away, taking your bath, I racked my brain. I remember researching this particular blossom for the first time I came to this place centuries ago. Our youki is so low that we really can't do much to defend ourselves."

She managed to raise up enough to look him in the face "What do you mean?"

"I mean, Yuzuki, that until the aphrodisiac wears off, you're mine."

That made the struggling worsen, but Yuzuki knew that Kurama was physically stronger than she was. And now that he had her, he had no intentions of letting her go.

But how good it felt to have the woman in his arms! Her petite, soft form pressed against his own. If it wasn't for his much more primitive need, he would simply lay like this with her.

He ran his fingers down her spine, relishing her shiver. "How long has it been since you've been with a man, Yuzuki?" he asked. "How long have you been without pleasure?"

She was still crying. "I have… only been with one man…"

"Is that so?" He smirked, green eyes darkening. "Well, I can assure you that I can give you much more pleasure than a human can. I will give you even pleasures of the soul."

"Please, Kurama, not like this."

"Yuzuki, I promise I won't hurt you." He held her tighter, loving her cool skin beneath his hands. "I'll be gentle with you. I'll make sure you are completely satisfied."

He lifted her over him to lay her on the bed. Immediately, she moved to get up, but Kurama grabbed both of her wrists. He got up and loomed over her, his knee between her thighs again.

"Please don't run away," he said softly. "I am not going to hurt you."

"I don't want you to see me like this."

"Shh." He focused on her face. "You're beautiful, Yuzuki. And you shouldn't be embarrassed."

"But…" Why did she still look so scared? "I do not… I do not have the body of a woman…"

"So?" He ran his free hand down her stomach, making her gasp. "I absolutely love your body."

Yuzuki's golden eyes widened. "W-What?"

He moved in close to her, inhaling the smell of her hair. "I think you're perfect, even if you are crazy sometimes."

She looked away. He touched her face gently, grip on her wrists loosening ever so slightly. "I want you so badly," he continued. "And I know you want me. Keep acting shy if you want, but I'm going to satisfy the both of us. Not only tonight, but for the next three whole days."