Chapter Twenty-Two

"Nobuyuki, come back to bed!" a plump female yoko pleaded, covering herself with dark silk sheets.

The royal son ignored her, his mind on the surveillance camera frequencies on his communications screen. He still had to monitor the Mari Forests. It mattered not that he was fighting his primal needs. He still had to do his job, being head of Mari security.

When he saw a certain redhead leave his room and head toward a very certain door, Nobuyuki almost fist-pumped with excitement. He'd always known that those two had something together.

Oh, god, what if they mated!? Well, Yoko Kurama wasn't part of the Mari clan, he was still a fox demon! It would be completely legal! Finally, Yuzuki was with a man that wouldn't jeopardize her career!

"S-Stop…"

This wasn't what she wanted. Wasn't who she wanted. Their names were the same, Yoko Kurama, but they were two very separate beings.

"Why, Yuzuki?" The silver-haired Yoko, large fox ears twitching at the sound of her voice, lifted his face from between the woman's legs. "It was just yesterday that Shuichi was doing this to you, and you seemed to enjoy it quite a bit."

Yuzuki's eyes squeezed shut. "You… You are not him!"

"Yes, actually, I am," the male purred, taking in the sight of his prize. Yuzuki was tied by such strong vines that physical strength alone would not be enough to break through it. She wasn't going to get away, not this time. "Shuichi and I have the same soul. This is just my more powerful side, the side that is truly S-class."

He loved hearing her moan. Loved touching her skin. Loved the tears in her eyes. "Did you really believe that we were different? I am that human's true form. You were with me, Yuzuki."

He climbed over her, inhaling her delicious scent. "But do not fret. Shuichi is the one you want, so I will give him to you. But I will tell you something my other half is too afraid to say."

His lips made their way down her throat and to the arch of her left shoulder. Yuzuki's eyes widened, his touch sending electricity throughout her body on a cellular level.

She felt his tongue lap at her shoulder and she froze. "I love you," he growled.

"Yuzuki, why is it that you have not yet marked me as your mate?"

The two lay in the grass, staring at the stars. Somehow Yuzuki thought the stars in the Demon World were much prettier.

"Asuma, that is a large commitment," she replied. "And I do not think I would be able to live if you were to be exterminated on a hunt."

"I will not die."

"This world is unpredictable. I will mark you when I am ready. I just need time."

"Do you think the Mari would ever take you back?"

Her head snapped in the direction of her human lover. "Why would you think I would?" Her voice was shaky.

"You are, after all, the destined heir to the throne. Why would they not?"

She scoffed. "That is not how banishment works. You will see. They will find someone else."

"Then mark me."

"I… I cannot… I just have this… this feeling…"

His brain was fuzzy. His whole body was pounding. His left arm felt like it was burning, but the fire was not painful. More like an intense heat.

His jaw, however, was sore. And for some reason he had a metallic taste in his mouth. It tasted like blood.

Blood… the last thing he remembered…

Everything came crashing down upon him. Yuzuki, his true confession… No, he couldn't really have…

When his eyes opened he realize he was still latched on. He hadn't even healed her yet.

But the vines that once restrained her were no more. Two thin, shaking arms were wrapped around his bare abdomen. She was embracing him, even after all of this.

Gingerly, he let go of her, and began to lick the wound clean. He felt guilty, so much that even the aphrodisiac was losing its effect on him.

But his eyes cut to the woman beneath him, and he saw tears tracking her face as she mimicked his movements.

No way…

He yanked up to face her, emerald eyes widening as he took in the sight before him.

Yuzuki's lips were painted with blood-his blood-and even though her face was wet with tears she had no sad expression on her face. Honestly she almost looked relieved. Yet Kurama could still see the shock and fear in her eyes. Her hair would have to be brushed, for the updo was now very messy and loose. And the mark on her left shoulder-his fangs. His true fangs.

But he felt of his own, and noticed her own mark there-she had marked him in return. Even though she did not want it… she had still marked him as her one and only.

The two were bound together now-bound forever by the sharing of blood and sweat.

And yet he still felt so guilty. His control had only faltered for just a moment, and the real side of him came out. The side of him he didn't want to admit that he had-his true form and personality.

He sat up, pulling her with him by her arms. She felt limp. He pulled her to his chest and held her tightly. His guilt only grew more when she returned it, burying her face into him.

"Yuzuki, I'm sorry," he half-whispered. "I didn't mean to… please forgive me."

"It is all right, Kurama. I promise." Her voice was shaky. "Just… do not… do not show him to me again…"

He only held her tighter, and he could feel their demon energies flowing together. Like mates.

"I love you," he breathed. "And if you don't love me, I'll wait for you to."

She did not reply. At least not at first. After a few minutes she began to shiver.

And just moments after he inhaled her scent, he understood-their need only grew more intense than before. Was it now because they were-?

Their bodies clashed like never before, as he held her back against his chest. His pace quickened, one arm around her lower abdomen to help her keep up.

"I want you to beg me for more," he growled, licking her throat. "Beg me or I'll stop."

The next two days passed, until the strange gray lilies on Yuzuki's balcony rails wilted away. The two demons lay together, their solemn realization coming sooner than they'd hoped.

They would now be together forever. Yuzuki would have to have a public mating ceremony-possibly before her coronation! If she even became the Mari ruler…

But yet she felt so safe now that she was in close proximity with him. Like he would protect her, and like he cared. And he did. He admitted it. But… but did she…?

The two left the bedchamber together, clothing covering their marks and cologne to attempt to mask their changed scent-and they had the misfortune of running into Nobuyuki first.

Yuzuki's older brother had a mischievous smirk on his face, his blue-silver hair messy as always. The yoko was known for his expert nose-he would be the only one not fooled.

"So there will be a feast tonight," he chimed causally. "I think that you should announce your coming to rule the Mari."

"And why would I do that?" Yuzuki tried to stay as cool as possible.

"Well, we do need you, Yuzuki." His smirk turned into a warm smile. "And I do not know what happened to you, but Kurama can help us help you." He turned to the redhead. "You will be staying with us, right, Yoko Kurama?"

The redhead's response was automatic. "I'll be here until I have orders from Spirit World to do differently."

But Yuzuki knew that her brother would know. That he would see right through them. It was his job, after all. To know everything.

"Well, go speak with our uncle. He and Aki are attempting to plan your coronation." That smirk again. "Not to mention a royal mating ceremony."

Yuzuki did not look as surprised as Kurama; she'd known from the start that they'd been caught.

"Do not worry," the yoko continued. "Your secret is safe with me, but I do not know how long you can keep it from the others."

"I am sure that it will be announced before the week's end," Yuzuki growled. "You may tell Aki to begin the arrangements for both ceremonies."

She stormed away, Kurama on her heels, asking if he got a say in any of this. Nobuyuki simply laughed and soon headed to the South Gardens, where-somehow he seemed to just know-Aki was standing.