Mikoto and the other shared the hunt with the other longhouses. the feast went far into the night. it wasn't like before more like sitting on the porch, eating and drinking by the fire. slow, relaxing and soon she went to sleep.

She woke up, sensing her like the warmth of the morning sun before she opened her eyes. Kea was snuggled close without a stitch of clothing, curled into a ball. Looking less than pleased, Mikoto sighed.

"looks like someone has forgiven us." Little misaka spoke.

"What's to forgive?" Kea's ear tickled Mikoto's cheek. Taking a breath, she inhaled Kea's smell. The floral scent of shampoo and conditioner, the fragrance of fire, steamed bugs, and her. Pink blush across her cheeks. Lighty inhaled them over her tongue, mixing them with her saliva and exhaling.

"People are going to talk?" Little misaka said without a care. And she didn't. Mikoto was a queen and what a queen did was nobody's business but the queens. But still…

"I really don't want this right now…." she said. "I mean, if Anastasia was here, I wouldn't mind. She's just a child, so…."

"Oh no…" little misaka spoke, "she is no child.. she is becoming… even you can see and smell it."

Mikoto exhaled, slowly rising, slipping her hands through her long hair. She looked over, and the tiny traces of light falling between the edges of the door pulled across the opening. the door is made of thick and heavy straight pieces tied with ropes made from vines.

It was just before morning. The breeze snaked through the emptiness and circulated through the longhouse. Carried the smell of morning fires, cooking, and the jungle on the cool breeze.

She thanked the goddess of all things for this world's cool mornings and evenings. It was the in-between she came to dislike. Typical Hot, humid, and sweaty tropical jungle. She never really thought about it until the evening and early mornings. Kea stirred and moaned softly, rolling over her back, arms flopping to the side. Her ears flickered. Mikoto glanced her over. Little misaka was right. She was becoming. She was a little taller, and her form more subtle and feminine while maintaining her wildness. The browns and greens covered her skin, allowing her to blend into the jungle. Her small chest rose and fell with each breath. She was more adult than a child. "This is bad," she said, pulling the blankets up to cover her nakedness.

Mikoto got up, stretched, walked over to the doorway, and pulled it open a little more. More cool air came in, slipping across her naked form. She looked down at herself, nude, body shining. "I really should wear something," scratching her belly, lifting her right foot, and scratching her left calve.

"Phttp?!" Little misaka shook her head." Too damn hot.." she said. "I mean, if they kept the door opened a little more, then maybe…. but…."

"Maybe I could?"

"Sleep by the springs?" Little misaka quickly said. Obviously, it was what she wanted. "I mean, we wake up, roll over and plop right into the cool water, shiver and wake up and make our way to the warmer waters to wash up…" she was going through the motions of bathing, moving her hand down her arm, and washing her cheeks. A permanent, oh yeah, expression. But her shoulder dropped, her smiling face lost, "but no… you have to come back here."

"They asked me too," she said, "and I really couldn't…."

"Don't fall for that cute kitten pouting face… be strong… be the adult." Little misaka pounded her fist into her palm. "Or else,"

"Or else?"

"We end up like this. Sleeping naked laying with a young girl becoming a not-so-young woman with obvious I like them experienced fetish." She sighed.

Slowly, she tilted her head and listened. She heard Kea's soft beating of her heart, her breath. Her whimper. She rolled over and sniffed where Mikoto had been sleeping. Her small hand grasped her blanket wantingly.

A small figure darted out of the jungle and rushed to one of the longhouses. It stopped. She heard it sniff and scratch at the door. With a click of its tongue, hearing the click, Mikoto brought her hand to her chest, watching the door slide open, and it rushed inside. She could listen to a woman talking affectionately, the feet pattering as it ran out, and the door closed but not closed. Mikoto thinned her eyes, seeing the opening. Other doors opened as villagers were starting the day.

Mikoto took a breath. "Deal with it when it's time, I guess."

"Oh, that's an excellent plan." Little misaka sighed. "How about just yank the bandaid off quickly… and not take your time. Or just claim her," she waved her hand about. "I really don't care."

"I'm not going to do that… you pervert!" Clenching her teeth. Looked over to the side opposite where she bedded down. The pots of fresh water, fauna, herbs, fish, and that stuff, made for the young. She crinkled her nose and focused on the smell hidden but not too hidden in the mixture of scents.

She walked over to a bucket of water for washing herself down and knelt. She reached over, grabbed a small washcloth, dunked it, and washed her face. "Last thing I want, or the first thing Anastasia sees when she returns. Is, is me with someone else?"

"She wouldn't care…."

"That hurts. " her lashes flickered, her eyes turning crimson. An ache struck her heart.

"Yea, it does. But truth be told. You are a vampire. A queen vampire, and you need the company. You can become out of touch without someone to rule or be with. And no, I don't mean Anastasia is rolling in the sheets with other vampires right now. she is older and more experienced. You need what Kea is giving you right now. Someone to feel close to… someone to be by your side when you sleep. To protect and be protected by you and you alone. We are pack animals. And we need that. So… while sex is nice, it is not entirely necessary. But then again, sex is nice. A nice back rub, foot rub, body rub… naughty bits rub…."

Her cheeks blushed brightly. Burying her face in the cold water cloth. "I am not some teenage girl who..." her blood warmed.

"No… we are not.. but… we are much older than we seem to the outside world. This one included. We have always had someone, Anastasia, Elaina, Heidi, and so on. And because the portal collapsed, now is the first time we are truly alone. And I don't want you to go rogue or anything. So,"

Mikoto pushed the cloth into her mouth, chewed on the wet, cold cloth, and pushed it tighter to her face. She felt her fangs bite and leak venom into the fabric. "I know what a rogue means. Anastasia has told me… and we fought that one rogue queen..so don't think." Her pulse pounded in her ears.

"That rogue thought she could handle it until she couldn't..she only needed one… and you've got one right over there who willingly sleeps next to you..so just,"

"Shut up!" she yelled silently. Her nail cutting into the cloth.

"Are you alright?" She asked in a tired, worried voice.

Mikoto looked over her shoulder, holding the washcloth over her nose and mouth. Her eyes turned scarlet, and her brow fretted. The morning light fell about the fading darkness on Kea and the blanket hanging over her shoulders. She gripped the edges, revealing little but her slender neck and breast curves illuminated by the morning light. Caught between a young girl and a woman. Unaware of the conversation going on inside Mikoto and sometimes filtering out, Kea just tilted her head, sleepy eyes concerned. She gently put her hand on Mikoto's shoulder.

"It's fine," she answered, slowing her heartbeat. Pulse throbbing in her ears softened. She closed her eyes and took a breath, taking the cloth from her face. The reddish faded from her cheeks. She dunked the cloth into the cold water and rinsed it out. She turned on her knees and gently patted Kea's cheeks with the cloth. Kea smiled and raised her chin as Mikoto wiped away the night. She watched Kea's throat as she swallowed. Listening to her pulse slow at first, then quicken with each stoke.

"Turn around," Mikoto asked. Kea turned, slipped the blanket off her shoulder to her waist, and let it fall as she dropped the blanket. Her breath was shallow and nervous as she pulled her hair up, revealing the back of her slender neck. Mikoto swallowed, licked her lips slowly, and wiped her shoulders and down to the small of her back and hips. her tail slowly switching back and forth.

She dunked the washcloth again, her fingers trembled slightly, and she rinsed it. Seeing Kea's reflections in the drops of the water as it splashed into the bucket.

"My turn," Mikoto said with a seductive smile. Kea turned without hesitation. the brush of her tail slipped over Mikoto's back, sending a tingling sensation rushing up her spine. Mikoto took a deep breath, expanded her shoulders, and lifted her hair up, feeling the anticipation, hearing it in Kea's breath as she pressed the cold cloth against her neck.

The nervous gleam in her reddish-brown eyes faded, stilled, and shifted like predators. Mikoto bit the inside of her mouth and pushed her tongue against her fangs oh so softly, tasting the iron mixing, licking her lips, leaving a sheen of blood and saliva over her pressed mouth. Her eyelid lowered, watching the ripples in the barrel roll against the sides. A soft, shallow breath slipped from her parted lips. She exhaled, pushing her breath across the surface of the water. She reached up and over her shoulder before Kea could speak. Taking the washcloth in her hand, she dunked it again and rinsed it. And before she handed her the washcloth, she dabbed it to her mouth almost instinctively. A small kiss from her lips mixed with blood and venom. It was a subtle way of marking what would be, or was, hers. A form of protection and claiming.

And handed it back over her shoulder. Kea took it, spread the cloth over her hands, and rubbed her back. Little misaka smiled.