AN: I am so so excited to hear from some new reviewers! Rosesterling100 and "Guest" it makes me SO HAPPY to know that I have written a fic so specific to everyone's dreams. *wicked laughter* I am thinking about starting on one that rewrites the series but that might taking a while since I know my updates aren't exactly that fast these days.

Really glad everyone seems to be pleased with the love scenes. I've written a handful of smut but thus far have only shared them with like, two people in the universe until now so I wasn't sure it was going to be GOOD smut. I was so scared.

Trying to make the love scenes at least a little realistic in that they are not perfect. Chichiri fell out all awkward-like and Hotohori moved a little too fast. This chapter was supposed to be Tasuki's turn but that damn thing called a plot intervened and now that part will be chapter 15.

Art of Love

Red Courage

Chapter 14

Hotohori slept deeper and harder than he could ever remember having slept in his life. Both his lives, really. When he did wake, it was with a heavy-lidded sated feeling of peace. He breathed deeply, surprised when a sweet feminine scent overwhelmed him. Forcing his eyes open, Hotohori found his vision obscured by a mess of auburn tresses and a creamy pale shoulder escaping from a much-too-large-for-her pajama top.

Miaka.

In his pajama top.

Smiling to himself, he placed a gentle kiss on her shoulder. Miaka did not stir. Her aura surrounded them both in a warm globe of protection as she continued to sleep soundly, allowing her much needed rest after completion of last night's part of the ceremony. Hotohori felt a surge of male pride at knowing he'd been the one to put her in such a state. He ran his nose along the curve of her neck, relishing the way her petite frame nestled so perfectly within the curve of his larger one.

The feel of her softness against his manhood caused him to harden. His body begging him to wake Miaka up and prove the strength of his feelings for her once again, maybe two or three times, before breakfast. The alarm clock on the bedside table mocked him, reminding Hotohori that there just wasn't enough time for that. All good things must come to an end. At least for now, He amended to himself.

A fierce protectiveness washed over him as he curled himself around her as closely and tightly as their physical bodies would allow. After all this time, he'd finally been able to love Miaka the way he'd always wished. Though the circumstances were not what he'd hoped for, he was happy. Miaka loved him. She'd allowed him free reign over her body during the ceremony, demonstrating a deep love and trust which mere words would never duplicate.

He supposed he should feel a little guilty about how forceful he'd been with her. He'd allowed the many years of unrequited love he felt for Miaka to get the best of him. Especially after seeing the love bite their stalwart monk had left upon her delicate skin. For as often as Hotohori touched her gently and always treated her with the greatest of care, last night he'd been overtaken by a primal and insatiable need to have her in the most carnal of ways. By all rights she should have refused him, but Miaka had accepted his love and, in fact, gave as good as she got.

Unfortunately, the rules of the ceremony put a damper on how much they were able to do, and Hotohori looked forward to being able to explore more with Miaka in the future. Prove to her that he was still the loving and gentle Seishi she knew and loved. Even if he wouldn't have her exclusively to himself, he looked forward to more moments like these. Moments that belonged just to them.

Hotohori basked in his emotions until Miaka began to stir, just as the sun began to peek through the heavy curtains shading his room. The warm bubble surrounding them flickered as she returned to the conscious world and stretched, pressing back against him the way a kitten does after a particularly luxurious nap. Hotohori smiled softly, holding back the urge to roll on top of her and kiss her until she let him have his way with her again—ceremony be damned!

"Good morning." Miaka smiled over her shoulder at him and turned to lie on her back, staring up at him in contentment.

"Good morning." Hotohori returned her greeting, his voice coming out lower and huskier than intended. He flinched at the raw emotion he hadn't been prepared to reveal, and hoped she didn't think poorly of him after their coupling the night before. Where had his discipline gone?

Trying to cover up his mortal failings, Hotohori brushed her bangs away from her face tenderly. "Did you sleep well?"

Miaka nodded. "Very." She glanced around, noting the time. "Is it morning already?"

"Unfortunately," Hotohori responded dryly, glancing at the window. "If you'd like, I can close the curtains and unplug the clock. The other's need not know it wasn't an accident." He added playfully.

Chuckling, Miaka shook her head. "You know we can't do that. It's cheating." She yawned and sat up, absentmindedly pulling the loose neck of the pajama top back over her shoulder as she moved to the edge of the bed. When she finally stood up, his pajama top covered her like a mini-dress and Hotohori grinned.

"As you command," pulling an exaggerated pout, Hotohori quickly captured her in his warm embrace. He was only half-joking. Given the chance, he would keep Miaka to himself in his room all day. Unfortunately, they had a duty and they both knew said duty came before any individual wants or needs. But that wasn't going to stop him from getting one more kiss!

His lips crashed down on hers like ocean waves, overtaking her senses and washing away any protests she might've made. She responded heartily, even going so far as to take his bottom lip between her teeth and tug. Hotohori sucked in a breath, his eyes darkening with desire as her hands slid along the warm skin of his naked chest, and Hotohori pulled her closer, pressing his hardness into her belly.

Miaka squeaked in realization, breaking away to look down. Her cheeks colored prettily when she saw the rather impressive tent in his pajama pants and backed away from him. "We can't." She swallowed. "The ceremony."

"I know." He groaned, pulling her back into his arms in such a way as to keep the evidence of his arousal hidden while he buried his face in her shoulder. They stayed that way for a few moments, allowing their bodies time to cool down. Hotohori was the first to pull back, noting with interest the love bite Chichiri left was gone now. He knew Miaka's ankle had also healed faster than usual thanks to the chi sharing sessions she and the other warriors had done. It made sense it would also apply to things like hickeys.

He couldn't say he minded. Seeing evidence of her having been with another man had been maddening. And now that it was gone, he had the most ridiculous urge to replace it with one of his own making. His lips brushed the skin of her throat, a little higher up, right where her pulse played heavily against her skin. He hovered for a moment, contemplating marking her the way he'd overheard so many of his guards talk about. Or like he'd done once or twice to girls on his tours.

His lips closed over the spot in question and Miaka tilted her head, allowing him access as he laved her throat with his tongue once, twice, three times as he applied light suction to the area. His Seishi mark blazed in response to his heightened emotions and arousal. How fitting it would be for his love to bear a mark of his own making the way he wore hers.

But not now.

Knowing that she was to be with Tasuki tonight for his part in the ceremony, marking Miaka in this way would be rude. The bandit was as possessive as Tamahome and Hotohori did not wish for Tasuki to have a similar reaction to the one he had had the night before.

With great effort, Hotohori managed to turn his love bites into soft kisses. He slowly released his hold on Miaka, settling his hands gently on her shoulders to keep her from pressing against him. He trailed his light kisses up her neck and across her jaw, ending with a chaste peck on the tip of her nose as he cupped her face with his hands.

"There will be another time." His eyes held hers, noting the dazed expression Miaka still wore as she nodded in agreement. "But now, breakfast!"

Tasuki yawned widely, trundling sleepily down the stairs. He was nursing a much milder hangover than yesterday since he'd learned not to drink so much of the tricky sweet stuff. He hadn't meant to sleep in, but he supposed he needed it. He and Chichiri had returned late—more like early morning, and he'd taken full advantage of the large and comfy bed in the room that had been designated for him. Something one didn't get the chance to do often when traveling with Chichiri.

Before even entering the kitchen, Tasuki's mouth began to water at the delectable scent hanging thickly in the air. Surprisingly, Hotohori and Miaka were both awake and already half-way finished with breakfast. Tasuki raised an eyebrow, as Miaka wished him good morning, cheerfully handing him a plate of spiced peaches.

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!" She chirped.

Though it was nearing mid-morning, Tasuki agreed, settling onto what was quickly becoming his favorite bar stool as he watched Miaka putter around the kitchen after Hotohori. Chichiri was also seated, though he'd finished eating long ago. Tasuki caught his eye curiously and Chichiri shrugged, the expression on his mask never changing.

Miaka seemed well rested and comfortable. Too comfortable in Tasuki's opinion. He'd felt the rush of energy from Hotohori before he, Chichiri and Tetsuya had even left the driveway! His Highness certainly had enough pent up energy when it came to Miaka that Tasuki had been certain he wouldn't see his Priestess until noon, at least! Not that he was complaining.

Then again, Taitsukun had given them strict instructions on the ceremony. The memory made his cheeks redden. Well. If they'd gotten things out of the way that early, it made sense for the two of them to be well rested. His Highness would have to be some sort of supernatural being for anything else.

And wasn't that what they were signing up for? Living together as immortals? The idea of the ceremony had him nervous, knowing he only had one shot at getting it right. He wasn't so keen on the idea of sharing Miaka for the ceremony, or at all for that matter. But he had to wonder, if he could have a chance to be with her… even if he had to share… would he take it?

Damn right he would.

As selfish as he was, wanting to keep Miaka all to himself, he was even more selfish in that he knew he couldn't live without her after this. And he supposed, if he had to share the woman he loved… there was no one better to share her with than the six others he knew loved her most in the world.

He stared down at the remains of his breakfast, wondering idly if Hotohori had remembered how much Tasuki liked peaches or if this was merely coincidence.

While Chichiri and his fellow Seishi already knew him better than anyone, save for Kouji, the thought of them knowing him that intimately was more than a little frightening. As he watched, Chichiri slowly edged Miaka out of the clean up duties, shooing the priestess away gently but firmly.

Having nothing to occupy her hands with, Miaka moved to sit by Tasuki at the breakfast bar as he finished eating. The monk grabbed Tasuki's empty plate before Miaka had a chance to reach for it, giving Tasuki a pointed look as he turned back to the sink.

Ah yes. Today was his day. And Chichiri was playing wingman. Tasuki stole a glance over at Miaka and was immediately overcome with the familiar possessiveness as she chatted away to the three of them. Hotohori Without warning, Tasuki reached over to grasp her shoulder and pulled Miaka to him, placing a chaste kiss upon her head. Miaka abruptly stopped talking and turned to look up at him in surprise.

Tasuki bared his fangs at her in a wolfish grin. "Don't forget, Mi-chan. Today yer all mine." His heart gave a funny pang when she flushed, looking rather pleased at the attention. Her aura had responded immediately, reaching out to him and wrapping around him as surely as the hold he physically had on her.

The intimate gesture warmed his soul and his energy flared in response. He wasn't a natural at sharing his chi the way Hotohori was, or as well practiced as Chichiri, but he was getting better at it. Especially when he had the chance to touch or hold Miaka the way he was now.

Immortality with her seemed like a pretty sweet deal.

Tasuki seemed to have taken a leaf out of Hotohori's book from the day before. While he was not overtly sexual with her in front of Hotohori and Chichiri, he certainly made sure to 'stake his claim' on her whenever they were in a room together. Whether it was physically putting himself between the other two Seishi and Miaka or simply being near her. Miaka thought it must be a side effect of their previous chi sharing experiences, but his mere proximity was enough to make her skin tingle.

For their part, Hotohori and Chichiri made no objection to their brother's sudden possessiveness. Though Miaka was sure none of them had actually talked about it specifically, they seemed to be trying to respect each other's time and space with her, which Miaka appreciated greatly. Would this be how things continued after the ceremony? Was there to be some sort of schedule?

Miaka was jolted out of her musings when the doorbell chimed, echoing loudly throughout the large house. Who in the world could that be? Hardly anyone even knew they were here. Could it be Keisuke?

Excited, Miaka jumped up. "I'll get it!" She ran to the door, skidding on the polished floors and yanked the door open to reveal… Yui. Miaka managed to hide her disappointment, calling over her shoulder to her Seishi, all three of whom had followed her to the door. "It's Yui!"

Yui smiled and held up a hand in greeting, the other occupied with a large stacked bento box in the shape of a pink rabbit. Cheerfully, Yui held up the rabbit bento as she explained, "I thought you and I could have a little girl time! I know it's not part of the ceremony, and that you've spent a lot of time with all of your Seishi in the past, but every woman needs to be able to spend a little time hanging out with her girlfriends!"

"Yui-chan!" Glad for the distraction, Miaka immediately glommed onto her friend as though she hadn't seen her for weeks.

Yui accepted Miaka's affection easily, expertly managing to hang onto the bento box and patting her shoulder warmly for a moment until they parted. She waved hello to Tasuki and the others. "Is it alright if I kidnap her for lunch?"

Tasuki gave the giggling women a suspicious look. "I don't trust either of ya, but I guess I can't say no." He sighed and shuffled towards the kitchen where Chichiri and Hotohori watched curiously. "All right, we'll stay out of the way if the two of you stay out of trouble!"

"Thanks, Tasuki." Miaka beamed at him cheekily. "No promises!"

Laughing, Miaka let Yui the rest of the way into the house. While Yui gawked, Miaka snatched the bento box and opened one of the containers to give it a cursory sniff. "Ahhh, is that homemade pork ramen with an onsen egg?" She couldn't help but drool.

"It sure is!" Yui snatched the food back, closing the container with a righteous click. "And you don't get any until you promise to answer my questions!"

"Yuuuuiiiiii," Miaka whined. "Okay, okay, I'll talk! Geez. You don't play fair!"

"It's not that I don't play fair, it's that I have a solid strategy for getting what I want." Yui grinned. "I guess spending all that time with Nakago was good for something."

"I'll say," Miaka muttered as the two of them wandered out onto the veranda in the back where a small gazebo fashioned with a small table and chairs sat a comfortable distance away from the house and the prying ears of any Seishi. "Poor Tetsuya!"

Yui's laugh rang out across the yard, starling several birds. "Let's just say Tetsuya has been well compensated for any temporary losses he may have incurred from my trickery." Her blue gaze was teasing as she and Miaka sat down and portioned out the lunch she'd brought. "Now out with it! I need to know everything!"

Miaka let the innuendo slide, wavering under the weight of Yui's gaze. "Everything?" She gulped.

"Every. Last. Detail."

Over the next hour, Miaka divulged everything Yui could possibly want to know about how the ceremony was progressing—pausing when certain topics made one or both of them blush.

"Hotohori cooks?" Yui practically spat out her tea.

"That's the part you focus on? Really, Yui?"

Yui laughed. "It's the only part that surprised me!" Her expression turned smug. "After the way he came onto you that night when you went to confess for Nuriko? Asking you to marry him so soon? I expected nothing less than him tiring you out." Her grin widened. "Just wait until there are no constraints for the ceremony."

"Yui!" Miaka hissed, suddenly unable to look her friend in the eye.

"What?" Yui feigned innocence as she sipped her tea. Suddenly, she set her cup down and reached over to brush a thumb across Miaka's cheek. Scrunching her nose, she scrubbed at the spot with renewed vigor. "Miaka, what is that on your face?"

"Eh?" Miaka went cross eyed trying to see whatever it was that had Yui going all 'mother hen' on her. "I don't know, can you get it?"

Finally, Yui pulled back and examined her thumb critically. "Is this…glitter?" She frowned and leaned over until her face was inches from Miaka's. Then she dropped her gaze and flicked at Miaka's shirt. "It's everywhere."

Miaka gaped at the shimmering evidence of last night's activities, her hand unconsciously moving to rest at the spot Chichiri had marked her during their night together. It wasn't a hickey, but it made it just as clear where and who she'd been with. Although if Hotohori was right, the stuff would eventually be everywhere.

Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, Miaka covered her face and blurted, "Everything is happening so fast, Yui! Three days ago I was a virgin and now I've slept with two different men!" She and Yui had held many a candid conversation before in regards to Yui's love life with Tetsuya, but now that Miaka was the subject she couldn't help but feel a little shy.

"So?" Yui scoffed. "They love you, right? And you love them. The world is changing, Miaka. I know we've both been brought up to believe in monogamy, but honestly, if this turns out to be something that works for you, who's to say that it's wrong?" Yui slammed a hand down on the table, nearly upsetting their tea. "It's literally ordained by a god!"

Miaka laughed at Yui's show of passion and winced, stretching her arms above her head to lean first one way and then the other.

"Are you okay, Miaka?" Yui's blue eyes narrowed in concern.

"Yes." Miaka answered a little too quickly. "Just… kinda…sore….." She blushed again and looked down.

"Ohhhhhhh!" Yui eyed Miaka with her lips set in what seemed to be a permanent smug cat face. "Well after what you've told me I'd be really impressed if you weren't sore!" She frowned thoughtfully. "But there are things you can do to make sure you minimize any pain or soreness!" Her voice took on a lecturing tone. "To be frank, sex shouldn't hurt. Chichiri did it the right way, he had you relaxed enough he just slid right in." Yui made a rude gesture with her hands to demonstrate. "Hotohori should have known better!"

Miaka nearly choked on her tea at Yui's harsh admonishment. "What?"

"Yeah!" Yui crossed her arms as she leaned back in her chair. "A famous guy like that supposedly has been around the block a few times!" She looked up thoughtfully. "But he has been in love with you since, like, forever, so I suppose he just got a little too excited and didn't think about it…"

"It's not his fault I didn't let him finish!" Miaka defended her Seishi. "I was impatient!"

Yui raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? That's the best part, Miaka!"

"I…" Her face burned. "It was too much. Not to mention embarrassing."

"Totally understandable!" Yui agreed. "I felt the same way with Tetsuya when we first started sleeping together. Think of the whole thing as a learning process. You're learning what you like and what each of them like. There's bound to be a few hiccups along the way!"

"So, going forward, what would you suggest, oh worldly one?" Miaka asked.

"Well, as you've learned already, don't skimp on the foreplay! And if you do, use lots and lots of lube!"

Miaka covered her face with her hands. "This is so embarrassing. I suppose I should be grateful my brother still doesn't want to talk to me." The likelihood of him walking in on more embarrassing situations was only going to increase! Her poor brother might have a heart attack.

Yui narrowed her eyes. "He still hasn't spoken to you?"

"Not a word." Miaka sighed, her entire body slumping. She hated fighting with people she loved. She and Keisuke had fought a lot growing up, but she couldn't ever remember him being quite this angry with her.

"Well don't you worry." Yui stood, beginning to pack the now empty containers. "I have a plan."

The longer the two women were outside, the more suspicious Tasuki became. It wasn't that he didn't trust Miaka, or Miaka's faith in the former Seiryuu Priestess. Rather, he trusted that when women got together they tended to cause trouble.

And past circumstances certainly proved the two Priestesses were no exception to that rule.

A high-pitched trill from Miaka echoed by Yui's softer tones made him shiver.

That kind of laughter was never a good sign!

Hotohori and Chichiri both seemed oblivious to what was happening. Hotohori sat in the living room, happily making phone calls and conducting paperwork at the behest of his managers, planning for next year's tour. Chichiri contented himself with meditation and renewing some of the wards he'd cast, moving about the house soundlessly.

With nothing to keep him occupied, Tasuki's brain began trying to fill in the blanks about what the Priestesses might be talking about. Before he knew it, he was slinking closer to the open kitchen window, hoping he might overhear something that would put his mind at ease.

Drat it all. Try as he might, the two Priestesses were just a little too far away for him to hear much of anything aside from muffled whispers and the occasional laugh or indignant shriek—mostly from Miaka.

Luckily, the breeze outside shifted in just the right direction just as Yui made an unmistakably rude gesture that had the bandit choking on his own spit. Were they actually talking about what he thought they were talking about?

Swallowing, Tasuki redoubled his listening efforts as the Seiryuu Priestess gave Miaka an impromptu lecture on oral sex. The knowledge that he should feel ashamed of spying on the young women was there, but now that he was listening he just couldn't seem to make himself stop. His ears burned as the image of Miaka with Hotohori and Chichiri manifested in his mind as Yui compared the two other Seishi's approach.

"Hotohori should have known better!"

Aghast at this sudden intimate knowledge about his brother Seishi and Miaka's encounter, Tasuki couldn't help but feel a little smug. Ha! Looks like His Highness isn't so perfect after all!

"It's not his fault I didn't let him finish!" Miaka defended. "I was impatient!"

"That's the best part, Miaka!"

"I…It was too much. Not to mention embarrassing."

Tasuki made a sharp sound in the back of his throat at the thought of Miaka, spread out on his bed, begging him to take her. Knowing what he knew about Hotohori's feelings for Miaka, he couldn't say he blamed the guy. And it wasn't like Miaka would have known any better either—she was still new to this!

As they say, forewarned is forearmed. Tasuki remembered how embarrassed Miaka had looked the night she'd woken him and Chichiri after having a premonition. How he'd teased her about it. Why had he done that? She'd never been that good at speaking up for herself in the first place. He'd probably given her a complex or something! Now he was going to have to be extra careful to make sure Miaka enjoyed herself.

Tasuki's heart hammered with sudden anxiety. He wasn't exactly known for his grand communication skills. And as experienced as he was, the women he'd slept with over the years had all been more interested in pleasing him—and he'd let them. How was a mountain oaf like himself supposed to get a woman to open up to him about what she wanted? Much less Miaka?

Having heard enough, Tasuki began to move away from the window. He'd only gotten a few steps away when Yui fired what seemed to be a parting shot, freezing him in his tracks. "—don't skimp on the foreplay! And if you do, use lots and lots of lube!"

Miaka shrieked again and Tasuki, red-faced, hurried from the kitchen, already plotting out the perfect seduction of his sweet Priestess.

To Be Continued…