3/12/2003

01:52 AM

Logfile from Ichijin.

 

Godiva Chocolatier

Black and gold is the theme of this small shoppe, with black marble shelving being supported by golden rods as one example of the interior decor. The smell of freshly brewing chocolate coffee or hot chocolate is often wafting about the air as one enters. A few round tables filled with artfully displayed gold boxes, grace the floor of this store.

Everything in the demeanor of the store, from the merchandise to the ever so helpful associates bespeaks one word. Class.

Obvious exits:

Exit

 

Sebastian leads Aubrey into the slight shop, opening the door for the girl. "Hot chocolate maybe? It is a bit chilly out." And they can more than likely grab a couple of boxes before they leave as well.

 

"Aiya!" Aubrey squeaks in response, dashing into shop with wide eyes. Hands are immediately pressed against a glass, but she steps back suddenly, swatting at the kitten on her shoulder. "No, Jaki! You can't have chocolate. It'll kill you." Sniffle. "Jaki keeps trying to eat the chocolates. Will you hold him for me?" Cue the huge wide eyes, the teariness, the despair. Nothing like a full-grown man with a kitten on his head, right?

 

Sebastian eyes the kitten with something close to skepticism. "Will it shed on me?" Of course he isn't going to say yes or no right away, far more concerned with his wardrobe. Hand reaches out to take the fluffy feline. "If it scratches me, I've every right to blow it to oblivion." Just so we are all clear on this point.

 

"You can't!" Aubrey insists. "He's my one true love!" Good thing the little girl looks something like age nine - her little ramblings can be dismissed by the general public as 'imaginative'. "Jaki won't scratch. He doesn't do anything I don't want him to," she says, beaming confidently. Beneath his armpits, the kitten is presented. Feel the full force of cuteness.

 

Sebastian feels the power to resist in the face of such a demonic talent. Kitten is taken in one hand and considered with great reluctance. Something of a stoic sigh as the man holds a kitten in one hand, the other waving to the person behind the counter. "Two hot chocolates please.... and... a saucer of cream."

 

Aubrey's eyes glow, and she turns away from her brother to address the clerk. "Scuse me. Can I have that with cinnamon, and sprinkles, and whipped cream? And a cherry? One of the bright pink ones?" She pauses for a moment, then nods her head with some kind of approval at the place. "No one nearby wants to hear what we have to say / Unless you have higher chi, you'll simply turn away." The girl sighs. "Yay! Now we can talk."

 

Sebastian continues to cradle the kitten while waiting for the cups to appear. One cup is given to the chibi while both cup and saucer are juggled 'til he reaches a table. The man sets the saucer down, along with the kitten, giving the feline something of a nudge towards it. He glances back over to Aubrey, vaguely amused, "You've something important to discuss?"

 

Aubrey nods her head solemnly, crossing her arms. "I meant to ask you about the destruction of the apartment. There's been interesting chi about the apartment lately. I have not yet to be able to talk to - oh, how does Akurei put it? Kier, in long, gutteral screams - at all. Frankly, with all the energy that those to have been generating, going out is a little frightening for my poor little prepubescent self." Looks like she's 4, talks, like she's 40.

 

Sebastian grins wryly, not quite taking a drink from the hot chocolate quite yet. "Yes... well, I suppose that takes some explaining. And, well, Kieran has been a rather busy oni lately, either in the apartment out outside of it." Kieran is a very, /very/ busy oni. It amazes Seb on a regular basis how that man keeps up his energy. "I'm not sure how much longer the man will be staying with us, at least until his apartment... that I managed to destroy, is ready to be lived in once more."

 

"Mm. I heard from the complex owners about the repairs. Very interesting, how you've managed to be totally conspicuous." Is that a look of disappointment in Aubrey's bold blue eyes? She holds a hand out to her older brother, frowning mildly and waving a hand in front of Sebastian's eyes. "You feel different too. I would have rathered your opening been a more controlled experience."

 

Sebastian smirks faintly, "If you put the right money in the right hands, all will remain quiet." He finally lifts the chocolate to take a sip of the contents, careful of any of the whipped topping. "I am not entirely open and nor do I wish to be, Aubrey. I know that something is different in me, and it is slight, and I can still control it fairly well. It was unexpected, but I shall do with it what I will." He leans back to try to avoid that hand of her's.

 

Aubrey rolls her eyes and sighs broadly. "Unecessary. But since you seem to lead your own regimen, so be it. I'm not one to lead, so you may as well continue." She buries her nose into the whipped cream, purring and gesturing for Jaki to jump down, pointing him to the saucer of milk. "I see," she murmurs, nodding her head approvingly. "I offer you the option - I can't fix you up in a pinch, but if you need a key to lock or un, you can count on me, 'kay?"

 

Sebastian blinks across to Aubrey and smiles, "I am fine the way that I am. Thank you, Aubrey. There is a reason that things are the way that they are. Maybe... next time... I'll have the privilege of exploding when there are some sei nearby. I'd hate to have all of my destructive appetite go to waste."

 

Sebastian's phone begins to ring.

Sebastian picks up his phone.

 

<Phone> "Yes..." Sebastian's traditional accent, but there is something in the background that lends to him not being in the apartment. Hrm... is that a kitten mewing in the background?

 

Aubrey presses her hand to her forehead. "We've got to work on this little problem of yours. You can't exactly be exploding every time someone gets to you. Maybe some advanced courses in anger management. Maybe I should just try to irritate you to-..." She stops smoothly, but mouths 'who is it?', wiping cream from her upper lip.

 

<Phone> Kieran is giving Minai a rather apologetic look, muttering "Sorry about that, but I can't have a tiger in my apartment. It's against my lease. Er... Bastian? It seems my goddess deposited a gift in my apartment. Little wayward Minai. I have her tied up at the moment, but I don't want to keep her that way. It doesn't look comfortable. Can you please come here and help me get her to the Temple? It's rather... urgent. Sorry for the interruption." A cat? Hey, he didn't know the guy was that kinky.

 

<Phone> "Mi... She is in your apartment?" Sebastian sounds rather impressed at that. "Quite an interesting gift you have there. I've Aubrey with me. She might be of some help. Possibly... Yes, we'll be right there."

 

Sebastian looks across to Aubrey, placing his hand over the phone. "I really do not need anyone else working on my 'problems'. Thank you, Aubrey. All is well... and I don't just explode over any little thing. It takes a bit of work." Something of a sigh, "It is Kieran. He seems to have a seishi over at his place, and wants to move her to the temple. We need to be speedy... do you think you can make us inconspicuous?"

 

<Phone> "What a way to meet Aubrey at last, but yes, bring her. I'll call Lexie next. See you shortly." Kieran is already hanging up his phone.

 

Kieran hangs up his phone.

You hang up your phone.

 

"Your problems are my problems, ma frere. Don't think you can avoid them, because I, of all people, will harry you to death. In the nicest possible way," Aubrey adds, beaming cutely. "Kieran. And a seishi? That's very interesting. Which one?" Yes, the little girl has been studying some. "Of course. We already are, but if you want me to polish it up..." She peers at the people in the surrounding area. "Nothing to notice, nothing to see; don't pay attention to Bastian or me." It sounds almost like a nursery rhyme.

 

Sebastian doesn't respond at all to the first part, except with a faint chuckle, "You wouldn't be family if death wasn't somehow involved." He moves to stand, remember to grab a couple of boxes of chocolates, tossing some money upon the counter. He'll trust in Aubery to grab the kitten... or not, it really isn't all that great of a deal to him." He rips open a portal to Keiran's place and then extends a hand to Aubrey.

 

You open a portal to Royal Elizabeth - Suite 501.

Sebastian also adds, "The one taken my Nainokami that is a Byakko. Minai."

 

Karashoumon has entered the portal.

You step into the portal, sensing an odd disorientation for a moment.

The sense of distortion continues, with a sense that your forward rush of motion is much greater than your initial step into the portal...

Royal Elizabeth - Suite 501

The apartment is in the midst of a fairly extensive renovation, although it appears the bedroom, bathroom and most of the kitchen are in working order. A few personal belongings and furniture have been moved in but of the latter, most is current covered in dust sheets to keep it protected from the construction. The lingering smell of smoke permeates the air.

Toroki, Higuchi, and Karashoumon are here.

Obvious exits:

Out

There is an open portal to Godiva Chocolatier.

The distortion ceases abruptly as you step out of the portal.

You have closed the portal.

 

If looks could kill, Higuchi would be falling over dead. The glares that Minai is directing at him could probably peel paint. Too bad it's not an actual power or something. Hogtied and gagged, she has few options or even the ability to reply to her captor, save for more muffled growling and futile struggling. If anything Kieran's attempts to make her stop only makes her struggle more, squirming and twisting on the bed. The arrival of more oni is not going to help.

 

"Mm-hmm. Formerly Kyoufuu. Reese was rather descriptive on the person, but her grasp of the actual magic involved was somewhat vague. I will say this though," Aubrey murmurs as she steps through the portal, "the Leviathan has interesting taste." The girl makes a preliminary examination of the room, bowing to Kieran and peering at Minai with the scientific expression of someone looking into a microscope. The kitten releases his grip on her shoulder, and jumps to sniff at Minai. Weeeird.

 

<Phone> Kieran isn't going to ask. He was already sort of raped by her today. No need to question her lack of clothes now. "See you there then. Bye."

Kieran hangs up his phone.

 

Sebastian is leading Aubrey through a portal direct from the Chocolatier. Braced under his arm are a couple of boxes of chocolates, because he isn't about to leave without his purchases, even for a seishi. He sighs faintly upon catching sight of Minai upon the bed, practically tied up with a bow. The man shoots a glance over to Kieran, and then back to Minai before sketching the sei something of a bow. "It has been awhile, lady."

 

Kieran hangs up his phone, shoving it back in pocket, sighing back at Minai. Having her hogtied is not his idea of a good time actually and he's debating removing the gag. Sebastian is giving a smile as is Aubrey, though the bow is quirked at. "I don't question gifts from my goddess. You must be Aubrey then? I was hoping to finally meet you under better circumstances. Shall we get her to the Temple?"

 

Minai growls at the cat, it's muffled but the animal should probably have no problems understanding what the little girl has to say. Simply, it wasn't very nice. THe focus of her attentions though is on the oni, glaring daggers still, being called a lady probably didn't help. She's not one, never had been, even if her brother and Karasuki are trying to change that slowly. At the mention of the Temple though, she struggles anew, heck no she doesn't want to go down there!

 

"The merit of the gift is debatable," Aubrey replies smartly. "Kieran, I presume. You know, Sebastian wouldn't even have to work if we found a way to convert your chi to liquid form and sell it on the black market." Jaki, not a scaredycat by any means, nevertheless backs away from Minai, hissing at the seishi and batting a claw at her. The girl scoops the feline into her arms, then peers at Sebastian. "Let's go then, Sebastian. Don't taunt her - she probably bites."

 

You hear Karasuki in your head saying, 'Let her go. Now.'

 

Sebastian flickers a glance around the apartment as well, checking to see how his chi blast repairs were going, along with the general renovation. Eventually, his gaze drifts right on back over to Kieran, "The temple... Well, I suppose that if we escort her there, she won't be warded out. But if not, it will be interesting to see what happens. Although... when we had Miaka in the painting, she was able to be there. We shall see." The transport oni tears open another portal, this one right to the temple.

 

You open a portal to Dark Temple.

You step into the portal, sensing an odd disorientation for a moment.

The sense of distortion continues, with a sense that your forward rush of motion is much greater than your initial step into the portal...

Dark Temple

Dark passages lead in from all directions, centering upon the inner sanctum of the shadowed temple. There is no earthly way that this structure is located under New York City, for beyond the pillared archways are windows to a nightmarish landscape that holds no semblance to the surface world. The tiles on the floor depict the seven elements of the oni in seemingly random patterns that spiral towards the center of the room. At each cardinal point, a statue of obsidian stone rears with regal yet terrible splendor while gazing down at the tiered diases in the very center of the room.

What really gives proof to the fact that this is a different plane of existence however is the open sky over the center of the temple, letting the starlight illuminate. The sky looks strange though, the patterns of the constellations are reversed, mirrors of the real world. Oddly enough, the sun never rises and it never rains in here either.

Obvious exits:

Portal

There is an open portal to Royal Elizabeth - Suite 501.

The distortion ceases abruptly as you step out of the portal.

Karashoumon comes out of the portal.

Higuchi comes out of the portal.

Toroki comes out of the portal.

You have closed the portal.

 

Kieran sets toroki down on the floor, her legs now unbent where he's loosened one of the bindings. He's actually rather careful to make sure she's not just dropped to the ground, even if she is struggling. In fact, he's even going to risk removing the gag.

 

Sebastian winces just the slightest, reaching a hand up to rub at his head. "My... that was loud. Did the rest of you hear that as well? I dare say that someone objects to your present, Kieran." He waits 'til the others are through the portal before sealing it closed behind them, taking this moment to settle those boxes of chocolates upon the floor.

 

Minai might be flopping like a landed fish, but she hasn't given up the fight, no matter that her weak struggles would be pretty laughable. As the gag is removed though, the first thing that comes is a snap of teeth that threatens to latch onto Kieran's wrist. Grrr!! Forget swearing, first things first!

 

Lexie is standing near the entrance, leaning against a wall-- What she'd meant on the phone is reflected by the black combat fatigues she's wearing now, shoulder and hip holstered guns in plain view as she watches the crowd. "She's a seishi in the Yin temple. I imagine it's not something one does under normal circumstances. I wonder if she's cut off from her god's powers in here?"

 

Aubrey ignores the rest, including when Minai tries to sever Kieran's arteries. She runs instead to the statue of Sungnocha, prostrating before it, and giving what seems to be a rapid-fire epic rendition of her life since leaving Taiwan. With all the languages muddling around inside her head, she manages a very incomprehensible pidgin. "Hi, priestess!" she suddenly bursts, rising from her kneel and skipping over. Yeah: she's cracked.

 

Kieran is about to question what the hell Sebastian is talking about when it's there in his head too, driving him to knees in fact, leaving Minai access to his wrist. "Shit!" he grumbles, looking down at the girl gnawing is flesh. "Guess Karasuki isn't too pleased with me at this moment. He really should know better than to bitch like that. Now little one, why don't you let go please and we'll find you something nicer to chew on like a squeaky toy." He extracts his bleeding wrist from Toroki's mouth and glances over at Lexie, giving her a bit of a smile. "Nainokami told me to take her. She wants her back among us. You do too, yes?"

 

Sebastian is so proud of his little sister. Running right to her god. Clearly the religious fervor runs in their veins. "Dylan is not happy," Sebastian mutters, glancing over to Kieran as he is caught off guard by the voice as well. "I had no clue the man could do that." He frowns abruptly, flicking a glance back to Minai, and then goes to give his due to Homasubi as well.

Lexie cracks a slight smile, reaching over to cuff Karashoumon gently on the shoulder. "Hey, it's you, kid. Sorry about the first meeting we had."  She pauses, turning to look at Minai and Kieran, pulling out a cigarette before answering.  "No. I don't want her back. She's a seishi now.  The Minai I cared about is gone."  Her tone is flat, humorless.  "They'd only take her back, anyways.  We may as well save ourselves the trouble. What'd Dylan do?"  She doesn't give respect to any of the statues. In her mind, it'd be like genuflecting before the guy who signs off on your time card at work.

 

Minai spits out blood, looks like she did nail Kieran a good one, her teeth still partly bared as she glares at the lot of them, though she pointedly does not glance in the direction of the statues, more specifically towards Nainokami. At least though, she's stopped thrashing around, just glaring with more bravado than temper. "You've made that clear enough Lexie, so why don't you just let me go, hmm?" She can find her way out of the damn tunnels from here.

 

Kieran shucks off his shirt and wipes at his wrist with it, cleaning the wound as it begins to already heal. Leaving Minai where he is, he goes over to his goddess now, caressing the face of the Leviathan, kissing it and leaning his head against it, quietly talking to himself a moment. Still touching the statue, he pulls out his cell phone and begins to dial.

 

Kieran begins to dial his phone.

 

"I didn't hear anything," Aubrey says, looking concerned. "If you want, I could probably lock him out of your head." The least she can do is take care of the little parasite on Higuchi's wrist, but the girl has already relinquished her grasp, and all Karashoumon can think to do is pull out her two sai, arming herself. "She has a temper, though." Considering those of the Yin that the girl has met, she beings to feel very, very sorry for Lexie.

 

Sebastian gets back up, moving over to join the others once more. He tucks his hands into the pockets of his trous to peer down at Minai, "My... you really haven't improved in temper at all since I last saw you, Minai. So viscous... and your Byakko friends so eager to have you with them again? Did we treat you so poorly?"

 

<Phone> Kieran's now familiar voice comes over the phone. "You're in a foul mood. Shouting like that in our heads, giving away your power these days. Tsk. She's fine, you know. She even bit me, so you should be most proud, Karasuki. I cannot let her go though, she was a gift. Surely you understand the significance of that?"

 

Lexie doesn't even muster any excitement at the situation. "You speak to me like I care what happens to you." She murmurs, coldly. "You're a seishi now.  And the prisoner of an oni. I believe you should address your words to him and not me. After Dylan, I'm taking a much more 'hands off' approach to this kind of thing, you see."  She wanders over to the statue of the raven, and plunks down, using it as a backrest as she pulls out.. A gameboy.  That's right. A color one, no less. "Although it's the best place to keep her. Even if there were bodies of water, Dylan'll 'ave a hard time getting here physically." Not that she looks like she cares all that much, but..

 

<Phone> Kieran is holding the phone away from his ear as Dylan's angry voice pours through it. There is, for those that understand Japanese, the use of the word for son-of-a-bitch. When the sound dies down, he puts the phone next to his hear, looking bored. "Alexandria isn't as happy about seeing her as I thought she would be. I hate to disappoint my miko, Karasuki. As for my mother, she was indeed a bitch, thank you for noticing. That is, however, beside the point." Look, he's taking lessons from Sebastian! "Trading you for her, What would that really accomplish?"

 

Minai is flexible enough to move up into a sitting position, though her hands are still bound behind her and the extra strap to the cuffs on her ankles too. She glares up at Sebastian, as much ignoring Lexie as the woman is to her now. "You try getting jumped in an alley and taken from your family and see how tempermental you get." she growls at him, shaking her head a bit to clear the loose waves her hair out of her eyes.

I don't understand that.

 

Sebastian drops down into something of a crouch, forearms resting upon his thighs as he looks over to Minai, "What /are/ we to do with you... Minai? Granted, this really has nothing to do with me, but I still find it rather fascinating that you are in this position now. I don't precisly pity your position, and while I respect your spirit, I'd also suggest you try to act a little bit better, considering where you are at."

 

<Phone> Kieran wanders away from the statue, moving up behind Sebastian, settling a light hand on the back of the man's head, fingers leaving a faint trail of warmth. "As if you'd let me use you for anything, Karasuki. What tool would you ever agree to be for Nainokami or for any of the other Yin? You think me a fool and you think to provoke me using such foul language and insults. Stop wasting time. What will /I/ get by trading you for Minai? Hmmm? You think you are such a prize? I've had better in the past twenty-four hours, Karasuki. I don't need your charity."

 

Lexie glances up from her gameboy, biting her lower lip for a moment as she regards Minai (When she thinks the girl isn't looking, of course.)  As an afterthought, she carefully looks at the oni present, expression thoughtful as she observes their reactions to the matter.

 

Minai is also temperamental because she's starving, an unfortunate side effect to her powers that she'd used earlier, a very high metabolism. A lot of that low key growling is from her stomach it seems. Maybe she should have hung onto Kieran's wrist longer. ;) Her eyes are still angry though, the snatches of conversation from Higuchi on the phone does not help. "I was never well behaved before I remembered who I was, why would you expect me to be different now?"

 

Lexie's phone begins to ring.

 

Sebastian smile grows a bit more lupine after Kieran's touch, and the full force of that rather greedy grin is bestowed upon Minai. His voice drops into something of a purr as he watches Minai with green eyes that lack all coldness of a time previous, this time filled with something of intense interest, "I'm sure that there could be quite a few things we could do with you... But if you feel the need, please misbehave. That could be awfully fun."

 

Lexie picks up her phone.

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "Valdosta. Whaddtawant?"

 

<Phone> Kieran's face hardens, his eyes beginning to spark crimson as he lets his hand trail away from Sebastian's hair, moving instead of the statue of Nainokami again. "Listen here, you stupid seishi. I did /not/ follow you through two fucking lifetimes to be placated with the promise of a good fuck and a kiss good-bye. You think that's all it will take, Karasuki? Who do you think buried you out on that battle field? Who do you /think/ cared enough to see that battered corpse of yours properly buried!" Higuchi's voice grows lower and lower, just as the temperature in the Temple begins to rise quickly. The statue he touches is limned now in a shimmering, the soft flicker of flames that doesn't permeate the statue's material, but instead halos it. "Do you /think/ that's all I need from you!"

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "Forget home, then, lost boy. Come to the temple... You know where it is, right?  By the way, it's good to hear from you."

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "What, are you locked in or something? Rathan, if there's an assault headed our way, I don't give a damn whose apartment you're in.  She's a seishi. You're an onisenshi. Where are your priorities here?"

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "No. Just show up, allright?  I'll expect you soon. Goodbye."

 

Lexie hangs up her phone.

 

Garanto pops through the portal.

 

Oh but if Minai could change right now, ears would be laid back and teeth would be bared. Okay the latter part is true enough right now, but there are no fangs. "Awh, feeling your cheery-ohs sitting all the way over there, eh Ichijin? Don't think you'd be as smarmy if I were loose..." She trails off not out of fear, but surprise as her head turns and she stares over at Kieran, even if she hadn't wanted to look that direction before. Battlefield? Two lifetimes? Her eyes widen and look distant for a moment as if trying to remember, then mutters a name. "Kyoka?"

 

Sebastian turns his head to the side, following the fire oni's progress as he speaks on the cell. "Careful... you'll loose another phone, Kieran," he adds softly, noticing the rise of heat in the area. He looks back over to Minai as she speaks, and the slowest of smile draws over his features, "You'd be nothing but a dark spot on the floor by the time you even got on your knees, Minai. Don't try to overestimate yourself."

 

Lexie puts away the gameboy and steeples her fingers, broodily. She doesn't say anything.  Which is probably unusual for her. But she does ascribe the name to memory, to mention to Malachai later, on the subject of past lives.

 

<Phone> Kieran flicks his gaze over to Minai, narrowing his fiery eyes at her, "So you remember Kyoka at last, do you? Thank you so fucking much little Toroki. Nice to know I wasn't utterly ignored." Sebastian's word draw a scary little smile from the other's face before he's speaking back to the phone, "Make me an offer I can't refuse, Karasuki. You want to give me yourself? I mean /give/ me yourself? You want to be mine, want to let me do whatever I wish, hmm? Is that how far you're willing to go for Minai, for Setsuna? That's what I want, you know. You. Your soul."

 

Rathan arrives far more quickly than travel in the city normally allows.  Of course, fading into the void and jogging /through/ buildings and high-traffic areas really cuts down on ETAs.  Slightly out of breath, he pads up to his miko, surveying the scene as quickly as possible.  Minai he recognizes, but... "I'm here, miko.  And I apologize again, but... who's he?"  A hand is waved in the general direction of the handsome male model.

 

Minai dismisses Sebastian's posturing with no more than another glare before taking a deep breath and yelling loud enough she hopes to be heard over the distance to the cellphone in Kieran's hand. "Don't do it! Dylan! Don't you dare!" Not for her, not like this. She starts twisting her wrists behind her back, ignoring the appearance of Rathan with another glare though she does vaguely regret healing that particular oni's concussion now. Should have left him on the sidewalk. ;) The cuffs are too tight, but she tries to think. Instead of trying to shift to full avatar form, she tries to turn her hands into paws. Slim clawed paws to slip out of the bindings and slash those on her ankles free.

 

"If we saw more of you, Rathan... I'm sure you would know full well who he is," Sebastian drawls slowly, answering Rathan somewhat, but not lifting his eyes away from Minai, still crouching a fairly safe distance away from her. Of course, while watching her, he is noticing the attempt at shifting around her hands. The man chuckles faintly, moving to stand once more, "I don't suggest that, young lady." There is a touch of blue color already glimmering about his hands.

 

Lexie on the other hand, flashes a grin at Rathan and pats the ground beside her. "Come sit down, Rath. You don't have to be a part of this, but we do need you here. If they actually pull off an assault.. Although, the Byakko.." She rubs at her chin. "Well, I guess it's not impossible. Do you know who all they called?  You don't have to compromise yourself if you gave your word not to say."

 

<Phone> Minai's voice is heard over the phone, shouting, "Don't do it! Dylan! Don't you dare!" Kieran pauses to glance over her and then Sebastian, cautioning the other oni, "Don't harm her, Ichijin." His voice is a growl, the air heavy. the statue of Nainokami on fire. "You want a trade then? Alright, Karasuki. You have your trade. We had best do this now before your friends have time to think of something else. I'm sure that boy of yours is going to be very upset with you for this, but you don't have time to fuck him goodbye. No tricks, promise me, Karasuki. You will be mine this time, promise me."

 

Rathan offers a slight bow to Sebastian, "Sorry, sir.  There has been a lot going on lately and I needed to work a few things out.  But it's mostly settled now.  I'll fill you and Lexie in on the details when things are a little calmer."  He then moves a bit closer to his miko and settles down, casting a worried glance towards Minai.  "Stop stuggling, girl.  If you don't fight back, they won't hurt you."  Maybe true, maybe not, but if she keeps struggling, Rath knows they'll /definitely/ hurt her.  To Lexie, he responds, "I was there when Mina got the phone call from Karasuki, and she said she was going to head upstairs to talk to the one called Catherine.  I guess they live in the same building.  That's all I know, though."  He then admits, "Mina knows she and I are on opposite sides, although she won't be happy to see me here.  She's sweet and nice... I hope she has enough sense not to do something stupid.  I don't want to see her get hurt."  He doesn't, however, say anything about not being willing to harm her if the need arises.

 

Minai doesn't often listen to Karasuki, she sure as hell isn't going to sit around and listen to Sebastian! Her ire rises, edged with panic over what Dylan is going to do on her behalf and she cannot restrain herself any longer. In a flash the girl launches herself at Sebastian, tired of his taunts and threats, the cuffs having slipped off as they cannot hold the form that blurs from girl to... Lynx in the passing of a second. A wild snarl echos through the Temple as Toroki lashes out with claws and fangs that nearly faster than any normal human can follow.

 

<Phone> Kieran is watching something he so wishes he wasn't seeing. His voice bellows into the phone, "Tell Minai to cease now or they others will hurt her and I have no control over that! Tell her now, damnit!"

 

Sebastian remains watching Minai, but doesn't let the blue glow disappear. "Not unless she continues her struggles," Sebastian responds softly. "I'd rather not hurt the girl, if I can help it... but it is all up to her." Of course, it would have to be about that time when the man is launched at by a snarling cat. The man falls back a step, only to be knocked to the floor by Minai, hard, growling his own curse. There is a flash of blue as he releases a blast at the girl in defense.

 

Lexie snorts. "Yeah, like Dylan keeps his promises." She murmurs, folding her hands behind her head. "Probably a trap.  They know where this place is and can just as easily wait outside for us until we come out."  She'll try not to sulk over the fact that Rathan's in pretty much the same boat she is.. Or was, until she started going nuts recently. Still, she's ever so calm as she pulls out the colt revolver.. And fires it in the air to get the attention of the comatants (Well, if she's lucky. But it sure does echo in a shrine like this.) "Yo, can it, pals. Minai, do you have some deathwish? You didn't used to be this stupid. Don't make me get into big game hunting."

 

The chain wrapped around Rathan seems to uncoil of its own volition as the young man grabs hold of it and throws it towards the lynx-form Minai.  Even as swift and agile as the feline may be, it's quite possible that Sebastian's blast of chi will have injured or distracted her enough to not notice the flight of the steel links as the twist and twine in the air, seeking to ensnare and entangle the seishi, perhaps able to bind her better than mere rope.  Of course, Lexie's gunfire startles him, causing his concentration to flicker briefly, making it even more difficult to guide the chain as he seeks to subdue Minai with it.  "D'ya mind, Lexie?"  Don't you love that ringing in the ears?

 

Oh but if Toroki were able to go to full avatar form here, landing on someone as over 500 lbs of giant bengal tiger is just so much more effective than 50 lbs. Still, the claws are sharp as razors and she leaves great bleeding furrows across his middle, damn near gutting him shortly before being blasted off. The cat shrieks as she crashes to floor several feet away, singed hair filling the air. Ick. Rathan's chain wraps around her then, causing her to thrash about wildy, but caught. She can't cut through metal in this form alas, else she'd be able to free herself not to mention slicing Ichijin in half. It's just not her day. The gun fire is particularly loud in sensitive ears that flatten back as the lynx crouches, long fangs bared and daring anyone to come within biting distance.

 

Dammit. Now Seb is going to need to go shopping for another new suit. There goes all of that effort to look well-dressed before everyone. His head slams back against the floor, dazing him quite well. But, you know what? You simply cannot ignore the fiery pain coming from your middle section after being slashed by a cat. He curses again, a hand pushing down to where the red quickly spreads over the suit coat. Give him a moment here, then he will blast her to oblivion.

 

<Phone> Kieran is hurrying over to bend beside Ichijin, immediately covering his wounds with a hand. A muffled, "This is going to hurt a little," is heard as the fire oni pushes a great deal of heat into the bleeding skin, cauterizing the injuries immediately. "Damnit Karasuki," his voice is back on the phone, decidedly unpleased. "Where do you want to do this trade. You have to be alone or it won't happen." Kieran glance down at Sebastian again, a look of real concern flashing across his features. The phone is moved again, "Don't move, just lie there. Relax. Let it go." Now the heat he's filling the other man with his soothing, almost pleasurable.

 

"Pardon," Rathan apologizes to Lexie as he rises to his feet again and quickly pads over to Minai, exerting his telekinetic strength to not only keep the chains securely bound around her lynx-form, but also to press down upon Minai herself, seeking to limit her ability to struggle or even move.  "Shhh," he soothingly murmurs as he sits again, this time near the captured seishi and 'coincidentally' between her and Seb.  "Just calm down, girl, okay?  Take it easy and everything will be all right.  Yer just making things worse right now.  How badly are you hurt?"  He scoots closer, doing his best to use the chain and his power to keep Minai under control.  He doesn't wish to experience the sharpness of those claws firsthand, but if he can get away with it, he plans to check on her injuries and try to calm her somewhat by stroking her fur.  "You'll upset Mina if you make them hurt you again."  As he says the Byakko seishi's name, one hand absently reaches up to brush across the hickey on his neck.

 

A streak of grey flashes through the portal, announcing it's entrance with the piercing shriek of a raptor's call. The bird does a singular turn about in the air before alighting upon the statue of Nainokami, and seemingly ready to settle in here. Not but a moment later there is a shriek of another kind. "Shen! Baka!" And the flurry of both Japanese and Mandarin that follows would be enough to scorch anyone's ears. In the next breath, a girl comes sprinting through the portal, only to skid to a halt at the sight, eyes as wide as saucers. "Where..."

 

Minai couldn't move easily, but expected that with the chains surrounding her, the pressures on her now not serving to help much if the flattening of her ears are any indication. She's scorched, along her side but aside from soft pants, the lynx refuses to let it keep her down. Admittedly, she was starting to settle down when suddenly she sniffs the air around Rathan and a look of surprise appears on the feline's features. A moment then Toroki snarls again, a paw moving to swipe at the senshi angrily, though bound and flattened it is likely easily dodged.

 

Sebastian is throwing his head back, teeth clenching at first at Kieran's fiery touch. Ow. And that is putting it lightly. But he simply cannot keep it in, bellowing once more, and then ending with quite a few curses. Eyes that were squeezed shut now open wide, vivid green eyes flashing as first they look up at Kieran and then seek out the cat. "I'm going to send that fucking beast-" Sounds kinda wierd coming from that South African accent of his doesn't it? Higuchi-crack begins to fill him now, and the rage that was beginning to fill the oni curbs into something of a smolder.

 

<Phone> Kieran is staring down at Sebastian, watching the heat flow form his body and suddenly this whole mess doesn't seem so important. Not right this moment. Obsession is there, always there, but there are times when having something else to care about helps. If a little. Back to the phone he goes, his voice steady and dangerous, a ripple of velvet, "Another time, Karasuki. I think we'll want to hang onto your little pussy for a bit longer. I've given you a respite, Karasuki. For the moment. As for being mine? If I brand you with heat, you'll never be free. Good-bye. I'll be in touch."

 

Kieran hangs up his phone.

 

The paw is indeed easily avoided, but Rathan is very careful to not move from his position between Minai and the less-than-happy Sebastian.  "Stop that," he gently chastises.  "Seb'll hurt you real bad if you keep that sorta thing up.  So behave."  He then pitches his voice lower, so it is likely only the cat's fine senses will be able to hear him.  "I didn't hurt Mina.  I wouldn't, unless there was no other choice."  Raising it to a normal conversational tone, he tosses back over his shoulder, "Don't worry, I have her under control now.  No more need to crisp her or anything."  He missed the end of Kieran's conversation, so doesn't yet realize that the trade is off, at least for now.

 

Toshie is more than ready to turn right on back around and exit the way she came in. I'm sure you would too if you were faced with the sight before you. She has been having a pretty bad week to begin with, and this isn't helping any. The girl startles back one step, only to be halted as if coming against a brick wall. Her gaze is immediately darting towards the falcon perched atop the shadow, some sort of stunned and horrified expression in her eyes. "You want me to what?!" Strange place. Strange people. And the only thing that makes any sense is the talking bird. Go figure. "I don't know how to heal... I haven't even got a bandaid on me."

 

Minai doesn't look that much reassured, but she doesn't take another swipe at the oni beside her. Rather she lays her head down, breath coming in more panting which is typical of animalistic shock. Cuz dammit, being blasted does hurt and this is the first time this lifetime she's dealt with it in animal form thanks to Nainokami. Low growling escapes here and there, but for the most part, the lynx stays down, watching warily.

Sebastian shivers just the slightest, but he'd be bellowing at the top of his lungs if Kieran hadn't given him that small favor of a chance to feel something else. He lets out a low breath before muttering a few choice words under his breath. "They went deep." He coughs once, and then again, rolling onto his side.

 

"Bastian..." Kieran strokes his hands over the man's side, avoiding the wounds carefully as his brushes heat into the other oni, dulling the pain as best he can. The mention of healing causes him to at last see Yuurin and his eyes widen, "You! Nainokami's. Yes." He draws in a breath, closing his eyes briefly to thank his goddess. "Please, come here. I won't hurt you. I am like you. He's hurt and so is the one who is a feline. If you are able, you must heal them."

 

Rathan spares scant attention for the new arrival.  He doesn't dare look away from Minai for long, in case she managed to find a way to wriggle free from his power.  "That's better," he murmurs, once again seeking to caress her soft fur, carefully avoiding the charred patch.  "It'll all be ok.  Trust me."  Yeah right.  "I didn't do anything bad to ya in the park, did I?  I'm not going to now, either."

 

Toshie is fairly glaring at the falcon, but steadily taking steps towards it, her eyes mesmerized. The falcon looks right back at the girl, eyes shimmering with a distinctive white cast. But the bird breaks off and launches into the air, only to angle for where Kieran is, and then use the oni's shoulder as a perch with talons that sink into his clothing and possibly shoulder for a firm hold. Tosh obligingly follows over to where the men are and drops to her knees. She mutters, "I don't know how. I don't understand. Shen, I..." She is glancing to Kieran with something of a frown, and then down to Sebastian. Guided by something that even she has no clue of, she is pulling away the slashed man's shirt to reveal the cauterized wounds. "Oh god." She lays her hands upon the man's skin and a white glow forms, a ripple of like color also showing on the front of her thigh, through her pants.

 

The lynx shimmers for a moment, then the fur under Rathan's hand vanishes to be replaced by long silky black air as the feline is replaced by the thin waif form of Minai. The girl is still bound in chains, to her dismay, half curling with an arm clutching her side and stifling a groan rather stoically as she lays on the floor. "No, but you fell and I healed your concussion." she murmurs softly, her eyes half-lidded tiredly. She doesn't say outloud what she thought in her head, that maybe she shouldn't have done that. Toshie and the others are watched warily, the young seishi finding all these new oni rather ominous.

 

Sebastian blinks, his eyes growing wide at the girl that is suddenly there. But the second that she presses her hands to his skin, he is wincing and then gasping as the mending within begins. A low sigh escapes his lips though, his gaze at first up on Kieran and then sliding back down to watch as the wounds that tore raggedly across his midsection begin to disappear. Hey, no scars? Alas, the suit is going straight for the trash. "Damn. Remind me to simply blast the kitty instead of warning her."

 

Kieran winces when the bird takes perch, feeling his flesh punctured. It seems to be the theme for the day with this oni. Oh well. He has the luxury of healing himself. He watches the new oni with something akin to amazement, a soft smile lingering on his lips, a hand reaching out to brush fingertips across her cheek, their touch unnaturally warm. "Thank you. I am Higuchi, but you also call me Kieran. Thank you again, but the girl there is also in need." His gaze returns to the man on the ground, the hand touching Yuurin lowering to caress Ichijin's face instead. "My goddess wouldn't have wanted that, so I couldn't let you. I am sorry that she harmed you and I will make it up to you."

 

Even though Minai has resumed her human form, Rathan continues his soothing gestures and wordless murmurs of comfort, interrupting them only long enough to say, "And I thank you for th' healing.  So lay still and let us return the favor."  Very briefly he takes his attention away from the seishi to look at the newcomer and warn, "She does need your help, but she may resist, so be careful.  She's the one who did that to him."  A brief nod is used to gesture towards Seb, then Rathan's focus is back on the girl.

 

Toshie is looking rather startled as she pulls her hands away from Sebastian's midsection, a distinctive tremor present. "Oh, I didn't just do what I thought I did." Because that would be impossible, and things like that don't happen. Just like talking mutant pigeons and weird darkness and temples that look like they belong on the cover of a fantasy book. She shoots one rather frightened glance across to Kieran as he touches her, her own wide-eyed amazement evident, but then her eyes take note of the other hurt person. "Wasn't there a..." Don't question. Best not to. Not listening to any birds now, she gets up and moves over to Minai to try this healing thing again, fairly shaking like a leaf. All the cat-girl would have to do is snarl at her, and Tosh'll prolly fall over in a faint. Amber-irised gaze draws to Rathan, and then down to Minai. She drops to her knees, hands tentatively reaching forward as if to touch the girl with the intent to heal once more.

 

Minai has nothing against the healer girl and does nothing more than eye Toshie cautiously. She's too tired truth be known, transformation is not an easy ability on her part, the conversion of mass and all that in magical terms, etc. It comes down to the girl just holding still. It's not likely this new oni is going to be goading her into taking action like Seb did anyhow.

 

Sebastian is looking up to Kieran, the faintest of frowns upon his features. "Well, I suppose that was better then having something of a stay in the hospital." Still weary from the events, he pushes up into a sitting position, fingers pushing away the damp shreds of his shirt to look at his midsection again with amazement. He watches the new oni for a moment, and then looks away, back to Kieran, "Thank you..." A soft smile present, and then a frown, "What are we to do with your present, Kieran?"

 

"She needs a place to sleep as well as food and something to drink, to start," says Kieran, bringing an arm around Sebastian as he sits up. "One of us should go out and take care of those things for her. Is she safe staying here or do we have to keep her teethered somewhere? Kidnapping is not my forte although, a thought. One of Malachai's paintings perhaps?"

 

As the healer treats the neko-chan, Rathan gathers up the shredded rope, typing the pieces back together to form a continuous strand again.  He then begins to truss Minai up, paying special attention to carefully tying her legs together and binding her arms to her body, so that even if she manages to gather enough energy to change form again, the likelihood of another escape is at least reduced, if not eliminated.  His chain then unwinds from around the girl to slither back up Rathan, entwining around his neck and waist again.  "If the deal is off, then I'm gonna finish taking care of some business.  While I'm out, I can pick up some food and stuff for the girl.  I'll be back soon, and I promise I'll sit down and have a long talk with ya, Sebastian.  I need to ask some things."  He briefly inclines his head to his miko and the other oni before simply fading from view.  He's not going to linger long enough to hear any complaints or protests.

 

Shen, that pesky falcon perched upon Kieran's shoulder, gives the man's ear something of a nip with her beak before launching from him, more than likely giving the fire-oni a few feathers in the face. She is really appreciative of using him as a perch, isn't she? The raptor wings over to alight upon Nainokami's statue once more, and then proceed to preen. As for Yuurin, she finishes healing up Minai, and then slides back away from the other. This is all too much for her, and the drain of newly healing. The girl falls back on her side, practically passing out then and there on the floor of the temple.

 

Minai is trussed up again, which will probably drive her stark bonkers by morning. The kid is frankly normally rather hyper and even doing that to an animal borders on cruelty. At least they didn't gag her this time, or she'd probably repeat the fly of rage the next time one of them were close enough. She keeps quiet as not to make them resort to that, though she's tired too, flopped where Rathan left her and her glower just doesn't have the edge to it as it did earlier.

 

Sebastian nods his head to Kieran in agreement before looking after Rathan. The man's lips turn into a wry line, and he looks about ready to say something to the man, but he is already gone. "You aren't the only one..." He winces just the slightest, but then is reaching for Kieran to try to help him back to his feet. "Mitama could paint her into something, that is certainly possible, and about the easiest way to keep these seishi, it seems."

                           

Kieran grabs a hold of Sebastian's arm, rising upwards and taking the other oni with him as he stands fully. "Rathan will come back with the things for her then? If so, we should get you home, Bastian. Healed or not, you need to rest." His gaze flickers back to Minai, looking at her curiously, but he'll save his thoughts for another time. It's late and he's not interested in talking to her right now. "I can call Malachai and ask him to come up with something appropriate for her. Until some other plan is made clear."

 

Minai continues to be quiet though her eyes have slid shut as if in careful concentration over something. She does not struggle though, just still limp on the floor of the temple. Her lips move slightly though, as if murmuring to someone or something unseen.

 

"Minai..." Sebastian murmurs in farewell, something of an amused tint to his lips. Although, his work isn't done yet. Either leave the long way, or portal. So, he does create a portal, but not without flickering a glance over to the silent miko and little sister, a glance to the perched, bird and on to the healer girl. With a nod of his head though, "I'll return, but you can stay though, Kieran."

 

You open a portal to Royal Elizabeth-Penthouse 1.

 

"I'd prefer to come with you, Bastian, unless you don't want me to?" Kieran asks, frowning at the other oni. "I'll just call Malachai from home at some point. I'm not in a rush at the moment." His hand still rests on Sebastian's arm.

 

Sebastian seems to consider for a moment, and it is obvious in his gaze. After a moment though he bows his head, offering Kieran a faint smile, "Please do so. She can keep, and the others are there to watch her. Thank you." And if she sort of disappeared while they were gone, he wouldn't put up a fuss at all either. And then he leads Kieran through the portal.

 

Higuchi has entered the portal.

You step into the portal, sensing an odd disorientation for a moment.

The sense of distortion continues, with a sense that your forward rush of motion is much greater than your initial step into the portal...

Royal Elizabeth-Penthouse 1

Mahogany is prevalent, drawing along the dramatic lines of this rather swanky penthouse. Opening into the outer hallway is a pair of double doors, raised upon a couple of steps before the sunken front area. With expansive wood floors and vaulting ceiling, the space afforded is extraordinarily luxurious.  Even more impressive is the view granted by the panel windows that look out onto a wide balcony dressed with topiary and the spread of Manhattan.

Within, there is a grouping of leather couches rather close to a fireplace and just off to the side of an open bar area. Further along and closer to the windows is a long dining table rimmed with high-backed chairs as off to the left leads to the kitchen. On to the right is a set of stairs that lead up towards a loft that overlooks the entire area. Over all, there is an almost impersonal aura to the place, with no personality other than what the interior decorator left it with.

Higuchi is here.

Obvious exits:

Exit   Loft   Bedroom

There is an open portal to Dark Temple.

The distortion ceases abruptly as you step out of the portal.

You have closed the portal.

 

Kieran's upon Sebastian is tugging, trying to turn the other oni around to face him. There is evident concern in those amber eyes, a frown on his lips. "Why did you consider asking me to stay behind? The girl is being watched over and she can't get out of the temple currently."

Sebastian smiles faintly, watching Kieran with a rather sedate gaze, "Because I am not used to having another move with me, I gather. You seem to have a great deal invested in Minai, I was not sure that you wished to leave her so readily."

 

And the fact he did give up the meeting with Dylan and the interest in Minai is puzzling the oni to no end actually. His insanity had been upon him, driving him and then... "You got hurt," Kieran says suddenly, letting his hand drop the contact with Sebastian as he moves towards the windows, glancing outward. "She cut you deeply and you were bleeding. I had to do something. Does that make me weak?"

 

Sebastian starts to follow after Kieran only to frown at the scrape of his shirt against his  newly healed skin. He shrugs off the blooded suit coat, and then removes the shredded shirt, dumping it onto the stone hearth of the fireplace and then finally approach the other man. "Yes. It does. I would never have done such a thing." He is asking Sebastian this, what does he expect? "I would have gone through with the deal, or no deal at all, despite the injury to another. It would be expected of me. The death of another oni that is not of my faction is of no consequence to me, as it should be of no consequence to you. This is where emotions make a person weak. The very thing. The Sebastian of old would not have stood before Minai, taunting the girl. But it is something else that made me do it, what lurks within. It made me weak." He moves besides Kieran, looking out to the view as well. "It fascinates me how something as simple as an emotion can change what a person does. But I am not sure if having none is acceptable either. It is... difficult."

 

"I should just move out. Get out of your life," Kieran murmurs, an odd edge to the otherwise deep voice. He's digging into his pocket for the cigarette case and lighter, opening one to get a smoke out and the other to light it. He closes his eyes on the first inhale, tilting his head back to let the smoke release above their heads. "I couldn't watch you bleed to death. Even Karasuki wasn't worth that to me. That's something I don't understand. I wanted to make the trade. I wanted to use him, to torment him, to show it what it felt to want something he could never have. Then... then it didn't matter. I hadn't wanted you to see that about me. Not that part."

 

"Which part, Kieran?" Sebsastian asks softly, moving over to stand not quite before him, but close. "Would that be the part of you that didn't want to see me die? Or the part of you that hungered for revenge against Karasuki?"

 

Kieran lets his gaze flicker to Sebastian before sends smoke up above his head. "You're pushing me, Bastian? Now that's a change," the other oni replies as he brings his eyes level again. "I was thinking of my revenge against Karasuki, but perhaps I mean both. I mean it, Bastian. You should tell me to get out of your life. You think I'm good for you, but the fact is I'm good for no one."

 

"Then leave. I am not keeping you here, Kieran. I invited you to stay for as long as you wish, or until your apartment is finished, and I am not going to take back that offer -as I believe that I told you before. Reese enjoys your presence, as do I." Sebastian watches him. "Perhaps it is my turn to push you? To bring you to the brink, push you over, and then drag you back. Or simply stand here and allow you to do that to yourself."

 

Kieran bends down briefly to fetch the crystal bowl he's claimed as an ashtray since Sebastian first gave it to him to use. "You're a cruel bastard, Ichijin," he says, dropping ashes into the container. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe you were keeping me here? Reese.... she is special too and what her power does to me I can't begin to explain, but... No, you were not suppose to matter. Not like that. So what if you got hurt, you shouldn't have been taunting her. I had told you to leave her alone but you had to push her. If she had gutted you and chewed on your entrails, it shouldn't have mattered. I should have been beneath my noticed."

 

"I did taunt her, and I enjoyed it. Do you have any idea what it takes to meet these seishi day after day and come off as the respectable one. The oni that they can go to for a sensible conversation, someone who is reasonable, when that which lurks within me would much rather scatter their particles across the corners of the world," Sebastian answers, his voice soft. "You opened that, Kieran. Never does anything come without a price. It doesn't make me whole, but it makes me more appreciative. Of Reese, Aubrey... you." Yes, there was a hesitation there so he could skip over a certain seishi's name. "How is it that we matter now, Kieran?"

 

Kieran closes his eyes again, taking a long drawl off the cigarette. Even this close to him, his heat is there, but it is also confined to just him. Nothing is being given away at this moment. "Because you did matter. I had a moment's thought of my life without you and I didn't want to look at that vision. I just had to stop the bleeding. I could have had what I thought I always wanted - Karasuki, but then suddenly." He lowers his head, bring the heel of his hand to his forehead, cigarette trailing smoke. "I was glad to open you, Bastian. It pleased me greatly. It thrilled me. When you asked me to show you my passion, I was more than pleased. I liked it when you attacked her, even if it didn't suit my purpose. I wanted to take you then and there. That's what I'm used to. Not... not hesitating."

 

Sebastian nods his head slowly, gaze flickering over to glance out the window and out to the darkened city. "Kieran... I have had a great deal of time to consider what has happened to me, how things have changed and what I must do now. How I need to continue to function to the best of my ability, nagging differences or not." Eventually, he looks back to the other man. "I believe that you might need to think about your own changes, because it seems as though I am not the only one who is different. Accept them or try to change them, do as you will."

 

Kieran puts out the cigarette in the bowl, and sets that aside. When he straightens, his hands are both reaching for Sebastian, pulling the other man closer. "Please come here," he whispers huskily. "I don't... I can't think about those things right now. Unless you are going to force the issue with me and I'd much rather make sure for myself that you're alright."

 

"You will have to think about them," Sebastian adds, being pulled up against him. "If you... need someone there when you do, you have but to ask, Kieran." But Sebastian does relent, dropping his head to nuzzle at the other's throat, hands gripping the man's shoulders, before sliding up to draw through his hair. "All is well, but I believe that Reese will check for herself soon enough. Come now. I think that we both need to lie down."

 

"Yes," Kieran agrees, letting himself be drawn away to their shared bed. He doesn't want to think now and he'll do most anything he can to prevent it. Tis a good think for Kier that such activities will prove to be of the pleasurable, comforting variety. At least until morning comes and he's thinking once again.