| Irai wanted to stop. Her mind started fighting her instincts in an internal conflict, but her instincts held the edge on her body as she reared before beginning her charge. Her eyes became fixated on the lone man standing in her way as her mouth drooled for more blood. Her pace picked up slowly with the loss of the little control she had until she was in a full run at Ren. A flash of metal from him caused her to quickly change course. She began to circle him instead, scanning over him for the weapon he wielded. Eventually her bloodlust made her turn to him again as her powerful legs accelerated her rapidly. She raised her right arm, readying herself to strike when she got near. NO!!!!!!!! Her emotions made her falter slightly as she made a weak swipe at Ren. He dodged the claws easily as the crowd gave him a cheer of support. Her instincts were aggrivated, however, as she turned to face him again. Anger swelled in her heart, fighting against her other emotions as she charged at him again. She merely feinted this time, not striking Ren as she passed him, but her instincts made her growl when she failed to pull a reaction out of him. Keeping her speed, she turned to him and sped right at him, planning on trampling him under her legs and claws. She pulled her right arm back, preparing to strike at him if he dodged out of the way. Her mind could not make her instincts budge an inch as bloodlust pushed her faster and faster at him. Irai watched as Ren charged right at her, catching her off guard slightly as he quickly moved to her left, moving out of her path. Before she could even try to reach him, he caught her by the waist and leaped onto her back as she kicked wildly to shake him off. His legs wrapped around her arms tightly, making her unable to grab at or claw him. His arms wrapped around her neck tightly as the crowd let out an even louder cheer. Her arms made his legs budge slightly, as she reached for his arms with her claws, digging them into the metal that protected his arms. Darkness crept into her eyes as she felt her strength drain away from her body, until she at last could not stand as she fell to the darkness. ------------------------------------------------------------ Irai woke up to the feel of soft silk against her body. She grumbled and rolled over until the blankets wrapped around her tightly before she remained still again. Another weight soon was on her bed, but before she could see who/what it was, she felt a hand stroke her hair softly as she let out a soft purr. She nuzzled the hand before she leaned her head into it. Slowly she opened her eyes to see who was connected with the hand. Her eyes almost shot open as she looked at Ren, who merely smiled down at her from his seat at the edge of her bed. She crept out from her bed and sat up before she wrapped her arms around him tightly. She pulled him closer, burying her face into his chest as she let out all her emotions in a waterfall. "Ren.... Please... I don't want to fight anymore.... please don't let them take me..." He pulled her onto his lap and cuddled her in his arms as Irai continued to cry. He let her tears soak his shirt while she drowned herself in her emotions. Irai found herself helpless to do anything other than cry in his arms. The combined feelings of what she did in the Arena and how much she missed him forced more tears out of her, until at last she couldn't cry. Irai gathered herself slowly in his arms, nuzzling his neck. She yawned slowly before she began to unbutton his shirt, purring into his ear. She slipped a hand into his shirt and rubbed his chest, feeling a few lumps under her paw. She finished unbuttoning the shirt and opened it before her eyes gazed at the scar on his chest. Her heart skipped a beat as her fingers traced over the scar. It was obvious to the eye that claws were the cause of the scar, but Irai sighed in relief as she realized that the scar was too old for her to be the cause. She placed her hands on them and began to focus on healing them, but Ren pulled her hands away from the scar, shaking his head. "I need to keep it to remind me of a promise." She nodded timidly, brushing her cheek against the scar and closing her eyes. Her hands worked slowly at removing his shirt before she got him to lay down on the bed. She laid down on top of him, her breasts pressing on his chest while her tail wrapped around his waist. She slid her arms around his prone form and buried her face into his neck, nuzzling it gently. She felt his hands stroke her hair and rub her back as she purred happily. Irai was going to savor every moment she could with Ren. ------------------------------------------------------------------- She felt his body shift under her as she woke up. Irai nuzzled and licked his chest, purring happily as she felt his hand pet her. She shivered at the feel of his hand on her fur while her body tingled at the sensation. His body began to rise up slowly, but she straddled him on all fours and openeed her eyes to look at him, whimpering. Ren's hand reached up to cradle her chin as he smiled at her. "Irai, I'm hungry." She smiled as she slipped out of bed, watching him while he slowly got up. She wrapped herself around his arm, resting her head on his shoulder while he led her out of her room. Eventually they reached the familiar balcony with the stairs leading downward as Ren looked over at the man downstairs in the lobby. "How close are you to being finished with your packing, Mr. Stavan?" The man growled as he looked up at the two of them. " I still can't believe you won the damn bet. A young man takes down a beast with the ability to slaughter dozens of men. Damn you for tempting me into betting my house with some slaves and cash for only a subuccus." Irai buried her face into Ren's neck at the mention of her, whimpering softly. She felt Ren's hand stroke her hair softly as she held him tightly. She could hear Stavan curse downstairs while Ren continued to ease her. "You can keep her. She's of no use to me if she gets beat by the likes of you." Irai looked up at Ren as he held back a growl. Eventually he got control of his anger and smiled down at the merchant. "Where's my new kitchen? You better have left most the food for me. " It was the rich man's turn to growl as Ren slowly led Irai down the stairs. She watched the anger swell up within him as he pointed to one of the doors under the balcony, glaring at her protector. Ren mere smiled and nodded to Stavan as the two made their way to and through the door. They continued through the hall to what looked like a dining room as he continued through the room to another door. She opened it for him, smiling as the two entered the kitchen. Inside the kitchen worked a human female, much older than Ren as Irai noted the occasional grey streak in her hair. She watched the woman in awe as she saw her move through the kitchen, cleaning and cook with a grace not unlike that of a dancer. Eventually the woman gave notice to the pair as she smiled and bowed politely to Ren. "So how is the young master today?" "I'm fine, and yourself, Rina?" Rina smiled. "Don't trouble yourself about me. I'm fine. So what will you and your kitty be having today?" Ren chuckled. "I told you all you don't need to treat me like a master nor that you were forced to stay." "I know. Still feel like doing it. Besides, after that nice lil speech ye gave to us, you'd be one of the few people in the world that deserves a title like that. So what's her name, hmmm?" Rina glanced at Irai. The cat-morph bowed to the cook. "My name is Irai, ma'am." "Well that's a first. I never knew that I'd be called ma'am. But it's nice to meet you Irai, my name is Rina. Anyway, what will it be, hmmm?" The woman watched the two as Irai looked to Ren. After a few seconds of silence, he grinned. "If you could make some toast, that would be great, otherwise I could just take some bread. Cut me an apple too." She watched the cook turn to face her. "And you?" "Hmmm.... If you could make the same for me as you did for Ren with some bacon, I would appreciate it greatly." Rina bowed. "Coming right up." Irai eventually guided Ren to a small table in the kitchen as she sat down next to him. The two then proceeded to watch the woman work in the kitchen. Eventually Ren stood from his seat, going through the food storage as well as the herbs and spices. Eventually he smiled as he got two teabags before she watched him proceed to make tea. It wasn't long before he brought back two cups, setting one in front of her before he joined Irai at the table once again. She began to drink her tea when the cook finished with their breakfast, bringing it to them. Irai smiled at the sight of the plate as the toast, bacon and apple were neatly organized to make a sun. Irai nibbled on some of her bacon first, savoring the delicious flavor before she started with the rest of her food. Rina watched the two eat and drink with a smile that only a mother would have watching her children. Eventually Irai noticed that Ren was staring at his toast, obviously thinking about something. Eventually he looked up at her, a look of seriousness on his face. "Irai.... we need to talk." |