A Love Beyond Time

Chapter 8-The five elements, the Byakko, and the Ginseng Fruit Fairy

Sagiri stretched as she looked around the clearing—which she now fondly thought of as their dining room. Most of her group members had already arrived and were chatting happily. Fuchi and Keiko huddled together, their heads nearly touching as they were lost in their little conversation. A close bond had developed between the pair, Sagiri realized, maybe due to their mutual passions for sciences and medicines. Meanwhile, Gantetsusai was his usual loud self as he attempted to draw Gabimaru into a conversation-which soon turned into a monologue since the ninja was totally non-responsive. Sagiri suspected the Sword Dragon might be better off conversing with the massive tree behind him instead.

The young female samurai was not surprised to see Yuzuriha plopping herself next to Asahi and trying to get his attention with her feminine wiles and ninjutsu seduction tactics. She watched, amused, as the kunoichi ran her fingers up the titan fox's left thigh as she rested her head on his shoulder and whispered into his ear.

"Brazen little kunoichi, isn't she?" Harumi observed.

Sagiri turned to the vixen, who seemed totally unperturbed by the scene before her. "Aren't you going to stop her?"

Truth be told, the girl was ashamed of Yuzuriha's behavior and contemplated going over to drag the latter away. But she was uncertain if she was in the position to do so.

Yuzuriha is so reckless. Had she forgotten that Asahi is bonded to Harumi? Isn't she aware that said mate is here right now looking at her? Anyway, is she trying to seduce him to gather information, or is she really trying to seduce him?

A peal of merry laughter greeted her question.

"No. I'm not going to do anything. Just continue watching."

As the two females looked on, Asahi grabbed Yuzuriha's roaming hand—which was currently stroking his chest—and brought it to his smiling lips. And bit it. Hard.

The kunoichi immediately snatched her sore hand away with a yelp and leaped up. Her startled, slightly angry eyes met a pair of cool brown ones.

"Did I hurt you, my dear? Do be careful and remember not to touch any wild animals, including foxes. You never know when they will bite." Asahi crooned with an icy smirk, sending Yuziriha scurrying toward Sagiri for refuge and comfort.

"Sagirin! That stupid Fox injured my hand! Look!" Pouting, Yuzuriha shoved her hand into Sagiri's face, forcing the latter to look at the wound-- a pinkish site with no noticeable bite marks. The female Asaemon rolled her eyes.

"It was your fault for provoking him. You know very well he's bonded and won't fall for your seduction tactics. Remember what happened with Gabimaru the other day?"

"I wasn't really seducing him. I was trying to soften him up to obtain some useful information."

"In that case, you would definitely be better off "softening up" Seimei," Harumi chipped in, her eyes gleaming with laughter at her mate's irritated raving through their mental link—and devilish mischief. Yuzuriha brightened up upon that suggestion.

"You think I should? I won't mind that you know. Seimei's....just so..." a dreamy look entered her eyes, and she sighed. "It might be fun on personal and business fronts."

Sagiri could not believe what she was hearing. "Yuzuriha, please stop this right now. I'm sure Seimei will tell you whatever you need to know if you ask him. Properly."

The kunoichi pinched Sagiri's cheeks lightly and sniggered. "All right, all right! Don't be so uptight, my darling. I was just jesting. Though you look so adorable when you're all serious and lecturing me."

Before an exasperated Sagiri could reply, the subject of their discussion arrived with Shion closely behind. She noticed that her senior looked unusually flustered—his cheeks were bright pink, and his expression was an intriguing combination of discomfiture, pleasure, and confusion. And bashfulness.