The White Tower
This story is rated PG-13 for sexual situations
Chapter 19 - Wishes and Dreams
They flew all night, Jae wrapped tightly in the Dragon's claws, high above the land. When she began to shiver from the cold, he gently blew hot breath on her, warming her instantly. Dawn found them flying over unfamiliar terrain, rocky and desolate. At mid-day, Rye began to lose altitude and Jae looked down. A huge crater was spread out beneath them. Where were they?
The Dragon landed at the edge of the Crater and changed in his human form. Jae gave a little gasp; she had never seen him in that form. He was so handsome! His long hair went past his waist like a black waterfall and his dark eyes were warm and friendly. He did not seem like the deadly Dragon of yesterday.
He led her into one of the caves and she cringed closer to him when she heard the sounds around her.
"Don't worry. They are only lesser demons; they cannot hurt you."
"Because you told them not too?" Jae asked, peering into the dark recesses of the cave.
"No, because you are much more powerful than they are."
"I'm not really."
"You are a Great Dragon. There is nothing that can harm you."
"I am only half Dragon and I cannot change into any other form."
Rye stopped and looked at the girl. "Have you tried?"
"A few times. My father told me to imagine myself as a Dragon and I would transform, but nothing happened. I am just a girl."
Rye said nothing, just continued to lead her deeper into the cave, but his mind was in turmoil. He wanted -- no, he had to mate in Dragon form. And the she-Dragon was supposed to be receptive to his advances. That's the way it had always worked. The male Dragons fought and when one was declared the victor, the she-Dragon would present herself to him and they would mate. But none of this was happening. The she-Dragon couldn't even transform! But then the girl was only a half-Dragon -- the first one ever -- and he had no idea what this meant. He didn't know what to do.
Finally they reached a chamber which seemed to be furnished like a sitting room and a bedroom, using flat rocks and grasses. In an adjoining chamber, a rudimentary kitchen could be seen. And in still another, a small river ran into a pool, creating a bath. Torches were spaced along the walls so the whole area was lit with golden light. The demons had been busy creating a home for their new Master.
"Are you hungry?" Rye asked, and then sent small demons scurrying for fruits for the girl.
She sat down gingerly on one of the rocks. Rye sat down opposite of her on another rock. She looked at the bed, which was really just a large flat rock piled high with grasses and a couple of blankets which the demons had probably stolen from the soldier patrols. She blushed and turned away. Tonight he would take her on that -- or would he even wait for tonight?
Rye saw her glance and her blush. "My lady," he said his voice gentle. "I am not going to force myself on you."
"But I thought … I mean I promised…"
"I know, but that is not our way. You are supposed to want me to mate with you. And you are supposed to be in Dragon form. I'm not sure what to do. But I will not force myself upon you. That I swear."
Jae nodded. Rye was so different than she had expected. He was not the fierce Dragon that he seemed to be when he was in Dragon form; he was kind and gentle. And so handsome!
In Otherworld, construction on the Towers was nearly complete, and InuYasha accompanied Kaiba in his search for replacement herbs, carrying the mage on his back through the forest and meadows. Glassblowers replaced all the bottles and jars, potters made new ceramics and craftsmen made new paintings and mirrors. Kurama checked all the plants in the garden and fixed those that needed help, and replaced the sentry plants that had been destroyed in the Dragon's fire.
In the Tower, Jaal was nearly inconsolable, sick with worry for her daughter. Terrible nightmares plagued her -- and she often woke up screaming for her child. Bya felt completely helpless -- unable to find Rye, and unable to fight him if he did.
Suzaku was the only land at peace, although the palace was not.
Boushin had made his choice; a girl from Seiryuu named Kamella, and married her in a formal wedding. She seemed demure and quiet, and knew well that the only reason for this marriage was to bear an heir for the Emperor. And even before her wedding, she heard the gossip about her future husband and his choice of bed partners.
Kamella was installed in a magnificent suite of rooms down the hall from the Emperor's rooms. With her came two ladies in waiting, Ama, a young girl like herself, and Krulle, an older woman who had been with her all of her life.
Kamella went to her marriage bed expecting little. Boushin always wore his hair up in public and tonight was the first time she saw it free. It fell like a dark curtain around him; he was so beautiful! Toya had instructed him well, and Boushin knew exactly what to do. As he kissed her, his gentle hands awoke her sexually for the first time. His entry was only a tiny moment of pain, followed by sensations she never thought possible, and she clung to him tightly as he moved within her. In that moment of first matrimonial bliss, she fell in love with the Emperor; and she prayed that he felt at least some small emotion in return.
But the moment he accomplished his husbandly duties, Boushin left her bed and returned to his own -- and the waiting arms of Toya.
"So how did it go?" The Ice Demon asked, brushing a lock of hair from his lover's handsome face.
"Your instructions were perfect."
"So everything is in its place? And you left your seed to grow inside of her?"
"Oh, yes! And I certainly hope it does grow! If she gets pregnant, I won't have to spend any more time with her."
Toya laughed, "She wasn't that bad! Actually quite pretty, I believe!"
"Not to me." Boushin pouted and reached for his lover's mouth. "You are the only thing I want. I love you, Toya."
And in a room down the hall, a young bride sobbed herself to sleep, realizing that the moment she got pregnant, her new husband would never share her bed again.
Days passed and Jae spent every moment with Rye. He knew nothing of the world as it was today and Jae told him everything that she could; about the Princesses and their power. She told him about Naraku and the Tala duplicates. And about the Protectors and Demon Lords. He would transform into his Dragon form and carry her high in the sky, this time riding his back instead of carried in a claw, and she would point out the places of her stories. Each night, she slept on the bed while he slept on the floor of the sitting area.
As he slept, she would watch him. His dark hair spread around him, his fair face, his strong body; he was magnificent in both his human and his Dragon form. The opposite coloring of Kiri. Kiri, who would never allow himself to fall in love with a Dragon.
And as each day passed, she found herself falling a little bit more in love with Rye. Her wonderful Black Dragon! And she began to wish fervently that she could transform into something that he could love in return.