Wolves
This story is rated PG-13 for sexual situations
Chapter 25 - Taiki and Tylee
The sweet little romance between Taiki and Tylee was the talk of the Castle. It had started out with walks around the gardens, quietly talking. Somewhere in the middle of one of their walks, Taiki took her hand and they continued their stroll, hand-in-hand. Tylee told him about the Bobcat dens and how she never fit in, and her mother, who was the desire of every Bobcat. Taiki told her about the father he never got to meet, about Keiki's sacrifice and Rin finding joy with Kaiba. They were both shy, quiet people and seemed to be made for each other, taking their relationship one step at a time.
The pair was now spending almost every waking hour together. They would meet for breakfast and then usually go into the surrounding hills. Taiki would sometimes change into his Unicorn form and allow Tylee to ride him. He would gallop across the hills and through the forests with the girl clinging to his back, his long black mane flowing around her face. Then he would stop and stand there in a meadow, and Tylee would lie across his back, feeling the warm sun beating down over her body. Occasionally, when no one was around, he would use his Unicorn magic and create rainbows in the sky. He could touch the ground and water would bubble to the surface and create an instant pond. Flowers would bloom and dance in the breeze around them.
Tylee was spread across her bed, daydreaming about her wonderful Unicorn, when a light tap sounded. To her surprise and joy, Teriyu walked into the room.
"I was near the White Tower and thought I'd pop in to see how my sister is doing." He said once he had extricated himself from her hug.
"I am doing fine. I am doing wonderfully! Oh, Teriyu, I am so happy!" A smile lit up her entire face. Teriyu had never seen his sister like this; living in the Castle was definitely good for her.
"So I'm guessing you don't miss the dens at all?"
She pulled him to the settee and sat down next to him, his hands in hers. "I'm in love! Truly in love! And with the most wonderful man alive!"
"Taiki?"
"Yes, nd he likes me! I've see him every day. He takes me riding on his back."
"On his back?"
"Oh, that is supposed to be a secret, but I guess I can tell you. Taiki is half Unicorn."
"I knew about the Unicorns, but not that he was one of them. I had never heard of them cross-breeding before."
"I'm not sure what happened, but it was during the Three Worlds War. His father is Keiki and Rin didn't even know she was pregnant when Keiki died in the war."
"Ummm." Teriyu was worried. Perhaps Kiri spent a few nights with Rin, but for a Unicorn to actually mate with a Bobcat...
"He likes me! I know he does!" Tylee exclaimed, catching her brother's concern.
"I'm sure he does; I just don't want you to read more into it than there is. I just don't think a Unicorn would mate with a Bobcat. I don't want you to get hurt."
"But Taiki is only half-Unicorn; he is already cross-bred." Her eyes misted with tears.
Teriyu took her into his arms. "Forgive me, sister. I did not mean to hurt you. I'm sure you are right and one day he will ask you to mate with him."
"I love him so much, Teriyu. I am so happy when I'm with him."
"Then I wish nothing but your happiness." He kissed her forehead.
"What about you?"
"What about me?" Teriyu asked. "My life is my patrol."
"But don't you want a family, like Tekki has? How can you only want occasional visits to the den?"
"That is our way, little sister. I have done it for many, many years now. A family is not something I ever considered, except for those I sire in the dens. I live on the road, with my men, protecting Suzaku and the dens. That is the life I have chosen."
"It seems lonely.. and sad." Tylee said softly.
"It is neither to me. It is adventure and purpose."
The pair spent a few more hours together and then Teriyu went through the portal to the White Tower where his patrol was waiting. Even though their lives were very different, they would always be very close. Taiki and Tylee continued to see each other daily. One day, Taiki leaned across Tylee to pick a flower for her and suddenly their lips were only inches apart. He looked into her eyes for a second and then moved even closer, until their lips met. It was a soft kiss, just a touch of lips, but soon more followed, each kiss more intense that the previous one.
Over the next couple of weeks, things progressed rapidly. Soon they were lying together in the fields, wrapped in each other's arms, mouths hungry for the taste of the other. Each time they went farther and farther, and hands were beginning to explore. Tylee's hands strayed from his shoulders downward, following the deep curve of his back and finally to the curve of his butt. She never told Taiki that she had seen him sleeping nude that first day, or that she had traced this very same path with her eyes.
Taiki's hands in turn found her breasts, soft against his chest, and cupped them through the silk of her dress, thumbs brushing across the nipples that stood hard against the silk. He kissed her hard, as his hands held their treasure and her hands ran over his curves. Very soon they would not be able to stop themselves from consummating their love. It had now been five months since that very first walk in the garden, when Taiki pulled away and sat up. His groin was on fire and his face flushed. "Tylee..." He gasped. "I can't do this anymore! I need ... I want ..."
"I know. I want you too." Tylee told him, equally flushed and hot.
"Bobcats don't mate, but Unicorns do, for life. Could you mate for life with me?"
Without hesitation she answered, "Yes! I love you, Taiki. I want to be with you. Only you."
Taiki suddenly stood up and offered her a hand up. "I need to return to the Castle."
"What is wrong? Did I say something wrong?" Tylee asked, suddenly alarmed. Why did he want to go back? Teriyu's words came flooding back. Had he been right? Had Taiki's proposal been made in heat of passion and now he regretted his hasty words?
"No, Tylee, you did nothing wrong. I just need to talk to someone." Taiki changed to his Unicorn form and she mounted him, returning to the Castle in silence. When they reached the Castle, he said goodbye to her and walked off.
Tylee ran to her room and threw herself on the bed, tears running down her cheeks. What had she done? Had she pushed him too far, gone too fast? Was her Bobcat blood coming to the surface? Had she scared off her gentle Unicorn?