Vara and the Red Dragon
[timeline: unknown] Chapter 3
The sun was just setting when Tekken woke up. He smelled of sweat and sex. His bath, like all of them in the palace, was a miniature waterfall spilling into a shallow pool. Standing under the water, he washed thoroughly, and then shampooed his long hair. It felt good to be clean. He went to the deeper end and just lay floating in the warm water, completely relaxed.
His thoughts turned to Vara. Never in his long life had anyone helped him through a heat like she had done. All night her nimble fingers had eased his terrible need, and the generosity of her spirit had touched him deeply.
After a while he rose and dressed, drying his long hair, then brushed it out. He pulled out a bottle of wine that was said to be a fine vintage and sat there, night throwing shadows over his handsome face. The feelings inside were very different. Women were merely playthings for him and never once had his heart been given to one of them. He had affection for the mothers of his children, but not love. But now -- thinking of Vara, he felt different. He wanted to be with her, to possess her but also to be possessed by her. Was this love? For many hours he sat alone in the dark, trying to be certain of his feelings. The midnight bell tolled and he stood up. He had made his decision. He was going to ask her to bind him. He was now completely sure of his feelings: he was in love with the beautiful, kind-spirited young woman. And because of her power, he was forced to bind himself to her. He would talk to her tomorrow. Right now, his sleep pattern was out of kilter, so he drained the rest of the wine and went to bed, so he would be refreshed in the morning.
The next morning was a busy one for the new Queen. Emissaries from the former countries of Genbu and Byakko arrived asking for help with their land. They had few men left and planting season was nearly upon them. Chichiri suggested sending up some of the soldiers, along with their families, and giving them tracks of land, with the condition that they grew extra for a couple of years to help feed the people. The countries would have new people and crops would be grown and harvested. The emissaries agreed wholeheartedly with the plan and Vara asked that the proclamation be drawn up so she could sign it.
At noontime, Vara was in her gazebo, and Tekken approached her. He bowed formally, which surprised her since he had never done that before, and then asked if he could sit with her. After sitting, Tekken thanked her for helping him. Then he got right to the point.
"I have thought about this long and hard and have decided that I am in love with you. I wish to be a part of your life and I will accept being bound to you." He grabbed her hands in his, ignoring the shocked look on Vara's face, "I know that this is sudden, but I am absolutely sure of my feelings for you."
Vara didn't know what to say. Where in the world was this coming from? Could it be just because she helped him through his heat? She stammered that she needed to think over his proposal and would get back to him. Then she left him still sitting at the table. She needed advice and she needed it now!
She found Chichiri and asked him to teleport her to the Castle. She needed to talk to her mother about this. The monk nodded and after telling the advisors where they were going, he teleported her to the Castle, bringing her right to the front gate.
The guards bowed to her as she walked through the gate and approached the door. Kurama met her at the door, welcoming her warmly. He was just going to send a servant for her mother, when she said she preferred to talk to her alone. Vara went quickly up the stairs to her mother's room. Aara was on her balcony working on a tapestry. She rose and greeted her daughter, asking about this surprise visit.
Vara told her what had happened, that she had helped Tekken with his heat and now he professed to be in love with her and wanted to be bound to her.
"What is the problem, Vara? Tekken would be perfect as one of your males. A powerful Bobcat Lord with a large following -- I can't think of anyone better."
"But I don't love him!" Vara protested.
"Do you love Souten and Toyna? I don't think so. You bound them because you needed males - you feel affection for them because of the binding. The same will happen when you bind Tekken. He would be a valuable asset to you." Aara looked at her daughter, "There is some other reason; I can sense it."
Vara sat down heavily, not wanting to say anything, but needing to unburden herself, "I wanted to wait until Kyo woke up."
"Kyo? What does he have to do with this?"
"I'm in love with him." Vara admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
"How can this be? Hasn't he been unconscious the entire time he has been in Suzaku? Vara, this makes no sense!"
"I loved him the moment I saw him -- here at the Castle -- but he choose you instead of me." Her voice broke and she tried desperately to hold back the tears. "I can't help it -- I love him."
Aara slipped an arm around her daughter's shoulders, "Oh, Vara, I wish I had known. But Kyo is not what you think he is. He can mesmerize you -- he did it to me -- and he will not settle down. And you cannot bind him. Our powers do not work on him. I fear that he will break your heart. Accept Tekken -- and even if he doesn't really love you, the binding will take care of that. Don't lose Tekken for Kyo. Kyo cannot give you what you want from him."
Vara nodded, her head bowed. She knew she was acting like a fool. "Did you love any of your males before you bound them?"
"I'm not sure if I loved them, but I had feelings for Hiei and InuYasha. I have grown to love them both very much. I love them all now, and you will too. Let time pass and you will learn to love them. Souten and Toyna are very new to you yet. Give them a chance. And please give Tekken a chance. You will regret it if you do not bind him."
Vara nodded again, "I will bind him. You are right - I would be foolish not to. Is it alright if I stay the night? Chichiri needs to rest before attempting to teleport again."
"You don't need to ask. This is and always will be your home, my daughter."
Vara went to her bedroom to lie down for a while. Her mind was a jumble of conflicting thoughts. Was Kyo so wrong for her? Wasn't it possible that he could love her? After a short while, there was a soft knock on the door and she got up to answer. Suzuki, Bakura's apprentice stood there and asked to speak with her. She opened the door for him to enter.
"I have been thinking about this, and I would like to come to Suzaku with you. You don't have a mage and I would like to be your mage. But not bound - in the capacity that Kaiba is, and as Bakura was in the beginning before the Princess bound him to her."
Vara smiled at the young mage, "I would be honored to have you as part of my household. Thank you, Suzuki."
The mage bowed and left her. Well, at least something good had come of this visit.
The next morning, Suzuki opened a permanent portal between the two countries, warding it so that no evil could use the portal. It opened on a nearby hill and Kurama placed sentry plants around it, so that they would be warned when it was used. Vara, Chichiri and Suzuki used the portal for the first time. It came out just outside the palace gate. Vara introduced the mage to her advisors and Mitsukake and Tamahome, and then instructed Chichiri to have a tower built for Suzuki's use.
She sent word to Tekken to join her in her gazebo for her noonday meal. Then she went to Kyo's room to see how the Dragon was doing. To her great surprise, he was awake, sitting in bed, eating broth. When she walked into the room, he smiled at her, his red eyes gleaming.