Leon left his cousin sleeping without even so much as a backward glance. His blood pulsed through his veins and flushed his skin giving it a rosy hue. Jiaoshu, the name rang through him and sang in his mind. It beckoned him and enflamed him and left him aching to lay claim to its owner. A part of Leon knew that his passion was at an unnaturally high pitch but he ignored it drawn in by the lush wash of hormones coming from his mate. Jiaoshu was half reclined in the center of the bed his legs elegantly curled to one side. He held the soft fabric of the blue bathrobe close against him, one delicate shoulder exposed to Leon's feverish gaze. Jiaoshu turned his liquid gold and violet eyes away from his beloved in an uncharacteristically shy and submissive gesture. The passageway between them flared wide sucking them both into the primal, ancient forces of a life bond.

[Do you claim me, then, Leon, am I to be yours and yours alone?] Emotions trembled into Leon's soul of fear laced with love and rapture tainted with sorrow. Leon fought back the wildfire erupting through him trying to stay the rising brutal need in his gut. He clung to the faint inner voice of the kami struggling against his own body to give his love the very real respect he held for him. The full impact of what a complete bonding would do to Jiaoshu hit the young human in a tidal wave of images and knowledge. His heart jerked angrily in response. A word hissed between them filled with the loathing and disgust Leon held for its implications.

[Slave.] Jiaoshu flinched and bowed his head in sorrowful shame misunderstanding the intense sparks coming from Leon. His own self- hatred welled up in him, a bitter bile spilling into his darkest recesses. He would become nothing more then a mockery and a disgrace to the young detective. He wrapped both his arms around his middle and rocked in agony. If Leon did not claim him what was to become of their child? Misery dripped waxy through the link and Leon shuddered when it touched him. He crossed the room in a flurry of motion and snatched Jiaoshu by his forearms, harsh fingers biting into the soft white flesh. Leon gave him a hard shake and slammed back through the causeway.

[NO! I am not ashamed of you, D. I could never be ashamed of you. I just don't understand. Is there no other way?] The kami shook his head slowly allowing his long dark bangs to cover his face.

[Leon-san if we do not complete the bond anyone with enough power who knows my true nature and my given name can destroy it. The need will remain as well, Leon, you know who I am and eventually whether you or I want it the pull will become to great if we stay together.] Leon swayed above him nearly undone by the close proximity of Jiaoshu. He groaned and bit his lip at the painful heavy erection trapped in his jeans. He knew he couldn't walk away from the count and their child to keep Jiaoshu from being bonded to him. He couldn't leave them unguarded against the predators waiting in the dark. A short harsh sob broke free because he also knew for damn sure that there was no way could stay with this irrational desire throbbing in him.

[D, I can't hold out much longer. Tell me what to do, I'm lost in this world.] Jiaoshu laid his head tentatively against Leon's broad chest. He was afraid, he couldn't hide it, but hope burned bright in him as well and it was to that light Jiaoshu turned.

[If you would have me, then, I would be most honored to be claimed as yours.] Another strong quake shook Leon's frame as the big man caved in to the need. He half lifted the slender fragile body of his lover from the bed wrapping strong muscular arms around him and bending his lithe form to fit his own.

"Then I claim you, Jiaoshu. I claim you in body, in soul and by name as mine. I claim you now and for all time as my partner, my friend and my lover." Leon spoke the words solemnly and precisely in an archaic Chinese dialect he wasn't aware he was speaking. He felt the plates of bone in his skull shift again as they had at the initial bonding. A radiant light lit within him as they locked into place and the bond sealed and closed. Leon kissed his mate roughly his tongue demanding and finding entry. Jiaoshu became pliant and languid in his grasp. A joint moan was shared between the two men reflecting one another's highly aroused state.

[Baby, I don't think I can be gentle.] Jiaoshu purred in response his own thoughts separating one from the other. Leon held out a moment longer against the mindlessness tugging at him but he too slid over the edge when Jiaoshu's head rolled back in an open invitation to suck and nibble at the creamy white flesh. Leon bit and applied pressure to the exposed area his tongue working the surface and leaving deep red welts. A deep growl came from the pit of Leon's stomach and rumbled from his lips and across the Jiaoshu's skin and was answered by a nearly in audible whimper buried in the rich purring. Leon tugged at the belt of the robe yanking it hard in his impatience and sending it across the room with a flick of his wrist. The robe followed splashing against the wall. He closed greedy hands on the warm flesh reveling in its texture and scent. He drug his roughened palms down Jiaoshu's back and held him close against his hips when he arched against the caress. Breathless oh's broke up the kami's purring as he twisted in Leon's iron hold.

[Leon, ahhh, Leon, mmm, Leon] Jiaoshu cried into the link needing and drowning in the rush. His hair jettisoned out and wrapped around his body. It coiled down his own arms and snaked around his waist and legs. Some of the strands thickened absorbing others around them as they went and small tiny dark green leaves unfurled along the cords. Leon carefully laid him on his back and backed off the bed, a feral grin on his face as he watched the transformation of the kami. Leon pulled his shirt over his head and kicked out of his jeans and boxers.

He crawled back up the bed slowly pausing to tease as he went. He left pink suckle marks on the top of one delicate foot and another more bruising mark along the calf of Jiaoshu's right leg. The kami purred and moaned in alternation the only thing crossing the link from his side was electric bursts of arousal and submission. Leon fed off both his own physiology changing through the bonding process. Vines flowed over the sides of the bed and around the posts writhing with their maker as he responded to Leon's caresses and rattling softly when he shook. Leon explored both of Jiaoshu's inner thighs first with his hands, kneading the delicate, sensitive skin, then with his mouth lapping at the junctures of his legs and hips. Jiaoshu felt like he was flying apart inside his breath coming in sharp shallow gasps. He tried to push Leon away to ease the maddening sensations traveling through his abdomen and down his legs. Leon grunted and tightened his grip.

[No, be still!] Jiaoshu deep in the meld obeyed Leon's command instinctively but could not hold back from gripping the sheets and twisting them in his hands, nor could he quell the small rise and fall of his hips. Leon flexed through the link sending and subconscious command into the kami. It was promptly answered as the vines lifted and undulated down Jiaoshu's body twining around his wrist and binding them out of the way. Others spun down his legs and pulled them open tilting his bottom up and holding it in place for Leon. The blonde satisfied returned to his adminstrations. He nuzzled happily into the silky black patch of hair at the base of his sex letting the bond take him higher. He licked along the erect shaft enjoying the tiny sobs of pleasure coming from his love. He could feel the frustration building in Jiaoshu but was caught in his own need to take and seduce wiping away everything but his own signature from the kami's mind and body. He stopped long enough to retrieve the oil from under the pillow before coming back to the nexus of his interest. He rubbed the oil between his hands warming it up a little. Leon took his time watching Jiaoshu's face as he carefully pressed the tip of his finger into him. The kami's tried to buck his hips to force more in but found them held fast.

[Shhh, relax. I'll give you more.] Leon teased through the link. He withdrew then pushed back in slowly sinking up to his knuckle. The kami's mouth opened in a silent O of pleasure followed by a gasp as Leon stroked his insides working in one finger all the way in a tease of what was to come. Jiaoshu shook his head from side to side desperate to move against the body above him. He purred louder and louder as the first finger was joined by another and then gradually another. He nearly fainted when in addition to the hot flesh buried in him in the warm wet suction of Leon's mouth swallowed his sex. He jerked against the vines becoming frantic with each successive stab inwards, the bond telling Leon exactly what to hit and how hard to hit it and he did so relentlessly. Leon could only stand so much though his own cock flushed a deep purple.

[Jiaoshu, my D, open your eyes.] Leon whispered across the link. The kami unable to decline did as he was told. Leon looked down on with love in his eyes mixed with passion.

[Keep them open for me baby. I want to see you, watching me.] Jiaoshu tried to keep his gaze steady but failed when the fingers where replaced with something much larger. Leon pushed into him slow and steady his eyes locked on Jiaoshu's the entire way. He never broke the eye contact while he plunged into the incredible lushness of his body. He held on until Jiaoshu's eyes widened and dilated and the waves of orgasm rolled through him and through the link. Leon came with him caught at the peak of Jiaoshu's rise.

[You're mine] Tumbled over and over in Leon's mind.

[Yes, yours forever.] The sated, sleepy kami whispered back.

[And I'm yours.] Jiaoshu blinked at him through sleepy eyes.

[Really?] Leon nodded gravely. He felt the baby shift and caught the up surge of the hormones coming from his lover. He padded out to the kitchen past his still sleeping cousin and returned with the platter of cookies and some warm tea. He handed the plate to now ravenous kami and settled into bed beside him. The vines had retracted and to Jiaoshu looked exactly like the Count D Leon had always known. To Leon it only proved that appearances are skin deep because what he felt he could feel to the bone. Snatching a cookie Leon snuggled up close and let himself slip into a light doze more then ready for an afternoon nap.