Kenru stopped walking and turned to Tylee. "You know, I've never understood why it is the male who goes into heat in Demon World. In the Human World, where my parents are from, it is usually the female. Why is it the opposite in Demon World?"

"Let's ask Kurama! He is both Demon and Human." Kenru exclaimed and pulled the girl down the path to the West garden. Aara was there with Shilo and Kurama. Kenru and Tylee arrived breathless, and Kenru plopped down next to Kurama. "We have a question."

The Fox set aside his book, lifted an eyebrow and waited.

Aara burst into laughter. "That's a good question!"

Kurama smiled to himself, and then answered, "Actually there are male animals that go into heat in the Human World. Frogs do all the time. They will even try to mate with other male frogs. And the male elephant can turn very dangerous and rogue when his time is upon him. But those are few and far between, while nearly every animal-based Demon male has this problem. I believe it has to do with the fact that we are dealing with Demons. Many Demons will slaughter their own kind and also the males tend to roam far and wide. Their heats force them to seek out females, usually their own species, to mate with. It is merely nature keeping the species alive."

"But doesn't that happen in the Human World. Male leopards roam all over."

"Yes, but their habitat is much smaller than in Demon World and their numbers are greater. In Demon World, we only have two Battle Demons left alive. And the Bear Clan's numbers have been greatly reduced also. Procreation is vital. And a male in heat will seek out a female and mate with her, and not harm her. Anyway, that is just my theory. I really don't know."

"Just chalk it down to a 'demon thing' -- that's what I do." Aara said. "Why is this question coming up now? Is Tekki having a problem?"

"No, nothing like that." Kenru said. "I was just curious."

Tylee took that break in the conversation to excuse herself and fled back upstairs. How frank all these people were! Almost as bad as her own den! At home, every part of the male's anatomy was openly discussed. Why did it bother her so? Why wasn't she like the other Bobcats?

She walked up the stairs and tried to remember where her room was. She was in the west wing and her room was in the east wing. When she finally got to the right wing, she counted the doors. Was hers the third or the fourth one? Well, the other one would be Teriyu's so it didn't really matter. She opened the door and walked inside.

It was not her room nor was it Teriyu's. Sound asleep on the bed, lying on his stomach, was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. He was completely nude and she took in ever curve of his perfect body. His skin was cream, his hair midnight black. His face was delicate with a hint of rose in his cheeks. She stared openly, imagining her fingers trailing down the deep curve of his back, over the round curve of his buttocks, and down his well-formed legs. She had never seen him before and had no idea who he was, but she felt like she had been struck by lightning.

Finally, through sheer willpower, she left the room and found her own. She sat there on her own bed, her whole body trembling. Who was he?

She didn't know how long she sat there, her mind in turmoil, but finally her reverie was broken by a knock at the door. Kenru poked in her head. "Ah, there you are. You are going to miss dinner!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Let me wash my face and I'll go down."

"I'll wait for you."

She rushed to the bathroom and threw cold water on her face and ran a brush through her hair, then joined Kenru. The usual crowd was there, the Princess, and the males, Rin but not Kaiba, who was busy. There was a newcomer was at the table, a Demon Wolf named Kiba who was talking to her brother Teriyu.

Tylee looked around for the young man in vain. He was not here!

Dinner was especially loud and boisterous, with everyone talking at once. Tylee sat there quietly, Kenru absorbed in a conversation with Tekki.  Dinner was already half way done when her vision appeared at the doorway. Her heart stopped its beat, suspended in time. Awake and dressed he was just as beautiful. His large eyes were misty gray. Rin stood up, went to him and kissed his cheek. He smiled at her and sat down next to her, talking quietly.

Rin looked up from her conversation, and caught Teriyu's attention. "Teriyu, you have not met my son. Taiki, meet Teriyu, one of the sons of Tekken."

Taiki stood and shook his hand, welcoming him to the Castle. Teriyu then turned to Tylee. "And this is my sister, Tylee."

Taiki looked at her and smiled, "Very glad to meet you."

And Tylee's heart suddenly remembered to beat again. She flushed and stammered a hello, looking down at the table in embarrassment. When she looked back up, Taiki had turned away and was talking to his half-brother, Kain.

"Taiki" she whispered, so softly that even Kenru sitting next to her did not hear it, but Taiki's keen Unicorn ears heard his name and he looked at her and smiled.