Kamara heard the voice, sounding so far away, and her mind began to claw its way back to the surface. She was a little queasy. Finally, her head cleared a little more and she opened her eyes. Deep blue -- no, turquoise -- eyes looked back at her. Kaiba.

"You'll be alright."

"What happened?" She looked around; she was in her own room, lying on her bed. Kurama was standing nearby.

"Oh. I must have gotten lost." Kamara said lamely.

"Ah, we already know about your little tour with Hiya." Kurama said, but he was smiling and there was no malice in his voice. "I'm just glad that you weren't hurt."

"Yes, we are not sure what to expect when he wakes up, so we are keeping him asleep until he is healed a little more. Then we will wake him under controlled circumstances." Kaiba explained.

"Oh, I've got to get ready for dinner!" Kamara suddenly remembered, trying to sit up. Waves of dizziness flooded her and she lay back down. "Oh!"

"Actually you missed dinner completely. Hiya was looking for you when you didn't show up, but couldn't find you. I will have a tray brought up for you, but you should rest until your head completely clears."

"Yes, my plants were wide open so you really got a dose of their pollen. You'll be fine by tomorrow morning." Kurama added.

The two men bid their goodnights and a short while later a maid appeared with a tray. A little while later, a small knock sounded and Kamara called out "enter." Tekku walked in the room, to her great surprise and secret joy.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Yes, just foolishly walked into a room full of sleeping plants." Kamara said, and then tried to think of something else to say to keep him here.

"Yes, I heard about your little tour."  Tekku said, saving her the trouble.

"Oh, no! Has everyone heard about it?" The girl turned deep red with embarrassment.

"Yes, I'm afraid almost everyone knows about your little escapade."

"I shouldn't have followed Hiya's lead."

"Oh, no one minds, so don't worry about it. And everyone adores Hiya; so she gets away with everything. Since she has no parents, except for her uncle, everyone has sort of adopted her."

"Doesn't her mother visit her?"

"Yukina will no longer leave the Ice World, especially after Toya's death. Hiei takes Hiya for a visit occasionally, but he is not really welcomed in Ice World. Only females are allowed there."

"How sad for her!"

"She can cope with that a lot easier than her father's death."

"What do you mean?"

"Hiya is positive that Toya was murdered, but is unable to prove it. She spent a year living in Suzaku trying to find evidence but couldn't find a thing."

"That's terrible! I am glad I made friends with her." Kamara stated, and then looked at the Bobcat. The light from the lamp threw golden shadows on his face and made his hair the color of fire.  Oh, gods! How I love him! She lowered her eyes, afraid he would read the feelings inside.

"You must be tired. The effect of the plant will wear off by morning." Tekku stood to leave.

"Thank you for stopping by." Kamara said. He nodded and then left the room. She reached over and picked up a strand of red hair that had fallen on the bed. "Oh, Tekku! How can I make you love me?" She wished that she had someone to ask advice from, but there was no one. Hiya didn't seem to be interested in anyone, and even her own mother was no help. Kouga had loved Kagome long before she loved him in return. Kome and Ayala had fallen in love with each other at first sight. Serafin had been kidnapped and raped by Hiten -- oh, that was a great idea! Kamara sighed unhappily. If only she could get Tekku to notice her….

"What is that?"

"Just get ready. I'll be back in a few minutes." Hiya said as she rushed out of the room.

Kamara shrugged and put on soft boots and slacks and a light top with a sweater that she could take off if she got too warm. Hiya returned in a short while. "Okay. Go down stairs; Tekku is waiting for you."

"What? What did you tell him?" Kamara said in alarm.

"That you wanted to see the scenery but that you needed a strong escort in case the Demon Wolves attacked. I appealed to his vanity, calling him strong and brave."

"Oh." Kamara said with no enthusiasm at all.

"You'll get to spend time with him roaming the hills. That's how Kenru won his father."

"But I already spend time with Tekku in the hills near my home and it has gotten me nowhere!"

"Umm. Well, what do you talk about?"

"Nothing much. Usually we just sit there."

"So talk to him!"

"About what? I don't know what to say to him."

"Get him talking -- about the Bobcat clan -- and just agree with him occasionally. Look at him as if he were the most wonderful thing in the world."

"How do you know all this?" Kamara asked her brow knitted.

"Who is Kamella?"

"The one who murdered my father." Hiya said, and her voice was like ice.

"I don't think their powers work on females like it does on males. Besides, Kamella is the Empress of Suzaku. Boushin is the Emperor. He was in love with my father and that's why Kamella killed him."

"But isn't Boushin a man … oh!"

"My father enjoyed the company of both males and females. I didn't care who he was with as long as he was happy." Hiya suddenly shook her head, as if clearing away her gloomy thoughts, and smiled brightly, "Enough!  Tekku is waiting for you. Go, have fun! Get him talking!"