Nelanna was on a mission. She’d received word from Zanar’s men that some poachers had captured timber wolves from Zanar’s realm. These wolves were important to her patron deity, and thus important to Nelanna as well. But that wasn’t the only reason she set out on a mission to retrieve them. It was downright cruelty to take an animal from their land and ship them off someplace else. They could die overseas from stress, become homesick and fall ill. It could ruin the wolves, if it wasn’t their coats or other body parts that were sought after. After some investigating the Champion found a trail leading to Onnen, a trail she quickly followed. With her two familiars with her, and Cecil as well, they boarded a sailship and departed for the new land.

It was when they were passing Apoy that their tide of luck began to turn.

Strong winds soon came their way, tossing and folding the sea. The storm quickly worsened with roaring winds and violent tides that rocked the ship. The vessel’s old body groaned a creaked with each thrash against its sides, large waves reaching heights that reached over the railing. “Raise the sails! We’re setting a course for the nearest shore!” Came the Captain’s command. Nelanna, who was struggling to keep her balance on the rocking ship and using the railing to keep her feet on the deck, looked to the Captain at the helm. “No! We need to head for more open water!” She shouted, trying to get her voice to reach the man over the roaring winds. “Are you insane?” The Captain argued. “We must seek shelter!”

Was he a madman? They needed to ride out the storm if they wished to survive! Being near land would give them less room to maneuver. Suddenly, an ear breaking snap broke through the roaring when a large wave crashed over the deck, almost sweeping Nelanna off her feet. Ensarrian yelped when he was thrown back and slammed against the railing on the other side, where he then held on for his life. “Nelanna!” Kohaku’s distressed voice turned her attention towards him. He was by the mast, his soaked form keeping a tight hold on the wooden beam, “The sails!” Nelanna looked up, and her eyes widened with horror at the sight of the tallest sail falling over at a point where the beam had been broken. Was the ship so old that it couldn’t handle such strong winds? How would they get out of the storm without the ability to steer the ship?

“Nelanna, behind you!” This time it was Ensarrian that demanded her attention, eyes enormous and face pale. This is when she noticed a shadow growing over the deck. She turned to look over her shoulder, and her blood froze. A massive wave stretched high above the ship, reaching heights that could be compared to a tower. Without a second thought, she quickly searched for Cecil, finding him nearby. She reached out to him, wrapping her arms around him and holding on as tightly as she could, refusing to let go. She would take no chances of being separated from him.

The next thing they heard was the sound of a crack like thunder when the crushing weight of the wave plummeted down onto the ship. It was like being hit by a brick wall; their bones felt like caving in under the pressure, all the air in their lungs being forced out. They were pulled into the water, completely submerged and tossed about violently. For a moment Kohaku managed to get his head above the water and tried taking in a breath, but was quickly forced back under, lungs filling with the freezing liquid. He fought to the best of his ability, fear striking him more than ever. He wanted to find Nelanna, to at least protect her from the storm somehow, but he couldn’t even save himself. Despair quickly followed, yet he continued to fight against the storm. Once more he managed to breach the surface, drinking in as much air as he could to satisfy his burning lungs.

A groan drew his attention upwards. The broken body of the ship was turning over as another wave it its side, and it was coming down straight for him. He held his breath and pulled himself back under the water moments before the ship came tumbling down on him. The blow tossed him more violently, bits and pieces of the broken ship flying by. A sharp pain hit the side of his abdomen, but he fought to keep from screaming. The water around him quickly turned a ting red.

The next thing he saw was black.

~*~

Kohaku woke to the sound of birds singing overhead, quiet waves softly coming up and down at his feet, the sun’s bright rays shining through his closed eyes. His amber pools fluttered open, squinting at the light at first until they gradually became accustomed to it. He coughed and choked suddenly with salty water coming out of his lungs and up his throat. But the effort it took to rid his body of the water reminded him of another pain, one in his stomach. His face twisted with pain before glancing down at himself. Part of a broken piece of plank wood was sticking out of his stomach, the end of it splintered with the rest of it stained with his blood. He slowly grabbed hold of the wood, pondering whether he should remove it or leave it. After careful examination, he concluded that it was in a rather good spot. No arteries had been hit, and the only real damage would be going too deep and hitting vital organs.

Taking in a deep breath, he started to pulled the plank. His head shot back against the warm and wet sand, mouth agape in a silent scream as he struggled to hold himself back. His body was tense, then fell limp the moment the wood had been removed. Immediately blood began flowing more quickly from the wound. He tossed the wood aside and placed his hand over the deep gash, trying to stunt the blood flow with pressure. Groaning with his body screaming from misery, he forced himself to sit up and glance around. Shattered pieces of wood both large and small littered the sandy shores, reminding him of everything that had happened. His eyes widened at the realization that Nelanna could be injured, or worse. But he quickly relaxed when he felt her heart beating strong through their connection. He sighed with relief and heaved himself to his feet. If Nelanna was alright, then he should worry for himself for the time being and get help. Then, he could begin searching for his Master.

Calcifer and Elata both agreed that traveling to the island of Apoy was beneficial to them all. Myriad, a name she had given to a small rainbow phoenix, joined them. It was a beautiful sight to see the color streak across the sky. Of course, Xeno and Rayne, mated jackals who have bonded themselves to Mirannda for reasons she'll never know, refused to stay behind this time. From the moment they stepped foot on the island, the phoenixes and jackals have felt nothing but welcomed by the native-folk. A vacation seemed out of the question, she had yet to do much of anything for her goddess, but she was still learning what her new world had to offer its citizens. Myriad, Elata, and Calcifer all disappeared almost immediately upon arriving. They were headed directly for the volcano itself.

This left Mirannda alone with her jackals. Their black coats shone in the bright sun as they trotted alongside her. With consideration of their location, Mirannda donned a black bikini swimsuit with a sheer purple piece of fabric tied around her waist, flowing behind her as she walked barefoot in the sand. Xeno and Rayne were in perfect contrast with the white beach. Compared to her other companions, these two were surprisingly quiet. They walked on either side of her, heads held high, as if she had trained them extremely well. The time they spent on the beach was quite relaxing, a calmness entering her heart.

The water gently lapped at the shore and her feet, birds cried overhead, everything peacefully perfect. Until she heard something that pulled her back to reality. Rayne gave a soft whimper, Xeno a soft growl, and someone in pain while trying not to scream aloud. It was a sound she was all too familiar with herself. As if the volcano was reaching towards the ocean, there was a slight outcropping of rocks that blocked a portion of the beach from view where she was. Mirannda was alone on this side, so the injured must be on the other. She darted forward, ignoring the slowing effect the sand had on her. Scrambling over the rocks, Mirannda paused for the briefest of moments in stunned recognition.

Next to a bloody plank of wood sat a man in elvish attire, black and gold, ruined by the sea. While his facial features were scrunched in pain, there was no denying that it was Kohaku. That familiar blush crept over her cheeks as she launched back into action, running to his side with Xeno and Rayne easily keeping pace. ”Kohaku! Sit back down, you dolt! Do you want to bleed out from exertion?” They weren’t exactly the words she was intending on saying, but she was familiar with a wound such as this. With a wave of her hand, a clean wad of cloth was summoned, and Mirannda did not accept no for an answer when she pressed it against his wound, applying pressure to help stem the flow.

No more than a moment after standing a familiar voice made Kohaku turn his head. The last person he expected was vastly approaching him. Mirannda called to him with a tone of concern to match her worried expression. He blinked, ears pricking with interest as his amber pools swiftly swept over her body. The fox always knew she had a fine figure, and her swimsuit was generous enough to show it. “Well, I could either stay here and bleed to death or look for help,” he replied, though rather playfully despite his urge to wince at the pain. “I thought I could take my chances.”

The Champion summoned a cloth and immediately pressed it against his wound. His torso muscles tightened and he hunched slightly, groaning at the pressure and briefly shutting his eyes as tightly as he could. Once he managed to regain himself, he placed his own hand on hers, indicating that he could hold the cloth instead. His eyes looked down into hers softly, yet there was a hint of relief as he gazed upon her. “Thank you, Mirannda,” he said, voice smooth and silky yet filled with gratitude.

In all honesty, he was more than happy that she was the one who found him, if not one of his companions. Almost everyone else he knew were people he didn’t fully trust. Mirannda was a kind and familiar face, one he knew he could reveal his weakness to. Though, he wasn’t entirely sure why. Perhaps it was the trust that always emanated from Nelanna that made him feel the same for her fellow Champion. He didn’t know her very well, so he figured that must be the reason. That, or it was just a gut feeling.

“I am very fortunate you were nearby to lend aid,” he added. “Were you here to see the sights? It looks as if I interrupted your vacation.” His eyes dropped to examine her figure once more, taking special interest in her swimwear. The black clothing complimented her fine skin perfectly, and the purple was a nice touch. But it wasn’t wet as one might expect it to be at a beach. She must not have been swimming. He forced himself to stand up straight, releasing a light breath as he ran his free hand through his wet ginger hair, pulling it all back to expose his whole face. It seemed his small ponytail had come undone, much to his disappointment. But, first thing’s first, he needed to tend to his wound. Just a simple cloth would not suffice. He needed herbs and bandages.

After waiting for an answer a few moments longer, he decided to get back on track. “Is there someplace where I can get medical supplies? A nearby house or town perhaps?”

Mirannda smirked at the playful retort. Why did she get the distinct feeling that he often attempted to make light of such situations? The phoenix did not relent as he reacted to the sudden pressure from another source. She tried to ignore the lack of space between them, attempting to keep her attention on the task at hand. Yet she couldn’t help but watch his hand moved to cover her own. At the sound of his voice, her aqua pools slid to up his, a familiar feeling of swooning washing over her as her blush deepened and hastily removed her hand from beneath his.

”You’re welcome… Kohaku.” Her voice was breathy, yet sincere as she downcast her gaze demurely. Honestly, not too long ago, her life was in his and Cecil’s hands before Nelanna came home. That kind of thing showed the survivor what kind of people her saviors are. ”Oh, not mine. Calcifer and Elata wanted to visit the volcano. I was just enjoying the peaceful quiet.” Mirannda bit her lip as his free hand slid through that wet hair of his. Why was it so damned sexy when men do that? ”But you’re not here for vacation. Impaled wood, driftwood, looks like you were shipwrecked. Is everyone okay?” The phoenix was attempting to distract herself from the lustful thoughts suddenly surging through her mind.

Oh! He still needed to finish getting proper attention for that gaping hole in his side! How could she have been selfish and nearly forgotten that when she had just so casually mentioned it? ”Actually… It’s been a while, but let me try something?” Mirannda carefully moved his hand and the cloth away from the wound and gently placed her warm hand upon it. Her eyes fluttered closed as she concentrated, focusing her magic. As her hand began to give off a healing warmth, she pressed in a bit harder, and subconsciously closing inches between them simultaneously. When she was certain her heal spell was successful, she blinked and found herself staring right up into Kohaku’s amber eyes, suddenly becoming very aware that the fabric of her suit was brushing the wet fabric of his shirt. ”Um… How does that feel?” she whispered.

Her face reddened when his hand touched hers and he thanked her. Kohaku’s brow raised for a moment, eyes blinking. Was he imagining it, or did the Champion of desire just blush? If that really were the case then he suddenly felt like he’d won a golden metal for such an accomplishment. It took all he had to resist teasing her for it, but the slightest hint of a smirk did appear, only to vanish when she spoke again. She explained that she was not the one on vacation, but it was her familiars. Calcifer was the familiar name of the two she spoke, the other leaving him curious with a slightly tilted head. When she was at Nelann’s cottage he’d heard another voice speaking to Mirannda. Though he had not seen another creature nor person, it made sense now that it could have only been another familiar, perhaps Elata.

“If this was my vacation then I should certainly rethink everything else on my bucket list,” he replied seriously, yet the small smirk his lips had formed gave away his second attempt at humor. Then he shrugged, glancing out towards the sea, “I can feel that everyone is alive, but some are in pain. I haven’t the slightest idea where they are, but I can’t help them in the state I am in. I need to heal first.” His eyes narrowed with worry as he thought of Nelanna. He could sense that Ensarrian was in pain as well, but somehow he could only focus on his dear Master. His chest squeezed as if being coiled by a constrictor snake, but he quickly shook the thought from his mind before he got any more worrying ideas. She was a tough woman, surely she would be fine until he could return to her side. Besides, Cecil is probably with her.

Mirannda’s voice suddenly brought him back to reality, his head turning to look back down at her. He moved his hand out of the way to give her access to his wound, taking the cloth with it. He winced a little when she touched him, but then quickly found himself distracted by her. She had such a peaceful look with her eyes closed, and before he knew it his eyes were soaking in every one of her features. Her skin was so fine, her long eyelashes caressing her beautifully flushed cheeks, her lips ever so tempting. Then she came closer. His body stiffened as his heart thumped in his chest, but he quickly forced himself to relax before she could notice. He couldn’t help but notice the warmth of her breath on his neck, the soft sensation of her body barely pressed up against his gave him an itch. His hand twitched as he suppressed the urge to feel of her skin, accidentally dropping the cloth.

Her eyes finally opened and looked up into his, his breath holding for several long moments. Unknowingly his tail began to sway lightly from side to side, his eyes now starting to show the yearning he was feeling. “It’s…lovely,” he breathed, completely forgetting that she was talking about his wound. A large part of him wanted to give in to his desires, but the smaller part lingered over his shoulder with a heavier weight. It told him that he shouldn’t get involved, that he should stay true to his feelings for Nelanna. But that wouldn’t be fair to anyone. She now belonged to Cecil, he shouldn’t feel the need to hold onto those feelings he shouldn’t even be having. In fact, he needed to get over her. So…going after Mirannda wouldn’t be such a bad thing, would it?

For what felt like an eternity, Mirannda stood there, locked in a gaze with Kohaku. Suddenly, a furry body pushed violently against her legs, a yelp of surprise echoed across the beach as Kohaku now supported most of her weight. 'Lick him already! Become his bitch." The phoenix whirled around after regaining her balance. "Rayne!" Her fists were angrily resting on her hips. 'Don't deny it, I can smell it on you. Why you humans make everything so complicated is beyond me.' Mirannda flushed deeply as she flailed for a counter-retort.

'Aren't you the champion of lust and desire?' Xeno chimed in, causing Rayne to bark in laughter. Mirannda closed her eyes, trying to keep her temper in check. "Enough!" Silence descended as she glared at her pets. "You two wonder why you are stuck on guard duty? This, right here! Go back home before I singe your ears!" Why had this curse of hearing and understanding animals blossom? While she sometimes enjoyed talking with Elata, most of the time it was more infuriating than not. Fortunately, the jackals heeded her command, if a little too proudly. She was going to hear them gloat about getting under her skin later, and she refrained from the desire to throw some fire at them anyway.

An apologetic smile spread on her face as she turned toward Kohaku. "I am so sorry about Rayne and Xeno. They mean well… Most of the time." She bit her lip, trying to figure out how to salvage this unexpected time with such a hottie… Her eyes did wander from his eyes to his lips and to his chest. The phoenix was the champion of lust and desire! Her hand reached out to grab his, a mischievous grin on her face. "Come with me, I have an idea!"

Their eyes were locked for many lengthy moments, heart hammering in his chest the longer the silence carried on. Kohaku was beginning to believe that she too was just as tempted by him as he was by her. And then he was painfully reminded that they were not alone. His tall black ears twitched at the dogs’ words. Mirannda’s reaction was surprising; why would the Champion of desire be so shocked by their suggestion? Seducing men was her thing. Yet, the fox was amused regardless, so much so that his lips formed a small smirk to show it. Her cheeks turned dark red as the dogs spoke for the last time, and Kohaku realized just how much he liked that look on her.

Then it was the dogs’ words that reminded him of on very important little detail: this was the Champion of lust he was attracted to. Which meant that her interest in him may not be genuine. That is, assuming he’s reading her signs right. Pursuing her may only end in heartbreak, he would only be used, a plaything for a good time.

But as quickly as the thought came, he pushed it aside to be forgotten. Mirannda is a kind woman. It was unfair to think she could be such a heartless whore. He was ashamed for having such thoughts, she deserved better.

He shook his hand dismissively at her apology. “There is no need for an apology,” Kohaku replied with a knowing smirk. Due to his more commonly known form, his human form, it was easy to forget his own fox blood. Foxes are dogs, too, so he not only understood the two canine companions, but he also had very similar thoughts. “We always mean well,” he added with a playful wink.

Suddenly they were quiet again, and he noticed her eyes looking over him, working their way down to his torso. His amber eyes automatically drew to her own chest. Her suite revealed just enough to tease him, his heart racing with the desire to test to see if they were just as thick and soft as they appeared. Kohaku forced himself to look back up just in time to catch her smirk, and she took his hand in hers, his heart thumping. He cocked his brow to show his sudden curiosity. “Where are we going?” Kohaku asked, but obtained no answer. Surprises were not his most favorite thing in the world, but no woman had managed to give him a surprise that had not pleased him in some way, so he decided to give her a chance.

The curious fox was guided along off the beach and deeper onto the island. Past the bordering trees they went, soon entering a village which Kohaku had never heard of. The people were charming and kind as the fox and Champion passed through, but they made no stops for chitchat. After leaving the village they followed a trail that only Mirannda seemed to know where it would take them. But much more traveling was not needed before Kohaku was no longer left in the dark.

His ear pricked at the ever growing sound of running water, the soft smell of tropical flowers filling the air. A knowing smirk once again showed on his features. “Well, well,” he said smoothly. “The hot springs. Do I need to ask why you’ve brought me here? Or should I take a guess?” He cupped his chin ponderously, eyes looking down at Mirannda as if he already knew the answer. Kohaku was having difficulty imagining her intentions were entirely pure, but yet again, that was an unfair way of thinking. But if he was being honest with himself, he was hoping her intentions were not pure.

It had been so long since he had been touched by a woman, and just as long since he had showered a woman with his affection. He craved to be reminded what it was like to feel the dainty hands and soft lips of a woman upon his flesh, to have his heart racing and body burning, as well as to feel and taste a woman’s smooth and soft skin with his own hands and lips, to drown himself in her sweet, feminine scent, run his fingers through her hair. But it had been just as long since he even wanted such things, since Mai’s death. He had lost interest for a long while, and became picky once his interest had been regained. Until Nelanna came along.

For the longest time he denied what he felt for her, telling himself that it was their Master and familiar bond that was the cause. But no matter how hard he fought to demolish those feelings, he only fell for her even harder. Her heart could never have been his, for it belonged to someone else from the very beginning. It belonged to Cecil.

To save himself from any further heartache he needed to let her go. Holding onto someone he could never have was unhealthy and damaging in many ways. Perhaps a distraction could do him some good until he could find a permanent solution, and Mirannda was the only other woman who made him feel this way.

The Champion of desire she may be, but she still had feelings, a heart that could break just as easily as his. Using her without her permission first was a scary thought, because then who would be the real heartless one? Kohaku did not wish to hurt her in any way. So he would ask for her consent, and act accordingly to whatever decision she makes.

The idea was the hot springs. While she did not know exactly what she intended to do once they got there. Throughout their trip, she kept looking back at Kohaku, giggling every so often as she thought of the different things she could do to him. No doubt that he was thinking about how honest her intentions might be. How many one night stands had she initiated? Mirannda began to think she had two vastly different sides of herself. On one hand, she used men however she saw fit, only to learn that they were not what she was looking for. The other hand was more like who she was before meeting the Krugles. Sweet, and kind, generous yet serious. It was this other side that presented itself to River and Kohaku.

The phoenix had no idea how, or why this particular side chooses people. But those it did choose tended to be similar to her in many ways. Kohaku was protective, and just as reserved as she used to be when she was known as Jaliza. She could see his strength when she looked at him. When she found him on the beach, well there were not that many people who would have been as quiet as he was to remove that embedded wood. Kohaku's words brought her back from her thoughts as she looked back at him, that same mischievous smile plastered on her face. "I don't know, why did I bring you here?" she teased back and stuck her tongue out at him playfully.

When the steamy pools finally made it into view, Mirannda gave them a criticizing look-over. There was a rock shelf that would allow someone to sit and be partially exposed to the moist air above. "Okay, here's what I need you to do. Strip, and sit there on that underwater shelf." She pointed to that shelf as she gave him a look that was so very serious, it would be hard to ignore her demand until she gave him a teasing reassurance. "Don't worry, little companion, I won't take advantage of you." Mirannda bit her lip as she watched him take off the ruined shirt, his boots, and pants when she held up her hand. "That's enough. Now get in."

Finally, Kohaku had listened to her orders, and Mirannda let him sit there, wondering exactly what she was going to do. "You have been through a terrible accident. Let me ease things for you." Mirannda's voice was soft and kind as she kneeled behind him. Her hands hesitated before resting on his shoulders. Slowly, her thumbs began moving in circular motions, applying pressure to tense muscle bunches. "See? Tense. Tell me, Kohaku…  What do you think should happen?"

Yes, Kohaku had many suspicions as to why the Champion of desire brought him to a hot spring, but he wasn’t expecting her to tell him to strip. At least not as bluntly, or as a command. He blinked with surprise, ears standing tall as if on alert until she spoke again. He finally smirked, raising both hands in defeat before gripping the bottom of his shirt. “Alright, alright. Now that I know your intentions aren’t vile I feel completely comfortable with taking my clothes off,” he said with a light chuckle. His shirt started lifting, revealing his toned stomach, then his chest, until it came off entirely and was tossed aside. His muscles were hard and strong, chiseled as if they were carved from marble. But something else was too revealed. All along his back, stomach, chest, shoulders and arms were many scars of almost every type. Some were clearly self inflicted when he was younger, the ones along his inner forearms around his wrists. Some were from the many wars he’d partaken in, others were more recent.

His boots were next, also set aside. After his pants were removed he got permission to stop from going any further, leaving him with dark, skin tight underwear that were low cut so that it didn’t get in the way of his tail. “Come on, you’ve already made me go this far,” he said, playfully teasing her before he turned away. He stepped into the hot water in the spot she told him to be in, and slowly lowered himself in. Almost instantly as he sat down a heavy sigh of relief escaped his lips, his eyes fluttering closed. Finally, after so long Kohaku was able to allow himself to relax. He couldn’t even remember the last time he visited a hot spring.

His eyes opened when her voice reached his ears, brow raising at her words. A smirk formed. What was she up to this time? Suddenly her hands were on his shoulders, rubbing his hard and weary muscles. He hadn’t even realized just how tense they really were until he felt them relaxing under her touch. He supposed that’s what happens when he’s gone countless years since his last massage. Kohaku hummed with approval, his smirk turning slightly lopsided. “What a delightful idea,” he said half to himself. Her next question made his brow raise, head tilting before his smirk grew. “Well, since you’re ordering me around now I suppose that makes you the dominant one. So you tell me,” he replied.

A warm feeling spread through her to watch him relax upon entering the water. It was almost magical to witness a hardened body practically melt into a restful state. As her fingers worked, she mapped the network of scars she could see. So much pain and mistakes of the past were plain as day, clearly laid out now Kohaku was almost nude. It seemed fitting since he saw her own hidden scars when they teamed up to save her life.

Kohaku turned the tables on her by answering her question with a question. Mirannda chuckled softly. "That was just to break the ice, and keep you guessing about my idea. But I wonder, should I do this?" She pressed her palms against his skin as she moved them down his chest, leaning into him as she did. She pulled her hands back up, the pressure moved to her fingers. Her lips were all but touching his jaw as she watched her hands and listened to his reaction.

"How should I proceed Kohaku?" Mirannda continued the pressure massage, careful not to go below the ribs. After a couple more passes, she pulled back to the shoulders once more. This time, her nose lightly trailed along the furred edges of Kohaku's ear, guessing how sensitive they must be. "Should I be… good?" the phoenix whispered softly. A hand lifted and ran the back of her fingers along his cheek and down his jaw until she could run a thumb over his luscious lips. By Dalanesca, they were so inviting!

Gently, she tilted his head back so he could gaze up at her as she gave him a seductive grin while she took in his features. Those amber pools, the long nose. "Or… Should I be naughty?" On impulse, she leaned forward to plant an upside-down kiss on his lips, wanting to taste how scrumptious Kohaku truly was.