AN: This is a continuation of my Curiosity Kills story and I wanna put a heads up in before you start reading. I am gonna change a few things mostly Tao's appearance under the hood. A few people showed me the light and thus I want to repay their patience and willingness to explain how canon makes the kaka's look. Secondly I do want to apologize to my british readers, my english probably won't be to your liking. To my american readers, it won't be much better either. I use a mix of Southern and British english and I know it looks a bit different. It's just my style, please if you are going to review: Please talk about the story not the english. Thank you very much and please enjoy.

*Disclaimer: I OWN NO RIGHTS TO BLAZBLUE OR IT'S CHARACTERS!*

Curious Encounters

CHAPTER ONE: Love Can Kill

Soft breaths and her platinum blonde hair. . . She may not look like it now but she's still a damn cat. Even with her hood off, he still envisioned her looking up at him with that huge grin. Still purring. Still a spaz. And still sleeping on his lap. Ragna laughed softly at the thought then closed his eyes in a focus gathering blink.

Ragna's eyes roved over her softly napping face and a smile bloomed genuine across his face. Tao. . . He murmured silently as she warmly exhaled her breath onto his bare chest. It had only been two days ago since they became more than just friends; however, to Ragna it had been the best two days he could remember. Sleeping together, eating together and bathi. . . GOD DAMN IT! She's sleeping on me, I gotta focus on something else! Flushing, Ragna returned his thoughts to the question that kept him awake tonight.

He spent most of those wonderful days pondering on what he really wanted now; work with her to kill Terumi or take a break from the killing and destruction for a while more with her? She would defend him from anyone who wanted to hurt him. She would feed him whatever she could. She would make him feel safe at night. She would tend to his wounds. Sorta, Ragna added as he shifted a rogue strand of hair that tickled her nose with each soft exhalation. Tao let out a soft rumble of a purr as she felt his hand caress her check with tender care. Smiling Ragna set his head back down to the wall shutting his eyes in the process. He rarely slept against a wall but Tao seemed to enjoy it. So it makes her happy, why ruin that?

The tandem of sleeping breaths intertwined to lull his mind into a deep sleep. Peaceful. It stood for everything he couldn't be in the outside world, peaceful. In his world, the one he created with her, in this one room, it remained perfectly so. This is the part of myself only she will see, his subconscious murmured. This is for her and her alon- A soft pat landed on Ragna's check and annoyed his subconscious dialog faded into nothingness. Another soft pat fell on his nose and his eyes flew open revealing his annoyance and anger through red vein filled eyes.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Ragna spit in a gravelly tired voice. Tao shrunk back a bit and pulled her paw farther away from his face. Pain showed on her face and inside Ragna cursed himself for not only loosing his rage on her but also for letting himself relax that much- he thought he could stay just alert enough to protect them from whatever danger may come. She was trying to wake me softly, I seriously need to learn to wake more gracefully, he sighed to himself as he threw on an apologetic smirk.

"Sorry Ragna," Taokaka apologized looking down to avoid his gaze, "Tao just wanted to wake you. Rag got mad at Tao yesterday for licking Rag's face, Tao thought this would be better." Ragna recalled the feel of her rough tongue raking across his cheek and stifled a shiver. This was better, he told himself, I just need to stop being so god damn jumpy. He threw on a smile to tell her it was okay but before he could speak she added a soft, "Good morning Good Guy."

Laughing at the nickname, Ragna slid his hand under her jaw and lifted it so she could see his smile. "Good morning Love," He soothed and hushed her protests with a firm kiss. I really like these good morning kisses, they feel. . . Peaceful, He mused before he retreated his lips from hers. "Tao, I'm sorry I raised my voice, I am not use to having someone else wake me." He clutched her close to him in a tight embrace before continuing, "And you can call me whatever you want, Ragna or Rag is fine." She squeezed him back and a voice inside him chimed But if anyone else calls you Rag or Rags you know you'd beat the living shit out of them right. . . ? Oh SHUT THE HELL UP!

"Okay. Sorry Ragna, Tao will get us breakfast!" She sang as she shimmied her way off his lap. Tao replaced her hood and stretched slowly and sensually, revealing her amber and honey colored legs and thighs to him before darting out of the building and into the alley that hid the shack they slept in that night. She has no idea how sexy that makes her look. . . Damn it. . . Ragna noted how much colder it seemed without her on top of him, it wasn't snowing but it was still very cold. He quickly slipped into his shirt and jacket, and he rose to leave. Ragna shuffled his feet along the rough cobblestone alley as he tried to both remain warm and not draw attention to himself as he returned to the main road. I wonder what she'll grab us today. A squirrel? A bird? Ragna's thought suddenly halted as his stomach rumbled it's opinion of that kind of food.

Looking downward, Ragna grumbled tartly annoyed "Shut up," to his stomach and scanned the street for any sign of Tao. Chilly gusts of wind whipped around the corners of the buildings and Ragna sighed at the empty streets guessing that the wind was to thank for his solitude. "Damn it's cold," he mumbled absent-mindedly as he surged forward into the vacant street. "Where the hell could she be?"

"NYA?!" Echoed through the desolate avenues. Shit! That was Tao. God damn it, he cursed as he lurched into a run towards the cry. she better be alright. . . please be alright. It took Ragna a few moments to track the sound to a building and in his panic he burst in, the fire of hatred burning in his eyes; however, what he found wasn't Tao in distress but Tao sitting at a table next to a cat with a sword sitting on the ground next to it and a set of steaming porcelain cups in front of them. A RESTAURANT?! God damn it Tao. . . "Ragna! Look, it's the cat person!" Tao called to him waving madly to get his attention. Ragna slowly staggered to the table, frustration obvious in each stomping stride.

"Ragna my boy!" Called the talking cat dressed in a yellow double breasted coat, "Come sit down, I gotta tell ya a few things." His gravelly voice held a old southern drawl and it pulled at Ragna, coaxing a nod from the Bloodedge.

"Yes master." Ragna whispered before awkwardly taking a seat to the left of his master and to the right of his companion. "Uh," he stammered reaching for a mug of his own, "master what are you doing here?"

Lanterns swayed over head, swinging from the bursts of air that followed the new customers entering the little tavern and Ragna didn't like how it made the light dance over Jubei's face. "Well I thought I oughta come find ya. I've been teachin' your brother a thing or two," explained the sword master but Ragna begun inspecting the room with a start, "don't worry Ragna, he ain't here." Ragna sighed and his shoulders relax as he realized he had been clenching them. "He's out lookin' for his girl," the talking cat continued, "said it was important he found 'er." Ragna's face shifted to unease as he thought about why he was looking for her. Ragna put his money on Terumi being the cause and inside he felt bad for Jin. He's fighting to get his love back, HELL I didn't know he had a thought outside of trying to kill me, but if Terumi did something to Tao. . . No, I won't let him. Ragna turned his attention to Tao, her ears twitched as she eyed Jubei's two tails and her own tail squirmed as she fought the urge to swipe at them. "Now listen here Ragna," Jubei instructed with a firm tone, "There are a lot of things that happen that I didn't think would. . . But you in a relationship with this girl? HA! My boy you've made me a bit proud! Who'da figured you be a man who was into Kakas?"

"WHAT?!" Ragna shouted as a woman in a white cheongsam dress inched towards the table, mortified at the characters who sat at the table and determined to finish her duties and get away from them, hastily placed bowls of miso soup in front of the two hooded cat figures.

"YAY! Food is here!" Tao cheered, oblivious to Ragna's distress as she lowered her head and took a deep inhale of the steaming soup. "Smells great!"

"Master, I- Tao what did you tell him?!" Ragna sputtered as his hand shook under the table. Tao threw on a frown as she pulled away from her bowl.

"Oh, Ragna food is here, can't it wait?" she pouted.

"No, what in god's name did you tell him?!" Ragna eyes meet hers and she grinned.

"Okay. Well Tao went to get Ragna breakfast and Tao ran into Cat Person. Cat Person invited Tao to have food in here. Tao was so excited to get good food for Ragna that Tao told Cat Person about how Ragna and Tao are mates." Ragna's eyes widened at her rambling and a rough chuckle rose from Jubei at the retelling.

"Well was bout that time ya burst in 'ere Ragna. Gotta tell ya, I was plum surprised." Jubei confessed as he lifted his spoon full of broth. "I don't suppose I could see a few kittens before much longer." teased the swordsman.

"KITTENS?!" coughed Tao, Ragna followed suit but Jubei just smiled. "Tao hadn't thought about it yet." she said absently looking upwards while her head slowly fell, tilting to the left. Kids? I-I- I never thought of that either. . . Is that even possible? We haven't. . . just shut up Ragna. Ragna withdrew himself from his thoughts and cleared his throat gaining Tao's attention in the process. "Oh, Tao wouldn't mind if it was with Ragna. Tao loves Ragna and that is all that matters!"

"Well said there Tao, I know how ya feel. Well sorta." Jubei amended as he closed his eye and picked up another spoonful of soup this one with a chunk of tofu resting in the stock. Ragna watched embarrassed as Jubei silently judged him around a mouthful of food. ERUCH. . . Ragna's stomach announced it's presence and red faced Ragna remembered his hungry. "Hehe, Hungry?"

Silently Ragna glared at his master and turned to find their waitress standing behind a counter blatantly staring at them. "Here," Tao soothed with a thin purr, "Rag can have some of Tao's." Ragna turned to find her sliding her bowl closer. It's almost all gone, I didn't even see her start eating. . . Smiling he sighed and nodded to her.

"Thank you Tao, I'll get some more for us." whispered Ragna as he took a bite of the tofu and seaweed.

"Well my boy, I gotta say I was expectin' somethin' different when Rachel told me to come find ya. I figured somethin' bad had happened but seems I was worried for the wrong reasons." Jubei divulged as he waved his paw to get their waitresses attention.

Ragna ceased woofing down his food and he paled. God damn it, Rachel wasn't joking when she said she'd tell people. "What's that damn rabbit tell you?"

"Well," Jubei started as the server reached his side and he just pointed down to his bowl and nodded to say he wanted another, "She said something about ya needin' my guidance. Said you had gone all barbaric, but ya know how she is. She just said I needed to come see ya is all, now I know why." Jubei finished with a laugh and Ragna reddened as a growl grew in the back of his throat. I hate that god damn rabbit. "Love is important though, helped me through my time with the Black Beast." Jubei offered as he scooped up another bite of soup.

"And Ragna loves Tao!" The cat girl called as she eyed her emptying bowl. Ragna picked up his spoon once more and filled his mouth offering only a hmmmm as he agreed with a hum. Wind kicked up as a new customer opened the door and cheers rose from the wait staff, Tao grinned toothily as Jubei looked back and forth from the two.

"Ragna the Bloodedge." Called a firm but whimsical woman's voice and Ragna swallowed his food swiftly. It caught in his throat and he began coughing raggedly as he tried to down the last bite. Tao's smile remained and Jubei murmured an interested sound.

"It's the Furry girl!" Tao called waving ecstatically again to the woman behind Ragna. Ragna turned and internally cursed as he recognized that bushy squirrel like tail, that yellow top peaking out from a black NOL coat and that face. It's Makoto. I knew this peace with the NOL was too good to last. Ragna's hand crept to the hilt of his Bloodedge but he remained still as Makoto strolled up to the table. "Sit! Have some breakfast." Tao pleaded and Makoto stared at her before showing a smile and nodding. Uhhhh. . . okay, Ragna thought as his hand fell from his weapon, that wasn't what I expected.

"The vampire girl was right, you are here." Makoto chimed as she looked around the restaurant. The waitress returned to the table shivering as she placed the new bowl of soup in front of Makoto and she scampered. Ragna realized it was because she realized he was the outlaw 'RAGNA THE BLOODEDGE' but that wasn't what really upset him. Rachel telling everyone where I am is really Pissing me OFF!

"That damn rabbit told you I was here?" Ragna cursed and his eyebrow twitched as he watched Makoto start eating HIS soup.

"Yes, she said I had to see for myself, something about how what's going on with you right now would affect me." explained the squirrel-beastkin woman before biting into her first tofu filled spoonful and moaning in delight. Ragna thought back to a previous thought and cursed his luck, I said I hoped Tao wouldn't bring back a squirrel and what do I have to deal with now? A Squirrel girl who is a part of the NOL. . . Screw my luck.

"Have to do with you?" Jubei questioned beckoning the waitress over once more this time pointing to his bowl again and to his mug of tea. "Don't know bout that one but Ragna finally got to confess his love for 'nother. Bout time too!" added the cat hero.

"Confess?!" hissed Makoto in disbelief. Ragna lowered his head instead looking into his cup so he could avoid her wide eyed gaze. "Oh my goodness, where is Noelle? She must have fainted when you told her! God she hasn't told me yet! Where is she?!" ranted the obviously excited woman.

"What in sam-hill are you talkin' bout? He's in love with this one" Jubei corrected as he pointed to Tao. Makoto blinked twice before gasping loudly. Makoto gasped, Jubei rose his eye brow, Tao smiled and purred, and Ragna. . . Ragna wanted to hang himself.

"RAGNA! What?!" Cried the NOL agent, "What are you going to tell Noel? Do you have any idea what this is going to do to her?!"

"It's not like t- WAIT, don't make me the bad guy for this!" Ragna yelled back at the woman as the waitress cautiously returned and placed a new mug of tea in front of Makoto before trying to slide away undetected. "I don't have to do anything for Noel! I don't plan on seeing her any time soon and I don't want to." Ragna stated taking a gulp of his tea.

"Lacking lady! Lacking lady! Lacking lady!" Tao chimed happily oblivious to Ragna's unease. Jubei cleared his throat and Tao tilted her head in confusion only now realizing how stressed everyone else at the table was. "Nya? Did Tao say something wrong?"

"No. Don't worry about it Tao." Ragna consoled as he put down his tea.

"But Noel! She will be crushed." Makoto complained.

"Look here," Ragna stood and interrupted harshly, "I. . ." Ragna sighed and swallowed to calm his nerves, "I love Tao and Tao loves me. I don't feel that way about Noel so DROP IT!" Ragna growled. Makoto's protests feel quiet and her tail drooped while Tao rose and gave Ragna a firm hug. "Master, are you paying for this?" He said already mentally out the door.

"Yeah Ragna, I got this one." Jubei answered with a small smirk. Makoto remained quiet, Jubei chose to stayed quiet, Tao purred quietly hanging on Ragna and Ragna. . . Ragna still wanted to hang himself. I love Tao, I will not kill myself, I love her, I love her, I love. . . Ragna internal chanted as he started for the door and the waitress reappeared with the soup that would have been his. A smile formed at his lips as another silly thought rose through his head. He saw her starting to relax now that he was leaving, I hope master tips her well, she's having a tough day.

"Hey Tao." Ragna chimed as he pulled open the door and the chilly wind soared all around him. She was there to keep him warm and for that he was grateful.

"What?" Tao mewed as they slid into the street and the door closed behind them.

"I love you. Even if it'll kill me, I love you." Tao tilted her head at the statement but she squeezed his arm tighter to tell him she felt the same way.

I really hope being in love won't kill me. . .

AN: Hello dear readers! It's Eis again, and you've guessed it! People seemed to really enjoy my story about Taokaka and Ragna so I'm making this story so you guys will know what happens next! I've planned a few fun encounters already and I am gonna have loads of fun doing certain characters. That doesn't mean you can't have some input too! As always you can send me a PM to give me suggestions on what you'd like to see with some of these characters when they confront Ragna and Tao, plus it'd be fun to see what you guys want to see.

I do want to thank a few people in particular for helping me make this story better, canon wise anyway. I want to particularly thank Abyss Kurokari for his incite as well as Mr. War for his constant poking. . . Yes, I know you want more and I hope you enjoy.

WARNING: Chapter 3 and a few others may be posted separately from the main story because they will have material of a 'Mature Nature' in them. I know Chapter 3 will have some lemons and fan service in a sense so I wanted to let you guys know before you guys go from chapter 2 to chapter 4 and complain that I can't count or that it is missing. . . Yep.

As I always say: Keep reading and stay classy my friends.