Author's Note: IMPORTANT! This is part 9 of A Thief's Pet. This is the version I originally wrote. I read the guidelines and since I can't rate just one chapter M in a continuing story… I posted the milder version as Chapter 9: Your Job as the Healer. You will not miss anything if you decide to not read this version. It's just a bit more… Well, it's written like a scene from a romantic novel. This version has the same plot development it's just contains what some might call "adult themes." Enjoy whichever version you decided to read. ^.^

"Shhh, little one," The voice that belonged to your capture purred. "You wouldn't want to wake your patient."

You froze. You knew that voice all too well. You felt his breath on your neck. It was Yomi. You begin to struggle.

"Now, now, little one," Yomi twisted your arm behind your back tighter. "If you continue rubbing your body like that against mine like this, I doubt I'll be able to control myself."

You felt his thumb rub against your nipple. A deep sting of pleasure swept through your body, despite what your mind told you. You froze in horror at yourself.

"That's better." He said. You felt something grow large and hard push against your back.

"Why are you doing this to me?" You snarl, trying hard to compose yourself.

"You should be grateful." Yomi scoffed. "I've been generous. I can be cruel. You wanted freedom. You can now move about the estate with ease. You are not Youko's slave; you are our healer. You wanted to be free from this place. As a healer, you can heal the men to earn your freedom. Everything I've done. I've done for you."

"But the courtroom…" You trailed off, confused.

"All part of my plan." He said with an air of confidence. "The men will leave you alone, since you have value as a healer. They make any advances toward you either on the grounds that you haven't went through heat yet."

Yomi paused and breathed deeply. You felt his breath on your ear a shiver of anticipation ran through your spine. Then he lowered himself to your ear.

"I may be wrong about that last part soon." Yomi whispered. "I feel your body getting warmer. I will be there when it happens completely."

You felt a pain deep in your loins, a deep longing. Yomi let go of you and you let out a whimper. You hated yourself for feeling this. Yomi chuckled, "Soon little one," and left. You stood there confused and angry with yourself. Yomi was bad. He caused nothing but trouble for you. Unless what he said was true… No. Youko had given you comfort when you were down. He saw you as a companion. Yomi saw you as a toy to be played with. You were sure of one thing. Enough though Yomi had toyed with you, Youko was on your mind. Enough though Yomi made you aroused now, Youko made you long for his touch just by entering the room. You didn't trust Yomi and wouldn't until he changed your mind. Trusting Youko came easy to you. He was your guardian.

After letting out a large sigh, you went to Youko's room and into your closet. Just as you made yourself comfortable, you heard shuffling. Your closet door opened to revealed Youko. Possessively, he picked you up and held you close as he carried you to his bed. He seemed like he was doing it automatically, like he was sleep walking. He sat you down, crawled in on the other side, and held you. It was nice. You felt comfortable and safe in his arms. Then you realized something. The reason you didn't want Yomi, even if your body said yes.

When you woke up the next morning, you were curled up right next to Youko. You smiled before snuggling back into his chest. In response to your snuggling, Youko gently took your chin and raised it up to his lips. He then gave you the sweetest kiss you ever received. Suddenly, Youko pushed himself away.

"W-what?" He stumbled over his words.

"You brought me to your bed last night." You explained slowly, confused by his sudden action. "After I made it back from the infirmary, you picked me up and put me in your bed. I'm sorry, I should have known it you didn't really want me here…"

Youko looked at you confused. Then he noticed the heat radiating off your body. He reacted to you being in heat soon. In his sleep his instincts must have taken over. Youko blushed slightly. It was the first time he had ever succumbed to the female's pheromones of heat.

"No, no. It's my fault... I'm going to check on Kazuki." Youko started toward the door. "You wait here. Don't… Just don't leave. Please."

You tilted your head confused. Kazuki was fine. He fever was gone, his breathing and heart rate were normal. The only thing he needed was rest and food to get his energy up. You crossed your arms across your chest and quickly recoiled. Your body was hot. It seemed like you had a fever all across your body. You were perplexed. You weren't sick how could you have a fever? Then Yomi's words echoed in your head. "I may be wrong about that last part soon." You were going into heat.

About an hour later, Youko came into the room. You were still sitting on his bed gazing out the window. When you heard the door shut behind him you turned around.

"Kazuki looks good." Youko commented. "You did a good job. You'll be an excellent healer in no time."

You looked at Youko. You wanted to kiss him and hold him tight while his arms wrapped around you. Your body didn't feel like yours. Nothing seemed real, like you were just watching the world within a shell that looked like you.

"Thank you." You words had lives of their own and just fell from your lips. They didn't feel like they belonged to you. "Could I ask you for a favor?"

"Sure. Anything." Youko smiled. "You deserve it after going through the trial and healing Kazuki. Most females would have cried and accepted there death-."

"I need you to have sex with me, Youko." You said bluntly.

The smile faded from his face. He looked confused. You had to say this now.

"If you don't," You started, "My instincts will take over and I'll find someone else." Tears filled your eyes. "I'm so scared. You're the only one I really know…"

Youko pull you close to him and sat down on the bed. He held you in his arms like a doll.

"I won't do anything you don't want." He purred in your ear. "I won't hurt you."

"I-I know." You lied.

"It's alright, my dear." He brushed the hair out of your face.

Youko waited, just holding you in his arms until you calmed down. Your shivering subsided as your heat took control. Slowly, he untied your kimono and let it fall past your shoulders and onto the bed. Youko laid you down onto his bed and situated himself on top on you. Even though you yourself didn't know what to do, your instincts did. Without a moment's hesitation, you grabbed his shirt and pulled his lips to yours. At first they gentled brushed against them, as if he was teasing you. Then, slowly and ever so lightly, he teased and nibbled at your lips until you parted them. His hand slid down your back and he squeezed your butt. Youko leaned down on you a little heavier and a pleasurable sensation of warmth swept through your body. His tongue ran along the inside of your mouth. It was a strange feeling. If you weren't already pressed against the bed you would have recoiled from shock. You started running you're hands down from his neck to his chest. Tugging at his shirt, you tried to get it off. Youko broke the kiss to look at what you were doing. You looked up at him with pleading eyes. He laughed.

"Not yet." He slid his hands gently over your breast.

You gasped at the shock. Your body tightened at the sensation of your bare skin touching his hands. You pulled yourself closer to him, so that your breasts were pressed to his chest. Oh, how you wished he would take off his clothing so you could feel every curve of his body. You felt a bungle growing under his clothes. An aching moan escaped Youko's lips as if he knew what you were thinking. Forgetting what he said moments ago, he threw off his shirt. You instantly went to kiss his chest, but he pushed you up and you caught his throat. However, you didn't care. Having him near you like this was enough. You felt yourself getting wet. Youko placed his mouth over your nipple and began teasing it. His tongue stroked the sensitive area. Every so often he nipped at it making waves of pleasure run through your body. He moved to the other one. Ever so slowly the tip of his tongue circled your nipple as if he was tasting it, tickling you. Your body rose trying to get closer to him. Trying to get himself situated between your legs and began rocking against you. It was more pleasure than you had ever felt before. While you wrapped your arms around his neck, you moaned with pleasure.

Just when you felt like you couldn't stand it any longer and you needed to have him take you right there, Youko stopped.

"Why?" You breathed heavily. "No. Don't. Don't stop."

"I cannot take you like this." Youko replied. "There are still things you do not know about me or yourself. I don't trust myself with you any longer. If I stayed, I would take so much from you."

Youko stood up and fixed his clothes. Laying helpless in your kimono and tangling sheets, you gazed at him confused.

"I can't take it yet." Youko smiled at you. "You need it, Jun."

With that, Youko left and locked you in his room.

Youko could heard you whimpering as he walked away. He scolded himself. The never intended to take it so far. Not now. Not when you were like this. "I will have her, but not when she is in heat and cannot think straight. I will take her, when she is ready." Youko thought.

You didn't know what was worst. The feeling of knowing that Youko rejected you or knowing that if Yomi walked in, you won't have no choice but to… You shuttered at the thought. Why did you feel like this? How could hormones control you to the point of having no control over your body? Over the years you held two principles very close. 1. Everyone was beautiful in someway or another. And 2. You would only mate with someone you loved. Love wasn't something you could give to anyone. It wasn't something that you could take away either. When two demons mate, they are together until death parts them.

After three days of being locked in Youko's room without any interaction with anyone except Suzu, who came to give you your meals, your heat finally subsided and left. Things could go back to normal. However, you should have known better than to think normal would ever be possible…

You were in the green house reading your book when Suzu came in. She looked unusually chipper.

"There you are Jun!" She exclaimed. "I've been looking for you. Do you know what day it is?"

Slowly rising, you looked at her confused. You had settled into a nice routine after heat. You ignored Youko by sleeping in the infirmary. The other thieves seemed to joke around with you like you were one of them. You had even started talking to Yomi as a friend again. Although, you were unaware of any special events.

"Youko is going on a raid today." Suzu explained slowly "Which means…"

"Which means…" You repeated still not sure of what she was getting at.

"YOUKO DECICED YOU CAN GO!" She clapped her hands and jumped up and down like a schoolgirl.

"What do you mean?" You asked shocked. You started to get nervous. "I can't fight! I never finished my training, what do I do? What if I get caught? What if I get everyone killed? What if, what if…"

You had to brace yourself on the table next to you to keep from falling. Suzu seemed unsympathetic.

"You need to start somewhere, Miss Healer." She joked. "How else are you going to learn?"

"I rather not learn at all." You pouted.

"Well, you have to." She patted you on the back. "How else are you going to heal them?"

You were quiet for a moment. "Let's get you dressed. You can't steal in that!"

But you didn't hear her. You had already left. It was not time for you to be a thief. Not without training and proper insight. You walked down the halls and to Youko's office. You knocked quietly. The shock of actually standing up to Youko after everything was almost too much. You hadn't spoken to him in weeks. A sudden fear swept over you.

"Come in," Youko's voice called from inside.

You opened the door. Summoning all your courage, you decide to do the one thing you had never done… Stand up to Youko.

"A little bird told me I'm going on a raid." You paused as Youko nodded with a smirk. "What the hell are you thinking? I haven't even finished my training and now you're throwing me out into the fray! Great idea! Finally get a healer and now you're going to kill her off." You change your voice to match Youko's. "Well, we just got her let's sent her to a raid and see her die. Hahaha. She hasn't talked to me for a week. I think I'll torture her by sending her in with a bunch a BLOOD THIRSTY DEMONS!"

"You're a healer." Youko said calming. "It's your job to heal my men."

"I can heal them just as well, if not better, once they return." You muttered.

"And what about the ones that don't come back, because you weren't there." Youko replied sternly.

"What about the ones I can't save after this because you didn't finish training me." You huffed. You weren't scared. Not after everything he's done to you.

"I would have finished your training if you weren't naughty." Youko sighed.

"Then I wouldn't have been able to find the book on healing and you would have thrown me to the wolves by now." You raised your voice slightly. "You would have got tired of me, like you already are, and send me to be a maid like Suzu. I would have gone through heat and one of your men would have done nothing less than rape me."

"I wouldn't let that happen." Youko rose from his chair.

"Oh sure." You yelled. "Mister I'll-tease-her-into-breaking-and-then-get-bored. You sir, are an ass. Nothing more than a womanizing ass. A thief, a liar, an idiot, and, and-"

At that second Youko pulled you into his arms and cut you off with a kiss. You felt your whole body freeze up, but then melt away into his arms. Youko broke the kiss and put a stray hair behind your ear.

"I didn't take you that night because then I would have been nothing better than that man you just described." Youko looked into your eyes. "You weren't completely aware of what was happening. You should remember the first time."

Youko let you go and he left his office. You stood there confused. Touching your lips you wondered why this kiss felt so different. It wasn't a teasing kiss. It wasn't a seductive I'm-gonna-win-your-heart kiss. It wasn't even an I'm going to make love to you kiss. Maybe, just maybe, that was how an "I really care about you" kiss felt like…

After you recovered from your episode with Youko, you went to find Suzu. As you walked down the hall, you hear someone's voice.

"I heard you're going on the next raid." You freeze. You knew it was Yomi, but you still haven't gotten completely over what happened. Something about his scent, his very presence stirred something deep inside you. You didn't know why and you didn't know if you like it… You turned around to face him and put a fake smile on.

"Yes." You replied. "Although, I'm not sure I'm ready." A nervous laugh escaped your lips.

"Ah," Yomi waved aside your comment. "I'll keep an eye on you."

"You're heading out on this raid as well?" You asked. "Where are we going?"

"Yes." Yomi chuckled. "I get to go on this raid. We are-"

But Suzu, who was running toward you, cut off Yomi.

"The raid is tomorrow." She waved her finger at you. "I need to get you fitted for an outfit and then make it between now and then. You can talk with Yomi later."

With that Suzu began to drag you down the hall to the fitting room. Once Suzu got you to the room she didn't waste any time. Within moments she had you wrapped in fabric and covered with pins. You hadn't spoken since you entered the room. This was fine because Suzu seemed way to busy with setting up to speak. However, now she was sewing the fabric together as you stood there and the silence was unbearable.

"Suzu," You paused. "You're not mad at me for going on a raid before you, are you?"

Suzu sighed and put the needle down.