The Blue Vortexia realized that Carrot needed to immerse herself in the lesson, so she didn't ask about the unusual flow of power Carrot would randomly receive from a source that was located in the center's infirmary. She quickly forgot about it as Carrot showed a more advanced command of Air magic than she had before. Carrot was equally surprised as the fine control that had been eluding her suddenly came almost naturally. When she used the movement spell that mixed Air and Water magic that Ulen had used in their fight against the Black Bearette. She began to suspect that it had something to do with the bond. When the class ended both had questions that convention prevented them from asking. Carrot thanked the elemental D-Girl and headed to the infirmary.

When Carrot got to the infirmary the nurse on duty, a different one from the one who had been there in the morning, gave her permission to stay with Ulen for the night. Not wasting anytime Carrot crawled onto the bed with her still sleeping Ulen. He was small enough that there was plenty of space for the slender rabbit D-Girl. She looked him over carefully, he seemed worse than he had this morning. She felt him in the back of her mind his glow seemed a little dimmer or that might just be her imagination. Worrying wouldn't do anything so she kissed his left cheek and put her head onto his shoulder. As she breathed in his smell that always had just a hint of ozone to it she snuggled closer and went to sleep. The duty nurse covered the pair with a extra blanket when she noticed Carrot asleep without one.

Morning. Ulen woke slowly groggily he felt terrible. His right shoulder ached and his left seemed to have gone numb...what? He opened his eye and wished he hadn't as a rabbit ear promptly poked him in it. Well now he knew why his shoulder was numb. He tried to curse quietly as he blinked his eye furiously. Apparently he hadn't been quiet enough as Carrot stirred. She yawned cutely and promptly ruined the effect by hitting Ulen's cast as she stretched. She didn't notice. Ulen slowly counted to ten.

"Morning.", Carrot murmured as she lifted herself a little off him and gave him a good morning kiss. She smelled good. If he wasn't so tired and aching...and the nurse wasn't watching.

*cough* "Mr. Yeadon I'd like to check your vitals.", the nurse said trying not to smile. If the infirmary was busier she probably wouldn't have been so amused.

"I don't mind." 'Carrot, come on, get up and let her check me. I should have been out of here yesterday.', Ulen said to the nurse and sent to Carrot a hint of worry in his mind. The nurse came closer, Carrot climbed off the bed and stood next to it looking at Ulen anxiously. Ulen sat up on the bed. The nurse checked Ulen's physical state and had him hold a crystal that reacted to him with a barely perceptible flicker.

"Well physically you seem fine just tired, but your mana pool is still drained. According to your file you should have a higher than average recovery rate even without healing magic. I'd like to run some tests to see if we can find out whats wrong.", the nurse told Ulen as Carrot listened. Ulen really did not want to be tested. He had enough of that crap when he was a kid. He thought still gazing at the crystal. Carrot drew lightly on the power, it had become a comforting habit to feel its fire flowing in her, though it couldn't help in this situation.

Ulen felt his consciousness flutter and a wave of weakness spread through him. He fought it grimly riding through the wave. The crystal in his hand dimmed some more and he felt weaker. When he felt better he glanced at the crystal again and was surprised at its further diminished glow. Something had just drained him. The amount wouldn't have been a problem if he was in perfect condition. But as drained as his mana and vitality where he was in real danger. He wouldn't lose consciousness if only his mana was drained only the lose of vitality could do that. The nurse noticed his expression and glanced at the crystal she too noticed its reduced glow.

"Mr. Yeadon you shouldn't use magic with your mana pool so drained!", she assumed he had used his mana, reasonable assumption.

"I didn't.", Ulen replied absently his mind busy trying to figure out what had taken his mana and vitality, on a hunch he switched to mana sight. He checked himself and didn't notice any thing that could account for the drain. Everything was as it should be. The bond with Carrot was the only power flow connected to him.

'The bond, of course.', Ulen thought connecting the dots.

'Carrot, after the ritual what exactly changed? What I mean is did you suddenly find that you had a new source of mana and vitality in your body?', Ulen sent to Carrot. He tried to suppress his worry. Carrot was surprised what did he mean a new source? The only thing she could think of was the power, she almost pulled on it again. It really was addictive.

'...I don't think so...", Carrot sent back reluctant to admit the existence of the power. A remembered sense helplessness spurred her to try and conceal it.

"Mr. Yeadon?", the nurse asked wondering why this odd pair was just staring at each other not saying anything. Telepathy, flashed through her mind but neither had that ability listed and it didn't just show up.

"Sorry. I think, I know what the problem is. Would you mind giving us some privacy?", Ulen asked the puzzled nurse. Who just shrugged and nodded she wanted to know what was going on, but she could sense an argument brewing and didn't want to be part of it. She left quickly. Ulen focused on Carrot he had felt through the bond that she was trying to hide something. The down side of telepathy was that you couldn't lie and the other person could feel it if you tried to hide something.

'Carrot, I'm giving you an order. Tell me what changed.', Ulen demanded of Carrot.

'...',she thought or rather not thought, while not looking at Ulen. Carrot tried to answer him, she really did, but the she just couldn't. She did not feel guilty, she hadn't done anything to be ashamed of! She almost drew on the power again. A small voice urged her to do it, than the incipient fight would be over. Ulen caught a bit of her inner conflict. Decided, he did something he had promised himself he would not do. He used his right as master of the bond to invade Carrot's memories. Not all of them just the most recent ones. He learned all he needed. Carrot, of course, had felt him in her mind. This was the first time he had done this, so the intrusion was clumsy and a little painful for Carrot.

She retaliated by drawing strongly on the power. She felt a brief moment of satisfaction as he gasped and grasped his chest as the loss of mana and vitality threatened to send his system into shock. His lips turned blue as his heart sized a little. If he had been in perfect condition with the small amount Carrot took, he wouldn't have noticed. However, in the last few days Ulen had used up most his body's resources. The ritual for the bond had taken most of it and the subsequent fight with the Bearette had depleted him badly as well. Carrot's constant use of his injured body's resources the day before left him in a dangerous state. He did the only thing he could he slammed the connection between him and Carrot closed completely, cutting her off from him.

When Carrot saw his lips turn blue, her eyes widened in horror as a flash of the Bearette's pleading eyes passed through her mind. She felt the glow of Ulen's mind and the fire of the power disappear as Ulen locked down the bond. NO! She was alone in her mind, no warm glow, no power to ward off her fears. She wanted to touch Ulen, to beg and plead for forgiveness. Come back! If he hated her now she would have nothing, less than nothing.

Ulen reeled, he couldn't breath, he would have told Carrot to call the nurse if only he could have formed a coherent thought. She was too panicked at the sudden absence of his warmth which she had come to depend on, to even think of getting help.

The worst did not happen. Ulen's heart restarted, his vitality truly was more than human. He lay back down on the bed breathing deeply letting himself recover. Carrot stood perfectly still next to the bed tears streaming down her face not daring to say or think anything, while Ulen tried to ease his labored breathing.

Carrot stood there listening to Ulen gasp for breath for what seemed like an eternity. She had almost killed him! Not some monster or wild D-Girl, HER. She had sworn to do everything to make sure he survived and she almost murdered him in a fit of pique! She wanted to feel his presence in her mind, in her arms. She didn't say anything, didn't move toward him. She just stood there tears flowing down her face. Her ears flat on her head.

His breathing under control, Ulen glanced at Carrot. The pain, fear, guilt and silent tears on her face tore at him. He felt a flash of pure rage, she had no right to do that to him. The anger faded quickly, both of them were at fault. Ulen's attempt to get answers immediately and Carrot's insecurity brought them into crisis in the blink of an eye.He loosened his grip on the bond slowly letting it open again. He didn't open it completely he was cautious of Carrot. One moment of carelessness had already damaged the trust between them that much. As the bond slowly reopened.

'I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.I'm sorry. Please, please, please, don't leave me...', Carrot's frantic wailing thoughts rushed into Ulen's mind threatening to swamp him in her thoughts. Along with the words she sent a jumble of images of cells, random men, a older Bunny Girl, a blonde boy and a confused welter of emotions. He almost closed the bond again. He didn't in the state Carrot was in she would have seen it as a rejection. He would not do that to her. He was as much to blame for what had almost happened as she was. He couldn't think clearly enough with Carrot's anguished weeping in his mind. So he answered her without speaking or thinking. He lifted his arm, she was to far from him to touch and he was to unsteady to stand, so he invited her to come to him.

Carrot's mind was a jumble. The moment she felt Ulen in her mind again she wanted to scream for joy, but it felt different not warm like before. He was wary not trusting her. She didn't touch the power no matter how much she wanted to feel the rush of power. No rush of power could compensate for the loss of Ulen's warmth. He wanted to see her memories! She flooded him with her memories, apologies and begging him not to leave her. Not too sell her or give her back, she would do anything he wanted as long as she could stay with him. It took a minute for her to realize that he was waiting for her to come to him. The glow in her mind was warm again. Sobs audible tears still falling but now in relief she jumped onto him lest he change his mind. Not the wisest move. As Carrot landed on Ulen she drove the air from his lungs and caused his right shoulder to flare in pain. She felt his pain and tried to scramble off him causing more pain. Ulen had to get her to calm down.

'CARROT!', Ulen screamed into her mind stunning her completely. He grinned. She looked so silly. Her face stained with tears, no snot thankfully, her mouth open her eyes darting around, her rabbit ears flapping on her head like a pair of tiny furry wings. He shook his head reached up and drew her to him. She resisted. He sent a clear feeling through the bond that he would not tolerate her refusal. She of course wasn't refusing she just didn't believe that he really forgave her that easily. She had almost killed him! Ulen just sighed and pulled her more forcefully. She was now many times stronger than him, well she always had been, but now it was more pronounced. He couldn't budge her if she put up even a little resistance. She quickly stopped resisting when she felt him get irritated with her.

When she was at the right distance Ulen answered her uneasiness as unambiguously as possible, he kissed her. She answered hesitatingly, obviously she still wasn't convinced. Ulen sighed, if he wasn't so empty of mana he would close the curtains around the bed. Well he couldn't have done anything about the sound anyway. If she needed more convincing she would get it.

He held her until she felt less stiff. Then Ulen slowly slid his hand down her back as she lay on his stomach. When his hand got to her ass he didn't hesitate he dived right into her pants, felt her ass up and then gave her a gentle tweak. Carrot jumped an indignant look on her face, but she relaxed completely. He really did forgive her! Thankfully that was enough to convince Carrot and Ulen didn't have to open the forbidden door marked exhibitionist. Much too the disappointment of the D-Girl nurse who was sneakily watching after she had come back when the atmosphere relaxed.

'I guess I'm not as smart as I thought.', Ulen sent to Carrot. He used the bond to let her know that he too had a share in the disaster that had almost happened. She didn't reply just snuggled closer, trying to fit as much of her body on top of him as she could. She out massed him so it should have been uncomfortable, but she felt light and pleasingly soft. She was curious about what he meant, but she was content to feel his presence in her mind again. He reached and wiped the tears from her face, receiving her feelings. He needed to explain his thought, so he went ahead and told her.

'When I offered myself as a source of power for you. I had meant for it to be an ability that would allow you to channel my magic. Meaning that you could focus on fighting while I cast spells through you. It would have been an incredible advantage. But the spirits that forged the bond took it further than that and gave you the ability to strengthen your physical abilities by drawing on my mana and vitality. The reason it got dangerous this time is because I was in such bad shape.', Ulen sent to Carrot. Explaining and trying to reassure her.

'I...I didn't mean too hurt you. I didn't even stop to wonder where the power was coming from. I just kept taking more and more...', she sent back guilt making her sending little more than a whisper.

'I know. You would never try to hurt me or let someone hurt me. It wasn't your fault. I thought that the result of the ritual had gone exactly as I wanted. I didn't even consider that the nature entities that had blessed the bond might alter it to this extent. We need to find what exactly we can do with this. Its a lot more potent than I had expected.', Ulen wryly sent to Carrot. He could hit himself for assuming that the bond was exactly what he had intended, when he was the one who had involved outside entities in the ritual. What a arrogant careless assumption he had made. Was he really ready to be on his own? Could he keep his rabbit and his other future girls alive? Or was he just an egoistical kid playing at being a grown up?

'We can do that when your better.',Carrot replied while curled up on him, warming his chest stomach and legs with her body. The strength of her affection for Ulen was everything he had hoped for...he just hadn't counted on feeling so deeply for her in return. Two weeks, just two weeks, it felt longer.

Their's was the kind of intense whirlwind bonding cheesy feel good tamer shows that tried to romanticize the realty of this world where made of. The kind bored housewives and young unbonded D-Girls drooled over. The housewives hoping for that kind of intense experience. The D-Girls conditioned to love their unmet tamer, hoping he would love them like that in return. The majority of those girls would have their hope shattered quickly upon meeting that first longed for tamer.

Ulen knew many tamers, his adoptive father was one of the best rated tamers, after all. His was the example Ulen followed. He became a tamer to lift his curse and he had a plan to acquire the means to do that, but it required six powerful D-Girls. The way to create those powerful girls was in strong bonds and real affection. His father's harem was the best example of that. None of his girls were from especially powerful breeds, yet they easily surpassed other D-Girls of the same generation. The "normal" tamers who treated their girls with the cold indifferent affection of useful disposable tools, constantly challenged Ulen's father for his harem. If they ever won they would be severely disappointed in the girls performances as part of their disposable harem.

He was beginning to understand what it cost his father to truly care for his girls that way. He to would have to send his own harem into life or death situations that he was to weak to face with them. Hoping they would all come back in one piece. The image of a bloody mangled lifeless Carrot sent a horrible spike of dread into his heart. It was a strange reversal of the old order of things when women waited at home for their men to return from danger. Unfortunately, he also understood those other tamers better and that made him feel a bottomless contempt for the cowards. Their D-Girls deserved better.

The improved bond was Ulen's answer to not being able to fight with his girls. With it he could have used his magic to help his girls even if he wasn't there like he knew some magus did with their conventional familiars. He had always understood what his father went through each time he sent his harem on a mission, he just hadn't felt the real anguish of it. Maybe those entities had understood it better. He should be able to cast spells through the bond, it was more than strong enough. So no matter what his girls would never face danger alone. Better still, he would face the danger right along with them, offering them his power to the dregs if that was what they needed. Anyone who tried to face them would pay an ugly price as a result of their bonds.

Ulen noticed Carrot was asleep...on him. He was NOT a pillow!

'Ahhhhh', *sigh*,'let her sleep.', Ulen tried to get comfortable. Did she get heavier? Is she fat now? Carrot murmured in protest...in her sleep.

Author's Note: So, ya I'm so gonna get in trouble. I tried to stop I really did, but the voices, the voices, kept whispering new ideas into me, *sobs*, not letting me sleep....

(Multiple Voices) Weese hopes youss enjoyzz thaaaaahh czhaptrrrr!

....what was I saying ya need sleep, night!