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As we lay	By : chilli Category: Yuyu Hakusho > Yaoi - Male/Male > Yusuke/Kurama Views: 16985 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: As I obviously DO NOT own the characters of Yu Yu Hakusho (a Japanese manga written/illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi), then OBVIOUSLY I do not own the fandom, the setting, characters, etc. As such, I do NOT stand to make mon

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
TITLE: As we lay

AUTHOR: Lemonychocolate

EMAIL: dragonechilde@yahoo.com

WEB SITE: n/a

RATING: Mature-Adult

DISCLAIMER: I make no claim to, nor hold any license to the original characters
to this story.� These characters are used
for the sake and sole purpose of entertainment only.� No profit shall be, nor will be gained from
the writing found hereafter; nor shall any personal credit be taken as to the
character designs, personalities or concepts stemming from the original
characters used.� All situations in the
story below, unless otherwise stated, should not, in any way, have any bearing
on the creator�s original work.
FEEDBACK: Yes!

SPOILERS: none that I can think of.
WARNING!� This has not
been through 2^nd beta

Chapter
7
Morning
came and, after waiting a suitable time, Shiori hurried to Yusuke�s quarters.
Eagerness guiding her steps, she ached to hold her grandchildren.
Grandchildren. She grinned ruefully. Her son just loved to keep surprising her.
Demon,
thief, world-saver, gay. Now a father�with another male at that.
She
slowed, her brows furrowing as she saw the others grouped hesitantly outside
Yusuke's doors. Both Hiei and Kuwabara had distant, listening looks on their
faces. Shizuru, Kuwabara�s sister had a frown on her face as well, as if she
could vaguely hear something just beyond the range of human hearing.
�What�s
going on�?� Shiori whispered to Botan. She had initially felt a little
apprehensive about being around the blue haired ferry girl, but with the girl�s
cheerful personality and quirky ways, it was like being terrified of a bubble.
�Don�t
know yet. Something�s got them spooked.�
The
metallic sound of metal being drawn drew their eyes. Hiei had drawn his sword.
Opening the door, red eyes were narrowed and cold. Hiei looked imminently
prepared to start killing anything that moved.
He
peeked carefully into the living room, subliminally aware that Kuwabara was at
his back. He stepped cautiously, his body tense and ready for anything.
Kuwabara allowed Hiei to get several feet away before he also followed. A muted
sound and his reiken appeared, clenched tightly in his fist.
Do
you feel that? Hiei asked telepathically. He stared with flat dangerous
eyes, examining every item in the room.
Distantly
he was aware of the others hesitantly filing into the room.
Spirit
energy�and lots of it. Kuwabara replied. His face had undergone a shocking
transformation. Becoming hard and cold, he looked almost as dangerous Hiei. It�s
coming from the bedroom. Their eyes met. Though nothing showed on their
immobile faces, they could not hide their fear from each other.
�Get
away from the door!� Kuwabara shouted, whipping his head around to glare at
Shiori.
She
gasped, her hand flying to her throat in shock. Indignation rising in her face,
her mouth was opened when Koenma yanked her hurriedly away from the door and
urged the others back as well.
�Gentlemen�I
may not be a demon,� he said grimly, �But even I can feel the amount of spirit
energy coming from in there.� Mutely he pointed to the door, where green leaves
peeked through the cracks of the door
�Get
them out of here,� Hiei said softly. He came to stand at Kuwabara�s side, and
they stared at the door.
�Use
your fuckin� Eye, dammit,� Shizuru snarled grumpily. She was suffering from
extreme nicotine withdrawal.
�I
know that, woman!� Hiei snapped irritation visible on his icy face. Kuwabara
relaxed enough to snicker quietly in the background.
Closing
his natural eyes, his jagan opened slowly�and just as quickly closed. He
cleared his throat. Everyone was fascinated by the tide of red that swept over
Hiei�s face.
Hiei�embarrassed?
�They�re�ah�busy.�
The black scowl he gave them warned them not to question him further.
Botan,
not having the sense god gave to an ant, was oblivious to the look. �Busy?� she
screeched, her voice rising with indignation. �They have guests. Guests here to
see their children,� she said angrily, looking around at the others as if they
had forgotten the reason why they were here. �What could be more important than
allowing us to spend more time with the babies?� she said, waving a hand dismissively.
�They�re
in a mating rut.�
�That��
Shizuru remarked deadpanned.
For
a few seconds no one spoke. Botan goggled first Hiei then the door and back
again.
Yukina
tittered.
A
reluctant smile tugged at Hiei�s mouth as he sheathed his katana.
More
relieved laughter came as each imagined the effect of rushing into the room.
�They'll
be busy for hours, then," Koenma said, snickering. Fresh laughter filled
the room.
Shiori
frowned, losing her smile. �What about the children? If this�� and she blushed,
�mating rut last for hours�who�s seeing to the babies?� Her question killed all
laughter.
Sober
now, they glanced at each other. Real concern once again uppermost in their
minds, thoughts of the children worried them. If Kurama and Yusuke were �busy�
who was taking care of the babies?
Hiei
looked at Kuwabara. Other than being telepathic, he was not ashamed to admit,
he was not quite as�psychically inclined as Kuwabara. At least he was not
ashamed to admit it to himself.
Kuwabara
sighed, his eyes troubled when he looked down at the fire demon. �I�never tried
to talk to Kurama�s plants before.�
�Good,
because you�re going to try to get Kurama�s attention,� Hiei said with certain
grim relish.
Kuwabara
blanched. �Are you sure I can�t talk to the plants?� he asked plaintively. �I
mean, you know me, I�m always willing to try something new. Take one for the
team and all that.� He blushed at the interested look Hiei gave him, the
conversation they had yesterday coming forcibly to mind. �You know what I
mean,� he snapped.
Hiei
slipped his hands under his cloak. He stared at the fidgeting human, a bored
look on his face.
Kuwabara
tried to match the cold, flat stare with his own, equally resolute stare. His
eyes narrowed as he squinted determinately at Hiei.
Iron-willed,
that was what his middle name should have been. When he put his foot down,
there was no way in Hell he was going to change it.
Nope.
Nada. No fucking way.
�I
hate you�.Someday, you�re gonna be so sorry for pushing me around,� he snarled
wrathfully before whirling to face the door.
A
tiny smirk played on Hiei�s lips.
Long
minutes involved with Kuwabara simply staring at the door. The others watched
him with concern, worried over the increasing paleness of his face.
The
leaves protruding through the cracks of the door flickered. They could hear the
rustling. The latch went down, and slowly the door opened.
Something,
a cross between a seedpod and an unfurled rose, thrust through the wall of
green. Rearing high, it curved slightly, moving left to right. As if it was
looking for something�or someone, they realized as it undulated in Kuwabara�s
direction. Dipping down, its pursed mouth opened slowly.
And
yipping happily, two fat little kits tumbled into his hastily outstretched
arms. Another couple of vines slid through the wall of greenery to deposit
bottles of milk and diapers at his feet as well.
Then
all the plants retreated and the room became silent. Kuwabara stared at the
babies then turned determinedly to Hiei. �Okay, I�ll feed �em, but I ain�t
changing no diapers!�
The
morning waned, afternoon coming and fading slowly into evening. It was late in
the evening when the spirit energized plants rustled, then withdrew. The glow
surrounding Yusuke and Kurama subsided, revealing the two yokai sprawled in
exhausted slumber.
Yusuke
was spooned up behind Kurama, his face buried in the other�s now red hair; they
had both reverted to their human forms during the night. He stirred, his arms
tightening around the slender figure curled against him.
Nose
twitching, as if from something foul, Yusuke�s nose scrunched up. His head
jerked. Slowly he shifted, moving away from the kitsune. His nose wrinkled
again, his face screwing up at the smell emanating from their bodies.
�Ewww,
who died? Shit�� He pulled away, freezing as pain radiated from his ass up his
spine.
�Oh,
oh, oh,� he moaned, his eyes fluttering close. Carefully he moved, hissing as
his body advised, in the strongest possible manner, that moving was a horribly,
bad idea. Long use to ignoring such warning, Yusuke managed to slither off the
bed. Gritting his teeth and moving like an old man, he was oblivious to the
plants he trod upon as he hobbled to the bathroom.
Visions
of a shower occupied his mind.
As
the hot water beat down, he moaned gratefully as tight muscles reluctantly
loosened. At least, they loosened enough for him to move without feeling like
he needed to separate his spine from the rest of his body.
Call
it a hunch, but he had a feeling that would not be a good idea.
Slowly
he arched into the water, letting the heat soothe and radiate through his body.
Finally feeling himself becoming waterlogged, he shut off the shower and
stepped from the enclosure.
Drying,
then throwing a robe on, he limped back into his room and noticed the odd
prickly feeling coming from beneath his feet. �Wha�the fu�?� He was stepping on
plants. Dried up plants. �Uh oh�I don�t think Kurama gonna be too happy �bout
this,� he muttered, knowing Kurama�s obsession with cleanliness.
His
stomach growled lustily. It startled him. He glanced at the pitch black evening
sky. �Huh�and we just finished eating a couple of hours ago.� He glanced at the
bed wistfully, almost tempted to rejoin his sleeping fox, but his noisy stomach
made the decision for him. He�ll make it a midnight
feast for the two of them. They could lay in the bed and eat it.
After
Kurama took a shower, he added hastily. His nose wrinkled at the smell wafting
from the bed. Maybe after they fumigated the room, he amended.
Carefully
he made his way to the door then gingerly opened it. The sight of both Hiei and
Kuwabara fast asleep with the children brought him up short.
The
redhead was slumped in a seemingly uncomfortable position. He had his head
tilted back and was making a weird snorting sound. One arm was curled about the
fire demon, cuddling Hiei against his body. They each held a kit cradled
carefully against their chests.
Yusuke
smiled evilly. If only I had a camera, he thought wistfully.
His
stomach took the opportunity to remind him as to why he had left his bedroom.
The loud noise was as startling as it was effective. Both sleeping males came
awake. In one smooth move, Kuwabara surged to his feet, gave the kit to a
startled, indignant Hiei, and called up his reiken. He stood, his face fierce
and determined, ready to sacrifice his life to protect theirs.
Yusuke
absorbed all this with wide eyes. Slowly a cocky smile curved his lips. �So,
when�s the wedding?�
The
red of Kuwabara�s face clashed horribly with his carrot-y hair. �Shut up,
Urameshi!� he hissed.
Hiei
smirked. Kurama�s not the only sneaky bastard, he thought with inner pride.
By
the fourth day, no one was suggesting they return back to their own worlds.
However,
secrets were slowly brought forth to the light of day. Each one more unpleasant
than the last.
It
all started with Kuwabara. Though possessed of a truly good heart, at times the
psychically inclined red-head could be as tactless as a Klu Klux clan member at
an AfroCentric Enlightenment seminar.
At
dinner of the second night�and clearly this was a subject that had been
puzzling him�he decided to voice his confusion. �You know, I ain�t seen one
female toushin since I got here. You guys hidin� �em or something?� he
demanded. Then something occurred to him and his chest puffed out. �I bet the
guys heard of me and didn�t want the girls to see the great awesomeness of
Kuwabara Kazuma,� he added boastfully.
He
didn�t understand the blank look that descended over Yusuke�s face.
�You,�
Hiei pronounced with great deliberation, �are an absolute idiot.�
This
naturally led to a loud, noisy argument between the two, neatly shifting the
focus from a certain biological aspect of toushin life. Genkai�s eyes narrowed
faintly but other than a small �hmpf� she had no intention of saying anything.
To Yusuke, that is.
Kurama
was an entirely different matter.
As
for the kitsune, his attention was on Koenma. Despite his happy smile,
something was troubling their godling friend.
They
took their tea in the sitting room, drifting from group to group, chatting and
having a good time. Kurama strolled to the balcony for some fresh air. After a
few minutes, Genkai joined him and stared off into the distance. The dimwit had
a pretty nice view, she thought approvingly.
�There�s
really not a lot of female toushins around,� she remarked idly.
Kurama
gave her a look of polite confusion, his expression plainly wondering about the
direction of her thought. However, Genkai noted the guarded look in his eyes.
She nodded as if his silence confirmed something. �I always wondered about your
sudden dislike of Keiko right after Nabiki was born.�
A
breeze lifted red hair gently from around his face. The stark purity of his
features was revealed under the luminous glow of the moon. �Is there a point to
these questions?� he said at last. There was a cold note in his voice. As well
as a warning.
�Just
making conversation,� she assured him genially. �Just a little conversation
between friends.�
An
icy silence fell between the two before she spoke again. �Sometimes�sometimes,
when people are desperate they often do foolish things; take risks that
otherwise they never would dream of doing. And it takes a rare and
compassionate person to forgive someone who acts like a damn jackass.�
�Thankfully,
no one�s ever been fool enough to accuse me of being either generous or
compassionate,� he assured her with exquisite civility. He turned and walked
away.
�Yeah,
more like cold, vengeful son-a-bitch,� Genkai muttered to herself.
A
day later, just after dinner, Koenma quietly asked to speak privately to his
former detectives. The way he phrased his request was so formal that their
backs stiffened in dread. Uneasily, they glanced at each other before
acquiescing. They went into Yusuke�s study.
Arranging
themselves comfortably, they revealed their shifting associations in the way
they positioned themselves. Kurama settled against Yusuke, who casually threw
an arm over the fox�s shoulder. Hiei balanced on the arm of Kuwabara�s chair as
they waited for the godling to speak. There was a possessive, challenging air
about Hiei that Kuwabara was blissfully oblivious.
Koenma
faced them, his hands folded behind his back to hide their nervous tremors. His
eyes, however, were steady and resolute. His rage had long since subsided,
leaving only sick resignation and acceptance of his undoubted fate at the hands
of the four he considered friends.
�It
took me a while to uncover the truth,� he began abruptly. �My father, despite
my repeated assurances to the contrary, has a rather narrow view of demons.
Hiei and Yoko Kurama in particular. He considers me a fool and worse for giving
you my trust. He always held the view that united a Yoko Kurama and Jaganshi
Hiei had the power to destroy Reikai. Nothing I�ve said has ever swayed him
from that particular brand of reality.� His mouth twisted sourly when he
finished, bitter disappointment flashing in his eyes before being hidden behind
his lashes.
Yusuke
laughed roughly, though uncertainly. �Dude, don�t worry about your old man.
He�ll come �round, soon enough.� Though his words were flippant, he was worried
about the tension he sensed rising in Kurama, not to mention the look on
Koenma�s face.
The
dark eyed godling eyed the toushin levelly. �I was alive and dealing with his
attitude long before monkeys descended from the trees and learned to walk
upright. I think I�ve waited long enough for him to �come around.�
The
dark haired toushin scowled, searching the words to find the hidden insult.
Predictably
Kurama cut directly to the heart of matters. �What did King Enma do, Prince
Koenma?�
Both
Yusuke and Kuwabara winced at the formal way the kitsune phrased his question.
They were morbidly certain that shit was about to hit the fan.
�He
was afraid of your alliance with Hiei and decided to sever it before it
threatened Reikai. The mission I sent you and Yusuke on had all been set up by
him. And it was easy for him to find out where you were staying afterward.�
�There
was no spell or spirit energy in the room,� Kurama said instantly, his eyes
narrowed and cold.
�The
level of spirit energy he used was the equivalent of an ant's,� Koenma
responded quietly. �You naturally wouldn't have reacted to it as a threat. But
the longer you�re around it, the greater the effect. The spell powers itself
with your own spirit energy. By the time it becomes noticeable, it�s too late.�
His face was grim.
�My
father was counting on you both falling on each other in a frenzy of mating
concluding with your taking each other as Mates. Since kitsune and toushin mate
for life and are reputed to be unfailingly faithful, he would no longer fear an
alliance between you and Hiei.�
He
bowed formally to the stunned males. �I apologize for the distress and pain my
father has caused.� His face was stiff as he awaited their reactions. He had
been alone for over a thousand years�to go back to that cold, lonely place
would be difficult.
Both
Kurama and Hiei�s faces seemed carved in ice. Their eyes, however, reflected
their true feelings.
�There
is a rather ancient pact, between the two worlds that save for a clear and
present sense of danger, neither the major lords of the Makai nor the rulers of
the Reikai can or shall act against each other in such a manner,� Kurama
pointed out. A cold rage swirled about the room, setting all their nerves to
jangling. �In this room we have the three heirs of the greatest Houses of the
Makai.�
�I
know,� Koenma spoke quietly. His face was empty of all emotion.
Yusuke�s
face was sober. �Normally I wouldn�t have a problem, what with the fighting and
shit, but I got a feeling there�s more to this.�
�Were
the demon lords to find out what King Enma has done, the repercussions to both
Spirit and Demon worlds would be high. And spill over into the Ningenkai,�
Kurama said quietly.
Hiei
stirred for the first time. �War,� he stated flatly.
Kuwabara
could only stare in horror when Koenma inclined his head.
The
godling�s face was remote. What his father would do to him for this final act
of betrayal was nothing he wanted to contemplate for very long. But he was
grateful to this bunch. They had taught him to never give up without a fight.
They taught him about friendship�and honor.
�And
our knowledge is your insurance against any sudden�accidents,� Yusuke stated
softly in sudden understanding. All the lessons Kurama patiently had taught him
coming to the fore.
Kuwabara
gaped. �But�but�you�re his son. He�s your daddy,� he stammered.
Hiei
looked down at his human with affectionate scorn. After all these years, could
Kuwabara still be so na�ve? �Enma is king. Kings have a history of disposing of
people proven to be inconvenient, or who interfere, in their plans.� He looked
at Koenma, a quiet respect in his eyes. Once so foolish, now forced to grow up.
Kurama
abruptly surged off the sofa and strode to the balcony, his rigid back eloquent
of his feelings.
Despite
his own feelings of being used, forced to perform like some damn monkey, Yusuke
sighed and went over to his mate. One of them had to stay calm, and he was damn
sure that it wasn�t gonna be him. He had a reputation to maintain.
�I
would rather not discuss this,� Kurama said coldly when he sensed Yusuke�s
nearness.
�Tough
shit�� Yusuke snorted.
�I
am warning you��
Yusuke
gasped theatrically, feigning a look of ecstatic happiness. �Is this our first
fight?�
The
kitsune gave him a long flat look that he returned with wide, happy eyes. Then
a reluctant twitch tugged at the corner of Kurama�s well shaped mouth.
Relieved, Yusuke leaned against his mate. �In a way, we could almost be
grateful to the old fuck,� he commented thoughtfully.
�When
Hell freezes over,� Kurama said pleasantly.
�I
said almost, fox boy. I still wanna kick his fat ass. But if it hadn�t been for
him we wouldn�t have the kits�or each other.�
�True�And
you would have still been with the love of your life and tucking your daughter
in at night.� Kurama�s voice was level as he finally brought everything out
into the open.
Yusuke
moved away from Kurama, immediately feeling the chill. He moved to the railing
and leaned on it. �We�we have something good going here, Kurama,� he said
finally. �Children�we�we can be happy, I think.� He gazed up at the moon as if
fascinated by it.
Kurama
closed his eyes, pain flashed across his face before it was gone. When he
opened them, only quiet serenity reigned. �Yes�we can be happy here.� He
approached Yusuke and joined him at the railing.
�Then
you think, maybe, we could try to�uhm, work on it? I mean, for the sake of the
kids and everything.� He glanced sidelong at the kitsune. He held his breath,
waiting for Kurama�s answer. It wasn�t exactly love that he felt. It
felt�richer, deeper. Like there was a neverending pool of pure spirit energy
supporting him. He looked down, his shoulders tensing at Kurama�s nearness.
�I�would
like that, I think.� Elated, Yusuke didn�t notice the slowness in Kurama�s
answer.
�You
know, I think we kinda got things backwards. First comes love, then comes
marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage,� Yusuke chanted in a
singsong voice. Kurama smiled, though there was a bleak look in his eyes. He
slid behind Yusuke and fitted himself against the sturdy back. While feeling
Yusuke pressing back against him gave him a wonderful sense of completion, he
felt a sorrow that seemed to steal his breath. His vision blurred, he buried
his face in Yusuke�s hair to hide his tears.
Yusuke
drew comfort from Kurama�s arms around him. �What are we going to do about lard
ass?�
�Yusuke,�
Kurama scolded softly, easily shifting gears. �That�s no way to refer to the
king of the underworld.�
�Yeah,
what would you call him?�
Pretending
to think, Kurama replied in a haughty, prissy voice. �King Lard Ass Enma,
naturally.�
�I�m
so gonna kick your ass,� Yusuke commented mildly as they turned to walk back
into the room. Kurama smirked, his eyes gleaming playfully. It was almost too
easy to resume the role of trusted friend and loyal confidante to Yusuke. After
all, it was a role he had perfected for years.
�Is
that all you want to do with my ass�?� he whispered silkily into Yusuke�s ear.
He was rewarded by a full body shiver. There was no hint of the faint
bitterness in his heart. Well, at least his body still pleased Yusuke.
�Asshole��
Yusuke muttered blushing rather vividly. He was outclassed before he opened his
mouth in a battle of wits with Kurama.
They
walked back into the room. The others were looking pointedly away.
�Okay,
so what�s the plan�?� Yusuke said briskly. His eyes were gleaming at the coming
battle. He was nearly bouncing with excitement.
Koenma
gave him an odd look. �Nothing. Your part is done. Now it�s time to wait. I�ve
already taken the necessary steps to�hide my people.� For a moment he looked
ill.
Kuwabara
looked at him curiously. �When did you get suspicious?� he wanted to know.
�Botan��
Koenma said grimly. It was a look they had only seen one other time.
Sensui.
And
they all remembered how that turned out.
�Botan�?
What the hell did she do?� �Now� was implied.
�It
wasn�t what she did, but what she saw,� Koenma explained tiredly. It was his
turn to face away from the group. �My father, I�m afraid, is a fool. Botan,
while quite the capable Ferry Girl and messenger, but I think you will agree
with me that when it comes to brains she�s�� he searched for a polite words.
�Two
fries short of a Happy Meal...?� Yusuke suggested wryly.
�The
porch light is out�?� came from Kuwabara.
�She�s
an idiot,� Hiei said irritably then look angrily around at the protesting cries
of �Hiei!� �What? We all know she�s brainless.�
�NO,�
Koenma replied crushingly. He glared at them over his shoulder. �I was going to
say she�s remarkably innocent. Na�ve.�
�Same
thing,� Yusuke shrugged unrepentantly.
�Anyway,�
the godling said loudly enough to override anything else someone would say,
�She happened to be passing by the Relic room, and noticed a couple of my
father�s Special Forces in the room. She didn�t think anything of it, nor did
she mention it, until just a few months ago. Unfortunately, she made the
mistake of mentioning this to the Ogre George. And he, finding it curious,
contacted the leader of the Special Forces.�
Koenma
took a deep shuddering breath. His hands, they saw were clenched. The knuckles
were white with strain. �It was several days before we knew whether he would
live. The doctors say that with time, he will be able to walk again. My father
said it was for insolence; however, I know George. I also reviewed the video
records of the conversation�and I�ve kept Botan with me ever since.�
�That
sonofabitch is going down�� There was a hard, ugly look in Yusuke�s eyes. �I�m
gonna ask you again. What. Is. The. Fuckin� Plan.�
The
godling whirled around. His eyes were angry and surprised. �Don�t you get it?�
he yelled. �My father is a god�King of the Underworld! You can�t defeat him!�
�Not
easily, no,� Kurama admitted frankly. His eyes cold and ruthless, a wintry
smile played on his lips. �However, there is a way to bring him to account.�
Green
eyes met Koenma. The godling prince paled. �You wouldn�t�� he breathed, looking
simultaneously terrified and elated.
Slender
shoulders moved easily in a shrug. �Without anyone to bring him to account,
your father will act again. And again. With no one to challenge him, he will
believe he can again act with impunity. I would prefer that he is never
allowed the chance to do so again. I have a family to protect.�
His
words were quiet, a flat iron statement that he would die before he allowed
harm to come to his family. Enma was a threat. King, god�whatever, he intend to
remove that threat hanging over his family�s life.
The
other three nodded.
Slowly
Koenma nodded. Though sick, he looked strengthen by their ruthless faces.
�Hounds
of Hell, come get your meat�� he whispered. His eyes held a distant look, his
smile as chillingly cold as theirs.
He
dipped his hand into his pocket and withdrew the Seal. He stared and said
rather dreamily, �Without this, the dead cannot cross over. Father will be
hard-pressed to explain to my uncles and aunts as to what�s going on. I�ve
taken every employee that worked for me and hid them all. They all have
instructions not to come out of hiding until I or Botan personally comes to
fetch them.�
When
he looked up, there was a vicious look in his eyes. �Grandmother and
Grandfather may even become involved.�
Several
days later, Yusuke definitely knew something was wrong with Kurama. All attempts
to find out inevitably led to mind-boggling sex.
As
a distraction, Yusuke sighed heavily staring out over the balcony, it was
working just dandy. He sat down, and spreading his legs, stared thoughtfully at
the paved surface. Maybe I should get Hiei to ask, he thought hesitantly, then
instantly discarded that particular thought. He shuddered, imagining the look
the fire demon would give him.
Raising
his beer bottle, he took a long thirsty drink, emptying the remaining liquid
from the bottle.
This
clearly needed a woman�s touch, he decided firmly, narrowing his eyes. And he
knew just the woman to do it.
�Fuck
off,� Shizuru stated, emphasizing her message by flickering the ash from her
cigarette in his face. Fortunately for everyone, she decided if she smoked
outside, the kids�ll be okay. It put her in a much better temperament.
�Dammit
woman! This is important,� Yusuke sputtered angrily, waving his hand in the air
to clear away the smoke.
�If
it�s that important, then you talk to him,� she said calmly. Drawing a lungful
of nicotine, she exhaled a lazy coil of smoke. Sometimes knowing things could
be helpful, she mused idly, sometimes it could be bitch. If she interfered, she
would be tempted to tell them a few home truths. Telling them and they wouldn�t
resolve their problem. She silently snorted. Any idiot could see the two were
made for each other.
What
Kurama and Yusuke had was much deeper and powerful than what he had with Keiko.
She grinned nastily. Lard-ass was scared of Hiei and Kurama? Wait till he saw
what Kurama and Yusuke could do.
�Shizuru��
�No��
she said with finality. Sides, someone else was taking care of the problem
anyway.
While
Yusuke pleaded with Shizuru for help, Kurama's mother was sitting in what
quickly became the central gathering place.
In
Shiroi's elegant posture and serenity, it was easy to see where her son got his
cool composure. Gracefully drinking tea, she reflected on the growing situation
between her son and Yusuke. Like a good mother, she tried not to interfere, but
it was distressing to see him in pain.
She
sighed, her heart heavy in her breast. She would wait until he came to her.
Course if he waited too long, she thought calmly, ears made such a suitable
handle.
The
door opened, and in walked Kurama. Disregarding the blank look on his face,
there was clearly an abstracted look in his eyes. Seeing his mother, he pulled
up short a bland look immediately falling over his face.
Okay,
this was bad, Shiori thought worriedly.
�Mother��
Kurama said quietly. He nodded calmly to her, his eyes moving around the room.
There was a slightly nervous look in his eyes, a wariness that increased with
the thoughtful look his mother directed at him.
�Why
don�t you keep your poor old mother company?� Shiori suggested. She hid a smile
at the panicky look he darted over his shoulder at the door. A thousand years
old, and still can�t say no to his mother.
After
pouring him a cup of tea, an uneasy silence sat in the room with them.
�You
do know, anytime you need to talk, I�ve always been a good listener,� she said,
breaking the silence.
Sitting
down his cup, he surged to his feet; the abrupt movement at odds with the
withdrawn expression on his face. Frustrated, he ran a hand through his tumble
of red hair.
�He
doesn�t love me�� he finally burst out after several minutes of silence. �Our
chemistry�it�s good. I mean, really good. The sex�he satisfies me more than any
lover I�ve had or known and considering how old I am that�s saying a lot. Anytime,
anywhere; day, time�it doesn�t matter to him. Sinking into his body�it�s like
I�m home�I�ve finally found the other half of my soul. And when he comes into
me, I feel so�so complete. There is no me, or him; there�s only us. We. But if
all there is, is sex, what hope do I have?� he groaned as he sank into a chair,
his hands over his face.
Shiori
sat frozen, the cup poised at her lips for a sip. Her eyes had grown larger and
larger under the torrent of words from her only son. Carefully she replaced her
cup on the tea service. �Well�I did ask,� she said faintly to herself.
Kurama
looked up, a faint amusement showing despite his visible distress. �Forgive
me�I�ve embarrassed you,� he said.
She
scoffed, airily waving a hand dismissively. �Embarrassed? Me? Whatever in the
world gave you that idea?�
�The
fact that your face is redder than Hiei�s eyes?�
�You
know, you�re not too old to turn across my knee.� She gave him a playfully
stern look.
�Yes,
mother.�
Contemplative
silence fell between them.
�Some
men, in my experience, have a difficult time expressing, much less, talking
about their feelings. And sometimes the words are meaningless. It may be that
Yusuke is afraid to tell you how he feels. Put yourself in his place. He loved
Keiko, and I�m quite sure he told her many times how much he loved her�yet look
at them now. I know it�s a clich� but�some men express their love in a thousand
different ways. Close your ears to what Yusuke doesn�t say and listen to what
he says with your heart.�
Kurama
frowned. He opened his mouth as if to question the validity of her words. �I
hope you�re not planning on calling your old mother a liar?� She raised a
mock-stern brow then smiled when he closed his mouth. �Now, if I�m not
mistaken, you have a mate to talk to.�
�Yes
mother,� he sighed, getting to his feet.
�Oh,
and Kurama�? Have you told Yusuke you love him?� she said gently. She nodded,
holding in her eyes the look of experience. �It goes both ways, you know.�
Kurama
fled out the door, an abstracted look deep in his eyes.
Yusuke
scowled, flopping back on the bed. His black look was the result of another
encounter with Kurama in the hallway. Why the hell couldn�t the dude just tell
him what was wrong without him jumping through a bunch of friggin� hoops? He
sighed, feeling a little hopeful. Well, at least they didn�t wind up having
sex. Then he frowned.
Hey,
we didn�t have sex.
Just
then he heard the children begin fitfully wailing. He listened to their cries
with the ears of experience before getting to his feet. Okay, that�s the �I�m
hungry� cry. Quickly he got to his feet and headed for their room, the problem
of what to do about Kurama temporarily shelved.
Predictably,
Kurama joined him in feeding, then changing the kits. Letting them out of their
crib, they watched as the two tiny bodies began playing a clumsy game of rough
and tumble with each other.
Unknowing
and uncaring of the strained silence existing between their fathers.
Patience
being utterly foreign to Yusuke psychological makeup, he chaffed at how long it
took to plan everything. It took him the better part of two days to arrange a
private dinner between the two of them. No family, no friends�no kids.
It
was getting someone to take care of the kids that almost made him call
everything off. Not that there was a lack of volunteers�just, he hated leaving
his children behind.
He
grinned evilly. He had promised Kurama he would pay him back, and an Urameshi
kept his word. Well, at least starting now, an Urameshi kept his words, he
amended. Or was he an Urameshi-Minamino now?
Kurama
blinked rapidly, clearing his eyes. The blurry image hovering over him
resolving into Yusuke�s anxious face. The wide smile of relief that broke over
the bronzed face was like the sun coming out after a raging storm. He almost
wanted to apologize for worrying his beloved.
What
stopped him were the familiar craggy walls he saw around him. �Yusuke, what
have you done?� he sighed instead. They were back in their cave. The same cave
he had kidnapped Yusuke to during the toushin�s pregnancy.
�I
wanted to talk and you kept blowing me off,� Yusuke said, justifying what he
had done. However at the frozen, look that glazed over Kurama�s eyes, he was
worried this may not have been his best idea.
Kurama
gave Yusuke a long, level stare then proceeded to ignore the sulking boy. He
tugged at his hands, unsurprised to see his wrists tied together and anchored
to the walls. As if that would stop him, he silently sneered.
Yusuke
sighed. �Kurama�� he began then stopped. He chewed his lip nervously, eyeing
his lover, accurately reading the subtle signs of a pissed off kitsune. Talking
had never been his strong suit, but he had better get good at it�fast. He began
again.
�Kurama,
what�s wrong? And don�t give me none of that shit �bout �nothing�s wrong�. You
know I ain�t good with words and stuff, but dammit! I�m trying to make
this�this�thing we got going work. Which is more than I can say for you!� he
charged angrily.
�It
is not a THING�� Kurama hissed through gritted teeth, anger darkening his eyes
to the color of a forest at twilight. Taking a deep breath he struggled to resume
his customary calm.
�Oh,
no you don�t,� Yusuke muttered determinedly. He saw the kitsune trying to
retreat behind his usual high walls. Giving him that fucking empty, meaningless
smile. He suddenly conceived of a violent hatred towards seeing that look on
Kurama�s face. He had learned a long time ago that when Kurama smiled like
that, he was hiding. And nobody was better at hiding than Yoko Kurama.
Almost
of its� own volition, his hand moved. Distantly he was aware, but red haze
clouded his vision. His hand was a hair�s breathe from hitting Kurama when he
checked himself. He met Kurama�s narrowed gaze with horrified eyes.
With
a gasp, he wrenched himself away from the kitsune. He backed away, his eyes
disbelieving. Nausea surging, he stumbled to the bed he had taken such pains to
bring to the cave. Dropping heavily, his arms wrapped around his middle, he
slumped over.
�God�I
almost hit him,� he mumbled dazedly to himself. �I almost hit him.�
He
attempted to jerk away when warm hands settled over his shoulders. �NO�Don�t
touch me!� he shouted, struggling to get away. However, Kurama was far stronger
than his slender build suggested. His face grim, he managed to corral the
flailing arms, and wrapped his arms tightly around the boy until Yusuke finally
rested against him.
His
face flattening at the ragged, gasping sounds Yusuke made. Apparently Keiko and
I are more similar than I had imagined, he thought bleakly. We both made him
cry.
�I
don�t know what you want from me,� Yusuke said tiredly. He wiggled, and feeling
the arms loosen about him, buried his hot face in the safety of Kurama�s neck.
�I try, and I try�but I don�t know what to do. And�and�and these damn hormones
are still running through me making me act all crazy!�
�I�m
sorry�� Kurama whispered, burying his face in Yusuke�s hair. He swallowed hard,
resigning himself to keeping his feelings to himself. �I�I just needed some
time to myself�to work out a few issues.�
Yusuke
stiffened in dread. He pulled against Kurama�s hold until he was released. Then
he studied the kitsune with amazingly clear eyes, seeing past the fake front
his friend and lover displayed so effortlessly. His mouth twisted humorlessly.
All his life, he fought not to be like his mother�to find that one person that
he could �to have and hold; till death do we part� and all that shit.
�My
mother�she had like this revolving door at her bedroom,� he confessed quietly.
He looked away from Kurama�s sympathetic eyes. �Always searching for that
�special someone�.� An alien look of twisted pain swept over his face and he
shook his head. �Naturally she couldn�t find him. With all the guys she had
fucked, it was no wonder.�
He
glanced sidelong at the kitsune, and seeing those vivid green eyes withholding
judgment, he continued. It wasn�t easy, baring his soul. He just hoped Kurama
understood.
�Me�I
was determined not to be like that. I learned from her example that with many,
sex became meaningless. So I figured, that must mean the opposite gotta be
true, ya know. And all I hafta do is find someone�special. Someone I can
trust.�
His
eyes were huge when he glanced anxiously at Kurama. A tinge of red colored his
cheeks.
Kurama
blinked, abrupt understanding dawning in his eyes. �You were a vir�� A hand
clapped over his mouth stopped his words.
�Don�t
say it�� Yusuke warned him desperately, a manic grin on his face. Kurama
nodded, a slightly dazed look in his eyes. Who would have thought a
super-confident, swaggering, skirt-chasing man like Urameshi Yusuke would had
been a virgin on his wedding night to Keiko?
�Good
lord��
�Yeah,
well�I had trust issues, okay,� Yusuke snapped, drawing away from the kitsune,
unaccountably irritated. �I don�t trust everybody, ya know.�
Mind
ticking with computer-like speed Kurama�s mind was busily slotting away
information. Deciphering words and meaning, assigning values to the unconscious
signals, past and present, Yusuke exhibited
�You
trusted me�� he pointed out carefully, just to see what reaction this would
create. �You also trust Kuwabara and Hiei.� Yusuke blushed a vivid shade of red
and waved a hand dismissively.
�Yeah,
but I�m not screwing around with them.� He shuddered. �Like I ever would,� he
muttered under his breath.
�You
trusted me the first day we met,� Kurama mused quietly, almost to his self.
Yusuke
eyed him warily, not exactly sure if he should trust that contemplative look on
Kurama�s face. �Yeah, so�?�
Kurama
came to a decision. �I love you,� he said plainly. �The reason why I�ve
been�distant is because I found myself in love with you. And you apparently did
not seem to feel the same way as I. We are mated for life, and I find the
thought of going through the rest of my life with nothing between us other than
sex distressing.�
His
mouth dropping open, Yusuke gaped at the kitsune. �Dude��
Kurama�s
eyes dropped to the ground. �Sexually, we are compatible, however, we can�t
spend our entire lives in bed.�
�Works
for me�� Yusuke quipped, his cocksure smirk firmly in place. It slowly faded at
the level look from shadowed green eyes. �You�make my heart beat.� He hastily
looked down, blushing furiously. Mentally cursing himself for using such a
corny line.
Bottle
green eyes widen at Yusuke�s quiet declaration. �Oh, my love�� he breathed, his
vision a little watery to his lover�s horror.
A
yokai�s heart beat far, far slower than a human. Something of which caused
Yusuke some initial consternation when his previously unknown yokai heritage
had kicked in. Mazuko genes upon his second death had activated, forcing a
latent yokai atavism to overwrite his human DNA.
For
Yusuke to say that Kurama made his heart beat implied that the kitsune was the
force that made his heart function. In the world of yokai it was simply a very
old-fashioned way of saying �I love you�.
�We�we
come from different backgrounds,� Yusuke said haltingly. He looked down,
absently picking at his threadbare jeans. �You grew up with hugs and kisses�I
didn�t. Her boyfriends always claimed they loved her, loved only her�but a
couple weeks later, she was old news. My mom�see, she never told me that she
loved me, but I always knew she did. As many men she took up with, none of them
was allowed to touch me. If any of her men hit me, they would be lucky to
escape our apartment.� He darted a look at Kurama, then away, smiling at a
distant memory.
�One
time, I was being annoying, not super annoying but just being kinda bratty, ya
know. I guess one of the guys didn�t like it, or was having a bad day, so he
slapped me against the wall to shut me up. I saw my mom grabbed a beer bottle,
break it, and then she was, like, airborne. You shoulda seen her,� he said
admiringly. �She was like one of the big cats on that nature channel, ya know.
She cut him up pretty bad before they got her off him.� He smiled in
remembrance.
�Just
that concentrated look on her face�kinda reminds me of you,� he said, nudging
the kitsune teasingly. �You know what they say, you always marry a woman that
looks just like your mother.�
�Interestingly
enough, I never heard that,� Kurama replied levelly, then smiled at the mock
pout Yusuke gave.
�When
I died the first time and came back, she used get up in the middle of the night
and wake me up just to make sure I was breathing, to make sure I was still
alive.
Meanwhile
Koenma�s plan was reaching fruition.
Spirits
were piling up.
And
such a massive pileup was bound to be noticed.
Three
weeks later, King Enma strode through his palace. On his bearded face, a fierce
thunderous scowl seemed permanently etched. He was stressed, and angry. �Where
is my SON?� His roar echoed, penetrated to every inch of his domain.
A
man in uniform, a Special Forces insignia on his breast, flew to his king and
knelt in midair. �My lord, we have searched high and low. Prince Koenma and his
people seemed to have all vanished,� he reported crisply. �Based upon the last
incident of the Prince going missing, we even ventured into the Ningenkai. As
yet we are still unable to trace him or the Ferry Girl.�
Unnoticed
behind the lenses of his glasses, a look of cunning satisfaction glinted in the
god�s eyes. �Have you checked the Makai?� he asked silkily.
The
man looked uneasy. �Sire, without special authorization, it is expressively
forbidden for us to cross over into the Makai. By the Laws of the Reikai, it is
forbidden.�
�I
want my son FOUND�!� King Enma�s shout blew him back. He crashed into the
wall with a pained cry. �Find him and that girl! You have my permission.�
He turned to go, then as an afterthought, �And find someone to deal with the
mess of undead. Open the gate and just shove them through.�
Several
of his attendants looked shocked, but said nothing. King Enma, in this mood,
was more inclined to rip it from their mouths if he felt they weren�t capable
of holding their tongues.
A
messenger flew in. �Sire�your brothers and sisters have been making inquiries
regarding the number of undead they say are encroaching on their territories.
They want to know what is going on! And�and�� he looked terrified.
�Spit
it out��
�They
have called for a Judgment and your Lady Mother and Lord Father have agreed,�
the messenger finished softly.
Around
the Great Hall, you could hear a pin drop.
A
Judgment.
In
a millennium, no god had EVER asked for a judgment on a fellow god. A Judgment
was binding and irrevocable. Only in the most extreme circumstances could or
would a god get called to Judgment. For the first time, unease stirred in the
heart of King Enma before he dismissed it.
No
one knew or suspected. He felt a little shiver course down his spine. Yoko
Kurama and that Hiei creature would have brought the Reikai to its knees if
left unchecked, of that he was positive. His son was too foolish and trusting,
he thought heavily. He had failed somewhere in the raising of his heir. The
future of the Reikai would be in serious jeopardy if Koenma was allowed to
inherit his throne.
Though
it saddened him, he had to think of what was best for his domain.
�Sire�?
Sire�? What do you wish me to say to them?� the messenger asked shakily.
King
Enma peered at the messenger, his expression mild. �That I will be there
shortly, of course.�
He
turned and strode away, his mind busily working to turn Koenma�s abdication of
responsibility to his advantage. He sighed, already wincing. It had taken him
over a millennium to raise Koenma and the thought of raising Koenma�s
replacement filled him with dread. The midnight
feedings, diaper changing�disciplining.
He
groaned, already feeling old.
In
the Makai, Koenma felt the call, the Summons. Giving his oblivious laughing
friends a regretful look, he quietly slipped away.
A
Judgment was no place for them.
It
was minutes before they noticed he was gone; several hours before they realized
what he had done. Had they a way to get their hands on their godling friend,
Koenma would have found himself the object of wrath from his friends.
As
it was, they were forced to wait. There was a grim certainty that if Koenma
wasn�t back in a reasonable amount of time, they would find a way to exact
revenge. Make who ever hurt him�pay.
It
took Koenma four days before he was able to make it back to his friends. Four
long, arduous days of accusations, testimony, video evidence before a ruling
was handed down.
Upon
his return, he endured the glad welcome of his friends as well as the harsh,
verbal torrent of words.
Meekly
he agreed he was selfish, thoughtless, inconsiderate, spoiled and an idiot for
running off. However nothing they said could wipe the smile from his lips. It
was Botan who first noticed. She gasped, pointing a trembling finger at her
employer.
Puzzled
the others looked as well, slowly understanding dawned. The �Jr� on his
forehead was gone.
�T'fuck�?�
Yusuke put in plain speech what they all were thinking.
�The
Judgment was, Father overstepped himself,� he said, his smile slowly fading. He
looked tired and worn out now the excitement was wearing down. �As a result, he
had some of his powers permanently stripped. My particular area of Spirit World
has been temporarily removed under his jurisdiction. And since there�s no one
that knows more about my area than me, I�ve been raised to permanent godhood.
Once Father steps down, our two areas will merge. But until that time, I no
longer answer to him.�
The
screaming and shouting was tremendous. He was hugged, kissed and back-slapped
in congratulations. But he had a troubled look in his eyes. At the first
chance, he sought private consul with both Kurama and Yusuke.
�My
family, distressed by Father�s actions, and with the approval of one who shall
not be named, offer a way to break your Mating. They feel that since it was
initially forced upon you by one of their own, it is only fair that they try to
rectify matters. To put things back the way they were.� He stood hesitantly,
looking between one blank face to the other.
�I
can speak only for myself, however, I have no problems remaining as Yusuke�s
mate,� Kurama stated quietly. His face was at its most expressionless. Cold and
as unfeeling as a block of ice.
Yusuke
rolled his eyes. Oh, for God�s sake! he thought in fond exasperation. Would it
kill him to show some friggin� emotion?
Seeing
a way to resolve matters, and in his own immutable style, he planted a long,
thorough kiss on the surprised parted lips. And almost forgot the reason for
the demonstration as mutual desire swiftly flared. Recovering, he finished the
kiss with a loud smacking noise.
�I�m
his, he�s mine and that�s all there is to it.� Though there was a look of dazed
pleasure in Yusuke�s dark eyes, the belligerent scowl he shot Koenma bore all
the trademarks of a pissed off Yusuke. His chin lifted, daring anyone to take
Kurama away from him.
Slender
arms stole reassuringly around his waist. He leaned his head to the side as
Kurama nuzzled at his neck. He shivered happily, though mentally cursing at his
mate. Pressing back against Kurama, hands gripping tightly, Yusuke still eyed
Koenma suspiciously.
Koenma
looked relieved. �That�s a relief,� he sighed. �Cause I already told them it
would be a whole lot safer on all the worlds if they just let Kurama keep
charge of you.�
�The
fuck! Keep ME? I�m the one keeping him! Who the hell do you think you are
saying he�s keep��
Kurama�s
mouth put an end to Yusuke�s noisy sputtering. �Shut up��
His
body instantly coming to attention, all Yusuke could do was whimper, �Okay.�
Snickering
quietly, Koenma crept out of the study. He had a pretty good idea of what was
going to happen. Whistling cheerfully, he sauntered down the hall.
Cloths
were rapidly discarded as Kurama proceeded, in a long, hard discussion, to show
Yusuke the pointed thrust of his argument.
They
simultaneously reached the mutual and satisfying conclusion that they each
belonged to each other.
- 7
- 8
- 9
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As we lay