How To Love A Demon

Tail One: Memorable Encounters

"Please don't go!" the plants pleaded. "Must you leave?"

The kitsune tossed some silken strands of silver over his shoulder as a vine crawled up his leg. He knew his leaving the Makai would upset the local scenery, but he never imagined they would protest this much. "Yes, I must go."
"Dear Youko, kind Youko, will you ever return?" they cried, tightening their hold on his leg.

"Perhaps never, my little ones."

"Why?"

"Almost eleven years ago, I promised a small child they could be my princess." the demon replied with a blissful smile. Just remembering that cute heart-shaped face and flaming hair sent tremors down his spine. "That's why I'm going to the Ningenkai. It is finally time I found my princess."

Kurama tightened the scarf around his neck. It was still two days until Halloween, yet the air already had a chilly nip to it. With a shiver he buttoned his jacket and started walking home.

He passed the small ice cream parlor he worked for, took a short-cut through the alleyway, and started down South Avenue. Sure, it was a lengthy detour from home, but this way he could walk by the park. The teen was not disappointed as the vibrant yellow, orange, and red painted trees appeared over the roof tops of the modest village he lived in. With every breeze that whipped around them, a few leaves would fall and be carried away by the wind. It created a hypnotic pattern that Kurama's emerald eyes were unable to tear away from for what seemed like eternity.

Laughter broke through the tranquility.

Two young girls rushed past Kurama with a flood of colors. Each were wearing some kind of princess dress with ruffles and a blinding amount of glitter. They were yet another reminder of the upcoming holiday.

A holiday Kurama hated more than anything else.

By the time he reached his apartment building the sun was setting. He stealthily crept up the stairs and down the hall, trying not to attract the attention of his neighbors, the Harazaka's. He knew the Harazaka's, especially their daughter Jewels, meant well but they never seemed to leave him alone. Kurama had often heard Mrs. Harazaka saying it was a shame he lived on his own. The last thing he needed on his already tiring day was the constant chatter of the females next door.

With a sigh he unlocked his door and hurried inside. The redhead softly closed the door while sliding off his shoes and stepping into his house slippers. Maybe now, in the not-so-perfect sanctuary of his apartment, he could relax.

With one last glance around his three-roomed home—which consisted of a bedroom, bathroom, and one small kitchen—to make sure everything was in its place Kurama made his way to his room. He collapsed on the bed and stared blankly at the pale yellow walls. His eyelids felt so heavy.

A small breeze blew through the half open window and caressed his blazing hair. With a hum of approval the emerald eyes closed and his body relaxed on the soft sheets of his bed. Kurama's mind, at long last, was able to rest and enter the world of dreams.

"So what costume will you wear tomorrow for Halloween?" asked one of the older girls of the foster home. Kurama silently shrugged and held up the pumpkin he had carved earlier that day.

"You're gonna be a pumpkin head?" sneered Hiro, a boy almost his age. "I was sure you were gonna say 'I want to be a princess' again."

The older girl chimed in, "You know you could never play the part of a princess, right? I mean, even though you look like a girl, you're still a boy. Not to mention there's no one who cares about you enough to make you one."

"Yeah," Hiro smirked. "There is no one who wants you and no one who wants to see the fag of all fags." He pushed Kurama to the ground and laughed.

Humiliated to the point of tears, he dashed out of the house with his pumpkin still in hand. He ran long and hard, trying to escape the cruelty of that place. It was not long he fled to the woods behind the house that he tripped over a root and tumbled down an incline. Physical pain racked his body as his petite form cascaded over rocks and sticks.

When he slid to a halt and the world stopped spinning, Kurama slowly rose to his hands and knees to assess the damage. Nothing seemed to be broken but his ankle burned and was starting to swell. Looking over the landscape he spotted a large tree close by that could shelter him until someone decided to come look for him, or more likely until he could walk home himself.

He clinched his teeth against the throbbing as he crawled under the branches of his shelter. The redhead leaned against the trunk and tried to ease his bruised body. That was when he noticed that his pumpkin lay only a few inches away from where he sat. His emerald eyes flared with hate as he grabbed and tossed it as far as he could. It smashed upon hitting the ground.

Kurama rested his forehead on the knee of his uninjured leg. They are all wrong, he thought as bitter tears leaked down his cheeks. If only I could be as pretty as a princess. Then my prince would come for me.

"Why are you crying?" asked a voice from behind him. With a start Kurama twisted his body and looked upon the most beautiful being he had ever seen.

It was a tall man with moon-silver hair and eyes that glittered like gold. He was wearing fox ears and a tail that twitched all by itself. His white outfit seemed to hang from his muscular frame.

Kurama was so surprised he tried to stand and run, but only managed to crash down to earth the moment he pivoted his weight to the injured ankle. He was even more surprised when two enormous, clawed hands lifted him off the ground and then held him against a strong chest. He looked up timidly through his flaming bangs. When emerald met honey he snapped his head down and, blushing with embarrassment, struggled to free himself from the strong grip. He only managed to hurt to wounded ankle more.

"Hush," the giant cooed, trying to quell Kurama's whimpers. The older man sat beneath the tree and placed him in his lap. "Why are you crying?"

His voice was deep and hypnotic. Before Kurama knew it he was telling the stranger everything. He just felt right—safe—in those strong arms.

The man waited for him to finish his story and his sobs to reside into hiccups before saying another word. "So that is the reason for all the tears?" When the redhead nodded the man laughed. "If you want I will be your prince." Kurama blushed as the man kissed his forehead.

Something was pulling Kurama's mind away from one of the few good memories of his childhood. It had been so long since he had dreamed of the kind man from the woods. He tried shifting his body only to find he could not move. It was only then that he felt the weight and warmth of a solid being resting upon him. His eyes snapped open as his heart kick-started with swelling panic.

His eyes were met with a familiar site. It was a tall man with moon-silver hair and eyes that glittered like gold. He was wearing fox ears and a tail that twitched all by itself. His white outfit seemed to hang from his muscular frame.

It was the man from the woods! Even after eleven years he was unchanged. It was as if the sands of time stilled only for this beautiful creature.

"Why are you always crying when I see you?" the older man asked in his deep, hypnotic voice Kurama remembered so well. He only then relived there where still left-over tears seeping from his eyes. The being above him gently slid a hand from his cheek down to his collarbone, where he rested his sharp claws. The act both flustered and frightened the teen and in a rush of adrenalin brought his fist up with a shout.

Kurama peeked over his shoulder at Youko who was sitting on his bed rubbing his bruised cheek. It had been an hour since he had hit him and things had calmed down considerably. They had talked and, while it was not any less confusing, he knew the tall man was not some kind of weird perverted stalker.

He set a turkey and cheese sandwich on a plate and handed it to the older man. "You must be hungry." he muttered, feeling rather shy. "I couldn't make much but you're welcome to it." He smiled when Youko took it without complaint.

Youko stared blankly at it. He sniffed it and gave his host a curious look. At first, Kurama did not understand the dilemma. "Youko-san, have you never seen a sandwich before?" When the curious look did not waver, he took the sandwich and held it by his mouth. "You eat it like this, ok?"

Youko leaned forward and bite off a morsel of the sandwich in Kurama's hand. The teen blushed as Youko grasped his hand with his clawed ones. He quickly shoved them away. "Stop that! You can eat on your own."

Kurama hurried to the kitchen area and opened the fridge to get Youko a bottle of water. In all honesty it was an excuse to get away from the all too familiar man. When his heart returned to its normal rhythm he walked back towards the bed.

He slid a chair across from Youko and sat down as the giant inhaled the water. After a moments pause he sighed, defeated by his immense curiosity. He asked, "Youko…are you a demon? You're ears and tail. Are they real?"

"If you believe I'm a demon, Kurama, then I probably am." Youko said with a secret smile.

Kurama blushed and looked away from the beautiful presumed demon. It was hard to believe his hero from the past was actually here. "I remember the first time I met you." he whispered. He knew Youko could here him by the way his ears perked. "It was in the woods by the foster home. You just suddenly appeared and wiped my tears away. T-That's why I…"

In his growing embarrassment Kurama's eyes swept the room, looking for anything to focus on besides the demon. His gaze landed on the clock. He had thirteen minutes to get to work.

"I'm going to be late for work!" he exclaimed as he jumped from his seat. He dashed to the door, grabbing his coat and combing his hair with his hand. "I'm sorry," he called over his shoulder. "But I have to go. If you don't mind, when you leave can you put the key in the mailbox?"

Kurama felt a tug on his sleeve before he was whirled around to face his demon guest. He had no time to react as Youko leaned down and kissed him, pulling him into a strong embrace. Heat rushed to his face and he was sure he was as red as a beat when the demon pulled away.

"No, Kurama." Youko whispered in his ear, sending harsh tremors down his spine. "Stay."

Youko leaned in for another kiss and this one was much longer. Kurama was overwhelmed by the pleasurable sensations sweeping his body. He shivered as Youko sucked on his lower lip and slid his tongue into his virginal cavern. The muscle ran along his teeth and coaxed his own tongue to join the fun. The teen felt a strange pull in his lower abdomen that both enticed and sacred him.

The fear helped him regain his senses and push Youko away. "Let go!" he panted. "I have to go to work."

"Why?" Youko asked, nuzzling his neck and tightening his hold. "Are you that desperate to get away from me?"

"No, no, no, no! That's not it at all!" cried Kurama. It was the furthest thing from his mind. "If I don't work, there will be no more sandwiches!" he rasped in desperation as Youko's death grip constricted his airway.

Kurama gave a small sigh of relief when Youko loosened his grip a fraction. "Will you be back soon?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Good! I'll be waiting for you." the demon replied with a blissful smile. He leaned forward and placed a kiss on Kurama's forehead. "See you later."

Kurama gave a quick nod before dashing through the door. His heart was pounding so fast it felt like it would explode. He thought, as he buttoned his coat against the autumn wind, that this would probably be the longest day of his life.

To be continued...

I promised more stories and here you go. As soon as I finish this one (it will only have three chapters) I will start writing on whichever story you the people want. Just send me a quick message and I will try my best.

This is based off of How to Love An Angel by Sumomo Yumeka. Enjoy!