The Vulnerable Fox

Kurama gazed at the clock in his classroom, confused as to whether he wanted every second that passed to slow down or speed up. His train of thought finished as the bell chimed signalling the end of class and the end of term. Grabbing his homework assignment and books he rose from his seat and made his way out of the door.

Stuffing his things in his school bag he failed to see where he was going and walked straight into the back of Kaitou. Falling non-too gracefully on his rear, dropping his unclosed bag and spilling his books out onto the floor, he apologised profusely before recovering himself and gathering the fallen items scattered around.

As he reached for the last book Kaitou put his foot over the cover, trapping it on the floor. "What's going on Shuichi?" Kaitou asked blatantly. 'Shuichi' eased the book out from under the offending foot and stood, cramming the lid of his bag closed.

"I don't know what you mean Kaitou." Kurama said calmly. As said teenager indicated the floor with his eyes Kurama smiled in his innocent way. "It was merely a lapse in concentration. Nothing to worry about." With that he pushed past Kaitou, sending an apologetic smile back, and darted out the front door. He glanced down at his watch. 'Perfect.' He thought. 'I'll be back with about five minutes to spare. Things are finally going my way.'

"HEY KUR…I MEAN SHUICHI!" Kurama cringed. He knew that the owner of that voice would delay him by at least two minutes and it was dangerously important that he got home. He kept up his pace, if Yusuke wanted to talk to him it would have to be at his pace and not the slow one Yusuke often adopted. A panting to his left told him that the black haired punk had caught up to him and was out of breath.

"Yusuke I don't mean to be rude but I am very busy. I'm afraid I can't stop to chat." Kurama said stopping suddenly, and nearly causing Yusuke to fall over, at the traffic lights.

"Man what's with you 'Rama?" Yusuke asked rubbing his head defiantly. "You never seem to have time to hang out anymore."

Kurama glanced at him bewilderedly. "Although I have spent time with you I have never 'hung' out." Sighing he started walking as the lights changed. "I'm sorry Yusuke. It's just, Yomi has summoned me to Makai."

Yusuke frowned. "I thought he hated you."

Something in Kurama snapped, all he wanted to do was get home…not be interrogated! He struggled to maintain his temper control as he turned to face Yusuke, after all, he still had another ten minutes and he was quite close to his home. "Yusuke he doesn't hate me. We've had our issues in the past, but we're bigger demons than to let hate rule our lives."

Kurama subtly shivered before continuing, "Now I apologise but I have to go to the Makai where I will be spending my summer." Sensing that Yusuke was about to ask what lie he'd come up with to tell his mother about his absence, he waved his hand. "Exchange programme. Study." With that he smiled and turned. "I'll be back before you know it."

With that Kurama quickened his speed, leaving Yusuke a long way behind. Glancing at his watch he cursed, surely five minutes had not passed like that! He made it to his front door with two minutes to spare. Grappling in his bag for his keys he wished he hadn't wasted time getting out of class. "Yes!" He cried bringing the jingling keys out of his bag. He slid them in the front door and turned the lock. Just as he was about to open the door he felt a familiar ki. "Shit no!" He gasped. He pushed the door open and slipped inside, pulling the door closed and locking it.

"I'm home." He called, dropping his bag and hastening to the living room. He stopped short in the open entrance

"Ah Shuichi…ready to go?" A calm voice asked from the couch. Kurama's eyes narrowed involuntarily at the sight that met his gaze. "What's wrong? Perhaps you are not packed yet?" Yomi suggested snidely.

"Yomi." Kurama acknowledged. "Please release my human family." He pleaded, hardly daring to look at the glazed eyes in the barely conscious forms of his mother, his stepbrother and his stepfather.

"Ready to go?" Yomi asked, completely ignoring Kurama's request though standing up threateningly. Kurama gazed at Yomi pleadingly for a good two minutes before letting his eyes drop to the floor. He pointed to his bag nearly hidden behind the couch that Yomi had previously rested upon. "Good fox." Yomi said apparently pleased he was not to wait longer than he already had. "Your human family will remember you saying your farewells so that's that all sorted out."

Kurama picked up his bag and waited silently for the goat demon to open a portal to his palace in the Makai, not looking back once. Once they were situated in Yomi's chambers Kurama set his bag down on the futon he was normally supposed to have during his stay. A clearing of the throat made him look to Yomi. "Kurama you remember you left your uniform here last time. Go and retrieve it." Yomi ordered.

The kitsune turned human silently passed the ruler of Makai and went into Yomi's private bedchambers. He took one look at the room and grimaced. Yomi still favoured the sadistic décor. Heads of past demon enemies hung around the room at various heights blood long since fallen from the carcasses dried below each one.

The wall outlined in a creamy colour so as to contrast the effect of the blood. The furniture wasn't made of wood or stone as a normal person would have expected, rather bones collected from the beheaded carcasses of those demons and creatures hung around the room. Of all exquisite tastes that Yomi may have had, sadism was his favourite. He believed that such atrocity was very intimidating.

It wasn't the appearance of the room that repulsed Kurama; after all…he used to enjoy similar room décor when he had been young and free. It was the smell that hit him that sent him reeling. Nothing had ever been so bad as the stench of pain, blood, poison all mixed together and enhanced by rusting weapons, still filthy from previous slayings next to every door. The bed was the only 'clean' thing in the room made with black silk sheets and feather Makai-equivalent pillows. Crossing quickly to the bone cupboard he pulled out his old uniform not wanting to keep Yomi.

He hastened to dress even though he could feel Yomi's unseeing eyes watching him. The goat's presence by the door was sight enough. Yomi knew what state of undress he was in and he knew how vulnerable Kurama felt. "Stop." Kurama did as he was told and stopped changing; he had learnt a long time ago that disobeying the Makai Lord would result in trouble of a sort he was not willing to be in. Yomi had been right about one thing, his human family were the most important thing in his life, the only thing he would go to great lengths to protect, despite the lack of caring he displayed in a more open view.

The demon lazily sauntered to face the human and rested his hand on Kurama's bare shoulder. "You're shaking. Surely the great Youko Kurama is not afraid." Yomi ridiculed. When Kurama didn't say anything the calm face creased and a hand rose. Kurama flinched as the back of the Makai Lords hand made contact with Kurama's cheek with a resounding crack. Yomi's hand reached up and ensnared the humans red hair in his fist before hissing into his face. "You're not loved Kurama. No one would understand our relationship. They'd scorn you. Beat you. No one cares about you. Stay with me and I'll keep you safe. Run away and you will be broken, body and soul. Your human family will be dead too. Despite what your human mother says, who could love a demon like you?"

As an involuntary whimper left Kurama's lips Yomi relaxed his grip. "I do not mean to hurt you Kurama. I'm only here to protect you. Love you. Keep you safe." He kissed Kurama's forehead delicately as if afraid of breaking him. Loosening his hand in Kurama's hair his hand trailed down the humans slight form smiling as he sensed the slow defeated beat of Kurama's heart. No one else saw Kurama like this. Kurama was too cunning to let his troubles show through.

'Shuichi' appeared to always be in the highest of spirits, getting the highest grades and appearing his normal calm self. He knew better though. He knew that Kurama had sacrificed his life to keep his family safe and Yomi knew how to break Kurama. After all, it had already been done. Fear just needed to be reinstated. Kurama was afraid of being alone and would stay with Yomi. That's what the futon was for. Inclination that Yomi would protect the broken fox. On the occasion Yomi would force Kurama to sleep away from him. He in turn would keep awake awaiting the guaranteed appearance of an afraid human Youko. Youko Kurama was forbidden in the Makai unless they were battling, only because Yomi loved a vulnerable pet.

His hand reached the fox's navel before he circled and stood behind the red head. "Get dressed love. We have a lot to do before bed." He breathed into Kurama's ear. The poor human fox just nodded and finished dressing, his cheeks burning red as he felt Yomi stand next to him, sensing everything he was doing with his hearing. What had he done? Why was this happening to him? Why did everyone hate him so much? Why did Yomi love him so much?

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Please can I have reviews? I wanted to do a YomixKurama fic but I'm not sure who I should have rescue Kurama…if anyone should rescue him at all…maybe I should leave him to waste away in Yomi's claws. My reviewers are the only ones who can decide Kurama's fate! Flames accepted if they're not too mean! Reviewers loved at all times!