Ch. 4- The Amata Residence
After a while Kurama stood up and helped Arwen to her feet. Then he picked up the wrapped sword and the two bags.
"Let's get going." he said bluntly.
"Where?" she asked confused.
"To the Amata residence, of course." he replied. Without questioning him, she led him to the opening to the Human World.
This took about a week. All during it, Arwen notice Kurama was acting a little strange. When they finally reach the portal she confronted him.
"It's been so long." said Kurama looking at the portal.
"Master Kurama, what are you not telling me?" she asked.
"I think we're being followed." he replied in a whisper. Then he walked through it. She rushed after him. When they reached the other side, he pulled her into the bushes. They hid there for a moment. Then out walked someone. It was Kuronue! Kurama stood up pissed.
"Kuronue!" he yelled. He turned to Kurama a little shocked.
"Kurama, where's Arwen?" he asked. She popped up. "Geez, you two couldn't wait to get to a room!"
Arwen crossed he arms. Kuronue grinned.
"I told you to go back!" said Kurama going to him.
"I know," he said lowering his voice so only Kurama could hear. "but you need you know that Yomi is planning something, and I need to know what you're doing."
"We'll talk in private." he whispered back to Kuronue. "Remember the way here, and tell Senju only." Kuronue nodded.
"Arwen, lead the way." Kurama said. She gave Kuronue one more mean look before walking on. She led them to a small path through the hilly wilderness. Kurama found this land to be oddly beautiful. And soon they came to a little rock house. Next to it was a raggedy, old barn that seem to stand out of sheer will. Arwen knock on the door of the house. Ceala opened it slowly, then as she saw it was Arwen it jerked open and she flung into her arms.
"Arwen!" she squealed with excitement. Regina rush over pulling Ceala away.
"Leave, Arwen! Now!" she shouted.
"That's no way to treat your family!" snapped Kuronue behind Arwen.
"Why did you bring them here?! Do you mean to make thing so difficult?!" Regina raved.
"No!" yelled Arwen. "Just please, listen to me!" Arwen begged. Regina looked in Arwen's eyes, then scanned Kurama and Kuronue carefully.
"Fine!" she snapped. "Come in, Arwen."
She walked in with Regina. Kurama was nodding happily to Kuronue then turned to walk in. Slam! The door hit him in the face. Arwen yanked the door open to see Kurama covering his mouth and nose.
"Oh, are you okay?!" she said quickly with worry. 'Wait a minute! Where did that come from?!' she thought. Regina couldn't believe Arwen was so worried about this thief! "Come on."
"I don't want him in here!" said Regina. Arwen looked at her, then at Kurama. He handed her the bags and sword.
"I'm sorry." she said softly.
"We'll just be waiting out here." he said painfully. She carefully shut the door.
Kuronue laughed.
"That was a good one, Kurama!" he said. "Making her think you were hurt. See how she ran to you without hesitation! She's falling for you!"
"Really?!" he asked with pride. "Ow!" he piped. "Seriously, Kuronue that did hurt!" He covered his nose and mouth again.
After she shut the door a bag slipped from her hand. When it hit the floor it busted open, spilling out gold coins.
"Look, Regina, Arwen brought us money!" said Ceala excitedly. "Just like she promised!"
Regina gave Arwen a stern look. It had been at least a month since they last saw each other. It was now late October.
"The leaves sure are beautiful." she said trying to break the tension. "I've always like this time of year."
"Arwen, where did this come from?" Regina asked. Arwen looked ashamed. Then she handed Regina the other bag and the sword with the red jewel.
"Our grandparents' tomb." she replied.
"You stole from our dead grandparents'?!" Regina yelled "What's wrong with you Arwen?!"
"Look, I didn't know until it was too late, but the jewel on the sword is magical like yours, and so is this one." she said showing them her sword.
"So the legend?" asked Regina.
"I don't know if it's true, but you know as well as I that in the wrong hands these are lethal weapons." said Arwen. Now Regina looked proud. She hugged Arwen tightly.
"I'm sorry!" she cried. "Father would be proud of you!" Ceala joined the hugged. "You'll always have a place here, Arwen!"
"Thank you." said Arwen as they let go of each other. "I must go now."
She hugged Ceala, then Regina.
"When will you be back?" Ceala asked turning to the door.
"As soon as I can." Arwen replied opening the door as she looked at Ceala. Then Ceala ran out the door to Kurama and Kuronue. They seem to be just looking at the leaves, but Kuronue noticed Ceala coming up. She went to Kurama and tugged on his clothes. He looked down at her.
"Kurama, sir? When can Arwen come back?" she asked sweetly. "Can you let her stay for Christmas? Please? She always makes the best cookies and pick out the most perfect tree. Please let her stay. Just for Christmas."
Arwen came up to Ceala and put her hands on the girl's shoulders. Regina slowly slinked up. Kuronue looked at her cutely, then looked away with a smile.
"Ceala." sighed Arwen. Kuronue then looked at Kurama with an oh-let-her-stay look. Kurama looked from Kuronue to Ceala to Arwen to Regina then to the trees again.
"I think I'd like to stay for a while anyway." he stated. "I've never seen such a thing as these leaves."
"Yay!" Ceala squealed hugging Arwen. She smiled brightly at Kurama. When he noticed the way Arwen was looking at him, he couldn't help but smile too. He'd never seen her so happy.
"Thank you." she whispered. Then she led Ceala in. Regina stood there for a while with an intimidating look.
"Few rules boy!" she snapped. "You eat last. No pepping in windows. No coming in unless in the rare case you are invited."
"Anything else, Miss Regina?" Kuronue asked politely.
"Yes." she replied coldly. "One last thing. You will sleep in the barn." She turned and whispered, "With the rest of the animals." and she walked in.
The weeks went on, and Kurama and Kuronue abided to the rules Regina set, but on one mid November night Arwen invited them in. The two sat at the dinner table sipping some warm tea as Arwen began to wash the dishes. Ceala ran in with Regina chasing after her. She hugged Arwen.
"Goodnight!" she said excitedly. Regina looked at the two at the table.
"Oh! Arwen did you have to bring them in?!" she whined. Arwen turned to her.
"They needed more blankets and their dinner so I saw no harm." she replied. Regina sighed. Kuronue watched Ceala bounce over to the table to hug him. He hugged her back. He and Kurama exchanged a glance.
"Goodnight, Kuronue and Kurama." she said.
"Goodnight, little Ceala." replied Kuronue. Then he whispered something in her ear. Kurama had just stood up and was about to take the blankets from the table when he felt arm rap around his waist. He looked at Kuronue, who sat there smiling. Then he looked down at Ceala.
"Goodnight." he said touching her head gently. "Now you should get to bed."
"Kay!" she said cutely running upstairs. Regina followed quickly after one tired look and sigh. Yet at the steps she looked once more to Kuronue. He was looking at her so sweetly. She liked the way he looked at her.
Kurama at the time was picking up the blankets, then he made his way outside. The wind was howling and the moon was dimmed by cloud as he went to the barn.
Kuronue stayed a while. Arwen had an amused look on her face.
"What?" he said as he helped her dry the dishes.
"Nothing." she replied not even looking at him, but she still had the look on her face.
"What?!" he said again. She giggled.
"Ceala has a serious crush on both you and Kurama." she replied.
"I know." he said. "She's a cute little girl, and will someday become a fine woman, but I love someone else already."
"Who?!" said Arwen excitedly.
"I can't tell you!" he said. "It's bad luck to tell another person who you love if you're not in a relationship yet! But I know who Kurama loves! He didn't even tell me! I guessed!"
"You seriously don't mean me, do you?!" she snapped.
"My lips are sealed." he replied. "That's for me to know and for you," he gently tapped her on the nose, "to find out."
Then he walked out. She heard the front door open and shut, but Kuronue didn't leave. He slipped upstairs. Regina had just walked into her room. He followed her in closing and locking the door behind them. She jumped when she turned and saw him, but she didn't say a thing. He went to her with a passionate kiss. Her arms went around his neck as he kissed her lips, cheek, and neck. She returned the kisses. He pushed her gently to the bed. The thunder rumbled loudly as he laid her down.
Arwen went to her bedroom on the first floor after putting the dishes away and locking the door. She looked out the window at the old barn which shook from the wind. 'I hope they'll be okay.' she thought.
Soon the rain came down heavily. Lightning flashed and the thunder banged. It woke Arwen. The horses were whinnying hysterically. She went to the window. Part of the barn collapsed. The horses ran from it. 'One, two, three, four, but where's Kurama and Kuronue?!' she thought. A loud knock came at the front door. She lit a lantern and ran to it. When she opened it she saw Kurama standing there drenched with some scraps.
"Kurama, where's Kuronue?!" she asked.
"He never came out." he replied as he held his side.
She pulled him in, as she asked, "Are you okay?"
"Just a little hurt." he said.
"Let me run up to the addict. I think I was some of my father's old clothes are still up there and they might fit you." she said. Then she ran up and grabbed some clothes from a crate. As she hurried pasted the rooms on the second floor she paused. She went to Regina's door and peeked in the key hole. She could see moving figures on the bed and heard quiet moans. 'Thought so!' she thought. Then she ran down to Kurama, who was in the kitchen.
"Here, change into these." she said to Kurama handing him the clothes.
"In front of you? Arwen I find that highly inappropriate." he joked. She gave him a sour look and left the room. She laid out some blankets on the floor by a fire place. Then she was about to leave as Kurama came in. 'Wow! He looks handsome!' she thought when she saw him in those clothes.
"I squeezed out my clothes in the sink. " he said. Then he handed them to her. She set them on two chairs by the fire. Ha-chew! She heard. Kurama rubbed his nose with his finger. Arwen sighed and fetched two handkerchiefs. She came back just as he sneezed again. She handed him one for his nose and began to dab his scratches with the other. They sat by the fire for a while like this, but Arwen eventually went to bed. After a while, she was joined by Kurama. He almost startled her right out of bed when his arms wrapped around her.
"I'm so cold." he whispered. His hair was still so damp. Even though this was completely out of her comfort zone, she let him hold her close. He was cold to the touch and shivering. That did worry her.
"I know where Kuronue is." she said after a little while trying to take her mind off how torn she felt about this embrace. He was silent, but she knew he was still awake. "He's with Regina."
"That jerk!" said Kurama. "He leaves me out there all by myself for that mean Regina." He seemed to be only half joking.
Next day, Arwen was up early making breakfast. Kuronue quietly slipped down the stairs and opened the front door, then closed it.
"Good morning, Arwen!" he called. "I came to get breakfast for me and Kurama!"
He entered the kitchen. She stood over the stove looking down at the food. Her back was to him.
"Oh, well I'm almost done." she said. "Go on and have a seat."
She turned and looked at his happy, yet slightly tired face.
"Looks like you had a rough night." she said turning back to the breakfast. "So that old barn held up, huh?"
"Oh, yeah!" he replied.
"Really?" she said. He began to think she knew. "Gee, it must have been awfully scary out there in that storm last night."
"Well, it was." he said getting nervous. "But Kurama and I don't scare easy."
"So did you leave after you had sex with Regina?!" she snapped turning to face him. He froze in his seat. 'Uh-oh!' he thought. "Because if you had you would have seen the barn half standing!"
Kuronue stood up.
"Where's Kurama?!" he said urgently.
"Arwen?" came Kurama's voice, but it sounded congested. He stumbled in. His hair was a frizzy mess. He looked flushed, but red at the nose. He had some bruises and scrapes all over his body. "Can I have more tea?"
Even though he had a blanket around him, he was clearly shivering uncontrollably
"Yes, but go back to bed or you'll only get worse." she said sweetly. "I'll bring you some soup too."
"Are you okay, Kurama?" Kuronue asked after Kurama sneezed. Kurama had his mouth and nose covered by a handkerchief, but shot Kuronue a mean look and went back to Arwen's room muttering something fowl. Kuronue looked at Arwen. "Will he be okay?"
"Yes!" she snapped rudely. "But you've got a lot of butt kissing to do! And I don't mean Regina's!"
Arwen took the kettle off the stove and put it on a tray. Then she put a steaming hot bowl of soup on. She picked it up and took it to her room.
Regina came down.
"What are you doing in the house still?" she whispered. "I thought you were getting breakfast, then going to talk to Kurama."
"What bad news do you want first?" he said. She looked at him oddly.
"Bad news?!" she said softly. "You mean Arwen knows?!"
He nodded and said, "And the barn is half standing and Kurama is sick and injured."
"Oh, no!" she said panicking. "This is bad! This is really bad!"
She put her head in her hands. At that moment Kuronue embraced her in a warm hug.
Author's Note: I'm finally done with this chapter! And P.S.- ch. 5 keep the tissues at hand. Someone dies!