Author's Note: Hi all! I am so sorry for the long ass delay, I am going to say a LOT has happened. If you don't read my other stories then this announcement is for you. On July 1, 2017 (funny enough Canada day and like 6 days before my birthday RIIIPPPPP) my father passed away losing his battle with cancer. We buried him three days later on a hill with a view and tree. his sisters bought his headstone and it was actually kind of a cathardic affair. I also started a new job in June as a Legal Admin (personal injury WOOO) and I started burlesque again more full time as well as picking up swordfighting in February. (I do rapier, longsword, side sword, double sword, polearm, and archery. I am hoping to start horseback archery and swordfighting and I will be taking an instructor intensive in August) another fun thing I was diagnosed with a severe anxiety disorder, OCD, PTSD, and I am currently being tested for ADHD (man am I one lucky non-binary pal!) So things have been hectic, luckily I have good insurance, an amazing GP, and socialzed medicine so I am being taken care of and I am medicated (and proud omg I think it has saved my life) I am back now and stabilizing my writing schedule and I have so many ideas! I also just finished another burlesque show and I am TIRED, but that means no rapier today so I shall write!
I hope you enjoy this chapter, it is SUPER heavy and has a LOT of triggers so please pay attention, I have marked each passage with warnings, if you'd like to skip just look for the *** if I forgot any triggers please let me know and I will immediately add them, no questions asked. You can privately message me and I will NOT make your messages public ever, this is a safe space and I love you all.
There is also a nice bonus chapter at the end for all of your support, patience, and to help ease you out of this heavy chapter. Also, happy anniversary like a month ago, it's been two years and I haven't abandoned the story at all.
Look at me committing to things for once. I am hoping to have the next chapter up within the next week.
Enjoy~
~Start Chapter 11~
I awoke to a splitting headache and Botan grinning cheekily from where she was perched on the edge of the bed. Her hair was in it's usual ponytail, as she wore an orange romper over a brown blouse. The shorts sort of 'pumpkined' out, and she wore black thigh highs with black knee height boots. Where she managed to pack all her outfits I'd never know.
"Go away..." I mumbled into the pillow as I shifted onto my stomach, my face pressed into the plush fabric. It was much too bright, and I was still attempting to piece together last night.
"Oh no no no...you don't get to disappear to Kurama's room and NOT give me a play by play!" Botan had her cat grin on her face again as she leaned over, arm reaching out and stopping the covers I was about to disappear under.
"Nothing happened, literally nothing. I went to bed...wait...I'm in Kurama's bed?" I bolted upright, my eyes wide and hair disheveled and matted. I was in Kurama's bed?
I took in a deep breath and paled as his familiar scent wafted around me like a fog. With a groan I closed my eyes, pressing the heels of my hands against the sockets, as I thought back hard.
'If I have to tie you up and put you in my bed, I will.'
'Having second thoughts about going to bed?'
'Goodnight Ana.'
Oh. Dear. God.
"Noo..." I moaned as I fell back onto the bed haphazardly, my rumpled clothing inched up on my stomach from how I had twisted myself. "Oh god please don't tell me he caught me twerking."
"Oh he did," Botan laughed as she pounced off the bed and grabbed a glass of water from the side table next to me. "Here, the boys have already gone to watch the other matches, but Kurama said to give you this when you woke up to help with the hangover."
I took the glass and noticed my 'water' had a slight blue tint to it.
"What is it?" I crinkled my nose as I took a whiff.
"I don't know, he wouldn't say. He just said to make sure you drank it all so the headache would go away." Botan shrugged as she pushed the glass towards me, causing my arm to bend so the glass could be pressed against my chest.
"What if it tastes bad?" I whined.
"So? It probably will, come on I know you aren't a kid, not really, so woman up!" With a small huff Botan gestured for me to drink before moving towards the door. "I brought you some clothes as well, they are in the bathroom. Hurry up now!"
With that she bounced away leaving me with my pounding head and blue tinted 'water'.
~Break~
My eye twitched as I stared at the rather short dress I most certainly hadn't packed, from the place it was perched atop a crisp white towel on the toilet.
What the hell?! I picked it up and noticed the soft blues and greens that patterned the light sundress. It had spaghetti straps that criss-crossed along the back, with spurts of white flowers falling through the cool colours. It barely reached mid thigh and showcased a LOT of cleavage.
It was also a dress I DID NOT own. It must have been one of Botan's. I really need to become pickier when it came to best friends.
With a sigh I quickly showered, my headache long gone after I had managed to swallow that foul liquid. After stepping into the dress and pulling it up, I played with the hem hoping to cover more of my pale thighs, but every time I pulled it down ever so slightly, my cleavage would increase. Great. So potential butt shots, or showing everyone the girls?
Potential butt shots, most definitely.
Don't get me wrong, it was a beautiful dress. I have worn a lot less before, but I was a lot older, in a body made for dresses like this, in a place that was safer and more common to wear such clothing.
The middle of a demon tournament where I have already almost died a handful of times is NOT the best place for a short summer dress. It was also winter for crying out loud!
Quickly, I brushed my hair and tied it up, not wanting to deal with the wet locks today, and stepped out of the steam filled room. I turned to notice Botan smiling at me, holding out a soft grey jacket, and green ankle boots.
"Where are you getting all of this?" I inquired, eyes wide as I pulled the jacket from her fingers.
"A girl's got to be prepared!" Botan laughed as I slipped the shoes on.
"Prepared isn't quite the word I'd have used."
~Break~
"Stop fidgeting, you look nice!" Botan swatted at the hand that was fingering the hem to my dress once again.
"I can't help it, I feel like everyone is staring intently at the fact it's so short!" I hissed staring around at the beedy hungry eyes of various demons.
"To be fair, they were staring at you anyways. The dress didn't change much." Botan shrugged as we wandered around the hotel debating lunch.
"Ok, fine, accurate, demons do kind of eat humans...but still! Why am I wearing one of YOUR dresses?"
"Because your clothing was all boring and practical. How can you finally land Kurama in bed, for real this time, if you keep wearing jeans and leggings?" Botan scoffed as she pulled me towards the bar with an eye roll.
"What is it with you and Erika? I don't WANT to land him in bed-"
"I'm not stupid Ana, while Erika probably hasn't precisely picked up on it, I can assure you I have. I just want to help, if it's too much I'm sorry." Botan's eyes had landed on me as she stopped me to speak. Her tone was sad, while her words were kind. I heaved a heavy sigh and shrugged.
"Look, there isn't a reason to think about it Botan...I have to go home to my world at some point anyways, we both know this." With a pointed look I took a seat at the bar as my face twisted into a glare.
"What now?" Botan sighed as she took a seat beside me.
"Really? More drinking?" I laughed as Botan gave an innocent whistle as she pulled the drink menu from where someone had abandoned it to her right.
~Break~
I had declined having an alcoholic drink, while Botan had one Long Island Iced Tea. We had only really sat at the bar due to the fact most of the tables had been taken. I had debated the thought of food for only a moment as my stomach rolled in rebellion.
I sipped languidly at my ginger ale as I looked around the room curiously. It was the first time I had been honestly able to just sit and take in the demons around me. It was strange, I had grown up in this world, yet I was still endlessly curious and surprised at what I saw. Sometimes it honestly felt like a dream, like I was just weaving in and out of a light sleep. I knew of course, it wasn't rational, but I still didn't quite take this as my life. My life was back home, pieces of memories puzzled together and all.
It was absurd, but it was true. It was only starting to sink in and I had to wonder if the fact I was effectively dying had anything to do with it; or was it meeting Erika? Swirling my drink around with a straw, I took a moment to really appreciate Botan as my friend, and not just some character on tv.
"Whatever you're thinking about, it must be serious." She joked with a wide grin.
"Nah, just musing." I responded as I pushed my now finished drink away.
"Ready to meet up with everyone else?" Botan asked, placing a few bills onto the surface of the bar.
"No time like the present." I sighed as I dragged myself after Botan.
We left the lounge, and entered into the lobby of the hotel where the bulk of the demons had dispersed to watch the current match.
"There you guys are!" Erika shouted, bounding towards us, staff in hand.
"Just getting up, last night kind of kicked my ass." I laughed, awkwardly scratching the back of my head.
"Hey Erika, where are the others?" Botan asked.
"I don't really know to be honest. I think Keiko is still in the hotel room...that or she went with Shizuru..." Erika trailed off.
"And...where did Shizuru go?" I asked, my hands pantomiming moving forward.
"That, I do not know. So I hope Keiko is indeed in the hotel room, otherwise I have no idea where anyone is. Other than you two of course." Erika nodded to herself as she turned to wander towards the elevators.
"Think the guys are at the match?" I asked with a sideways glance.
"Most likely, why?" Botan asked as I made a mad dash for the elevators. "Oh."
~Break~
"You can't hide in our hotel room for the rest of the tournament." Botan deadpanned as she stared hard at Erika and I.
Oh course, it didn't help that the aforementioned girl was enabling my avoidance.
"I don't know...it is booked until the end of the tournament." Was Erika's lackadaisical response.
"Tha- I did- UGH! So not the point," Botan huffed as she checked her watch, "Fine, you guys stay and brood. I have an actual job to do." Botan grumbled, grabbing her coat as she left.
"Think she's actually upset?" Erika asked
"Nah, I just think she didn't want to go." I shrugged as I munched on a few crackers.
"Well, without the boy's fighting, there isn't much else to do beyond work." Erika mused as she played with a pencil between her top lip and nose. Her comment caught me though, aside from Botan no one here was really 'working'.
"Hey, do you have a job?" I asked Erika.
"Hmm? No, not really. Well, yes kind of. I mean protecting you is essentially a job, so is being a Mage I guess...if you mean a muggle job, then no, that was always more your schtick."
"Muggle?" I asked, eyebrows knitting together trying to figure out the foreign word sitting on the tip of my tongue. "Harry Potter right?"
"Do they not have Harry Potter here?" Erika asked. I gave her a blank look shaking my head and she gasped. "Oh my god you don't! Oh you poor thing!"
"Erika, it's fine, calm down." I squeaked from how hard she was hugging me.
"I promise you I'll get your memory back and you'll remember how wonderful it is to be a Potterhead!" She shouted exuberantly, her arm stretched upwards in a fist
"Oh good lord." I hung my head with a sight and wondered just what I had gotten myself into.
"Wonder if you have a movie similar..." Erika mumbled to herself as she flicked through pay per view
~Break~
They didn't have a movie similar, although they had a TV show from BBC Canada called 'The Worst Witch'. It had been a few hours, and Erika had fallen asleep midway through the third episode we had started. I wasn't surprised, but it hardly allowed for much entertainment.
"I could always go for a walk..." I mused to myself as I left the room, careful to close the door quietly behind me as I shrugged on my coat.
Strolling down the halls I felt unsettled and couldn't pinpoint why. I had been walking around this hotel for days now, it shouldn't have me so unhinged to walk around midday.
But it did. My skin prickled and I darted my eyes over my shoulder, craning my neck painfully as I twisted my head back around to look in front of me. I was just being paranoid.
I reached the elevator and pressed the button, feeling as if I were being watched. My eyes peered from the corners as I strained to catch even the tiniest shadow.
But nothing was there, and I stepped into the elevator without issue, my back tingling all the same.
I was scared.
Maybe I should have stayed in my room.
~Break~
As I passed through the hotel entrance without issue, I felt rather silly getting so riled up over nothing.
Shaking off the prickly feeling, I moved towards the shoreline enjoying the breeze. Settling on a rock I pulled out my sketchbook and popped in my earbuds, moving to start drawing the scenery.
Following this shoreline with my pencil, I took in the honest beauty of a place shrouded in violence. The details weren't this vivid in the anime, or maybe I just hadn't been paying attention.
I was never good at that, being observant, it was one of my many faults on the never ending list that was me. As melodramatic as that thought was, it did also make me wonder if I shared the same faults in my previous life.
I hope not, I was supposed to be becoming a doctor.
The sun had already passed well beyond midday when I realized with charcoal coated fingers I had been gone for a few hours. Turning to look back at the hotel I saw the lights on through most windows and swallowed thick in my throat.
Maybe more than a few hours.
Quickening my pace, I pulled myself up the steps leading back towards the hotel feeling my skin start to crawl.
Swatting a fly that got too close, I pulled my arms around myself, looking around briefly, before bolting with a small boost of speed towards the top of the steps.
Once I was safely atop the last step I looked around realizing how bright it still was outside.
I let out the breath I was holding and turned to look down the still lit steps with a small laugh. How silly, to have been scared. I was fine, it wasn't even sunset yet. Turning back around I barely made out the figures at the corners of my eye.
A chuckle was still light on my breath as a cloth pressed to my mouth as the edges in my vision started to blur. Twisting my upper body, a small laugh chilled my ear as I felt something wet press against my cheek.
My last thought was embarrassingly about how cliche it was, and how mad I was at Botan for putting me in this dress.
***Extreme Trigger Warning: Kidnapping, Torture, Shaming, Humiliation, Abuse, Mention of Child Abuse/Death, Extreme Gore, Explicit Descriptions, Language, Mutilation***
~Break~
I couldn't remember what it was like to die the first time to be honest, they had ripped that memory from me just as they had ripped me from my body.
But I imagined it was probably just as scary, with a dash of dread.
I couldn't really breath at first, no...that's not an accurate description.
I couldn't really FEEL myself breathing when I started to wake up. I was in this space between wakefulness and unconsciousness. Everything was is pastels and I wondered if I could eat my cotton tongue.
I'm also very flowery after ether, apparently.
The pounding started soon afterwards, and I could feel the insides of my eyes like sandpaper. I couldn't help the groan that escaped as my eyes peeled back and my blurry eyes blinked in desperation.
'Please, oh god please don't be him...'
My eyes cleared and I noticed how dark the room I was in was. Craning my neck to look around I felt something sharp dig in and let out a yelp.
"Tut tut, precious..." A familiar voice crooned as I felt chills rip down my spine.
I tried to twist my body away from the direction of his voice, but felt my arms bound behind my body, my legs hogtied. as I laid on my side.
"I can honestly say, I did not expect you..." I rasped out, my voice only a sparse laugh.
"Oh? You expected someone else to have kidnapped you? I must admit, I am a touch...insulted." Karasu purred out as his face came into view.
His breath puffed against my cheeks and I attempted to recoil, my neck pressing against something sharp and I let out a small strangled cry as my body slackened.
I needed to focus, take in my surroundings...my eyes moved around in a panic, my neck stinging as I moved my head too far to the right to catch a glimpse of a plant near the curtained window.
"Careful, you've got a nasty little dog collar on. I wouldn't say it would have been my first choice, but it'll do its job nicely." He laughed, his tongue darting out to follow the beads of blood starting to drip down my neck.
"Fuck you." I spat, my face twisting ugly.
"I'm sad to say this is only going to be a game of torture, you're not what I'm into." He laughed, his lips ghosting up the column of my neck, towards my chin.
"If you're not into me, why are you trying to get freaky." My attempt at brave owing off pathetic as my voice quivered. \
"Oh my dear, I may not want to 'fuck you' as you put it, but that doesn't mean I don't still want to make you scream." Karasu's tongue darted out for a moment into the dimple in my chin, before he retreated away, his fingers trailing along my bare arm.
Somehow, I don't think I lucked out in not being his type.
"I was told you spaced out often." Karasu cut in, his hand slamming against the bed beside my face.
"Well, what can I say, I aim to live up to expectations." I breathed, unable to get rid of the shake.
"Funny, I wonder if you'll live up to other expectations too..." Karasu laughed, his breath against my arm now, his fingers tracing.
"What o-other expectations." I swallowed, trying to keep my eyes on him, and failing. The sting of the dog collar forcing my gaze forward to stare at the awful green and yellow wallpaper every room in this hotel had.
"That you last a lot longer, and can take a lot more damage." Karasu explained, his fingers pressing painfully now. "It took almost a week to kill you through torture, you were almost the longest lasting victim he had."
I bit my tongue to avoid the yelp that tried to escape as his fingers started to press deeper, digging in.
"W-who had?"
"Ziak." Karasu's breath hit the back on my knee and I cried.
"Now now, Karasu, don't get too carried away." I heard his voice slither into the room and I bit on a sob.
"I didn't think you'd mind, she woke up early, as I expected. She's tied to a demon after all, you really must stop underestimating that." Karasu laughed.
"Yes, and if you'd remember I told you I'd need to place a block in order to stop that annoying fox from figuring out we have her, which I can see you've failed to do entirely!" Ziak spat as he moved into my vision.
'That's right, argue with each other, forget about me...' I prayed silently, clutching my eyes shut.
"Look at me you bitch!" He shrieked as he pulled my hair forcing my eyes to open as I screamed. His large hand forced my eyes to stare into his dark brown ones. His lips twisted in a sick grin and I could tell my pain was exciting him. His nails started to dig into my scalp as he pressed his face close to mine, forehead to forehead.
"Do not look away." Ziak ordered as he pressed his other hand against the side of my throat and my temple.
"What are you doing?" I sobbed, his touching curdling my stomach.
"Cutting you off from your beloved fox, and taking away your voice." He laughed as his fingers pressed so hard against me I let out a soundless scream, my vision going black as he held me in place, my eyes unable to close. "That's a good girl, shh..."
I was sobbing now, tears streaking down my face as my head founded. I felt suddenly empty and wanted to vomit.
"Careful now..." Ziak soothed, his hand pressing against my hair almost fondly, "Just accept it, that's a good girl..."
But I couldn't, the pain seared through me and the emptiness caused my mind to spin. I was going to die here, alone and surrounded by nothing but pain and fear.
The burning in my throat intensified and I felt Karasu smile against my ankle, his fingers trailing up towards the skirt of my dress, and then following the line of my body to my bleeding neck.
"Such a beautiful thing once all hope has left you..." He soothed, his lips ghosting my cheek, "God your fear tastes exquisite." He laughed as I felt something sharp dig into my hip with a flash of white hot pain.
I screamed soundlessly again, and this time vomited all over myself and the bed.
Ziak sprung back, his hand leaving my head causing me to whimper as I choked on bile and bits of food.
"I'll mark every part of you, just to make sure Kurama knows..." Karasu laughed as I felt him drag the searing pain downwards and I wretched again, my head growing dizzy, the smell making me even more ill.
"Stop it!" Ziak screeched and I felt the pain in my thigh stop, "She is going to choke before either of us get a chance at any fun!" I heard a thud, which I could only assume was Ziak removing Karasu from me entirely.
I was suddenly thrown to my stomach, butt stuck in the air as Ziak smashed his hand against my back, my chest thudding heavily against the mattress. I coughed and felt my chest seize as my ribs creaked painfully.
"Oh dear, I may have broken a rib." Ziak laughed as he kept pounding as I kept coughing, suddenly I felt something give and the pain blinded my vision and I arched, mouth stretched wide and bleeding from the force. "Oops.
"Oh, you can hurt her but I can't?" Karasu spat as I felt him move to stand at my side as I wheezed.
"Well, now it hardly matters does it? I was TRYING to avoid her vomiting all over herself so we could enjoy ourselves longer...now, she's just going to stink up the place covered in her own filth." Ziak spat.
"Take off her vomit covered dress then, who cares." Karasu groused out as I felt him start to unzip the back of my dress.
I sobbed out, begging him to stop, as I thrashed about the bed, twisting each and every way.
I was startled from my movements as a sharp sting hit my ass and I realized Karasu had slapped it with such force I had jutted up the bed and smashed my head against the headboard.
My cheek stung from where I had bit it, and my world swam.
"Oops." Karasu laughed as he slowly removed my soiled dress, his wet claws trailing against my hip bones as he went. It was in that moment I realized what had stabbed me. I lay unmoving, trying to gather my bearings as the cool hotel air caused my skin to goose-bump.
"Such a pretty little thing, your other body was so...mature, I always liked children best [1]." Ziak laughed as he gazed down at my mostly bare body. I sobbed again and he laughed.
"She is a bit too feminine for my liking." Karasu sighed, as I felt his gaze appreciating me as well.
"You want Kurama, and she is too feminine for you. I will never understand demons." Ziak sighed out exhaustively. He continued to trail his fingers down the flesh of my back and I shuddered. It wasn't sexual, it was almost...appraising.
Somehow that was worse.
"Flip her over, I want her to watch as I mar her." Karasu spoke, his fingers grasp my side none too gently, and flipped me.
I let out a wheezing breath as they both laughed. I tried to suck in oxygen as every intake burned. Oh how I hope I didn't puncture a lung.
I stared up at the excited faces of both Karasu and Ziak. Karasu was at my side, still touching me, hand hovering over my belly. Ziak was near my feet, eyes greedily following the length of my body with glee.
A thought came to me, much like a warning, and I knew he was tracing out the places he would bleed me. A whimper was swallowed by my silence and I looked up into Karasu's eyes as he tilted my face towards him. I ignored the sting of the collar as he pressed my neck into my, my back arching painfully against my broken rib.
"I can't wait to see the look in his eyes when he sees you right before our match..." He cooed into my ear, his claws flowing down my abdomen, leaving goosebumps. I knew only pain would follow, and my nerves pinched in apprehension.
I was beginning to see why people begged for death. I wonder if I begged for death.
My thought was interrupted as he pulled the collar forcing me to watch as he slit me from collar to belly. Five lines of red bled down the length of my body, and I almost vomited, but was saved by my empty stomach as I saw the tattered remains of my belly button.
He hadn't ripped into my abdominal cavity, but I could see divots of muscle twitching in agony.
I stand corrected, I could vomit again, and did.
They were both laughing at my now as I painfully pulled against the collar to vomit on the bed next to me. I felt it in my hair, the smell strong of bile. There wasn't much left, but what there was reeked.
"I love how your muscles twitch, I did always prefer the athletic ones." Karasu licked his lips and I realized in a dull haze of pain, that he wasn't wearing his mask.
I cried again, my chest seizing and I felt like ice. I had started sweating at the first dose of pain, and since then it hadn't stopped. He pulled my legs apart, his grin malicious and evil. He started to move, slicing my inner thighs, before moving to my pubic bone. He pulled at my underwear and I sobbed again, thrashing about.
I felt a crack and Ziak had pulled my ankle and twisted it. I assumed the crack meant he had broken it, but I was given almost no chance to dwell as the pain clouded everything, and I felt a stab from my pubic bone, up towards my belly button. Karasu had removed my underwear and had ensured no part of me escaped damage.
I felt shame and fear all rolled into one. It wasn't sexual, not at all, but they had removed my clothing with force all the same, leaving me vulnerable and bare to their twisted games.
"She certainly is beautiful when she's in pain." Karasu admitted as he moved to admire his own work.
"Even more so nude. I can look upon my full canvas now, and I've come to some decisions." Ziak grinned and moved to caress my face and hair again, almost soothingly as I sobbed.
He started to press his nose against my neck, breathing in deeply with a moan.
"Oh you must come smell, I swear I can smell the same perfume she released the first time. Her fear is the most beautiful scent I had ever encountered. They warned me about flowering changelings, she was not a let down in that regard." He sniffed again, digging his fingers into one of the open wounds on my stomach and I arched, my mouth open in a soundless scream. "She is so strong, even in this body her power persists."
His fingers dug into the wound and twisted around, pushing underneath the skin to the left. He opened the wound deeper as my muscles twisted on fire. It felt as if he were carving he out with a spoon. He pulled back with another grin and showed me a hunk of flesh balled between his fingers.
"Just perfect..." He laughed as he pressed the bloodied flesh to my cheek so hard I winced. Pulling back, it stuck, still warm and wet.
I could feel my tears mixing with the blood causing it to slide towards my chin.
How much more until it ends?
~Break~
***End of Extreme Trigger Warning***
Erika had awoken when everyone arrived in a series of giggles and hoots. The sun had already started to set and she had a pounding headache from oversleeping.
Which was odd, because she was a raging insomniac and the last time she had napped during the day, much less slept this long, she had been five.
"Shit..." She spoke to herself in a small panic, where was Maria?
"Come on Erika, we're going to crash the boys room and celebrate their wins and start trying to relax. It looks like it's going to rain, which means a few days off to rest for them!" Shizuru grinned as she slung an arm around the only other living adult in the room.
"Yeah, what a stroke of luck. I was worried about Yusuke fighting another match so early..." Keiko whispered.
"Yeah, yeah rest is good," Erika spoke in a daze. She surveyed the room for a moment, counting the figures and frowning. "Where is Ana?"
"I don't know," Keiko shrugged, "I thought she was with you, maybe she went for a walk?"
"Or avoiding Kurama." Botan snickered as she pranced towards the minibar with a cat-like grin.
"Either way, when you find her we'll be in the boys room!" Keiko explained as she was whisked away from her conversation with Erika by an excited Botan.
"Bye!" Botan exclaimed as the door was shut with a tight click.
"Strange..." Erika mused as she turned to look at the ordinary room. "Very strange..."
She picked up her glass and took a deep sniff, nothing. Hmm, moving towards the door next Erika took a sniff and noticed something odd, she couldn't smell anything.
Which was a common side effect of some sleep powders. They must have dosed her on her way in.
'Shit...' Erika swore as she rushed out the door, eyes rapidly moving back and forth.
'Who took you Ana?'
***Extreme Trigger Warning: Diet Mention, Child Abuse, Abusive Parent, Abusive Mother, Controlling Food Intake, Fat Shaming Mention, Torture, Psychological Torture, Minor Gore, Minor Descriptions, Kidnapping, Creepy***
~Break~
I wasn't sure if I had passed out or not, but I was drifting somewhere in between.
"Maria, honestly! I buy you nice things, I pay for expensive tutors and private lessons, and this is how you repay me!" My mother shrieked as she tossed my fourth place medal to the ground. Her blond wavy hair swung around as she ranted, illuminating her monstrously.
"I'm sorry mother, I promise I'll work on my aerials!" I begged as tears streaked through my heavy makeup.
"You've been working on them Maria! Enough is enough, your coach is right, you're too heavy to make the flips, we're putting you on a diet!"
I cried harder, my stomach tightening into a pit.
"But daddy sa-"
"Wake up!"
A loud slap startled me from whatever moment I was reliving, and I opened my eyes to stare up into the unimpressed face of Ziak.
"No, now is not the time to retreat into your head." He hissed into my ear.
He was crouched over me now, his hand caressing a new cut along my side. He was petting my hair again, almost crooning into my ear.
"I'm sure this is stirring up all kinds of memories, I'm taking care to cut you exactly the same after all, you should thank me." His grin caused me to shiver.
Becoming more lucid seemed to be all he needed to begin again, this time moving to my neck. He careful began to carve and I screamed again, no sound. I arched, writhed, and tried to pull away as he etched whatever it was into my skin.
"After all, a common side effect of enduring psychological horror is memory loss. Your mind is just trying to make sense of it all, protect you so it doesn't go insane. Now tell me Ana do you remember yet?"
I screamed again.
~Break~
***End of Extreme Trigger Warning***
"Of all the times to forget a tracking spell!" Erika shouted to herself through grit teeth. "Ok, I just need to calm down..."
Erika took several deep breaths before she turned to stare down the hallway with a nervous expression.
"I just need to remember..."
***Extreme Trigger Warning: Torture, Kidnapping, Mention of Murder***
~Break~
"Won't your mom be mad?" Erika asked as she brushed an errant hair from her sweaty forehead.
"What do I care? I quit dancing, nothing she does or says will make me go back." I hissed, positively seething.
"Maria..." Erika started.
"Don't! Don't make excuses for her, she doesn't deserve them!" My back bristled as I stepped back from the searing hot sun to stand beneath an ugly yellow awning.
"Maria...is this about what happened in Arcadia?" Erika inched, attempting to stop from setting me off.
"It's not just...look, I just don't want to, and I don't really give a fuck what either thinks about it anyways." I started to move again, my eyes creased together in thinly veiled anger.
"Maria...if something's wrong, you know you can talk to me right? You've been distant lately since you've met that girl..."
"Just stop it Erika! Just stop ok? So I've been hanging out with Saphi, there's nothing wrong with that, I'm allowed to have other friends!" I spat, my arms rising above my head in anger.
"That's not what I meant, of course you're allowed to have other friends."
"Just forget it, go back to your mage's tower, I need some time alone." I spun on my heel leaving Erika standing there, her eyes filling with tears as she watched me leave.
"Maria..."
I startled as I felt a raking down my inner thigh and I screamed again, startling awake to see Ziak tracing a small scalpel now across my skin. I whimpered as he locked eyes with me, the creases of them inching up in excitement.
"Oh good, you're back.," He patted my hip in a cordial manner, and moved to look into my eyes once again. "I was almost afraid you were going to miss this."
His smile had reached his lips now and I could feel his hand ghosting my hip now, his pale tongue darting out to wet his chapped lips.
"Miss what?" He smiled again at my voiceless question, and I felt the tears start once more.
"What the HELL are you doing?!" I heard Karasu shriek as he came back into view.
"What does it look like, I'm finishing the job, I'm killing that damn fox like I was told to." Ziak had said it so matter-of-fact, as if he were explaining why he had painted someone's fence for them.
"That was not the deal." That was the last thing I heard as I felt the world fade out once more.
~Break~
***End of Extreme Trigger Warning***
I opened my eyes to see I was standing in a bedroom. It must have been my bedroom, I noticed, looking around at the pictures and personalized touches strewn about the room.
I trailed my fingers against the purple mosaic duvet and noticed a copy of Grey's Anatomy sitting near the head of the bed and surmised this must have been my dorm room; you know, from my previous life.
"Hello Maria." A deep voice startled me. I swiveled my head to see an auburn haired girl, no taller than 5'4, standing at my door.
"Who are you?" I asked, in control of my voice this go around. This must not be a memory then.
"No, it's fortunately not. My name is Saphi, and I am here to make sure you don't die." She sighed, her hand resting against her face gently.
"You can read my thoughts?" I gasped, eyes wide at her quick reply to my previous thought.
"I can, when I am in your mind. Look, I didn't spend all that time cultivating you, just so you could die to some half-wit Geist and his idiotic demon sidekick, you have everything you need to get out of this." She crossed her arms, her red hair twisting as it fell over her shoulder and against her chest.
"But...how?" I asked, a shake in my voice
"How did you get out of Arcadia?" Saphi asked with a cat-like-grin, her finger ghosting my bookshelf almost thoughtfully.
"I don't remember!" I panted, tears stinging my eyes.
"Oh, well, you better start." She finished, her eyes narrowing into slits as they glowed an eerie yellow. She turned on her heel to leave and I lashed out.
"But I can't!" I hissed, my hands drawn into tight fists.
"Fine, don't say I've never done anything for you," Saphi hissed, turning to move towards me, her hand coming out and smashing into my forehead. "Remember to break your fall."
***Extreme Trigger Warning: Kidnapping, Solitary Confinement, Sensory Deprivation, Extreme Descriptions, Minor Gore, Creepy, Choking, Attempted Murder, Death. ***
~Break~
I couldn't breathe again, all around me I felt the suffocating dirt from my dreams.
'Please! Anyone!' I begged, my throat raw and my eyes rotted messes. At some point bugs had started to gnaw into my flesh, taking up home as plants took their root.
A nice hyacinth had taken up root in my left ear, pretty sure.
'Please!' I tried once more, the dirt crunching in my mouth where it had been for months since I had first screamed foolishly into the dark.
'We hear you...' I heard a small voice, I almost cried as I clawed around me, praying I could find them.
'We hear you...rise' another spoke and I attempted to twist, reaching for them now.
'Yes...call to us...' the root in my ear whispered as I felt my throat choke again on the dirt stuck within, as I screamed in exertion once more feeling the dirt start to shift.
'Yes...pour your power out..'
My fingers reached, pressed, and wriggled, as I flexed my hands outwards. I grasped every tiny root, leaf, twig, and dead rot I could. I pulled it in, breathed it in, and thrust outwards as the voices echoed closer.
Finally, I felt the roots break the earth and I pulled the dirt backwards, my body moving forward. My fingers sank into the damp ground and sank in. Anchored, I pulled myself upwards and out of the small hole I had dug. Roots had wrapped around my body and dug into my skin pulling me up. Kneeling I coughed and coughed, until I could feel the harsh echo of my underused lungs as the wet clumping dirt hit the ground.
I still couldn't see or hear anything. The dull echo of my heart was all that told me I might have retained any amount of hearing as I pressed my fingers into my ears, digging and pulling the dirt out; my silenced world had soon become a dull echo.
My eyes were still damaged unfortunately, I could feel the dirt move front to back as I peeled my lids to blink.
Moving to a shaky stand, I slowly moved into a lifeless stumble. There had to be water somewhere the ground was damp and I was in a garden; I remembered that much.
'There...' I felt a root move and tripped as it pulled a pail towards me. I felt it slosh against my toes as I fell to my knees grasping it's wooden edges as I dipped a hand in, rubbing at my eyes with earnest.
Once I was done, I was still without sight, but after a quick wash from the bucket, I felt better.
I turned to move, allowing my roots to help guide me from bumping into a tree.
'Do you remember yet?'
"Do you?!" I was jerked awake by someone's shout and found Karasu holding Ziak's hand, where he held an ornate obsidian dagger.
"What I remember is a job I was hired to do that I am trying to finish!" Ziak shouted as he went to wrench his hand free.
"And your deal with me?" Karasu hissed.
"Done, you had your time with her." Ziak locked eyes with Karasu and I tried to make sense of what had just happened.
I need to remember something...anything...what is it Saphi wanted me to see? I couldn't see anything!
Unless...that was the point?
Steeling myself I closed my eyes and just listed to the increasing volume of Karasu and Ziak.
I flinched once or twice as the dagger was knocked from Ziak's hand, clattering against something before hitting the ground with a dull thud.
Nothing was happening and the noise they were making during their scuffle was getting closer.
I need to get out, please!
I jumped, pressing my abused neck against the dog collar once more as I felt something brush up against my thigh.
"Enough!" Ziak shouted as I felt a weight settle around the room, "I'll deal with you once I'm done with her."
He stalked towards me and I finally opened my eyes to find Karasu had been frozen, unable to move. Ziak had done something, like he had to me, to cut him off from controlling his movements.
I panicked as I closed my eyes tight as he reached down to pick up his dropped dagger. It had clattered towards the bedside table, and as he bent down he gave me a leering smile.
I shut my eyes again in a panic as I heard his laughter swath me. The feeling against my thigh forgotten, I pressed myself against the bed, dribbles of blood flowing down my neck ever increasing.
'Please, Erika, Kurama, God, anyone!' I was panicking now as I felt his cool hands press into my collarbone, holding me down. He shushed me softly, bending at the waist to gently trace the spot above my heart, his dagger readying itself.
I braced for the pain and gasping breaths soon to follow as a heavy weight fell atop me accompanied by a small strangled noise.
I panicked and opened my eyes. Laying across me was the unmoving body of Ziak; his dagger was nearest my head, where his hand had fallen. He remained still as I moved to look over him.
Protruding from his back was a straight, very very straight, vine from the spider plant near the window.
Jesus fucking Christ did I do that?!
Panicking once again, I wrenched myself painfully and let out a small whimper, no longer soundless.
"Well well well, I didn't think you'd have it in you," Karasu laughed as he stalked towards me and removed Ziak's dead body. "Pity he was already dead, hopefully he won't be coming back."
"C-can he really come back?" I asked, relieved to have Ziak gone.
Karasu moved slowly, leaning down and moving in close.
"I don't know, you tell me." He smiled.
~Break~
***End of Extreme Trigger Warning***
Erika didn't get far with her fervent thinking, as the door to the boys' room was wrenched open and Botan came rushing out down the hall towards her, eyes wide in panic.
"Kurama, h-he just collapsed! I think he's ok, played it off as previous injuries, b-but he could barely stand! He told me we need to find Ana now." Botan spoke, grabbing Erika's arm and pulling her in close.
"That's what I was afraid of..." Erika mused, moving slowly towards her, hand under her chin in thought.
"Erika, urgency is needed. He says wherever she is, she's injured everywhere! He doesn't know how it happened so fast! O-one moment n-nothing, and then...!" Botan moved her hands around in a panicked flourished.
"Right, sorry, urgent matter, got it." Erika rushed out as she turned 180, then turned back back around. "Err...Botan? I can't get my mage on if you're holding my arm..."
Botan never got a chance to let go, as they felt a looming presence coming from the elevator.
"I sense murderous intent..." Botan whispered, gripping Erika tighter.
"Really, I just feel your fingers digging in..." Erika whined, trying to timidly pull her arm away.
Karasu walked down the hallway holding a bundle of hotel blankets. His usual mask was firmly in place, although his smile was unmistakable, while his clothing was torn and bloodied.
"What..." Botan started as Erika narrowed her eyes.
"Don't tell me..." Erika hesitated, before rushing towards the bundle of blankets. As she pulled away each puffy piece her anxiety increased.
"She's alive, or as alive as she can get anyways. I'd suggest getting her to your fox sooner rather than later, tell him I'll be waiting in the finals." Karasu dumped the pile into Erika's arms and she fell to her knee, hands burying into the blanket to uncover the bloodied face of Ana.
"No..." Erika sobbed as memories flashed across her eyes, "please not again..."
~Break~
I awoke feeling warm. Attempting to roll over I felt my arms were bound and for a moment panicked, eyes shut tight and I thrashed around in the dark. I felt a blanket loosen from my shoulder and shrugged it off as I calmed my panicked breaths, the tightness in my chest lessening; the orientation was all wrong to be Ziak's room.
Eyes finally opening and blurry, I looked around to find I was in the hotel still, but the setup was different. As my eyes began to focus, I saw a familiar yellow piece of fabric as my mind put together the pieces of my night.
If...if I wasn't in Ziak's room anymore...then whose room was I in? If it were mine, I would be sharing it with Erika and Botan since Yukina had ended up bunking with us as well, and no one could quite get used to her lower body temperature to share a bed.
The bed I was in felt warm, really warm, and it was then I realized an arm had been draped across my body holding me close as another hand was splayed against my collar.
I had the aforementioned arm trapped between my chest and that arm I was starting to realize just who the owner might be. The yellow cloth once more filled my eyes and I took in a staggering breath.
I was in Kurama's room, which meant...
"You're moving around a lot for someone who is supposed to be resting." His voice was deep and I felt it vibrate against my back sending tingles shooting. His words were thick and almost slurred by sleep. I just about shivered as his breath ghosted my neck.
"Excuse me for waking up disoriented..." I spat out sounding rather bitter. My shoulders hunched inward and I felt the disgusting burn in my gut. I felt his arm tense as he pulled my body back towards him.
I hadn't even realized I had moved away.
"Calm down, you're safe..." and I believed him. I felt it wash over me and everything that had happened fell off me like dead skin.
His presence always had that effect, however temporary it was.
"How did I get here?" I asked, realizing just then I was wearing only a shirt and nothing more.
"Karasu brought you to Erika and Botan," as Kurama spoke, his tone tense and I felt him take a steadying breath. "You were almost dead, and I was not much better. Erika took an educated guess that our closeness may help the healing through our bond. I am not sure how long we've been asleep to be honest, I've only been in and out to check on you."
His voice finally slurred at the end and I knew right then just how close to death we had both come.
"Oh." I spoke, I wasn't sure how to respond. I felt his hold tighten and I tried to relax.
"Sleep, you have a terrible migraine..." he drifted off, and I felt his tiredness just as clearly as my own and soon joined him. I felt his breath against the back of my neck as he pulled me even closer in sleep.
And just like that everything in the world disappeared.
~Break~
When I awoke again Kurama was awake and sitting up, but still in bed. He was just gazing out the window looking rather troubled. I wasn't sure what to make of it and felt my stomach sink.
Did he regret meeting me?
The venomous thought slithered in before I could stop it and took root. I did almost get him killed. Should I apologise?
"I-"
"I'm sorry." He spoke, his eyes never leaving the window, watching the returned rain drizzle down the window pane.
I had never heard him so pathetic before.
"For what?" My throat hurt to speak and I winced.
"For almost being the cause of your death twice." His eyes never strayed and I wondered momentarily if he was going to run me off.
"It's not really your fault...you can't blame yourself for happenstance, for simply existing." I couldn't help but sound incredulous, he sounded insane to me, his logic circling around it's own little world.
"But it is. Ana, I've lived a long time. I've lived longer than most can even dream to see, yet I still stole away to the human world to live even longer. It was arrogant of me, and now that arrogance has put you and my mother in danger." Kurama's hands were fisted and his eyes finally flickered to mine.
"Well if that isn't the biggest sack of self-deprecating bullshit if I've ever heard it." I spoke, my voice sounding foreign and scolding. Kurama stared at me, his mouth hanging the slightest bit open and I felt smug. "If you didn't do that, you wouldn't be here now to stop all the baddies from just killing your mother anyways. I mean, it's debatable if I'd be dead or not, from the sounds of it I was messing with some pretty serious shit anyways, so this is probably my own fault." It was all said rather rushed and hurried, but I had still managed to say it all the same.
I didn't even snort at the end and I felt almost proud.
"Well if that isn't a smug feeling if I ever felt one." His smile was laughing at me and I frowned, grabbing my pillow and hitting him with it.
It seemed he wasn't at 100% yet, or anywhere close, as he hadn't expected me to do that, and ended up knocked head over heel, landing in a heap over the side.
"Oops?" I asked with a small blink, crawling over to the edge of the bed and creeping over the edge briefly. "You ok?"
I didn't hear anything so I peeked over again, sticking my head out farther to look over the bed.
"Kurama?" I asked, starting to get worried now.
My worry was short lived as absolute panic shot through my veins as I felt a hand grasp my wrist and pull. I let out a small shriek and fell off the bed as well, landing on a warm and laughing body.
"Yes?" He asked, his hand now holding my wrist gently, running small circles against the inside of my wrist with his thumb.
I was acutely aware of how close we were, and I felt a familiar heat pool in my gut as his laughing emerald eyes stared into mine. His chest moved up and down, as small soundless laughs left his mouth. I swallowed and felt hypnotized by him.
"Did you know that you let out perfume whenever I am close to you like this?" Kurama's tone was soft, and I was momentarily reminded of what Ziak has said.
"W-what?" I managed to get out as he lowered our hands, his face growing closer to mine. I almost thought he was going to kiss me, but the angle was wrong. Slowly, his face grew close and his nose brushed the side of my neck. I pressed my thighs together and realized I was still only in his shirt.
"Just. like. this..." He spoke soft, his tone low. I let out the smallest shiver and he pulled away, his smile much more mischievous. "Don't you smell it?"
I blinked, completely froze from his previous action. I blinked a few more times for good measure, before breathing in the air.
"Oh, you're right!" I blinked, surprised and excited all the same, "Wait, have I always...done this?"
"No, the first time was the other night, when you were drunk." His eyes were laughing and he sat back, his palms pressed to the ground behind him.
"Oh..." I cleared my throat as I untangled myself from him and stood up awkwardly, "I should probably let you finish resting, we don't know when your next match is." I leaned against the bed feeling suddenly incredibly awkward.
"If you'd like, I'm not kicking you out." Kurama spoke, his tone calm as he stood and moved towards the bed, picking up his pillow as he went.
I didn't have words as he stared at me patiently. He wasn't pushing while he was so completely casual about the whole thing.
But my heart wasn't, and I knew I'd see it as more than it was, hurting myself, and potentially him, when I had to inevitably leave.
My heart gave out an ache as I swallowed hard, and stared into his inviting eyes.
I wanted to stay and couldn't seem to deny either of us that. Even though my hand twitched to the door, and my eyes shot a panicked look as I did, I tucked myself into my previous spot and closed my eyes. I felt his warmth against my back soon after, he wasn't spooning me anymore, but he was still close, our backs touching almost comfortingly. I allowed his warmth to cocoon me as I felt myself falling asleep.
Just for now, maybe we could just pretend.
~End Chapter 11~
~Chapter 11 Bonus: Chapter 10 - When Fae Want to Play (Kurama's POV A.K.A The Less Drunk POV)~
Kurama was sitting with the boys as Yusuke and Kuwabara squabbled over Puu. His thoughts were complicated and a mess, unable to confide in anyone the unbelievable situation he found himself in.
Just one wrong move and it was over.
Hiei wasn't around, hardly surprising, leaving Kurama feeling rather restless. He didn't have a good feeling about the tournament in the first place, much less everything that was happening with Ana.
If he wasn't careful someone was going to die.
"I always knew you were just some big softy!" Kuwabara bellowed as he clapped Kurama on the shoulder with his rather large hand. "Aren't I right, Kurama? Just some cute little softy!"
Kurama would have answered, but he found his world off balance and it took all he had not to topple completely over. He steadied himself on his knee and turned to give Kuwabara an unreadable look.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't quite paying attention." There was an innocent edge to his tone and Kuwabara huffed awkwardly before stalking off to belt at Yusuke again.
"Whatever, Koenma still said it was a direct reflection of your cute, squishy heart..." Kuwabara had wandered back towards Yusuke much to Kurama's relief.
Could he have been poisoned? The thought seemed rational, but he was meticulous. A finger pressed to his lip in thought he tried to search his day for any slip ups.
And then it came to him.
While he was meticulous, Ana certainly wasn't. Curses shot through his head and he wanted to yell.
Hopefully she wasn't already on her way to being dead.
Careful as a newborn buck, he moved towards the hotel door, using furniture for stability as he went. His attempts to keep it non-chalant seemingly working, although the two boys were engaged in their own world at the moment.
If Yusuke and Kuwabara noticed, or even cared, it didn't show, and Kurama managed to exit their hotel room without drawing any attention to himself.
Which was lucky, because his vision was beginning to spin now. Glancing around the hall his hand skimmed the wall to keep him upright. It was hard to tell but he was pretty sure he had passed three doors, which meant the fourth was his destination; Ana's room.
His hand pressed into the brass knob and turned. What greeted him however, wasn't what he quite expected, and it all took a moment for the pieces to fall into place. His hand tightened on the knob as his face went slack in surprise; there was Ana, perfectly healthy, dancing terribly while drunk.
'Son of a-' his thoughts were halted as his world shifted left and he had to steady himself on the knob to keep from falling. Botan gave him a concerned look, having noticed him, as Ana stopped dancing and stared in horror.
"So this is what you're up to." He spoke, his voice teetering on the edge of dangerous. There were no words for the sheer anger that flooded his veins.
She had made him WORRIED when she was merely DRUNK.
Stupidly doing whatever she wanted, unconcerned to the danger she put them both in inhibiting him so.
Her lips twitched as she stared at him nervously.
"Um...hi?" She spoke, her arms lowering.
Kurama wasn't sure there was a scale big enough to measure the amount of rage that shot through him as his eyes flickered to her lips. It was hard to concentrate when all he wanted to do was...
"You look ridiculous." He spoke, eyes flickingering up, throwing the errant thought away before it dug too deep.
Nothing ever good came from being drunk.
He stepped through the door, movement sparking his coherency.
"Well, I am drunk." She was smiling like it was a joke. It vexed him how casual she was about what she had done to him.
"Of that I am acutely aware." Kurama responded quick, stopping her from becoming more of a troubled thought.
'Careful now...' He thought to himself as he neared the edge of the couch, trying to cover his off-kilter stance as just thinly-veiled rage as his fingers curled into the fabric.
It seemed to be working as Botan shifted away from him, watching them both acutely.
"Oh," She blinked once, then twice, "oh...OH!" She shouted in realization. She began to panic as she bounced from toe to toe.
Oh dear lord she might end up giving herself a heart attack if he wasn't careful; not really the way he wanted to go if he was going to be drunkenly honest.
"Yes, 'oh' indeed." He spoke as he made careful movements, inching towards his foolish form.
She looked like she might bolt and he didn't know if he had it in him to actually stop her.
At that last admission to himself, Ana did indeed bolt, and in her usual graceful fashion, she tripped over the couch and spilled over the back.
Kurama let out a small hiss of breath as his back ached, his world swirling once more.
"You ok?" Erika asked as she looked over Ana, worrying her lip. Shizuru let out a loud snort of laughter and locked eyes with Kurama, a small roll of his eyes and he turned his attention back to Ana with acute irritation.
"Yeah, mm'fine, just a bit woozy." Ana was slurring now as she pulled herself to a stand.
"I think it's time you go to bed, don't you think?" Kurama lead the conversation hoping to stop Ana before she hurt them both.
"But I'm having fun!" She whined, stamping her foot lightly. Kurama had enough and moved towards her, to which she decided running once more was the best option.
She dashed towards his left, attempting to get to the door, but Kurama was still quicker and he wrapped his arms around her middling, wringing her body towards him. He miscalculated his balance however, and they both ended up spinning and landing in a heap.
She huffed strands of hair under his nose and he stifled a sneeze, glowering at the squirming girl. She twisted violently lodging her leg into his grown and he let out a growl.
She was testing his patience.
"Ana!" Kurama hissed out the warning as she squeaked out her apology.
She scrambled out of his lap, brushing his groin as she left, and rushed to sit back down on the couch, a smugness filling her. Kurama's eyes narrowed as he bit back a groan, his pupils dilating.
He wasn't nearly sober enough to wrangle the drunk girl, if he wasn't careful...
He rushed around the couch, grasping her wrist, startling Ana with his sudden appearance.
"Bed now, Ana."
"Fine." She huffed as a feeling of glee filled her next. Kurama ruffled his brow not at all trusting her as they moved towards the door. With a laugh she twisted from his grasp and bolted towards the door, wrenching it open and slamming it shut in his face.
"Oops! I lied!" She giggled again and Kurama took a couple deep breaths to steady his anger.
"That's Changelings for ya, she's always been this rowdy in case you were wondering." Erika laughed as she clapped him on the shoulder.
Declining to respond, he wrenched open the door and shut it loudly, just shy of a slam.
"Run, Ana! He's coming for you and he's pissed!" Erika shouted towards her best friend, despite the twice slammed door between them.
Kurama managed to sneak up on Ana who was just barely beginning to turn towards Erika's shout. Quick as only Kurama can be, his hand shot out and grabbed her, spinning her back flat against the wall.
Everything around them grew still, and all Kurama could hear were their heartbeats. Her's fast and erratic, and his much the same. He pressed a knee between her legs, preventing any attempt at escape, as he leaned in close to her neck drawing in her scent; she smelled like cinnamon and honey.
Jesus, did she always smell this good?
"If I have to tie you up and put you in my bed, I will," He warned as his finger traced her jaw, thoughts scattered and scorching. "Be good, and this will go so much easier."
'Oh please don't be good...' Kurama berated himself as the drunken thought filtered through.
Her eyes opened to peer into his, her breath short and hurried. Her chest brushing his with her breath. Biting on another hiss Kurama focused on her lips as they begun to move.
"What if I happen to like it hard?" The moment those words left her lips Kurama's mind was lost to him, running wild with the implications; she was providing fuel for his previous train of thought.
His fingers tightened once more as he focused heavily on her, leaning in close as a small chuckle escaped him.
"One way, or another, you will go to bed." His lips brushed the shell of her ear and Kurama grinned wickedly to himself.
Ana shivered as the minor touch between their skin began to tingle. He was tempted to stay close, but knew she was only a moment away from something immensely stupid. Her scent filled his senses again, stronger this time. He pulled his head far enough back, avoiding the sweet smell of her. He saw her breathing hard, breath panting out deep and long. Her skin seemed to glow and his hand was drawn to it, drawing small vine-like patterns on her skin.
He was like a moth to a flame in that moment and he didn't care.
He brushed her orange hair from her shoulder, the brush of her neck causing her to jump. His fingers threaded and his other arm wound around her waist, still intent on getting the girl to bed.
Steeling his will he moved her close, her chest heaving against his as she arched, allowing him to move her freely. He moved her, his fingers tracing the same small circles as she pressed closer, allowing him to guide her along the halls.
His mind was slowly becoming more focused as he juggled the girl through the halls, his hand feeling for the door behind her as they went. Her lips came bruisingly close more than once and Kurama sighed out a curse in his head.
She was becoming an increasing problem; one he was having trouble remembering why he was resisting.
His hand found the knob and with a triumphant twist, the door gave way to his room. To his increased luck, the other three inhabitants had gone to bed already, tired from their latest match.
He led her into the dark room and closed the door shut behind them. Ana stared around owlishly for a mere moment, before her hands started to trail familiar lines along his neck.
He could help the small puff of laughter that escaped him, as Ana's hand moved upwards, threading through his hair curious but sure. Slowly, her nails dragged along his scalp and the scent of honey, cinnamon, and now something else permeated through the air. His breath hitched at the action and he couldn't prevent the contented groan that escaped.
She had gone from being a problem to dangerous in the span of a few minutes; Kurama was starting to think intervening was a mistake.
He pulled her in, her body giving zero resistance as he buried his nose in her hair. He wasn't even sure she was aware what was going on anymore, and he had to put an end to this. Shuffling them back, he grabbed her chin, pulling her attention on him. His fingers burned at the contact and he tilted her to meet his eyes, her lips parting as she allowed him to control their movements.
Inch by inch she would tilt up, straining her neck as she came unbearably close. As her lips barely brushed against his, the door to his bedroom opened and he pushed her through, her knees buckling as they hit the edge of the bed. He leaned over her body, caging her in as his lips brushed the shell of her ear, unable to resist the temptation to bait her.
"I told you I'd get you into bed, one way or another." He chuckled as he quickly moved away, the shiver not going unnoticed by him. She was glaring at him now, her eyes open and burning.
Kurama stepped back, watching her seeth on his bed, before moving towards the door. She had a strange beauty about her when she was angry, it was piercing sometimes. As his hand made contact the scent grew even stronger and he found himself drawn to look at her again. He couldn't turn away as the scent invaded his senses.
He needed to leave. Now.
"Having second thoughts about going to bed?" It wasn't her comment that caused him to jump, but rather the fact she could tell he was being affected as much as he was.
She was drunk and she knew, and it did nothing but enrage him.
She was dangerous, she was going to get them both killed yet...
He continued to look at her, his body almost swayed to go to her, but he twisted the knob and left her there, alone in his bed.
His back hit the door as he slid down, his head resting against the palm of his hand, as the other hand brushed through his hair.
What was he going to do? He could cover everything up with the anger he felt, but it didn't change the fact that he hadn't wanted to leave, that he almost didn't.
The truth of the matter was, he wasn't mad at Ana, he was mad at himself.
~End bonus chapter~
Citations
[1] - He is not a pedophile, he just happens to prefer killing children because that's the kind of serial killer he was before his death.
Reviews
Celestial Moon Lady : Thank you so much for your review! I can't wait to get to when Youko meets Ana either! I am starting to add a bit more Kurama/Ana so don't worry! I love burlesque, I just finished another show, we did The Last Jedi (called The Lust Jedi) I was a storm trooper named Ruby and I got to sass General Hux. Dream come true.
KuramaLover: Thank you so much for reviewing! I have a plan for when Youko meets Ana so I hope you enjoy what I have in store for them :)
hibichibi98L I love the girls too! Female friendships are so my jam!
AmericanNidiot: I am glad you like it! Oh I have plans for fae weaknesses, don't you worry :P
reveress-plegue : Ask and you shall receive! I hope you enjoy this chapter :)
rezgurnk: I am really glad you find this enjoyable to read and like the slow burn. For me part of the allure and sensuality of romance stories is the build up and creation of the romantic relationship. I have only read a few other stories with Maya in it (it's where I learned how much the manga differed from the anime) and I really really wanted to pay homage to those fics a bit.
Lestatsgirl15: I have the kiss already planned! When will it happen? Who knows? (only me)
Skylar1023 : thank you so much! I will be trying to get into the swing of updating more again :)
Sakura Hatsu: So many reviews! Thank you so much it made my absolute day! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well and can't wait to hear what you think :)
End Author's Note: I hope you guy enjoyed this as much as you could. What can I say, had to earn that M rating somehow.