Okay, this chapter is mostly fluff. It seems the story was spending so much time recently on back ground ...the romance and fun was missing. So here

Chapter 14 - Awkward

The color drained from Tomoe's face. Anger and annoyance flashed across his violet eyes. This… this human….that he wanted to tear from limb to limb…was his brother? How was this possible? Hirihito had been such an asshole! Wait. Actually, yes that made sense. He should have figured this out. Akura-Ou could be a first class shit when he wanted to be. A smile creeped up on his lips. He starting laughing and soon tears were rolling down his face. Tomoe went over and embraced his brother and responded, "Hello to you too Akura-Ou."

The rest of the room stood around confused and shocked.

"Is Tomoe actually crying?" Kurama asked.

"Tomoe has a brother?" Mizuki followed.

"I think it's just figuratively," Nanami whispered back. She was replaying to Izumi, but like everyone else in the room her eyes were glued on the two men standing there smiling, hugging, and laughing.

"What exactly just happened," Ami asked. This thick cloud of tension just evaporated and the room was an aura of mirth and mischief surrounded the twins.

Tomoe, having heard Nanami's response to Ami broke from the embrace and turned toward her. "No. This man is my twin brother."

Nanami's eyes widened and she ran over, pushed Tomoe aside and gave Akura-Ou a giant bear hug. "Oh Tomoe, I'm so happy for you," she beemed. Watching her embrace his brother caused Tomoe to remember the words the witch had spoken a few days earlier. The others may not realize it, but Nanami was also Akura-Ou's soul mate. His laughter stopped and his grin revised to a faint smile.

"Nanami," Tomoe asked after a few seconds, "if Mizuki doesn't mind, why don't you bring one of his famous bottles of sake out of the cupboard and we can all share a drink to welcome my brother."

Nanami nodded and practically skipped out of the room.

Mizuki then had a thought. "Akura-Ou-San. If we help you retrieve your body, you should be back to your former self very soon. That would mean you do not require quite so much of Nanami-chan's life force. Maybe, you could return a few years to her for now. She is sometimes impulsive and at such low levels, she may put herself in greater risks."

As if on cue, a loud rash, followed by "I'm okay, I'm okay" was heard from the kitchen.

Akura-Ou didn't think about it for two long and quickly agreed.

"How exactly does that work anyway?" Ami asked. "I mean is it like a spell or do you need any special equipment or anything?"

Akura-Ou got a sly smile on his face. He was thinking with glee about the answer to that question. Maybe every day he should dole one year at a time, like a payment plan, until he got his old body back. "Actually, I just need to kiss her and think about release. Deeper more passionate kisses help convey a greater amount of life force," he finally explained.

Tomoe looked unhappy and Akura-Ou noticed. "Well, Tomoe, if that idea bothers you, I suppose any sort of action where a portion of my physical body entered hers would do the trick. For instance, she could lick my fingers if you find that more palatable."

Tomoe was beginning to looked angry again which just made his brother and Kurama burst out laughing. Just then, Nanami returned with the sake and bowls. "Oh… what's so funny? Did I miss something?"

"No. no. Nothing my dear." Tomoe quickly piped in.

Nanami blushed. 'Dear?'

Mizuki spoke up, "Our guest was just offering to return some of your life force Nanami-chan, since he will soon no longer require it."

Nanami remembered the last time that her life force had been transferred. She blushed and then realized what the laughing must have been about and blushed even harder. "Oh." She said, "perhaps after we finish some sake." She filled the bowls and they all raised their vessels in the air as toasts were made.

Afterwards, Mizuki gathered all the dishes and set them in the kitchen. He seemed giddy as he skipped back into the room. "Now then. Akura-Ou, would you be so kind as to return some of what belongs to Milady?"

"Oh, I have got to see this," Kurama said repositioning himself to make sure he had a good view.

"With pleasure," Akura-Ou smiled. He started walking toward Nanami and the girl felt like prey. His eyes were narrowing and looking greedy, passionate, lustful. Nanami stopped him when he was within a foot of her.

"Ummm," she said, her hand lightly touching his chest to keep him at bay, "just give me a minute okay." She collected her thoughts. She was a bit afraid. She looked over at Tomoe and felt reassured. She would pretend this was him. She gave Tomoe a little smile to let him know she was going to be okay. "Okay, I'm ready."

Akura-Ou's evil grin returned. They both closed their eyes. Nanami stood strait, her hands clasped together in front of her awaiting a chaste peck on the lips. Akura-Ou reached out his hand ready to wrap it around the base of Nanami's head and pull her into a passion filled kiss. His lips were lightly parted and when their lips were nearly touching when Tomoe shoved Nanami aside and assumed her position. Akura-Ou's lips landed on Tomoe's and Akura-Ou, with his eyes still closed, began giving the kiss he'd been thinking about all night to a very uncomfortable brother. Tomoe had left his eyes opened and it was clear in one glance that he had made a journey to his own personal hell.

"Oh Shit!" Kurama uttered before he could stop himself. He started rummaging through his pockets muttering to himself, "where is my cell phone." The second he'd found it, he had hit record.

Nanami stood stunned. Akura-Ou was moaning not realizing that it was not Nanami in his arms. With the exception of Kurama, the room looked frozen. Then Mizuki broke from his trance. "Tomoe! How will Nanami get her life force back if you are stealing all of her kisses?"

Akura-Ou's eye shot open. He shoved Tomoe away with force and began wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Uhhhh… that is disgusting! What the hell is wrong with you? I told you on the way here I was not interested in you! We're brothers God damn it. And why is your skin so f-ing smooth? Jesus, you feel like a girl!"

Tomoe looked a little embarrassed. He could not risk Nanami developing feelings for another man. He'd acted without thought. "She looked nervous," he explained. "As her familiar it is my duty to protect her. I was simply going to collect her life force so I could deliver it to her myself. She is more familiar with me and therefore, it would make the situation less awkward."

"Dude…. I do not think you could have made that situation any more awkward if you had tried," Kurama said smiling. Oh yes. His girlfriend always knew what was best for him. He was so glad she had forced him to intervene tonight. This was turning out to be a seriously entertaining evening.

Tomoe ignored the crow. Nanami's eyes softened as a blush and soft smile filled her face. "Nanami?" Tomoe asked gently as he stepped toward her. "Would you be willing to step outside so I may return something of yours that I recently acquired? It is rather personal, so I would prefer to give it to you somewhere a little more private?"

Kurama's face fell. Ami playfully punched him in the arm. Nanami's face blushed a deeper red. "Of course,"she replied as Tomoe took her hand in his. Together they walked out into the star filled night with the scent of cherry blossoms in the air.