Ish here! This chapter is short but gets a bit lime-y, but nothing too bad.
Least not in my opinion. The old lady mentioned, you're just going to
have to guess who she it. It will be revealed in later chapters of course.
Please review! It's food for the author's soul and the always starving
muse!
Chapter 3 - The Fox and the Crow
Violet and black.
Weightlessness, then cold.
These were the impressions that flittered through Kurama's head as he fought his way back to consciousness. He felt a tugging at the obi of his kimono, then a heat slipping against his upper stomach. A hand.
Kurama gasped for air, his arms grasping for purchase as he remembered where he was. And more importantly, who he was with. His eyes opened to see Karasu, clad only in his dark pants, ripping loose the belt.
Unable to articulate his rage and humiliation, Kurama shoved himself away, clutching at the folds of the kimono as they fell away. He flushed, gasping for air as Karasu grabbed one ankle before he could completely pull away.
"Stupid kitsune! Do you want to die of a cold?" Violet eyes flashed in anger as Karasu yanked the dripping form back to him. Part of his mind (as well as anatomy) took a moment to admire the picture a half-drowned, half-dressed Kurama made. His red hair had partially fallen loose from the elaborate style, and the flame-red kimono fell away to reveal a rosy nipple, erect in the chill. The crow's teeth ached, torn between teasing it or biting the enticingly parted lips as the still-collared Kurama panted. Best of all, his dear fox was in no position to put up any fight.
Still dazed, Kurama could only struggle feebly as Karasu took hold of him. However, when the youkai reached an arm around to tug down the kimono, Kurama seized his chance and bit down hard.
"Ahh!" Karasu jerked his arm back, and at the same time grabbed a handful of red-hair with his other hand. He wretched Kurama's head back as he spoke.
"Careful fox." He smirked, tilting Kurama's face up. "You'd better not have rabies. Now hold still."
Kurama couldn't suppress a yelp, nor the corresponding tear that welled in his eyes at the pain in his scalp. He held deathly still as Karasu finished pulling off the kimono, leaving his pale body shivering and clad only in his briefs. He drew his knees up and turned his head away from the dark youkai who had crossed the cave to hang Kurama's kimono up by his own long coat and shirt. He then moved to add more wood to the fire he had started up before Kurama had regained consciousness. Carrying an unconscious and soaking-wet Kurama from the river to the shallow cave had not been an easy task. Luckily the area was well-forested and it hadn't taken him long to find wood for a fire and grasses and leaves for insulation.
The fox in question used these moments to flash back quickly over the last events. They had leapt off the cliff, and fallen into the freezing water. Normally he would have been able to fend for himself but. One hand reached up to his neck, lightly stroking the cold metal of the restraining ring before clenching. As long as he still wore the collar, there was no way Kurama could access his spirit energy. Karasu had saved his life. And Karasu was the only one who could help him here.
Green eyes flickered to the demon who still knelt over the fire. Kurama studied him for a few moments, taking in the long hair, as wet as his own. His eyes traveled down the expanse of the pale back that peeped through the black hair. He could see muscles shifting as Karasu stood. Quickly, he yanked his gaze away, cheeks burning. He was not attracted to Karasu!
All too soon the youkai had finished with the fire and moved back to Kurama. The red-head would not look up at him. Not fazed in the slightest, Karasu sat behind Kurama, nudging him up and closer to the fire. The result was that the fox ended up on Karasu's lap, sandwiched between the heat from his body and the heat from the fire. Appreciating the warmth but uncomfortable with both his position and state of undress, he tried to wriggle his way out of the lap but froze when Karasu's hands clamped down on his thighs. The hands crept upward and in, resting below his crotch but on his inner thighs. Kurama held his breath for a tense moment. He could feel the hard lump beneath him but the crow made no other moves than to hold him tight in place. He gritted his teeth. His mind might have refused to acknowledge it, but his body was responding to the seating arrangement, and to the breath hot against his ear. Worse, Karasu knew very well the effect he was having.
"You're trembling Itooshi. From the cold?" Slowly, the hands lifted from his thighs, only to begin to rub down his legs, up his chest, then down his arms and back again. Though rubbing to improve circulation, Karasu moved his hands lightly and languidly over Kurama's body. Unconsciously, Kurama leaned back into the welcoming chest, giving the hands greater access. Though they didn't hit upon his intimate regions, his breaths began to favor pants as the treatment continued. The hands drifted to a stop, one back on his thigh, the other cupping his chin and turning his face to an intense violet gaze. Karasu pressed a rough kiss on him that startled him out of the warm haze he had slipped into. Kurama shoved at his shoulders, pushing himself off the youkai's lap to land hard on the cave floor. Karasu chuckled.
"The collar. I want you to remove it now." Kurama's voice was cold, belaying what he knew was a vulnerable state.
"I can't Itooshi." He spoke in honesty. "I only was able to make one copy of the key and, as you should recall, that was lost in our rather desperate escape."
"Don't call me that!"
"Crankiness. Time for bed I think."
Ignoring the mocking tone in his voice, Kurama rose and headed for the bed of flora laid out on the rock. He nested himself the best he could, facing the fire and away from the youkai. He stiffened when he heard and felt a warm body settle next to him. Karasu entangled his legs with Kurama's and pressed against his back, arms wrapping around. He made no other motion and his breathing became slow and even. They lay that way for a few moments, Kurama struggling to fight off the impending sleep.
"Karasu?"
"Hmm?" A violet eye cracked open at the questioning tone.
"Why-" He tried to continue, but found himself unable to form the question.
"I told you. Enma -"
"No." Kurama interrupted. "I meant, at the tournament. You were the same, but not." He bit his lip, trying to express himself. "There's something different about you now."
Karasu chuckled lowly, realizing exactly what the kitsune was getting at.
"Shh Itooshi. Let's just say I was very angry and disturbed for a long time, even if I didn't realize it myself. Loosing to the Toguro brothers - I hate loosing, and I'm no good at sharing. But if I destroyed everything I loved, I couldn't lose it - it would be mine and only mine forever. Better that way: no one could hurt me. I thought it was better."
"So what happened?"
"I met a god, and an old woman. One of them helped me." Karasu smiled cryptically, though he knew it couldn't be seen. "Guess which one."
"Karasu - damn it I'm-!" He shifted in an attempt to confront the crow and receive a straight answer. Karasu only tightened his arms, holding him still.
"Enough." His voice was soft, gentle in a manner Kurama had never heard from him before. "No more masks between the two of us."
Confused but finally giving into exhaustion, Kurama fell asleep in the arms of the man who had been his greatest threat.
The next morning, Kurama woke to the loss of the heat against his back. One eye, then the other cracked open. Karasu had stirred up the coals from the night's fire and a few feeble flames flickered. The gloom of the cave was penetrated by early morning sunlight. Kurama gave the area a cursory glance, catching Karasu just finishing pulling on his clothing. His body protested as he forced it to sit up.
"Good morning. Sleep well?" Kurama glared at the smirking youkai.
"What now?" he asked frostily. The hard look in his eyes gave way to surprise as the kimono was tossed at him. He picked at the silky fabric in bewilderment.
"Now we dress." Karasu took note of the way Kurama's eyes hardened at the thought of more cross-dressing. The awkward conversation from the previous night sunk into memory as old habits took over. "You could always go as you are Itooshi. I certainly wouldn't protest. Though, we are headed for a populated area. I might have to kill anyone who looks too much at you."
Unnerved by the possessiveness in the youkai's voice, Kurama wouldn't meet his gaze. Instead he directed his glower at the stupid kimono. It was that or wander around in his birthday suit. A memory of the hunger in Karasu's gaze shook him and he pulled on the mostly dry fabric.
"Where are we headed? And why?" Kurama inquired as he tied the obi. He still mistrusted the demon.
"To meet with my contact. Botan should have reached Koenma and the others by now. Once Enma receives my report, I'm sure that it will be passed along."
"And what will you do then?" Though he tried to maintain a monotone voice, he couldn't keep out the note of suspicion.
What was it about Karasu that always threw him off balance? No one had ever been able to shake him like that before Karasu had crept into his life - not as Youko and not as Suuichi. It was infuriating, the affect a mere gesture from the crow could have. Like now - a raised eyebrow had him fuming! Damn him!
"It depends on what I'm offered." Kurama clenched his jaw, refusing to rise to the bait. Unfortunately, his silence didn't have the desired effect.
Instead of moving on, Karasu closed the distance between them. He raised one hand, allowing it to hover in the air between them. When Kurama didn't move away, Karasu let it rest it lightly on his cheek. His thumb traced delicate, feather-like strokes over Kurama's cheekbone. The redhead's heart skipped then began beating rapidly. Unable to meet the intense violet gaze, he allowed his eyes to flutter shut. When Karasu spoke there was not a hint of the usual mockery in his voice.
"You're so stubborn. But then, it's one of the things I love about you."
Kurama's breath hitched and his eyes shot open, but the crow had already dropped his hand and moved away. His shoulders slumped and he clutched at his chest, feeling like he had run miles. Irritating.
"Coming Kurama?" Karasu called back over his shoulder as he strode out of the cave. Forcing his heart back to its regular rhythm, Kurama hurried after him with one last thought echoing in his mind.
'Yusuke had better hurry!'
Chapter 3 - The Fox and the Crow
Violet and black.
Weightlessness, then cold.
These were the impressions that flittered through Kurama's head as he fought his way back to consciousness. He felt a tugging at the obi of his kimono, then a heat slipping against his upper stomach. A hand.
Kurama gasped for air, his arms grasping for purchase as he remembered where he was. And more importantly, who he was with. His eyes opened to see Karasu, clad only in his dark pants, ripping loose the belt.
Unable to articulate his rage and humiliation, Kurama shoved himself away, clutching at the folds of the kimono as they fell away. He flushed, gasping for air as Karasu grabbed one ankle before he could completely pull away.
"Stupid kitsune! Do you want to die of a cold?" Violet eyes flashed in anger as Karasu yanked the dripping form back to him. Part of his mind (as well as anatomy) took a moment to admire the picture a half-drowned, half-dressed Kurama made. His red hair had partially fallen loose from the elaborate style, and the flame-red kimono fell away to reveal a rosy nipple, erect in the chill. The crow's teeth ached, torn between teasing it or biting the enticingly parted lips as the still-collared Kurama panted. Best of all, his dear fox was in no position to put up any fight.
Still dazed, Kurama could only struggle feebly as Karasu took hold of him. However, when the youkai reached an arm around to tug down the kimono, Kurama seized his chance and bit down hard.
"Ahh!" Karasu jerked his arm back, and at the same time grabbed a handful of red-hair with his other hand. He wretched Kurama's head back as he spoke.
"Careful fox." He smirked, tilting Kurama's face up. "You'd better not have rabies. Now hold still."
Kurama couldn't suppress a yelp, nor the corresponding tear that welled in his eyes at the pain in his scalp. He held deathly still as Karasu finished pulling off the kimono, leaving his pale body shivering and clad only in his briefs. He drew his knees up and turned his head away from the dark youkai who had crossed the cave to hang Kurama's kimono up by his own long coat and shirt. He then moved to add more wood to the fire he had started up before Kurama had regained consciousness. Carrying an unconscious and soaking-wet Kurama from the river to the shallow cave had not been an easy task. Luckily the area was well-forested and it hadn't taken him long to find wood for a fire and grasses and leaves for insulation.
The fox in question used these moments to flash back quickly over the last events. They had leapt off the cliff, and fallen into the freezing water. Normally he would have been able to fend for himself but. One hand reached up to his neck, lightly stroking the cold metal of the restraining ring before clenching. As long as he still wore the collar, there was no way Kurama could access his spirit energy. Karasu had saved his life. And Karasu was the only one who could help him here.
Green eyes flickered to the demon who still knelt over the fire. Kurama studied him for a few moments, taking in the long hair, as wet as his own. His eyes traveled down the expanse of the pale back that peeped through the black hair. He could see muscles shifting as Karasu stood. Quickly, he yanked his gaze away, cheeks burning. He was not attracted to Karasu!
All too soon the youkai had finished with the fire and moved back to Kurama. The red-head would not look up at him. Not fazed in the slightest, Karasu sat behind Kurama, nudging him up and closer to the fire. The result was that the fox ended up on Karasu's lap, sandwiched between the heat from his body and the heat from the fire. Appreciating the warmth but uncomfortable with both his position and state of undress, he tried to wriggle his way out of the lap but froze when Karasu's hands clamped down on his thighs. The hands crept upward and in, resting below his crotch but on his inner thighs. Kurama held his breath for a tense moment. He could feel the hard lump beneath him but the crow made no other moves than to hold him tight in place. He gritted his teeth. His mind might have refused to acknowledge it, but his body was responding to the seating arrangement, and to the breath hot against his ear. Worse, Karasu knew very well the effect he was having.
"You're trembling Itooshi. From the cold?" Slowly, the hands lifted from his thighs, only to begin to rub down his legs, up his chest, then down his arms and back again. Though rubbing to improve circulation, Karasu moved his hands lightly and languidly over Kurama's body. Unconsciously, Kurama leaned back into the welcoming chest, giving the hands greater access. Though they didn't hit upon his intimate regions, his breaths began to favor pants as the treatment continued. The hands drifted to a stop, one back on his thigh, the other cupping his chin and turning his face to an intense violet gaze. Karasu pressed a rough kiss on him that startled him out of the warm haze he had slipped into. Kurama shoved at his shoulders, pushing himself off the youkai's lap to land hard on the cave floor. Karasu chuckled.
"The collar. I want you to remove it now." Kurama's voice was cold, belaying what he knew was a vulnerable state.
"I can't Itooshi." He spoke in honesty. "I only was able to make one copy of the key and, as you should recall, that was lost in our rather desperate escape."
"Don't call me that!"
"Crankiness. Time for bed I think."
Ignoring the mocking tone in his voice, Kurama rose and headed for the bed of flora laid out on the rock. He nested himself the best he could, facing the fire and away from the youkai. He stiffened when he heard and felt a warm body settle next to him. Karasu entangled his legs with Kurama's and pressed against his back, arms wrapping around. He made no other motion and his breathing became slow and even. They lay that way for a few moments, Kurama struggling to fight off the impending sleep.
"Karasu?"
"Hmm?" A violet eye cracked open at the questioning tone.
"Why-" He tried to continue, but found himself unable to form the question.
"I told you. Enma -"
"No." Kurama interrupted. "I meant, at the tournament. You were the same, but not." He bit his lip, trying to express himself. "There's something different about you now."
Karasu chuckled lowly, realizing exactly what the kitsune was getting at.
"Shh Itooshi. Let's just say I was very angry and disturbed for a long time, even if I didn't realize it myself. Loosing to the Toguro brothers - I hate loosing, and I'm no good at sharing. But if I destroyed everything I loved, I couldn't lose it - it would be mine and only mine forever. Better that way: no one could hurt me. I thought it was better."
"So what happened?"
"I met a god, and an old woman. One of them helped me." Karasu smiled cryptically, though he knew it couldn't be seen. "Guess which one."
"Karasu - damn it I'm-!" He shifted in an attempt to confront the crow and receive a straight answer. Karasu only tightened his arms, holding him still.
"Enough." His voice was soft, gentle in a manner Kurama had never heard from him before. "No more masks between the two of us."
Confused but finally giving into exhaustion, Kurama fell asleep in the arms of the man who had been his greatest threat.
The next morning, Kurama woke to the loss of the heat against his back. One eye, then the other cracked open. Karasu had stirred up the coals from the night's fire and a few feeble flames flickered. The gloom of the cave was penetrated by early morning sunlight. Kurama gave the area a cursory glance, catching Karasu just finishing pulling on his clothing. His body protested as he forced it to sit up.
"Good morning. Sleep well?" Kurama glared at the smirking youkai.
"What now?" he asked frostily. The hard look in his eyes gave way to surprise as the kimono was tossed at him. He picked at the silky fabric in bewilderment.
"Now we dress." Karasu took note of the way Kurama's eyes hardened at the thought of more cross-dressing. The awkward conversation from the previous night sunk into memory as old habits took over. "You could always go as you are Itooshi. I certainly wouldn't protest. Though, we are headed for a populated area. I might have to kill anyone who looks too much at you."
Unnerved by the possessiveness in the youkai's voice, Kurama wouldn't meet his gaze. Instead he directed his glower at the stupid kimono. It was that or wander around in his birthday suit. A memory of the hunger in Karasu's gaze shook him and he pulled on the mostly dry fabric.
"Where are we headed? And why?" Kurama inquired as he tied the obi. He still mistrusted the demon.
"To meet with my contact. Botan should have reached Koenma and the others by now. Once Enma receives my report, I'm sure that it will be passed along."
"And what will you do then?" Though he tried to maintain a monotone voice, he couldn't keep out the note of suspicion.
What was it about Karasu that always threw him off balance? No one had ever been able to shake him like that before Karasu had crept into his life - not as Youko and not as Suuichi. It was infuriating, the affect a mere gesture from the crow could have. Like now - a raised eyebrow had him fuming! Damn him!
"It depends on what I'm offered." Kurama clenched his jaw, refusing to rise to the bait. Unfortunately, his silence didn't have the desired effect.
Instead of moving on, Karasu closed the distance between them. He raised one hand, allowing it to hover in the air between them. When Kurama didn't move away, Karasu let it rest it lightly on his cheek. His thumb traced delicate, feather-like strokes over Kurama's cheekbone. The redhead's heart skipped then began beating rapidly. Unable to meet the intense violet gaze, he allowed his eyes to flutter shut. When Karasu spoke there was not a hint of the usual mockery in his voice.
"You're so stubborn. But then, it's one of the things I love about you."
Kurama's breath hitched and his eyes shot open, but the crow had already dropped his hand and moved away. His shoulders slumped and he clutched at his chest, feeling like he had run miles. Irritating.
"Coming Kurama?" Karasu called back over his shoulder as he strode out of the cave. Forcing his heart back to its regular rhythm, Kurama hurried after him with one last thought echoing in his mind.
'Yusuke had better hurry!'