Chapter Three: Ice and Roses
"Touya, why are you here?"
"I'm in the Dark Tournament."
"No, Touya, I mean in my room."
"Because my room blows, if you catch my drift." The glacial light green eyes flicked below Kurama's waist, then back to his face. The Ice Master shrugged. Kurama murmured, "Touya-"
"What does she have that I don't?" The slender hand passed over the beautiful face, and Touya's heart clenched with longing. "Well? Is she better looking, is that it?" Kurama's eyes were reproachful, and he whispered, "Touya... do you think me so shallow?"
"Youko-"
"Malina is my mate, Touya, has been for a long time, and I love her. I know that isn't what you want to hear, but-"
"Youko, she doesn't love you. She's probably all hung up over Karasu, still! Youko..."
"Touya, please, don't do this. You know how I feel about Malina." But that was a lie, wasn't it? He didn't love Malina, not really, he just cared about her more than others, but he didn't love Touya either, they'd agreed it was just for physical relief, so why couldn't Touya leave him be?
"Youko, why did you leave me?"
"Touya, what we had, it... it didn't mean anything." Which, Kurama realized, wasn't true. He had feelings for Touya, but he didn't love the Ice Master, not really... "It didn't mean anything."
"No. It just means you'd rather be with her because she's a kitsune, than be with me." Kurama's heart felt like it would almost break. Almost.
"Touya, why are you here?"
"I'm in the Dark Tournament."
"No, Touya, I mean in my room."
"Because my room blows, if you catch my drift." The glacial light green eyes flicked below Kurama's waist, then back to his face. The Ice Master shrugged. Kurama murmured, "Touya-"
"What does she have that I don't?" The slender hand passed over the beautiful face, and Touya's heart clenched with longing. "Well? Is she better looking, is that it?" Kurama's eyes were reproachful, and he whispered, "Touya... do you think me so shallow?"
"Youko-"
"Malina is my mate, Touya, has been for a long time, and I love her. I know that isn't what you want to hear, but-"
"Youko, she doesn't love you. She's probably all hung up over Karasu, still! Youko..."
"Touya, please, don't do this. You know how I feel about Malina." But that was a lie, wasn't it? He didn't love Malina, not really, he just cared about her more than others, but he didn't love Touya either, they'd agreed it was just for physical relief, so why couldn't Touya leave him be?
"Youko, why did you leave me?"
"Touya, what we had, it... it didn't mean anything." Which, Kurama realized, wasn't true. He had feelings for Touya, but he didn't love the Ice Master, not really... "It didn't mean anything."
"No. It just means you'd rather be with her because she's a kitsune, than be with me." Kurama's heart felt like it would almost break. Almost.