Author's Note: Here is the chapter three, hurraaay!!! Thank you so very
much for the wonderful reviews. You were all so very good, and because of
that, I've decided to update a long chapter for you, consider it as a thank
you gift and an early Christmas present. By the way, there was someone who
was looking for Ai Shiteru, that was the reason of the delay of this
chapter. Ff.net put it down to some reason unknown to me and since I
entered that in a contest, I just decided to upload my site. Look at my
profile to visit it. Thanks!
DISCLAIMERS APPLIED!!!
CHAPTER 3: TOO SOFT
The marriage would be today!
Reilan found that out when he entered the Grand Hall and saw a crowd of people busily decorating the place. He was in awe with the colorful drapes that hung on the wall and the curtains on the window.
Since when did his two friends turned feminine? he wondered. And he'd never been disrespected in all his life! Lower class youkai bumped him and all he received was a mumbled 'sumimasen.' No 'my apologies, sire' and bowing before him and that infuriated the hell out of him. He will have them punished at once!
Just then, he found Kuronue's ki in the middle of the room and was surrounded by more youkai. Getting to him was difficult because those youkai were blocking the way, kinda like the opposite when they should have made their way for him. He is, after all, one of the assistants of the Lord, owner of the keep, Youko Kurama.
By the time he reached the already frowning Kuronue, he was already furious with impatience. Blast all those Youkai! Where the hell is Kurama anyway?
"What the hell is going on here?" Reilan asked impatiently as he kept an eye on those youkai near them. One of them might be a spy, it's always best to be careful.
"The kitsune's getting married," Kuronue said and took a deep breath. Though they've been friends since childhood and never been separated except for their routinely hunts for treasure, he can still not predict what his lord is thinking. He could be as unpredictable as a woman!
Reilan's attitude changed from pure annoyance to juvenile excitement. "Well, that was wonder - HE WHAT?!!!" his jaw hanging open from shock.
"Close your mouth. You look stupid as it is," Kuronue said grimly.
Reilan complied and closed his mouth but the look in his face didn't change. "What happened? Is he being forced to do it? What the hell are you doing here in this goddamn hall and not helping him?"
Kuronue, instead of answering, shoved the other youkai and entered the private conference room only for the three of them, with Reilan following close behind.
"Well?" Reilan asked as soon as Kuronue closed the door. He knew that the matter is a private one that's why Kuronue refused to give out any information to the youkai outside though they have all sworn their loyalty to their lord.
"I think the kitsune had gone crazy."
Reilan looked at him, dumbfounded, digesting the information. He never noticed that his lord is going over the edge. "Uh-huh. Why do you say so?"
"We were looking for a woman who trespassed his territory and when he found out she's sweet-smelling and looked like one hell of a beauty, he told me he's marrying her," Kuronue said indignantly.
"Seems like he's normal to me. Do you really think he's serious? He would have a heart attack when he came home and a marriage ceremony had been prepared for him," Reilan said, the image conjured up in his mind is so amusing, he couldn't help but smile.
"Hn. He's as serious as he can be. You know he never joked about marriage before," Kuronue said almost bitterly. For once, the kitsune is not using his smart brain and he's afraid it would bring trouble to them.
"Well, we do need a mistress, you know. The kitsune got to have an heir and with the profession we're in, who knows when he's gonna get killed?" Reilan said nonchalantly.
"Don't you dare talk like that, I don't want to die yet!" Kuronue said angrily.
"Who said you're going to die now? I'm talking about the kitsune here," Reilan said, chuckling. Of course, he knew damn well that when the kitsune died, it would also be their end!
"Ha! As if we'll be left alive if the kitsune get slain. No doubt his enemies would want us dead, too," Kuronue said sarcastically.
"That's what I'm saying. If we all die, we've got to have an heir to run this damn keep," Reilan said seriously but his eyes twinkling with naughtiness. He knows Kuronue hates talking about death, he love his life so much.
"Aren't you listening to me, youko? The kitsune saw the damned woman, and in less than ten minutes wanted to marry her. That wouldn't hold a strong marriage our lord needs," Kuronue said impatiently. He couldn't believe Reilan is siding the stupid fox!
"Then what do you want to do? Wait 'til our dear friend to fall in love? You know that would never happen with that cold heart of his," Reilan said as he walked towards the door. The conversation is over.
"All I'm saying is that - "
"You aren't jealous of the woman aren't you? I know how much you love the kitsune," Reilan joked that sent Kuronue's temper off.
"Don't even start it, Reilan. The kitsune thought it was a joke a while ago to act like a - a gay. I nearly had a heart attack!" Kuronue grumbled.
Reilan laughed. He knows Kuronue's view about marriage so it's understandable that he doesn't want the kitsune to wed. It just looked hilarious because Kuronue's acting like a jealous lover. "Don't worry about it. The kitsune had done more stupid things in the past," Reilan said, his back on Kuronue as he turned the knob to get out.
As soon as he opened the door, he immediately saw the chaos that was starting to form. Youkai are arguing, shouting and yelling at each other on top of their voices. Some had gone rolling on the floor, engaged in a fight with another. Others are already walking out of the room to avoid any danger.
Reilan's eyes widen at the sight. "What the hell is going on here?" he bellowed and instantly, the room fell silent. "Haven't you got anything better to do than attempt to kill each other?"
"Well, what are you waiting for? Get back to work!" Kuronue's voice boomed just behind Reilan and everybody, as if just woken from a dream, hastily turned to what they had been doing previously.
"Hey, where are you going?" Kuronue called out to Reilan when he saw him walking away towards the exit of the Grand Hall.
Reilan turned around and smirked at his friend. "Getting out of here. I don't have any idea on how to prepare a damn marriage," and before Kuronue could think of a catty reply, he'd already turned around again and started walking away.
But before he could take ten steps away from the preparation going on, a lesser youkai called out to him, stopping him from his tracks. "Reilan-san, sire, where should I put these curtains?" she asked timidly.
"How the hell should I know?" Reilan snapped, irritated by the delay of his escape. "Why don't you ask our wedding planner over there?"
The youko gave him a confused look that made Reilan sigh. "Just go to Kuronue, for Kami's sake!" he said, exasperated and rather loudly that made Kuronue look at them.
The youko walked timidly towards the crowd that had gathered around Kuronue, not really getting that the wedding planner Reilan was talking about was Kuronue.
But Kuronue got it and shot Reilan a deadly look. "When this is over, Rei," he bagan in that warning tone of his, "you are so dead."
But Reilan only smirked at him and walked away.
*-*
She didn't know what came over her that she did not even struggle against him when he kissed her without warning. All she remembered was that she felt her knees weakened up to the point where she knows it couldn't support her weight anymore that she frantically hold on to the nearest thing she could grab to keep from falling, in that situation, Kurama's neck, as he continued to devour her, seeking the inner sweetness he discovered that only he had dared to explore.
Subconsciously, she responds to him, imitating the way his tongue slanted again and again against hers. Releasing sighs of pleasures she isn't even aware of. Her arms tightening around his neck, clinging to him as if her whole life depended on it.
Kurama would have smirked if his lips isn't sealed against hers, if he isn't affected by the kiss so heavily. All rational thoughts melted, gone is the cunning and sly youko thief expertly seducing his new prospect, only to be replaced by the weak and hungry youko that he is, revealing his vulnerability, risking the possibility that she might know her capacity and power to hurt her.
The kiss would have gone on and on if the sounds of the nearby guards hadn't reached Kurama's keen hearing. He suddenly pushed Botan away, turning around irritatingly, looking for some intruders. He found no one.
He turned his attention back to his woman and was about to reach for her again when he noticed something different about her.
She looked like she was ready to explode any moment now if the color of her face would be the basis. She is as read as a tomato, her eyes fixed on her feet on the ground.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"That was my first kiss," Botan mumbled, still refusing to look at him. She was lousy and she knows it. Hadn't she been lousy in all the things she did?
"I know that and I can't see any problem with that," Kurama said softly and was about to reach for her again when she took a step backward.
"I'm so sorry. It's just that, I don't know how to kiss you back," Botan said rather sadlyas she shook her head at him.
Kurama visibly paled. She didn't know how to kiss me back? Ha! The irony of it all. He lost himself completely to a kiss by someone who doesn't know how to kiss back? He shuddered at the idea of what might happen to him if she did knows what she was doing.
"Milord," Botan started when Kurama did not reply. She hesitantly took a step towards him but again moved backward when she heard his voice.
"Call me Kurama. After all, you're going to be married to me," he said in that clear, smooth voice of his.
Botan shook her head. "Iie, I'm so sorry, milord, but I really can't marry you - "
"And why the hell not?" Kurama asked irritated. How dare she turn him down! Can't she see that he is a lord? An owner of a certain amount of territory? And lords shouldn't be refused. It's the number one rule in Makai.
"My marriage contract with - "
Kurama interrupted her again. "As your guardian, I will tell you that you are not to be married to him."
"Then I would gladly continue this trip alone so that you being my guardian won't have to take effect," Botan said simply but before she could take a step to walk away, Kurama had already grabbed her.
"I don't think you understand the situation you're in, sweetheart. You already agreed and stepped inside my territory. Now, if I have to teach you that once you gave your word, you have to keep it, then I damn well would," Kurama said, both his voice and the grip on her arms, firm.
"Then I should really keep my word to Raizen's son, ne?" Botan said, getting irritated. She didn't know the kitsune could be this arrogant.
"Why are you so into the idea of marrying Raizen's son? You haven't even met him so it won't make a difference if you would not be married to him. Why the hell are you engaged to him, anyway?" Kurama asked, his curiosity getting the better out of him.
"For protection. So that I won't have to be hungry again. So that I won't have to be cold during winter," she said angrily, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She hated being poor. She hated having to shake her head at her younger sister when she was asked if they would have something to eat for dinner. She hated having to cuddle her so tight during those cold winter nights with only one, old, thin blanket to keep them warm - but always to no avail. And yes, she hated being engaged to some goddamn stranger just to avoid all these. Just to save them from poverty.
From dying of hunger.
From freezing to death.
Kurama's expression softened. "I can. I can provide for you. Keep you warm during those awful cold nights. Just be my wife," he almost pleaded. He couldn't understand it, but, somehow, the thought of her hurting made his stomach lurch, made him want to hold her 'til the storm had passed.
Botan wiped her tears angrily. "You don't understand. I don't want anything that was stolen from other people's plate. I DON'T WANT TO BE A THIEF'S WIFE!"
If Kurama had been hurt or insulted by what she said, he didn't show it. He was far too used to be called a thief to care. "I see. And you think Raizen's son is better than I am?" he asked bitterly before continuing. "Yes, I do not deny the fact that I steal precious and rare possessions from the rich and powerful but I can assure you that they are far worse than I am. Do you want to know what Raizen's son has been doing? Huh? He steals everything from those poor people's plate table like yourself. Oh, no, don't you dare shake your head on me. After making their farmers work their asses off, he gather all the fruits of their labor, leaving them with few grains just enough to keep them from dying, and put the rest on their elegant table."
He let out a laugh but anyone can see it was forced. "And now you want to marry him? Go on. Let's see if you can protect yourself from poverty. The moment some poor farmer came knocking on your door to beg for a few more grains to feed his son and you all you can do is stare at him pitily as your lord husband shooed him away. Let's see if you can escape it."
"Stop it, onegai. I don't wanna hear no more," Botan pleaded, her knees giving away and almost sunk on her knees when Kurama's powerful arms embraced her, and surprisingly, she found solace, warmth, safety - home.
"Are you listening to me? All I'm saying is that even if I am just one bloody thief, my troops can eat all the food they want, even more than three times a day. And that's what made them wanna work more, to be able to have more. Even if the whole world turns upside down, I can assure you that I could still provide for you, that you would still eat from a pure, straight, and clean living. All those bloody treasures stolen are locked away from anybody's reach and you don't have to be a part of it if you don't want to. I'm offering you a place in my territory and every time you can walk around it with your head held up high because you know you're not starving some poor farmer's family to be able to feed your children. Because you know your husband is the one working for your family. Think about it, Makai is cruel and this is as close as you can get to protection," he said softly, while stroking her back, loving the feel of her wrapped around his arms, wanting him, needing him.
"Don't leave me, onegai," Botan pleaded unknowingly as she cried on his chest, for the first time in her life, finding someone willing to take care of her as she had taken care of her family for so long.
"Never," Kurama murmured as he kissed her hair. "Never."
Minutes passed by and they continued holding each other just like that. Molding each other's body to fit perfectly with the other, as close as the two separate bodies can be, they could be one.
And soon, Botan's cry turned to sobs then to hiccups, her tears being absorbed by Kurama's robe. Odd, but his feminine scent gave her a comfort she never thought possible.
And right that instant, she knew. That it would be a mistake not to marry this kitsune. She wants everything in him, thief and all. So what if he's a thief? Everyone has their weaknesses. Maybe she can change him. Who knows? All she knew was that she'd never felt this comfortable in the arms of a stranger before. Not that she'd been in the arms of a stranger before. It felt so right.
"My lord - "
"Kurama. Or anything but nothing with the san or kun. I mean it," Kurama said, his tone may be firm but indicating softness.
"Very well. Kurama. If I marry you, can my little sister live with us?" Botan asked hopefully. She's the only one she can't leave behind. Her parents and older brother can survive on their own, having lesser mouths to feed. Maybe she could give them a few grains from time to time.
"Yes, she may. But I need to warn you that she has to give proper respect to me and to my two allies. They're cruel to any kind of disrespect. Do you understand that?" Kurama said, doubting if he was becoming too soft for the woman. Well, that ought to change as soon as they're back home. He can't possibly act like some soft-hearted man in front of all his troops. They would surely be horrified! But then, who could ever refuse when she turned those hopeful lavender eyes on him?
"Arigatou, you're so kind. Shall I send for her as soon as we get home?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she stared at his eyes. The golden color make it stand out as he was surrounded by his silver tresses.
"I will ask some of my troops to fetch her. A woman alone in the woods is not really safe, just like what I've told you," Kurama said simply and let go of her - regretfully. They need to get back or Kuronue and Reilan would worry about him. Besides, he needed to ask Reilan the information he got about the crown of the lord of the North Eastern Tribe. The crown representing his greediness for lords are not known to have a crown. Kurama himself do not have one, well, that is, if you won't consider the two crowns he'd stolen a long time ago.
"Oh, I never thought of that," Botan said, obviously disappointed when Kurama let go of her. "Shall we go back?"
"Yes, Kuronue and Reilan are waiting for us," Kurama said as matter of factly, and this time, he walked side by side with her, close, but not close enough to touch her.
"Who are they?" Botan wondered.
"My two friends and allies I was talking to you about," Kurama answered simply.
"Would they like me?" she asked again.
"They would love you."
Author's note: And this fic is supposed to be a humorous one! Humor! But look how it turned out. Sorry, I've been having a sad time when I was writing this. Besides, my pen was malfunctioning that instead of a comedy, it wrote a drama. I'll try to write a humorous one for the next chapter, ne?
Review or be turned into one of Raizen's son's farmer. (Oh, by the way, Yuusuke is not Raizen's son in this story. As we all know, Raizen is not the direct father of Yuusuke.)
DISCLAIMERS APPLIED!!!
CHAPTER 3: TOO SOFT
The marriage would be today!
Reilan found that out when he entered the Grand Hall and saw a crowd of people busily decorating the place. He was in awe with the colorful drapes that hung on the wall and the curtains on the window.
Since when did his two friends turned feminine? he wondered. And he'd never been disrespected in all his life! Lower class youkai bumped him and all he received was a mumbled 'sumimasen.' No 'my apologies, sire' and bowing before him and that infuriated the hell out of him. He will have them punished at once!
Just then, he found Kuronue's ki in the middle of the room and was surrounded by more youkai. Getting to him was difficult because those youkai were blocking the way, kinda like the opposite when they should have made their way for him. He is, after all, one of the assistants of the Lord, owner of the keep, Youko Kurama.
By the time he reached the already frowning Kuronue, he was already furious with impatience. Blast all those Youkai! Where the hell is Kurama anyway?
"What the hell is going on here?" Reilan asked impatiently as he kept an eye on those youkai near them. One of them might be a spy, it's always best to be careful.
"The kitsune's getting married," Kuronue said and took a deep breath. Though they've been friends since childhood and never been separated except for their routinely hunts for treasure, he can still not predict what his lord is thinking. He could be as unpredictable as a woman!
Reilan's attitude changed from pure annoyance to juvenile excitement. "Well, that was wonder - HE WHAT?!!!" his jaw hanging open from shock.
"Close your mouth. You look stupid as it is," Kuronue said grimly.
Reilan complied and closed his mouth but the look in his face didn't change. "What happened? Is he being forced to do it? What the hell are you doing here in this goddamn hall and not helping him?"
Kuronue, instead of answering, shoved the other youkai and entered the private conference room only for the three of them, with Reilan following close behind.
"Well?" Reilan asked as soon as Kuronue closed the door. He knew that the matter is a private one that's why Kuronue refused to give out any information to the youkai outside though they have all sworn their loyalty to their lord.
"I think the kitsune had gone crazy."
Reilan looked at him, dumbfounded, digesting the information. He never noticed that his lord is going over the edge. "Uh-huh. Why do you say so?"
"We were looking for a woman who trespassed his territory and when he found out she's sweet-smelling and looked like one hell of a beauty, he told me he's marrying her," Kuronue said indignantly.
"Seems like he's normal to me. Do you really think he's serious? He would have a heart attack when he came home and a marriage ceremony had been prepared for him," Reilan said, the image conjured up in his mind is so amusing, he couldn't help but smile.
"Hn. He's as serious as he can be. You know he never joked about marriage before," Kuronue said almost bitterly. For once, the kitsune is not using his smart brain and he's afraid it would bring trouble to them.
"Well, we do need a mistress, you know. The kitsune got to have an heir and with the profession we're in, who knows when he's gonna get killed?" Reilan said nonchalantly.
"Don't you dare talk like that, I don't want to die yet!" Kuronue said angrily.
"Who said you're going to die now? I'm talking about the kitsune here," Reilan said, chuckling. Of course, he knew damn well that when the kitsune died, it would also be their end!
"Ha! As if we'll be left alive if the kitsune get slain. No doubt his enemies would want us dead, too," Kuronue said sarcastically.
"That's what I'm saying. If we all die, we've got to have an heir to run this damn keep," Reilan said seriously but his eyes twinkling with naughtiness. He knows Kuronue hates talking about death, he love his life so much.
"Aren't you listening to me, youko? The kitsune saw the damned woman, and in less than ten minutes wanted to marry her. That wouldn't hold a strong marriage our lord needs," Kuronue said impatiently. He couldn't believe Reilan is siding the stupid fox!
"Then what do you want to do? Wait 'til our dear friend to fall in love? You know that would never happen with that cold heart of his," Reilan said as he walked towards the door. The conversation is over.
"All I'm saying is that - "
"You aren't jealous of the woman aren't you? I know how much you love the kitsune," Reilan joked that sent Kuronue's temper off.
"Don't even start it, Reilan. The kitsune thought it was a joke a while ago to act like a - a gay. I nearly had a heart attack!" Kuronue grumbled.
Reilan laughed. He knows Kuronue's view about marriage so it's understandable that he doesn't want the kitsune to wed. It just looked hilarious because Kuronue's acting like a jealous lover. "Don't worry about it. The kitsune had done more stupid things in the past," Reilan said, his back on Kuronue as he turned the knob to get out.
As soon as he opened the door, he immediately saw the chaos that was starting to form. Youkai are arguing, shouting and yelling at each other on top of their voices. Some had gone rolling on the floor, engaged in a fight with another. Others are already walking out of the room to avoid any danger.
Reilan's eyes widen at the sight. "What the hell is going on here?" he bellowed and instantly, the room fell silent. "Haven't you got anything better to do than attempt to kill each other?"
"Well, what are you waiting for? Get back to work!" Kuronue's voice boomed just behind Reilan and everybody, as if just woken from a dream, hastily turned to what they had been doing previously.
"Hey, where are you going?" Kuronue called out to Reilan when he saw him walking away towards the exit of the Grand Hall.
Reilan turned around and smirked at his friend. "Getting out of here. I don't have any idea on how to prepare a damn marriage," and before Kuronue could think of a catty reply, he'd already turned around again and started walking away.
But before he could take ten steps away from the preparation going on, a lesser youkai called out to him, stopping him from his tracks. "Reilan-san, sire, where should I put these curtains?" she asked timidly.
"How the hell should I know?" Reilan snapped, irritated by the delay of his escape. "Why don't you ask our wedding planner over there?"
The youko gave him a confused look that made Reilan sigh. "Just go to Kuronue, for Kami's sake!" he said, exasperated and rather loudly that made Kuronue look at them.
The youko walked timidly towards the crowd that had gathered around Kuronue, not really getting that the wedding planner Reilan was talking about was Kuronue.
But Kuronue got it and shot Reilan a deadly look. "When this is over, Rei," he bagan in that warning tone of his, "you are so dead."
But Reilan only smirked at him and walked away.
*-*
She didn't know what came over her that she did not even struggle against him when he kissed her without warning. All she remembered was that she felt her knees weakened up to the point where she knows it couldn't support her weight anymore that she frantically hold on to the nearest thing she could grab to keep from falling, in that situation, Kurama's neck, as he continued to devour her, seeking the inner sweetness he discovered that only he had dared to explore.
Subconsciously, she responds to him, imitating the way his tongue slanted again and again against hers. Releasing sighs of pleasures she isn't even aware of. Her arms tightening around his neck, clinging to him as if her whole life depended on it.
Kurama would have smirked if his lips isn't sealed against hers, if he isn't affected by the kiss so heavily. All rational thoughts melted, gone is the cunning and sly youko thief expertly seducing his new prospect, only to be replaced by the weak and hungry youko that he is, revealing his vulnerability, risking the possibility that she might know her capacity and power to hurt her.
The kiss would have gone on and on if the sounds of the nearby guards hadn't reached Kurama's keen hearing. He suddenly pushed Botan away, turning around irritatingly, looking for some intruders. He found no one.
He turned his attention back to his woman and was about to reach for her again when he noticed something different about her.
She looked like she was ready to explode any moment now if the color of her face would be the basis. She is as read as a tomato, her eyes fixed on her feet on the ground.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"That was my first kiss," Botan mumbled, still refusing to look at him. She was lousy and she knows it. Hadn't she been lousy in all the things she did?
"I know that and I can't see any problem with that," Kurama said softly and was about to reach for her again when she took a step backward.
"I'm so sorry. It's just that, I don't know how to kiss you back," Botan said rather sadlyas she shook her head at him.
Kurama visibly paled. She didn't know how to kiss me back? Ha! The irony of it all. He lost himself completely to a kiss by someone who doesn't know how to kiss back? He shuddered at the idea of what might happen to him if she did knows what she was doing.
"Milord," Botan started when Kurama did not reply. She hesitantly took a step towards him but again moved backward when she heard his voice.
"Call me Kurama. After all, you're going to be married to me," he said in that clear, smooth voice of his.
Botan shook her head. "Iie, I'm so sorry, milord, but I really can't marry you - "
"And why the hell not?" Kurama asked irritated. How dare she turn him down! Can't she see that he is a lord? An owner of a certain amount of territory? And lords shouldn't be refused. It's the number one rule in Makai.
"My marriage contract with - "
Kurama interrupted her again. "As your guardian, I will tell you that you are not to be married to him."
"Then I would gladly continue this trip alone so that you being my guardian won't have to take effect," Botan said simply but before she could take a step to walk away, Kurama had already grabbed her.
"I don't think you understand the situation you're in, sweetheart. You already agreed and stepped inside my territory. Now, if I have to teach you that once you gave your word, you have to keep it, then I damn well would," Kurama said, both his voice and the grip on her arms, firm.
"Then I should really keep my word to Raizen's son, ne?" Botan said, getting irritated. She didn't know the kitsune could be this arrogant.
"Why are you so into the idea of marrying Raizen's son? You haven't even met him so it won't make a difference if you would not be married to him. Why the hell are you engaged to him, anyway?" Kurama asked, his curiosity getting the better out of him.
"For protection. So that I won't have to be hungry again. So that I won't have to be cold during winter," she said angrily, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She hated being poor. She hated having to shake her head at her younger sister when she was asked if they would have something to eat for dinner. She hated having to cuddle her so tight during those cold winter nights with only one, old, thin blanket to keep them warm - but always to no avail. And yes, she hated being engaged to some goddamn stranger just to avoid all these. Just to save them from poverty.
From dying of hunger.
From freezing to death.
Kurama's expression softened. "I can. I can provide for you. Keep you warm during those awful cold nights. Just be my wife," he almost pleaded. He couldn't understand it, but, somehow, the thought of her hurting made his stomach lurch, made him want to hold her 'til the storm had passed.
Botan wiped her tears angrily. "You don't understand. I don't want anything that was stolen from other people's plate. I DON'T WANT TO BE A THIEF'S WIFE!"
If Kurama had been hurt or insulted by what she said, he didn't show it. He was far too used to be called a thief to care. "I see. And you think Raizen's son is better than I am?" he asked bitterly before continuing. "Yes, I do not deny the fact that I steal precious and rare possessions from the rich and powerful but I can assure you that they are far worse than I am. Do you want to know what Raizen's son has been doing? Huh? He steals everything from those poor people's plate table like yourself. Oh, no, don't you dare shake your head on me. After making their farmers work their asses off, he gather all the fruits of their labor, leaving them with few grains just enough to keep them from dying, and put the rest on their elegant table."
He let out a laugh but anyone can see it was forced. "And now you want to marry him? Go on. Let's see if you can protect yourself from poverty. The moment some poor farmer came knocking on your door to beg for a few more grains to feed his son and you all you can do is stare at him pitily as your lord husband shooed him away. Let's see if you can escape it."
"Stop it, onegai. I don't wanna hear no more," Botan pleaded, her knees giving away and almost sunk on her knees when Kurama's powerful arms embraced her, and surprisingly, she found solace, warmth, safety - home.
"Are you listening to me? All I'm saying is that even if I am just one bloody thief, my troops can eat all the food they want, even more than three times a day. And that's what made them wanna work more, to be able to have more. Even if the whole world turns upside down, I can assure you that I could still provide for you, that you would still eat from a pure, straight, and clean living. All those bloody treasures stolen are locked away from anybody's reach and you don't have to be a part of it if you don't want to. I'm offering you a place in my territory and every time you can walk around it with your head held up high because you know you're not starving some poor farmer's family to be able to feed your children. Because you know your husband is the one working for your family. Think about it, Makai is cruel and this is as close as you can get to protection," he said softly, while stroking her back, loving the feel of her wrapped around his arms, wanting him, needing him.
"Don't leave me, onegai," Botan pleaded unknowingly as she cried on his chest, for the first time in her life, finding someone willing to take care of her as she had taken care of her family for so long.
"Never," Kurama murmured as he kissed her hair. "Never."
Minutes passed by and they continued holding each other just like that. Molding each other's body to fit perfectly with the other, as close as the two separate bodies can be, they could be one.
And soon, Botan's cry turned to sobs then to hiccups, her tears being absorbed by Kurama's robe. Odd, but his feminine scent gave her a comfort she never thought possible.
And right that instant, she knew. That it would be a mistake not to marry this kitsune. She wants everything in him, thief and all. So what if he's a thief? Everyone has their weaknesses. Maybe she can change him. Who knows? All she knew was that she'd never felt this comfortable in the arms of a stranger before. Not that she'd been in the arms of a stranger before. It felt so right.
"My lord - "
"Kurama. Or anything but nothing with the san or kun. I mean it," Kurama said, his tone may be firm but indicating softness.
"Very well. Kurama. If I marry you, can my little sister live with us?" Botan asked hopefully. She's the only one she can't leave behind. Her parents and older brother can survive on their own, having lesser mouths to feed. Maybe she could give them a few grains from time to time.
"Yes, she may. But I need to warn you that she has to give proper respect to me and to my two allies. They're cruel to any kind of disrespect. Do you understand that?" Kurama said, doubting if he was becoming too soft for the woman. Well, that ought to change as soon as they're back home. He can't possibly act like some soft-hearted man in front of all his troops. They would surely be horrified! But then, who could ever refuse when she turned those hopeful lavender eyes on him?
"Arigatou, you're so kind. Shall I send for her as soon as we get home?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she stared at his eyes. The golden color make it stand out as he was surrounded by his silver tresses.
"I will ask some of my troops to fetch her. A woman alone in the woods is not really safe, just like what I've told you," Kurama said simply and let go of her - regretfully. They need to get back or Kuronue and Reilan would worry about him. Besides, he needed to ask Reilan the information he got about the crown of the lord of the North Eastern Tribe. The crown representing his greediness for lords are not known to have a crown. Kurama himself do not have one, well, that is, if you won't consider the two crowns he'd stolen a long time ago.
"Oh, I never thought of that," Botan said, obviously disappointed when Kurama let go of her. "Shall we go back?"
"Yes, Kuronue and Reilan are waiting for us," Kurama said as matter of factly, and this time, he walked side by side with her, close, but not close enough to touch her.
"Who are they?" Botan wondered.
"My two friends and allies I was talking to you about," Kurama answered simply.
"Would they like me?" she asked again.
"They would love you."
Author's note: And this fic is supposed to be a humorous one! Humor! But look how it turned out. Sorry, I've been having a sad time when I was writing this. Besides, my pen was malfunctioning that instead of a comedy, it wrote a drama. I'll try to write a humorous one for the next chapter, ne?
Review or be turned into one of Raizen's son's farmer. (Oh, by the way, Yuusuke is not Raizen's son in this story. As we all know, Raizen is not the direct father of Yuusuke.)