She laughed quietly and kissed his lips again. She pulled away after a long moment, grinning broadly. "Do I have to, my koi?"
"Yes. You need to sleep so you'll feel good in the morning..."
"And if I refuse?"
He sighed and picked her up bridestyle, heading for the stairs. "Your room is on the second floor of this place, okay? I'll be right next door to you and Eri's just above you."
She cuddled up close to his chest. "Okay."
He smiled, gulping quietly as he pushed open the door to her room. He walked over and set her down gently on the bed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Good night..."
She looked at him for a second, then grabbed his arm and- catching him off balance- pulled him down on top of her, her arms linking around his neck. "Leaving now?"
The corners of his mouth twitched into a smile. "I need to talk to Rhys and Edan about what our first move against Vered is..."
She gave him a long, slow kiss, then let go. "Alright."
He nodded and left the room, his cheeks burning. That girl... He sighed and shook his head.
Rhys turned the stove off, glaring at his helpless fettucine. If Edan hurt Eri's feelings, he would pound him into chalk dust. He didn't care how bad Vered would squash them without Edan. Eri had been through far too much already. Rhys took deep breaths and closed his eyes, letting his normally perfect posture slump.
"Hey, Rhys. What's up?"
Rhys turned around and saw Jacob standing there in the doorway to the stairs. "Nothing much. I'm cooking, though. Are you hungry?"
"Well... yeah. If you don't mind..."
"Oh, not at all." Rhys smiled and began cooking more quickly.
Eri thought she might throw herself out of the window right then and there as she heard Edan padding up the stairs to her room. How in the seven hells was she going to get away with this! She was as dead as a turkey on Thanksgiving wearing a bullseye target on her back. Dead dead dead.
The door creaked slightly as it opened and there stood.
Vered.
Eri screamed and ran for the window to make well of that previous statement, but too late. She was in Vered's grasp. He chuckled as he kissed her forehead lightly. "Miss me?"
Eri spat in his face.
That only seemed to amuse him more. He walked over to the window and leaped out, landing perfectly despite the fact that they were so high up. They were gone before Eri could scream again...
Hiei didn't wait for the fox to notice him this time. He just slipped in through the window and sat on the bed, across from where Kurama was studying at his desk. The fox turned in the chair and smiled at Hiei. "What brings you here?"
The Imiko stared at him expressionlessly. "What should we do about Sosaku?"
Kurama's expression turned dark and he turned back around. "I've already handled that, Hiei. I can't be with her." He started to write a paper for his Literature class.
Hiei frowned. "She's heartbroken, fox. As hard as it is for me to say it, she loves you. I'm the one she comes to about this as strange as that is... And Kairai... I don't think she would have wanted it this way..." He bit his lip and looked at the floor.
"Hiei... It's not a good idea." Kurama answered firmly without turning around.
The Imiko stared at Kurama's back. "Is it Yoko?"
The fox's hand stilled its writing and he fell silent.
"You're afraid of being unable to control yourself? Is that it?" In the back of his mind, the Imiko knew he was pushing it.
Kurama seemed to bristle. "Hiei, we've been friends for a long time... Don't screw it up."
"I'm not. You're just being cold. Why can't you trust Sosaku? She LOVES you."
"SHUT UP!" Kurama snapped.
Hiei glared at the back of the fox's head. Something seemed strange... yet somehow familiar.
"You don't understand, Hiei! If something happened to her, I... I-I..." He paused. "Get out. Go away, Hiei..."
The Imiko snarled and slipped out the window, long gone before Kurama could even blink.
It was then that a tear trickled down the beautiful fox's cheek.
Sosaku sighed as she quickly dressed. She had made her mind up. She knew Hiei was going to speak with the fox, but she just couldn't keep herself away long enough. She was going to go straight to Kurama's house. She could only hope he wouldn't send her away.
She began to comb her black hair, though it was so damn short it didn't really need it. It never got tangled. She looked herself over in the full-length mirror. She wore a thickly-striped red and black shirt, with her old worn-in jeans. Not worn-out, just worn-in. She smiled at her reflection. Not too bad.
She glanced at her floral makeup bag on the end of the bed. Nah... She didn't want to look at all fake. Besides, she had demonic good looks. Why did she even HAVE makeup?
She put on a black scarf, because it was a little chilly outside now, and headed for the door. Just as her fingers touched the doorknob, she shied away, blushing. She couldn't do this... She grabbed the doorknob with resolve. "I have to." she said quietly to herself.
She flung the door open and hurried down the stairs before she could have any more second thoughts. She walked down the street quickly towards Kurama's house. She was almost there.
Kurama sighed as the doorbell rang, rubbing his face on his shirt sleeve. He ran for the stairs and the door. When he got there, he glanced out the window. He almost fell over when he saw Sosaku standing there. He opened the door slightly. "Hello..." he said, trying to keep his tone normal.
Sosaku gave him a sad smile. "Can we talk?"
He sighed and opened the door the rest of the way, stepping aside to allow her entrance. He wasn't sure if it was a bad idea or not, so he just gave silent agreement. He walked into the living room, knowing she would be right behind him after she kicked off her shoes. He went from there to the kitchen. He didn't even realize he was doing things the exact same way he always did with her. "Are you hungry? Thirsty?" he asked kindly from the kitchen.
Sosaku did something different this time. She walked into the kitchen after him, pulling off her scarf and setting it on the counter. The fox had his back turned to her, and he hadn't heard her. She grinned. She could do so much with an oppurtunity like this... She was a youkai too- who ever said she couldn't be seductive? Or at least make a fool of herself trying to be.
Sosaku gently played with the tips of Kurama's long, red hair, and he turned around quickly. Was that a blush? He gripped the counter with both hands, backed up against it. He wished he was small enough to just hide in a cabinet.
The raven-haired youkai smirked and reached up slightly to play with his hair some more. "So..." she said quietly, "Are you still Yoko, or are you just Kurama?"
The fox REALLY wanted to hide then. That was almost enough of a taunt to rouse his former self to take over his body, which could end very badly. "Don't, Sosaku..." he whispered, surprised at his own weak protest. That wouldn't have frightened a mouse away! He felt Yoko prodding at the back of his mind, wanting to be let out.
Sosaku chuckled and kissed his lips, making a cute smacking noise. Just lightly, so that it was over before it began. She hoped he would want more.
Kurama pressed himself back as hard as he could, feeling the counter begin to bruise his perfect bum. He really hated himself right then. How could he let himself be trapped? And by a GIRL? Oh, this just wasn't right. HE was supposed to be dominant, not the female. It was then that he couldn't hold back anymore, and...
Out came Yoko.
Sosaku grinned as she watched Kurama's hair appear to be dipped into a pool of molten silver. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were a piercing gold. He was... beautiful. The girl could think of no other way to describe it.
Yoko wrapped his arms around her. "Konnichiwa, kodomo... Kore o mae ni shita koto ga arimasu ka?"
She tried to hide her apprehension. "Done what?"
He chuckled. "Sekkusu o suru..."
Her heart did a backflip. "N-No..." What had she gotten herself into?
"Yoi... Daijobu dakara shinpai shinaide." He smirked, kissing her gently.
Sosaku blushed, a muscle in her left leg tensing as she felt the fox's sweet tongue enter her mouth. She hesitantly did the same to him and moaned, closing her eyes. Wherever this might take her, she prayed Kurama would be there with her. Yoko picked her up easily and carried her up the stairs... to Kurama's bedroom.
End Chapter Seven
