Breaking Down
Waking slowly and groggily, Kurama felt a small amount of weight resting on his waist. Flicking his eyes up he found that somehow, during his sleep, he had curled up in Karasu's arms. Biting back a cry of surprise, he also noticed that his hair was red.
What the… Didn't he say that it would last for as long as I wanted? So then why…? Kurama thought confused, not daring to move, fearing Karasu's awakening. There must be some reason why I changed back… he pondered, straining to think if he had even considered wanting to be in his human form again. Finally remembering a horrible nightmare that he had, he realized why he was in his ningen body again.
Flashback to dream
"Why am I here?" Yoko asked aloud, mystified to why he was woken by an alarm clock. Outside his room he could hear soft footsteps coming towards his room when he didn't shut the blasted thing off.
"Shuichi, are you up? Your alarm is going off, you'll be late if you don't get up," a gentle, yet commanding voice called through the closed door. After giving a quick few knocks, she entered, expecting to see her red head son lazily still sleeping but instead… "W-who are you? W-what are you? Where's my son?" Shiori asked, deeply frightened by Yoko's appearance.
"What do you mean? I am your son," he said, before realizing what form he was in.
"My son isn't some silver haired, fox eared, I don't know what!" she exclaimed, scared and pale.
'Oh my God, she…she knows what I am… What do I do?' Yoko thought frantically, scared that she would bolt out of the room at any moment and call the police. Then remembering what he had to do to become his human form again, he quickly said the five magic words, 'I want to be human', and thus changed back into the red headed son that Shiori was used to, but the damage was done.
"Shuichi, is that really you? Or is that thing that was here just a second ago just making an image of you?"
"Mom, it's me, why are you so frightened?" Kurama asked, trying to sound like the innocent son she once knew.
"You even sound the same as him, just a touch higher… You… you're not my son, you… you're a demon!" she cried out, running from his room with tears in her eyes.
"Mom, no wait! Let me explain!" Kurama said desperately, catching up with his mother easily.
"Get away from me! Someone help me!" she screamed, frightening Kurama more.
'What have I done? This, this it can't be happening!'
End of dream flashback
Shaking the image of his mother's horrified look out of his eyes he slowly calmed down. I must've muttered those words in my sleep, and here I am… he considered, sighing inwardly. This is horrible, and it'll be worse when he wakes up and finds me like this… I know he'll have some snide remark like: 'it seems you're finally coming around, about time, I was wondering how long it'd take before I woke up to find you snuggling up next to me…' Damn it all… As Kurama continued his hateful thoughts, Karasu started to wake, forcing Kurama to feign sleep.
"Why is it so warm…?" Karasu wondered sounding dazed as he slowly opened his eyes. Finding his heat source in his arms, he held back a satisfied smile. Well this is rather unexpected, human and positioned like this… Probably be best not to wake him, I wouldn't want to spoil his rest… he thought, oblivious to the fact that Kurama was faking as he smoothly got out of the bed without waking the "slumbering" kitsune.
God is he an idiot, he can't even tell when I'm faking or not… Kurama thought as he remained motionless, relieved that Karasu hadn't caught on.
He'll probably be hungry when he "wakes". Calling me an idiot when he doesn't even mask his thoughts… Oh well, I'll let him think that he has me fooled, since it seems to give him comfort… Karasu thought, yawning as he left the room.
On returning he found that in his phony act, Kurama had actually fallen back asleep, revealing a true look of calm. I don't know why he thought I wouldn't catch onto his act; his expression is clearly different when he's truly asleep. Pity, it seems I'll have to wake him for real… Oh well, I'll just have to see that delectable face he makes when he wakes again…what a shame… he thought with sarcasm, setting the food he had brought on the table as he made his way over to him.
"Kura-ma," he whispered, drawing his name out in a silky seductive voice, trying to wake him. Seeing as his first attempt failed, he tried again in the same tone, only with a little more force. Finally beginning to stir, Karasu noticed with satisfaction that there was a slight blush on Kurama's face as he woke. It seems he likes that tone; perhaps he has more…physical feelings after all…
"Am I awake?" he muttered sleepily.
"I should hope so, your eyes are open and you're talking," Karasu remarked. Not waiting for a response, he asked, "Are you hungry?"
"Kind of I guess, why?"
"Why? Because its morning and I got us some food while you slept," he answered, lightly tossing an apple at him. While they ate, Kurama remained silent, and Karasu did the same. After they finished, Karasu spoke up. "You seem rather preoccupied today, you've barely said a word, is something wrong?"
"Just thinking I guess," he mumbled.
"Well now I know something is wrong, you normally would've remarked on how long I stayed quiet. Can you tell me what's wrong?"
"Nothing is bothering me, now leave me alone," Kurama snapped, glaring at the concerned crow. As if I could tell him why I'm angry… He'd just tell me that he was right… Damn it, where are they? Did they really leave me for dead?
"I guess I'll have to wait. I'll give you some time to think and hopefully when I return, you'll be willing to talk," Karasu said as he left the room, leaving Kurama alone to think over why his friends still hadn't come to his rescue yet.
-----------------
When Karasu finally returned, it was well into the afternoon and Kurama still seemed depressed, he could tell by his body language. He was sitting against the wall with his knees brought up to his chest held by his arms, andhis chin was resting on his knees demurely. Deciding talking would probably be the worst thing he could do, Karasu remained silent after he saw the kitsune's disposition.
Strange, I thought he would start talking the minute he came in, but I guess he thought better of it… He must finally be getting some brains… Kurama thought idly, glancing up when Karasu walked in.
Maybe I've been too hard on him… I mean he did save me, unlike those bastards that called themselves my friends and allies. Not only that, but he's taken good care of me since, even going as far as to heal my wounds with his own energy and listen to me…instead of that half-listening act I always got from Yusuke… Maybe I was too quick to judge… Kurama considered, still looking at Karasu, whose back was turned.
Feeling Kurama's uneasy gaze on his back, Karasu turned, thus making Kurama look away. Something is seriously wrong with him; I've never seen him act like this. Even though I haven't known him that long, it just doesn't seem like him… What could be making him so unsure of himself? Karasu thought, finally walking over to where Kurama was seated and kneeling in front of him.
"I know you don't want to tell me what's wrong, but you're starting to worry me. I really don't want to be forced to invade your thoughts, so could you please just at least hint to what it is?"
"Something you've been telling me all along…" Kurama said glumly, not meeting his gaze.
"Vague…but I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually…" Karasu decided, getting up to put space between them.
"I'm surprised that you haven't already," Kurama commented numbly, his normally bright green eyes seemingly dead with depression.
"Your friends…?" Karasu supplied gently, returning to his knees.
"They are not my 'friends'; no friend would leave another to die. This is the thanks I get after all I've done for them," Kurama replied bitterly, saying the word friend as if it were poison.
Ah, I thought as much… Karasu thought.
"I don't get why they acted like they cared about me. All the fuss they made when we fought team Masho, and when I fought you. They were the best liars that I ever knew… They really had me believing they gave a damn. But you can't care about someone when you leave them to die in cold blood. You were right about them all along…" Kurama murmured in pained voice.
"Kurama, I-I don't know how to respond to this. This…isn't like you," Karasu said, sounding stunned and deeply concerned at the same time.
"You'd feel the same if you were abandoned by people you thought you could trust. No one ever really cares in the end. I'm left alone again…"
"You're not alone, I'm here, and I know you could care less, but it's true."
"Spare me the lies. The only reason you've been acting like this is because you want me to come to your bed willingly. I can see right through you," Kurama retaliated cruelly.
"I know you hate me down to the last cell in my body, but don't think for a second more that the reason I'm doing this is to have you as a lover. It would be a dream come true if it did become that, but I already know that dreams never come true…"
"Oh, so you're doing this out of the kindness of your heart? Yeah right, if you're going to lie, at least make it a good one," Kurama interrupted.
"If you'd let me finish, I'm doing this because I truly began to like you while we fought. In the beginning I'll admit that I only felt lust for you…but after we fought…it all changed. You were everything I wanted to be, I envied you. You were, and still are, a free spirit that is beautiful and never gives up.
"After your final attack, I really thought you were going to die, and as my vision went black, I was distraught with regret. When I found you in the forest, I knew I had to save you. If I didn't…I'd never be able to live with myself… Now you know, and hopefully you understand, but if not, I guess I'll never go near you again so then you'll see that my actions aren't lust-driven," Karasu explained, turning his back and walked away.
As he started to walk away, Kurama rose to his feet to stop him from leaving. "If I find out that what you said was a lie, I'll kill you. Your fate will be the same if you betray me, but, I-I'm willing to trust you, so don't turn away…I don't have anyone else…" he said fiercely but his voice dropped to a mere whisper by the end.
"I would never turn my back on you, especially when I know that you don't have anyone…" Karasu replied his back still to Kurama as he spoke.
"If that's true, then why do you keep your back to me?" he implored.
"Because although I didn't save you for your body, it still…well, makes me weak, I'm ashamed to say. I don't want end up forcing something on you. That's why I can't face you at such a close range…" he answered, taking another step forward.
"That's how it always is… I never can be truly close to someone unless if it's a physical relation, but I understand."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. And what you said earlier wasn't exactly true; it is all entirely possible that we could be more than just friends, and the implied statement that you're not good looking wasn't true either.
"To be honest, when I saw you for the first time up close, I was shocked. To think someone who looked like you was on Toguro's team…that's part of the reason why I froze in the hall. I was startled by your forwardness. All I could do was stand there looking like an idiot."
"Well that changes a few things… To think that was what was on your mind when I was behind you. I was planning on doing something, but I couldn't carry it out when you swung at me like that…"
"And just what did you intend to do?"
"Well, if you must know, I was going to remove my mask for a second and…" he sighed, a faint blush on his face, knowing it was going to be embarrassing to tell, "Well…I was going to bite the back of your neck, but since you didn't allow me the time, it never occurred."
"You seriously must be part vampire or something…"
"Say what you will kitsune, but I heard you take a sharp breath when I mentioned biting…"
"Whatever…"
"You must have some strange fetish that you're not telling me, or you wouldn't get so flustered every time something like that comes up…" Karasu considered slyly, making Kurama turn a deeper shade of red. It seems I was wrong…he is an adolescent human after all…
"Would you shut up? It's not like that…"
"If that's not the case, then what is?"
"I don't know…"
"Next time, before you ridicule my "lying ability" why don't you work on your own?" Karasu said sardonically as he walked over and sat down on the bed.
"You're so full of it; just drop the topic would you?" Kurama demanded more than asking.
"Fine, fine, just don't make it so obvious you like it."
"Shut up!" Kurama yelled, only invoking laughter from Karasu.
Uh oh...could it be possible that Kurama is starting to fall for Karasu? -gasps- Wouldn't that just be the scandal of the year...lol. Well anyways, please review, I'll see you next time!