deliciae

I Return to You : Chapter 8.

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deliciae: ^_^ Thank you starlightgirl, Suzaku Seiryu, and anonymous for your reviews, I've decided to go with your overwhelming majority answer of "D"—and possibly an mpreg (we'll just have to see won't we). ::watches as door opens::

Muse: ::Walks into room, carrying MiniMiniMuse::

MiniMiniMuse: ::looking over Muse's shoulder with an evil grin, while holding onto a leash connected to MiniMuse::

Muse: _ I really, really hate you deliciae! I really do!!

deliciae: What did I do this time, Muse?

Muse: You won't keep your little fuzz-ball away from my MiniMiniMuse…and I'm really getting mad at MiniMiniMuse lately because of it.

deliciae: Hey, Muse-sama, don't blame me. I've been busy for the past month and a half, with the other stories and with school. It's not my fault my brat is always getting picked on by your… your… ::growls::

Muse: ::holds up a fist, snarling:: I'm going to get you deliciae! ::releases MiniMiniMuse, watches as it attacks deliciae, smirking:: On with the ficcy!!

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Warnings: AU. OOC-ness. Yaoi. Don't like, don't read, don't flame. Simple as that.

Disclaimer: I don't own it. Never will. But Muse does own: herself, MiniMuse, MiniMiniMuse, and me, deliciae… It is uncertain if she owns, Kuro, though.

Pairings: Youko x Kuronue; Kurama x Kuro; Yusuke x Koenma.

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/…/ Youko to Shuuichi

//…// Shuuichi to Youko

\…\ Kuronue to Kuro

\\…\\ Kuro to Kuronue

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            Kuro groaned as sunlight streamed into the cave, and reflected off the limitless loot. The shine bounced directly onto the still slumbering individual, awakening him. Blinking a dark blue-violet eye open, he glanced around the room sleepily, then closed it as he chose to return to sleep. However, the distinct body heat of Kurama was gone, and the bed was cold. That made the scythe-master awaken quickly, just in time for Kurama to slip through the hidden doorway.

            "I trust you slept well?" The redhead asked softly, and Kuro smiled sheepishly, "Like the dead." Kurama nodded then leaned over and kissed his boyfriend on the lips. "So where did you go?" Kuro asked, curious as to where the plant-master had disappeared.

            "I scouted the area. It hasn't changed that much since we were last here." Kurama looked away, and then continued, "I wish we could just stay here." He leaned against the wall, his mind adrift in memories. Kuro climbed beside Kurama, wrapped in a fur-blanket. "Don't worry, we will return here."

            Those words held an unspoken promise, and the humanized-youko's lips twitched into a smile. "Yes, we will return." Silence filled the room, save for the soft breathing of both individuals as time passed. It was true that Kurama wished he were able to remain in Makai with Kuro, but he knew they had their obligations to the Ningenkai, obligations that had come with the human bodies their demon souls inhabited. Yet, a wistful smile crossed Kurama's lips, they would return…

            A crash outside startled the humanized-youko from his musing, then a smile lurked as a cry echoed through the forest. It appeared that someone had come across the hidden cave and had met, unfortunately, with the plants that protected it. "Kuro! Kurama! Call off the plants!!" Wide dark blue-violet eyes met those of emerald; both were shocked by the tenor voice belonging to that of the Reikai Tantei leader.

            Looking outside the cave cautiously, the two thieves were amused to see Yusuke wrapped up in a cocoon of vines. "You're lucky, Yusuke," Kurama stated, "For some reason, my plants took pity on you."

            The dark-haired Detective looked none too happy, though, and quickly the plant-master released him from his bindings. After dusting himself off, Yusuke frowned at the duo, "You know, Koenma is about to place you both on permanent probation for that stunt. But he'll reconsider it if you give up the things you took."

            Quickly Kuro hurried into the cave to fetch the items, for he feared the possible repercussion. Being on a permanent probation meant being stuck in Ningenkai until their mortal death, then having Koenma judge them based on their deeds, both as youkai and as humans, and then being either released into the Makai as youkai, or being sent onto their eternal rest. That was one thing that the humanized-chimera dreaded and feared the most.

            Outside, Yusuke looked around the cave, and remarked to Kurama, "This isn't a bad place you got, Fox-boy." Kurama frowned at the nickname, but replied, "Yes. I found this place just prior to my partnership with Kuronue."

            "Oh," was the single word uttered in reply, just before Kuro walked out, lugging a bag full of ancient artifacts. "Here they are, Yusuke." The bag clinked as it was passed from one's possession to the other. Yusuke held the bag and smiled lightly, "Well, it was nice doin' business with ya. I'll be seein' ya around." Both demons nodded agreement, and the half-youkai smiled then started walking away.

            After this small intrusion into their time away, the two thieves decided it might be best to return to the Ningenkai for a while, to resume their regular lives.

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            It was different for both humanized-youkai once they had returned and continued with their daily lives. Now since the other's identity was known, it meant more, and both began to spend more time with the other; they were almost inseparable.

            School continued without a hitch, as Kuro and Kurama fought to be the best of their class. Outside class, the two sparred to strengthen Kuro's skills, and become closer as boyfriends as well as comrades.

            For months it seemed nothing happened. There were no rogue youkai, no missions, nothing, which was almost a blessing. The seasons passed by flawlessly, from fall to spring.

            It was then, during the late spring, that Kuro and Kurama chose to take a walk through the nearest park, to admire the flowering sakura trees. Drifts of petals danced on the breeze, swirling around the couple. It was a lovely sight indeed for the two, and Kurama smiled happily. It pleased him greatly to see the trees in full bloom, at the peak of their beauty.

            However, as they continued to walk through the park, Kuro's nose twitched. There was an unusual odor nearby, a faintly familiar scent. He sniffed lightly, and his dark eyes widened. \It can't be…\ Kuronue whispered from deep within Kuro, after recognizing the forgotten scent.

            \\What is it? What does it mean?\\ Kuro asked mentally to his other half, as he glanced at Kurama out of the corner of his eye. The kitsune had yet to register the foreign scent, which bought Kuronue a small amount of time. \It's been over 300 years since last time…\

            Kuro was becoming agitated at Kuronue's cryptic answers, but he knew pressuring the chimera was not an answer. \The Heat…\ Those words created confusion at first in the human youth, and then his dark eyes widened with knowledge. Quickly he turned to Kurama, and frowned apologetically, "Kurama, I have to get home. I had forgotten Father needed me back tonight…"

            The plant-master nodded his agreement, and stated softly, "I'll see you tomorrow, Kuro." A gentle kiss was exchanged just before the humanized-chimera bolted. Once Kuro was out of sight, Kurama sighed. He knew that Kuro's father had left on a business trip, as Kuro had told him all about it. Perplexed, the redheaded human frowned, but left the incident alone, as he turned and headed towards his apartment.

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            Throughout the night, the black-haired scythe-master twisted in his blankets. His body was drenched in sweat, his nightclothes stuck to his skin, as he thrashed about. Kuro's ki was uncontrolled, raising and falling with each passing second. A look of pain was on the youth's face, yet there was nothing that could ease it.

            Kuronue growled from inside Kuro. He was able to feel the changes in temperature, in ki, and especially, in scent from Kuro, and knew that as the clock chimed the wee hours, the heat had taken hold. However, the chimera fought against his own biology, until he traded places with his human-self.

            It was unusual for Kuronue to be out; yet, at this time it was necessary. A sharp pain lanced through his body, and he tilted his head upwards, crying out into the night sky. It was the first time that he was unable to control his heat, and the pain forced him into a fetal position. For a blessed moment, Kuronue was thankful that his human father had left, and then as the pain returned, he wondered how he was going to cope.

            Once again the pain receded from his body, and he relaxed lightly. However, the pain raged yet again, he fell into unconsciousness.

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            As Kuronue fell unconscious in his father's house, Kurama bolted awake in his apartment. He knew something was the matter, and wondered what it was. Quickly he dressed, having the gut feeling it dealt directly with Kuro, and hurried out the door, only pausing to lock it behind him.

            With a burst of ki, Kurama rushed into the late night, with only one thing on his mind—Kuro. Once he arrived at the darkened house, he halted. A long forgotten scent permeated the air, only to be recognized as he pushed open the door. /The Heat…/

            That statement alone sent a chill down the kitsune's neck, as he recalled how bad it had been as Youko to go into heat. However, it was worse for a chimera, since they did not go into heat that often. /We need to leave, Shuuichi, before…/

            Youko's warning went unheeded, as worry had taken precedent in Kurama's mind. Yet, the scent was taking its toll on the humanized-fox. It wouldn't be long until he succumbed, and that was what worried Youko. As Kurama, or rather Shuuichi, pushed open the door to Kuro's room, Youko switched places with his other.

            /It is for your own good…/ The concern was evident in Youko's statement, as he calmed Shuuichi's frazzled nerves. But that was before he noticed the unconscious form of his chimera partner on the bed. "Kuronue!?!" He cried before leaping to the scythe-master's side, and shaking him after he sat onto the bed.

            Dark blue eyes opened, and then blinked away the blurriness. "Youko?" His voice was soft, pain-filled, but relieved. "Yes," was the simple reply stated just before Kuronue latched himself onto the Fox. "Please… please, Youko. Help me."

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TBC.

Muse: Since deliciae is "indisposed" at the moment… ::hands MiniMiniMuse a new flamethrower:: MiniMiniMuse, you'd better not break it on deliciae! ::MiniMiniMuse smirks, then leaves:: Anyways, as I was saying… deliciae left this as a cliffy for you, the readers. She has an idea (I hope) as to where it's going to continue, but she'd just like to know what you want for the continuation. We're going to go with the choice of D from our poll. But we can't continue if you, the readers don't review. I—err, deliciae lives on reviews. But if we don't get a lot of reviews, this fic will just be pushed to the back of the list, then it will be updated after the others are completed. Well, hope you, the readers, review—everything is accepted: comments, criticism, and flames. And 'til next time…