Chapter 8: An Unexpected Visit
The warm water circled around Kurama's legs as he stepped into the bath tub. After getting so stressed and trying to put on a good act, he was tired. He closed his eyes and let his mind ramble on with random thoughts. The steam cleared his senses with each relaxed breath.
This is so nice… It feels like it's been way too long since I just relaxed… And maybe it had been.
----
"How's Kura-ah-oo-Kurumi been doing?" Yusuke asked, his eyes stuck on the moon. He leaned back on the roof, letting his left foot slide from being tucked near his butt. Pieces of shingle rolled from the slope and hit the wood deck below.
Botan smiled in her companion's direction, "great… But, she misses her brother."
Yusuke sighed, wondering when they'd be able to have normal conversations again, "I'm sure he'll come back…"
Botan nodded as a reply.
Kurama wrapped a white towel around his body and slipped into his room, unnoticed. He closed the blinds and searched through his pajamas.
Nighty, nighty, nighty, too revealing, not warm enough…
He spotted the Chinese styled pajamas: pink-ish-red with gold and silver designs, light-pink rimming, long sleeved shirt and matching pants.
Once the pink ribbon from his thick hair was unraveled, he took his hair out of the ponytail-braid. The fox sprit tossed the ribbon onto a pile of pajama pants, yawned, and got into his soft, warm bed. He curled up under the sheets. He flipped an unruly wave from his face and closed his weary eyes.
How much longer do I have to keep up this act?… Will everything turn out okay? Boy, it's odd trying to be a girl…
He flipped onto his left side and let his arm loosely land on the floor.
He rolled onto his back, groaning.
He moved back to his first position.
Mmm… I can't sleep… Maybe I should go outside, get some fresh air?…
The grass was cool on his bare feet. The moon hung high and bright in the azure sky. The stars twinkled in slow rhythms. The wind rustled the trees with a gentle breeze every now and then. The serene and delicate night brought hope back into Kurama's heart.
Yes, everything is going to be fine…
"Kurumi-san."
The words hit Kurama like an icy cold tidal wave. Tashi! That was Tashi's voice! Kurama turned around slowly, heart beating wildly, eyes searching. He soon found the source of the voice---a tall tree. "Tashi?" He cried, scared in a way.
Tashi's eyes were glowing a light aqua as they looked back into Kurama's. The shadowed enemy jumped off the tree and landed fifteen feet away from Kurama. He began talking and walking toward Kurama---sending chills up Kurama's spine and adding another beat to his heart---
"I know everything," Tashi implied roughly, "I know, about you, Kurama,"
Kurama held his breath, fists clenched and squeezing, thoughts rambling, heart pounding. This is it! It's over! He knows! He called me Kurama! How can this be?
His train of thought was soon pushed out by more of Tashi's speech.
"Kurama left you, Kurumi!" Tashi's words stunned, Kurama, "he left you! You and your friends! I'm sorry, I will kill him, but… Shigan also left me… My only brother… Gone! Forever!" Tashi was now, standing tall, facing Kurama.
Kurama's jaw dropped.
"Don't forget that I'm here, Kurumi. We can stick together…"
Kurama wasn't sure how to answer, or what to say, but thought about Botan. "You have to look ready for love, you know?" She's a girl, if she were in my spot, what would she do?
But most girls in Kurama's position would most likely go crazy for Tashi. And he wasn't about to do that…
"Thank you for your comfort, Tashi, but I love my brother more than any other man alive… He was always there for me… Always." Kurumi gave a delicate smile.
Tashi nodded, "But is he here for you now?"
The brunette sighed and set his hands on Kurama's shoulders, again increasing Kurama's heartbeat. Tashi leaned in and whispered, "you'll understand… After his death, trust me…"
Tashi stepped back and faded into the shadows. Kurama realized he had been holding his breath through the whole approach. He let out a gasp of relief.
He really is a bad guy… Trying to convince my sister---err, if I had one---like that! Why not keep me alive? He's twisted…
Tashi had no idea that he literally just said, "I will kill you, Kurama, and I will not give up."
The cross-dressing fox spirit glared in the direction of his adversary. The world's adversary.
TBC Tsuzuku
Wow, Tashi's got issues!