A/N: Hello once again, Dearest Yu Yu Hakusho lovers!
What a great way to start out my new posting schedule, eh? An hour and a half late. And my excuse is lame. I was playing League of Legends and completely forgot. Please forgive me, senpai! Muah!
Eighty chapters. ...good grief what were we thinking. The funny thing is, CM and I are still bouncing ideas back and forth for parts of the story that we'll have to write through TWO other "sections" before we even get to them.
I hope you're enjoying the ride as much as we did/are.
Symbols Guide:
* : Written by CM; She writes for Akari and Hiei
3 : Written by Star (supposed to be the 'heart' symbol, but FF doesn't like the 'less-than' sign, so it's a 3 instead); She writes for Toriko/Shikiyoku and Youko/Kurama
~!**!~ : A universal transition between scenes or characters, sometimes used to indicate a passage of time, but most often used to transition between major scenes that are happening. As the story progresses, this will evolve into mainly separating the (usually two) scenes happening between authors/characters.
As a general rule, anything in italics is thoughts.
Unless it's used in a sentence like this, which merely indicates emphasis.
[Anything written in italics inside square brackets is Youko speaking to Shuichi/Kurama inside their mind and is private conversation, unable to be picked up by telepathy.]{Anything written in italics inside curly brackets is inner dialogue by Shuichi/Kurama to Youko, and is also private conversation, unable to be picked up by telepathy.}
"Quotations are usually reserved specifically for telepathic dialogue being transmitted from one being to another, but sometimes this can also mean a character isn't being careful about what they're thinking and anyone with telepathy in the nearby vicinity can listen in without taking any effort."
The only exception to that last rule is for the Shiba Inu dog, Nabu. All of his "spoken" dialogue will be in italics and quotations, but is communicated through body language or dog-like noises, so unless a character is able to translate those they are unlikely to pick up on what he is saying any more than the average person might understand his general moods like aggression (bared teeth, ears back) or excitement (wagging tail).
Previously on Yu Yu Hakusho!
Shikiyoku gets to meet a phoenix that Hiei accidentally met one day as he fell from the cliff of his home,
and subsequently the two of the are introduced to the phoenix's rambunctious brood, six hatchlings.
As they fall asleep there, Shikiyoku is haunted by nightmares of Kyonshi, the first demon she ever killed directly,
and in her sleep she changes forms in reaction to the invisible threat inside her mind.
She is, however, completely lucid once awakened by Hiei, and the fire demon scoops her up to carry her back to her home,
where he expects, and hopes, to find Kitoushi so that the cat demon can change her as Hiei believes he cannot.
Her nightmares still haunt her as Hiei watches over her until Kitoushi appears, in full pet form.
Having been stuck in pet form for so long, Kitoushi has to spend a certain amount of time at night looking like Maneshi.
Hiei remains in the room to watch over Shikiyoku as Kitoushi curls up near her head.
~!**!~
Akari remembers her scheduled meeting with Kurama in the meadow and her and Nabu travel there,
arriving at roughly the same time as Youko's avatar.
Nabu informs Kurama that he is there to cash in on the 'rain-check' that he made with Youko
in regards to chasing butterflies.
This causes a realization that Nabu does not actually know about 'Kurama' and 'Youko'
as he only sees one being, namely a tall silver-haired fox complete with tail and ears.
"There is only one of me," Kurama tells the Shiba Inu, "But I share this body with another."
He then extends the butterfly chasing offer to Akari...
Nabu's head turned ever so slightly, though it didn't seem to phase the insect on the end of his snout. "Two in one?"
Akari sighed just a little. "As fun as that sounds, I think… I'll pass. I know I just had a nap, but running around isn't as fun anymore."
It isn't the same as running with a pack. All of which I want nothing to do with.
She waved her hand in the air, and Nabu turned to look at her fully, sending the butterfly into the air. "You knew there was two different people in one? And you didn't say anything?"
"To be fair, Nabu, I thought you knew. I didn't consider the thought that you saw only the demonic spirit, and not the human body it shared with the human soul. Also, it hasn't really ever crossed my mind until recently."
"It would've been useful to know when- what did you call him? Foko?- was around. But, it's still confusing. How do I know which is which?"
Akari pointed a finger at the basket she'd laid eyes on earlier. "What's that?" After all, she didn't have an answer for Nabu. *
Kurama frowned at Nabu, "I'm not really for certain what you can and cannot see, so I'm afraid I'm no help at the moment. Youko is...indisposed, but remind me some other time. I'm sure he'd be as interested as I to attempt to assist you."
Kurama blatantly ignored Akari's question, instead winking at her and lifting up his palm to his lips in her direction.
This time when he blew across it, dozens of the same butterfly as the one fluttering about Nabu's head appeared out of thin air in an almost violent manner, their wings beating the air softly as they whirl-winded in Akari's direction, delicately parting around her and flowing like a cloud down the rest of the meadow.
"If you'll excuse me for a little while," Kurama gave her a small smile, "I did make a promise. Or rather, I intend to keep the promise that has been made."
Kurama leaned forward as if to go onto all fours, but his shape shifted before his hands hit the ground, a flurry of silver coalescing over his body until revealing a body with fur of the same color, standing only a foot or so taller than Nabu.
The regal fox held his head high, tail in much the same position as his nose sniffed at the air for a moment before he gave the tiniest leap backwards from Nabu, making hardly a sound on the meadow as he bowed playfully at the dog, jaw snapping once at the air excitedly. 3
Akari blinked and only slightly flinched away from the swarm that flew at her, relaxing when she realized the insects went around her effortlessly. For a moment, she remembered the first time she'd been with Foko, when his plant had done the same thing after Otento had shown up.
She blinked, rolled her eyes and waved a hand in the air by her face. "Don't hold back on my account. I'm just here to watch."
"You're missing out!" Nabu told her as he mirrored the fox's pose, his tail wagging in the air with excitement and his tongue lolling after he gave a short, playful bark. She smiled at the dog as she watched him bound forward, and around the sleek fox, only sparing a single glance back before he took to running after the insects.
She turned to the basket curiously, considering it for a moment before giving a sigh and instead turning her back onto it as she lowered herself to sit cross-legged on the ground.
She'd wait, because really, the idea of her hands going through the basket Kurama hadn't directly offered to her…
Well, to say the least, the image of Isamu going through her things stayed her curiosity. *
As soon as Nabu took off, Kurama had risen, a single paw lifting as if to take off after him, but he paused in mid-step, turning to look at Akari with unblinking, yellow eyes.
When he moved it was almost as if he did not take steps, though instead of going forward, he turned and flowed in the opposite direction, gracefully prancing past Akari, though he turned and gave her hand a lick as he passed, and trotting over to the basket, where he sashayed around it and then ducked his head, pushing it in her direction a few scoots before stopping, his gaze meaningful but brief as he quickly stepped back around it in the direction Nabu had gone, and practically disappeared as he shot after the dog. 3
Akari's eyes had been on Nabu for a few moments before she realized the fox wasn't following, which brought them to the silver body that had paused. She raised a brow curiously and gave a smile to match, waving a hand in a "go on" gesture.
She followed his lithe movements as he passed, both brows raised now. "I hope you don't use that method to get my attention in human form." she joked, giving a small nod when his head reappeared over the basket after moving it a few inches. She held the yellow gaze for a brief moment before he was gone, joining her friend in the grass and butterflies.
You're just like him. A ball of fun and adorableness. She gave a small laugh to herself as she reached for the basket, pulling it towards herself and peeking inside, making no hesitation for the first piece of bread she laid her sights on before lowering the blanket back over the warm contents. No use in letting it get cool.
"There are so many!" Nabu's voice rang over the meadow, earning a laugh from Akari. *
Kurama would have thanked the fox for the use of this form had the silver-haired demon not been still with slumber inside his mind, so he left Youko undisturbed and focused on the 'butterflies' he had released.
It didn't take him long to actually snatch a hold of one in his teeth, and he did it so lightly that when he stopped after having leapt in the air and opened his jaw, the butterfly took off again, joining its brethren in the cloud they gathered into while flying about.
He paused in place after losing the butterfly among all the look-alikes and watched Nabu for a moment, foxy mouth hanging open in a toothy grin. 3
Nabu bounced, and bounced, and bounced as often as he could. Once his feet hit the ground, he was jumping again, snapping playfully at the insects that evaded him almost effortlessly. He was half sure he was jumping in circles, but he didn't check because..
Well, because butterflies. They were everywhere, and by the time he caught one, he was releasing it and making an attempt to grab at another, not noticing when a tooth would puncture the wing of the butterfly. He also didn't notice that the hole seemed to disappear and the insect would take flight again, returning to the frenzy the dog had become as he leapt and jumped and barked in happiness.
"Akari's missing out!"
"It isn't missing out if I don't want to join, Nabu!"
"Akari's missing ou- Got another one!" *
Kurama blustered the crowd of butterflies with his energy and sent them flying forward, then set himself chasing after them, his energy keeping them moving at a rapid pace as he let go of his instruction and they kept flying just out of reach. 3
Akari watched the scene with avid interest and a surplus amount of amusement as Nabu continued to jump and hop, sometimes stumbling and regaining his footing with ease that hinted he didn't even know he'd stumbled. She occasionally glanced to the fox when he gained her attention, running about almost calmly- an odd picture when compared to the exuberant Nabu- before he seemed to slow down a little.
Nabu had to have run by him twice before he noticed he was likely to run into the fox and took to being more careful of his steps.
And here I thought I'd never see such a spectacle again. Her thoughts were ones of amusement and slight awe, silently thanking and laughing at the fox who had created the scene effortlessly.
Too bad you can't join them, the little voice in the back of her head whispered, making her pause mid-chew and look down at the bread in her hand. She took a deep breath, swallowed, and looked up again, smile back in place and thought gone entirely, replaced with the nagging words of Isamu asking her to "run with the pack" again.
Heh. As if.
She was perfectly content sitting here and watching the two in the meadow run about like goofballs. Especially when Nabu ducked underneath the fox at the last second to avoid a collision. *
The next time Kurama successfully caught one of the fluttering insects, he trotted purposefully back towards Akari, coming up next to her and opening his jaw to gently place the butterfly on her leg, sitting down with his tail swishing once in the grass behind him before his image faded and he was lounging next to her.
"So, you're really not going to join us?" 3
AKari shoved the last bit of the piece of bread into her mouth just as she noticed the fox making his way towards her, insect between his teeth and tail swishing here and there. She leaned forward just a bit, resting her left elbow on her leg and raising a brow at the fox when he set the butterfly on her knee.
"Cute," she commented as she stared down at it, small smile still in place. She stuck a finger near the insect's antennae, earning the feeling of it crawling onto her digit and resting on her index finger, where it calmly opened and closed its wings once in a while.
She didn't look at Kurama when he spoke, instead admiring his handiwork with what she now knew to be a plant, not an actual insect. "Well, I'm sure it would be funny to see arms flailing in the air for these little things, I think I'm content just where I'm at." She lifted the butterfly in front of her face for closer inspection. "This is... " She paused, giving a small laugh.
"Is there anything you can't do?" *
"Lots of things." Kurama quipped entirely too quickly. "Unless it is something you wish for me to do." He turned his face to look at her, head tilted just slightly to the side. "Anything come to mind?" 3
Akari turned her eyes to the redhead with a raised brow, considering him for a moment before her smile widened and she gave a huff that resembled a scoff. She turned to the 'butterfly' again and took to inspecting it just a bit more before it took flight, her eyes following it until she was watching Nabu bouncing around again.
"Nothing specific," she finally responded. "I'm not exactly a picky person about things. And really, if I want something, it's rare I ask for it. Since, y'know, I could just get it myself." *
"How disheartening." Kurama pined, reaching over Akari to the basket and retrieving an apple from inside before turning and laying with his back on the grass, one arm behind his head as he lifted the apple to his lips and took a bite. 3
"Disheartening?" Akari repeated with a raised brow as she turned to stare unblinkingly at him. She didn't see the issue; why bother someone else over something she could just as easily acquire on her own? Especially someone who had other priorities, such as a family they wanted to look after. She gave a small breath of a laugh and turned to watch Nabu again.
"I'm sure the infamous fox thief can withstand it, yes?" *
"He isn't who we're talking about here, now is it?" He had chewed and swallowed his bite before speaking, taking another and doing the same. "I suppose I'll just have to keep doing things for you that you don't know how to ask for." 3
"Is that so?" Akari spoke almost absently, smile still playing on her features as Nabu's form suddenly disappeared in the grass, his body low enough in the tall greenery that he was well hidden within its depths. "Care to give an example?" she intoned just as the dog burst upward, sending the insects scattering again with a loud bark of enthusiasm.
I wasn't aware I was indirectly asking of anything? *
"You mean of things you would never ask for yourself?" He rolled over onto his side, facing her, head propped up with the hand that wasn't fiddling with the apple in his fingers. "Now, where would the fun be in me telling you?" 3
Akari gave a hum at Kurama before slowly turning her eyes onto him, considering him for a moment before giving a shrug. "I suppose if it were the other way around, I'd say the same." Her lips twitched into a lopsided smile this time before she made a face at him. She crinkled her nose and pursed her lips, adding to the expression with playfully narrowed eyes. *
"Can it?" His eyes gleamed, "Be the other way around, I mean?" 3
Akari's expression turned thoughtful. "Are you asking me if I would do something for you, or if I would do something without you asking?" she intoned, not really sure which direction he was taking. Because, really….
She wouldn't hesitate if he asked something of her. However, if he didn't ask…
Well, she wasn't exactly a mind reader. She wasn't… as observant as he was. Would she be able to pick out something he didn't know how to ask for?
Highly unlikely that's even a thing. *
Kurama chuckled at her response, sitting up and taking another bite of the apple, his expression turning a little more serious.
"I...have something for you. If you'll accept it." 3
Akari raised a brow in curiosity. He was going to ask her for something? That was odd, since really, she'd always seen it as one sided. As if he'd never have anything to ask of her. "Well, it isn't like I can say no, hm? I'm all ears." She paused and turned her eyes upwards, as if imagining the ears that had once been atop her head. "Metaphorically speaking, that is." *
Kurama solemnly reached back over her for the basket, picking it up and placing it next to himself, the apple disappearing inside as he appeared to search the contents within for something.
When his hand came back out, there was an object that could be called little besides a 'bracelet' encircling his fingers.
It was obviously made out of petals which seemed to gleam like emeralds and were attached around a jasper-colored bit of what was likely a vine of some sort.
The entire thing looked rather delicate as he held it out between them.
"There is a flower that blooms only once every few hundred years." He started to explain, looking down at the bracelet. "And its petals are coveted by many for the strange properties they bestow when eaten. The flower has simply been called 'Hope.'" He could feel the life beating in the plant resting over his fingers. "And it is believed that when one is in their darkest hour, if you do not have food or water, and find yourself in the depths of despair, a single petal from the flower will restore and rejuvenate you, bringing light to whatever darkness has come to rest over your very soul. Bringing...hope, as it were." He extended the bracelet towards her.
"I would like you to wear it. If it pleases you." 3
Akari leaned back a bit when Kurama reached over her for the basket, more to be out of his way than anything else. She watched curiously as he dug within the basket, her eyes following the motions he made before his hands withdrew from the object, holding a small circle she could easily see to be an object meant to be worn. She stared at it curiously, the colors vivid. She turned her eyes up to the redhead as he spoke, expression blank as she listened carefully.
She was impressed, to say the least, that he'd procured such a thing. How difficult had it been for him to get his own hands on the rare flower? Her eyes lowered to the bracelet again, a small smile forming on her lips in awe. Such a little thing could hold so much power.
She continued to stare at it for a few moments after he'd stopped talking, mainly because she hadn't realized he had finished talking.
Of all the things he could have asked, and he asks something so simple? And how exactly would he benefit from this? Why am I the only one benefitting? Isn't it tiring to be on that side of it all?
She blinked, and suddenly realized the silence on the air was a pause, a breath where she was expected to respond.
Oh, duh.
"Even if I wanted to, how would I turn it down?" she replied with an amused tone. She reached out to accept it from him, her eyes on the bracelet for a moment before turning up to him. "Though, I'm curious. Of all the things in the universe, why something like this? You claim to be selfish and yet you won't even request something for yourself. You.. make no sense." *
"You would turn it down by simply saying 'no.'" Kurama's eyes gleamed. And let me tell you, Youko would jump on that in a heartbeat since he already had in mind who he would be giving it to. "I suppose I should confess that this gift is as much for my benefit as it is for yours. If I know you're wearing it, I know there is little that can truly harm you, and I can't be around all the time, though I'm uncertain you really want me around all the time anyway." His brief seriousness fell away at the small, teasing grin he sent her before that too lightened, "And I'm certain there will be a time when you'll find yourself someplace where I couldn't reach you if I tried. At least with this," He reached over and tapped gently at it, "I'll know you're safe. That's the real reason I am giving it to you, if I'm being completely honest. So," He looked up at her and tilted his head, "Selfish."
Before she could say anything in response, he leaned back a little and went on, "You should be aware, that while few know of its existence, very few even know where to look, and fewer still than that who would recognize it at a glance, there is little one such demon would not do to take it from you. Which is why I've enchanted it. To everyone else it will appear as a jasper bracelet set with emeralds." He smiled a little at himself, letting the smugness peek through, "I would not give you something so coveted without taking a few precautions. Make sure you are in fact certain you wish to accept it." He looked up at her again, "Once the vine is fastened around your wrist, no one will be able to remove it from your person. Not even you." 3
Akari raised a brow and opened her mouth to speak, but didn't even get the chance and instead released a small breath and let her mouth come closed again. Selfish my backside. Very debatable, sir. She shifted, eyes turning briefly to the side before turning again to Kurama and the bracelet she held in her hand. She even rolled her eyes at him. "You're so over dramatic." It wasn't like anyone was interested enough in her for there to be such a problem as the one he described. Because, really, who would care much about a dog that could slip between their fingers whenever she so pleased? Could even paralyze a demon with a shadow, if she used enough energy to do so.
And the only thing she'd done worth much at all was oversee portal crews. As if that would help anyone in any heinous crimes. Heh.
Her lips twitched. As for being in a situation where the fox can't get to me, I don't think it would be a problem…. much. But, whatever.
Her eyes turned to the bracelet and she turned it over and over between her fingers, her smile ever-present and calm. "I have no reason to say 'no'." she replied, turning her eyes up to him. "and removing it wouldn't be a problem, as I'd have no reason to." She extended the bracelet to him on an open palm. "I assume you have to… clasp it?" *
Kurama nodded and reached for the bracelet, "You are right-handed, are you not?" He gestured for her to hold out her left hand.
Sometime during his discussion about the properties of the Hope flower, Youko had stirred enough to regard the situation sleepily from inside Kurama's mind.
[I don't think she really understands exactly what we mean with this gift, Red.]
Kurama said nothing as he prepared the edges of the bracelet to connect with a portion of his energy warming them.
[And I suppose she hasn't realized that if we of all demons had to go to all the trouble of hiding such a gift via enchantment, she could very easily get into trouble simply for carrying it around.]
{That's why we took the precautions that we did, is it not?}
[Fair enough. ...I can honestly say I hope she never has to use it, Red.]
Kurama didn't have to respond. Youko knew their feelings aligned perfectly in that regard. 3
Akari lifted her left hand from her lap and extended it towards Kurama, palm up until she saw the mark Isamu hadn't removed, where she promptly turned her wrist over. Dammit, I forgot. She turned her eyes up to watch the redhead, noting his expression as she felt his energy weave into the bracelet.
She couldn't exactly explain the smile that pulled at her lips, but it lingered as she watched him, eyes turning to the bracelet every now and then.
"If you were half as selfish as you said you were, you'd be the most selfish person I know." she commented. "But you're not. Because wanting to know someone is safe is not selfish by any means." She puckered her lips in an expression that was meant to be mocking. "While I can't stop you from thinking so, I just thought I'd let you know that I consider you quite the opposite. If you wish, we can agree to disagree." *
"Then I'm terribly afraid, oh most impetuous of dog demons," Kurama lightly wrapped the vine about her wrist, joining the ends together, "That we must agree to disagree in this matter."
The moon had just started to rise by this time, and the flowers around them most appropriately began to bloom as he spoke, the soft glow of the ones around Nabu bouncing off the silently fluttering wings of the butterflies that still twirled in the air. 3
"I figured so," Akari replied calmly, completely bypassing the word he used for her. Her eyes drifted to the flowers that began to bloom around her, her hand falling to her lap when Kurama withdrew after clasping the bracelet about her wrist.
She smiled down at the flowers, and a sudden outburst from several yards away had her almost jumping.
"WHOA! So much light! This is the coolest thing I've ever seen! AKARI! DO YOU SEE IT TOO?"
The laugh that she gave was filled with humor and joy. "Nope, I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Then you're blind as a bat!"
Akari snickered as the dog swiveled his head to look at her and Kurama, ears straight up and tail wagging just as furiously as it had been ten minutes ago. "Doesn't your backside get tired from all that enthusiasm of yours?"
"Sometimes!"
She sighed and turned to Kurama. "It's amazing, by the way." She lifted her wrist to glance at the bracelet pointedly. "Thank you." *
"I'm very glad you like it." And if it wasn't obvious in his tone of voice that he spoke truthfully, it was definitely in the small smile that he gave her.
[...You didn't tell her it was from me, did you?]
{Do you take me for an idiot?}
[Good.]3
Akari's head tilted just a little at the smile he produced, her eyes looking over every facet of that expression as if she'd never seen it before. A few seconds later, she was turning her eyes away, down to her lap and to the bracelet and the mark underneath it. Oh geez…
She opened her mouth to speak, yet found no words.
Luckily for her, Nabu came prancing his way towards herself and Kurama, quickly seating himself among the flowers and then laying among them, resting his chin on the ground between their knees as he rustled the flowers. "I like this place. It's calm and quiet, and very nice!" He huffed, making a flower sway away from himself. "I can see why you guys like it so much!" he turned his eyes to Kurama. "You did good!" *
"Youko appreciates the compliment and would prefer that I don't take any credit." Kurama told the dog, turning and sending him an amused look, "I had little to nothing to do with this."
[Tch. You had nothing to do with it.] 3
Nabu's tail swished once and his ear flicked in confusion. "Well, whoever did it did a good job. You're confusing."
Akari gave a small laugh at the dog and reached forward to pat his head a few times, even scratching behind his ear before pulling away again. "You'll get it, when you get the chance to see Youko again. Don't worry much about it."
"Who says I'm worrying?"
She glanced up at Kurama. "See what I have to deal with?"
"Don't be crude." *
"I just assumed he would say the same thing about you." Kurama replied teasingly, "You're just so much trouble to keep up with, after all." 3
"Ha! I strive to be that way, after all. Otherwise I'm bored, and no one likes it when I'm bored."
"It's true."
Akari stuck her tongue out at Kurama. "Why do you think I work so much?" *
Kurama leaned towards her confidentially, "You mean to tell me it isn't because you're a workaholic who doesn't know what to do with herself when she isn't running around fixing problems?" He leaned back again, "I'm terribly surprised to learn that isn't the case."
[He hasn't taken it off her yet.]
Kurama knew Youko was talking about the shadowing marking they had both seen on her wrist as the former clasped the bracelet on.
{And?}
[Just wondering if you'd noticed is all!]
{You're so not helpful.} 3
Akari gave a shrug and a wide grin of secrecy. "Guess you'll find out, hm? I'm down to little else but boredom. After I finish this last thing, I'll be down to figuring out what to do next."
"Hopefully it'll entail getting rid of that other dog. He's disrespectful and I don't like it."
She gave a sigh. "Be patient, Nabu. He'll be gone in a week, tops." The dog gave a huff. "Plus," she added, mainly to herself as she raised her chin in the air, "He's gotta leave anyway. He can't leave a pack unattended." *
"I would say we could just run off and leave him hanging his tail in defeat at our escape, but," Kurama let out an almost imperceptible sigh, "He would, of course, know exactly where you are." 3
Akari gave a shrug and let her chin fall again. Then, as if to herself, she gave another shrug. She'd half expected the words "we could just kill him" to come from the redhead- mainly because she had a feeling it's what Youko was thinking- but she wasn't surprised when it hadn't been the words he'd chosen.
Though he seemed to be teaming up with Nabu and backing her into a corner. All of which she promptly ignored.
"I would be lying if I said he was simple." She gave a third shrug, as if at a loss for what to say about Isamu. "He's always acted like a simple being, but there's always something going on in his mind. This time, it just so happens to be that he thinks I'm still dependent on a pack. He has a hard time believing a dog can go without a pack of other dogs."
"Which, you're obviously not doing. I'm here."
"Yes, but two is hardly a pack, Nabu."
"Technically, you have a pack anyway. If you asked, you'd have several people by your side, I'm sure." Nabu turned his head to look at Kurama. "A fox can be a part of a pack too. Just like a human, or even a bird. They travel in groups. Most of the time."
"Yes, yes, we get the point, mister philosophical." *
Kurama regarded the dog quietly as he spoke, finding himself awash with no small amount of surprise that the dog would so easily accept such a rag-tag pack as he suggested.
And a fox, no less.
[Would you want to be part of that pack, Red?]
{I think the real question is: would you?} 3
Nabu's eyes stayed trained on Kurama unblinkingly, and after a moment he lifted his chin to rest it on the knee of the male, his eyes closing. "The thing about packs is not about how they are the same breed, but about how they are alike. How they interact. A pack of just dogs would be expected, but would be dysfunctional if they did not trust one another."
Akari's head tilted a little to the side. Did you just explain a pack's bond?
"Without that trust, that devotion to one another, a pack is nothing but a group of idiots looking out for themselves, and likely killing their friend in the process. And there's always an immediate sense of such a bond. I see it everywhere. With Yusuke and that girl he's with all the time. With Grump and Sparkles." he paused and gave a huff. "I bet if you thought about it, you'd feel it too."
Akari blinked, then gave a sigh. "What brought about your philosophy?"
"I'm not really sure."
"You're a goofball. And I adore you."
"I know." *
"I think I'd be quite honored to have you consider me a part of your pack, Nabu." The dog had quite rightfully earned himself the affection Kurama began scratching him between his ears with. "One couldn't go wrong with such an adorable pack-mate. And I guess Akari's okay too." 3
Akari's mood quickly shifted and she was glaring at Kurama. "How kind of you, sir." she grumbled at him, huffing at him and crossing her arms over her chest. Nabu's huff was one of amusement, but otherwise he made no sound, his eyes closing as if in thought. "Don't be such a jerk." She stuck her tongue out at him. "I am adorable, thank you." *
"Yes, but if we went around telling you that all the time, it would lose its luster, now wouldn't it?" Kurama put his two cents in mildly, still scratching at Nabu's head. 3
Akari's nose lifted higher in the air. "You don't have to tell me anything. I am aware already." She shook her hair out just a little before dropping her chin again, meeting Kurama's gaze squarely. "And lest we not forget my potential. I have a lot of that." *
"She's absolutely unbearable at times, Nabu." Kurama said idly aloud, face belying none of his dry humor. "How on earth can you stand it all the time?" 3
"You either get over it, or leave." Nabu replied calmly, to which Akari stuck her tongue out at the both of them. "But you're the lucky one. You get most of it. Then again, you let her get away with it."
"I get away with what I want, thank you."
"That's the problem. Squish it while you can." *
"So you think-" Kurama adopted a thoughtful expression, "That if I didn't let her get away with it, we would all be better off?" He summarily ignored Akari. 3
"That's your call." the dog responded, his tone holding no form of the amusement behind his words. "I mean, it would probably be less trouble if she knew what not to do."
Akari huffed through her nostrils and crossed her arms over her chest tightly, staring at the pair in silence. How on earth did it go from pack-bonds to this? *
Kurama appeared to consider it.
"You know, I really think I prefer it if she thinks she getting away with it. That's how foxes are wired, after all." 3
"As I said, your call. If you enjoy the trouble, go ahead." This time, his tone held a large amount of amusement. "But you got yourself into it, remember that later."
Akari huffed again and stuck her tongue out at the pair. "Maybe you two should live together and I can live by myself."
"That's all fine and good, but then you'd really be bored and getting into trouble."
"Nice to know I have a couple of guardians." *
"Really, I think it should be me living with you two." Kurama rejoined without missing a beat, "Shouldn't a pack be in close proximity to one another? Granted, you could just move in with me, but it'd probably be less trouble the other way around." 3
"I take it back. No one's moving anywhere." Akari threw her hands in the air in surrender. "I concede; not happily so, but I concede nonetheless."
"You know, that would end my problem. She doesn't particularly see it as a problem, but I do."
"Blah, blah, blah."
"I thought you conceded?" *
Kurama couldn't honestly think of a better way to be spending his evening.
[I could think of a few better ways.]
{I didn't ask you, now did I?}
[No, but you may as well have.]
{I assume you're well-rested at this point?}
[Not so much that I don't still find this whole situation amusing on some level or another.]
{You're such a pain.}
[The feeling's mutual, I assure you.] 3
Akari fell silent, as did Nabu. And for the moment, both of them seemed to be immersed in glancing about the meadow, Akari staring at the flowers and Nabu looking for the insects, half considering chasing them again, but too comfortable to move.
His body twitched just a little and he shifted so that he lay on his side, his head still resting on Kurama's lap.
Akari's eyes turned from the flowers to the two across from her, a fond smile quickly coloring her lips as she noted Nabu's amount of trust in Kurama. And for a moment, the sight was all she needed to see. It made her hard work worth it, to be able to actually relax like this with two beings she enjoyed spending her time with.
And the silence was so calm, so peaceful that she couldn't bring herself to break it. So she simply sat there and stared with a small smile on her face. *
[You know...you still haven't told her.]
There was no point in asking 'what,' as the subject of Akari and Kurama's affection for her were as plain as day in Youko's meaning.
{I thought you were going to go back to sleep.}
[I'm just relatively curious as to why.]
Kurama was certain the fox knew exactly why. What he wasn't certain about was why Youko would bring it up.
{You're why. Though you're already aware of that.}
[Me?]
Kurama indulged him.
{Yes, you. You and that ridiculous mark of yours.}
[You can't say you're not interested in seeing her again.]
{My interest and your interest are on polar opposite ends of the meaning of the word.}
[You thought about her enough after she disappeared.]
{You know very well-}
There really was no point in having this conversation, but Kurama had to struggle not to lift his hands to rub at the bridge of his nose in aggravation.
After he simply allowed the tenseness he felt at the situation pass, he was able to calmly gather himself and reply.
{Besides, we can both be certain that Shikiyoku is being well taken care of.}
[Don't remind me.] 3
While she watched, Akari noted the tenseness seeping into the air about Kurama, but said nothing of it and instead turned her eyes away, looking to the flowers and reaching a hand to play with the nearest one almost curiously. And after a moment, she decided to lay on her stomach, crossing her arms so that she may rest her head upon them and stare at the expanse of meadow that had previously been behind her.
So beautiful.
She had to resist not looking back at the pair at her left, deciding she didn't want to become curious enough to ask what was on the other's mind. Because, really, she could only guess it to be something Youko had to say.
And that she didn't want to know.
So she left him to it and went about admiring her surroundings, as usual. *
"You have nowhere else you have to be...right?" Kurama broke the silence by sitting up straighter to stretch his back, gently warning Nabu that he intended to shift around before laying down on his side with Nabu inbetween he and Akari, still absently petting the dog once he settled back down. 3
Nabu shifted so that his head was no longer on Kurama's leg, resting his chin instead on the ground, his eyes on the flower at the end of his nose. Akari turned her head to look at the redhead, a brow raised. "Nope. Nothing specific in mind other than this." She made a vague hand gesture at her surroundings. It wasn't like she had any leads on her only mystery left anyway.
Aside from Isamu.
Who was gone until tomorrow anyway.
She gave a sigh.
"Nope, nowhere to be." *
"Good." Kurama murmured, finding that his eyes had almost slowly shut once his other arm had gotten positioned underneath his head. "Because neither do I." It was clear he had every intention of going to sleep, though his lips still had a small smile on them. 3
Akari gave a smile at the redhead after his eyes were closed, Nabu taking to laying with his nose near Kurama's elbow, his eyes shutting too and his breathing evening out. She couldn't help but give a quiet laugh to herself; they'd worn themselves out and all she'd done was watch.
She glanced around and saw the basket of goodies nearby, quietly sitting up and reaching for it, placing it so that it was within her reach once she was comfortable laying down. And while the other two drifted off into sleep, Akari munched on a few treats and listened to the pair's breathing until she too began to feel tired. *
~!**!~
Kitoushi had not slept a single instant that night, internally struggling at every moment to regain his human form, wondering how Shikiyoku had not gone mad at having so permanently-it seemed-lost her own true form.
With his proximity to her, curled between her cheek, neck, and shoulder as he was, Shikiyoku's distressed energy had slowly throughout the night waned, his closeness comforting her and ridding her of the fevered dreams that had plagued her, even if her sleep was a restless and unfulfilling one.
It was before the night sky outside had even lightened in the slightest that Kit finally lay stretched out beside Shikiyoku, his silent movements not so much as disturbing her where she lay.
He knew she wouldn't be particularly happy with him when she woke up, but neither was she able to feel her sickness as he could, and know that in this form, for whatever reason, she was fighting a losing battle.
So, he quietly leaned over her and kissed her lips, feeling strongly the desire that she regain herself and become the Shikiyoku he had once known.
He didn't linger, but the change was immediate, once more peeling back her scar-ridden skin with astounding efficiency.
Kit went back to lying on his side, feeling the sickness stripped away from her as well as the scars for reasons he found himself unable to readily explain. And it irked him.
His aggravation died almost as soon as he bothered to feel it as Shikiyoku shifted under the covers, turning on her side and readily moving closer to him, though Kit saw she was most definitely still asleep.
It didn't stop her from slipping her arms around his neck and he let her do as she wished, only reaching over to rest his free hand behind her back as she buried her head underneath his chin, finding his face partially hidden behind the mass of her hair when she did so.
Let her hate him when she woke up, should she chose to.
Because...for now...everything was fine. 3
Hiei's feet touched the floor silently, falling from the mattress and subsequently bringing him to awareness of the room, his eyes opening just a little in time to see Kitoushi pull away from Shikiyoku and her skin return to its natural glow. Her scars disappear. And when she pulled herself closer to the male, Hiei's eyelids were closing again.
She was safe. Back to how she was supposed to be. And she didn't run off and lose herself this time. His job of overseeing her was done.
His eyelids remained closed, though he was fighting with himself, telling himself to get up and leave. It wasn't like he wasn't welcomed, but at the same time, he felt as if he were imposing anyway. Because this moment went to the consort-to-be. Or… whatever.
What. Ever.
What was he supposed to call it anyway?
The Consort games? The Competition for-
He didn't really like the way it sounded that way, but he supposed it was true.
And he was no part of it.
Hiei's arms came uncrossed and his eyelids came open, the male pushing himself to stand and turning to leave.
I don't belong here anyway. *
Kit hadn't forgotten for a moment the fire demon in the room, though it wasn't exactly until he felt the shifting of the other's feet leaving the bed that he was reminded of his presence.
It was...strange, really. There sat another Champion turned wannabe Consort and while Kit supposed he should feel some sort of rivalry with the demon, all he really felt for Hiei was confusion.
Shikiyoku obviously cherished the time she spent with the most recent Champion, and truth was she had spent little time with anyone else of late, but perhaps it was Hiei's motives that Kit found he could not unravel.
He knew the fire demon was young, knew just as readily that with Koorime blood in the mix it was very likely his development was slowed, that if he were a hundred years old-which Kit wasn't sure about anyway-it would be no surprise to Kit if the asexual nature of the Ice Maidens would suppress Hiei's 'puberty' as it were.
Kitoushi turned his thoughts from the subject as he knew as well as anyone that the...fiery nature Hiei inherited from his father combined with the fact that his development was being held back would certainly make for an interesting hundred years once-
...
And throw into the pile the fact that Shikiyoku had quite obviously lost her mind somewhere along the way and could not explain even to herself what a Marked One could do... Needless to say, Kit wasn't surprised to have found that Hiei had not kissed her.
On the other hand, what was this most recent Champion thinking? Returning her here and then letting Kitoushi be the one to change her back. Was he really that uncomfortable with the concept?
Funny. Kit would have placed him at the lowest tier in the running for such a reaction. Because that sort of uncomfortableness was ill placed in such a situation.
In her situation.
And yet...
"I've never seen her smile at anyone the way she smiles at you." Kitoushi moved his head far enough up that his lips were not in the midst of her hair, his eyes slowly coming open to regard the fire demon who had suddenly decided to get up and leave when Kit really saw no reason for it.
The odd blue and brown-colored gaze stared over at Hiei in that strange, unblinking manner that only a cat could achieve, thoughts hidden carefully from his face. 3
Hiei paused after another step, turning to glance at Kitoushi over his shoulder to regard him with a blank, unreadable stare. A stare he found aimed at himself as well, which wasn't surprising given the demon. He considered the words he'd heard for a moment before turning forward again and continuing on. He made it to the door before pausing again, though this time he didn't look back.
He again considered the words with eyes on the carpet before making a single sound and continuing down the stairs and out the door. He didn't bother shifting from one layer to another, because he had nowhere else to be. He'd simply wander for a while.
Hell, maybe he'd go get some real sleep instead of the half-assed nap he'd had throughout the night. That was at least something he could consider doing.
Not that it was dire.
~!**!~
Akari had fallen asleep about an hour after Kurama and Nabu had, and because of her nap the evening before, she was awake early in the next morning, sitting up and chewing quietly on a few grapes she'd found in the basket. She watched Nabu's paws twitch, as if he were running in whatever dream he was having. His ears flicked occasionally, his tail twitching and paws periodically moving.
Until he was still and in a peaceful slumber again, just as Kurama was.
She popped another grape in her mouth and ran a hand through her hair, quickly deciding that it was just too much of a mess to leave down. With ease, she had it up in a ponytail in seconds, and was popping a fifth grape of the morning into her mouth when she paused and glanced at the mark on her wrist, staring at it unblinkingly as a chill passed over the area.
Isamu?
She blinked and the mark was gone.
….okay then.
She popped another grape in her mouth and continued chewing. That ends that. *
[RED!]
Kurama's eyes slid open, though he realized rather quickly that the call had been internal, echoing off the corridors of his mind, as well as numerous, and having grown louder over an unknown period of time.
[We've got places to be. People to see.]
Kurama let his annoyance roll over the fox.
[Well, really just a person to see.]
Youko seemed unperturbed by Kurama's silent threats.
[Oh, come ON. She's got the rose, which we'll sense in an instant if need be, and on top of that, I graciously and of my own free-will retrieved Hope for her so that you would stop your incessant worrying. The LEAST you can do is let me have my fun for a while.]
Kurama blinked once or twice and began to sit up.
{You're not going to let that go are you?}
[About the flower? No, of course not. I could have saved it for the seductress, but I, in my unsurpassed charity, wove the bracelet instead for you to gift to her.]
{And I'm never going to live it down.}
[Of course not.] 3
Akari had eaten two more grapes before her eyes had gone down to her wrist again, this time her brows furrowing at the lack of mark there. He'd been so adamant at keeping it there. So why had it disappeared? She frowned slightly and began to search for any foreign energy that would entail the marking having just disappeared from view, or the shadow still being upon her person.
And she got nothing.
When did that become a thing? It used to be that in order to remove a shadow, one either had to open up the skin and call it out or…
Or they've become incapacitated.
She blinked at her wrist again. He's not that dumb. He can handle himself, and has for centuries.
Another grape, and a satisfying crunch.
Right?
He may be a jerk, but…
Isamu you moron.
She gave a sigh and began to pull her energy closer to herself, deciding first to make an attempt at sliding through the layers before resorting to anything that would alarm the two that were sleeping.
Just… a quick checkup wouldn't hurt. *
"Akari, I-" Kurama shifted around as he sat up, blinking at her curiously.
[And what, pray tell, were you going to tell her, hm?] 3
At the sound of her name, Akari froze, her eyelids sliding open and blinking once at Kurama in confusion. He'd been sleeping just a second ago, right?
"Uh, mornin'." she greeted, energy unwinding from around herself as she gave a small smile. "Sleep well, did you?" *
[Going somewhere is such a rush, pup?]
Kurama could hear the purr Youko had in his tone, going ahead and ignoring the fox.
"You should probably take Nabu with you." Kurama pointed out, starting to stand up and smoothing his hands down his pants at his thighs, "I...have a prior engagement to get to." 3
Akari released a breath of relief. Oh good. No awkward 'I wasn't running away I swear' explanation. She nodded once and reached out to touch Nabu, patting his side twice. "Well then, until next time, hm?" She held up her hand in a wave and gave a smile. "Because you and I both have something to tend to."
Nabu shifted just as her energy swelled about. "Where we goin'?"
"Thanks again for the bracelet." *
"Ah...yes. Until next time." He paused briefly, about to fold the layers around himself as he reached for the basket, and a faint smile played across his lips. "You're quite welcome."
As he turned, the layers accepted him into their embrace and his street clothes and red hair shimmered away into a silver glow, a tail of the same color disappearing from her sight as he dropped back down through the layers and ended up on the first. 3
Akari only lingered a second longer before her own energy enveloped her and Nabu, though she paused briefly in the odd realm and smiled at Nabu. "You're going home. I'm going to go check on something."
"Okay. I'm going back to sleep."
Akari gave a laugh and sent him on his way before she herself landed on another layer. It was the Seventh Layer, where she had last felt the connection to have lead to Isamu earlier this morning.
He's an idiot.
She hated this layer. The demons here were… often crude and liked to boast about their power. Fights everywhere and…
She gave a sigh.
You're an idiot too.
She lifted her nose in the air and sniffed at the putrid air that was so thick with muck and such that she physically felt sluggish after each inhale. As if she were becoming a part of the swampish area. Her nose crinkled at the thought and she glanced down at the small patch of stable land she'd managed to land herself on, not happy that she'd have to move through the disgusting undergrowth and swampy water and/or mud to follow the trail she'd picked up.
I hate this layer.
And still, she began her trek, quickly sinking calf-deep into swampy waters that left her feeling utterly disgusted and defiled. These clothes will be burned when I get out of here. *
~!**!~
Kitoushi tried not to think about when the last time he'd held Shikiyoku in his arms had been, instead shoving such melancholy thoughts away and deciding his energy would be better spent reveling in the quiet room and the she-demon who had so readily pressed herself up against him.
He knew such a moment couldn't last, and he was absolutely spot-on with his feeling.
However, he hadn't quite expected that the interruption would not be at the hands of the bird.
Instead, he found himself nearly face-to-face with a demon he had not seen since before he had lost his pact with Shikiyoku. And even then their correspondences were limited to letters and the occasional "magic mirror" spell when they each could rustle it up.
Which wasn't often.
A pair of yellow eyes glittered mischievously from over the top of Shikiyoku's dark hair, the fox demon having shifted out of the layers to the place where he lay on the other side of Shikiyoku, elbow set into the pillow and that hand propping up his head.
"Youko." Kit didn't so much as move.
The kitsune let the word linger in the air before speaking up.
"Oh come on, cuz. All these years and that's all you have to say to me? 'Youko.'" He did his best mocking-impression of the cat.
"What were you expecting, fox? Some sort of fanfare?"
If one had been able to observe the situation looking down from the ceiling, it would have been amusing to note just how strikingly similar the two demons appeared, as if a pair of twins, if one black and the other silver, with differences only being in their tails, the shape of their ears, and their eyes.
"I see you haven't changed your look." Youko's grin was toothy.
"And you'd do well to remember that it was mine in the first place."
"Something, something, imitation is the highest form of flattery, blah, blah." Youko waved his free hand about in the air nebulously.
"I don't even have to ask what you're doing here."
Youko's expression grew more wicked, "Good."
The most long-suffering of sighs rose from the body inbetween them.
"Don't you two ever shut up?" 3
~!**!~
This. Is. disgusting.
Akari pulled her foot from the goo-like substance. "I'm going to murder you, so help me." Why was she curious in the first place? Why did it matter if the male was alive or not? She wasn't affiliated with the pack anymore, so why was she going through this trouble again?
I have no idea.
But perhaps it had something to do with her past relationship with the person. Perhaps she just wanted to make sure her previous pack didn't go without an alpha.
Whatever the reason, she was only half sure it was worth being stuck in the center of a swamp, up to her waist now almost. Her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes closed and her brows twitching. She hadn't gotten very far after that last step. In fact, she'd probably stuck herself in the worst hole in the whole dang layer.
She took a deep breath and looked up to the sky, earning the stare of an odd creature that had been watching her for some time.
"Go on. No one asked your opinion."
It made a sound at her before disappearing into the tree overhead. Her eyes turned down and due East again, almost able to see the scent trail she had been following. She was so close.
She began wading again, earning the most disgusting, sloshy noise of all as she moved little by little, suddenly very glad she'd pulled her hair up earlier. Because it was such a pain to get this gunk out of hair.
By the time she was able to pull herself out via a low-hanging branch, Akari was set on returning home. Except the scent she'd been following got stronger. As if..
Her eyes trained forward again and her feet began to move, kicking out of her bogged shoes and socks with relative ease. She opened her mouth to call the male's name, but hesitated, her instincts telling her to shut up and listen. So she did. *
~!**!~
"Yo-ku." Youko purred the nickname for her into two syllables, slipping his hands underneath the covers to pull her away from Kit and towards him, not giving Kit a chance to resist.
Shikiyoku nearly growled as he managed to turn her around to face him in the process.
He leaned down and started to kiss her face, earning a slight shake of the head from Kit who watched in half-amusement as Shikiyoku buried her nose in Youko's chest to prevent his affections.
Undeterred, Youko simply pulled her closer and planted a kiss on top of her head, burying his face in her hair and drinking in her scent.
"Who are you and what have you done with Yo-chan?" Shikiyoku mumbled, still mostly asleep.
"Hadn't you heard?" Youko asked rhetorically, "I only act this way for you, seductress."
"If that's supposed to make me feel 'special,' it isn't working."
Youko laughed.
"What happened to cold and calculating purveyor of shiny objects?"
"Yoku-" This time the word was admonishing, and he pulled back from her hair, putting a hand underneath her chin as he also leaned away from her in general, getting her face to turn upwards. "As if you've forgotten how our interactions played out once you had me thoroughly enraptured."
Kit shook his head as he started to get up, knowing full-well that Youko was going to try and kiss her and she was going to deter him again, as if the fox leaning closer to her face and her moving away hadn't made that completely obvious.
When she started folding the layers around her, Youko only smiled down at her, moving along with her and enjoying the expression of consternation she donned as he did so.
Kitoushi promptly found himself able to ignore the situation as any cat is able to do at will, calmly making his way to the door and only pausing when he heard Shikiyoku call out his name from the distortion of the layers inbetween.
He struggled not to smile at her, knowing full well that if he had cared to intervene, his little cousin would have been able to do little to prevent it.
He found her predicament rather amusing to be honest. Too amusing to foil.
Kit gave her only a passing, lofty glance.
"You're on your own...seductress." 3
Thanks for reading! Bless your face. If you sneezed during this chapter, bless you. Peace off! -Star