A/N: Hello once again, Dearest Readers!
A little bit early cuz I am a sleepy panda tonight!
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).
The above rule also applies to Akari's old friend Isamu when he is in his dog-form.
Previously on Yu Yu Hakusho!
Hiei wakes up to having his hand entangled with Shikiyoku's,
and he discovers he still isn't sure how he feels about physical contact,
but once he realizes this contact makes Shikiyoku extremely uncomfortable,
he decides the look on her face is worth ignoring his own unsurety on the matter.
At some point in their banter, Shikiyoku emphatically informs Hiei
that he should definitely "not let her go without a fight,"
a desire she felt from him during their conversation.
For her part, Shikiyoku isn't entirely sure why being so close to him
makes her energy buzz along her skin like she was barely a hundred years old,
but nonetheless she tells him he should express to her how much he enjoys having her around
when he feels as if she has forgotten.
Their quiet moment together is interrupted by Taka,
who bangs on the door and informs her that more marked demons have shown up on her doorstep,
practically overrunning the place.
She follows Taka downstairs to find only a single demon of the mob remains,
Kitoushi looking smug and commenting that he always was "better at working a crowd" than Taka. "
~!**!~
As Kurama continues to dally around lazily with Akari,
Youko continues to make it increasingly difficult for Kurama to ignore him,
and the comments of the kitsune to his human counterpart
become more and more crass as time goes on.
Akari finally kisses Kurama,
who has made it clear to Youko that he has been refraining from kissing her
for the irrational reason that he is afraid what happened the first and last time might happen again,
where she went without sleep for days because of her nightmares and nearly got herself killed doing so.
Akari continues to delay her return to the pack
and Kurama does nothing to send her off any faster,
indulging her wishes to continue to lay around.
The two establish that Kurama is Gabrielle and Akari is Xena,
as well as the fact that dogs are the cute ones, not foxes.
Finally, Akari kisses Kurama once more,
and without the quick retreat,
leaving them both feeling at least more satisfied than previous.
Akari, as usual, states that Kurama is a pain,
to which Kurama wants to know that if he agrees will he get another kiss...?
Akari hummed, as if giving it some thought.
Just say the word…
"I'll think on it."
I'd do just about anything if you only ask. *
"In that case, you're absolutely right, I'm a terrible pain and I don't regret it." He appeared thoughtful, "Unless by not being a pain you'd-" He blinked, "I suppose it really doesn't matter, does it?"
~!**!~
"As if that were true." Taka told him as he came down the stairs with Shikiyoku. "Your definition of working a crowd has nothing to do with actually working a crowd. Which I am in fact much better at doing that you are."
"Is that so?" Kitoushi crossed his arms over his chest and gave him a bland look.
"Of course that's so." Taka replied arrogantly, "What all did you get?"
Kit blinked at him, then uncrossed his arms and gave the bird demon a sour look.
"See? Not working a crowd."
"I'm good at distracting them." Kit grumbled, watching Shikiyoku as she released Taka's arm and flowed across the room to the awaiting demon, beginning to speak to him in a low tone.
"Distracting, yes. And in the meantime, I would actually work them."
"Naturally." 3
Hiei's eyes finally focused on the contents of the refrigerator, landing on a few little boxes that he pulled out and opened, his eyes inspecting the contents before he closed them again and slid the small containers back onto the shelves where they had been previously.
None of it looked appetizing.
And while he could just as contentedly eat Sweet Snow, he found he had a certain craving for… something or another.
Something he couldn't put a name to, or even an image.
He shut the refrigerator door and moved to look through the pantry, eyeing each item once before just as quickly closing that door too.
Damn.
What was it that he was craving?
~!**!~
"Semantics," Akari mumbled, giving a shrug. She pulled her face from his shirt and turned up to look at him again, considering him for a moment before leaning up and touching her lips to his cheek.
"Satisfied?" *
He wore a slightly wicked grin as she spoke, "Never, if you must know."
~!**!~
"You were never as good at distracting as I, Kit." Shikiyoku announced as the demon she spoke with turned to go, a slightly yellow wisp of air dissipating in his wake.
"No one was as good at distracting as you, my lady." Kitoushi told her, frowning at the back of the demon who seemed to disappear into thin air just before reaching the door.
"You know," He pursed his lips thoughtfully, "I have half a mind to sweep you away."
"Is that so?" Shikiyoku appeared amused as she turned to regard him.
He nodded.
"Afraid to it'll be your only chance to spend time with her, cat?" Taka teased.
"Not in the slightest." Kitoushi replied, "It's just that each Mark she removes from another is a marking that I won't receive to elaborate mine." He held out his hand with a flourish, palm down, and it wasn't difficult to notice that his had already climbed nearly to his shoulder.
It was Taka's turn to blink, confused.
"What?"
"Didn't you know?" Kitoushi asked airily, "All the embellishments you have are taken from another, but if she removes it manually, it's lost forever."
The look Taka adopted was akin to the gleam in Kit's eyes as they both turned to stare at her.
"Is this true?" Taka asked dangerously.
"Mm," Shikiyoku shrugged noncommittally. 3
Hiei turned to the refrigerator again, despite already knowing what was inside, and retrieved the container he had put back earlier, deciding the rice would do until he was able to figure out what it was he really wanted.
He closed the refrigerator door and moved through the kitchen, to a drawer to retrieve eating utensils, and was turning to step into the living room when his energy flared, very quickly heating the rice as if he'd cooked it himself.
By the time he was actually in the room with the other three, the rice was steaming and he had already had a bite, his expression very briefly shifting to one of mild disappointment before it was carefully returned to a blank look.
He didn't speak, deciding he'd observe the group for a moment, listening to what was being said.
Good to know.
~!**!~
"Then I guess you'll have to just live with it," Akari retorted calmly, resting her head on his elbow and closing her eyes. "Because 'showering people with kisses' is not my thing." *
Kurama raised an eyebrow, "I certainly hope you won't take to 'showering people with kisses.' I might get jealous."
~!**!~
"Yoku." Taka said in the same tone, moving across the room towards her.
She put her nose defiantly in the air in his direction as he came up to her, matching him glare for glare as he stood towering over her.
"Is there anything else we ought to know?" He said it through clenched teeth.
She didn't appear intimidated in the slightest.
"Like what?"
"Like what exactly is going to happen when there's only two of us left who are marked?" He suggested, "I suppose we're just going to keep taking them back and forth from one another?" His voice lowered, "Like when you're going to choose?"
Shikiyoku narrowed her eyes at him, "Any information I have for you is on a need-to-know basis, bird-brain. And guess what? You-"
"Don't need to know." He said it at the same time as she did and his expression mirrored her own.
The tension between them practically crackled as if alive.
"Now if you'll excuse me," She seethed, "I have some demons to attend to." As she turned she flipped her hair over her shoulder at him, moving for the door. 3
Hiei raised a brow at the palpable tension in the air, almost amused at the situation as he slid more rice into his mouth. He had another bite at the ready when Shikiyoku turned away from Taka, and a thought came to mind, causing him to lower his chopsticks to the small takeout container.
His lips released a small scoff and his eyes took on a gleam of amusement.
"I suppose you're not one of the eight who matter."
He shifted his weight slightly, eyes on Shikiyoku as she took her leave and rice raising to his lips again.
"Only a slave to the queen."
He let the rice settle on his tongue.
~!**!~
Akari hummed. "In that case…"
She paused.
"Yeah, not even then. My luck, you'd still have to come free a fellow warrior-princess from the turmoil she'd created all her own." *
"I mean if you want to go around kissing everyone under the sun, there isn't much I can do about it. But I won't promise that I will resist turning around and doing the same should you." He smirked.
~!**!~
"Eight?" Taka snapped his head towards Hiei, then back and opening his mouth at Shikiyoku who was no longer in sight.
Even Kitoushi did shoot a glance at the fire demon.
Taka turned back to Kitoushi, "What eight? ...you and me..."
Kitoushi raised an eyebrow at him, "Are you really going to do this?"
"Yes." He frowned, "Aren't you?"
"Not out loud."
"Kiiiit," Taka gave a protesting expression before his eyes darted to the side. "I...don't know anyone else."
The look he received from Kitoushi was quite cat-like in nature, revealing absolutely nothing of the thoughts behind his eyes.
Kit gave a little sigh, "Kafu is one."
Taka looked up at him with a slightly surprised expression, seeing that Kit had shut his face down again.
"Other than that you're on your own."
Myself and Taka. Kafu. Hiei and Youko.
Kit couldn't come up with any others.
That leaves three unknowns. 3
Hiei kept his expression calm and neutral when the pair in the room turned to look at him, every ounce of his amusement reined in and hidden from the others. And while the pair began to banter back and forth, Hiei himself began counting.
Youko, Kitoushi, Kafu, Horu, Myself. Douji. Taka.
One other, unaccounted for.
He gave a small scoff as he turned, moving around the couch to sit on the edge, his feet propping up on the nearby coffee table.
"Don't harm yourself." He paused. "Better yet, go ahead."
~!**!~
Akari gave a huff. "I just said it wasn't worth it. I'm fully capable of seeing a lost fight before it ensues." She looked up at him with an innocent smile. "Plus, I would get nothing out of it except frustration, because you play the game much better than I." *
"Game? What game? When have I ever played a game with you?"
~!**!~
It took everything within Taka to only take a breath and not shoot a reply back in Hiei's direction.
He's not your concern. Let it slide. He can gripe all he wants and it still won't matter. Because in the end-
The last thought had Taka giving a wide smile to no one in particular, one that Kitoushi caught and easily followed the train of thought the bird had just connected.
"Well since you all are absolutely of no help whatsoever-mostly," Taka gave Kit a look, "I'll just go ask her myself." He moved for the front door. 3
Hiei eyed the screen of moving pictures for a moment before his eyelids slid closed calmly.
"What makes you think she'll answer those questions if she wasn't willing to answer your other simple one." Without another word, he let the layers fall over him, though he did remain in the in-between layer, not moving from his spot.
Merely to be out of the bird's eyeview.
Shiki probably wouldn't enjoy him antagonizing the bird too much.
For now, he'd relent.
~!**!~
She grinned at him. "Well, you're doing a pretty bang-up job of it right now, ke-"
Akari paused and turned to glance over her shoulder, blinking at the dog who'd sat up and called for her on the layer they'd left him slumbering on.
"This isn't funny, you know."
Goofy dog, I wouldn't leave without telling you. *
Kurama lifted his head to see the dog.
"...we should probably get back to him."
~!**!~
Taka paused and looked back at the place where Hiei had been a moment ago, same self-assured grin on his face as always as he turned the doorknob.
"Because, Champion, this time I'll be asking her without either of you around." He flung open the door and stepped out. 3
Hiei sneered at the rice in his hand.
Child.
~!**!~
Akari moved away from Kurama, albeit a little reluctantly, and was sitting up on the inbetween layer, a hand still on the redhead's arm as she reached for Nabu.
"You're the one keeping us here. I can't do this, remember?"
She waited, a mischievous smile coming to her face.
"Akariiiii…" *
"It's true. I am. And I'm asking you if you'd like to go back now or not. All you have to do is say the word."
~!**!~
The area outside Shikiyoku's home was absolutely flooded with more than just what Taka had been accosted with inside the house, and all he could think about now were all the lovely markings that were going to go to waste.
He sighed, wading his way through, tempted to just take to the sky to spot her, if he really thought it would help.
Thankfully, most of the demons all appeared to be facing a certain direction and he pushed his way through, reaching the edge of the circle that stood a respectful two feet from her as she kissed the wrist of a demon and turned to another.
Rolling his eyes at the 'respectful' distance, Taka stepped in, garnering looks he ignored from the others.
"You are not taking me away from this right now."
"No. You're right. I'm not." Taka allowed as she put up a hand as if to stop him from doing so. He folded his arms over his chest. "I am however, planning on remaining here until you're finished. So we can talk."
Another kiss, another demon turning to leave.
If I never have to kiss another ever again it'll be too soon.
She gave a sigh as she turned to the next.
It'd be nice to be kissed for once instead of being the one doing the kissing. 3
~!**!~
Akari smiled at the dog that stretched just an inch or so away from her fingers, his ears back and mouth open in a wide yawn.
"Just a second," Akari replied to Kurama, watching Nabu carefully as the dog continued stretching, bowing to stretch his front legs out, the toes of his front paws spreading a little before he moved to stand, looking around in confusion.
"Okay, go ahead."
When she felt the sensation of being dropped onto the layer, her smile widened and she moved for the dog, wrapping her arms around him in a motion too quick for him to catch.
Nabu gave a sound akin to a yelp, making an attempt to jump away from her before he registered her laughter.
"I nearly had a heart attack!"
"I would never leave you without saying something first!"
"...You scared me."
"That was the point." *
Kurama let out a chuckle at the two, though he stayed quiet and only watched, knowing that in the many days to come he would take to recalling each moment of these past few hours with her. Including this one. 3
Nabu huffed out a breath and turned his eyes to Kurama. "You helped her," he accused, though his tone was very much contradicted with the swish of his tail in the grass. "I thought we were friends, Flowers."
Akari laughed a little louder this time and rubbed at his head briefly before kissing him between the ears and sitting back, glancing at Kurama.
I was so comfortable, but… I can handle it. *
Kurama's glances went back and forth from the dog and Akari, and he gave Akari a smile meant to convey to her he felt the same way as she.
There will be time later. All the time in the world.
"I count you as a very dear friend indeed, Nabu." Kurama told him, "However...unfortunately, I must admit to being a willing participant in her mischief." 3
"Shame on you."
Akari turned to stare at the dog as he moved around her, tail moving in amusement as he passed. He sauntered to the redhead and stood over him for a second before simply plopping to the ground near him, turning to lay on his side and moving a paw as if to use it to hold his head up.
"We're twins."
Akari blinked and gave a sigh. "You two…" *
Kurama gave her a look meant to mirror Nabu's, "We two are...wonderful? That's what you were going to say, wasn't it?" 3
"You're going to be the death of me."
"Don't lie. We make you feel alive."
Akari crossed her legs, propped her elbows on her knees, and took to holding her face in her hands to hide the smile she wore. "Brats." *
"Nabu!" Kurama said with mock-astonishment, "Did you hear what she just called us? I think she was trying to be insulting!" 3
Nabu rolled onto his back, paws tucked close to his chest as he turned his head to look at Kurama. "Pet me like one of those french poodles."
She tried to keep the laughter silent.
She really, truly did. *
Kurama's eyebrows lifted, though he managed a better poker face than Akari.
"Well...you're not on a couch, but I suppose I can make an exception." Kurama reached over and gave Nabu a good scratching at his stomach, smiling after a moment. 3
It took a moment before Akari gathered herself enough to silence her laughter, and then another moment before she was done laughing altogether, at which point she had to wipe at her face. "W-Who taught you that one?"
"Some movie or another. You fell asleep and I was bored. There was a movie on." The dog gave almost a smile at Kurama. "I thought I'd try it out. But one of you is harder to crack than the other."
Akari's grin widened as she looked at Kurama. "He's talking about you, fox." *
Kurama laughed at the dog, "Well, I didn't exactly think it would be appropriate at the time. Perhaps 'in-character' is the better response," He teased. "After all, it was a good joke." 3
Akari had remained perfectly content with staying in the meadow, making small talk and occasional ruckus with the other two. And for a while, she'd forgotten the actual reason she was still sitting around, playing with the closed-up flower buds and watching Nabu roll around in the grass happily a few feet away.
She opened her mouth to say something inconsequential, something that was nothing more than a small quip about something or another, but her mouth fell closed and she shifted her weight, extending her left arm under her head to peer at the mark on her wrist.
Another pulse. Another silent calling.
Oh… right.
She pulled her arm under her head again, settling on her stomach and turning so that she rested her chin atop her forearm, eyes closing.
What had she been about to say?
"Akari, you should try this! The grass is soft enough that it won't stain your shirt!"
Her eyes opened to stare at the jumping dog who, when he noted she was watching, dove into the grass and rolled several times.
"It's like rolling in down feathers!"
She gave a small sound of amusement. "Are you not tired yet?"
"Nope!" *
Kurama lay in the grass nearby on his back, one arm behind his head and the other twirling a flower from the meadow back and forth.
He sent a brief glance in Akari's direction, knowing that her time with them must surely be drawing to a close, and yet refusing to mention it, selfishly agreeing with her decision to draw it out as long as possible.
He did let out a large sigh though.
~!**!~
"Wake up, bird-brain."
He opened a single eye, "I wasn't asleep."
"Uh huh." Shikiyoku had her arms crossed over her chest, giving him a look of disbelief.
"Are they all gone?" He leaned to the side from where he had sat down up against the stone wall that marked the edge of the front yard of her house, his arms on either knee.
Shikiyoku said nothing at first, only stepping slightly to the side so that he could see past her.
"Not a single one left."
Taka let out a small sigh, "I'm torn?"
"Oh?" Shikiyoku moved to sit down on the sidewalk next to him, but as soon as she leaned back against the wall, he reached over and gathered her into his lap, resting her inbetween his raised knees before putting his arms back down on them and leaning back again, this time his head going back as well.
She made no protest, feeling a little worn-out from the constant interactions of the entire day, and only settled in to the space he made for her that was just small enough to be quite comfortable as she curled her legs underneath her and leaned on her side into him, closing her eyes.
He had nodded, though Shikiyoku did not see it.
"The fire twerp said there were eight demons to worry about."
"Worry is such a strong word." Shikiyoku murmured.
Taka made a strangled sort of noise in his throat that conveyed how unsure he felt on the matter quite clearly.
"Who are they?"
"You already know two." She replied with a murmur, cuddling closer to his chest.
Taka lifted his head to watch her, faint smile on his face for just a second before he shook it off and pushed her again.
"Who are they?"
"You..." She was quickly falling asleep, her voice lowering, "And Kit..."
He could feel her relaxing into him and he made a face about their being on the sidewalk, but didn't move.
"...and Kafu...and...Douji...and..."
She murmured another name that Taka couldn't make out, but the demon was too taken in by how adorable she looked curled up against him like that and he barely noticed, especially when she gave out that little sigh he remembered instantly, the one that always got him to smile down at her as it indicated she had relaxed enough to drift away.
Taka huffed a breath out of his nose and leaned his head back again, unable to remember any longer any other reason as to why he had waited all day for her except for the fact that maybe it was because he had hoped this would happen.
Another huff and his head came up from the wall, his eyes closing nearly enough that anyone walking by who might happen to notice would think he too was asleep, when really he was quite aware of the immediate area...as well as the seductress asleep against him.
Dammit. All these years and you're still really good at making me forget things. 3
~!**!~
Another pulse, another twitch of her wrist.
Akari's eyes came closed again, hearing the sigh that came from the person nearby. Stop that. You're not allowed.
Her eyes came open when Nabu's cold nose touched her forehead lightly. He didn't say anything, only giving a doggish smile and laying in front of her.
"Yes, you're cute."
"I'm aware."
Another pulse, and Akari was moving, pushing herself to sit up. She shifted until she was extending her legs out on either side of NAbu, her arms stretching over her head. Her ribcage was a little sensitive, but that was expected after laying on her stomach for so long.
Her arms dropped and her eyes turned to Kurama.
It took all of her strength to not stutter, to not let her reluctance filter into her speech.
"I have to go. I'm sure he's been patient just about as long as possible." *
Kurama's eyes flickered to her wrist where he knew the mark lay, under the bracelet she still wore.
His eyes returning to hers, his face completely serious, he asked, "Want me to kiss it and make it better?" 3
Akari mustered up a small smile and held her wrist out. "If it will make you feel better, be my guest."
"This is dumb. You should just stay here and plaaaayyy with us!" *
Kurama slowly sat up, keeping eye-contact with her as he set down the flower on his other side and reached with his other hand to take a hold of her wrist, only then taking his eyes down to her skin and moving the petals of the flowered-bracelet out of the way until he could see the damnable marking she wore.
Without hesitation, Kurama leaned over and pressed his lips against it, pausing there for a second before pulling back and scowling at it, dropping the expression as he sat back up and looked up at her, still holding her wrist, melancholy face and all, and adopting a pitiable expression.
"It didn't go away." His lower lip may not have been trembling, but it might as well have. 3
Akari fought really hard not to frown at the initial expression she caught on Kurama's features. Trust me, I know. It's a pain, sometimes quite literally. She stared at the stupid thing a moment longer before bringing her eyes up to Kurama's.
"I can see that." she replied blandly.
She stayed quiet for a moment before giving another sigh, this time of irritation. Her eyelids slid closed.
"So dramatic. I like it."
Akari laughed and opened her eyes again, this time sticking her tongue out at the dog before turning to Kurama again. "What an expression that is. Make sure it isn't on your face when I see you next. It might ruin my homecoming." Her smile widened, her tone actually teasing. *
"This expression will stay right where it is up until the exact moment I see you again." Kurama thought about it. "Unless you've still got this wretched thing on your wrist when you return." His face grew a little darker, "If that's the case then there will be a certain unwise Alpha with whom I will be having words." 3
Akari's smile widened and she turned her wrist over, wrapping her fingers about his wrist and pulling him closer for a moment, her voice going quieter.
"If it's still there when I decide to return, there will be no Alpha for you to speak with."
Of course, my hands won't be doing the deed, since it would only prolong my time there.
"But, you're welcome to think on it for a bit." Her free hand came up to tap gently at his cheek. *
Kurama's fiercer expression fell away as she touched him, instead growing wistful, wanting desperately to say that he wished she didn't have to go and at the same time feeling it quite likely that she felt the same way.
"You know, now that I think about it, I'm fairly certain I lied earlier...if you are gone longer than a week, I'm coming to get you myself." He reached up with his other hand to tuck part of the hair hanging at the side of her face behind her ear, leaning close enough to rest his forehead against hers. 3
Akari gave a smile of amusement. "Be my I'm not out of there by then, I'll probably be on the verge of ripping my hair out and running away anyway." She kept her eyes on him, very adamantly ignoring the fifth pulse of energy in her wrist.
She tapped his face again with her hand, this time lighter, as if unsure about the action. And after a beat, she twitched her nose a little and gave a sigh.
"While I enjoy the stalling, the longer I'm here, the longer it will be before I come back…" *
"You're right." Kurama allowed, "But don't expect me to be happy about it." He smiled a little, gave an aggravated sigh and leaned back again, blinking once at her. "If you don't get going, I'm likely to not let you go." 3
Akari gave the smallest of smiles at the redhead, refusing the urge to lean forward and touch her nose to his. "See you on the flipside then, hm?" She turned and gave Nabu a pat on the head, who responded with a huff. "If I come back and you've torn up the house, your bed will be outside."
"Liar."
She dropped through a shadow, her feet hitting grass on the third layer, her eyes landing on Isamu and the girl from before, who both were sitting criss-cross on the ground, waiting. The first to open their eyes and look up at her was the girl, whose head lifted, causing her short hair to bounce. "Took you long enough."
Akari raised a brow at the girl before turning to Isamu, who had stood. "Let's go before I change my mind."
"Akari, meet Hiyori. Hiyori, meet your older sister, Akari."
… Seriously?
"I already know who she is." Hiyori mumbled before turning away, moving much too graceful for her age.
"That's why you brought her along? Because she's another family member?"
"I just thought you'd be interested in knowing that."
~!**!~
Nabu sat on the grass of the meadow, huffing at the space where Akari had been sitting moments ago. "She wouldn't really make me sleep outside…" He turned his head to Kurama with a curious air. He blinked once at the other before moving to stand.
"You said something about another place I could find you, if I had to?" *
Kurama tried not to stare at the place Akari disappeared for too long, feeling Youko tugging at him, reminding him that the other had places to be.
Or rather, a place to be.
"Yes."
Nabu's question pulled Kurama from his thoughts and Kurama held out his arms, "Ready to go now?" 3
Nabu tilted his head at Kurama, eyeing his outstretched arms for a moment before giving a little sigh and moving forward, placing his front paws on the other's thighs and lifting his head to look up at him. "Might as well, right?"
~!**!~
The silence had been awkward for some time now.
"So… which… uh…"
"Father. We share the same father. You should have known that by looking at me."
Akari scowled at the child who walked beside her. "Excuse me for not wanting to imagine him as a young female."
"I suppose that reveals a lot about your character."
Isamu gave a laugh from Akari's other side. "You two already sound like siblings."
"Shut up," they intoned together, earning another laugh.
"Remember where the camp is, Aka?"
"How could I forget? Even a thousand lifetimes couldn't erase the mental map of this layer. I did, after all, run around it every day."
"Just checking."
"You aren't going to make me do that again, are you?"
He gave no answer and they moved on in silence. *
~!**!~
Kurama scooped up the dog in his arms and stood up easily, taking one last look around the layer and sighing, stepping between that one and the next and starting to move, his face growing more reserved with each step.
Sometime before landing on the first layer, Youko emerged and Kurama disappeared, the kitsune diligently carrying Nabu until he landed on the First Layer and set the dog down.
He took two sweeping steps forward, having appeared just in front of Taka and Shikiyoku, and reached out to pick her up.
"Touch her and die, fox." Taka didn't even bother looking up.
Youko stood straight, giving Taka a lofty look that was lost on him since Taka hadn't moved.
"You'd kill your best friend's own kin?"
"Kin or not, I don't think your cousin would care much if I messed up that pretty face of yours." Taka finally lifted his head just enough to be looking out from under the red bandana tied around his forehead at the unimpressed fox's face.
"You guys are so loud." Shikiyoku murmured.
"Nabu, should you have need of me, this is most likely the residence at which I will be for the foreseeable future." Youko turned to the dog, "I would introduce you to my cousin so you know his scent, if you like." 3
Nabu padded a few short steps after the fox, taking note of the very subtle changes he saw. Is this what they meant? Youko?
Odd.
He leaned forward a little, sniffing at the demons on the ground, finding that he recognized one of them and not the other. Sparkles. She's a little different than when I met her.
He leaned away, tail dipped low in caution as he eyed the male he didn't know, whose air was very unkind at the moment. Bird. Hawk, actually.
There was a pause in which Nabu blinked and looked up at Youko. Then back to the other he didn't know. This is strange. He turned to look at Youko again.
"That would… probably serve well later." He moved away from the bird and Sparkles, claws clicking on the concrete as he moved to stand behind Youko. "At your pace, however. I'm patient."
~!**!~
Eyes. Lots of eyes followed her.
Get out.
Akari glanced at Isamu, narrowing slightly. "You mean my presence is unannounced?" she hissed.
"...I haven't been here to let them know. Just relax, and stop looking so guilty."
"I'm not guilty, idiot. I'm nervous. Packs are not kind to unwanted visitors."
"You are not a visitor, love."
Akari growled low and turned her eyes forward again, but her gaze skittered from demon to demon, meeting gaze after gaze.
And suddenly, things looked normal. Demons began moving about, continuing their duties, their daily routines, only giving passing glances as they brushed by.
Even.. a few smiles?
"Aka!"
Akari halted in place and looked over her shoulder, eyes finding a demoness who stared at her, smile wide. Her eyes sparkled, both with cheer and tears, and her ears twitched every which way in excessive amounts of excitement. Akari raised a brow.
"You're back!" The demon made two good leaps before slamming into her, causing Akari to stumble a little. "I knew you didn't run away! ...Hey, where's your tail?" The girl pulled back, hands on Akari's shoulders and eyes to her head. "And your ears? Oh my gosh, your hair is long! Who is it? Who-"
"...Manami." There was a pause. "Slow down. You're doing it again."
The girl's face brightened even more, her mouth opening to release a slew of questions. "Where were you? Why didn't you come back? What have you been doing? Did you miss me? Did you learn something cool to bring back and show us?"
"Manami!" Akari whined, sighing."I just got here. I can't answer a thousand questions a minute, and…"
"Right, right! Go visit family first. Then find me!"
"...Will do." *
~!**!~
Youko's tail swished once in the air at Nabu's response, "See?" He turned to Taka, "Now, why can't you be polite like that?"
"To you?" Taka replied, "Because the adorable little dog is welcome. You on the other hand-"
"Taka, be nice." Shikiyoku murmured starting to sit up.
Taka's expression softened as Shikiyoku pushed herself up away from him, using a hand on his knee as leverage and stretching her arms above her head, catching sight of Nabu.
She blinked at him, brain processing through where she knew the dog from and her eyes brightened.
"You've grown!" 3
Nabu huffed at the bird, though merely because he wasn't sure how to regard the being. Or, really, any one being he could smell on the premises. As if there'd been too many here at one point.
His ears had just begun to turn back when Shikiyoku spoke up, quickly gaining his attention and the swishing of his tail in greeting. He sidled forward, extending his nose in her direction.
"You're different too! More sparkly." He gave an amused huff. "Sparkles fits too well." *
Taka gave the dog a funny look before joining Youko in laughing, leaving Shikiyoku with her hand extended towards the dog's nose and giving the pair of them a confused look.
"What?" 3
Nabu turned his eyes to the bird curiously, though his nose remained stretched to Shikiyoku before he lifted his head and took the last few steps forward to give an approving lick at her hand.
"Am I the only one who can see it?" he asked, mainly to himself. Because when he looked up at Sparkles, the very aura around her glimmered, her eyes shining and her hair seeming to move of its own accord, by an unseen force that shone like…
Well, glitter, he supposed.
"I'm willing to bet Grump is here too." *
Shikiyoku moved forward so that she sat with her legs underneath her once Nabu licked her hand, and she took his head inbetween her palms and ruffled at his ears, her expression slightly put-out with the other two demons around her who were still chuckling.
"I don't think I've ever actually heard him call you that. Red seems to think he has."
"Aw, did he call me Sparkles?" Shikiyoku wanted to know, grinning at the dog as she curled her hands around his ears and scratched at the back of them.
"We can't see it right now, Nabu," Taka spoke up, his own lips upturned with a smile, "But I can definitely assure you we know exactly what you're talking about." Taka frowned a little, glancing up at Youko, "I doubt you're 'Grump.' Who's Grump?"
"That's privileged information." Youko stuck his nose in the air, ears standing tall. 3
Nabu's head lowered a little at the very wonderful scratching he was receiving, his tail moving faster when Sparkles repeated what he'd called her. "Good, you haven't forgotten." He sat on his rump, turning his head a little here and there to direct Shikiyoku's fingers a certain way, until she hit the spot that made his back leg twitch a little.
"Grump is no one." Nabu replied after a delay."At least, no one here, that I can tell." He looked to Youko briefly before turning his eyes to Shikiyoku again, his tongue falling from his lips and paws doing a little dance. "Right there! That's the spot." *
"I think you might be cuter than before." Shikiyoku noted wryly with that same grin.
Taka had leaned forward to watch over Shikiyoku's shoulder, his cheek almost brushing up against hers as she hadn't left her spot inbetween his knees.
Youko had made a slight huffing sound and turned his nose into the air. 3
Nabu's movements paused at the sound he heard from Youko, his eyes turning to the taller demon for a moment in consideration before he turned to Sparkles again, making a small sound at her that meant nothing for the other two, but conveyed his message all the same.
Hold on.
He pulled away and moved to sit at Youko's feet, tail moving slightly against the pavement.
"Hey." he called, ears twitching a little. "Can I make a request?" *
Youko's ears twitched and turned down towards the dog before the fox himself actually looked, curious expression coloring his features.
"And what might a dog ask of a fox?" 3
Nabu tilted his head a little, easily containing his amusement and putting on a calm mask. "Well…" he began, ear turning back a little as he considered the being who looked down at him. Slowly, he lowered himself to lay down, chin on his paws and eyes up at Youko. "How should I put it…?"
There was a pause, and then the dog moved, rolling onto his back quickly and barking once. "Pet me like one of those French Poodles." *
All Shikiyoku saw was the dog leaving her and sitting near Youko, the one-sided conversation not particularly lending itself to her guessing at what the dog wanted, especially once the animal had turned belly-up and barked at him. Though it certainly made her want to rush over and rub the exposed stomach.
Taka for his part first sneaked a kiss onto Shikiyoku's cheek that he was fairly certain he got away with since she said nothing, but then his head was tilting rather severely to the side, unsure of what either 'French' or 'Poodle' meant exactly.
Youko's façade did not so much as crack as he eyed the wriggling dog with a single silver eyebrow raised, the joke going completely over his head until Kurama actually explained what was going on, which included having to show Youko what exactly a 'French Poodle' was.
Needless to say, the reaction was a little delayed, but the edges of Youko's eyes twitched at just about the same time as he smirked, a single ear flicking backwards as he lowered himself until his chin was hanging over his knees and he was perched on his toes, one arm circling his legs to hold himself in place.
He reached a hand out towards Nabu's furry belly, but with a single finger raised.
"French Poodles," Youko began, "I would not pet. But you-" He lowered his hand and scratched his long-nailed fingers across Nabu's chest, "-are much cuter than they." 3
Nabu's paws twitched in anticipation when Youko lowered a hand, but paused above his belly. The amount of satisfaction he felt at receiving the reaction the fox had gave lead to his tongue falling over the side of his chops and his tail moving furiously against the sidewalk, making a swish sound as it did so.
So by the time Youko's fingers began scratching, the dog was wiggling back and forth happily, making the smallest of sound here and there in utter joy.
"Nobody likes French Poodles anyway. They're too stuck-up." He gave a small bark. "I'm the cutest." *
Youko nodded sagely, "Of course. The cutest dog in existence most likely."
Youko paused in mid-scratch and blinked.
"I've been told you're only the second cutest. Care to protest?" 3
Nabu's movements stopped when Youko did, his eyes curiously turning to the fox demon. And a moment after the fox finished his question, he huffed and rolled over onto his feet.
"I am the cutest, and will give my presence to the one who knows it." He sidled over to Shikiyoku and plopped down, rolling to his back and lolling his tongue out at her merrily. "Sparkles knows I'm the cutest." *
Shikiyoku propped an elbow up on Taka's knee, put her face in that hand, and looked down at the belly-offering dog with a grin.
"And what exactly am I supposed to do with you, hm?"
"This." Taka provided, reaching over her shoulder and scratching at the dog. 3
Nabu lay there for a moment, feeling the hand of the demon he still didn't know the name of scratching at his stomach, a sense of fulfillment welling up. He lay there a few moments longer before giving a satisfied huff and rolling onto his side, resting his chin on Shikiyoku's knee and turning his eyes onto Youko.
"See?" He huffed once. "Now everyone's relaxed and no one is making threats. Happy people means happy dog." His tail swished twice. "I'm assuming your cousin is inside?" *
Taka kept his arm hanging over Shikiyoku's shoulder and she leaned back into him, the both of them watching Nabu with amusement, though for entirely different reasons.
Taka's eyes flicked up to Youko, "Clever. Did you raise him yourself?"
"I did not." Youko replied, "And yes. We should get that introduction over with." Youko turned tail and sashayed his way towards the front door. "Care to join me inside, seductress?"
Shikiyoku unfolded herself from the ground to start after him, and without missing a beat rejoined, "I don't think it works like that."
Taka groaned, but went ahead and commented, "This outta be interesting," about the dog meeting the cat. 3
Nabu was standing even before Youko moved towards the house, his head swiveling to look at the bird for a moment, considering giving the right answer, but deciding against it. It wasn't the bird's business anyway. So, he gave a happy swish of his tail at the compliment and turned to follow after Youko, staying pretty close to the male until the door was opened.
Nabu ducked around Youko, his first thought being that maybe he could find a comfortable spot to sit, if he was welcomed to stay.
Granted, he wouldn't stay long.
There were creatures by the house that he needed to run off later. Lizards, to be exact. And they were annoying when he was trying to sleep.
The dog circled the couch, pausing briefly to look up at Hiei and giving a considerate tilt of his head at the demon who merely stared down at him.
Not so much a grump anymore, as I thought. The dog stepped forward for a moment as if to greet the male, but he had turned his head to look at the others entering the house.
Nabu moved on, sniffing at the leg of the next person.
Very quickly, he tensed, his nose lifting very slowly to stare up at this one.
Cat.
He hardly moved. *
Kitoushi blinked, pulled from his work by several new scents that he only now became aware of, the newest one-and the most foreign-originating from-
His head turned slowly, blue and brown eyes locking onto the dog at his knee.
"What. Is this." 3
Nabu continued to lift his head just a little more, his nose twitching a little as the hairs on his back began to stand on end. "I am not a 'what'. I am a 'who'." Nabu said slowly, staring at the different-shaded eyes that had locked onto him.
Every muscle remained locked, not even twitching.
"I am Nabu, thank you." *
Kit continued to stare unblinkingly down at the dog who had just provided his own name.
One of the tall black ears at the top of Kitoushi's head twitched back once, flicking forward to stand at attention, pointed directly at the dog just like the other.
"And what, praytell, is Nabu's business here?" 3
Nabu didn't so much as hesitate.
"Kurama invited me." *
"Do you by any chance mean Youko Kurama?" 3
"Both of them." Nabu's ears slowly began to lay down on his head, feeling exceedingly cautious at the moment. "So, in a way, yes." *
Kitoushi's gaze had not left Nabu, though one of his ears turned loosely as Youko silently gave a little nod of his head, the long, slender black tail curled out from behind the neko and on the couch starting to lift and lower in a slow, thoughtful rhythm.
Kit's nose flared a little after a moment, and his core trembled.
He didn't even have to look up to know that night had fallen, and in the amount of time it took for him to blink, he had shifted forms into a small, willowy black cat seated on his haunches with his tail in a similar position as before, slowly curling up and down beside him.
In a rather intentional manner, Kit's right, front paw started to lift from the couch cushion, giving ample time for anyone to see that his claws were retracted, and placed it upon Nabu's nose, resting it there.
"Tag." 3
Nabu hadn't so much as moved, even when the demon who had been sitting there milliseconds ago moved, somehow becoming the small cat sitting on the edge of the couch, staring down at him. The dog released a slow breath of anticipation, a hind leg moving just slightly, in case he needed the traction on the carpet.
Cats of this form he knew nothing about.
His brown eyes followed the motion of the cat's paw, eyeing the lack of claws warily, but refusing to move away as the paw rested on his nose.
And the single word he heard confused him for a second. What?
He stared for a moment before the word registered, along with its normal meaning, and his muscles drew tighter, if possible.
He said nothing.
He only sat up on his hind legs and, after a brief glance at Sparkles, batted a paw at the cat on the couch almost tentatively. *
Kitoushi pulled his paw back just as Nabu began to move, placing it down next to the other and eyeing the dog with a neutral expression as his tail continued its movement.
When Nabu batted at him, Kitoushi calmly stood up stepped to the side to avoid it, giving him a single, slow blink and maintaining an all-around dignified air.
"You're It."
Kit dropped down onto his front paws, his rear end wriggling in the air and his tail lashing back and forth behind him, his ears flattening against his head.
He lifted his chin just a little to huff out a noisy puff of air in Nabu's direction, then took off running for the stairs, clamoring over the arm of the couch and disappearing over the side. 3
Nabu had dropped to all fours when the cat evaded his cautious swat, his eyes remaining unblinking at the cat even after he spoke.
The moment the small dark furball bowed, however, Nabu's ears perked and his small huffs became silent, his mouth closing and his nose twitching at the feline.
And then the cat was moving out of sight, bounding over the side of the couch.
Nabu gave no hesitation in turning tail and tearing across the carpet after the other, running under the legs of Hiei and around the couch before loudly running up the stairs, the only sound from him being his pounding paws on the carpeted floor.
Hiei's eyes slid shut as the dog and cat tore off, his expression neutral, contradicting the slightly irritated air around him.
Fools.
~!**!~
Terse silence filled the room, Akari unblinkingly staring at the man who stood across from her, their poses very similar: crossed arms, feet shoulder-width apart, and shoulders tense. It had been like this for hours. Ever since she'd entered the room.
"You left."
Akari refused the twitch her expression nearly gave. She didn't reply.
"You abandoned your family. Your pack. Your duty."
Still, no reply.
"And you have the nerve to return?"
The air between them thickened. The silence stretched on.
"That look suits you." he commented darkly, eyes flickering up to her head, where she was well aware of the lack in ears. "Signifies how cowardly you were. Are. It's a wonder I even-"
"You have no power here." Akari's voice was even despite her pose, her tension. "Only the Alpha decides who is punishable for their actions, and who isn't."
"I was the alpha when you left." the demon seethed. "And you were in line. Now we have-"
"We?"
"Yes, the pack."
Akari raised a brow. "I was never interested. You were made aware very early on."
"I never raised a coward."
"You're right." Akari quipped, "you didn't raise me. Isamu did. Mother did, while you kept to your business. I understand, but quite frankly, I don't care for the reasons in which you seek out multiple mates. Multiple child-givers. That's your business, and I always left it that way. Now, my business is my own, and you will leave it as such."
A snarl and the man's arms dropped, pulling him to his full height over her. "You will not disrespect the former Alpha."
Akari smiled. "As you say." She turned to leave, only to be stopped.
"You will not disrupt the flow of our pack. You will finish your business, and then go back to whatever hole you were hiding in. Understand?"
"If I didn't, I'd stay and debate." Akari continued moving away. "Now, I still have people to visit."
"Your mother-"
"Don't. I'm not here for a nice family reunion. I'm here because I couldn't get out of it. And I suggest you let me do what I'm here to do so I may leave quicker.." She pushed the wooden door open, not stopping to debate any longer. The door slammed shut, drawing the attention of a few passersby who smiled awfully-fake smiles and continued on.
I can't believe I did this to myself.
"That was pleasant," Isamu remarked as he took to walking beside her. "Family reunions are always fun."
Akari shot him a glare.
"I've got some stuff to keep you busy, if you're interested. One of which will place you with Manami."
"I'm all for it, with or without company." *
~!**!~
As soon as Kit shifted forms, Taka moved off towards the kitchen area and Shikiyoku trailed after him curiously, unaware that Youko followed them both until she leaned up against the side of the counter that separated the living room from the kitchen itself and found Youko had come up behind her and let his arms slide over her shoulders, clasping together at about her chest-level as he elbows rested on either side of her neck.
Taka kept making disapproving noises with his tongue as he first opened the freezer and then the refrigerator, running his eyes over the contents within and shaking his head.
"Nothing from Demon World in here? It's like you weren't expecting me." He stood up and walked over to the cabinets, beginning to open the ones over the counter across from her.
"Perhaps you should let her cook." Youko commented.
Taka tossed caustic glance over his shoulder at the fox demon, seeing his tail swish once behind him.
"Are you kidding me? Have you tried her cooking?" He went back to rummaging through the cabinets.
Youko opened his mouth with the intention of saying something to the effect of 'yes,' since Kurama had indeed eaten with Shikiyoku-Toriko?-before, but Shikiyoku leaned into him, causing him to look down at her, and he noticed her shake her head just a little, so he frowned and looked back up, staying quiet.
"It's atrocious." Taka went on, moving past the oven in the middle of those cabinets and checking the ones on the other side of it. He gave a little sigh and stood up, arms crossed over his chest, "Granted, with this junk, I don't even know if I can make a decent meal."
"Which is why I suggested you let the homeowner fix something."
"She's not that bad anymore, Taka." Kitoushi's voice was projected on the air throughout the house. "She's had a lot of practice."
Taka leveled an even stare onto Shikiyoku, who only met him gaze for gaze.
"Not bad is still not good." Taka replied with a frown, casting his eyes in the direction of the stairs where he could feel Kit still running around like an idiot. "And what would you know anyway? You're as terrible as she is, if not, dare I say, worse."
Taka gave a sigh and uncrossed his arms, one hand going to rest on his hip.
"You've got nothing from Demon World?"
"Not a thing."
Taka gave a large sigh at her answer, his mind turning over what he had found.
"And you're supposed to be better than Yoku?" Youko wanted to know.
"Not supposed to be better at cooking," Taka corrected, "Am better."
"He is actually a decent cook, fox." Kit admitted truthfully.
"Decent? Ha!" Taka squatted down and began rummaging through the lower cabinets, beginning to pull out pans, "You could give me more credit than that, Kit."
"If I gave you any more credit, there wouldn't be room for anyone in the house other than you and your oversized ego." 3
~!**!~
Isamu walked with Akari with his chin a little higher than normal, a grin on his face as he greeted demons who passed by, exchanging brief words with a couple who asked how he'd been, even pausing for idle chit-chat, forcing Akari to stand there and communicate with a few she didn't even recognize.
"Riki's daughter?"
Akari nodded and gave a faint smile. "One of them, yes."
"Well now, how nice it must be to have returned to the people you ran with, no?"
Isamu gave a wide grin in Akari's direction. "You wouldn't believe how difficult she is for her age."
Akari shot a glare. "I am as I was raised."
"My heart!"
"Welcome home, miss Hanase," a passing demon greeted, patting her shoulder as she continued on. "Manami's been worried about you."
Akari waved at the woman and turned to Isamu again. "What is it you have her doing this time?"
"The simple scoping."
"You're letting her scope the area for threats? You do realize her name literally means 'love', and that she couldn't fight even if she wanted to."
"Precisely."
Akari sighed and turned, giving a wave at the little group who had begun chattering around her and Isa. "Come on, she's not going to be patient forever."
~!**!~
"So…. you never did answer any of my questions."
Akari looked to the female who had calmed down immensely, her ears turning this way and that while her eyes turned to Akari, they remained dilated. The redhead only shrugged. "There's… not much to say about it."
"I'm not exactly convinced you ran away, like people think you did. What actually happened?" the dark haired girl asked, tilting her head a little.
"How about another question?"
"Akariiii…. You're being evasive."
"Quite obviously so. Next question." To be honest, it was hard for Akari not to smile.
Manami gave a groan. "Okay then. Where have you been?"
"The first layer, more commonly known as Human World." The pair of them continued walking around the perimeter of the little village of dog demons, listening to their surroundings and occasionally pausing for a moment to talk.
"That's… interesting." The girl turned her eyes to the side, as if imagining Akari in a strange place that she'd never seen before. Then, she made a face.
Akari laughed. "It's not as bad as you've been made to think. You're hardly noticed. And the humans aren't so bad, though there are a good few who are… disgusting in their own ways."
"Isn't that boring? Lonely?" Manami frowned. "That's no way to live, Aka."
"Nope. I keep busy, have good company."
"...Have?" Akari nodded, and after a pause, Manami spoke up again. "Good company is hard to keep on that layer… Won't you outlive them all?" Another pause. "You're not staying here long, are you?"
"I have other priorities, Manami." AKari shifted her weight, eyes turning away. "As much as I missed you and Mother, I can't. I have other things to take care of."
Manami didn't miss a beat. "Isamu doesn't fit, you know. He used to be a great candidate for Alpha, but now that he is Alpha… he's become careless. He leaves us for weeks on end and then reappears with no explanation at all. And the trouble is, he does a good job in making sure no one questions him."
"He's the Alpha. He has to get things done, even if it's by other means unlike the previous Alphas."
There was silence for a moment. "It's… strange, Aka. I'm the only one who seems to think he's acting different."
"Manami, I hope you're not saying this to convince me to stay." She took a deep breath. "Plus, I'm sure you aren't the only one to notice his behaviour."
"I'm telling you because you should know. And you should watch. If you wanted, you could at least appoint a new Alpha."
Akari sighed. "I know I can."
More silence.
"So, who's the lucky one?"
Akari turned a curious gaze onto the other. "Hm?"
"I know you never cared for the hair thing, that you probably grew it long for your own preference, but Akari… you smell."
Akari's eyes widened and she blinked twice, "Excuse you?"
Manami fidgeted. "Like… like… Flowers. Ferns. You smell like… you've been rolling around in meadows for your entire life. And that kind of smell doesn't stick as long if it were simply the case of back-scratching on the ground." She finally met Akari's gaze, shining, curious and yet almost… knowing.
Akari's lips released a loud laugh. "Is that so?"
"Is there a person who is your priority?" Her voice was small, no louder than a whisper as if she might gain the attention of unwanted ears.
Akari shrugged.
"Akariiii."
The redhead gave a smile.
"What question will you answer?"
"Not sure yet." *
I am trying to decide whether or not I should break the RP off into a new FF story sometime soon. If you have any thoughts about doing that, feel free to PM me your opinion!
Thanks for reading! Bless your face. If you sneezed during this chapter, bless you. Peace off! -Star