Disclaimer: see previous chapters.
Belonging
Chapter 14
Kurama picked up the smell before he determined the source. He kept racing for his den thinking it was probably just a demon nearby. He hadn't expected the source to be coming from somewhere much closer and personal.
When his den came into view Kurama knew something was wrong. The foliage around it had been trampled carelessly, leaving the hidden entrance visible to anyone, human or demon. He began to approach the den cautiously, silently, hoping he wasn't walking into a trap. Then he suddenly remembered he had control of his ki again and he stretched his senses out, finding no other presence and no booby traps.
When Kurama made it into the heart of his den he stopped, his blood freezing from the site before him. His den had been raided. Everything was thrown around haphazard, and very few things were left undamaged. Shards of pottery and glass, shreds of cloth, and pieces of wood that used to form chests and furniture.
His eyes merely swept over the chaos on their way to discovering if the true treasure of his den had been stolen. The area seemed undisturbed and Kurama practically leapt to the spot and raised his hand to the creeping vines, commanding them to part. The soft rustling of bark and leaves revealed a tiny crevice two feet above Kurama's head. He reached in and almost fainted in relief as his hand found the cold smooth object.
"Thank, Inari."
Kurama pulled the jewels from their hideaway and pressed them to his chest as he bowed his head and gave a small prayer of thanks for their safekeeping. Yuudai…… Just a little longer.
At the thought of leaving this world and returning to his brother and the Makai he was filled with such an intense feeling of excitement that he raced out of his den and started for the mountains in the north and Mount Hakurei. Once I secure the jewel hidden in the mountain, I can return to Sessho-maru and….and….
Kurama winced at the sharp pain in his chest, but his pace never faltered. I can't think about that. I need to get back home to the Makai. To Yuudai. He felt a lump in his throat as he thought about leaving Sessho-maru behind forever to return home. But, I can't stay here, can I? I would be abandoning Yuudai and the clan. Swallowing hard, Kurama's face set in determination as he raced for Mount Hakurei, reciting an internal mantra over and over until it consumed his very being: I'm coming home, Yuudai. I'm coming home, Yuudai…..
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Kurama was true to his word and in six month's time he found himself on the outside of the barrier protecting Sessho-maru's fortress. He placed his hand up to where he knew the barrier to be approximately, and he let his ki flow outwards, hoping to catch the attention of the Lord of the Western Plains. I'll give him a few hours before going to find shelter for the evening.
He jumped up onto a low-lying tree branch and made himself comfortable, awaiting the arrival of the inu youkai. It didn't take twenty minutes before Kurama found himself tackled to the ground and pinned under the strong body of Sessho-maru. He smiled up at the feral look in the inu's eyes.
"I told you I wou---"
Hungry lips devoured his own, not caring what Kurama had to say for himself, only wanting to feel and taste the kitsune that he'd been desperately, achingly, missing. Kurama moaned and squirmed to free his hands but Sessho-maru wasn't having any part of it.
"I'm not letting you go this time, thief."
For some reason, the previously hated nickname ignited a fire within and Kurama growled his appreciation as he bit Sessho-maru's bottom lip, drawing blood. He sucked on the wounded flesh, relishing the taste, but it was quickly pulled away and he let out a plaintive mewl.
Kurama looked up to see Sessho-maru licking the blood from his own lip, golden eyes becoming darker and darker with lust as the seconds ticked by.
"So this is how you wish me to welcome you back? So be it."
Kurama's heart constricted at the low, husky voice, even as the two demons came together in an animalistic embrace, letting their passion run unchecked, bringing about a heated frenzy of scratching, biting, licking and growling.
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Sessho-maru slowly blinked his heavy eyelids, refusing to give in to the call of sleep his body was demanding. Their reunion taking a higher toll than either expected, the silver-haired lovers now lay together in an exhausted heap with Kurama on his stomach and Sessho-maru laying half on top of him, a leg and arm thrown possessively over the sleeping kitsune.
Knowing they could not remain where they were, Sessho-maru bit back a groan as he pushed himself up into a seated position. He gazed down at the pale flesh and his eyes traced a path along the perfect curves of Kurama's shoulder blades, down his back and up again to the base of a silver tail, his lust rekindling itself at each claw mark or bite mark encountered on his lover.
"What an amazing and beautiful creature you are, Kurama."
Sessho-maru pulled his eyes away from the sleeping kitsune to assess his own body, finding matching decorations along his torso. He brought a hand up and lightly trailed it down his chest and abdomen, closing his eyes and remembering back to only moments ago when the red lines were being created. A low growl sounded and Sessho-maru tilted his head back as his hand wandered lower….
"Kurama….."
Two golden eyes opened and sparkled at the sound of the guttural whisper. Kurama slowly rolled onto his back and gazed up at the flush inu who barely gave him a chance to enjoy the sight beside him before burying him under an overheated, muscular body, a curtain of silvery hair framing them in their private space.
"It's a good thing I woke up. You were starting without me."
"Because of you, Kurama. I am this way because of you."
"Then I should take responsibility and help allev---"
Kurama's chuckle was muffled against the hungry lips pressed against his own. He brought his arms up and wrapped them around Sessho-maru's neck, hugging the inu as if for dear life.
"Wrap your legs around me." Kurama did as he was told, clamping his long legs around Sessho-maru's waist, lifting himself slightly from the ground. "Hold tight, thief."
Sessho-maru and Kurama disappeared in a flash of light, reappearing in mere seconds in Sessho-maru's bedroom, landing in a heap on the fluffy bedding. The inu didn't miss a beat as his tongue trailed a wet, warm path down Kurama's neck where it ultimately stopped to suckle at his collarbone.
"Sessho-maru….oh gods….."
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Kurama lay atop Sessho-maru, his mind slowly clearing of its post-coital daze and coming back to reality. Yes, he was back in Sessho-maru's arms, content and satisfied. But….for how long? The kitsune frowned as the pleasure and joy of his reunion seeped away, leaving him with a heaviness in his heart.
"There's something very important I need to tell you."
The quiet tone didn't cause the words to sound any less ominous and Sessho-maru felt his stomach tie in knots. I just got him back. Gods, why can't you leave us in peace?
Kurama felt the body beneath his tense momentarily, and the fingers that had been twirling silver strands of hair stopped, frozen in their leisurely game.
"The night you caught me...the object I was looking for...it was a jewel. A jewel that was one of four created that would allow someone to travel between time. I came for that jewel so I could return home."
The silver kitsune leaned up on his hands and gazed down at Sessho-maru who was showing no signs yet that he understood what Kurama was telling him.
"I'm not from this time, or this world, Sessho-maru. I come from a land called the Makai. It is a world solely created for demons. I was sent here by accident during a job gone wrong."
Kurama continued his explanation, telling Sessho-maru of his clan and brother and the details of his arrival. He relayed his amazement at seeing humans for the first time and staking out his own territory. He spoke of his adventures as a thief which led to his infamous reputation and finally his arrival here at the fortress.
Sessho-maru lay there in stunned silence as he listened to Kurama relay his entire life story as if it were a confession. I said I wanted to know everything about him, but….. in a swift motion Sessho-maru was on his feet, retrieving a robe and wrapping it tightly around himself as if it would help to contain the turmoil within.
"So you came to me……for this gem?"
Kurama saw the glinting eyes and heard the coldness in the inu's voice and understood Sessho-maru's thoughts immediately.
"No!"
He scrambled to his feet and wrapped his arms and tail around the inu possessively. He nestled his face into the broad chest, nudging the robe open slightly to reach the warm skin.
"I came back for you, Sessho-maru. I want to be with you."
Sessho-maru made no move to return the affection of the kitsune. He believed Kurama wanted to be with him, but he was a realist by nature and knew the sad truth of the situation. He had listened to Kurama's story, heard the longing in his voice when he spoke of his clan and especially his brother.
"But you have already said that you want to return to your own time. Be with your clan. Your brother."
Kurama squeezed tighter and clenched his eyes closed as tears began to spill forth.
"I….I miss them so much and…..I've worked so hard to get these gems so I could go home. But….how am I ever going to be able to leave you behind?"
Sessho-maru reached up and pulled back Kurama's silvery hair, exposing a creamy neck and shoulder. He wrapped his other arm around Kurama's trembling body and lowered his head, whispering against the soft flesh.
"You will never be without me, Kurama."
And with those words Kurama felt fangs pierce his skin sending a shockwave of pain and pleasure through his body. He gasped and clawed at Sessho-maru's back as the inu held him fast, emitting a low growl that rumbled both their chests. As the sensation started to fade and Kurama regained his senses, he became aware of the death grip he had on Sessho-maru and he relaxed his grip, enjoying the soothing feeling of the inu licking the newly created wound.
"You will always be a part of me, Sessho-maru."
To be continued….