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"Al your armor is hollow. Ed your arm and leg are prostethic." "How did you know"
"The sound of your steps, the weight when I threw you; you fools did you really think I wouldn't notice? Tell me how it happened"
"Teacher, we...we...transmuted our mother!"
Both Keaka and Botan gasped as Edward blurted out the words to his teacher and immediately received a punch to the face.
"Oh man!" Botan exclaimed her hands going to her face. "I can't believe he just blurted it out like that"
"Ed and Al have invoked the wrath of teacher, take cover!" Keaka yelled putting her hands on her head in a defensive position. Both girls watched intently and awed as Izumi took both boys in her arms holding them close to her as they cried and the end credits began to roll. "Wow. That was gooood!" Keaka said jumping off the couch.
"Yeah it was. Makes me almost glad that I skipped off on some of my duties however I won't be for very long." Botan replied.
"So I can't believe you really met him." Keaka shook her head quickly and even blushed slightly at the memory.
"I was all over the place like, 'oh my god! It's him! It's Edward!' Keiko was cooler than me but once we got upstairs we just started like jumping up and down and screaming. It was awesome! I so wish that I'd see him again." She said opening the front door and grabbing her sneakers.
"Well hopefully the two of you didn't chase him out of the shop for long. Maybe he'll go back and maybe I'll be there." Botan said thoughtfully sighing wistfully in the process. Keaka smiled and giggled slightly.
"I hope not too but he didn't seem intimidated or anything so I guess that's a good sign." She replied.
"He's probably used to a big fuss being made over him so what was two raging teenage girls as opposed to say a hundred of them." Botan said. Keaka nodded in agreement and began walking in the direction of Kurama's house.
"To Kurama's?" Botan asked already knowing the answer.
"Of course! It wouldn't be a good day with out seeing the kitsune." She replied.
"You mean to say your kitsune, don't you?" Botan asked playfully. Keaka blushed profusely.
"He's not mine." She replied.
"Well he basically is the way he's always fawning over you or you over him. How close the two of you are emotionally and physically at times." Botan continued only intensifing Keaka's coloring.
"Shut up." She finally said looking away from her friend.
"Ha ha! I knew it all along! You are in love with Kurama. How sweet." She said dreamily. Keaka ignored her and continued walking until she finally reached the house. She went to open the gate to the back yard when she heard Kurama's voice. He was talking to someone. The other voice soon spoke up and only it's tone was recognizable causing Keaka's mouth to drop.
"I think that Edward is in there with Kurama." Keaka whispered. Botan looked at her before pressing an ear to the wooden fence.
"I think your right but I can't make out what their saying." She whispered back. Botan reached in her pocket and brought out two small blue circles.
"Here put this in your ear and place it against the fence." She said demonstrating Keaka followed suit placing her ear against the fence.
"Love is very different for youkai than it is for ningens Kuraki. Humans have a need to feel accepted and loved which is why many relationships are destroyed because one simply didn't say it enough to the other where as with youkai they can love a mate, not see them for years or centuries before seeing them again of course it all depends on the breed of youkai and other circumstances as well." Kurama said.
"So that's why my mother can just come and go as she pleases without any remorse..." Kuraki said sadly.
"Yes." Kurama agreed. Kuraki sighed and clenched his fist.
"Yeah but my dad isn't going to be around for centuries, he's human. He only has a good forty years left or so and that's it. He can't wait for her but still he does." He said his expression turning to anger.
"He loves her. He'll wait out the rest of his days waiting for her, it's human nature." Kurama replied. Kuraki blew out his cheeks frustrated trying to make sense of it.
"You knew her Kurama and be honest with me but do you think she cares? About my dad? About me?" He asked searching Kurama's face for hope.
"I don't know." Kurama said watching the other's face fall into a look of despair.
"Screw love. It isn't worth it." He said.
"Your wrong Kuraki. It is a very powerful emotion that some choose to abuse but don't let it leave you bitter to it." Kurama said.
"That's easy for you to say, you have your mother and your friends who love you." He replied.
"Your father cares for you I'm sure." Kurama said.
"He's so obsessed over my mom that he barely even notices me." Kuraki said. "I give and I give but I never recieve and I hate it." He said as tears fell from his eyes. This had become a normal occurence to which Kurama offered a comforting hand and words that he felt were right but today was different given the topic of conversation. Kurama wrapped his arms around the younger youkai feeling his body tense but whether it was from his sobs or Kurama's actions he wasn't sure. Kuraki lifted his head from the comfort of Kurama's chest to reveal the tawny eyes that held so much pain that it nearly overwhelmed the elder.
"You have me." Kurama said softly with a slight smile. Kuraki nodded his head knowing what he was about to do would probably enrage the only person who had actually sought out to be his true friend but he had too...had too.
"Kurama...I..." Kuraki whispered as he brought his face closer to Kurama's and enclosed the gap placing his lips firmly against Kurama's. He waited for the kitsune to push him away and probably kill him but Kurama didn't and to his surprise kissed him back gently pressing back laying soft kisses against his lips.
"I'm gonna kill him! Botan let me go!" The scream sounded from the other side of the fence causing both youkai to break apart abruptly. "Get your hands off my fox!" Keaka screamed.
"I think it's time for us to go." Botan said. "Sorry Kurama!" Botan called out as she flew off on her oar with the small heart broken girl in tow.
"Maybe I should go." Kuraki said breaking away from Kurama's embrace and standing up.
"If you must but I really would prefer you to stay." He said his eyes shining brightly. Kuraki nodded nervously and sat back down.
"I'm sorry, I just..." He began but was cut off by Kurama placing a finger of his lips.
"No need." He whispered covering the other's apologies with another gentle kiss.
