Chapter 2 – Touch
All Disclaimers Apply
A/N: Hello, everyone! My apologies for taking so long with updating, the past few months have been filled with a lot of ups and downs. Some of you may remember I mentioned being pregnant again. However, in June, I miscarried. It was really hard and I've been dealing with those emotions in the best ways that I can whilst juggling around my son as well as preparing to host his birthday party, plus we had to move. I ended up getting a job that is exactly what my family needed, plus my son came off the ventilator completely and just recently had his trach capped. The next step will be removing the trach following a sleep study. A lot of moving parts but I'm finding much-needed catharsis in writing Closer.
I should mention this story may end up affecting my other story, Fons et Origo, in that it might (almost definitely) will alter the beginning of their relationship. Nothing is written in stone and the next chapter of FeO will be coming out soon, as well as the third chapter to Closer. Thank you all for your patience. I hope you enjoy the update!
Kurama glanced up from his book for at least the tenth time to gaze at Botan, who sat on the opposite side of the sofa. He observed the way her brow scrunched in concentration, she was leaning back against the arm of the couch, legs folded Lotus style and clad in jeans and a light pink sweater. He allowed his eyes to wander over her form a few moments longer before returning to his book, silently admonishing himself for his lewd thoughts.
It had been nearly three months since the first night Botan stayed with him since their first argument and the first time the kitsune had acknowledged his lascivious feelings toward her. He'd wondered that night if perhaps the intensity of his thirst for her would diminish with some separation. But he found himself unwilling to see her go that following day and asked her to stay through the weekend, secretly hoping she would deny him only to find her eager to continue spending time together.
Each time she stayed over he would ask when she would come again and thus, over the following weeks, they spent most of their days together. Every return would reignite his bawdy semblance. But Kurama was far from a weak-willed man and would constrain himself, only allowing glances and rarely touch.
But, oh, how he yearned to touch her constantly. When she wasn't with him his mind would stray and the provocation to kiss her, to take her, to make her cry out beneath him was absolutely draconian in its severity. Yet he somehow found the strength to resist the urges in her presence, keeping her close felt natural and safe; even if the safety was from himself.
While he could not quite find the logic in these newfound emotions he took great pleasure in her companionship regardless of his lustful impulses. With both of them being quite a bit older than their friends it was nice to have each other to speak to with a certain wisdom and understanding, something their friends could not comprehend or do. Botan was naturally bubbly and cheerful but Kurama was beginning to see more of the depth of her heart, and he wanted to know more.
A small sigh from Botan pulled the kitsune from his contemplation.
He noticed she was still on the same page from earlier, her lavender eyes were on the page but remained unmoving and unfocused. For a moment she shut her eyes tight and pinched the bridge of her nose. Kurama closed his book and leaned forward slightly.
"Is everything alright?" He asked with concern.
Botan nodded, "Yes, I'm just a bit tired."
"I'm sure the rain doesn't help. Would you like to lie down for a bit?"
"Mm, better not, or else I won't sleep tonight." She stifled a yawn behind her book and graced him with a tired smile.
Kurama set his book aside and returned her smile, "You have been rather busy this week." He fixed her with a pointed gaze, gauging her reaction before asking, "Is coming over after work becoming too tiresome? It's not exactly a quick journey…"
Closing and setting her book aside she shook her head, "Not at all! I love spending time with you, even if it's just for a short while before we head off to bed. I wouldn't miss it for anything." He smiled at her response, sighing inwardly with something akin to relief. "Besides, today is the first full day we've had together in some time."
"Ah, true," he replied. That rainy Saturday had been a welcome one for him; the past week the two multi-century old beings had been particularly busy which left little time to enjoy each other's company. Being cooped up alone, sharing conversation, learning more about one another, and relaxing together was something they both looked forward to. Kurama found that seven days of only a few hours with Botan was not enough, even though he could not express it to her, or himself for that matter, why that was so.
The deity yawned once more and Kurama stood, "Would you care for a coffee?" She wrinkled her nose in response and he laughed lightly. "You don't like it, I assume?"
"It's just so dark in flavor," she said. "Lord Koenma seems to enjoy it, though I can't understand why."
"Perhaps you've never had a decent cup?" Kurama offered his hand, lifting her to stand when she placed her hand in his. "I believe you'll change your mind after I've shown you how delicious coffee can be."
"Yes, Sensei, teach me your ways!" She craned her neck into a bow with a giggle and glanced down at their still joint hands when she felt his hold tighten. When she looked up at him she found him staring at her with a strange hunger in his eyes, she couldn't place what those emerald pools were trying to convey but she noted the expression was becoming a frequent visitor. So too was the heat that would pool in her core and leave her breathless when she would meet his gaze.
Kurama quickly recovered from his concupiscent imaginings and reluctantly released her hand to walk into the kitchen, Botan followed him. Over the past few years, he had become rather fond of the dark drink and its deep, earthy flavor. He'd tried many different brands and flavors, discovered his favorites and the ones he detested. He considered himself a bit of a coffee snob.
When he opened his cabinets he discovered that he was actually out of coffee. "Ah," he muttered. "It seems I may have failed to add it to my shopping list and didn't pick any up the other day." He glanced out the kitchen window and noticed the rain had stopped. "The rain has let up. Do you feel up to an outing?"
"Sure. Where are we going?" Botan asked while following him out of the kitchen and down the hall toward the front door.
Kurama helped her shrug on her coat before donning his own, "Since we've none here let's go to my favorite café, it's close by," he said with a foxy grin. "I think you'll enjoy it."
A ten-minute walk later proved Kurama's calculation correct, Botan fell in love with the shop the moment they walked in the door. She let out a small gasp at the European style décor, the warm and welcoming atmosphere, and when she spotted the display case of French patisserie she gripped his arm in glee. "Everything is so pretty!" She exclaimed, earning an amused chuckle from the kitsune.
Taking into account the deity's sweet tooth Kurama ordered a lavender white chocolate mocha for Botan and a caramel macchiato for himself while she picked out a different pastry for each of them. She offered to pay for her share but he would have none of it. "Why don't you pick somewhere to sit?" He asked, gently shooing her away so he could finish the transaction. She sighed but thanked him nonetheless and headed towards a booth next to a window so they could keep an eye on the weather.
She passed by the bulletin board for the local community and stopped when her eyes fell upon a missing person flyer. Blue brows knit together as she looked over the information. The photo was of a young woman with long, turquoise hair very close to the same shade as Yukina's hair. The woman was fair-skinned and very pretty and according to the listed information she'd been missing for nearly two weeks.
Kurama walked up behind her and as he peered over her shoulder some of his crimson hair brushed against her, sending chills up her spine. "Did I startle you?" He chuckled, she pouted in response. "What were you looking at so intently?" His sharp eyes spotted the poster. "Another missing girl, I see."
Botan sighed, "Yes. I saw another flyer near Shizuru's apartment a few weeks ago. Another blue-haired woman…" She grew quiet and then led the way to their booth.
Once seated across from one another Kurama leaned his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his laced fingers. "What are you thinking?" He asked.
"Well," she started, "It just seems odd to me that two women are missing who look very similar. They could be sisters, really."
He pondered that for a moment, "Well, perhaps they are somehow related?"
She shook her head, "They have different surnames."
"That doesn't necessarily rule out affiliation," he countered. "However, I am curious as to whether they are human. With the barrier between Makai and Ningenkai gone, many yokai are now living their lives here among humans."
Botan nodded, "That's true. It was Genkai's wish for coexistence and it's finally coming to fruition, little by little at least."
"Some yokai have moved from Genkai's land to human neighborhoods," Kurama added, pausing when the server came by with their warmed pastries and coffees. "And most humans, unless spiritually aware or inclined, don't notice a difference."
An idea struck Botan then, "Oh! I wonder if there is still a log of yokai who moved to the land under our territory, I could check the list and see if any of the missing girl's names are there."
The kitsune was moved by her altruism, he admired the compassion she had for others. Friend or foe, human or yokai, Botan always sought the good in people. Her benevolence was also somewhat of an Achilles heel as it also left an opening for hostile beings to take advantage of her. And any form of exploitation of the deity was something Kurama simply would not allow.
"Sounds like a good plan," he responded. He glanced down at the coffee in front of her. It was tan in color, visible through the clear glass mug, and topped with lavender-colored foam and lavender leaves. With two fingers at the base of the glass, he gently slid it closer to her, "Now drink, please."
Kurama watched Botan attentively as she closed her eyes and leaned forward to inhale the aroma before placing her delicate fingers around the glass and lifting it to her alluring lips. With an inexplicable longing, his emerald eyes ardently followed the movement of her throat as she swallowed. A vulgar sensation formed inside of him, delighting the very fiber of his being.
"Mm," Botan exhaled, opening her eyes. "That was delicious-eh?" Her words were cut short when she met Kurama's gaze. The hungry expression was there again, the emerald color of his eyes was dark and suggestive, making her shudder with licentious goosebumps.
They blinked and the buzz of the café returned thus shattering the tension. Botan turned away to gaze at the wet streets outside of the window, desperate to hide her glowing cheeks. Her hands dropped to her lap and she squeezed her legs together to mollify the heat between her thighs.
The scent of her arousal was not lost on Kurama, he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and did his best to ignore it. "I'm glad you enjoy the coffee," he said softly, searching internally for an alternative topic to dispel the heaviness of the situation. "Have I turned you into a coffee lover?"
Botan swallowed thickly and nodded. "Oh, absolutely," she winced slightly at the overly enthusiastic tone in her voice. "At least this drink, it's just the right amount of sweetness! Thank you for the recommendation."
"It's my pleasure," he replied.
They spent the next hour chatting comfortably, all discomfiture soon forgotten. They enjoyed their pastries and shared their drinks. When Botan returned his macchiato after trying it Kurama brought the cup to his lips for a sip, secretly treasuring the indirect kiss. He wondered if she was thinking the same when the tables were turned and she took another mouthful of her own coffee. On their walk back to his apartment the rain picked up again and they huddled together under Kurama's umbrella. Neither of them was particularly bothered by the rain or the closeness. The kitsune in particular relished the warmth of the deity under his arm as they continued their homecoming. She pressed into him and wound her arm around his back causing a gentle smile to grace his face.
Later that evening, long after their return to the apartment, Botan offered to make dinner. While looking through the pantry she came across a beautiful, ancient-looking, sake bottle, painted black with red chrysanthemums. Curiosity got the best of her and she pulled the bottle out to inspect it. She tried uncorking it but found it was too tightly stopped. With an exasperated grunt, she called out to Kurama, "Hey! What is this wine? Can I cook with it?"
"Oh, that," the kitsune observed when he walked into the kitchen and spotted what she held. He took it gently from her hands and traced his thumb over the flowers. "This is a plum wine from Makai, made with special plums only found in mountainous regions there. It's extremely potent so cooking with it wouldn't be wise."
"I see," Botan replied. "How potent is it?"
"Well, one small sip would make a human extremely drunk. If a human were to drink anything more than that they would die from alcohol poisoning." Kurama pulled the cork out and grinned, "That is why I keep it so tightly closed."
"Ooh, it smells lovely!" The deity cried when the scent of the wine hit her.
Kurama pulled two sake glasses from the same cabinet, "However, I'm curious…"
"About what?" She asked while taking the proffered cup.
"About the effect it will have on a reigen," his smile grew wily and he held the bottle out to pour into her cup.
She narrowed her lavender eyes, "Are you trying to get me drunk?" While her tone was censured it was clear that she was willing to test the hypothesis by brandishing her cup to be filled.
"Perhaps. But I will be joining you in carousing," He filled his own drink as he spoke. "So we will at least be on equal footing."
"What about dinner?" Kurama considered her question for a moment and after noticing she had yet to start suggested they order pizza instead. Botan pouted a bit, "Aw, I wanted to cook for you."
He offered her a tender gaze, "Tomorrow?" When she agreed he quickly placed the order and returned to begin drinking. Botan sat on the counter waiting for him with an eager grin. "Alright, now take it slow. A single sip may be all that you need."
She did as instructed and took a small sip, savoring the sweet and smooth flavor, while Kurama polished off his in a single gulp. Her eyes widened, "How much of this can you drink?"
"When in my demon form I could finish an entire bottle before feeling tipsy," he responded and downed the second cup. "In this form I don't know, to be honest. How do you feel?"
"You don't know," Botan repeated flatly, receiving a shrug and responding with a shake of her head. "I don't really feel anything."
Kurama leaned back against the counter to observe her while she continued to take small sips. He drank slowly, mostly to savor, and enjoy watching Botan deftly consume the entire liquid. He poured her another, then another, then another and stopped when her cheeks were tinged red and her giggles became giddy. He was also feeling the cogency of the alcohol but had lost count of how much he'd had as he fell deeper into inebriation.
Neither of them was certain of how much time had passed when the doorbell rang for the delivery of their pizza. Botan's eyes lit up at the sound and turned quickly to run down the hallway, Kurama was at her heels, and when they slid to a stop before the door they were breathless and mirthful. The delivery man probably thought they were ludicrous, but they cared very little.
Heading back to the living room Botan ran a few steps to gain momentum and slid down the hall, giggling all the way. She turned down the longer hallway to do it again before turning around to have another go. The third time, however, she sled too fast and collided into Kurama, knocking them both down. But before her head could hit the floor he caught her and with grace he saved the pizza, despite the two of them lying nearly flat on the floor.
"Even drunk you're a god!" Botan cackled.
"A god?" Kurama laughed back, "Where did that come from?"
Still a jocular mess she could barely get another word out and simply laid there on the floor, legs still tangled up with Kurama's. Rather than attempt to extricate himself he pivoted so that he could sit up and lean against the wall, and pulled her closer so her legs lay across his lap while she was on her back. When the snickers died down Kurama opened the pizza box to hand Botan a slice before beginning on a slice of his own.
Botan sighed in bliss after the first few bites, "Why is pizza so good while drunk?" She took another bite and chewed thoughtfully for a few moments. "Is there pizza in Makai?"
"At the time of my leaving there wasn't," he said. "But things have changed so much that I'm sure they have it now. What about in Reikai?"
"Mm-hm," she mumbled. "We have a ton of different food, and shops…parts of Reikai are very similar to Ningenkai. I'm sure there's even more than what I know. In my five hundred years I've only explored a small fraction of Reikai."
"Why is that?" Kurama took a second slice and placed his hand on her calf, absentmindedly using his fingers to anoint her leg with circles.
"Parts of Reikai are forbidden unless you're a higher-ranked being," she replied. "Or if you've passed on and are going toward Nirvana. And none of this is to say that I haven't explored a lot, it's just that where I've been pales in comparison to what Lord Koenma and the upper ranks have seen."
"I see," Kurama replied. "Are you curious about the other sides of your world?"
"Not really," she sighed. "I may have come from one of those far-off regions and I'd rather not accidentally stumble upon something from my past and awaken something painful."
He frowned, perplexed by her words, "What do you mean? You don't know where you came from?"
"Nope!" Her reply was more aloof than what he expected but she continued, "Before I became a ferry-girl my memory was erased."
He shifted slightly to better read her face, "Why is that? Was that something Koenma enforced?"
Botan lifted her head a bit at the concerned, almost angry tone. She lay her head back down with a moony smirk, "No, I wasn't forced into it. I had the option to keep my memories, as all of us deities do, or I could start my life anew. I chose the latter."
"Wouldn't you like to know about your life from before?" She propped herself up on her elbows as the lilt of his voice was still distressed.
Cocking her head inquisitively she peered up at him, "What for? I'm very comfortable with who I am now." She brandished her arm out to silently ask for his assistance in sitting up fully, which he readily obliged to. She perched herself in front of him, "At one point in my life I thought the same thing. Who was I? What was I? But when I found out it had been my choice, that there had been alternatives, I decided to trust my past self's decision. Maybe she lived a good, long life and wanted something new. Or perhaps it was a painful, agonizing journey and she simply wanted to forget. Whatever the reason, I chose to have faith in her judgment. And I refuse to regret it or try to look back."
Kurama studied Botan carefully, startled by her perspicacity and staunch perspective. She cared so deeply, loved so sincerely, and the consideration she put into such a substantial decision made by what essentially boiled down to a stranger. A stranger she would never know, but loved and trusted regardless. Her self-assuredness was astounding.
Whether due to commiseration or the wine Kurama suddenly gathered the bluenette into his arms, embracing her tightly. She went rigid at first, shocked by the display of affection, but quickly returned the hug. His face was buried in the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent, still befuddled by his actions but unwilling to release her.
"Are you okay?" She whispered. He snorted at the irony as he felt he should be the one comforting her, and not the other way around.
"Yes," he replied, "Just drunk…and…"
"…And?"
He sat up and gazed at her, wearing a silly, drunken grin so unlike his usual demeanor. "And remarkably moved by your fortitude." Botan blushed, finding herself at a loss for words she averted her gaze downward but Kurama lifted her chin with a single finger. "Can we lie down together?"
The deity turned impossibly red, her eyes widened and her heart skipped what must have been several beats. "In…in the same bed?" She quietly squeaked.
"Yes," he said. "Nothing untoward, I promise."
"But, why?"
"Because I'm not done holding you yet," he pulled her close again. "Please?"
Botan trembled at the candidness of his words and ardor, yet surprised herself when she responded, "Yes."
Kurama led her by the hand into his room, while he busied himself with shutting off the lights and closing the door Botan timidly sat atop his bed. He approached her without reserve and sat next to her. They stared at one another in the dark for a few moments as the rain continued to pour down outside. He raised his hand to lovingly untie her hair, admiring the way it cascaded down like a waterfall.
Botan's breath hitched at the caress. Despite how rarely he touched her he handled it effortlessly as if it were no different from every other interaction. When he scooted back and pulled her with him, gathering her gently in his arms, her fingers curled against his chest and she snuggled closer to get comfortable.
"Goodnight, Botan," he said.
"Goodnight, Kurama," she replied. Soon they drifted off to sleep, listening to each other's heartbeats, breathing, and the rain outside.
When Kurama awoke the next morning Botan was gone. He sat up quickly and raked his hand through his hair, "Fuck."
A/N: Heh, sorry to leave it on a cliffhanger. As I said, I will be releasing the third chapter very soon.
