You all probably want to kill me now, and frankly, I don't blame you for that. At first, the problem was schoolwork, then it was a combination of writers block and laziness. My lateness is unforgivable, but now that it's summer, I will do the best I can to make it up to you. I hope this chapter meets your standards.

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Word's Once Spoken: Chapter 14

Kuronue cast another sidelong glance at him, causing Kurama to grin. They were nearly a day into their journey, and if he remembered correctly, they were nearly at the camp. Though Kuronue had been doing his best to remain discreet, it was very clear that he was excited.

Why wouldn't he be though? Youko asked him smugly. Youko Kurama has returned! It was true. Kurama had been to demon world before, but this time, it felt different. For the first time since he'd been Youko, Kurama felt alive, and it was wonderful!

"Hey, Youko!" Kuronue yelled. Kurama cast an amused, but wary glance in Kuro's direction. There was no way he would let the bat carry him again. After all, he couldn't let his already weakened appearance be even more threatened by being carried.

"When we get back, I have a big surprise for you!" Kuronue grinned with unsuppressed excitement, displaying all of his teeth. He looked almost ready to giggle.

Kurama's gaze was distracted when he felt the inhibiting clothes rub against his skin. They had left in such a hurry that he forgot to change out of these horrible things. They were black and coarse, two things that definitely didn't belong on the person of the bandit king. And he would be seen in these when he got there too! It was far to embarrassing to contemplate.

Though excited, his lover was not unaware of his distraction. He knew that Kurama would rather be in that flimsy kimono he'd made him wear to try and get him mad than be in these clothes. And of course, this amused him to no end.

In turn, Kurama noted his lover's amusement. "Don't laugh at me!" he snapped. "This is horrible!" All this seemed to do was entertain Kuro even more.

"You, little kit, are perfectly beautiful the way you are." Kuronue informed him with superiority. "No one will laugh at your clothes, and you know it." Despite his experience with flattery, this honest compliment made him blush.

In his mind, he could hear Youko roaring with laughter at how flustered he became. That's my chimera. He has a silver tongue to be sure, but he's too simple to hide his admiration of us in either form. Us? Had Youko just complimented him? That was a first.

Kurama squeaked when Kuronue tackled him. Before he could complain, lips crashed lustfully down on his own. Emerald eyes nearly rolled back in pleasure at Kuro's honey-flavored kisses. "I love you too." He managed to gasp out when Kuro pulled back.

This seemed to be the correct answer, for indigo eyes lit up and his lover's steady expression was replaced with joy. Kuronue jumped up and held out a hand chivalrously. Kurama laughed as he slipped a hand into the offered one and was pulled up onto his feet. He noted the fact that the chimera's face changed again, now watching him mirthfully.

He had never seen anything so fascinating as Kuronue's face, nor anything as likely to change in so many pleasing ways. You're staring. Kurama started, jumping a step back. "Like what you see?" Kuro teased.

Kurama answered by sticking out his tongue and took off running. The phrase 'catch me if you can' echoed in his mind. Kuronue chased after eagerly.

They ran, laughing, barely even aware of where they were going, just like the old days. In fact, by the time Kurama had noted his surroundings, he could see the assortment of tents in the clearing among the trees.

He froze. This was… Kuronue came up beside him and rested a hand on his shoulder. "We're home." He whispered, sliding his hand down into Kurama's and dragging him forward. Indigo eyes smiled at him tenderly when he dug his feet into the ground. "It's alright." He assured the human. "They missed you too."

Kurama nodded and shook off the hesitation. There was no way he would let himself be led! He moved up to Kuro's side and entwined their fingers.

As they stepped forward, the content, loving face slipped away and was replaced by Youko's detached, calculating expression. Kuronue noted his lover's change in mood and obligingly released his fingers.

The thieves immediately acknowledged their presence. Cries of 'boss!' and 'They're here!' rang out throughout the camp. Within a minute, every thief present had been alerted to their approach.

They all kept their distance, eyeing the redheaded being beside Kuronue. Could this really be Youko Kurama? His energy felt different, and he was so small!

Kurama stood, tensed, aware of the eyes studying him. If they couldn't recognize him as Youko, would they still be willing to accept him?

His question was answered a moment later by a cry of "Youko!" from his left. Emerging from among the crowd, Nori stalked steadily towards them. Kurama felt a ghost of a smile flicker across his face.

"At least someone recognizes me." He muttered loud enough for the others to hear.

Nori laughed. "Well Youko, you do look different than before…"

Kurama sprung forward and stuck his face only inches from the imp's. He smirked maniacally "Are you trying to imply something?" he whispered, causing the blue-skinned demon to look at him sheepishly.

"Master!" he heard a deep feminine voice call out. That voice… it sounded like… The thieves parted to reveal a young kitsune running towards him. Nori stepped back quickly, and before Kurama could react the girl had thrown herself onto him.

"Akiko?" he whispered. She had died, how was it that she was here now? Last he had seen her, she was a twelve-year-old girl. But still, those golden eyes were unmistakable, and that pale orange hair was rare enough that she must be one of Sho's bloodline.

"I missed you master!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"How?" Youko muttered almost incoherently through his lips. He felt Kuro's hand rest on his shoulder and looked up.

"Takeshi sacrificed himself so Shizuka could get Akiko to safety." Kuro told him. "They spent a long time hiding from the guards." He looked at all of the spectators. "Let's continue this conversation in private."

The four of them gathered in Kuro's old tent. Kurama shivered as they entered, he'd had some hard times in here. "By the time we got back," Akiko began softly "You had already left to get that amulet. Papa told us about what happened to you two, and then, you never came back."

She looked up at him with admiration. "But I knew that you would return, I knew it!" Before he could react, she had grabbed a lock of his hair. "You look so different, is this really a human body?"

"Akiko!" Nori snapped, gently slapping her hand away. "Show some respect for your superiors!"

Kurama smiled "I don't mind." He patted her head affectionately and her ears flattened contentedly. "And you've changed quite a bit too." He pointed out.

She flashed a sheepish, Yusuke-like grin at him. "Well master, I've grown up since you left." She said proudly, earning a fatherly smile from him.

"I'm sure your father is very proud." He told her. "Speaking of Sho, where is he?"

"Sho and Shizuka are out right now." Kuro informed him vaguely. He raised an eyebrow at Nori. "Just why do you have that expression on your face?" he asked.

The imp contorted his face as if he was thinking hard about something. "You really have changed." He stated at last. "There was a time when you wouldn't have been this comfortable with us, and you definitely wouldn't have been so tolerant." Kurama's eye twitched as Nori babbled on.

"Not to mention the fact that we don't even know if you can still fight. And then there's the fact that you've been fighting with the Tantei for a while, are you even willing to steal again? There's also-"

"Nori!" Youko snapped. The imp froze and slowly met the golden gaze of the bandit king. Kuro and Akiko merely watched in amusement as Nori began a panicked apology.

Akiko shook her head. "Why don't you just show him how you fight master." She told Youko.

"Akiko," Nori whined. "Why are you trying to get me killed?"

Kuro seized on the idea. "Neither of you are refusing. In fact, let's make it an event!" The three of them looked at each other. What had they just gotten themselves drawn into?

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They faced off against each other. Kurama stood at ease, his arms folded at the elbows and his knees bent and ready to spring. Nori looked at him nervously, but nevertheless intently. Kurama just smiled and waited as the imp circled him slowly.

Since Kurama had left, their camp seemed to have grown. For instance, the fenced-in arena they now stood in hadn't existed before. Kuronue sat on the fence and swung his feet to and fro eagerly. Akiko, resting against the outside of the fence, merely looked tolerant.

Kurama wondered what was taking Nori so long to attack him. With such a large audience, he just doesn't want to make a fool of himself. Kurama chuckled to himself. "Let's get this over with." He called out to the blue-skinned demon.

Nori's eyes hardened and he charged. Kurama ducked the kick that swung at his head, thrusting his foot out to trip the other. The imp back flipped quickly and thrust himself forward again.

It seemed, as neither of them landed any blows, that they were evenly matched. As the brawl continued, Nori seemed to be tiring the redhead. Kurama caught Nori's arm and used it to push off of. From a few feet away, Nori began to look frustrated. "It seems you really have weakened." He taunted.

Instantly, emerald eyes became golden and an icy aura began to emerge. Even Kuronue was frozen as he watched Kurama change before their eyes. "You-ko" he stuttered as the silver mist faded from around his body.

Nori wasted no time in attacking. If he was to win now, he had to work fast. Vines caught each of his limbs before he had even reached the kitsune. "What was that about me being weak?" Youko's soft voice questioned.

Nori met the fox's gaze for only a second before he slowly nodded his head. "Well met Youko; well met." Both of them smiled suddenly.

Youko swept his gaze around the arena and met each of the bandit's frightened eyes. Then he turned at last to face Kuronue. "Come with me." He told the chimera plainly before he stalked off.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Kuronue marveled as he approached Youko.

The bat reverently reached up to stroke the fox's cheek, and was taken aback when he pulled away. "I can't bear to have you touch me this way." Youko stated in disgust.

"Well, it's a bit late for that love." The bat replied in amusement.

"That was a human body. This body however, still bears the taint of a world not it's own." Youko paused. "I need to purify this body before allowing you to come in contact with it."

"Oh, and just how do you plan to do that?" Kuronue wondered.

Youko smiled at him. "Just follow my lead love."

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I have to say, that wasn't a really amazing chapter. My cousin is coming to stay for a week tomorrow, and then I'm going to go to her house and we're going to the anime expo. After that, I'll be able to write another chapter for you.

In the time between last chapter and this one, I wrote a oneshot called These Dreams. Please, if you want to of course, let me know what you think of it. It's sort of lengthy, but it isn't bad.

Until next time, this is Red Kitsune Flames, signing off.