Chapter Ten:
The morning was horrible. Youko was ready to make Kuronue into a 'shiskabob' as he had called it himself. But eventually they were on their way. Youko was grumbling and refused to make any 'pit stops' for whatever damn excuse Kuronue may have.
Once his home came into view Youko relaxed a bit. It was late in the morning, so they definitely missed breakfast, but as he had told his mate, he'd be back before lunch-and he was. Even if it was by just a few hours.
Youko relaxed further once inside and released a sigh. "You are going to see Sesshoumaru, and listen to whatever rules he may have for you." He stated bluntly as he walked down the hall. By this time of day his mate would definitely be up, so he knocked on the office door before opening it, "I'm back." he spoke softly. He probably looked as tired as he felt, but no matter.
Waiting for Kuronue to step in before he shut the door, then leaned back against it so Kuronue couldn't use it as an escape if he suddenly changed his mind.
"If you so much as lay a hand on my pup again." Sesshoumaru growled before Youko shot him a pleading look and the dog snarled before leaning back in his chair to compose himself, "...Your rules are simple, thief."
Kuronue gulped watching the dog demon, a nervous laugh escaped him, "And... those would be...?"
Leveling a stern glare upon the bat, his upper lip curled from his teeth, "You will not endeavor to obtain this Sesshoumaru's property as your own. You will not touch this Sesshoumaru's mate. If my pup asks you do to something, as the father of his child, you will do it, and you will not touch a hair on my pack's head or yours will come off."
Kuronue cleared his throat looking off to a side not able to take the dogs intense...glare. "All right, seems...reasonable enough."
The fox clearing his throat made Kuronue chuckle nervously. "Perfectly Reasonable..."
Youko smirked a bit, then looked to his mate, "If you're good I'll take him to go see Youmaru?"
"Hn." He looked away, and nodded, returning to his paperwork.
Youko smiled, opened the door, let Kuronue out, then stated, "Stay" to the bat before he stepped over to the desk and leaned in giving his mates cheek a soft peck. "Missed you last night" he whispered softly, giving his mate a smile before he turned leaving the room. "Okay, c'mon" he stated to Kuronue.
Kuronue had stayed put, and not wanting to push his luck with the dog demon didn't listen in to what the fox was saying. He heard the whispers, but not was said with those whispers. So when the fox came back he couldn't stop a faint smirk but gave a nod.
Youko glared at the bat, not sure if he wanted to know what that smirk was about, but he shrugged it off and headed down the hall to Youmaru's room. He didn't realize the eyes trailing to his back side.
Kuronue watched as the fox opened the door and he was surprised the lights were off this late in the morning. He stayed put as the fox entered the room.
"Youmaru dear?" Youko called softly as he entered the room, giving a soft smile as he looked over. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly as he knelt by the bed, giving his kit a soft smile.
Youmaru sighed, "Okay I guess." was the soft answer.
Youko smiled apologetically. Before he turned and huffed, motioning the bat over.
Kuronue blinked, but gave a shrug then walked into the room. "Hello beautiful." he stated with a grin.
Youko growled a bit, but forced himself to quiet as he looked to Youmaru. "He's here, to be the father he's suppose to be." he stated gently.
Youmaru would blame the hormones for this later, but he frowned, "Because he wants to, or dad is making him?"
Youko stared at Youmaru not sure what to really answer. "Well... I guess, you could say its... sorta both?" he offered softly. Kuronue was here on his own free will in a sense... Considering he didn't want to be shredded into pieces by Sesshoumaru. So, it all really depended on how you looked at it.
Youmaru frowned and looked from his mother then to the bat, then back to his mother. He growled and just rolled over, facing the wall and not his mother.
Youko sighed, "Youmaru..."
"Leave me alone."
Youko sighed, and slowly stood, stepping past Kuronue he gave a whispered, "good luck..." Then the fox quietly left the room to leave Kuronue and Youmaru to talk. Hopefully his kit would talk to Kuronue.
Kuronue watched as the fox retreated, and shut the door behind him. He sighed softly and turned looking over to the dog-fox in the bed. He slowly walked over, watching him for a moment. "So uhm..." was all he could manage to say.
"When I said alone that meant you to." was stated softly. He tried to make his voice sound angry, but instead it came out sounding hurt.
Kuronue grunted and sat down on the bed, with his back to his apparent breeder, "I didn't ask for this either, kit, but, hey, the kami* are dicks. So let's make the best of it, hm, sexface?"
Youmaru growled a bit... "don't call me that." he stated softly... "I told you before I have a name."
"Pshaw... Youmaru just sounds so stuffy, though, Sexface-kun." Kuronue chuckled, leaning a fraction of his weight upon his pregnant fox's back.
Youmaru growled, and the weight on his back made him attempt to move away from the bat. "Don't call me that." he snarled. It was all from his stupid heat this was happening. why he felt sick, miserable, and tired all the damn time!
Youmaru huffed scootching a bit farther away from the bats weight so he could turn and look at him. He frowned, trying to ignore his own watery eyes. "Why did you come here? You know you could of just left the Western lands... Father wouldn't of followed you that far."
"Tch." Kuronue scoffed, "You've heard the saying about a woman scorned? Dogs are bloody persistant, I wouldn't be surprised if he chased me out of Japan." The bat sighed, and looked between his lashes at his breeder. "So, pregnancy, how's that going?"
Youmaru let his eyes close. He might of been right. Turning away again he huffed, "I'm either to tired to move, or to sick to move, so fucking swell." If his father even knew he knew of that sort of language he'd probably be in for it. But what one would over hear from the staff wasn't his fault...
Kuronue made a soft sound in his throat, and awkwardly patted Youmaru's shoulder, "So, Sexface-kun, your full name's just too stuffy, got any nicknames? Ooh, I know! How about Hot Stuff?" He cackled a bit, amethyst eyes glowing with mirth.
Youmaru growled but huffed softly. "Mom calls me You." he stated softly. If it kept him from calling him that stupid name, he'd tolerate Kuronue also calling him You.
"You, hm? Naw... How about Maru?" Kuronue cooed, "Saying 'You'... and isn't your sister named Youtaira?" He hedged, a far too kitsune like grin curling his lips.
Youmaru blinked, well he was right on his sister being named Youtaira... But no ones ever called him just Maru before. He shrugged, "Maru is fine I guess." he stated softly. He groaned, "You need to move" he stated softly. Either the bat had to move and let him up, or he'd totally make sure he got sick on his lap.
"Oh?" Turning his head, he caught the slight green tint to Maru's cheeks, and he groaned, shaking his head as he stood and scooped the pregnant hybrid off the bed to his feet to aid him to the privy, "Upset stomach. Doesn't your mother have some mint? Mint leaves are a great help."
Youmaru groaned, but just gave a weak shrug and went to the bathroom, once there he frowned, not wanting him to see him sick, he moved and pulled away form Kuronue and pretty much shut the door on his face. Before he hurried over, and it was there he threw up.. Ugh.. he was so tired of this.
Oh, hello face! It's meee~ Door! Did you miss me? Oh boy I've missed you! Until now, that is! Hee, hee, your kisses tingle!
Kuronue, not very impressed by the mating rituals of doors, huffed and slumped back on the bed, grumbling softly to himself.
Youmaru took a while due to waiting out his stomach. There was nothing left to give but it kept trying anyhow. He was glad he skipped breakfast pretty much. He had drank the tea, and that was probably the only reason he hadn't thrown up sooner... Slowly going to the sink he washed his face, and washed his mouth out real quick to get the taste of bile out. It was after that he finally left the bathroom looking over at the bat slumped on his bed... "sorry about that.." he muttered. He couldn't imagine it having tickled... But he really didn't want anyone watching him throw up.
Youmaru slowly stepped over and sat on the bed beside the bat. He sighed and slowly flopped back against the mattress. "So... Now what?" he asked bluntly, looking at the older bat demon.
"Now ... " Kuronue shrugged, having no experience with pregnant foxes, "some fresh air? Your mother is an earth fox, you'll feel more at home in the garden, kit."
Youmaru sighed, "I suppose so." he stated softly, slowly moving to sit up and a hand pressed to his forehead. Okay laying down, and then sitting up again, what felt quickly, was not a good idea. It made his head swim.
Kuronue huffed a bit in mixed amusement and exasperation as he pulled the fox-dog to his side, If you faint on me, my status as an adopted kitsune gives me the right to draw on your face." He mocked with an air of seriousness that his too-wide grin betrayed.
Youmaru looked at him blinking slowly, "Adopted Kitsune?" he couldn't help but ask in curiosity. Kuronue was obviously a bat demon. So he couldn't help but ask. He huffed softly, "I won't faint."
Kuronue's laugh rumbled low in his chest and the sound traveled pleasantly to Youmaru's ears. "Mm, did you think Kurama was my first experience with kitsune? Nah, when I was kicked out of my colony as a babe, I got adopted by some fox. Makes for great family reunions." He winked.
Youmaru rose a brow but shrugged. "So how did you meet mom anyhow?" He asked curiously as he watched him. He didn't want to pry more onto why he'd been kicked out. If he had wanted to share he was sure he would have.
"That's a secret," Kuronue smirked as he scooped the kit up and leaped out the open window to glide to the garden below, "ask your mother, see if he'll answer." His smirk was positively wicked.
Youmaru let out a surprised yelp was he was scooped up and pretty much whisked out of his room. He blinked a few times once he realized his arms had latched around the bats neck and he forced himself to let go, looking away as a faint line of red dusted his cheeks. "Mom doesn't tell us anything when we ask."
"Mmm, I wonder why that could be," the bat cackled a bit, setting his little lover down amidst the flowers before floating around, pretending to swim through the air as his wings worked subtly.
Youmaru stood quietly watching him for a moment before he huffed turning his head as he looked over to a side. What exactly was he suppose to do out here? He didn't have as good of a control over the plants. He inherited more of his attribute from his father and was a bit further on the poison side.
Turning his head Youmaru looked to Kuronue once more. "Will you stop that? I don't see the point."
"Stop what?" The bat called as he circled once more, "I'm not doing anything." To demonstrate his point, he did a somersault in mid air, tossing a smirk down at the land bound fox.
Youmaru frowned watching him, and not wanting to deal with it turned, and started heading out of the garden. He didn't want to deal with this. He really hadn't wanted to leave his room. He just wanted to crawl back into bed and stay there.
Youmaru entered his home once more and headed back to his room.
Youko crossed his arms and snuck up behind the bat, and spoke loud enough to where he'd hear him even in the air, "That rough huh?"
Kuronue grunted, taking roost in a tree. "You know perfectly well the only hormones I mix with come from sex."
Youko chuckled softly, "well in a way they come from sex. Because a kit is often the after affect of said sex." He chuckled lightly, moving to stand under the tree, leaning against the base. He sighed though glancing up, "Are you all right?" he asked softly and seriously.
"Mmph..."
Youko sighed, looking almost pityingly at the bat for a moment, "Youmaru is not Ayanashi, Kuronue." With that, he stood and made his way back to the garden, knowing that the bat needed to be alone.
It was many hours later, the area was getting to be dark when Youko stepped back out, slowly walking over to the tree Kuronue had been in. "Would you like to come in for dinner?" he called gently as he looked up at the bat.
"Mmph... Guess so." With a sigh, Kuronue dropped from the tree, crossing his arms defensively over his chest before forcibly relaxing himself and smirking cockily.
Youko sighed, "Ya know, you don't have to put up that stupid mask for my benefit." he shook his head, but turned, heading inside leading the way inside. "Do you want to wash up before dinner actually starts?" he asked gently.
"Mmm...baths... baths with foxes are fun." Kuronue leered as he followed in the silver's wake.
Youko rolled his eyes, "I never said I would be in the bath, now did I?"
"Pff.. spoil sport."
Youko chuckled but led him to the bath room. "I'll have one of the staff take what you have to get it cleaned... and bring you something else." he stated as held the door open for the bat. "Don't take to long though, Dinner is in about half an hour from now."
"Pshaw, looks like this take time Kurama!"
Youko rolled his eyes shaking his head a bit as a soft chuckle escaped him. "Just shut up and get your white ass in there." he stated a bit playfully before he turned and left him to his bath letting the door click shut behind him.
About twenty-five minutes later, five until dinner was to be served, Youko knocked gently before opening the door, "Ready to suffer through dinner?" he asked with a soft chuckle.
"Kuraaamaaa," Kuronue whined pitifully as he held up the solid backed top, "those idiots don't know how to accommodate wings."
Youko blinked but smiled a bit, "Well no one here has had wings." He tilted his head to a side thinking for a moment. "Give it here." he stated as he pulled a seed from his hair.
Kuronue grinned at his old partner as he tossed the top half of his outfit over, thankful that the colors were black and purple to keep him separate from the lord's family colors of whites.
Youko caught the fabric as he sat on the bench in the room, growing the seed to a plant in his hand he soon pulled what looked like a needle from it, and giving a yank there was what looked like string on it coming from the plant.
Using the sharp end he cut the fabric with it, then hemmed it out so the wings would have room. Cutting the line with his teeth, he set the needle-spine against the plant-the back end in the hole- The plant eagerly took it back, and soon Youko gave another tug on the same spine and it seemed to be re-threaded for him. repeating the same actions on the other shoulder, he finished with another snap of the line with his teeth, gave the needle back and then reverted the plant back to a seed.
Standing Youko tossed the top back to the bat, "there ya go whiny face." he chuckled, "Now lets go." Fixing the shirt took him maybe two minutes, so they only had a few to get to the dining room.
Youko had given Kuronue only a moment to put the shirt on before he led the way to the dining room. He gave his mate a smile before he glanced to Youmaru's chair and frowned. "I'll be back in a moment." He pulled a chair out, "Here is for you Kuronue." the bat would probably appreciate it was the farthest spot from Sesshoumaru.
Leaving the room he went up to Youmaru's room giving a gentle knock before going into the room. "Youmaru, you should come to dinner..."
Youmaru frowned, "Why? I end up throwing everything anyhow.."
Youko sighed, "If you eat a light amount it shouldn't upset your stomach so much. I had the staff prepare what I was able to keep down." he stated gently.
Youmaru sighed, but slowly sat up and was soon walking down the hall beside his mother.
When they reached the dining room Youmaru wasn't sure if he was to pleased with Kuronue's chair by his but he sat down quietly without complaint.
Youko took his place as well...
The family had their dinner in near silence, only a few questions of their studies were asked. You could feel the tension and Youko did his best to distract his mate from Kuronue at the other end of the table.
Kuronue had a long way to go before Sesshoumaru trusted him even in the slightest.
For Youmaru's, and Kuronue's sake, Youko hoped he would get to that point sooner than later.
-End Chapter ten-
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Kami = Gods (In case you didn't know!)