Chapter Sixteen:
Early in the morning, before the sun had even rose, Youmaru was glaring daggers at a certain bat... We all know which one. Why you wonder? Well...
"What do you mean You're going to make me stay in bed? I have no need or want to just vegetate in my room all day..."
Kuronue bared his teeth at the stubborn hybrid and spread his wings to make himself appear larger and more intimidating. "You heard me, runt, you're staying in that bed if I have to use chains!" He was feeling antsy, paranoid that it would happen again... He still remembered the blood. Clenching his eyes and jaw shut, he stood stiffly over the futon with a serious expression on his face.
Youmaru was a bit startled by Kuronue's reactions. He hadn't expected him to react in such a way. Of course who would have? It was rare to see him to get a temper over anything. The hybrid demon was silent for a few moments, watching the bats face, as if calculating in his mind what he should say or do... With a slow breath he sighed, "I'll agree, if... If you tell me what has you so worried about this... What happened?" His voice was soft as he asked. He wouldn't mind complying if he at least got the why out of the bat.. He'd know if he was getting told the truth also. He's gotten to know the bat better over the time he's been there...
Kuronue stiffened, wings twitching before furling protectively to his back like a shield. He groaned and covered his face, looking away from his pregnant lover. "About a century ago..." he began hesitantly, unwilling to share, "my mate at the time..." his wings twitched, fluttering against his spine, "miscarried, she was eight months along, and fell." His face was blank as stone as he looked to the hybrid, "They both died. The bleeding wouldn't stop."
Youmaru watched Kuronue as he went through the stages of being able to tell him. Watching as his wings pulled in as if to protect or maybe even comfort himself some how. Watched as he groaned and covered his face. Youmaru was ever as silent as he finally spoke. Listening quietly, his hands clasped on his lap, well more like his swollen stomach but anyhow... When he spoke about an old mate... Youmaru wasn't sure what he felt in his chest. A pang of something, the young dog-fox didn't know it'd been a pang of jealousy.
Youmaru looked down at his own hands, silently wondering what that feeling had been, but then Kuronue didn't take long to continue speaking... She miscarried? That pang quickly turned to a feeling of guilt. He knew what guilt was, he felt it often as a child when he had to tell his father of when he broke something, or did something he knew he shouldn't have... He slowly looked up at Kuronue when he finished telling him...
Youmaru watched Kuronue 's stone expression, just silently watching the bat, as if once again calculating something inside his head... He slowly moved his hands, standing from his sitting position long enough to move and hug the bat, silently burying his face into the somewhat taller demons shoulder. "All right... I'll stay here for you" Was all he gave as he held onto the bat. He didn't offer a 'I'm sorry' What good would that do? It was in the past, all he could do? Was be here for the now and try to help Kuronue fell better... Granted he really wasn't sure on the 'how' but he figured a hug was at least a decent start...
Kuronue clasped Youmaru possessively to himself as he lowered them to the bed, almost pinning the male, but not quite, as his paranoia told him not to add any pressure on the swollen stomach.
Youmaru sighed softly, but let the bat have this for the moment, keeping his arms around him as he stayed quiet... Well for those few short moments, "Soo... Will you at least let me get to the bathroom? It is what I was originally getting up for..." He chuckled a bit.
Kuronue made a bit of a face, but pressed his nose to the male's neck before rolling them both over and setting the hybrid gently on his feet. "Alright, but only the bathroom." His tone was mildly threatening, but his grin betrayed his mood.
Youmaru chuckled softly, but didn't fight when he was moved, the quick moving made him only the slightest bit light headed, but it passed quickly and he shook his head smiling softly, "Sure, like I could out run a slug right now" he stated with a scoff, before he slowly turned some, "I'll be back in a few minutes, just relax" he assured gently before he went to the bathroom connected to his room.
Youmaru didn't take long to finish up washing up then coming back to the main part of his bedroom... He watched Kuronue as he walked over to the bed. He sat down and gave an audible sigh. "Ya know... It's a shame I'm being forced to stay in my room, on bed rest and all" He stated softly, Laying back on the bed to prove his point... "The kitchen is most definitely not in my room." He hinted before he gave a bit of a smirk, "Why don't you be a dear then, and fetch lunch?"
Kuronue smirks at his mate, the playful glint in his eye heart warming as he pecked the male on the cheek before standing, "Of course, master, your wish is my command." He winked before darting out the door quick as a flash, unwilling to let the little male get the last word in. On his way to the kitchens, he ran into Kagome trying to balance two squirming pups and walk at the same time. Taking pity on the human he had come to like to a certain degree, he stopped beside her and chuckled, "Need a hand, miko?"
"Oh would you? Yes, please! They just won't sit still."
Kuronue carefully plucked the little girl from Kagome's arms and carried her with a cautious ease, he knew it would be good experience for his own pup, with how Youko was threatening him if he ran off.
Kagome and Kuronue chatted about everyday things as the cooks prepared a plateful of sandwiches for the hungry hybrid on bed rest, a hearty soup simmering away for the miko and her young. When the food was ready, Kuronue departed with a flick of his hair over his shoulder.
Youmaru was laying in the bed, on his back watching the ceiling waiting for Kuronue to return. He knew it wouldn't be to long for Kuronue to get back, right?
Kuronue, much to Youmaru's relief, chose that moment to enter the room with a tray of sandwiches and a small pot of tea. Seeing the blank look of absolute boredom on the hybrid's face, he chuckled and set the tray on the bedside before crawling in next to the silver and leaning over so that amethyst met gold.
Youmaru blinked a few times looking up at Kuronue, he chuckled softly, "Sure took you long enough" he teased gently. But it was all in jest, and he wasn't really being mean about it. He turned his head so he could see what Kuronue brought. Humm, sandwiches sounded good. He looked to Kuronue and smiled a bit, "Thanks" he stated softly.
Kuronue tugged the smaller male up into a sitting position and moved off to the side so that they could eat together. He seemed a bit lost in thought as he remembered how delicate the little female pup felt in his arms after she finally settled down and went along for the short ride. He wondered if his pup would feel the same.
Youmaru didn't argue with getting into a sitting position, silently picking up a sandwich as they had their lunch together, he watched Kuronue head tilting to a side after a bit, "What's on your mind?" He didn't see Kuronue as the thinking type, so it had to be important...
"Mmm..." Kuronue hummed, looking thoughtful, "Nothing much, Maru."
Youmaru sighed shaking his head, "If you say so" he muttered softly, not sure why the bat wouldn't just tell him, but he would leave it be, for now at least.
-Scene Change-
Youtaira hummed softly, a bit to herself, a bit to her fox companion. She and Shippo were wandering the woods around her fathers castle, to have something to do rather than just watch the adults yak about god knows what. She glanced to Shippo and smiled, speaking softly, "So, what would you like to do out here?"
Shippo shrugged, grinning, "Just being out here is nice, away from all those crazy people. Ugh, three moms in one building is a bit much for the mothering." He grinned teasingly.
Youtaira laughed softly, "Yea... Who would of thought I'd be an aunt all ready." she chuckled a bit... "how do you like being a big brother?"
Shippo shrugged, and chuckled, bringing his hands back up to cup his head, "Well, yanno, the twins aren't so bad. Kagome-kaa-san says that'll change when they get older." He chuckled wickedly, foxy mischief clear on his face, "but that just means I can teach them new tricks!"
Youtaira grinned, giggling a bit, "I see, It was fun teach Tiara and Ataira a few tricks, Youmaru hadn't been willing to learn, he's to much like dad.."
Shippo chuckled, "Well, that's not -always- a bad thing. At least, that's what Kagome says. Inuyasha disagrees." He winked as he balanced a spinning top on his finger.
Youtaira huffed, "Uncle Inuyasha and Father don't get a long.. I've never once seen father be mean or anything yet he's a jerk.. what is his problem anyhow?"
Shippo burst out laughing, and nearly fell over, "Oh, you know how the saying goes, can't teach an old dog new tricks? Inuyasha's a stubborn jerk. See, and this isn't common knowledge, but I pieced it together with Kagome, when their dad died, Sesshoumaru couldn't keep Inuyasha in the castle or he'd get assassinated pretty quickly." The fox shrugged, "No one really likes hanyou, you know... It was a rather big scandal. So he left Inuyasha in the woods, and from what I gather, he'd look after him on his human nights, or find ways to keep him safe when he was injured. But Inubaka doesn't really remember his brother helping him...
So he resents Sesshoumaru for 'living in luxury' and at this point, well, you've met him!" Shippo smirked, "He's not that easy to get along with. I don't blame Lord Fluffy for not wanting the idiot to have money. Well," he shrugged again, "your mom sends us gold if he thinks we need it."
Youtaira tilted her head and huffed, What a jerk face... But she probably understood not being able to remember, she didn't remember that much from when she was little either. "Ha... Don't let my dad ever hear you call him that." She giggled as she looked ahead to where they were headed, "I wonder why the two just don't try to talk it out... Or rather, dad tie up Inubaka and make him listen" she giggled.
She tilted her head, "Mom does? I guess Dad knows about it, but does Inuyasha know where it comes from?" If he did would he accept it or force it back?
Shippo cackled madly, and a poof of smoke surrounded him, being replaced by an elderly noble Lady with a kind expression on her lined face, "Oh, deary, you've been so helpful to me, keeping my mind at ease in my old years... Please, take this gift." Shippo's scent was gone, replaced by a mixture of old flowers and something that could only be described as 'human'.
The transformed Shippo fluttered a fan over her face, green eyes gleaming mischievously before she pulled a small bag from her sleeve and offered the jingling contents to Youtaira.
Youtaira blinked a few times a bit surprised, but soon laughed as well, "I soo wish I could do that!"
The elderly woman reached out with her fan, closing it gently before tapping Youtaira on the cheek, a gentle smile on her face, "I could teach you, deary."
Youtaira purred, but smiled softly, "Mmm, I can't properly thank you this way..." she mused softly, she knew it was Shippo, but didn't make looking at a woman or hearing a woman, or heck the figure before her screamed female, and she had no intentions of properly thanking a 'female' the way she wanted to..
The elderly human cackled, voice somewhat grating before she jumped backwards into the tree, form melting away to reveal Shippo crouching low to the branch, emerald eyes feral and glowing with excitement as his tails swayed behind him. "First test," he cooed, voice low and rumbling in his chest, "can you find the real me?"
In a flash there were five Shippo's and they laughed in sync as they danced in the branches above Youtaira, circling her before splitting up.
Youtaira blinked watching her leap back, tilting her head as she watched Shippo 'reappeared' in a sense, and watched as he spoke and then multiplied. She rose a brow watching the different Shippo's dancing around. How was she suppose to be able to tell them apart? She eeped when they moved splitting up. Great, what was she suppose to do? She had a bad feeling she would fail this so called test. Although, it wasn't really that fair, she felt she was just set up to fail. She never met anyone that could do this before, didn't know how it worked, or what signs to look for. She huffed, "If you make me chase all of these down I am so not going to be happy about it"
One of the Shippo's lunged out of the trees, passing in front of Youtaira and planting a kiss on her cheek, in that split second he was in front of her, he whispered encouraging words, "Look for shadows, use your hearing and sense of smell, watch for oddities like fake wind." He was gone the next moment, laughing like a lunatic.
"If you can find meee~" he called in a sing song voice, "I'll make it worth your whiiiile~"
Youtaira blinked a few times, head titling in the slightest as she took a moment to absorb what he just said. She soon chuckled softly, "So that's how this will work huh?" If the real one was the only one making shadows, then the real one should the only one actually standing on any of the branches... With a predatory grin she moved swiftly. Reaching out with her Youki that was very much like her mothers. Listening to the trees as they led her on. With a grin, she moved her hand, and came to a stop pretending to turn as the tree itself moved, vines suddenly wrapping around a certain fox demon, "I would say, I found you~" she stated playfully.
Shippo yelped and laughed as the vines snared him to the tree, "So you did, but can you keep me?" Blue flames spread across his skin, not burning the vines, but warning them to let go or be crisped.
In that instance Youtaira leap up onto the branch and pressed close to Shippo, "Would you really want to burn me?" she asked a bit...seductively? Who knows how she said it, but she leaned in close, giving a soft smile.
Shippo's laughter climbed up in pitch as the flames consumed the pair, not burning them. He swept the girl up into his arms and he leap into the air, using his fox magic to run across the air currents like Inuyasha had taught him, making it appear as though they were flying.
Youtaira had gasped, caught a bit off guard and her arms moved around Shippo's shoulders as she was held bridal style. She looked to him, then glanced down and smiled a bit..
The blue flames pulled back from the two demons as they pooled on Shippo's back before taking the shape of ethereal wings. He beat them experimentally, and hummed in satisfaction as the air heated under his feet. The fiery feathers did not hold them aloft, but his innate elemental affinity allowed him to manipulate their surroundings to keep them aloft. "Nice day for a stroll through the clouds, hm, Taira-chan?"
Youtaira couldn't help but blink gasping a bit, Okay, she'd admit, that was pretty damn cool! She wondered if there was a way for her to fly as an earth element... She would totally have to ask her mother... But at Shippo's question she purred, "Very nice indeed~"
Shippo hummed smugly as he cradled his female to his chest. As if sensing her thoughts, he looked thoughtful, "I'm not sure if you could fly, Taira-chan, maybe leaf wings? But you need an air or fire affinity for the lift..."
Youtaira hummed softly, smiling softly, "I'll have to ask my mother... He knows of so many more plants than I do" she giggled.
Shippo clutched Youtaira closer to his chest as he cackled, "Loop-de-loop!" In a flash they were tumbling backwards through the air.
Just at the point where it would seem like they would crash into the trees, he completed the circle with a whoop of laughter, joined with Youtaira's shriek of glee.
The hybrid female was laughing along with Shippo, "Oh oh! We should totally do that again!"
Shippo ran along the tops of the trees as his faux-wings fluttered, "Gotta build up speed again," he panted, mildly out of breath. Bending the elements to such extremes was a little tiring since he only had three tails. After a moment, his breathing evened out and he launched himself up into the air with a flip, running on the air in a giant arc to glide high in the sky.
Youtaira glanced to him and smiled warmly, "No rush" she whispered and leaned in enough to kiss his cheek purring warmly as he pretty much worked their way back up into the air. She purred as she let her head rest on his shoulder for the time being.
-Scene change-
Youko was purring softly, contently watching his two little identical twin vixens playing with Kagome's not so identical twins. It was adorable, his two daughters seemed at first absolutely fascinated with the little bundles, and soon took to wanting to play with them. While they couldn't play their favorite Taijiya game with them, they could at least play something much less dangerous. So Youko was smiling as he watched the two girls...
Ati cooed as she petted Toushi's white hair gently, and Tia giggled as she tickled under Taya's chin. Suddenly, the girls leaned back on their heels and covered their faces. The babies gasped, and the hybrids squealed, "Peek-a-boo!" The babies laughed and clapped their chubby hands while Kagome chuckled. That was the first game she'd taught Kurama's kits to play with her own.
Youko purred smiling warmly as he watched them play, glancing to Kagome, "I still wonder how such a game came to be" he murmured softly to her, as they were both sitting on the bench. It was such a strange concept when it came down to it, but the kits all enjoyed it. "Who did you say taught you the game again?"
Kagome chuckled as her eyes took on a far away look, "My father's mother was from the far west, the culture differences are quite large..." she hummed, thoughtfully, "that's where I got my blue eyes from. She played the game with my dad when he was their age, and he taught it to me, my kaa-san used it on Souta, and he enjoyed it so much I couldn't forget."
Youko gave a slight nod, thinking for a moment... "You miss them all very much, don't you?" he asked softly.
Kagome's face twisted a bit, and she struggled to contain her emotion before she gave the silver fox a wavery smile, "More than anything. But..." here she grinned, expression almost rueful, "that's the thing about the jewel. It practically created me from scratch when my mom was pregnant, and it did not ..." she hesitated, "not appreciate being separated, or shattered. I don't think I could die even if I wanted to, Kurama, so I'll see them again."
Youko gave a faint nod, smiling gently, he gave a slight nod. "Well, I hope you do." He smiled warmly, he hoped they're recognize her also, who knows if she'd age or anything...
Kagome leaned her shoulder against Kurama as they sat on the bench, watching their pups, "Five hundred years won't be that long, right?"
Youko smiled softly, "well, It will be in fact five hundred years... But spending them with those you care for, will help them seem not as long."
Taya chose that moment to scream bloody murder and Kagome jerked upright, eyes wide. "Wha-" no one was even touching the little pup! Hurrying over, her nose crinkled in disgust, "Oh, lovely." Sighing and shaking her head, she scooped her little pup up and held the babe to her shoulder, "Smells like somebody need a new diaper." How she wished she had access to the future for baby wipes! Taya stopped her crying and started to giggle, chewing on her mother's hair. "Watch Toushi for me, Kurama-kun?"
Youko chuckled softly, and rose slowly after Kagome did, "Of course my dear"
Kagome hurried off into the castle to her chambers where the spare diaper cloths were, leaving her friend with her son and his twins. She hoped he didn't have too much trouble.
-End Chapter sixteen-
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