Urges Chapter 5

Warnings, do no own's, etc. go here

This one's a bit shorter than usual. Fluffy bits usually are. The next one will be longer, promise. Kuwabara's just beginning his stay with the first of the three he will be staying with the next couple of months. I think he lucked out, getting Kurama first. The fox is a bit more willing to deal with the situations that this first month of Kuwa's pregnancy will put him though. Anyway, enjoy and review! -AllTeeth

"So this is going to be home for a little while." Kurama said softly, suitcase in tow. He was perfectly familiar with the Kuwabara home, but he'd never stayed there for an extended period of time. He was going to now though and it made him feel differently about the space.

"Yep. Home sweet home Kurama. What's ours is yours, for the time being. Just don't get too greedy. I need a smoke." Shizuru patted his shoulder as she walked passed to the living room. The fox sighed. He was going to have to talk to her about her smoking. Second-hand smoke could be dangerous to a normal person, much less a developing child. He felt a tug at his sleeve and looked up at the smiling ginger.

"Come on, let's get you settled in." He let the demonling lead him upstairs as he continued to think. There was a lot of things that could be dangers to Kuwabara and his unborn child. The kitsune would have to keep his eyes open to ensure the man's safety. "I know it isn't the best arrangement, but according to what Koenma said, you're going to have to stick close. Would staying in my room with me bother you too much? It's also all I have..."

"It's fine Kuwabara. I don't mind. Well just have to figure out a way sleeping will be comfortable for both of us, but not right now. You reminded me. The link needs to be made." He pushed his suitcase to one side.

"Oh, yeah. Should we do it now?"

"Now's better than any." He plopped himself cross-legged on the taller man's bed. "Come sit. Very good. Now, we face each other."

"What do I do now?"

"Just close your eyes and focus on your energy. You should feel my energy sort of prodding you in a moment. When you do, invite it in, if you will. I'll do the rest."

"Will this hurt?"

"It shouldn't. Now, close your eyes and relax. You just need to think about your energy." The ginger shut his eyes and took a deep breath. There were some changes in his energy, mainly around his abdomen. It pulsed demon to him but also registered as his own. It was an odd feeling. The rest of his energy seemed a bit hazy, disturbed perhaps. It had just been through some major trauma though, so he wasn't surprised. Then he felt it, the sort of prodding Kurama had spoken of. He recognized the fox's energy almost instantly as it gently bumped against his own. It was friendly and caring, asking like a beloved friend to be let in so they could talk awhile. It wasn't hard for Kuwabara to allow the green tendril of energy to join his pulsing yellow. The moment it entered, he gasped, his eyes snapping open. Kurama was smiling at him.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I just feels strange." He thoughtfully rubbed he chest just above his heart, feeling where the intangible link had been made. He could already feel the kitsune's energy slowly trickling into him, like a drip-feed on a IV.

"You'll get used to it in time."

"So," Kuwabara began to ask, "just how far does this link stretch?" He felt a flush of approval roll into him. Where had that come from?

"Good question." The fox said with a nod. "It can stretch about 3 yards and still function properly. Any farther and it becomes too tight to transfer energy. I know that Hiei's link limit it much longer than mine, so you won't have to stick as close." The ginger felt a tinge of worry at the mention of the shorter demon's name. What was going on? These weren't his feelings. It took him a moment to realize that they belonged to Kurama. Some of his emotions were slipping through the new link. Kuwabara suddenly was a little curious. What were the limits to this awareness? Did it go both ways? Feeling a little mischievous, he let a roil of the wonderful feelings he'd been experiencing squeeze through the link to test he new theory. The fox suddenly grinned, blushed and scratched the back of his head bashfully.

"What's up?" The ginger asked as if he had just noticed the kitsune's sudden change in behavior.

"It's nothing really. It just seems the link is carrying some of our emotions with the energy..." He paused, and looked up to the larger man with a wondering smile. "You really are overjoyed to be expecting, aren't you?" Kuwabara grinned, his face flushing.

"Yeah. I really am. It's a bit of a shock I'll admit, but that's nothing compared to how overjoyed and excited I am. I'm gonna be a parent and that's all that really matters to me."

"So...what about when you find out who the father is?"

"I don't really know, though I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up raising the kid on my own."

"I'd stay. I don't quite know what position I'd take just yet, but I wouldn't abandon you. I know the struggles that come with being a single parent after watching my mother go through it." Kuwabara's face reddened and he stared at his feet. There was a moment's pause, then Kurama suddenly found himself flattened on the bed and wrapped in a hug, the psychic's face buried into the crook of his neck.

"Thanks Kurama." The ginger mumbled into his shoulder. Once he got over his surprise, the fox smiled and gently stroked the back of the pregnant man's head.

"You're very welcome." He replied quietly, aware that Kuwabara had begun to cry softly onto his shoulder. He pulled the man closer, comforting him as he studied the onslaught of emotions coming through the link. So confused. So happy, yet so unsure. So confidant, yet so scared and worried. A little...heartbroken. The kitsune let his cheek rest lightly on the other's head, saddened. Everyone had reacted rather poorly to the man's wonderful news and it had hurt him. They were his friends. He was happy, shouldn't they be? They lay there, wrapped in each other's arms, until Kurama noticed the streams of emotions begin to slow and eventually stop. Kuwabara was asleep, the day finally having caught up with him. Listening to the ginger's steady breathing, it wasn't long before Kurama's lids grew heavy and he drifted off himself.

The fox blinked at the morning light pouring though the window. Strong arms were wrapped around his waist and similar legs capturing his own. The demonling was in a light sleep, muttering something and shifting to snuggle Kurama closer. He should have figured Kuwabara was a cuddler. Sighing, he couldn't help but notice how peaceful the other man looked, slightly flushed and smiling. After a few minutes, the ginger's eyes slowly opened, noticing, yet again, he had a bedmate. No sex had been involved this time though, just the chaste accident of falling asleep while hugging the kitsune.

"Hey."

"Hey." Kuwabara released the red-head, letting him sit up.

"Sorry about that. I didn't mean to drop off on you like that."

"It's fine. I didn't mind, really. I slept like a rock anyway."

"Well, if you're su-" The demon felt a sudden surge of discomfort through their new link. The ginger looked a bit green too.

"Kuwa-" Before he could even ask, the psychic bolted for the bathroom like his life depended on it. It only took the sound of retching for Kurama to realize what was happening. "Oh, dear..." Morning sickness already? Wasn't it a bit early in the pregnancy? Then again, Kuwabara was male. Most likely the sudden change in hormones was having a more profound effect on his body then it would on a woman's. He followed the ill man into the bathroom to see what he could do.

Poor Kuwabara looked almost pitiful, poor thing. He sat on his knees in front of the toilet with his arms wrapped around his stomach, his head resting against the seat. He's shallow breathing indicating that there might be more to come. He looked up plaintively at the kitsune, who could feel his worry.

"What's-" He bit back the words as his stomach rolled, but Kurama didn't need for him to finish to understand.

"Morning sickness," He began, kneeling next the the ginger and gently rubbing his back. "It's perfectly normal. In fact, it's said that...people who experience morning sickness during pregnancy are less likely to miscarry." There was a pulse of relief, but it was quickly overtaken by another wave of rising discomfort as Kuwabara lurched forward, bringing up more of what was still in his stomach. With several more relapses, the ordeal was finally over. Flushing the porcelain god, he wiped his mouth and stripped of his ruined undershirt, before willingly falling into Kurama's arms, who carefully sat them against the wall.

"You sure this won't kill me?" He asked hoarsely.

"Promise. This is completely normal. I swear it."

"M'kay...I think you're sitting on my tail."

"What? Oh! Sorry." The fox shifted himself off the man's orange tail before resettling. They sat quietly like this for a little while until Kurama noticed the ginger's focus was on his stomach, his hand raising to rest there again. He stopped his action and carefully placed the red-head's hand there instead. It surprised him a little at first, but it meant a lot. That could be his child in there. What would they be like if it was? Cute, for starters. Kuwabara seemed to sense these thoughts and chuckled, agreeing. It would most likely be a purebred mutt. Human, almost human, a little cat demon and a heaping pile of fox. Ears and a tail would most likely be in the equation and hair on the red side of the spectrum too, with Kuwabara's orange and his own crimson. But he was counting his chickens before they hatched; the child might not even be his. A low rumble interrupted his thoughts. He soon discovered the source was very close by. As in, 'the man in his lap' close by. It didn't take him too long to figure out why he was doing this. The kitsune realized he had absentmindedly began to rub the demonling's stomach, causing the man to make the sound. The ginger had a dreamy look on his face, not even aware that he was producing the noise.

"Kuwabara?"

"MmHm?"

"You're purring."

"...oh."

This month was going to be full of surprises.