Love's Embrace
Chapter 13: Hot Springs

Author's Note: So sorry that I left you all like that... We'll talk after the chapter... Lol. Enjoy!

Yanagi sighed as she waited for Kuro to finish his business. She watched as he accepted a package and turned to leave, only to be stopped by the one he'd gotten the package from. She saw him turn in question to look at the demon, and then to receive another package.

Kuronue shook his head as he returned. "Kurama only told me of one package to pick up. What the hell is this?"

"Obviously something Kurama wanted." Yana said as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, let's go. I've got somewhere I want to take you." Kuronue said, pulling Yanagi snuggly against him. Yanagi sighed happily and let him lead her out of the town and further into the forest that bordered it.

"We're here." Kuro said as he nuzzled Yana's cheek.

"It's so beautiful!" Yana gasped as she took in the steaming hot springs. Large boulders made up the perimeter of the crystalline water. There were lanterns placed to keep the area well lit.

"I thought you'd like it. Now come, let's lay those pretty clothes on one of the boulders and head in to the hot springs." Kuro whispered huskily as he pulled Yana close and stole a heated kiss.

"Kuro," Yana moaned as his hands began wandering over her body, gently removing her clothing as he touched her. She put her hands around his neck and leaned into him, letting him do as he wished with her.

"That's a good girl," Kuro breathed. He sucked in a breath as finally he removed the last of Yanagi's clothing and stepped back to gaze at her form in the light of the lanterns.

Yanagi blushed lightly and smiled shyly as she began stepping back, careful of her footing as descended into the water.

Kuro couldn't breathe as he watched Yana cup water in her hands and bring it up to her shoulders just to let the water loose to slide down her body. With her tipped ears and her golden eyes, she looked like a nymph or a goddess. Kuronue decided right there that she had to be a gift from the heavens, that whatever gods existed had created this beautiful and pure creature. He also decided that there was no way in all the realms of heaven or hell that she would ever get away from him or that he would give her a reason too.

It was then he knew the emotion for what it was. It had been something he had always kept in check and had mocked others for. The weakness that they opened themselves up to; a weakness he had used as a weapon against his enemies before.

Kuronue truly did love her. He had tried not to, but there it was. He and Kurama had spent a thousand years with her and had never tired of her. She was witty, sweet, kind and possessed a pure soul that had none had seen the likes of within humans, much less demons. Kurama was the first to comment on it and had been adamant that she stay protected. At first Kuronue believed it was because Kurama didn't want her to become a liability and that Kurama had vowed to her that he would keep her safe. But as he had continued to watch Kurama, he noticed that Kurama's feature would soften when he watched Yanagi. It was so slight that only someone who had spent hundreds of years with him would have noticed. It was the only reason Kuronue had noticed. The soften had surprised Kuronue completely, had been completely unexpected. It was also then that Kuronue realized he was softening toward her as well. It couldn't be helped, and again he had tried to resist her innocence, but to no avail.

They had trained her so she could protect herself should the need arise, though he and Kurama had already decided that they would never put her in battle if it could be helped. It was why they had lost some of the bandits. Idiots had led enemies back to base, and wouldn't you know the bastard went for Yanagi first. But neither the enemies nor the offending bandit lived long. Kuronue always took great pleasure in making both parties suffer, and knew that Kurama felt the same and did the same.

But even after all this time and all their training of her, she still didn't possess a unique power that was something every fox was suppose have, male or female. It had bothered him and Kurama and they had both done a lot of research on the matter. Kuronue grinned as he remembered the look of shock on the silver fox's face when he'd told Kurama he wanted to help read through the books. Kuronue didn't like to read, especially when there better things he could do with his time... namely Yanagi and Kurama. But Kuronue recognized the significance of Yanagi's lack of power.

Alas, they never found anything to help.

"Kuro?" Kuronue heard Yana call for him and looked up at her. She wore a puzzled expression.

"Forgive me love." He said as he began ridding himself of his clothing as he made his way to the hot spring. His musings could wait, what he needed now was for his hands to all over the Vixen. He smiled wickedly as closed the distance between them. When he was close enough he gathered her into his arms and both gasped at the contact their bodies made.

Mine. The thought came unbidden to his mind. Well, mine and Kurama's. He knew Yanagi was in love with Kurama, and it still surprised him that she seemed to willing take him to her bed alone some nights instead of Kurama. He didn't mind sharing but he did still like alone time with his foxes. And to be fair, they had their own time without him. Well, as much as he could let them. Kurama always knew that Kuronue waited out of sight, watching as Kurama took Yanagi over and over. Making her cry out his name as Kurama buried himself within her small and tight body.

Kuronue groaned as the picture took root in his head. He always left watching them hot, bothered, and completely unsatisfied. He always wished to join in. He was sure that they would have let him, had ever revealed himself. But Kuronue had decided that for once, he wouldn't be selfish. He would just be glad that Kurama and Yanagi wanted to keep him. For now...

"You're gone again, Kuro." Yanagi mumbled again his throat as she placed light kisses there.

Kuro looked down at her and couldn't help the emotion that filled him. He really did love her. All this time he had tried to avoid such a thing, but it had snuck up on him and caught him unaware.

"Yana," he said nervously, gently lifting her face so that he could see her eyes. He always wondered at how different her and Kurama's eyes were. They had to same color but that was where the similarity ended. While Kurama's eye were almost always emotionless and blank, Yanagi's seemed to always be filled one emotion or another. Her eyes were now molten with her desire he feel coming off of her in waves, and again he was surprised that she desired him. He like so many others had been surprised when Kurama and Yanagi had not booted him out their tryst.

"Yes Kuro," she sighed, one of her hands wandering over his chest massaging the muscles there.

"Yana, there's something I have to tell you. Something I've finally come to understand." He said. As she gazed at him expectantly, his breath caught in his throat. He couldn't believe he was about to say this. "I love you."

Yanagi blinked several times at his, shock clear on her lovely face, as the silence following the confession stretched uncomfortably.

"You don't have to say anything. I just needed to tell you." Kuronue rushed out. He didn't want to hear that she didn't feel the same. It might actually crush him, and that was something he didn't want or need.

Yanagi smiled as her eyes glistened and she shook her head. "Crazy bat." She sighed before she brought their lips together for another heated kiss. "I love you too."

Now it was Kuronue's turn to blink. He couldn't breathe again. "What?" He said dazed.

Yanagi laughed. "I said, I love you too." She smiled.

"But I thought you loved Kurama..." Kuronue frowned.

Yana sighed once more. "And you love him too, do you not?"

"Well... I guess so... I've never really let myself think about it." Kuronue said thoughtfully. "I don't feel the need to cuddle him like I do you when we make love." He said huskily as one of his hand descended to her breasts, lightly brushing the soft skin and causing her squirm.

Yanagi laughed again, "That's because his body isn't as curvy and soft like mine."

"That is true," Kuronue said as he took another taste of her lush lips. "Alright, enough. I need you. I need to touch every last inch of the soft skin, right now. And you're going to let me." He said roughly. Kuronue heard laughter and found himself holding air. "Hey!" He said as he saw Yana smiling and moving away from him.

"You want me?" She breathed huskily.

"Oh yes," Kuronue groaned.

"Then you're going to have to catch me." She laughed once more and took off to the other side of the hot springs.

Kurama watched over his partners as they continued to play in the spring like children. With no one around, he allowed a smile to form on his lips as he watched them. He shook his head as countless times Yanagi slipped from Kuronue's arms.

Kurama had trained her well, if not maybe a little too well if Kuronue was truly having that much problem catching and keeping a hold of her.

He could see when Yanagi stopped their play and allowed Kuronue to catch her.

A groan caught in his throat as Kuronue and Yanagi's play took a more intimate and adult nature. He often watched them together, couldn't help but to watch them.

It was a wonder to Kurama that Yanagi hadn't tried to steal Kuronue completely away. Yanagi had seemed to take Kuronue a lot easier than to himself. He understood. It was one of the reasons he had been attracted to the bat to begin with. Kuronue was charming and handsome, as well as funny.

Kuronue's confession had put Kurama on edge, even more so when he'd heard Yanagi reciprocate the feelings. But when they had revealed they both cared for him, he had felt a weight lifted from his chest. And that feeling bothered him. Kurama had worked hard to ensure nothing would hinder him or become a liability to him or his plans. And it was clear to him now, as he watched to two of them, that they were his weaknesses.

Kurama had long since realized that if either were ever in danger he would move all of heaven and hell to get them back safely. For once the ever cold and uncaring fox was worried, nervous. He felt that something was off, but could not place it. Something was about to happen. Kurama had once thought that with Yanagi added to his group without any forethought that he would pay dire consequences. Yet nothing had happened, but he was ever watchful.

Which was one of quite a few reasons he watched them when it was their time together. He couldn't afford for anything to happen to either of them.

Closing Thoughts: Hi... Long time no see everyone. So... how ya been?

I really am sorry that I disappeared from the face of the Earth. I went on a too long trip to track down the plot bunny for this story. I finally have him but he's not cooperating very well. So the next chapters may be a little rocky. This one isn't exactly as I would have wished it to be but unfortunately I regret to say this was what came out when I typed.

I don't believe it's that bad but, I am the author soo... I might be a wee bit biased. I'll let you all be the judge... Just please don't rend my flesh. Lol. I kinda need that to live.

Love you all!

- Mac