Here is another chapter to Poison. Same disclaimers and warnings apply. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 2- Mine
My addiction.. and my poison..
My Deity of Death..
My Botan..
How could I call her mine, when she would not let me claim her?
Foolish boy! No matter how many times she runs, she always returns. What does that tell you?!
That voice.. my voice.. my youkai self.. berating.. angry.. adding to my misery as I lay still on my bedroom floor, bleeding, broken, dizzy from the self inflicted blow. Go away! I want to shout but the pain in my head is too much and I don't fight the change. I allow it, give in to it, protection giving way to possession as my body shifts… my human self fading..
Into.. Youko..
I rise, flexing my clawed hands. My human side has finally come to his senses. I am free!
I smirk, the tip of my fangs showing as I tilt my head back and sniff. Her scent is just as I remembered. Intoxicating and addictive. A gentle breeze tugs at the curtains of the open window and my eyes narrow. It wouldn't do to play games anymore. My human side has been punished enough with her blatant disregard for his emotions. Now it is time to return the favor.
Leaping out the window, I look around, catching the deity's scent and following at a leisurely place.
She seems to be in a hurry but I can see far and I know where she's headed. Back to Reikai.
Truth be told, I don't know the reason why the blue-haired vixen runs away each night. The lust I can smell from her each time is overpowering and alluring. No fucking wonder Shuichi gets worked up over it. What does she want? Why does she continue to flee from me.. from him.. from us? Why?
Being the curious fox I am, I follow her trail, entering the same portal though a bit farther behind. I hide as she stops and turns, a fear in her eyes I'd never noticed before and I frown, wondering if she has spotted me. I hold my breath, letting it out when she turns and hops back onto her oar, floating up and over the gate of judgment.
I wait patiently, following over an hour later from a less obvious route, taking an old forgotten passage just beyond the servant entrance. Slinking along the grounds, I avoid the rather inept ogre guards and slip inside ferry girl quarters. My nose leads me to the deity's room and I stop, testing the handle. It's locked.
My lips quirk up and I pull out a seed, feeding it my power, the ivy growing, bending to my will as I guide it under the door and up around, and up to the doorknob. The faint click of the lock giving way makes me smile and I carefully open the door, ivy retracting back and around my waist.
Stepping into the darkened room, my eyes fall upon the sleeping figure in bed. I creep slowly to the end of the bed, lust filling me at the vulnerability of the deity. I could take her and break her right now. But I won't. No.. if I am to ever make her mine, she must submit to me. And now is not the time.
Still, she needs to learn her place and I grin, releasing a deep sleep mist that I alone am immune to. Daring to step closer, I crouch down, reaching out to brush the hair from the side of her neck. Leaning in, I inhale, groaning at the scent. I am finding it hard to keep control of myself. I must act quickly before I do something regretful.
Carefully I pull the fabric of her night shirt, exposing her shoulder. I nuzzle the skin then bite down gently, piercing the skin, the small gasp arousing but the deity does not stir. I pull back, licking the tiny droplets of blood, savoring the taste, snapping my head up at the sounds of marching footsteps. I growl, fixing her shirt then flee out the balcony window, using my rose whip to swing downward, escaping across the grounds as angry shouts fill my sensitive ears.
It is a race but I manage to find a quick portal back into Ningenkai. The thrill of the chase and the hunt is over. So too, is my time on the outside. I hurry back towards Shuichi's home, crawling through the window and collapsing onto the bed , white becoming red as my human side takes back control and I must sleep once more.
I awaken in my bed, memories of last night flooding my mind and I groan. My Youkai self is most persistent in catching his prey but his pursuit of the deity and the mark he put on her are not things that I find entertaining. When the deity realizes what I've done, there will be hell to pay and I find that I welcome the prospect. At least then, I'd have her attention.
Still, I have other matters to attend to and I get up, shuffling to the bathroom, pressing my hands on the sides of the sink as I study my features in the mirror. My eyes are puffy from lack of sleep, skin is crusted with dried blood from the ugly gash still on my forehead and I gingerly touch it with my fingertips, light erupting as I heal the wound. Sighing, I turn on the faucet, cupping some water and splashing it on my face, it's cold touch like a jolt, waking me up and I step back, undressing then turn on the shower, hopping in as I began my daily ritual of preparing for the school day.
Dressed in my uniform, I make my way into town, stepping through the open gate of Meiou High School and into the main building on time, as usual. The trip has been uneventful and perhaps that is for the best. After the Dark Tournament, Yakumo's attack and my insufferable longing for Botan, I wasn't sure I could handle any more stress to my life at the moment.
So I go through the motions at school, taking my tests, scoring tops on all of them but not without some competition. I sit at my desk as the results are posted, feigning at reading a book as my mind is filled with thoughts and images of the deity. Even in the daylight hours, she torments me. I remember last night, remember the scent and taste of her, the way she looked at me, that longing, that need, that desire. Yet she wouldn't let me near, wouldn't bear it, couldn't bear it. Why? Why is she so frightened of me? I've done nothing but protect her, heal her, love her. What is it about me that makes her run away?
"Hey, Shuichi!"
I lift my head up, relaxing my features, flashing a polite smile as a group of girls that I know come to congratulate me on my test scores. I notice something on the blonde girl's shoulder, something very familiar and I make a distraction, asking who that is at the door, hand snaking out and snatching the object, polite smile back in place as they turn around, making a non-committal sound as they say they'll talk to me later. I open my hand, staring at the crushed insect in my palm, recognizing it as a Makai insect. Such insects manifest in Ningenkai when a demon world portal is opened and sustained. Something wicked is coming, but what? I turn my head, staring out the window, wondering if Koenma knows the situation. My thoughts again turn to Botan and her puzzling words about being more afraid if she didn't visit me at night.
What does that mean? I find myself repeating that statement over and over again in my mind and it is driving me crazy! I grit my teeth, focusing my will, calming myself from the growing desire to be around her, to talk to her, to make her understand that I love her and only want to be with her. Sighing I lower my book as the other students start to file in for the second half of the day, game face on as I plod through, finding some relief later as I work on a couple biology experiments.
The Biology club president is trying to get me to join, knowing that my popularity and influence would increase their own. They want female attention and I don't blame them. Still, my life as a spirit detective and other.. responsibilities.. prohibit me from joining. Before I could give a believable explanation, the loud voice of Kuwabara calls out my true name and I sigh. Oh Great.. now what? I blink as the door is kicked open, finding the orange haired teen growling at me in irritation and a hesitate pair of amethyst eyes peering at me from over Kuwabara's shoulder.
I shift my gaze, letting it linger on hers, silently pleading for her to acknowledge me, which she does then looks away, as if in shame. My shoulders fall, the only indication I give that I'm hurt and I take the paper Kuwabara gives me, noting the human smell, frowning at the message. Yusuke's been kidnapped?! How is that even possible? A demand to meet at some mansion in an obscure district? At night? Human is not the only thing I smell. A trap is being laid and we are going to walk right into it. I shake my head, voice soft. "This message also calls for Hiei to be present." I comment, finishing my reading of the note, looking at the pair, blinking when Botan speaks.
"Too bad we don't have Hiei here. We could use his Jagan to find himself."
"That's right!" Kuwabara adds, both of them realizing the stupidity of their comments and making rather silly faces and for the moment, I am amused.
"Logic is panic's prey." I say with a tinge of humor, features growing serious as I toss off my lab coat and head out with them to look for Hiei.
At first we have little success, discussing our plans to find him when Botan has an epiphany, something about Yusuke's detective kit and I tell her to meet us at the park in an hour.
"It's a date!" She calls out, seemingly her old bubbly self and my heart flutters. Why does such a simple word affect me so? No matter. This is business and I must be at the top of my game if I am to be of any use to the team. Steeling my will, Kuwabara and I wait for the deity, gathering around when she returns with a pale yellow briefcase, crouching down as she opens it.
I listen patiently as she explains each device, gently refuting the usefulness of each item until, exasperated, Kuwabara yanks at his hair and reaches out, grabbing the items, tossing things out, looking for something to help find the fire demon.
"Maybe there is something instead that will bring Hiei to us?" I suggest, smiling when Botan exclaims that there is and Kuwabara falls over.
She holds up a whistle, warning us to cover our ears. The sound of that instrument slams into my ears like waves, hurting my brain and making me wince.
I lower my hands once the sound waves grow silent, a sudden thump drawing our attention to a tree, revealing the startled form of Hiei who rises and shakes off debris from the closest bough he fell from. We each try to get him to agree to join us to save Yusuke, but the Koorime is unmoved.
"Tell me, Hiei.." Botan's voice speaks and I turn my attention to her, wondering what she is going to say to make him see reason. "How do you like being tied down to one human city?"
"What do you think?" Hiei softly spats out.
"Well, if you agree to helps us rescue Yusuke, Koenma will reduce your sentence to time served."
I feel pride swell in me in that moment. Botan has used her smarts to force my best friend into action. By fighting to get Yusuke back, his freedom is guaranteed. Clever girl. I study her, noting the serious look on her face, the determination, and I love her even more. We head off towards the address given and I sense the deity's heated gaze on me and I turn, brow furrowed as she quickly looks away. Does she even know what she's doing to me? Does she not know that I can sense her desire? Does she even fucking care?
We come to a stop at the door, surveying the strange exterior of the mansion called The House of Four Dimensions and my sense of dread starts to fill me. Something isn't right with this place but we go up to the door as a group, reading the warning about not saying the word, "hot", then enter inside. Automatically my senses detect a disturbance in the room and I look at the layout, noting how twisted it is. The temperature is rather warm and humid, perfect for plants and I hear Botan about to mention how hot it is and I reach out, covering her mouth, eyes pleading though my voice is all business. "Remember the word we are not supposed to say." I remind her, feeling her shake a bit. Is it my touch or the danger that makes her react so? Still, I don't take my hand away just yet, trying not to groan when I feel her kiss my palm. Why the hell does she do this to me? Why can't I control myself better? Hiei's voice breaks through my haze of emotions and I turn to look at him, nodding when he asks if I sensed the energy change, like a different space.
A familiar face enters the room and I frown, lowering my hand from Botan's mouth and move protectively in front of her and my friends. Yu Kaitou, a classmate, second only to me in all test scores. What does he want? Why did he take Yusuke? I ask these questions, surprised at how much he knows of us. Quite gifted in linguistics, Kaitou tells us we are in his territory and must abide by his rules. Violence can not be used here. Only words have power. Hiei, given his usual impatience, is the first to fall victim, his soul leaving his body, flying into Kaitou's hand. This is very serious.
I don't know why my classmate is doing this, but I cannot allow him to continue. We must rescue Yusuke. We agree to his terms and I explain more of who this genius human is. Kuwabara and Kaitou exchange some insults and I turn my gaze to Botan who has been very quiet since we entered.
"Botan.." I whisper, her eyes lifting to meet mine.
"Kurama.." She replies, giving me that same heated gaze that first drew me to her. I see some fear reflecting in those amethyst pools and I reach out, touching her hand, joy filling me when she does not pull away.
"It will be alright. Kaitou is in over his head. I won't let him hurt you."
A blush spreads on her cheeks and I feel my mask of collected reserve slipping, revealing my love and need of her and she bites her lip and looks down, about to say something when Kuwabara stands up and goes to the fridge. I feel her pull from me then, desperate to escape my intent gaze as she offers to get something out for them to drink. Kuwabara gasps and stiffens, a small yellow ball of energy zooming out from his now prone form and into Kaitou's hand again. I rise, confused and angry.
"But why?" I demand, studying Kaitou, eyes widening as Botan speaks.
"That's cheating! He didn't even say the word hot!"
I snap my head back in her direction, panic and fear hitting me as I silently cry out, No! I reach out to her, stopping as her body goes still and her soul leaves her, floating into Kaitou's hand.
Kaitou explains that it's a puzzle of diction. One cannot say the letters h-o-t in a row and since Kuwabara did, he fell victim to the territory's power. Emotion flickers in my eyes when he says he likes Botan's soul best. Was that a subtle dig? Did he see our little interaction? My gaze narrows as I watch his free hand hover over the deity's soul, his threat to scratch it pushes me to my limit.
"I'm warning you.." There is no niceness in my voice now.. no more Shuichi.. this is Youko.. my dark half.. speaking. "You so much as bruise what you hold in your hand and I will show you pain. You will no longer exist by the time I am finished with you."
I steal the key from the guard, Yana's, pocket discretely with one of my plants. His insult of freak doesn't bother me. I've heard it before. I get my classmate to change the game, eliminating each letter of the alphabet until no letters can be moved. I offer my soul up if I cannot best him and he accepts. Foolish child. He may have a better grasp on linguistics but I've been alive for centuries and know many tricks and ways to make my prey lose either their treasure or their lives. Granted, my getting him to laugh is not my usual style, but it's quite gratifying to see him beaten and fall over, his soul hovering outside his body.
I retract my plants, sitting like a king on his throne as the souls of my friends are returned. I focus my gaze on Botan who studies me with awe. I want to go to her then and pull her into an embrace, to make certain she is alright, but that won't do. I must remain in control of myself and I look back on my other comrades, smiling at their praise and rising to take on the next challenge.
After getting permission from Yana, the second human with strange territory powers, we put some seals on our clothing that only the person who placed it on there can remove. Hiei refuses and grips Botan's wrist rather hard, threatening her and I cannot abide that. I place the seal onto his shoulder, drawing his attention away from the deity and remind him that he was the one who lost his soul first, grinning as Botan and Kuwabara chide him playfully as well.
Heading up some rather bizarre steps we each enter the attic room, the sight of a paralyzed Yusuke and some blonde human greeting us as we gather together. After some trickery and odd questions from Yusuke, the last test is passed when the lead spirit detective knocks his friend, Kuwabara out, revealing Yana, whose power is copy. The true mastermind steps out from the shadows, telling the blond called Asado Kito, to get off the floor.
Genkai.. as I suspected.. I thought.
The old psychic put us to the test to see how aware we are. How we couldn't rely on what we see to tell us the truth about another fighter. That arrogance could cost you your soul and your life. All but myself fail this test. It's rather humbling though and I can tell the group is shaken up. After a conference with Koenma about the Makai portal reeking havoc on the hometown of the three humans, Kaitou, Kido and Yana, we agree to visit Mushiyori City tomorrow. Our boss insults Hiei by saying he's only B class and the Koorime takes off, leaving the rest of us in the House of Four Dimensions. Genkai says we are to stay the night and we bunk down for some rest.
But I cannot rest. The danger for now is over, but my thoughts of Botan will not cease. She's so close to me now. So close and yet so far away. I know she'll come in this room, watch over me and leave. Leave me again.. like she always does. I lay still as I hear the door open and close. I hear her soft footfalls as they move closer to my bed then stop. I can sense her desire for me and I grow hard as I feel the blanket lift, feel her supple body press against my back, smell her scent of desire as she kisses along my neck, nibbling on my ear and I groan. "Botan.."
The deity pants in my ear, "Kurama…" Then pulls slowly away, out of the bed. Heading for the door. I jump up and block her escape, eyes dark, my voice thick with desire as I growl. "Not this time, Botan.."
The girl blinks slowly, as if coming out of a daze but tries to move around me. "Let me go, Kurama."
"I will not.." I reply, taking hold of her arms and pinning her against the wall. My face is inches from hers. "Not until you explain why the hell you keep coming to me.. even if I terrify you.. Just what are you afraid of?"
Botan bites her lip, avoiding my gaze but I will have none of it. I lift her chin to force her to look at me, my body pressing against hers, her gasp of realization of my state of arousal gratifying though I mostly want answers. "Tell me, Botan. What is it about me that terrifies you so much you want me yet flee from me?"
Silence greets my questions and I growl, tugging her shirt to the side, exposing her shoulder, the flesh from where I marked her still red and angry and I lean down, licking along the skin, her moan and body shaking from the attention though she weakly pushes at my bare chest. "Don't.. you mustn't.. shouldn't have done that.."
I lift my gaze, flickers of gold in my emerald orbs as bits of Youko seep through my human façade. I won't take no for an answer. Not this time. "Answer me, Botan.." I kiss up her neck, growl and enunciating each word. "Why.. Do.. You.. Flee.. From.. Me..?"
I feel her body quivering against me, her gasp so fucking arousing I could take her right then and there. "Because.. Because.."
I growl in her ear, impatient, pressing harder against her, smirking in satisfaction as she parts her legs and wraps them around my hips, her hands trailing up my back to twine in my hair, that dark look in her eyes that makes my cock swell even more. "Because I want you so bad it hurts.." Her lips kiss along my chin, her voice as hot and needy as my own. "Because if I give in.. I'll be lost." Her teeth scrapping gently against my ear, making me shudder now. "Because it's not right to love a demon.." I moan as she rocks against my covered erection, pushing off the wall as she cups my face and gives me barely there kisses. "Because if I sleep with you.. it will never end.." My brow furrows at that last statement, even as she delves her tongue into my mouth and twines it with my own.
Hmm.. well, wonder what will happen next.. will Botan submit and give in to their shared desire? Or will Kurama continue to be sexually frustrated by the cock tease.. er.. I mean the deity? Is she truly scared of him.. or of her want of him? Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter.. I certainly did.. so shoot me a few lines.. let me know your thoughts.. the more reviews I get, the more motivated I am to write.. Thanks for reading!