A/N: Sorry I'm late, minna! Anyone who's interested in the further punishment of Hinamori can go read TDK: Karma of the Warlock which I just posted as a bonus this week, but mind the warnings, loves. As for this...welcome to Part 2! This centers primarily on Gin and Renji (Kudos to those who get the pun in the title, fu fu fu). Only major warnings for this are gratuitous sex (c'mon we're talking about a kitsune here, how could there not be sex? lol) and mpreg! So those of you who don't like it can scurry away, and I'll come find you when we get past it. For everyone else, enjoy! Ja ne!
Part 2: All's Fair In...
Gin sighed, a rather uncharacteristic expression for the kitsune who'd become The Jester in the Court of Souls, but it was how he felt. The King, in his naive human way of thinking, had just been given absolute proof that the silver-haired sex demon was indeed carrying kits. Three to be precise, but the rest of the Court didn't need to know that part yet. It would only serve to confuse the humans and excite the Horsemen early. Plus, the fox in him enjoyed the idea of keeping it a surprise.
After all, most of the Court was unaware that every molecule in his body was attuned to his conscious mind. He could even speed up or slow down his heart if he wanted to. It was all part of being a kitsune. He had to be that connected to himself in order to pull off the kinds of transformation, manifestation, and teleportation spells he cast on an almost hourly basis. Heh, try getting from the East building to the kitchen and back again without losing a single tail, let alone from one side of the Veil to the other. So, of course he knew exactly how many kits there were, how big they were, and where each microscopic bundle of cells was growing within him at any given moment. He had to, or he risked losing them on his way to and from the bathroom! Which brought him back around to why he was sighing, alone, in the room he shared with his mate.
War was off handling some conflict, or turning the tide of some insurgency. It would take years if they were lucky to bring peace back to the mortal world. Millennia of humans running their own affairs had, pardon the expression, royally fucked things up. Gin expected that. He knew what he was attempting when he agreed to accept his destiny. He shuddered thinking briefly of the alternative. No, he was glad he'd done what he'd done to find and win Renji. It was just that...according to Ichigo, when a 'woman' learned she was pregnant for the first time, usually the father of her cub was there with her. For all intents and purposes, his mate had been there, but then the King had made the comment that it was a shame the redhead had to miss out on watching the little plastic stick turn colors.
That part wasn't so bad, the kitsune reasoned, but it was New Year's Eve...and that was a big deal. A big deal indeed, particularly to kitsune, as that was the time of the year when humans were at their most vulnerable. A time of indecision, and easily-broken oaths, just waiting for an opportunistic sex demon to appear to take advantage of such situations. All in all it was a time of successful hunts and family reunions, when cubs and parents would come together, sometimes for the first time in years, to exchange stories and bits of Essence. It was also a time to begin teaching kits how to hunt a human in earnest, and let them taste their own first sweet victory. For an orphaned vulpine like Gin, it was especially painful that his mate was away, unable to even celebrate in the human fashion.
Which was why, without telling anyone, Renji had said "fuck the war" for tonight and tomorrow so he could find a suitable present and get home in time to spend a night pampering and enjoying his lover. He might have work to do, but the work would keep—unlike the onward march of time towards the witching hour. He had found three things he hoped would be a good gift.
The first was a 'sex basket'. Humans came up with the most interesting things, and it came with different lubes they could experiment with, a booklet of 'sex coupons' that thoroughly confused him as to their use due to his most recent human life having been in essence celibate—but they sounded like fun anyway—and a couple of toys that had made him blush as red as his hair when he thought about actually using them on either himself or his mate.
More traditionally, he had gotten a small, sweet cake in the shape of a small fox. It was almost eerie how well the bakery had been able to capture his lover's exact grin on the fondant. He was certain the irony of how it looked would be a perfect addition to the Jester's jovial attitude on a day when he had been told the silver-haired male was usually less than enthusiastic.
However, his crowning achievement in his hunt for gifts was the smallest box. A present he was most nervous about: a ring. It was a simple band of white gold, with the same glimmery sheen as Gin's mist cloud. He told himself over and over that he had nothing to worry about. Really they were already Marked and Mated so it was hardly necessary but his human lives still rested close to the surface of his memory. They, and so he, wanted to see that mark of proud claim—'this man has agreed to be mine, hands off!'—in such a way that even magic-blind humans could understand. And it scared the living daylights out of him that the noble vulpine might trivialize, or worse be insulted, by his desire to show off his love in such a mundane materialistic manner.
In the darkened space the pair shared, once again a delicate, androgynous hand that had nails long enough to be called claws, drew down the faded image behind the glass in the cold iron frame. It was enchanted, one of the few spells his Otousan had still been able to cast, so that it would never deteriorate further than it was, but the painting was old. So old now in fact that humans no longer even knew the kinds of pigments used on it. So there was no way to restore it to its former glory. He still remembered clear as day, the vibrant purple of her hair, the sunset in her eyes, the color of a honey-oak that was her skin—his Kaa-chan. New Year's had always been her favorite, and it was on this day he missed her most. He knew now that she'd been hunted by the warlock for her tails, all nine of them, but the fact that the despicable female had been Tried and Punished wasn't enough to ease the ache of far too many missed holidays.
The same hand that had caressed the glass, dropped to cup where his belly would be in several months, "I'll never miss a holiday wit' ya. Ever." He promised, a teardrop sliding down his nose to freeze in mid-air, a crystalline, diamond.
Just then the door gave a quiet click as it opened, War was trying to get his gifts hidden before his mate got back from Court. However, when light from the hallway spilled into their room, he saw Gin holding the picture and an unmistakable frozen tear on the tip of his nose. Immediately, he set all three presents aside on a table and went straight to his lover, his fire-like magic springing up protectively to melt the growing frost in the room.
"Are you okay, Gin?"
Ice blue eyes blinked up, unbelievingly, at his mate as he scrambled to hide the picture. "Y-ya said ya weren't c-comin' home!" He quickly wiped his cheeks, but his ears betrayed him almost as surely as the involuntary swallow he made. "Som'thin' 'bout gorillas in th' Easter dessert, er som'thin'?"
"Guerrilla troops in the eastern desert, love," The redhead corrected softly, nuzzling at his throat, then his cheek, hands petting his hair, back, and tails, trying to soothe his mate's pain on instinct. "Shortly after hanging up, I realized what day it was…and New Year's Eve waits for no-one, not even War, before turning into New Year's Day. I refuse to miss our first New Year's, love. Now come on...tell your mate what's wrong." He tilted the kitsune's chin up to give him a soft kiss of comfort.
"Oh..." Gin's voice was soft, yet another major indicator that things were not right in Foxy Land.
He let his hands slide back from the frame of his picture. The regal kitsune woman was majestic in spite of the faded ink, but retained her clearly mischievous nature as several places were smudged, like the painter had needed to change the lines in order to accommodate her moving. But the most obvious part was her belly, rounded with pregnancy.
"Otousan said he'd had 'er pose like that just in case..." He sniffled. "H-he knew, Aiko...he knew she wouldn't...wouldn't...I miss 'er, Aiko...so much..."
It wasn't hard to tell it was the vulpine's mother. "I know ya do love. I can't blame ya." He reached around the silver-haired man's slender shoulders so his thumb could rub the edge of the frame with the kind of tenderness only inspired by and for his mate. "She looks like an amazin' woman."
"I...I wanna do 'er proud, Tora...wit' th' kits I mean..."
There was the root of the trouble. Missing her was obvious, but this was his first litter. And now, thanks to the warlock, he had neither the kitsune who'd birthed him or the human who'd raised him when she died.
Renji held him close to that strong chest. "You will, Gin," he promised, but his voice was a whisper as a lump rose in his throat.
The redhead, too, was an orphan, at least his most recent human life had been. Growing up on the streets, never really knowing where he fit in or doing any of the things normal children did. He hadn't even had any real friends until he'd met the twins that would eventually become the King and the Mage. So, if the conflict wasn't wrapped up when the kits were born—and it wouldn't be—what could he do? He had to be around for his children, the memories of that life were too fresh to ignore the pull it had on his heart, even if he'd wanted to. But how could he keep the fighting in control and keep in contact with his mate and be a good father to his children? He desperately wanted to be, for his mate and for the kits. But how could he do that and his job? Even he couldn't be in more than one place at once.
The kitsune turned to snuggle into his mate's embrace, oblivious of the turmoil circling the tiger's mind. "I hope so. Aiko. I hope so." He was quiet for a short time, then looked up, his trademarked smile growing on his face. "Feed me?"
The redhead raised one eyebrow high. "I suppose you don't mean the human kind, eh?"
"Uh-uh." The Jester's grin grew wider, and twisted around so he could look at his lover head on. He reached up to lick along his lover's jaw line, tickling the scar from his fight with Byakuya. "Ya've been away fer a month...an' we're hungrrry...prrrr."
"Oh-ho, so the kits need a good Feeding as well? Good," the Second pulled his shirt off over his head, then shucked pants and boxers. He then grinned and kissed Gin, pulling the smaller male down on top of him as he dropped the glamour he used while interacting with humans—he'd been so worried about his soulmate's mental health before that he'd forgotten to dismiss the spell.
The kitsune purred, kissing back, and running his hands over the planes of that ebony-lined chest. His tails wagging happily, and grinding against his mate. Renji groaned softly, head pressing back to bare the column of his neck, the black lines already starting to glow with soft power. The Jester pressed the knot of his yukata into the tiger's hand, whimpering and nipping around the place where crimson hair gave way to crimson fur.
War's thick fingers fumbled a bit to untie it, but when he did he pushed the light material off his body entirely and he melted, purring and growling. "Fuuuck mate, you know howwwww my earrrrs arrrre," he rumbled, voice dark and pleasured.
"Exactly..." The vulpine purred back at him, "All th' better ta Eat ya, Tiger." His sharpened teeth combed through that fur, nipping at the flesh underneath, as his words vibrated through it.
The redhead feline's tail curled and twisted as his hips bucked and he moaned loud and long, lines glowing bright and hot all the way to his chest, streaking towards his hips, spurred on heavily by the teeth on his ear. They were horrendously sensitive.
Blunt claws traced the unlit lines, dragging sparks in varying shades of cool white-blue, like the brightest of electricity and the air of a winter morning. Gin ran his tongue after his fingers, licking up the sparks, and igniting them beneath the surface of the tiger's skin.
Renji moaned, kneading at his shoulders. "Dear…uuhhnnn," he hissed, twitching and shuddering in reaction to his chakras and pressure points being lit up like a holiday tree.
In that manner, the kitsune built the last of his lover's Essence, bolstered by the Ley Line beneath them. He drew it up, even as he worked his way down, leaving glowing tattoos in his wake, until he knelt between Renji's legs, nuzzling and simply inhaling his mate's scent from the most concentrated place. His tongue darted out, tasting as well as scenting.
Long fingers twisted in silver hair and the tiger's hips bucked again, balls heavy and swollen with Essence and need. The Second knew everything had to be built up very specifically in order to properly Feed his lover and their kits, but he was eager and wanting right now.
"Mmmmmateeeee," he whined softly.
Gin nuzzled down to his tiger's scrotum, lapping at the sensitive skin. It wouldn't be much longer but he had to fill the lightning bolts that ran between the barbs along the shaft of the large feline's cock. So he took one orb between his lips, and suckled on it, pulling it down away from his body to delay the redhead's orgasm.
The yowl-whine-noise he received in response told the fox how badly his tiger wanted to Feed him as those last precious lines slowly filled. Claws scratched lightly at his scalp as War's horns began to push through his temples slowly, resisting his control.
The vulpine's tongue stretched to draw the other orb into his mouth as well, careful to keep his teeth away from the delicate skin. Then he hummed, with both sound and magic, drawing on those last few centimeters. So close. Another minute or two, then he could do as he liked—take that flagpole, standing proud and flushed above his head, into his throat and swallow it whole.
Just as he completed that body-tingling, mouth-water thought, the very tip of that length lit up in bright fiery red color, leaking like mad, and the tiger whimpered, practically begging his lover to Feed and let him come. That was the sign the Jester had been waiting for! Pulling back, the silver fox-man licked his considerable tongue over his lips in preparation for his feast, then dove without warning on the prick in front of him like a peasant at an imperial banquet. He took the whole thing in one swallow, sucking hard and moaning around it. The shock value of what he did going straight to his own straining member.
Renji roared, dick throbbing with the promise of bursting, but he wasn't quite there yet. Just a few more moments...Gin ran his hands up the redhead's thighs, swallowing around his mouthful and grinding his manhood against the sheets beneath them, creating a rhythm of suck-swallow-grind...Oh hell! War couldn't hold out against that type of assault for shit no matter how hard he tried. The tiger roared again and came so hard his toes cracked and cramped.
Greedily the kitsune sucked him down, draining his power lines like the glow was liquid. Again his tails were wagging, and warmth spread through his belly as his mate's Essence flowed into him long after the initial throes of War's orgasm. It created an echo effect that pulled a sympathetic reaction from the fox's body. His manhood, virtually untouched, shot off his own climax onto the sheets. The energy he released was immediately swept up in the second half of the bond, drawn to the tiger as surely as if they had been sucking each other off.
Due to the combination of fire and ice that was the magical dynamic between the Jester and War, any liquid mess that could have stained the blood-red sheets evaporated almost as soon as it touched the air. Their room existed almost constantly in that special place where heat and cold met, where lightning was born, and sublimation was a given, depending on just how worked up the lovers were at any given moment.
As the energies in the room calmed and the temperature stopped fluctuating so badly, the redhead collapsed onto his back with a sigh, eyes falling closed as he petted his mate's hair. "Ooohhh...been way too long love..."
Dutifully, the Jester cleaned his mate's crotch, clearing the last vestiges of power from the strongest of his tattoos, and murred in response, savoring the taste. No Essence tasted as good, or settled his stomach the way his tiger did.
With a sleepy voice Gin asked, "Why ya gotta stay away so long?"
The large feline pulled the other up into his chest and murmured to him softly. "Cuz humans 're stupid an' I'm tryin'a get as much done as I can before the kits're born so I c'n stay home to help ya raise 'em as much as possible."
"I miss ya though..." That quiet tone was back, though it was more muted than before, the pleasant fullness of having just Fed making the kitsune sleepy and drifting.
"We'll hafta think about how t'fix it...after a nap," Renji promised, curling against his mate and being lulled softly towards sleep as well.
Still on the bedside table, forgotten and ignored were the three presents the Second had brought home for his lover.