Please enjoy, R&R! Samron

"That… was amazing." Marshall's eyes widened to convey his emotion, "And of course. Last night." He smirked as his eyes relaxed, drifting into the thoughts of their night before.

Kurama looked away, feeling his face heat up. It was nice, but again his pride blocked him from connecting with Marshall. Talking about sex with a stranger wasn't something he'd ever humor—but talking to a stranger about the sex he just had with them, wasn't something he could compute.

Marshall looked back to the silent Kurama, wearing a face of slight disappointment. He glanced away, now thinking hard about something all while reaching down to grab the same blanket, throwing it over Kurama's body. He sighed, now sitting up to adjust his pants back on, then looked to Kurama. Was he… afraid? He seemed sad as well and now Kurama felt the air between them tense.

He swallowed as he sat up too but was still leaning back against one hand. While doing so the blanket covering him dropped down into his lap, covering really only that—since his legs were sticking out from the blanket, and most of the red throw was still on the floor. Kurama stared back at Marshall with confidence. Marshall sighed openly again as he looked Kurama over, taking in every bit of him. He then turned away and chuckled with a shake of his head.

"You're too much. Are you actually real?" He smirked confidently now, any hint of sadness gone.

He glared playfully. "We've covered this."

Marshall looked down to think, then back to Kurama. "Have we?"

Kurama sat up all the way, pulling more of the blanket into his lap, now bringing his legs into the blanket, crossing them.

"What does that mean?"

"I know nothing about you." He almost seemed to be saying that to himself.

"I don't know much about you either."

Marshall's eyebrows went up, then let out an odd chuckle. "Seems you wanna keep it that way... mixed signals?"

Kurama hesitated. He was right, he hadn't been the warmest person toward Marshall since they'd met. He'd made preemptive judgments about him before realizing he wasn't a creep.

"I've never met someone like you. You're unique."

"I've always stuck out." He wasn't sure where this was going.

"Well, sure." Marshall frowned, "But there's something else." He kept his intense look. "It's not just your beauty that sticks out to me."

His breath hesitated from those words as he eyed Marshall.

"Also, you're impossible to read… you haven't seemed to want to be here, until…" He trailed off.

Kurama frowned.

"I approached you because I wanted to get to know you…" he stared at the ground, allowing another sigh out. "Why did you accept?" He looked back to Kurama, a bit on the defense.

That question insinuated that Kurama wasn't interesting in getting to know Marshall… Surprising Kurama again—his observations were correct, apparently Marshall was good with people.

"I thought differently of you."

Marshall kept his eyes on Kurama, waiting.

"I thought I was simply another box, to be checked."

He looked offended, yet slightly amused. "You thought I was some sort of man-whore?"

Kurama stared. "Forgive me, you came off that way. Most people don't approach me." He spoke cold this time.

"Most? So, the ones that do are…?"

"Distasteful."

Looking a bit embarrassed now Marshall frowned. "I'm sorry."

"You weren't."

"Oh." His eyebrows barely moved up as he looked forward again, "Now I'm confused."

Kurama frowned and looked at the roses again, "You weren't drunk, you didn't comment on my body in an inappropriate manner, and you kept a polite distance. You treated me normally." Why was he humoring this conversation?

…

Kurama spoke again, "I'm not the type to go home with strange men, either." He felt defensive now too, and he wasn't really sure why…

Marshall now brought one leg back onto the couch, turning himself to face Kurama. "You're good at avoiding questions."

Kurama glared.

"There's that look again." Marshall spoke softly, as if he was realizing there was something he couldn't obtain. "I'd like to get to know you." He said once more.

Kurama looked down immediately, not wanting Marshall to see the shock on his face. Barely shaking his head as he thought about how badof an idea that was. He fidgeted with the blanket, feeling shame, envy, and sadness. That wasn't an option. Marshall snorted. Kurama's stomach ached. A familiar feeling when thinking about his life with his mother. He set his teeth to that comparison, not liking it, but the guilt rushed in regardless.

"Then why come over?" He felt Marshall lean in a bit, hurt in his voice but confusion as well. "We had sex… twice!"

Those words made Kurama flinch with a slight cringe. He forced himself to look at Marshall, conveying some guilt, but still feeling him defensives covering him.

"It's complicated." He said colder than he meant to let out.

Marshall looked offended. "Complicated is for idiots."

It was a pathetic excuse. "I—" Kurama looked around the room while he thought.

"You weren't forced were you? Did I somehow make you have sex with me?" He accused, now getting worked up by the lack of answers.

"No!" Kurama shot out now looking back at him with urgency. "No. I chose to…" swallowing hard, "Both times… were my choice." He spoke gentler this time.

The urge to comfort always took over, and hearing himself say that was rough, but he wanted to make sure Marshall knew he alone was the one who allowed for any of this. Marshall just stared in pure confusion—thoughts clearly racing through every possibility as to what was happening.

"How'd you know those were freshly cut?" he asked, now a hint of anger.

Kurama felt surprised as he glanced at the roses, that was quite a thing to notice, his eyes shifted back to Marshall's.

"I could tell." He couldn't give him more than simplistic answers.

Marshall looked frustrated. "How?"

He needed to leave. Yet here he was, still sitting on this man's couch. "The smell. They… smelled freshly cut." These short answers were just adding more complication.

Marshall stared at him suspiciously.

He knew what Marshall was doing. He was trying to feel out of the situation, and Kurama wasn't giving anything back. He felt cruel, but… he couldn't. Clearly the man was good at better at reading people than Kurama first picked up, so he may have come to realize the fact that Kurama wasn't planning on sticking around. The guilt was the worst part about all of this. Marshall had helped him immensely without even knowing it. Yet here he was, not even answering a few questions.

"Are you… a botanist too..?" Marshall was grabbing for anything.

Kurama looked to him again, now wearing his serious expression. "Why are we doing this."

Looking more hurt than angry, Marshall barely gaped at him. "Doing what? I'm trying to get to know you!"

"You don't want to know me."

He made another face, "What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

"I am not normal." Kurama admitted, yet said it as more of a warning, than a fact.

"I don't care." Marshall said quickly.

Kurama glared. He'd never had someone pursue him before, at least… not like this. He'd had the many people from school, random strangers, and others 'pursue' him. But it was usually finished after his initial denial, and obvious disinterest. Clearly, Marshall wasn't shy with pushing boundaries, and… this situation sucked because they'd just finished having sex for the fucking second time. Kurama grinded his teeth harder, hating himself for allowing that second time. Why had he done that!? The first was planned, but the second… he agreed to, he submitted to it. He felt emotions grow up his throat, angry at himself for messing up.

Those emotions came out in a small sniff and snarl. His behavior wasn't fair to Marshall, and he felt he owed him. He sighed softer, now forcing himself to relax.

"I'm terrible at this." He closed his eyes for a moment, then took in another breath to push his emotions down.

Marshall looked confused.

"I'm not good..." He meant to finish that sentence, as he looked to Marshall, hating this feeling of inferiority.

"Getting to know people?" He spoke gently, looking him up and down.

He shook his head with another sigh. How pathetic was he?

"People getting to know you…?" He looked a bit sad for him, yep kept his sternness.

"I tend to keep to myself." He smiled to him, feeling full on pathetic now. He didn't realize how hard it would be to avoid speaking about himself to someone he'd just been so intimate with… He took in another breath and forced himself to speak. "Ask your questions, I'll do my best." He nodded, feeling his heart sink, knowing this was all he could give the poor man before leaving.

It couldn't hurt to let him know him a little.

…

Those feelings sunk in deep. And it pissed him off that he felt anything at all, as well as the fact that he was allowing himself to make up excuses to stay longer.

You're pathetic, Shuichi…

…

"You sure?" Marshall hesitated.

"Anything you'd like." He spoke robotically.

Marshall stayed suspicious. "Okay… are you a botanist?" He smirked.

"I know more about plants than a… botanist." He raised an eyebrow confidently, feeling odd sharing facts about himself.

Marshall made a face. "Ouch."

"It's a part of my life. Not just a study I picked from the academic basket." He did judge this time.

"Oh." Marshall stared. "…Okay…Are you real?" He smirked to tease, clearly still a bit annoyed with Kurama's attitude.

"That question doesn't make sense." He allowed an annoyed tone.

"You're…" He looked at Kurama over again, this time trying to figure him out. "…like something I've never seen."

Kurama frowned. Could this man sense something…? His defenses went up even more, now almost regretting picking Marshall at all.

"…Something?" He played confused.

"Yes."

He glared. "I'm something, yes."

"Okay." He looked down in thought.

…

"Do you have friends?"

"Of course I do."

He nodded. "How many?"

"It depends."

Marshall turned his head. "I mean, people you consider to be your friend…?"

"Lots." He looked away, irritated by the patronization.

''Okay. I'll try again. People who actually know you."

…

Kurama glared to nothing, feeling stupid this time. He really was bad at this.

"Do you have friends?" He accused, still not letting up.

He looked to Marshall, now staring, feeling his stomach turn a bit. Did he…? Marshall stared at him, his face becoming calmer, and now empathetic.

"Do you?"

Sighing, Kurama glanced around the room to think. "I have a few." He wasn't sure why he was sharing this, but he already decided he would.

"Do they know you?" Marshall barely spoke.

Kurama smiled, looking down.

…

"Do you have family?"

Kurama didn't look up from the leather couch. "Yes."

"You guys close?" He seemed hesitant now.

"…Off limits…" He swallowed the ache from his heart, now allowing his eyes to look back to Marshall a little softer this time.

Marshall perked up, staring at Kurama, still trying to figure him out. "How in the hell are you so beautiful?"

Letting out a breath, Kurama dropped his head to the side. This man wouldn't stop going on about him.

"Heh." Marshall chuckled as he scratched his nose. "Okay… How is your body so perfect…?"

Now feeling his face flush again, making him angry. Kurama was done with his heat, so why in the hell was this man able to mess with his emotions!? "I'm not sure how to answer that." He gave him a judgmental glare.

"You're in amazing shape. And you're…" He motioned toward Kurama.

Kurama's glare stayed but it faltered as he started at the man in front of him. "Do you need help articulating?"

Marshall looked surprised but laughed out loud. "You got me." He chuckled, showing that smile again, making Kurama's stomach swirl with butterflies.

Smirking now Kurama felt comfort with that laugh, allowing him to relax. "Genetics, and a healthy lifestyle will do it." He hoped that would move the subject forward.

Marshall widened his eyes, "You don't get that body, from genetics." Kurama noticed he got a bit distracted again.

"Oh, very good." He spoke with a condescending tone, getting him back.

Marshall's head snapped up. "So you do have a sense of humor." He laughed in relief.

Kurama smiled.

"Do you work out?"

Raising an eyebrow. "No."

"Do you enjoy sports?"

"No." He was disinterested.

Marshall gave him a look. Kurama gave one back, cocking his head to the side.

"Fighting counts..." Marshall said quietly.

Kurama felt himself move back, raising his eyebrows.

"Oh?" He kept his voice light, and unaltered.

But, his heart sped up again… apparently he entirely underestimated Marshall. People usually assumed Kurama to be gentle and soft, which… he tried to be, but that overshadowed any other potential thoughts to form. Also, he did often take advantage of his own looks in order to distract… he'd never say that out loud. But he definitely used them to help people's thoughts to go the opposite direction of strength, or anything close to fighting. But, even while Marshall had seemed so enthralled and distracted by his appearance—apparently he was able to look past all of that and see more, and Kurama had missed it. He could blame his heat, but he also had to blame himself. He assumed Marshall was something entirely different from who he was looking at now.

Marshall's gaze didn't shift, studying Kurama as if desperate to solve some sort of puzzle. "So, you fight?" He wasn't sure, and that doubt gave Kurama relief.

"Would if I did?" He spoke casually, but felt a sweat begin.

"Dodging a question again."

Kurama sighed out and looked to the side.

Marshall looked impressed. "You can, cant' you?"

Kurama couldn't hold back a chuckle as he instinctively swiped his hair on his chest back quickly, while attempting to wear a cocky look. "I could be terrible."

Marshall took that in, then continued as Kurama's hair fell behind him. "That guy at the bar with you…"

Kurama perked up.

"Who's that?"

Kurama sensed a bit of tension, so he smirked openly. "A friend."

"One of the few?"

Kurama nodded.

"He seemed, different from you."

"Oh." He snickered as he held his mouth, "He is."

Marshall watched him closely, and Kurama felt a bit of panic, he had gotten an honesty reaction out of Kurama without even trying. This man was smart, and that pissed him off. He didn't like being manipulated.

"He fight?"

"Yes." Kurama made a face.

"That's what I thought." He smirked. "I'm good at snooping too, Shuichi." He spoke confidently.

Blinking, Kurama felt his stomach stir again with butterflies. He wasn't sure why, but he was attracted to that. He didn't allow for anything to show to Marshall now, he had his guard up, and he already caught him once during this interrogation. So from now on he'll be unreadable.

"That bartender friend of Yusuke's. He's clearly a fighter, his knuckles, the scars, and…" He cringed, "His face is a bit mismatched. Also, those cauliflower ears always give it away."

Kurama felt himself stiffen.

"The guy who looked older and more experienced, punched Yusuke pretty good in the head." He chuckled. "And that kid barely flinched… So, either his head is already broken, or your friend is much stronger than he lets on."

Kurama stared as he took a deep breath.

"So, you..." He looked at Kurama in admiration. "Not flinching when Yusuke got hit, not even when he hit you. Through all his yelling, I could see his respect toward you, besides appearing obnoxious—he didn't cross a threshold."

Feeling himself now frowning, Kurama was stunned. He really underestimated him, he wasn't showing it, but he felt a bit intimidated. Also, impressed. He hadn't met someone like this in a while, and the fact Marshall reminded him of anyone at all frustrated him.

"Lastly the way you stood when we first met. The perfect fighters stance, balance within itself. Feet under your shoulders, strength in your whole body, yet each movement you made was like you were gliding…" He spoke softer this time, again seeming a bit sad. It could almost be romantic if Kurama wasn't feeling put off.

…

"You can't tell me you don't fight." He was almost whispering now, seeming to understand he was pushing Kurama—but continuing with caution.

"I can't tell you I do, either." Kurama spoke with no emotion.

…

He studied Kurama, noticing he'd been blocked off. "You're looking at me like you did when we first met…" He frowned.

Kurama's eyebrow went up, eyes barely widening. He was in defensive mode, but it stunned him hearing such a sad, truthful, and pathetic statement. He was pathetic. What did he think staying here would do, but only hurt? He wasn't allowed to enjoy others—and this was just a painful reminder to himself as to why he set that rule in the first place.

He felt the emotion crawl up toward his throat again. His eyes were locked with Marshall's, but he blinked, barely able to force himself to look away.

"I should go." He said flatly as he admired the pink roses for the last time.

"You don't have to." Marshall didn't sound surprised.

Taking in a breath, Kurama was surprised he allowed a full sigh to be heard as he looked back to Marshall. Feeling anger at himself start to rise again. He couldn't see this man ever again, so he'd at least take one last bit of him to remember. He finally allowed Marshall to see slight sadness across his features. Marshall froze, noticing immediately.

"Hey…" Marshall looked concerned, but before he could say or do anything else, Kurama moved forward.

Anger now flaring, he pushed his body up, having to lean forward onto his knees as he put all his weight on one hand, and the other held the blanket loosely on himself. The anger was simply there to burn away any sadness he felt, all still directed at himself. He was now face to face with Marshall, who was staring back at him in shock. Kurama hadn't shown this side to anyone, but since Marshall wanted to know so much—he'd showhim.

His sharp eyes took in Marshall's face, admiring it while smelling his scent as well. His eyes looked deep into Marshall's with his cold ones. Stunned, Marshall stayed perfectly still due to Kurama's advance.

"Thank you." Kurama whispered with the calmest of voices.

Marshall's mouth barely opened staring back at him in confusion. Kurama leaned in a bit more, placing his lips onto Marshall's. The man stiffened; he pulled a harsh breath of air into his lungs due to the surprise. His body relaxed almost immediately now leaning in, kissing him back. Kurama dropped the blanket as he brought that hand up to aggressively grab Marshall's chin, bringing him deeper into their kiss. He licked Marshall's lips as Marshall gasps out, opening his mouth to provide Kurama access. Kurama pushed his tongue in, satisfied to hear Marshall moan, the warmth of the man's mouth was comforting.

Marshall barely lifted his hands as they grabbed Kurama's face, still kissing him back—clearly lost in the seduction. Closing his eyes, Kurama's mouth got rougher, now feeling Marshall's lips with his teeth. He groaned out, not like he had since they'd met. It was deeper, and angry. He now moved the hand on Marshall's chin, sliding it back to the nape of his neck. Not allowing him to move back as he held Marshall's lower lip with his teeth. He bit down hard to get good blood, but not enough to cause permanent damage. Feeling blood leak into his mouth was arousing, and so satisfying. It tasted sweet.

Yelling out in pain, Marshall tried to pull back as his eyes widened in shock. But, Kurama held him still for just a moment—allowing Youko's immature desire for the last laugh to control, and for himself to take in just a little bit more of Marshall. Once he released him, Marshall threw himself back, blood now trickling down his chin. The back of his hand went up quickly to hold his bleeding lip, as his eyes stayed stuck on Kurama. Confusion and worry clear on his expression.

Kurama didn't move as he watched the man's reaction and kept cold eye contact with him, as he swallowed the small mouthful of blood and licked his lips off. He looked away from Marshall with ease as he leaned back. Reaching up to wipe some blood off his lip, he looked to the man again, these eyes he hadn't seen yet. Marshall still hadn't moved, but continued to watch Kurama as he looked even more stunned this time.

Kurama looked away. It was time to go. He found his clothes on the ground, pulling them on swiftly. Marshall watched him but didn't dare move his body more than that.

Closing his eyes, Kurama finally felt he gathered himself after getting dressed. He looked down at Marshall, allowing his sadness to be displayed more now than before. And to his surprise, Marshall didn't look as he expected. He wasn't horrified, he wasn't panicking. He stayed calm but was on full defense as he didn't move, keeping his eyes on Kurama the entire time. Kurama watched the blood drip down Marshall's wrist, then looked back to those beautiful blue ones.

Marshall looked back confidently, even though worried.

"Goodbye." Kurama spoke, this was it.