20-Mar-2001
Ok peeps, through the many machinations of the customer service situation from hell, I now have my laptop back and (thankfully!) it has all of the data still on it! including this chapter... which was actually originally finished in aug-00... *sigh* makes you just want to hurt something, ne? ^_^ anyhoo... thanks to my wonderful beta readers, most notably reishin (wai! Isn't she wunnerful!!! *glompage* and jaeny (my 'subtly' evil twin... me being the obviously evil one... ^_^ all hail the evil ones! *cackle* *glompage*) *happyhappygringrin* so you must thank them for their forbearance with me... thanks (and much glompage) also go out to cindy the werewolfling, maggie, skippy the toad, koko-chan, and kyo-chan for love and support. Then there are the wonderful hosts of mine that deserve a lot for putting up wonderful sites and being willing to wait through technical difficulties and giving support and well-wishes throughout the hellish waiting period when the comp was waiting to be fixed... all hail tyr and utopian trunks!!! *more glompage... and richter-scale purrrrrrrrrring*
Now, the actual story notes: first of all, neither yuu yuu hakusho nor gundam wing belong to me, fortunately for the bishounen involved, ne?
Secondly, this chapter is in a bit of a different tone than the earlier ones. Since they were one of the first things I ever wrote, I hope this is an improvement. The first three chapters will eventually be revised, but not until I get to some of the other fics that require my attention (most of which are either gw or original... *cackle*)
Thirdly, as with everything I write, there is yaoi here! And yaoi lemon as well as the sweeter shounen ai... and beware the incredible amount of SAP. ^_^
Fourthly, this chapter contains two original characters of mine. Nijí the Psychodelic (yes, I mean to spell it that way) Fox and his partner Taishen, Stoic, Forebearing, Patient Wind Demon Warrior Extraordinaire!!!
Taishen: *looking uncomfortable* I'm not so grand as all that...
Silverblade: *speaking look at chibi-nijí curled up in his arms* he's still alive, right? I'd call that pretty impressive control on your part.
Taishen: *wincing and sweatdropping* well, if you put it that way...
In any case, if you want the first two stories about this pair, you can find them at UT's site The Temple East of Sanity (http://www.eastofsanity.com/) under guest yyh fics. Previous parts of this fic can be found at both UT's site and GW Addiction (http://www.geocities.com/fenris_wolf0/)
Last warning: this is not meant to have a real plot or to be taken seriously. It is majorly OOC and silly. This is silverblade having fun with pretty boys - deal.
"Ug. Erg."
Yuusuke opened his eyes to an obscenely cheerful morning with the worst hangover he'd ever had nightmares about. 'I am never gonna trust Kurama's judge of potency when it comes to Makai liquor, especially if it's a fruit!' Yuusuke thought he remembered Kurama assuring them that it wasn't that potent a liquor. Oh, well. It was too late now.
"Good morning, Yuusuke."
"Mmph," was all he could reply to the even more obscenely cheerful youko. He opened his eyes again as he smelled the familiar scent of one of Kurama's concoctions.
"Kurama? Think you could hand me a hangover helper?"
A hot drink was immediately pressed into his hands. He drank it down gratefully and was able to face the sun within a few more minutes. He looked over to thank Kurama and his jaw dropped.
Kurama was sitting down next to the fire, mending a shirt. His shirt. It looked as if he was sewing on buttons...
"I don't wanna know... " he muttered. Kurama looked up.
"Hmm? You don't want to know what?"
"Why you're sewing buttons onto your shirt."
Kurama's smile turned to the closest thing to a goofy grin that Yuusuke had ever thought Kurama capable of.
"I had an... interesting... evening," was his response.
"I knew I didn't wanna know... "
Yuusuke decided not to even mention the marks all over Kurama's chest, neck, and back...
Duo stretched languorously in the warm sunlight that played over his body, feeling Heero's arms tighten around his waist as the Japanese pilot murmured something incomprehensible into his neck. This was so wonderfully perfect, so much like a dream, that Duo could hardly bear to breathe, lest he break the spell. But one can only resist temptation for so long...
He very gently and tenderly kissed his sleeping lover, gratified beyond belief when Heero didn't push him away, but instead responded, locking those strong arms around his slender body. When he pulled away, Duo spent a few moments just gazing into the Prussian-blue eyes below him. Seeing them like this, sleepy and vulnerable, gave Heero the impression of being an angel.
The American chuckled, having a quick image of a chibi-Heero with white angel wings and still wearing that bedamned spandex and tank-top...
"What's so funny?"
Duo shook his head, still smiling, covering Heero's frown with another kiss while running his agile fingers down the well-muscled body. He pulled away with another smile and started a line of kisses down the side of the other boy's neck, continuing down to the chest... all while his fingers still explored their new playground... Duo luxuriated in the small gasps Heero couldn't hold back as he found his sensitive spots...
"Duo... " the whisper was slightly frantic.
"Hmmm?" He looked up to see the beautiful face flushed, pupils dilated with passion. He chuckled again, running his tongue along the inside of one perfect thigh...
"Damnit, Duo! You tease!"
This time, the braided boy gave his lover a predatory grin before swooping upon his chosen prey.
"AH!"
The wordless choked cry was exactly what he'd hoped for...
Heero's mind whirled with the sensations overtaking his body. He found his hands buried in Duo's thick hair with no conscious memory of willing them there. All he could think of - if one could term it thinking at this point - was the gentle suction of Duo's heated mouth, the movements of his tongue and head and of his own hips thrusting into that well of slick warmth...
This time was different from last night, Duo was quite firmly in control right now... and Heero saw no reason to change that status for the moment...
Then coherent thought processes shattered as his release thundered from him with a scream, the aftershocks like a tidal wave of pleasure... Duo swallowed it all.
As he lay panting, the Wing pilot regarded the laughing-eyed boy that had engendered such feelings from him. Duo was leaning on one elbow above him, a strange little smile on his face and his beautiful indigo eyes sparkling.
"What?" Heero found himself asking.
The American shook his head, smiling and blushing faintly. "Just thinking how beautiful you are... and how much I wanna jump you right about now... "
The Japanese boy flushed, but couldn't stop the words from being said. "And what's stopping you?"
Duo tilted his head, a Puckish look in his eyes. "Hmm... well, if that's how you feel about it... Absolutely nothing."
Heero had to clench his teeth as he felt the intrusion of one slender digit, the chestnut-haired boy distracting him by nibbling his erection once more. It wasn't long before the Perfect Soldier was ready for his lover to take him, but Duo seemed to revel in torturing him with a long, drawn-out seduction...
Not that he was in much of a state to protest, mind you...
Finally, Heero felt his partner's semen-slick shaft penetrating him, slowly. He gritted his teeth, trying to urge the other pilot to hurry up... He couldn't take much more of this teasing... Duo seemed to sense his need and soon began a series of well-placed, deep thrusts, sending Heero into a sexual fog.
And after Duo started to caress his hard length between their bodies, it was all the brown-haired boy could do not to give in right away... But the stroking from both ends sent him over the edge within a relatively short time... The last thing he felt as he slipped into a total orgasmic fog was the hot spill of his lover's seed inside his body...
Duo looked at the thoroughly dazed boy beneath him. 'Damn... That was good... We have to do this more often... ' He chuckled quietly and snuggled his love, closing his eyes for a minute or two to rest... They'd head back to camp after a bath in the stream he could just barely hear... But that would be a little later.
Right now, he needed a nap...
Yuusuke looked around, realizing that neither Heero and Duo nor Quatre and Trowa had returned yet... 'Heh. Guess they had a good night then... ' And it wasn't until the smell of cooking spread throughout the clearing that either of the missing couples showed up.
"Mmmm... Kurama, that smells wonderful!" Duo exclaimed, looking very pleased and slightly smug.
Heero nodded his agreement, a small smirk on his face as he wrapped one arm around his lover.
Yuusuke snickered.
Kurama just smiled. "Thank you both."
Quatre and Trowa appeared a few minutes later, still smiling, and in the blonde's case, blushing faintly. Yuusuke almost wondered what they'd been up to... but then decided it was their business...
"Alright, so where to next?" He looked at Kurama for inspiration.
The redhead seemed to think for a moment, then pointed to the far side of the clearing. "There's a trail that leads from there to the next major city. If we're going to show our visitors the Makai, we can't pass up the Bashar marketplace... Even in the Makai, it's known to have some truly unique items... "
The black-haired teen nodded. "Ok, sounds good to me!"
The decision was unanimous... by everybody that was awake anyway...
Duo grinned. Cool! A marketplace! He could buy stuff as souvenirs! He definitely wanted something to remember this trip by... besides his relationship with Heero, that is. There needed to be something to go misty-eyed over when he was old and gray, right?
"Nnng... "
Duo looked at the white-clad lump that was the still sleeping Wufei. "D'ya think we should wake him up?"
The lump moved, one bloodshot eye opening and closing immediately. "Nnng... Make 'em stop... " he moaned.
The American blinked. "Make what stop?"
"The dancing gundams... "
There was a collective sweatdrop.
Kurama recovered first, handing Duo a steaming cup of strong-smelling tea. "Here, this is one of what Yuusuke likes to term my 'hangover helpers,' it should take care of his problem."
"Heya, Wu-man. Drink this."
"Nng... " Wufei took the cup and drank, gagging slightly at the taste. A few minutes later, he sat up - slowly - and rubbed his temples.
The braided boy noticed that his eyes shied away from Kurama and Hiei...
Duo snickered, he would never let the Chinese pilot live this one down...
After everyone had finished breakfast, the intrepid group was about to finish cleaning out the camp site of their traces when suddenly... a blur of color and motion streaked through the middle of the clearing, followed closely behind by the sound of bushes being run through and cursing. The colored blur circled around the two groups of boys until the bushes parted to reveal a young male youkai with prismatic white hair, pale skin, ice-blue eyes, and a rather pissed off, yet strangely amused, expression.
"Damnit, you crazy fuzzball! Give it back!"
There was a giggle from the still moving colored blur.
*Nope! This is much more fun!*
The youkai growled and pounced on the blur.
It squeaked and resolved itself into a... tie-dyed kitsune?!
Yuusuke rubbed his eyes and shut them, opening them again to see the same youkai holding a squirming bundle of black fur with three tails and silver eyes.
Ok, he must have been seeing things... Definitely never trust Kurama about Makai alcoholic flora ever again...
Kurama coughed and the two creatures on the ground looked up. The youkai blinked, then looked at his companion accusingly. The kitsune gave him an innocent puppy-dog eye look. The youkai sighed and muttered something about psychotic hallucinations and just what they could do with their mischievous little noses, after which the kitsune giggled again. He stood, picking the kitsune up and cradling it in an oddly protective manner. Then he gave the company a tired grin... after snagging a bracelet off one of the twitching tails. The kitsune pouted.
"Hello. Sorry about the interruption. It's all this deceptively innocent-looking baka furball's fault."
The aforementioned furball twitched its ears and the youkai was suddenly holding a young, obviously male, youko who was grinning at them all in a decidedly mischievous fashion, while nuzzling at his friend's neck. The youkai rolled his eyes and dumped the youko on his cute little ass. The youko pouted at him again before getting up and brushing himself off, giving the assembled boys a good look at his outfit.
It was odd...
While the pale youkai was dressed in the usual Makai common warrior garb (a set of light brown leggings, tunic, and boots), the youko was wearing a set of hip-hugging bellbottoms decorated with peace-signs, rainbows, flowers, and smiley faces. His shirt was dark blue and of the usual diaphanous fabric of most youkos' clothing, but it was cut in a poet-style fashion. If it weren't for the fuzzy black ears and tail, this youko would have looked something like an American bishounen from the 60's.
The youko flashed them all a grin, obviously enjoying the attention, and tossed his thick black braid over his shoulder.
"Hiya! I'm Nijí and this sorry looking dude is Taishen."
Kurama was the first to recover and smiled at the young fox. Nijí grinned back and fluttered his eyelashes, making the redhead laugh, eyes sparkling. Hiei growled and Taishen just rolled his eyes, giving his companion a disgusted look.
Yuusuke rubbed his temples
This was going to be a long day...
Quatre looked over at his traveling companions as they trekked through the Makai forest. The two newcomers had invited themselves - or Nijí had, in any case, Taishen just followed - along and were having a mixed effect on the group.
Kurama and Duo were clearly delighted with his company. The three of them were flirting outrageously and teasing each other - and anyone else - good-naturedly. There were flying innuendoes all over the place... Nijí was even going so far as to tease and flirt with Wufei, the Chinese boy turning red and glaring in response.
It seemed as though the mischievous creature had taken up Nataku's pilot as a challenge...
Meanwhile, Wufei - in between blushes - was looking ill. Privately, Quatre thought it was a combination of a hangover, disillusionment about Kurama, and disgust at Nijí's flirtations.
Not that Duo's added silliness was helping much...
'And Wufei's not the only one who seems annoyed... '
He glanced in the direction of Heero and Hiei. The stoic pilot was glaring at Nijí from time to time, especially when the youko's attentions were focused on Duo, and every so often, Quatre could see his trigger finger clench... Hiei was clearly fuming, his red eyes and aura almost palpably black. The small fire demon looked about to draw his katana and attack the black-haired kitsune.
Quatre frowned, this could get messy...
He looked for Trowa and, upon finding him, was surprised to see the brown-haired boy deep in conversation with Taishen. From this distance he couldn't hear what they were discussing, but whatever it was seemed to include a great many gestures on both their parts. The Arabian sighed, looking over at Yuusuke and Kuwabara, both of whom were shooting Nijí uneasy or nervous, suspicious looks, as if something about the youko wasn't right.
He frowned again, come to think of it, there was something strange about that creature...
The group passed another stand of those gorgeous blue-violet lily-like flowers. Quatre smiled, his suspicions forgotten as their perfume lifted his spirits... Hmm, perhaps he and Trowa could go on a walk...
As the blonde pilot headed towards his lover, he couldn't help but join in the laughter as Nijí grabbed a bunch of the flowers and showered Duo, Wufei, and Kurama with the pollen, placing one of the blossoms behind Duo's ear. The American preened for a moment before bouncing over to Heero, his eyes sparkling with good humor and mischief. He grabbed Heero's hand and started dragging him off the path.
"C'mon, Hee-chan! Nijí and Kurama both say this area is safe and there's a clearing a little way this way with a waterfall... "
The Japanese pilot followed him, a slightly bemused look upon his face.
Quatre wondered slightly at the knowing look Kurama and Nijí exchanged over another of the blossoms. It was as if they were snickering about something no one else knew.
"Shame on you, cub!" Kurama teased the other youko.
Nijí responded with an innocent look. "What? They're just flowers... "
The two foxes broke into sudden snickers.
Quatre blinked, confused, was there something about the flowers? Yuusuke beat him to the question.
"Hey, is there something wrong with these flowers?"
Nijí smirked. "Not exactly... it's just that their name is yokuboo no yokusei nakusu, often called 'Inari's touch' or 'youkos' touch.' They are considered sacred to Inari, for some strange reason... "
Yuusuke and Kuwabara both blanched, then blushed.
Quatre decided he'd ask Heero about the meaning of that later, the only word he'd caught was 'control.' In the meantime, there was that walk with Trowa... He felt a tap on his shoulder and looked up to meet the emerald eyes of his lover. He smiled at Trowa and the other boy smiled back.
"Why don't we go for a walk too? Taishen told me there's a clearing with a stream over in that direction," he motioned. "He also agreed with the youkos that the area is safe."
The blonde pilot took the offered hand with a radiant smile.
"Let's go then."
Wufei watched his fellow pilots as they walked off to... well, that was their business.
He looked around to see who was left and noticed a flash of red disappearing into the greenery. Ah, Kurama and Hiei, as well. He was a bit more calm now, but it had been quite a shock. The whole thing made him uneasy. What disturbed him the most was how foolish he'd been acting... Though what really made him blush and squirm was the fact that he still wanted the beautiful redhead...
'K'so! I've never wanted to... with another guy! This can NOT be happening!'
He growled softly, trying to figure it out. His musings were cut short by a husky, teasing tenor that he'd gotten far too familiar with over the course of the morning.
"Hmmm... Let's see... who's left? Yuusuke, Kuwabara, Tai-chan, you, and me... " The silver eyes danced, half-lidded as they were. "Ne, Wu-chan... "
"Don't call me that," the Chinese boy muttered. He knew by now that is was a wasted effort, but...
"Wanna go for a walk with me?"
Wufei whirled, eyes wide, staring at the smirking youko who had an incongruous look of innocence in his now wide eyes.
"What?!?!?" he squeaked articulately.
Nijí's smirk just grew wider as he silently glided over to the stunned boy. When he reached him, the fox just trailed his fingers across the smoothly muscled bronze chest now lightly sheened with sweat.
Despite the heat, Wufei was now heartily regretting his decision to remove his tank-top. And now the heat seemed to be getting worse...
Nijí moved closer, running the fingers of his other hand down the pilot's neck.
"So," the fox breathed in his ear, "whaddya say? Come for a walk with me?"
Wufei gulped, trying very hard to ignore the multiple sensations that seemed to be sending signals straight to his groin. He was managing rather well until Nijí rubbed his denim-clad thigh against his crotch.
Wufei whimpered.
"Hmm? Is that a yes?" the youko murmured, eyes sparkling.
Wufei blushed furiously, but nodded, silently cursing his hormone soaked teenage body for its betrayal...
Nijí laughed and drew the blushing boy off the path and in another direction from the other three couples. Something compelled Wufei to look back before he entered the greenery surrounding the rough walking path.
His last sight as he stepped into the forest was a pair of ice-blue eyes filled with jealousy and pain...
Wufei wasn't the only one who noticed the look on Taishen's face. Yuusuke cleared his throat uncomfortably, trying to figure out what to say. The moment he made the sound, the youkai started, blinking once before his eyes iced over again as he turned to look at his two remaining companions.
"So, what are we gonna do now? Obviously wait for everybody to return, but I don't plan on sitting on my ass bored out of my fuckin' mind while they get laid."
Yuusuke snickered.
"Well," the leader of the Reikai Tantei started, searching through his jacket pockets. 'Hmm... I coulda sworn it was here... there!' He triumphantly pulled out a pack of cards. "D'ya know how to play poker?"
Taishen blinked. "No... "
Kuwabara grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Hey, Urameshi! Should we teach 'im?"
Yuusuke shrugged, looking to the white-haired youkai. Taishen shrugged back, a wry grin on his face.
"Why not? It's not like we have anything else better to do... "
Yuusuke settled down on a rock. "Ok, now here's how it goes... "
[20 minutes later]
"No way! That's the eleventh time you've won in a row!"
Taishen just shrugged, looking smug. "It's very similar to a Makai card game I often play... "
Yuusuke just shook his head in admiration, if the guy hadn't been wearing a sleeveless tunic, he might've suspected him of cheating...
Kuwabara continued his gaping fish impression.
Wufei was still raging inwardly at his body, not that it was helping much, as Nijí led him through the forest. He hadn't the vaguest idea where they were going or even how far they were from the campsite. His mind was strangely fogged...
Finally, Nijí stopped, looking around in satisfaction. The Chinese pilot roused himself enough to look around the small clearing they were in. It was almost as if it had been made for dalliance... The grass was soft under his feet and he could see a small lake with a gentle waterfall behind the bushes at one end.
"Here we are. Now isn't this nice 'n cozy?"
Wufei turned to glare at the kitsune but found his jaw dropping at the sight before him. If he'd thought that the fox had been being seductively provocative before...
Nijí merely smiled slyly as he let the poet shirt fall off his shoulders, stepping - almost prowling - towards the staring boy.
Wufei knew he was in trouble now...
Nijí chuckled silently at the look on the bronze-skinned boy's face. It was rather priceless... Then he brought his mind back to the task at hand, that task being having fun with the pretty ningen.
But first things first, off with those clothes.
It was the work of a few minutes to coax that delicious body out of the concealing cloth, and only another few minutes to kiss the boy breathless. The fox chuckled again, savoring the slightly salty taste that all ningens seemed to have. It was rather enjoyable... a nice change from all the youkai he usually had. He could only wonder what his wind demon partner would taste like... not that he was ever likely to find that out, but it was a nice fantasizing exercise. There was a whimper from the ningen and Nijí blinked, recalling his mind from the realms of fantasy and back to what passed for his reality.
He grinned. Back to playtime.
Wufei moaned as a Nijí's heated mouth enveloped his erection. Even through his haze, he could tell that the kitsune was toying with him. His theory was proven as the fox pulled away before giving him release.
"Nijí," he growled, glaring at the mischievous creature.
His only reply was an innocent look, complete with batted eyelashes.
Wufei growled again, pouncing the fox, who looked delighted.
Then there was what felt like an eternity of hot kisses and soft touches, his hands sliding over smooth skin and through silken black tresses...
Finally, Nijí seemed to take pity on him, sliding an oil slick hand over his erection and gently running slender fingers along its length.
"C'mon, pretty ningen... Come and get me... "
Wufei's eyes widened when he heard the kitsune's whispered challenge. That talented mouth made its way over his chest, pausing to suckle and nibble on his sensitive nipples, driving his passion higher as the stroking of his erection continued.
"I... I... "
Nijí chuckled, continuing his assault on the young pilot's self-control. Wufei whimpered again as he felt the control that he'd spent so long building up eroding under the knowledgeable fingers and tongue. He was helpless against the onslaught of physical sensation, this attack on his pleasure centers.
Eventually, even his age-old stubbornness, his determination not to give in, was overcome.
And with that surrender came unbelievable heights of pleasure. There seemed to be no end to it all. Wufei could hardly remember how he had gotten here as Nijí slid over him, the fox's welcoming embrace overwhelming what brain cells hadn't already been fried. He could only thrust, existing on sensation only as the kitsune moaned encouragement, drawing him deeper into his youkai body.
Wufei found his hands buried in the long black braid, massaging the furry ears, hearing the breathless whimpers and receiving the passionate kisses and love-bites. Then there were the waves of pleasure, crashing into the fox and over their stomachs.
Nijí chuckled as Wufei's eyes fell closed, pulling away from the beautiful ningen boy and licking away the traces of both their essences. He smacked his lips happily, delicious... Now if only his playmate would wake up, then they could do it all over again...
Oh, this was going to be so fun!
[Back in the clearing, 1 hour later]
The games had started to get sillier and Yuusuke was simply marveling at Taishen's unflustered expression even while Kuwabara was crowing at him about having to go fish.
"How do you manage to remain so calm?"
Taishen looked up, grinning ruefully. "I've been hanging with Nijí for a little over twenty years. This," he said, pointing to the large man still going on about drawing a card, "is nothing."
Yuusuke winced. The pale warrior nodded, rubbing his temples.
Then the demon calmly drew a card and placed the pair down on the ground, leaving himself empty-handed. The orange-haired man did the fish thing again.
Yuusuke just snickered again.
"Remind me never to play cards with you for real stakes... "
Taishen smirked.
There was a sound from the bushes as Trowa and Quatre re-emerged looking flushed and happy.
"Welcome back. D'ya know any card games?"
The pair sweatdropped.
Yuusuke stretched. "Well, we had to something while everybody else was gone."
Quatre blinked, looking around. "Where is everyone?"
Trowa's small smile showed he had the idea.
Taishen gave the pilot a Look and Quatre blushed slightly, realizing the obvious.
'Hmm... I think I must have fried too many brain cells at the river bank... '
He giggled slightly, then blinked. "Where's Wufei?"
"Nijí. I hope your friend has good stamina."
Quatre blinked again as he turned towards the youkai, Trowa raised an eyebrow.
Taishen gave them both a rueful smile.
"While Nijí does have one of the shortest attention spans that I have ever seen and he is easily distracted, there is one thing he can concentrate on without fail. And he can concentrate on that for a very, very long time... "
There was a snicker from the bushes where a somewhat rumpled Duo appeared, followed by a very satisfied Heero
"Hmm... sounds familiar," Kurama remarked as he and Hiei exited the greenery.
"Oh?" Duo asked, mischievously. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, youkos are known to be one of the most - if not the top - amorous races in the Makai." The redhead smirked, settling down on the grass, pulling Hiei into his lap.
There was a collective snicker/smirk.
Quatre decided that now was as good a time as any to ask Heero about the name of that flower.
"Heero, what does 'yokuboo no yokusei nakusu' mean?"
The Japanese boy blinked as Duo choked on the water he'd been drinking from a canteen.
Heero twitched. "It means 'to lose control of desire.'"
Quatre's mouth fell open in shocked surprise. 'So that's why... ' He looked over at Kurama, who was grinning somewhat smugly. The fire demon in his arms was smirking.
"You... " He blushed. "You knew about it, didn't you?"
The two demons nodded. Taishen merely looked amused.
The Arabian's eyes widened. "And Nijí knew about it too... He sprinkled you guys so that... "
Kurama nodded again.
Duo snickered.
Kurama turned to look at him. "I wouldn't be so smug, if I were you," he intoned.
"Why not?"
The redheaded bishounen smiled softly. "It's because of those flowers that you and Heero are together now. Hiei could smell them in Heero's scent when he came back from his walk."
The American's jaw dropped and Heero tensed.
Quatre caught his breath, wondering what would happen to the pair now, how they would handle this revelation.
"Then... then you mean it was just... " Duo's voice trailed off, his eyes pleading.
"Hold on! The flowers have aphrodisiac qualities, it's true, but they also have a subtle psychological effect to release the subconscious desires of those who are exposed to them. They remove a person's - or demon's, for that matter - inhibitions."
Duo stared at him, comprehension slowly dawning. Heero remained impassive.
"In short," Kurama continued, "a person is freed to do and say things that they've wanted to say but didn't dare for some reason or another. The stronger the desire, the more likely the flower's scent will release it. The pollen is even more potent, especially if ingested."
Duo stared at the youko in human guise for a long moment as his mind reviewed everything that had happened in the last three days since they'd arrived. How he'd felt so vulnerable, letting himself cry, hiding during the battle with the demon, the way he couldn't hold the words back... How Heero had been so open and loving and vulnerable... He knew how much and long he'd been holding everything back from his partner and it hit him then - 'Heero must've been holding just as much from me... Otherwise, he wouldn't have had such strong reactions to the flowers... !'
The thought left him ecstatic... But how was his friend taking it... ?
"Heero?"
His blue-eyed lover looked at him and Duo could see the trepidation in his eyes. The American smiled and leaned into his arms, delighted when they embraced him tightly, knowing that Heero needed to hear what he was about to say.
"I love you, Heero Yuy," he breathed.
The arms around him tightened even more and he was suddenly being kissed fiercely, tasting salt and knowing that the tears belonged to both of them.
When they had to break for air, he felt Heero's lips brush his cheeks and eyelids, making him smile and sigh softly. He opened his eyes to see an honest smile on the other pilot's lips, his eyes damp, the tracks of a few tears shining wetly on his face. Duo traced the tracks gently, sighing again as Heero snagged his hand and kissed the fingertips tenderly.
"Ai shiteru, Duo Maxwell," his love whispered.
Duo felt his heart might burst with happiness as he was kissed once more...
Taishen smiled at the tender scene. It was good that they were happy and now knew the truth of their feelings. He could wish... But such thoughts would only lead to madness. Nijí was youko, and they were known far and wide for their infidelity to lovers. There were only three permanent matings of youkos that he'd ever heard of... and one of them was in a folk tale. He could be one of those many lovers, but his pride was too great to settle for less than full commitment. He would NOT become another conquest on his friend's infinite list!
His gaze settled on Kurama and Hiei. He could tell they would be together for eternity, but Kurama was part ningen now, that had to be the reason...
Not that Nijí was your typical youko in the first place...
The warrior shook his head. It was impossible and that was all there was to it.
Oh well, time to break the lovebirds from their liplock... He was getting himself depressed.
Heero started as his shoulder was tapped.
"Omae o korosu," he muttered as he turned, ready to hurt whoever had interrupted him.
He looked up... and up... at Taishen's face. 'Damn, this guy is tall... '
"Sorry to interrupt, but either take it back to the clearing or come help us decide on the next card game to play until the great horny one returns."
It took the Wing pilot a moment to realize the demon was talking about Nijí. "When did he leave?"
"Just after you guys."
Heero blinked. If the youko wasn't back by now, then the description must surely be pretty apt... But who was with... ? That's when he noticed the absence of Wufei...
His eyebrows rose. "He has Wufei?"
Taishen merely nodded.
Heero found his lips twitching as Duo burst out into hysterical laughter...
Quatre smiled at Duo's laughter, but inwardly frowned at Taishen's demeanor. Just before his interruption of Heero and Duo's kiss, the warrior had seemed very... not really disturbed, but definitely not thinking of something cheerful. The blonde had a feeling that the demon's breaking up of the couple was to spare himself pain.
But why?
He looked at Taishen carefully and, with a little start of surprise, recognized the faint tinge of longing in the ice-blue eyes. When the demon looked towards the forest, it clicked.
Taishen was in love with Nijí.
And thought that it was a hopeless case.
Quatre sighed. He knew how that was; wanting, loving one's best friend and 'knowing' that that same friend could 'never' feel the same way...
He decided to broach the subject gently.
"Would it help to talk about it?"
Taishen started visibly at the sound of his voice and the Arabian smiled in sympathy.
"You're in love with him, aren't you."
The blonde boy refused to phrase it as a question. Taishen visibly winced and Quatre waited patiently for the words that he knew would come.
No one could resist his 'trust me, I'm so sweet and innocent and you can tell me anything at all' look for very long.
Taishen looked carefully at the blonde ningen in front of him. He knew that look... He also knew how futile resistance was since he could see the determination behind those guileless eyes.
"Yes."
Quatre smiled. "Well, that's a start... "
The wind youkai blinked. "What are you expecting me to say?"
The ningen tilted his head, still smiling. "I was expecting you to react like a normal person and start talking about what's bothering you. But," he shrugged, eyes twinkling, "Now I see that you're like Heero and Trowa where I have to coax it out of you."
More blinking.
Quatre sighed. "Ok, let's try this again. You're in love with him, aren't you."
Taishen sighed himself, deciding to get defensive. Maybe then the boy would leave him alone with his impossible dreams and heartache. "Why are you asking?"
"It wasn't exactly a question, but I wanted to talk with you because I thought that I might be able to help. I don't like seeing the people around me suffer."
"And just how are you expecting to help me?"
The blonde blinked. "By listening and maybe offering some advice on what you could do."
"And what if I say that I don't love him?"
The small ningen narrowed his eyes. "Then you'd be lying."
Taishen raised an eyebrow.
Quatre smiled once more. "I can see it in your eyes. I've been in the same position, not exactly, but close enough."
"Really?"
The boy nodded, then winced slightly. "Would you please sit down, I'm getting a crick in my neck looking up at you like this."
He couldn't help but laugh softly as he sat down on the grass. "So, now that we're sitting down, what's next?"
Quatre looked exasperated. "Look, Taisihen, I'm trying to offer help here. Please cooperate."
Taishen sighed again, cursing the damn flowers that surrounded them, and gave in. "All right... It all started when... "
[1 hour later]
There was a lull in the conversation between card games. So it wasn't surprising that the entire group jumped as the bushes rustled, relaxing as Nijí emerged with the prone form of Wufei over his shoulder.
The youko looked very satisfied.
The ningen looked very unconscious.
"Here ya go!" Nijí chirped, sliding the Chinese boy off his shoulder and handing him over to the other pilots.
The boy moaned, black eyes opening long enough to see that they were obviously glazed over before they closed again.
Duo stared at the humming youko. "What did you DO to him?!"
Heero glared at the youko, tightening his hold on his lover defensively, just in case the furry nutcase got any ideas about his Duo.
Kurama just shook his head, chuckling. 'Ah, kit, you remind me of what it was like... '
Nijí tilted his head to one side, lips quirked. "He has very good stamina... especially for a ningen! I just enjoyed myself thoroughly."
He saw the worried look on Quatre's face and laughed gently. "Don't worry, Q-chan, he'll be fine. Tired, but fine."
The blonde gave him a dubious look.
Kurama smiled to himself as the youko gravitated to his companion, curling up against Taishen contentedly. The warrior unconsciously wrapped an arm around his friend, bringing the younger demon into his lap while he finished sharpening his dagger. Nijí sighed, a small happy smile on his face as he snuggled into the tan tunic. The redhead just chuckled quietly.
'Hmm... I wonder how long it will take for those two realize just how much they're not letting themselves be honest about to each other... '
A tingle along his senses sent Kurama whirling around in a defensive crouch only to end up staring, wide-eyed, at the being before him. He heard Hiei's hiss and the murmuring of the others in their group. Oddly enough, there was no sound from either Nijí or Taishen.
The intensely bright spot of moonlight resolved itself into a glowing white kitsune. Kurama found himself reverting to youko form to properly greet and pay homage to Inari-sama's messenger. Faintly, he heard Nijí curse.
"Um... I think we'll be going now... C'mon, Tai-chan... "
*Nijí-sama.*
Kurama blinked. 'Nijí-sama?!' He turned to look at the young youko, who was wearing a slightly abashed expression.
Nijí sighed.
The messenger gave him a Look.
*Your father is looking for you,* she remonstrated.
The youko murmured something Kurama was just as glad he couldn't hear... especially after seeing the messenger's facial expression.
*Nijí-sama! You mustn't say such things about Inari-sama!*
Nijí winced as that reproachful and shocked look was focused on him. Kurama couldn't blame him...
Then it hit him.
He whirled around to face the younger youko.
"Inari is your father!?!"
Nijí nodded, visibly sweatdropping.
Kurama dimly heard Duo's voice past the roaring in his ears, "Kurama, who's Inari?"
The silver youko swallowed, his voice a mere whisper. "Inari-sama is the fox-god, the patron deity of all who live by their wits, nature, and especially my kind."
Duo blinked. "Oh... and Nijí's this deity's son?"
"So it seems... "
Duo gave Nijí a narrow look. "So, from what I know from our discussion this morning, you're not really a black three-tail, are you?"
The young youko sighed, giving Taishen a pleading look. The youkai just shrugged and the fox visibly wilted.
"k... " he muttered in defeat, the air around him beginning to shimmer. Kurama recognized the magic signature of a youko changing forms. There was a flash of bright light and when his eyes cleared from the dazzle, Kurama was left slightly stunned at the form he saw.
He'd seen all colors of youkos in his lifetime, but never one such as this.
Nijí's true form was slightly more willowy and delicate looking than his assumed one, the outfit fitting even better with the true coloration. The demigod's skin was silver; his hair, ears, and tail a mix of colors in an almost starburst pattern that brought to mind the vintage tie-dye he'd seen once while shopping.
And the eyes...
The eyes were an ever-changing kaleidoscope...
"The girl with kaleidoscope eyes... " Duo sang quietly.
Nijí's ears flattened slightly. "Hey, I resemble that remark! And I exist mostly because of that song... "
*Nijí-sama... Your father is getting impatient.*
"Hai, hai... Though he's the one that told me to get out of the castle before he was forced to gag me with my own tail and hang me upside down from the rafters to use as a piņata... "
"Well, if you hadn't insisted on playing 'tag' with the wind sprites... AND taken the 'shortcut' through the library where he was working at the time... " Taishen pointed out, sounding amused.
The tie-dyed kitsune pouted at him. "But... ! I was so BORED!"
Kurama got the feeling that the reason that Nijí did most anything tended to amount to that same complaint... He was slowly getting used to the idea that the younger youko was Inari's son... And he was so young...
Taishen just gestured to the impatient-looking messenger. "C'mon... "
"K... " Nijí turned to look at them all. "Sorry... but Tai-chan's right-"
"I usually am," the white-haired youkai commented dryly.
Nijí stuck his tongue out at him before continuing. "This was the most fun I've had in a long time... Thank you."
Kurama couldn't doubt the sincerity of that gratitude; not when those shifting eyes literally glowed with the earnestness of the young telling the utter truth. He smiled at the kit and walked over, laying a hand on his shoulder, squeezing slightly. The smile that broke out on the pixie-like face was well worth the effort.
'He may be a demigod, but he's just a kit in truth... Gods, was I ever so young?'
"Now here's the speech part, since it's unlikely that I'll ever see most of you again. Kurama, Duo... thank you for talking and playing with me. Heero, Hiei... thank you for not killing me." He grinned impishly at the two slightly disgruntled males.
"Duo doesn't like me spoiling his fun." and "Kurama doesn't like me spoiling his games." were spoken simultaneously. The two eyed each other suspiciously before turning back to their respective snickering lovers. Kurama put his arm around Hiei in thanks for reassuring the kit.
Nijí laughed, turning to look over at the remaining members of their impromptu group. "Kuwabara, Yuusuke, thanks for helping cheer Tai-chan up. Trowa, Quatre, thank you for talking with him... You've all kept him from getting all moody and depressed. He's no fun when he's sulking!"
Taishen glared at his friend before rolling his eyes.
Nijí turned to Wufei, who was now finally starting to wake up, smiling softly. Kurama couldn't help but chuckle at the truly stunned look on the boy's face as he beheld the youko.
"Wufei, thank you. I think you could make some lucky person a very good mate. You just need to learn how to loosen up!"
He winked at the brightly blushing boy before his eyes darkened. Kurama read the expression as sadness as the youngling turned towards him and Hiei.
"Kurama, Hiei... Giving you two advice would be kind of pointless, I'm sure you know it already. Besides that, you're both older than I am!" Nijí paused, thinking a moment. "In fact, the only people here who aren't older than I am are the ningens! Wah!!! It's not fair!!!"
The last two exclamations were wailed in a much younger voice as the rainbow fox... chibified.
There was a massive sweatdrop. Kurama was trying very hard not to laugh as Taishen's face took on a pained look as Nijí's wails continued on... and on... and on...
Finally, the white youkai took out a dagger and threw it past the sobbing kit, catching the rainbow fox's attention for a second before the tears recommenced. The dagger hit one of the dangling fruits from the tree it had been aimed at. The silver youko wished that he knew what in the Makai the warrior was up to.
It took only a few minutes to answer that question as Taishen retrieved the dagger, letting light flash on it to once again gain Nijí's attention, then VERY slowly licked the dripping juice from the weapon.
The response was instantaneous as Nijí's eyes dilated and he returned to the mature youko form.
"Do that again," was the husky demand.
Taishen merely smirked. "Later," he replied curtly, if still somewhat smugly, and gestured back to the group of ningens.
This time, Kurama let himself laugh as the look on Nijí's handsome face turned rueful.
"I hate it when he does things like that... "
Duo snorted derisively. "Yeah, ri~ight... That's, of course, why you were ready to pounce him."
A faint blush appeared on the silver skin as Nijí tossed his hair back. "Nevermind that... Though he is eminently pounceable... " He appeared to ponder this for a few moments.
Taishen rolled his eyes and the tie-dyed kitsune seemed to recollect what he had been in the middle of doing.
"Oh yeah! I was giving farewell advice... Ok, took care of Wu-chan," (there was a faint murmur of, "It's WuFEI... " from a rather exhausted Chinese boy) "Decided not to try to give Youko Kurama and Hiei advice... NOW I remember who was next!" He looked very proud of himself for accomplishing this feat of memory.
There was another massive sweatdrop.
"And people say I'm a ditz... "
Heero looked at his lover for a moment.
Duo glared back. "Say it and you die, Yuy."
Heero sort of... smirked.
"Ok, Heero, Duo... "
The two boys looked up from their interesting conversation as Nijí called to them, his smile almost sad. The tragedy of it made Kurama's human-youko heart ache in sympathy. He looked at Taishen and saw again the 'hopeless' longing there in his eyes. 'If only they'd realize it... ' But he knew it would happen it its own time... Until then, the pair would both be miserable; knowing what they wished for, yet not knowing it was already there...
The silver youko sighed quietly, knowing exactly how they must feel. 'But they will have their own awakening, just as Hiei and I did.' He looked at Hiei and smiled, wrapping an arm around the fire demon's shoulders. In return, his lover flashed him a fangy smirk, wrapping an arm around his waist possessively. Kurama smiled again at the koorime that had so boldly claimed him for his mate. The selfsame fire demon that he'd been chasing for years. 'How ironic... '
He then turned his attention back to Nijí's advice to the two young men.
"You two have a wonderful opportunity to be together, should you choose it - don't let each other's quirks spoil it. However, unlike those two," he said quietly, pointing at Kurama and Hiei, "you two don't have practically eternity to live with each other, so treasure every moment."
Heero nodded, an almost imperceptible smile on his face. "Ninmu ryoukai."
Duo rolled his eyes, snickering.
Kurama had the feeling this was some sort of running gag... But what did the words 'mission accepted' have to do with the present situation? Another thing to ask the visitors about...
"Quatre, Trowa," Nijí looked at the pair, his smile sad and wondering all at once. "You two have something I would kill for," he murmured. Kurama smiled secretly as Taishen visibly started. "And I don't think you need me to tell you to treasure it, it's obvious you do already. May you have many years of your happiness together."
Quatre smiled, blushing faintly, leaning into Trowa's embrace.
"May you find your happiness, Nijí-san," the blonde said quietly, blue eyes earnest.
The tie-dyed youko smiled once more. "Perhaps someday I will... "
Kurama was amused to note that the young youko's eyes seemed to unconsciously turn to the white-haired youkai at his side. Taishen raised an eyebrow and the older youko could have sworn he saw a blush on Nijí's silver skin.
*Their courting should be an interesting one,* he sent to his mate.
*Hn. If they ever get to it.*
Kurama chuckled.
*Nijí-sama... Your father... *
"Ok, ok... Jeez... " Nijí rolled his eyes, turning back towards Inari's sacred messenger. "D'ya have a hot date lined up or something?"
The messenger fumed. *Nijí-sama! Will you get your furry ass in gear! Your father is waiting for you!*
Kurama blinked. Then found himself keeping back a most disrespectful snicker at the mortified look on the white kitsune's face. Nijí was giggling.
*Are you quite finished, kit?*
Nijí nodded, still giggling in spurts. Finally he took a deep breath, and started to fade, waving to all of the assembled party.
*Finally... * the messenger muttered grouchily.
Taishen nodded at them all, offering his highest compliment in the form of a salute from one warrior to another as he too began to fade out.
"Goodbye, my friends!" was the last Kurama heard from either of them.
"Well," Duo broke the silence. "That was... interesting... What do we do now? It's kinda late... "
Yuusuke looked at the darkening sky, then at Kurama. "Is there a good place to camp out close by?"
The youko nodded. "Just down the path, about ten minutes from here."
"Yosh'! Let's go!"
The clearing was big enough for all of them, as long as some were 'friendly' with each other... which just happened to work out pretty well... Yuusuke decided that he'd think about Nijí and all that had happened that day at a later time... Right now he was hungry.
"I'm hungry... " whined Duo and Kuwabara in unison.
They blinked at each other as most of the group, including Duo, started laughing.
Hiei flickered out as Yuusuke started the fire. Kurama nodded approvingly and disappeared into the plant growth. Thankfully for the teen's nerves, there were no sounds of challenge. Yuusuke just shook his head as Hiei showed up again with a large carcass for dinner.
"It looks like something out of Dr. Suess... " he muttered.
The fire demon shrugged and started slicing it up for cooking.
Kurama returned, nodded approvingly at the creature selected for dinner and grew herbs to season it.
Their visitors regarded the goings on with slight wonder.
"You've done this once or twice, I take it," Duo commented.
Yuusuke grinned at the braided boy. "You could say that... "
The rest of the time until the meal was ready was taken up with the five strange boys asking about their assignments and the telling of Reikai Tantei anecdotes. Then the time was used to eat.
After the meal, however, Yuusuke took a good look at the boys. "Ya know, you know all sorts of stuff about what we do... So what do you guys do?"
He watched, curious, as the five exchanged looks.
"We fight a war," Heero answered after a long pause.
Yuusuke was stunned. Heero he could see as a soldier, Trowa too... And Wufei was a pretty good suspect for a fighter... But talkative, funny Duo? Sweet, gentle Quatre? Soldiers? It just didn't seem to work out... He looked at his team mates to see their reactions and was surprised to see Kurama nod knowingly. The fox saw his look and smiled.
"Duo and I had a nice long talk the other day."
Yuusuke blinked. "Ok... "
Duo grinned wryly. "I know what you're thinkin', Yuusuke. You're thinkin' to yourself that me and Q-chan don't really fit the profile of soldiers, right?"
The black-haired boy nodded reluctantly.
The braided boy nodded back. "Well, y'see, the situation is like this. In our time, Earth has space colonies set up. The main power was the United Earth Federation and they grew to have a lot of military power and took over the colonies by force. Some of the people on a few of the colonies got sick of this and that's where we come in. Each of us," he looked around at his companions, "are fighting on the behalf of one of the colonies and for the colonies in general."
Kuwabara blinked. "How?"
Yuusuke was wondering that himself.
Duo looked again to his friends for their permission. Heero nodded for him to continue. "Well, there's a metal that can only be produced on the colonies. It's called 'gundanium' and we fight in mobile suits made of that metal called gundams."
Yuusuke shook his head, blinking. "Mobile suits?"
The American blinked, trying to figure out how to explain mobile suits in 20th century terms... Then he slapped his forehead, it was so obvious. "Basically big, VERY big, technologically advanced robots."
The two teens of the Reikai Tantei nodded in understanding, so Duo felt free to continue.
"Anyway, so we're fighting against the Federation, OZ, which is a military group, and the Romafeller Foundation, which is the bigwigs that provide the funding for OZ. We're basically on our own, even the colonies have turned against us, not understanding the truth of what's going on, believing only OZ's lies. All of us have suffered loss and heartbreak in one way or another," he paused, seeing his four fellow pilots nodding in confirmation, "and our goal is to end the war."
There was silence for a long moment after his last sentence.
"Wow," Yuusuke finally said. "And I thought we got shafted... "
Duo couldn't help it... he started laughing hysterically.
Wufei looked over at his slumbering companions. After telling their own stories and anecdotes, the gundam pilots had agreed that maybe this visit wasn't such a bad thing after all. They all had needed the release and freedom of speech. Now, all the couples were cuddling together, while he, Yuusuke, and Kuwabara were left to themselves. The other two boys were already asleep and snoring. He snorted to himself and thought over the day...
The encounter with Nijí had been... interesting... He blushed and decided to think about that part of the day later... After that had been the revelation of the strange youko's true self... Wufei blinked as a thought hit him...
'I've just done a demigod... '
And that was the last thing he remembered before he blacked out...
End Part 4
and now, one last note from the lynkitsune: since I've been getting so many emails wondering when I'm going to have the next part of such and such fic up or when I'll have a new one, I'm making my own updates list. I figure it's the easiest way to get that info out without me spazzing with trying to deal with college, dorm life, home life, and email all at the same time... ^_^ not that I don't appreciate feedback, but this will just be more convenient for those who have an interest in keeping tabs on my fics.
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(:./silverblade/gwxyyh4)
