Quatre woke up with warm arms around him, which he burrowed into gratefully. He could feel Trowa's smile against his forehead and sighed, opening his eyes to meet those of his lover. Trowa's smile grew tender and Quatre just smiled back, warm and safe and comfortable in his Trowa's arms. His forehead furrowed as he remembered the past day's happenings. These people used powers that he couldn't fathom and were nothing like what he was used to dealing with.
He started as he heard a stirring and looked up to see Kurama at the fire. He blushed as he realized that he and Trowa were obviously involved and prepared himself to face scorn or derision. Instead, he was surprised when Kurama just smiled knowingly and winked, saying nothing more damaging than, "Good morning."
"Good morning," he replied, a bit dazedly.
Kurama's smile grew as she said in a teasing tone, "Do you honestly think that we would scorn you because of who you happen to love? We work with demons daily, a same gender romance is nothing for us deal with. Besides, you two make such a cute couple!"
Quatre just blushed and he heard Trowa chuckle. He was glad it wouldn't cause trouble and allowed himself to relax into Trowa's embrace once again. Kurama's smile grew wistful and she turned away to look in the direction of one of the trees. Quatre's heart went out to her. He fully understood what it was like to love someone and not think that they loved you in return. He wondered who it was that she loved...
This question was answered as Hiei appeared from the direction she had been gazing in and Kurama's face lit up. Quatre blinked, couldn't she see that Hiei loved her back? Or perhaps Hiei couldn't see that she loved him... He hoped it worked out...
He looked around for the other Gundam pilots and saw Wufei out on the perimeter and Duo near the fire. He frowned, wondering where Duo's black tunic had gotten to and nearly went into shock when he saw that it was covering Heero's sleeping form by a rock.
'I wonder how that happened?'
Heero woke up feeling unusually warm for where he had thought he would be. He identified the reason as being that he was covered by some sort of cloth. It had a familiar scent... He opened his eyes and had to blink them a few times to make sure he saw what he thought he saw. He was covered by Duo's black tunic and Duo was only in his white shirt, curled up by the fire. He wondered why he hadn't woken when Duo had covered him and then dismissed it as being unimportant.
What was important was that Duo was shivering, very slightly, but still shivering. He padded over to the braided boy and placed the tunic over him. Duo stirred a little, then sighed and opened those beautiful, liquid, indigo eyes. Heero found himself having to remind his body to breathe as Duo smiled at him sweetly... a different smile than he was used to seeing... a smile that kindled something inside him and made him want to hold Duo in his arms and breathe in that inimitable scent of lilacs, sun, and something indefinable that was just... Duo...
He shook himself and firmly commanded his body to shut up, that he couldn't afford this weakness. But it wasn't listening...
He was thoroughly grateful when Kurama's voice broke him out of his reverie.
"Good morning, Heero. Did you sleep well?"
He nodded and looked up at her to meet her surprisingly understanding look. He started a little at the knowledge showing in her eyes. 'She knew... ' But how could she ever understand this hunger... this need... ? He watched as she turned to Hiei and hid the startlement he felt.
She understood because she knew... she knew the hunger that she couldn't satisfy.
And suddenly he didn't feel so bad about it...
Duo woke when he felt the soft touch of cloth on his body and looked up to meet Heero's eyes. He couldn't help smiling at Heero and wondered what he had done to make the pilot actually look a bit stunned... The thought was ended as he heard Kurama's soft voice and he sat up and stretched. He caught the look that she sent Hiei and sighed. So someone else knew how it was... perhaps they could have a nice heart to heart about how fickle love was and how unfair everything seemed to be... She obviously didn't care that Quatre and Trowa were involved so perhaps she would be willing to sympathize with another victim of love, even if the beloved happened to be of the same gender.
He looked down to notice that the cloth that had been placed over him was his tunic. He tried to catch Heero's eyes, but the boy was steadfastly ignoring him. He sighed again, to himself, remembering when he had woken up in the middle of the night and, seeing Heero's relatively scantily clad body, had tip-toed over and placed his over-tunic over the boy as a blanket. Not that Heero would ever show such a base weakness as being cold, but he had relaxed a little when the tunic had covered him. He smiled and hoped that it had done some good. Even if Heero was determined to ignore him for the rest of the day... He grinned, not that that had ever stopped him before...
He yawned, stretched, plastered his ever-present manic grin onto his face, and walked over to where Heero was sitting. Hiei flicked out after Kurama whispered something to him and returned a few minutes later with something that looked like eggs. Duo grinned wider and continued to 'creep up on' Heero.
"Morning, Heero!"
No answer, not even a grunt to acknowledge his presence. Duo's eyes sparkled and he decided to take drastic measures.
"I said good morning, Heero!" He chirped and dug his fingers into Heero's ribs. There was a startled and indignant 'squawk!' and Duo jumped back as Heero whirled around, death in his eyes.
"EEP! Heero, I was kidding... joking... "
"Duo! Omae o korosu!"
Duo began to run. Perhaps he'd taken it too far this time... Heero looked really mad this time... He was going to die!!!
He felt Heero getting closer and knew that his hands were inches away from Duo's throat... when there was a strangled shout from Heero and Duo felt the pursuit end. He turned around and gaped at the vines that had entangled Heero's feet and calves, then looked up at Kurama.
She just grinned at him and he felt an immediate kinship with her. Not just because she had surely saved his life, but because she obviously knew from experience how to handle someone like Heero. Reason wouldn't work, you had to use some sort of distracter or trick to deter them from their objective. Heero turned his murderous glance on her and Duo wasn't all that surprised when she met it calmly.
"You may not kill Duo. It would be very messy and attract a lot of things that the Urameshi Team does not feel like dealing with and that your team would never be able to handle. You're on alien turf, so I wouldn't go and do anything that will produce somewhat ... unpleasant results. You don't know the rules here. So I would suggest that you cool it until you do."
Kurama said this all very calmly and Duo shivered a little at the coldness of her tone. Heero just nodded, his face a stony mask once more. It was quite obvious that in this environment, the Gundam pilots were regarded as civilians in a war zone. Duo decided to try not to annoy Heero until they got back home. He knew it was a futile effort even before he finished the sentence in his mind, but it was the thought that counted...
Kurama nodded in acceptance of Heero's acquiescence and, with a gesture, the plants went back into the ground. Duo shuddered as his imagination provided him with all sorts of ways to use a power like that in battle. Kurama met his eyes and winked, having somehow followed his train of thought. Duo just smiled back, this one more genuine than his grin and resolved not to get Kurama annoyed with him. Kurama sent him a look of understanding, somehow conveying the message that she knew and empathized with his need to get a reaction, any reaction, from Heero. And why he needed to do so.
He blushed a little and joined the others at the fire. Kurama was making what looked to be omelets and Duo felt his stomach grumble. There was an ear-splitting snore and a snuffle as one of the two other boys turned over, getting a whack from Hiei.
"HEY!!! Ya little shrimp! I'll pound you inta the ground for that!"
"You couldn't pound in a tent-pole!"
"Wanna bet!"
"Sure!"
The two would-be-combatants were immediately covered by vines from the waist down. Duo suddenly figured out why and how Kurama was so used to dealing with angered-homicidal-maniac-type people... Yuusuke joined the group by the fire as Kurama went over to the two boys to try to smooth things down. He turned to the boy beside him.
"Does this happen often?"
"Huh? Oh, you mean those two?"
"Yeah. Do they always fight like that?"
"Yeah. And usually get wrapped up in vines for a while until Kurama is convinced that they're not gonna try to continue. Trust me, after the first time Kuwabara tried to charge Hiei after he'd said the fight was over... well, let's just say he won't do it ever again. Take my advice, don't annoy Kurama."
"I've sorta figured that out... "
By now the two erstwhile opponents had joined the group and were ostentatiously ignoring each other's existence. Kurama was looking a little amused, but mostly frazzled and Duo decided to try to be on his best behavior for the rest of the morning. That wasn't saying much, but it was worth the effort not to get hung upside down from a tree by vines or something even more unpleasant.
He looked at Heero again and sighed inwardly. He was ignoring him again and Duo fought to keep from going over there and provoking him. He covered the desire by grinning widely and sniffing at the cooking food.
"Hey, when's it gonna be done? I'm starved!"
Wufei watched the ruby-haired goddess and sighed in admiration. She had handled those ruffians without losing an iota of her composure. She was truly worthy of his attention and perhaps... courtship...
He had been surprised when she had not seemed afraid to be in the presence of eight young men overnight, but had decided that this just showed how strong she was. She knew she need have no fear of molestation because of the respect she was held in. She was a true warrior, one with an honor as great as his, perhaps. He had never met another woman who he could say that of.
She was perfect.
But how to court her... ?
He did not want to earn her scorn or derision by acting like a puppy or a fool. He didn't know this country and it would be foolish to attempt anything to impress her without full knowledge of what he was dealing with. He would just have to rely on his gentlemanly charm and extensive education. There was little chance that she could resist that combination.
Kurama sighed to himself and decided to broach the subject of getting back to the Ningenkai to Koenma.
"Yuusuke, may I borrow the communicator?"
Yuusuke nodded, since his mouth was full, and dug the communicator out of his pocket and handed it over to Kurama. He made a face at the lint it had gathered, wiped it off, and called Koenma. There was a few minutes until Koenma's childlike face appeared on the screen. He look truly frazzled.
"Kurama, did you find the travelers?"
"Yes, Koenma, we did. They seem to have not only gotten into the Makai, but traveled back in time as well. They come from some time known as 'AC 195,' and they're human. We were hoping to get them back into the Ningenkai and work on the problem of getting them back to their time there."
"Gomen nasai, Kurama. No can do right now. There's a war going on and I can't spare Botan. You'll have to stay put in the Makai."
"But... Koenma... "
"Gomen, team. I promise I'll send her as soon as I can spare her."
And with that the screen went blank. Kurama rubbed his eyes, feeling very old and turned to the rest of the group.
"I suppose you heard."
Everyone nodded.
He sighed again, then decided that maybe this would give him the opportunity to learn more about their visitors. Perhaps a Makai sight-seeing tour was in order...
Yuusuke blinked as Kurama's face grew mischievous. What was he up to now? His eyes had grown calculating and he sent a quick look to Yuusuke and jerked his head in the direction of the other team. Yuusuke blinked again... then a grin appeared on his face as he realized what Kurama was thinking of. A Makai sight-seeing tour would be fun!
Besides, he needed some excuse to go out and kick some butt...
He stood up and stretched, grinning.
"Since we're stuck here for a while," he began, "maybe you guys would like to see more of the Makai."
The other team looked intrigued and nodded. Yuusuke's grin grew wider.
Kurama hopped up and started to clear away the remnants of their camp, Hiei helping him. When that was finished, the youko went to take care of his 'guardians.' When Kurama returned, the others were ready to leave. Kurama bowed to them all and grinned mischievously.
"This way, gentlemen," he said cheerfully.
Yuusuke bit back a snicker at the fox's theatrics and followed him into the forest.
Hiei was getting more and more annoyed with the Chinese boy, Wufei.
At this moment, the boy was walking beside Kurama and they were talking quietly. Just talking, but still... Kurama was his best friend! How dare this boy take Kurama's attention away from him! Hiei snorted to himself, he was sounding pathetic! But...
He finally decided that enough was enough and jumped down next to Kurama. The fox gave him a sweet smile that warmed him all the way through... then turned back to his conversation with Wufei.
K'so!
He shoved his hands in his pockets and continued to stay next to Kurama, glowering. He wished that he dared hold Kurama's hand... Well he wished a lot of things, actually, and flushed slightly.
Those thoughts were best kept to himself - when he was alone.
Images of Kurama writhing with pleasure underneath him... imagining the sound of the fox's moans as they made love... fantasizing how Kurama would scream Hiei's name in ecstasy... He shook his head to dispel those disturbing thoughts.
Kurama was just his friend! There was no way that he could ever feel this way about Hiei! But the urge to just grab Kurama and drag him into some bushes and make wild, passionate love to him was undeniable.
He sighed inwardly, what was wrong with him... ? Why couldn't he get the thought of Kurama out of his mind? Why was it that he did almost anything that Kurama asked him to... and a lot of things that Kurama would never have asked him to... ? Why did he do those things?
Because... because he cared? He shook his head. No, it ran deeper than that...
Because... because he what!? Perhaps... just perhaps... Hiei was in love...
He snarled. K'so! Love!?! Just what a heartless Forbidden Child needed! To be in love with Youko Kurama! He must be mad... !
His thoughts were interrupted by a roar from the clearing ahead of them. He knew that Yuusuke would want to go and take it on, but he had a bad feeling about this...
As they entered the clearing, they saw that several youkai bandits had managed to corner a male youkai and were beating him to bloody pulp. Yuusuke started shooting the rei gun without much forethought, as usual, and Kuwabara had out his rei ken and started his spiel, also as usual. Kurama flicked out his rose whip and Hiei unsheathed his katana, both joining their teammates in the fray.
Quatre nearly screamed when he saw what they were up against. They were real monsters! The kind his parents had always warned him would come for him if he didn't eat his vegetables! He buried his head in Trowa's shoulder as he saw one coming towards them. He heard it laugh and looked up to see it poised to cut him and his lover in half. His conscious thought fled in terror of the sight and he was left immobile.
The monster's head was suddenly parted from its body by a large thorny whip. Kurama looked down at them, her delicate features worried.
"He's going into shock," he heard as if from a distance.
"You should take him somewhere away from the corpses, I think that they might upset him. There's a clearing not far from here that you could... calm him down in... "
Her voice was suggestive and he felt Trowa chuckle and nod.
"Good, I'll be right back."
With that Quatre opened his eyes to see a six-tailed silver fox tear off into the underbrush. He decided that he must be hallucinating.
The fox came back and gave Trowa a decisive nod and a gesture. Trowa nodded and carried Quatre to a small clearing, laying him down on the soft grass. Quatre looked up at Trowa's solemn face, which now had a very un-solemn look upon it at the moment, and smiled sweetly. Trowa smiled in return before gently nibbling on the blond boy's ear and neck. Quatre sighed and tilted his head back to afford his lover better access. He could feel fingers undoing the buttons of his shirt and pushing it back impatiently. Quatre giggled and slid his hands underneath the green turtleneck.
"Why do you always wear this? It's very difficult to get it off you!"
Trowa just smirked, pulling the offending garment over his head and flinging it halfway across the clearing.
"Is that better?"
Quatre's answer was to latch onto one of Trowa's nipples while sliding a hand down to the fly of his jeans. Trowa gasped and pulled the golden boy close, sliding his hands down to grasp at the firm buttocks of his sweet lover. Quatre's hand gained access to the building erection in Trowa's pants and he began to stroke it ever so gently. The brown haired boy pulled Quatre's head up for a deep and demanding kiss, at the same time unfastening the other boy's pants and pushing them down to expose that which he was most concerned with right now. Quatre cooperated eagerly, doing the same for Trowa.
Soon the two boys lay naked on the grass, their hands and mouths exploring conquered territory and the only sounds in the clearing being the harsh panting of breath and eager whimpers and moans as they joined together in love. Trowa slid his erection slowly into Quatre's willing body, the gentle boy arcing back and drawing his nails along his lover's back. There were no words spoken, the moment was just enjoyed for what it was worth, peace and love in an uncertain situation. They reached their completion together and lay satisfied for an endless time.
"We should thank Kurama."
"Hmm?"
Trowa chuckled and brushed stray golden locks from Quatre's flushed face. He still marveled that this beautiful boy loved him and continued to do so, no matter what. He would definitely thank Kurama when they went back to the camp, both he and his beloved had needed this special assurance of each other in this strange world they had come to. Or perhaps come in would be the better phrase...
Trowa smiled and held his lover close, closing his eyes and reveling in the feel of a warm body next to his and the sigh of breath across his neck. They'd just rest here for a little bit...
Kurama snickered to himself as he trotted back to the group. He was a little jealous that they had each other, but... he sighed for things he knew could never be...
He picked up a strange scent that sent shivers down his spine and determined to find out where it was coming from. It had decidedly bad vibes...
His little scouting foray was cut short be a pair of hands grabbing him and picking him up. He squirmed in panic until he realized it was Hiei.
Hiei looked at the squirming silver fox in his arms and snorted. The fox looked up at him and seemed to relax when he realized that it was just Hiei holding him.
"What did you think you were doing, fox?" he snapped.
*I smelled something, something bad.*
"What?!" Duo, Heero, and Wufei were looking at him a bit oddly, but Yuusuke and Kuwabara were somewhat used to it and ignored the exchange.
*I smelled something dangerous, Hiei!*
A whine accompanied this sending and Hiei tensed, sensing something in the air. He whirled around, trying to place the feeling, and put the fox down. He had almost gotten it traced when something huge exploded from the ground in front of him.
He had the sensation of being pushed out of the way and he glimpsed a flash of silver as Kurama distracted the beast. He changed into his human form and called his rose whip again, only to be smashed against a tree by one of the beast's gigantic paws. Hiei could see his form flickering between youko and human and snarled.
This thing had dared hurt his Kurama! It was going to die!
He whipped out his katana and called the black fire to its edge. He had the vague sense of a quick fight and slicing the monster into halves when his attention was recalled by more important things.
Kurama was hurt... and badly. They needed Yukina. Hiei was the only one that could pierce the veil from this side, but he could bring anyone he could carry. He nodded to himself and decided to bring Yukina here... but then he remembered the Idiot... and decided to take Kurama to Yukina, instead.
He walked over to Kurama's prone body and propped him up against the tree.
"Kurama?"
One green eye opened and Kurama winced at the pain of his body, then looked at Hiei. "Hmm?"
"Kurama, shift to fox form."
Those beautiful features scrunched a little in confusion and Hiei resisted the impulse to kiss him.
"Kurama, I'm going to take you to Yukina and it's a lot easier if you're a fox."
Kurama nodded and shifted. 'Not that he isn't a fox in any of his forms... ' Hiei mused. He had once heard that term used in that context by Minamino Shuuichi's girl gaggle and had decided that it fit. His fox was most definitely a fox. Had he been anyone besides Hiei, he would have giggled at that ridiculous thought. But as it was, he snickered as he picked Kurama up in his arms. He could have carried him in human form, but it would have been a bit more awkward.
"I'm taking Kurama to Yukina," He called over to Yuusuke, then flitted off.
Kurama was silent throughout the journey, except for a whimper when they crossed over into the Ningenkai. Hiei took him to Genkai's temple as fast as he could.
Yukina answered the door and took one startled look at Kurama before letting them in.
"What happened to Kurama-san?"
Hiei detailed the fight as he lay Kurama down on the pallet before him. Kurama sighed as he followed Yukina's request to change and Hiei looked down once more on the human form of his beloved. He snarled at that thought. Of all people to fall in love with!
Yukina was soon done with the healing and pronounced him fit.
"How is 'kaasan?" Kurama asked.
"Oh, don't worry. Genkai-sama has officially taken you on a training mission that will take an unspecified amount of time."
"Thank you," Kurama whispered, his eyes closing.
"Kurama... fox," Hiei reminded him and Kurama changed back into a silver fox.
Hiei nodded at Yukina then leapt into the night, his precious bundle held close.
Duo looked around at the carnage. It was really impressive! He tried to spot everyone to make sure they were ok and blinked when he spotted Trowa walking off with Quatre in his arms. He snickered, having no doubt how Trowa was going to bring the boy out of the shock he was probably in. He wished them both luck and happiness.
He spotted Heero and Wufei in inconspicuous places, they had chosen the smart way out as he had. Yuusuke and Kuwabara were in the center of the clearing bragging about how many they took out. Hiei was holding a struggling form that seemed mostly silver fur. Duo could hear him talking to it and sent the boy a strange look. He didn't see Kurama anywhere...
Suddenly a large monster came up out of the ground. He didn't see much of the fight, except for the monster flinging Kurama into a tree and Hiei slicing the thing in half. He looked at the still form of the girl and found himself manually reattaching his jaw. She was still alive! Huh, she must be at least as tough as Heero, despite her fragile form...
He looked towards the aforementioned boy, who had his eyes narrowed and was looking in the direction that he just had. He turned around to hear Hiei telling Yuusuke he was taking Kurama somewhere and then the short guy seemed to vanish, holding something silver-furred in his arms. Yuusuke looked worried, so Duo walked over to him.
"Yo! What's wrong?"
The boy started then looked at him. "If Hiei is taking Kurama to Yukina, then it's pretty bad. Yukina's a healer."
"I felt his ki fluctuating a lot," added Kuwabara.
"Huh? What's ki?"
"Spiritual energy. How badly was it fluctuating?"
"Pretty highly. I'd say Kurama was finding it hard to keep Minamino Shuuichi form." responded the orange-haired jock.
Yuusuke's eyes darkened and he shook his head sadly. "This is not good... "
Duo was wondering what the hell they meant by 'Minamino Shuuichi form.'
"You guys aren't really human, are you?" Duo started at the sound of Heero's voice behind him.
Yuusuke shot him a sharp look. "What makes you say that?"
Heero snorted. "We may not know this place, but we're not stupid." He looked at Duo, then amended, "Well, most of us aren't stupid."
"Hey!!!" Duo cried, trying not to let on how much that had hurt, "It's NOT my fault!!!" he reiterated for the umpteenth time.
Heero looked at him coldly. "YOU distracted me. It's YOUR fault!"
"YOU got distracted! It's YOUR fault!" Duo snapped back irritably. Then he threw caution to the wind as he continued. "What got you so distracted, hmm? Thoughts of the oh-so-lovely, persistent Relena?"
"Duo! Omae o korosu!"
"You always say that! It doesn't scare me anymore!" He stuck out his tongue.
Heero's face darkened with anger, his cobalt eyes become blue ice chips. Duo absently wondered what had gotten into him... He wasn't usually this stupid...
"What got me distracted was YOUR incessant chatter!"
"But, Heero! You always ignore my chatter! So why was this time any different!?"
"Because I DON'T always ignore your chatter! I put up with it!"
Duo's eyes widened... Heero didn't really ignore him? Then they widened some more as he realized that it really was his fault... He dropped his eyes from Heero's face.
"I'm so sorry... " he whispered. "It's all my fault... "
He walked off in a daze, not noticing that Hiei had returned with Kurama, not noticing Heero's fleeting expression of concern, not caring where he was going. The refrain of 'it's all my fault' repeated itself over and over again until he curled into a tiny fetal ball and sobbed out his sins to the night. 'so sorry... '
Heero blinked at the expression on Duo's face, it seemed broken and lost... He immediately hated himself for making Duo feel that way and something inside him seemed to burn. He stared as Duo apologized, his normally cheerful voice a broken whisper, his normally bright and shining eyes pools of despair... Then he walked off into the forest as if in a daze, the look in his eyes of someone dead or dying. Heero had the odd impulse to let out a howl of loss...
Kurama looked around at his friends, noticing that Trowa and Quatre were still gone, then frowned as he realized that Duo was gone as well. He looked to Heero and met the boy's eyes questioningly. They were met with a quickly concealed flash of guilt and Kurama decided not to pursue the matter for now.
He looked down at himself with a grimace. His uniform and his hair were covered in blood and gore, all dried. He made a disgusted sound and muttered, "I need a bath."
"There's a waterfall not far from here," Hiei answered.
Kurama gave him bright smile. "Arigato, Hiei!"
He then cheerfully walked in the direction that Hiei had indicated, very much looking forward to getting clean.
Duo finally sighed and uncurled from the ball he'd been in, and made a disgusted sound at the state of his face. It would be obvious that he had been crying. He decided that he would try to find a stream or pool somewhere. He vaguely heard the sound of a waterfall...
He picked his way towards the sound and finally broke into a clearing that contained the most picturesque waterfall and pool that he'd ever seen! His eyes widened as he realized that someone was already here, someone with blood red hair! He turned to leave the girl to her privacy and stepped on a twig with a sharp *crack* sound.
"Who's there!?" Kurama's voice demanded.
He turned around, blushing furiously, to emerge from the bushes.
"Duo! What the hell do you think you're doing here!?"
Duo winced. She sounded mad... He looked up to meet her eyes and had to blink. What faced him was most certainly NOT a girl! That mane of red hair fell across his shoulders to partially cover a very flat chest. And lower... Duo realized he was staring and blushed again.
"Heyloo nurse!" Duo muttered, unable to help himself.
Kurama snickered.
"Um... ah... er... uh, gomen?" Duo said hopefully.
Kurama laughed and Duo relaxed.
"Are you really a guy or is it like one of those Ranma ½ things?" Duo asked.
Kurama's smile remained warm and she... no, Duo corrected himself... he shook his head.
"No, I'm really a guy."
"No wonder Yuusuke was laughing so hard yesterday... Um, sorry about that, but you do... uh... " Duo trailed off.
"I know, I look like a girl. Right?"
"Yeah. But I can see now that you are clearly NOT a girl."
Kurama laughed again, climbing onto the bank where his clothes waited, and put them on. Duo breathed an audible sigh of relief and Kurama sent him a questioning look.
He blushed. Again. "Well, you're a little... *cough*... intimidating."
Kurama looked at him for a long moment then broke into laughter again. Duo was beginning to think that he might get out of this alive...
"So, why'd you let us think you were a girl?" he asked, curious.
Kurama looked at Duo for a long moment before sitting down with a sigh.
"Well, it often confuses people and I didn't think that we'd be stuck together for long. But since it looks as if we will be together for an indefinite amount of time, I probably should make the announcement. Besides, Wufei seems to be setting up Hiei's back with his 'courtship' of me. Hiei isn't used to having anyone else competing for my attention when I'm with the team. But after I make the confession of my true self, I think Wufei will leave me alone. He doesn't seem like he would go for a guy, from what I've seen."
He then looked at Duo again, who nodded, grinning as he imagined the look on Wufei's face when he realized that his 'goddess' was really a guy. Kurama seemed to follow his line of thought and they both started laughing.
Kurama shook his head. "Ah, poor boy... " he said mock mournfully. "But he wouldn't be the first and is probably not the last." Kurama's face took on an expression of comic dismay. "You would not believe the propositions I've had... I mean, it would be one thing if it were just humans... but when demons mistake you for a girl... " he sighed melodramatically then smiled. "Though the ones I've gotten when people do know I'm a guy... " he shook his head again. "Truly pitiful. No tact, no romance, just... blech!"
Duo giggled slightly, having received a few of those indelicate offers himself, he knew what Kurama meant. Then he remembered the earlier 'conversation' with Heero and suddenly felt the need to unburden himself and talk to someone about everything. And it looked as though Kurama would certainly understand...
"Kurama, you love Hiei, right?" he asked tentatively.
Kurama's smile was sad. "Yes, more than life itself," he replied.
Duo answered Kurama's smile with a rueful one of his own. Knowing that here was someone who could understand and who might feel the sudden need to talk as much as he did...
"I love Heero the same... and... well, I was hoping that you and I could talk about it. They're very much alike, I've noticed."
Kurama made a face. "Except that Heero isn't likely to chop someone's head off with a katana if they get on his nerves."
Duo grinned. "And Hiei isn't likely to shoot someone with a submachine gun when they annoy him."
They exchanged grins and settled down to have a comfortable sympathy and gossip session about their beloveds.
After about an hour of sharing their emotional and mental frustrations with what had to be the most stubborn, oblivious, pig-headed, homicidal, semi-suicidal, nasty tempered, uncommunicative, undemonstrative men in the universe (who they just happened to be in love with), Duo was feeling much better.
Duo had found that Kurama and he had more in common than he'd thought and also that he was liking the other boy more than he had originally expected to. He had found a sort of brother in Kurama, a soul brother, and he thought that Kurama felt the same. They both had their masks - Duo the jester's, Kurama the polite friend's - but they found they didn't need them with each other. It was nice to just relax his guard for a while... Then he thought of Heero's question of Yuusuke, which the boy had never answered, and decided to ask it of Kurama.
"You guys aren't really human, are you?"
Kurama gave him an innocent look belied by the mischief sparkling in his eyes.
"Well?"
"Why, what would ever give you that idea?"
Duo grinned. "Well, the facts that Hiei carried off a silver-furred bundle when he said it was you and the others said something about you changing forms were sort of a clue. And the fact that Hiei refers to you as 'fox' like a title helped a bit, too."
Kurama smiled and sighed melodramatically. "It's always me," he said on an overdone mournful tone.
Duo laughed at the redhead's dramatics and Kurama grinned back at him.
"Well, Kuwabara is completely human, he just happens to be psychic... and Yuusuke died, was resurrected, and just happens to have youkai, that's demon, ancestry... and Hiei is a full youkai, a fire demon if you hadn't guessed, of great power... and I... am a youko."
"A what?"
"A fox spirit."
"Well, that explains the 'fox' bit... But... you're in a human body... how'd that happen?"
"It's a slightly complicated story... but here goes... I was born in the Makai as a youko, Kurama. I made quite a name for myself as a thief and seducer, not necessarily in that order. I also made quite a lot of rather powerful enemies. Then one night I was shot by a Hunter... "
"Whoa!" Duo interrupted. "A hunter?"
"With a capital 'h,'" Kurama specified. "They are creatures that are unstoppable and never lose their prey. That Hunter had a bullet with my name on it... literally."
Duo winced then motioned for Kurama to continue.
"Anyway, to save myself, well actually to save my power, I sent my spirit to the unborn child of a human mother in the Ningenkai. The woman was Minamino Shiori, my 'kaasan. The fetus would have died had I not possessed the body and it would also have been a girl. So, I changed a few things and sat back to wait. Soon I was born into the Ningenkai as Minamino Shuuichi. I owe 'kaasan a lot. She raised me alone, my human father died soon after I was born, and she taught me how to trust and love. My youko mother had abandoned me as a kit, but Shiori loved me unconditionally, so I try to be the perfect son for her. Then, when my human body was 10, I met Hiei. I knew immediately that he was mine or I was his, however you wish to say it... That we belonged together."
Duo nodded. He had felt that sort of connection with Heero the first time they met, even though he'd had to shoot the Japanese boy. It was one of the reasons that he tended to annoy Heero exclusively. One of them. Another was that it was a fun, albeit dangerous, hobby.
"A few years later, Hiei came to me for help with stealing three objects from the Reikai treasure vault. At this time 'kaasan was very ill and one of the objects was the Mirror of Utter Dark, capable of granting the user one wish, cost unknown. I used it to wish 'kaasan back to health and Yuusuke kept the Mirror from taking my life by offering half of his. He had been recently resurrected and made a Reikai Tantei, we were his first assignment. Hiei was defeated with a little help from me. Kuwabara was drawn in because of his psychic abilities. Hiei and I were put on the Reikai Tantei team as part of our probation for the theft."
Duo blinked. Wow, what a life! Curious, he then asked, "What are you like as Minamino Shuuichi and Youko Kurama?"
The emerald eyes sparkled. "Completely opposite! Shuuichi is kind, thoughtful, quiet, sweet, polite to everybody, the perfect student, and always helps out his mother. Youko Kurama is a cruel, thoughtless, heartless seducer of anything pretty that gives him the slightest encouragement, and many that don't, and is also one of the most feared thieves in the Makai."
"Opposites indeed!"
Kurama laughed again, the sound seeming to brighten the afternoon air.
"Could you show me your other form?" Duo asked eagerly.
Kurama shrugged. "Sure, there are two."
His form then seemed to blur and shift, the color bleeding out to disappear into the mist that seemed to surround him. When the mist parted, a tall, pale, silver-haired man with golden eyes and a silver tail and fox ears stood before him.
"Cool! What's the other?"
The fox-man grinned and seemed to blur and melt again, this time becoming a six-tailed silver fox.
"That's what Hiei was talking to and carrying before!"
The fox nodded, his tongue lolling out in a vulpine grin. Then Kurama paced over to Duo, placed his front paws on his shoulders, looked him gravely in the eyes, and...
... licked his nose.
"Gah!" Duo sputtered.
*Tag!* a voice said in his head.
Duo's eyes widened and Kurama favored him with another vulpine grin before dashing off into the bushes. Duo suddenly realized that the fox had stolen the hairband that kept his braid together.
"Kurama! Get back here with my hairband!"
*Come and get it!*
Duo ran after the mischievous creature and prayed that his braid held together...
Heero looked around the clearing again. Still no Duo. He was beginning to get worried... well, not really worried, just... a trifle... concerned!... yeah, that was it!... concerned... ! He decided to stop lying to himself and admitted that he was worried and approaching frantic.
Quatre and Trowa had returned, looking very pleased with themselves. There was little doubt of what they'd been up to... He had a sudden image of Duo's face, the sweet smile he had given Heero that morning, a smile that seemed only for him...
His stomach tightened at the thought - well, not really his stomach. He was in denial again... He snorted in disgust. This was getting to be an unnerving habit!
There was a sudden flash of silver from the bushes and the sounds of someone else tripping into a bush and cursing. Heero blinked, the voice was awfully familiar...
Duo burst from the bushes, twigs and leaves in his clothes and hair - which was half-unraveled from its braid - and looked about the clearing. His eyes narrowed as he spotted the silver fox sitting calmly (if radiating smug... ) that wore Duo's hairband on one of its front paws as a bracelet.
Duo growled - surprising Heero to no end! - and paced towards the fox, who was now giving him a vulpine grin. He held out his hand and the fox solemnly pulled the hairband off its paw, placing it in Duo's hand.
"NEVER do that again!"
The fox gave him a piteous look.
Duo sighed, but his mouth quirked up as he ruffled the silver fox's ears.
"Well, next time keep it to just tag."
The fox seemed to laugh and Duo grinned fully. Then he squawked as it licked his nose. He made a grab for one of the waving tails, but the fox was quicker, running away from Duo and leaping into Hiei's lap. Hiei looked at the fox in his lap then shrugged and started to pet it.
Duo snickered. "You, Kurama, are a goof!" he solemnly pronounced.
The fox turned her head towards Duo and stuck out her tongue. *Takes one to know one!* was the laughing reply.
Heero started at the voice in his head and saw his fellow pilots, with the exception of Duo, do the same. Wufei looked more than a little startled.
"I've heard some women called vixens, but this is ridiculous... " he heard the Chinese boy mutter.
Heero muffled a snicker. He looked up to see Duo turning his face away and walking to the opposite side of the campsite. Then he watched as the chestnut-haired boy began the tedious task of de-twigging and de-leafing his hair and clothing. There were a couple of muffled curses when twigs were tangled badly and Heero decided that he would help, especially since he felt he had to apologize for what he'd said earlier. He'd never apologized, really... Heero took a deep breath and quietly walked over to Duo - expecting the worst, but hoping that Duo would forgive him.
'Since when did I start thinking that his opinion means the world to me?!?!?'
Duo started when he felt another pair of hands start working on getting the damned leaves and twigs out of his hair. He figured it was Kurama and concentrated on getting the hair he could reach leaf-and-twig-free. He turned a little and caught a glimpse of black spandex.
It couldn't be! Heero? Helping him with the hair he was always saying was a weakness for a soldier... ? Well, unless Kurama had suddenly taken to wearing short black spandex shorts...
"Um... Heero?" he said tentatively.
There was silence. Then, "Yes?"
"Uh... why're you helping me? You're always saying that my hair is a weakness and a waste of time and... "
"Duo, shut up."
Duo shut up.
"I'm helping because... because... because I have nothing else to do and I hate being unproductive."
Duo blinked, the last half of the sentence had come out in a rush as if Heero wasn't willing to tell him the real reason for helping him and had to quickly lie. Heero lying? About a civilian matter? Something was not right here...
"Heero, why are you really helping?"
There was silence. Then a muttered, "He just had to ask... "
Duo fought the urge to snicker.
"I'm helping because I... I'm sorry for what I said earlier." There was the sound of Heero taking a deep breath before he continued. "It was wrong, malicious, and spiteful and I'm sorry."
After his apology there was silence and Heero inwardly winced. He looked up to see that Duo's mouth had fallen open in shock and fought the urge to kiss him. It was such a temptation...
*And the only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it... *
He gave the silver fox a silent glare. 'And just what would you know about that?'
*Oh, please!* The fox gave him a disgusted look and gave a pointed gesture at the small demon's lap she was in. Her eyes were cynical as she continued. *What do you think?*
Heero mentally slapped himself and turned back to Duo.
"Heero?"
"Yes?"
"It's me who should apologize, it is my fault that we're all stuck here. Not yours."
Heero winced visibly. "Duo, it was not your fault, it was mine. You were right. And I also wanted to apologize for hurting you like that... "
Duo stared at him incredulously. "You really mean it?"
Heero just nodded and stared at the long chestnut strands in his hands. Duo's hair was just as soft as he'd thought it would be... And it was now fully free of leaves and twigs. And it was so beautiful...
"Oh, Heero... "
He looked up just in time to see Duo's radiant eyes before the American pilot threw himself into Heero's arms, hugging him fiercely. Heero hesitantly put his arms around Duo's waist and hugged back, savoring the sensation of the boy's lithe body pressed tightly against his... and for a moment, he allowed himself to fantasize about what it would be like to have this boy's love...
"Heero, I'm so glad you don't hate me!" Duo's voice murmured from where he had buried his face against Heero's collarbone.
Heero almost started. Duo had been wondering if he would hate him? He just held him closer and whispered in his ear, "Of course I don't hate you, Duo." He barely resisted the urge to nibble the beauty's ear as a reassurance, but didn't resist the temptation of running his hands through Duo's long hair.
Duo arched into the caress and almost seemed to purr. Heero found himself having to fight to keep a Duo-esque grin off his face as the aforementioned boy buried his head deeper, his lips brushing Heero's neck. Heero was feeling that the world was now a happy and wonderfully warm place...
Duo melted into Heero's arms, silently rejoicing. Heero's hands were steady and gentle in their stroking of his hair and he sighed in contentment.
*Having fun?*
'Mmhm! You?'
*Most certainly! Hiei is the nicest to me when I'm in this form. In fact, this is the only form he is what most people would consider nice to me. He does have such talented hands... *
Duo snickered mentally and got an answered snicker from Kurama.
*And besides, I love doing this. Silver fur looks so nice against black!*
'Couldn't you control it? The shedding?'
*Yes, but that would take all the fun out of it!*
'So, when you gonna make the announcement? About being male, I mean?'
A yawn, then, *Tomorrow, I'll make it tomorrow. The announcement.*
Duo smiled and felt himself falling asleep in Heero's arms. 'Just where I wanted to be... ' he thought muzzily before slipping into sleep.
Heero looked at the boy in his arms and sighed happily. It seemed as if Duo had fallen asleep and it would really be too much of a bother to move him... He smiled and settled down to sleep with the boy he loved in his arms. He started.
'Since when did I decide I was in love?'
Kurama looked over at the couple through pleasure-slitted eyes. He could have purred. Duo was happy and Heero finally looked to be getting a clue. He grinned.
*What do mean this is the only form I'm nice to you in?*
Kurama jumped and looked up at Hiei's face. *Uh... you heard that?*
Hiei nodded. *All of it. You never shield your sendings from me.*
Kurama cursed. K'so! This was really embarrassing...
Hiei grinned at the chagrined look on Kurama's fox face. Then the kitsune started to get up from his lap to slink off. Hiei frowned, he wouldn't allow that. As Kurama began to leave his lap, Hiei buried his fingers in the thick silver fur and started to scratch down the spine, following all the way down to the tip of one of the tails. Kurama collapsed - or melted, Hiei wasn't quite sure how to describe it - back into his lap before he'd gotten halfway down the spine. He grinned again and did the same thing until he'd gone through all six tails.
Kurama rolled over onto his back in pure bliss and Hiei started rubbing his belly. The fire demon fought the urge to snicker as the fox wriggled and squirmed in foxy glee. He used the other hand to rub and scratch at the fox's ears and could have sworn that Kurama started to purr. He finally stopped rubbing the fox's belly and pulled him into his arms to look Kurama in the eyes.
*Did you mean that about shedding on me on purpose?*
The fox looked abashed and buried his face in Hiei's neck. Hiei squawked at the cold, wet nose against his skin.
*You have a cold, wet nose!*
*That means I'm a healthy fox!* Kurama blinked at him then suddenly licked his nose before burrowing back into Hiei's neck.
*Gah! What was that for?!*
*Now you've got a cold, wet nose too!*
Hiei shook his head and held Kurama tighter, stroking the silver fur of his back. The fox's breathing went even and his body relaxed as he fell asleep. Hiei smiled and settled back against the tree in a more comfortable position and went to sleep as well.
Hiei looked around the small clearing he was in. He spotted Kurama sitting against a tree and walked over to him. The fox had a troubled, thoughtful look on his face.
"What you thinking about?"
"Huh? Oh, hi Hiei. It's nothing."
"Hn. Yeah right. Whatever it is has you very bothered or you wouldn't have that look on your face. Now what is it?"
"It's just... Hiei, have you ever been in love?"
Hiei blinked.
"Why?"
"If you haven't, then you wouldn't understand."
"Understand what?"
"What's bothering me."
"So, you're in love?"
Kurama nodded and looked away to another part of the clearing.
"It's not that boy, Wufei, is it?"
"No, what on earth would give you that idea! I've loved this person for a long time."
"Do I know them?"
"Um... yes."
"Is it Yuusuke?"
"No, Keiko and him are too perfect together. She'd probably kill me."
"I know you have better sense than to fall in love with the Idiot... is it someone at your school?"
"No... this is someone that doesn't go to school."
"It's not Yukina, is it?
"No, but you're getting closer."
Hiei found his heart beating faster. The fox loved someone he knew, he'd loved them for a long time, this person didn't go to school, and his closest guess was Yukina... that left few people to choose from...
"Is it Botan?"
"No."
Hiei swallowed nervously then firmed his courage. He tilted Kurama's head up to look into those emerald eyes and whispered, "Is it me?"
Kurama's eyes widened and he tried to turn his head away, but Hiei's grip wouldn't let him.
"Kurama," Hiei breathed, "is it me?"
Kurama's eyes dropped to the ground and his answer was almost inaudible.
"yes."
Hiei had never thought that he would feel true joy. When he'd found his sister, the happiness had been balanced by the knowledge that she could never find out that he was her missing brother. This revelation had no such balancing knowledge. Kurama loved him!
"Kurama, look at me," he commanded.
The fox raised surprised eyes to his and Hiei allowed himself to smile. Then he placed his lips on Kurama's as he had so longed to do. Those soft lips parted as he ran his tongue along them and he took the invitation to explore Kurama's mouth and there was a gasp from his beloved at his bold move. Hiei smirked to himself as he learned the taste and texture of the warm cavern that he finally had permission to plunder.
When he pulled away, the emerald eyes he knew so well were cloudy with desire.
"Hiei... " was the surprised murmur.
Hiei chuckled and began the delightful task of ridding his friend of those annoying clothes that were preventing him from touching skin. There was another surprised sound from Kurama and then there were eager hands at his own garments. They were unclothed a short time later. Hiei looked possessively over his fox, knowing that he now had the permission to do so much more than look - which he had plans to take full advantage of... But first to mark the fox as his.
Hiei pounced on the red-haired beauty and nuzzled at his neck. Kurama sighed and tilted his head back, his hands running over Hiei's shoulders and through his hair. The fire-demon started covering the juncture of neck and shoulder with wet kisses, reveling in the way the fox sighed and wriggled beneath him.
Then he sank his fangs into the soft flesh.
Kurama started and then moaned as Hiei started to tease a nipple. The Koorime pulled away reluctantly from the delicious taste of blood and licked the wound in apology.
"Wha... what was that for?"
"MY fox!" Hiei growled, nuzzling the nipple he'd been toying with earlier and gently teasing it with his tongue.
"Ok... "
Hiei grinned triumphantly and set to exploring his beloved and finding all those 'special' places. One was his neck, which he found by running wet kisses along the graceful line. Kurama also seemed to enjoy having his ears nibbled on... Hiei wondered about his youko form, but decided that could wait. One could only do so much at one time...
He moaned as Kurama found one of his sensitive spots, on his neck just below his ears. The fox was nibbling along his neck - partially in retaliation, he was certain - and had slid one hand down to toy with Hiei's growing erection. Hiei decided to let Kurama take the lead for a little while... not that he had much of a choice, the way the mischievous creature was moving his fingers...
The fox worked his way downward with hands and mouth, making Hiei moan and squirm as the experienced demon tortured him with ecstasy. 'Gonna get him back... later... ' He nearly screamed in pleasure as Kurama's mouth reached his arousal, gentle kisses along the length of it accompanied by gentle nibbles presaged the heat of his mouth as Kurama drew Hiei's member into that warm cavern. Hiei was then the privileged recipient of a Youko Kurama blowjob ™. He now had no problems understanding why Youko Kurama had been so sought after as a lover... That is, he had no problems understanding it once his brain started working again. This was a while later... Kurama brought Hiei to the brink and swallowed the demon's seed. Hiei looked up to see those emerald eyes looking very smug, and - with a playful growl - rolled the taller demon over so that he lay on top.
"My turn, fox."
"Be my guest, love."
Hiei caught him in a deep, passionate kiss. Just the reminder that Kurama loved him was enough to set his senses aflame. He teased the sensitive nipples as he kissed the fox, straddling him so that there was no way he could escape Hiei's attentions. Not that Kurama seemed much inclined to try... He moaned and arced again under the fire-demon, willing his lover to stop torturing him and get down to more serious business - like making wild, passionate love. Hiei ignored his lover's silent plea and continued his explorations.
He found out that Kurama was ticklish in some of the oddest places...
He also found out that Kurama was very sensitive on his inner thighs and the line of his hip bones, so he spent some time there, driving Kurama absolutely nuts.
"Hiei... !"
"Hmm?" Hiei practically purred.
"Dammit! Stop teasing me!"
Hiei decided to take pity on his fox and enveloped his sex in his mouth.
"Oh... gods! Inari-sama... !"
Hiei bit gently to remind his fox just who was giving him pleasure.
"Oh Hiei... !" This was said as half moan, half scream. Hiei decided that he liked that tone of voice from his lover. He looked forward to doing many things to make Kurama say/scream/moan/whimper his name like that. Intriguing thought...
A sweet salty fluid flooded his mouth and Hiei smiled as he swallowed. Onto the next part... He crawled along Kurama's body to kiss him again, the fox sighed his name contentedly.
"Turn over, fox."
Kurama did so and Hiei set to exploring his back and buttocks. The back of Kurama's neck was rather sensitive, as was the curve where back met buttocks. Hiei wondered if the second had anything to do with the youko tail... He chuckled as Kurama wriggled and turned him over again.
Hiei traced those beautiful lips with his fingers and gasped as Kurama pulled the digits into his mouth. He'd never thought that something so simple could feel so... sexy! He decided to take the next step and slid his fingers from Kurama's mouth, sliding them between his thighs and to the small hole between the fox's butt cheeks. Kurama's eyes widened, then darkened with desire as he spread his legs a bit wider, affording easier access to his lover. Hiei slipped one into that tight heat and Kurama winced. The fire demon kissed him again, slipping another finger inside. Hiei worked them back and forth, searching for the spot... and as Kurama arced, he figured he'd found it. With a grin, Hiei slipped more fingers in, trying to stretch his lover for his erection. Kurama was soon moving with the thrusts of the fingers and Hiei removed them, positioning himself to enter the fox.
"Kurama, I love you."
"I love you too, Hiei."
That was all the assurance he needed and he pushed slowly into Kurama, restraining himself from just plunging into that wonderful heat. Kurama moaned and he began to kiss the marked area of his neck, the fox shivering in arousal. Hiei carefully began to move faster and push deeper, the moans and encouraging noises his fox was making helping him to tell what to do when.
Then time lost all meaning - there was only Kurama under him and him in Kurama and the two of them sharing their love. His vision flashed black as he thrust one last time before emptying his seed into his fox. At the same time, he felt a wetness spread between them and smiled, resting his head on Kurama's chest and purring happily. Kurama stroked his hair and they both rested, sated for the moment.
End Part 2
(:./silverblade/gwxyyh2)
