The Aftermath

Concerning art, thoth_moon (and anyone else interested), just draw up whatever strikes your "fancy" concerning any of these stories. Characters, settings, whatever. be creative. Don't make me do all the work, lol (j/k) :o)

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Scene 14 ------------------------------------------------------- Later That Night

* When Yusuke begins to wake up, he immediately becomes aware of his new mate. By scent, by touch, then finally by taste as he laps a tongue out against his temple lazily. He finds the sensation of waking up with Kurama a most pleasant one. When he at last raises up onto an elbow, lazy gold eyes open to meet his. A gentle smile soon lights the kitsune's face.

Kurama- Hello, Love.

* Yusuke sighs, truly happy to hear this endearment from Kurama for the first time.

Yusuke- Do I deserve to wake up to this for the rest of my life?

* Kurama nods and raises a hand to caress Yusuke's cheek.

Kurama- Yes, you do... I will do my best to see to that.

* Yusuke's eyes calmly scan Kurama's pale, lithe body until he comes to his midsection. His now-slightly swelled midsection is more obvious. Yusuke moves a hand toward the small bulge, then hesitates.

Kurama- (Purrs) It's okay to touch them, Yusuke... They will need.. feedings of your energy to help them grow strong and healthy.
Yusuke- I'm just... amazed that you're... showing this much just from...
Kurama- They've already adjusted their development, because of all the energy we shared during our mating... Besides, kitsunes only carry four months... How long do Toushins carry?

* Yusuke hesitates, then glances nervously at Kurama, before sitting up to stretch out, then look for his regular clothes.

Yusuke- I... um... I don't... know... Where the h--- are my...?

* Kurama reaches aside and gets the green uniform he'd folded up neatly earlier. He hands it to his Alpha.

Kurama- Here, Alpha...

* Yusuke is more surprised at the fact that he doesn't react to the term of respect than hearing it in the first place.

Kurama- It's no big deal, really...
Yusuke- Maybe not to you, but it is to me... I'm going to be a Father... A demon Father. Besides that, I'm your mate. There are things... I probably should know.
Kurama- Yusuke,...

* Kurama stands to stretch himself. Yusuke turns to watch him do so, then shake out his long legs one at a time. Since Yusuke is back in his human form, except for still having the long, shaggy, brown hair, the kitsune towers over him as he comes over.

Kurama- You're making more out of this than necessary...

* Yusuke's eyes trail up Kurama's chest, takes note of the black mating mark emblazened on his neck, then move farther up to meet his bright, golden eyes.

Yusuke- D--- you're tall.

* Kurama crosses his arms as his tail waves slowly behind him.

Kurama- I hadn't taken notice before... how short you are in this form, either.

* Yusuke feels the kitsune's mischieviousness through their strengthening bond and chuckles. He moves up to get his arms around his mate.

Yusuke- Ha f---in' ha, Stilts... Guess we'll both just have to deal with it now.

* Kurama chuckles in return. He recognizes the fact that they can now feel each other when the bond is open. He raises his arms to wrap around Yusuke. After a deep, loving kiss, they both part to dress quickly. Yusuke then moves to check himself in the large mirror on one wall. Kurama moves up behind him and embraces him from behind.

Yusuke- So, kitsunes are clingy, huh?

* Kurama decides that he needs to test something.

Kurama- You don't like me being... snuggly?

* Kurama watches Yusuke's face in the mirror. Briefly, Yusuke scowls at the memory that the word brings up. But Kurama nearly quivers when the Toushin shakes his head, thrusting the memory away.

Yusuke- No... Clingy is fine... I never knew demons used words like.. snuggly.
Kurama- (Shrugs) Some do... But you forget that I've lived in a human body for a little over 20 years now...
Yusuke- Yeah, so why the h--- are you still...? Uh... Never mind. Pregnant kitsune thing.

* Yusuke turns to look back up at him.

Yusuke- Kurama, please tell me you won't go through mood swings like most women do when they're pregnant.
Kurama- I have no idea... I've never known any pregnant male kitsunes.. I know pregnant vixen kitsunes go through different stages... Clingy at first, then becoming more reclusive as they get closer to delivering...

* Yusuke nods, then grabs a strand of his shaggy brown hair.

Yusuke- I look like a d--- freak with all this hair... Hey, how do you know what a pregnant vixen does?!
Kurama- Yusuke, long hair is the mark of maturity in demons... I think it looks very good on you... Don't cut it no more, please...
Yusuke- Interesting, you would, I won't, answer my d--- question.

* Kurama smirks.

Kurama- Yusuke, I grew up in a small village with my kitsune clan... My mother was a vixen that had two other litters after mine...

* Yusuke's jaw drops.

Yusuke- How many siblings-in-laws (not a typo, lol) do I have?

* Kurama raises his eyes, looking upward in thought.

Kurama- Well, there were only four in my litter... Her next was a full litter of six... Then the last had five... But only two, besides myself, survived to maturity. Me, being the only silver born to them in all three litters...
Yusuke- Only three.. out of...
Kurama- Demon World is full of demons that snatch baby demons for food.

* Yusuke swallows. Kurama watches him turn away and feels his thoughts immediately turn to Hiei and Sabaktu.

Yusuke- Oh, man... We need to find them...

* Kurama sighs and follows his Alpha out of the room.