Hiei's Harem - Pt. 9 - Heating Up

I haven't been feeling well lately, so my updates have been a little slower. But I'm not giving up on this as long as you all still want more.

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Scene 14 ---------- Spirit World


* Kurama pauses in the large arched entryway that leads out onto a wide balcony fenced with a fancy golden railing. Since time hardly exists in this realm, Kurama is unsure of how long he has been searching for Suzuka. He's lost track of how many rooms, gardens, and balconies that he has searched throughout Koenma's palace. So he is very relieved to finally find his blonde mate leaning on the gilded railing. By his reaction of half glancing toward him Kurama knows that he has sensed his presence. With a deep, quiet sigh he goes over to lean on the railing close to Suzuka. For several moments they just look out over another large garden and the fluffy pink clouds beyond it. Finally Suzuka breaks the heavy silence.


Suzuka- I know 'Sorry' don't cut it.

Kurama- I won't lie to you and say that I wasn't taken by surprise..

Suzuka- I.. never meant to..

Kurama- Even though I, myself, had literally handed all of them to you on the proverbial silver platter?


* Suzuka hesitantly looks at Kurama.


Suzuka- I..

Kurama- You agreed to take care of them for me.

Suzuka- Only because you backed me into a d--- corner!


* Kurama looks at Suzuka who looks away again. Kurama can feel all of the angst coursing through his subordinate male.


Kurama- Suze,.. do you know why I claimed you in the first place?


* Suzuka straightens up and crosses his arms.


Suzuka- I'm guessing it wasn't because I was the most drop-dead, gorgeous demon you'd ever laid eyes on.


* Kurama smirks and leans sideways on the rail to look at Suzuka.


Kurama- Okay, so there were two reasons.


* Suzuka rolls his eyes.


Suzuka- Oh, don't start patronizing me now.


* The blonde turns away and moves to sit on one of the fancy marble benches.


Kurama- When Kitsunes decide to start a pack they'll only choose the best, strongest demons they can find to be carriers for their offspring.

Suzuka- I told you from the start that I'm not a carrier.

Kurama- Yes. But I still chose you.. Because besides gathering ones that will produce heirs, an Alpha Kitsune will also take in one or two subordinate males or.. sub-alphas.


* Suzuka slowly looks back up at Kurama.


Kurama- Sub-alphas are only chosen because the Alpha either trusts them completely or.. owns them already.

Suzuka- You didn't own me.

Kurama- No. I didn't.


* Suzuka studies Kurama a long moment before lowering his eyes.


Suzuka- H--- of a way to repay your trust.

Kurama- Yes.. You did exactly what I chose you to do.


* Suzuka looks back up at him quickly.


Kurama- You took over for me in my weakness and took care of my mates when I couldn't.

Suzuka- You were only blind, not.. incapacitated.. I knew you had no idea what the h--- you were saying when you..

Kurama- Then you knew my blindness was due to an unseen ward, too?

Suzuka- I.. I've seen that type of flash bomb used.. many times.. My failure was not recognizing it in time to..

Kurama- It's history. That's not the issue we're dealing with here and now.

Suzuka- But my actions in that moment of weakness will never go away.. Unless you intend on.. destroying..

Kurama- I would never harm an innocent child.. Even when I took possession of the child in Shiori's womb I kept it's body alive.


* Kurama goes over and sits down beside Suzuka.


Kurama- It's why my human form differs so much in appearance from this one.


* Suzuka shrugs.


Suzuka- Then.. will you.. resent the child?

Kurama- No.


* Suzuka looks at Kurama.


Kurama- He or she will still be a member of my pack.. All of this drama is to be blamed on nobody but myself.

Suzuka- I don't blame you.. With that ward on you your brain was short-circuited.


* Kurama nods with a chuckle.


Kurama- Indeed.. I could feel the depression it had me under like a tangible weight.. I wasn't able to shake it.. In my mind I was nothing but worthless dead weight.

Suzuka- But even then.. Blind.. You weren't worthless to us.. I mean, h---, Shishi refused a shower to stay by your side.. And Touya,..


* Suzuka sighs heavily and looks away, the guilt crashing back over him.


Suzuka- It tore me up to see Icy so devastated.. I mean, seriously, do you know how many times I've ever seen that guy cry? Never.

Kurama- Then we need to settle this between us before we even consider helping him.


* Suzuka nods, then gets lost in thought as he considers his options. Kurama watches him curiously. Finally, the blonde stands, moves away some, then turns to face Kurama with his arms folded behind his back.


Suzuka- If you need to assert your dominance over me I won't defend myself.

Kurama- Suze,..

Suzuka- Just try not to bruise my beautiful face too much or seriously disfigure me to permanent hideousness, Master.


* Kurama sighs, then stands and goes over to face Suzuka closely.


Kurama- Do you.. remember how I.. dominated you in the first place?


* When Suzuka looks up at Kurama the Kitsune leans to begin kissing him slowly. By force of habit, more than submission, Suzuka opens his mouth to accept the kiss. The longer it lasts, the deeper it becomes until soon enough the two are embracing each other. They are so involved that they don't even know they're being observed until Yusuke speaks up in his usual brash manner.


Yusuke- Woah! Now that's what I call making up.


* Kurama moans lowly, but pulls away from Suzuka. They both glare toward the Toushin as he moves to sit on the bench.


Yusuke- But seriously, you really should keep it in the bedroom up here.. These depraved ogres get distracted too easy.


* Yusuke thumbs toward the next balcony where a whole group of various-colored ogres are gathered. Kurama had been so focused on Suzuka that he hadn't noticed them before. When the large Kitsune faces them completely and growls, removing his rose from his silver strands, they all yell and scatter. Kurama grunts, dissipates the rose, then looks back toward Yusuke.


Yusuke- Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt.. I'm not even going to ask what happened.. I got enough of my own s--- to deal with.


* Kurama tilts his head, studying Yusuke a moment, then turns to face Suzuka again.


Kurama- Yusuke does make a good point.. We need to continue this in privacy.. It concerns the pack, not every prying eye or ear in Spirit World.

Suzuka- Agreed.

Kurama- Return to the suite. I'll be there soon. Try to keep Shishi calm. Touya won't be waking up for a while.


* Suzuka nods, bows, and starts to leave but Kurama grasps his arm.


Kurama- You didn't.. mark him..?

Suzuka- Oh h--- no.. Well, not that kind of..

Kurama- I get the picture.

Suzuka- Then we're.. settled?

Kurama- Hai.. At least until we can resume this.. in privacy.


* Suzuka chuckles and nods with great relief.


Suzuka- Can hardly wait, Babe.


* Kurama pats Suzuka's rear to send the blonde on his way. The Kitsune then turns his attention back to Yusuke.


Kurama- If you're still upset about Hiei..

Yusuke- Do you know that Koenma knows where he is? I can't figure out why the h--- he won't tell us.

Kurama- Hiei doesn't want to be found.. You should know by now, as well as I do, that he won't be found until he's ready to be.


* Yusuke slowly nods then stands.


Yusuke- Well, hey. You got plenty of your own drama to get back to.. Have a nice life, Kurama.


* Kurama remembers that Koenma told him about Hiei wiping Yusuke's memories. But his own memories of their ordeal in that iron-walled cell are still fresh to him.


Kurama- Yusuke,..


* Yusuke pauses to wave a hand as he looks back toward Kurama.


Yusuke- No, it's okay.. I know you don't want me in your personal space anymore.. Especially after you seen my display with Junior..

Kurama- That wasn't in your..

Yusuke- Save it, Fox.. It was me, it was my body. I remember everything so it's not like I went crazy or had ambrosia.

Kurama- Amnesia.

Yusuke- Whatever.. Besides, I have to go give Yukina the bad news.


* Kurama hurries to embrace his friend from behind when he turns to leave again. Yusuke freezes and his eyes widen.


Kurama- Beyond demon boundaries.. that we are both natured to guard.. we are and always will be friends, Yusuke.. Teammates.

Yusuke- Kurama,..


* Yusuke relaxes in the Kitsune's embrace.


Yusuke- Yeah.. You know, if I didn't have my.. responsibilities.. I would have accepted your..

Kurama- It was only the barest of my restraint that enabled me to accept your refusal.


* Yusuke squirms around in Kurama's arms to look up into his golden eyes, ignoring the instincts that try to make him feel uncomfortable with the embrace.


Yusuke- If there was any way..


* Kurama raises a finger to Yusuke's lips to quiet him. Then the kitsune quickly leans to kiss Yusuke briefly before struggling to release him and hurry away. Yusuke stands a moment, just staring into the now-empty space sadly before sighing.


Yusuke- D--- our demon natures to h--- sometimes.


* The Toushin then turns and leaves.