Partners by Moonlight

(AN: Woot, over a hundred reviews! I’ve never had so many, thank you guys so much. (*pets Alucard* Be nice to Akela, she's a cute reviewer. Now be a good lil vampire and kick Alexander for me.)

To answer a good question asked in one of the reviews, Partners by Moonlight is part one in a series, Memories of a Life Long Passed (the other story I’ve written) would be part three. I have one more story planned, a sequel to Partners by Moonlight, then I’ll move on to part four of the series. ^^; I would have went in order, but I wasn’t sure anyone would like this story until a cute ninja bunny poked me into posting it. Anyway, I do have the chapter written out where Kuronue receives his necklace, but it’s in the other story. I’ll probably post that part as an excerpt at the end of PbM to tease the sequel.

So if you happen to read any YYH stories (minus the cross-over with Inuyasha) that I've done, they pretty much all go together.

That been said, enjoy the chapter.)

“Don’t forget the soona cake, Kurama.” Yoriko handed the kitsune a wrapped brown package, smiling brightly. “It’ll keep for a week or two, so don’t rush.” She gave him a stern look, “I know exactly what it does to kitsunes, I don’t want you feeling the need to do that to Kuronue before he’s healed. Got it?”

“Haaai...” Kurama took the package, giving Tamenai a pitying look. “Is she always this much of a nag?”

“All the time, wretched woman.” The older demon ducked more quickly than Kurama or Kuronue would have guessed he could move, avoiding a swat from his house mate. “Now boy,” Tamenai tugged Kuronue closer, “remember what we discussed. Don’t wait too long, or I might forget my offer, if you know what I mean.”

Kuronue nodded, spreading his wings. “Soon...”

Watching the exchange between the two, Kurama crossed his arms. What ever little deal the two of them had, he was unable to drag it out of either man. Being left out wasn’t something he was familiar with. “Let’s go. Goodbye old man, until next time.”

Yoriko smiled and waved, looping one arm around Tamenai’s upper arm. “Behave Kurama, and be good to Kuronue.”

“Oh I’ll be good to him...” Kurama sneered quietly, giving Kuronue a look that made his partner roll his eyes.

“One track mind, I swear...”

“You didn’t mind that one track earlier.”

“Eh, it has it’s times of usefulness.” Kuronue stretched gingerly, wary of over exerting his healing muscles. “What’s the plan? If they’re out there waiting for us...”

“Then we kick their asses. There’s no need to make this more complicated than it needs to be. What’re you so worried about? We defeated the other toadies your father had sent with your brother.”

“....I was worried that my father would be with them. Now that I think about it... he isn’t the patient type. He wouldn’t have waited a month outside, he would have barged in here and took me while I was injured.” Kuronue chewed his bottom lip nervously. “I don’t know why he’s waited, and that’s unnerving. My father has never waited for anything.”

“Maybe he doesn’t want you anymore.”

Kuronue sighed and looked away. It was a constant wish, that his father would get bored with chasing his son and just leave him alone. Up until now, it was a likely ideal. “Now that we attacked his men, and injured his little... bitch.... we’re too annoying to ignore. My father is a stubborn and impatient man that puts his pride above all else. By defeating his underlings, we’ve attacked his pride...”

“Hmm... There’s a regular shipment of food that comes in, he or they could have snuck in then, forcing the marked one to pull them in as well. I think that’s how they got in the first time. So either they aren’t waiting outside... or he sent some men that are better at being patient than he is.”

“Right. Either way, we’ll be attacked sooner or later. Expecting an ambush makes it less effective.”

Kurama nodded, “losing the valuable element of surprise. Something we may still have, if we plan correctly. Then don’t know exactly when we’ll leave, only that we have to leave from that one exit.”

“If I remember correctly, the path is hard to fight on, only one person could be allowed at a time. We could lure them into a fight there, no matter how many there are, it’s always easier to fight one on one.”

“I’ll lure, you hang back. I don’t want you getting hurt again.” Kuronue tensed, wanting to snap back at Kurama. It was hard to admit, but if he fought then got hurt, it would be just one more thing to slow Kurama down. Plus, they’d have to deal with him healing again. “Hey... Kuro...” Kurama whacked at his butt with his tail. “Your weapons are long range, more effective that way at least... If I get hurt, you’ll be more handy behind me.”

“Bah...” He swatted at Kurama’s tail. “Keep your appendages to yourself.”

“Kurama!” The scaled guard jogged up to them, grinning while his scales rippled in and out of green and a hazy blue. “Leaving so soon? I haven’t seen you since you first came in here.” Kuronue’s mood lifted a bit with the information that Kurama hadn’t out screwing while he was down.

“I’ve been busy. Maybe next time.” Kurama replied cooly, nodding to the guard before walking on.

“Never, if I can help it.” Kuronue mumbled as he hurried his step to catch up with the youko.

~oOo~

Whatever phase the moon happened to be in was hidden under a blanket of clouds, only a vague shimmer of light marked the presence of the moon. That boded well for them; Kurama was great at seeing in the dark while their pursers might not. Being careful not to stumble on the path and alert their enemies of their whereabouts, Kuronue followed slowly behind the silver kitsune. With no light in the sky, it was hard to see Kurama. Kuronue knew it would help them, but he couldn’t keep back a sense of disappointment. Watching his proud partner move under the light of the moon, tail flicking in anticipation of their newest heist, the long silver hair like threads made from the moonlight itself... it was one time that Kurama would always take his breath away. He shook his head furiously, trying to rid himself of such thoughts. They had their own time and place; not here, and definitely not now.

Kurama sniffed at the gentle wind blowing to his right. The moisture clung to the air as it would before it began to rain. They were lucky to have left before rain fell and hid the scents of their enemies... The enemies that didn’t seem to be there. Frowning, Kurama walked from the stone path and onto the slightly larger way. Not a single scent. Youki was easy to hide, but their scent was another thing. The only other scent he could pick up was a bird in a nearby tree that flapped away, startled by their sudden appearance. “There’s no one here...”

“What?” Kuronue stepped out from the rocks, looking around. “...I don’t like this.”

“Me either... They might have guessed the advantage we picked up on, then decided to wait on higher ground. More stable to camp at as well...”

“Possibly...”

“Or they may have given up, thought you were dead, and moved on.”

“I highly doubt that. Mentou knew you weren’t hurt that badly. They would have waited until you left to get information about where I was and my condition.”

Kurama sighed, “pessimistic, aren’t you?”

“Realistic, with a touch of pessimism.” Kuronue smiled, brushing his wing over Kurama’s head. “Should we fly before it rains? That damn path is treacherous with out the rain, adding slickness to it would just make things worse.”

“You can’t fly, Yoriko said so. Let’s just hurry this way.” Kurama started up the path before his lover could argue against it.

Unable to fly again... Every time he was injured, he was refused the right of flying. Grumbling to himself, Kuronue followed Kurama. If he wasn’t careful at this rate, the next time he would possibly lose one of his wings and be permanently denied flight. He remembered the first time he had hurt his wings... His elder siblings knew how to fly already, they didn’t dare go far or risk their father’s wrath. Their father was on a war path, so the others fled, leaving Kuronue alone to receive the brunt of Itsukai’s anger. He climbed a tree then spread his wings, jumping from it to hopefully gain flight. It worked, for a whole two seconds before the muscles groaned a complaint, unused to such activity thus unable to hold open any longer. He fell, and hard, thankful that the grass at least half cushioned his fall. Itsukai found him then, sneering insults about his lack of flight then proceeded to take his anger out on him in ways that made a beating seem more appealing. Relita crept in after their father seemed semi-pacified and carried Kuronue away. He remembered her kind hands in applying a balm that numbed his wings and the other area that had hurt. After the strain healed she showed him how to exercise his wings to build up enough muscle for flight, and would practice with him everyday until the horrible event that costed Relita her life and Kuronue his only sense of safety and hope. He clenched his fists. The nightmares of his past hadn’t haunted him in long time, nor had he thought about his sister... as guilty as that made him feel. Kurama made him forget all that had happened for a short time. It was nice in a way... but it couldn’t last. Or could it? If he convinced Kurama to go as far from his father’s territory as they could, then they wouldn’t have to worry about any of that. He could go on with Kurama and live a mostly content life, blissfully ignorant of his past. It was a thought... a pleasant one.

“Kuro?”

Kuronue glanced up, unaware that they had reached the top of the cliff. “Sorry, lost in thought... What’s up?”

“Not a soul. Not one person up here waiting for us. Still... I don’t think we should press our luck. Why don’t we double back to Tanarda, pick up some supplies, then head out to Sancary?”

“Sounds good... Kurama?” Kuronue started walking toward the road that lead to Tanarda, Kurama following beside him.

“Hm?”

“Why don’t we travel for awhile?”

“You mean get the hell out of here?”

Kuronue laughed, embarrassed that Kurama knew of his some-what cowardly plan. “Something like that...”

“I wouldn’t mind at all.” He gasped as a fat rain drop hit him between the ears. “That’s cold...” The rain began to pour down, drenching both.

“You wouldn’t mind? You’d have to leave behind everything you’ve collected in your den...”

“I know that, stupid.” Kurama smacked him with his wet tail, making a loud but squishy sound. “I don’t care about those items, they’ve ceased to be important to me... Besides, I have my guards. Not even another kitsune would be able to appease my pets.”

Kuronue snorted, pushing away the furry tail that stuck to his skin. “Fickle, aren’t we?”

“I guess so... I just found something that was more important to me than wealth...” Kurama didn’t bat an eye, acting as if he said things like that all the time. Kuronue on the other hand almost stumbled in surprise. It was what he wanted, well some what. If anything caused him to doubt earlier Kurama’s feelings toward him, now it was certain. Kuronue smiled, lifting a wing over Kurama’s head, shielding him from the pounding rain. Kurama glanced up at him before returning the smile. “From Sancary we can head to Tolith. I know it’s pretty far from here, but we can rob people along the way.” Only Kurama could say that pleasantly. “I have an old den there that we can clean out then use. It’s under this massive tree that I planted when I was...” Kurama smirked, “your age.”

“So a long ass time ago?”

“Basically. It was one of my first dens by myself. There’s this lake that’s near it, perfect for swimming.”

“Mmm, sounds great.”

“It is. I’m sure the area around there has recovered from my earlier pillaging. I want to see if they have anything knew to steal.” They laughed and continued to walk, all but ignoring the world around them.

~oOo~


The bird squawked noisily, it’s master lifting his head. “They’ve finally left?” The bird relayed it’s message then rubbed it’s head against his cheek, seeking praise for a job well done. Mentou stroked the bird’s head absently, formulating the best way to attack the two. His father’s possessive streak flared as soon as Mentou told him of Kuronue’s loved one. Every warrior in his father’s regime was at his disposal. It wouldn’t take many of the higher classed fighters to take Kuronue down, alive, as his father impressed on him. The other... he was supposed to leave the kitsune alive so his father could torture him in front of Kuronue. Death was only to be afflicted if he had no other choice. Mentou planned on having no other choice. He wanted to be the one that finally broke his brother, it’s what he deserved for abandoning them and making Kisu endure their father’s sick tastes.

“Oi,” he raised his voice, the squat-faced yellow skinned man that had been assigned his assistant ran at his master’s call, pausing just in front of him. “I want five of our best ready in ten minutes, we’re going to retrieve father’s precious possession.” The man bowed then ran from the room to relay the orders. Mentou rose to his feet from the chair he had been lounging in, the bird on his shoulder swaying under the sudden movement. He touched it’s head to gain it’s attention. “Fly high and watch them, keep yourself unnoticed. I’ll borrow your eyes once we get close enough to them.” The bird trilled in acknowledgment then flapped away. He would tap into the bird’s sight when he was close then plan on how best to attack from the information gained. As he left the room he almost ran into a smaller form, grabbing it by the shoulders to keep both from colliding. “Kisu, what’re you...” His voiced trailed off as his brother began to shake, bloody lip dripping a down his chin, a few puncture marks on his chest and neck. Claws... his father’s touch...

“Did you really find Kuro?” Kisu’s wings trembled, green eyes filling with tears. “He promised he’d try and help us... Don’t hurt him Tou. Kuro will come through... he wouldn’t leave us...” Tears mixed with the blood smeared on one cheek, pinking the droplets as they fell from his chin.

“He won’t come back for us Kisu.” Given the circumstances, Mentou doubted he’d return either if he was in Kuronue’s shoes. That didn’t change anything, he still despised him for leaving. “Go clean up, I’ll bring him back and father will stop hurting you.”

Kisu took a step back, lowering his head. “I don’t want him to come home. Would you want me to be dragged home if I was free? None of us deserve to be hurt, but I don’t want to be the cause of Kuro’s pain.” He looked up, blonde hair falling over his eyes. “Don’t do this... if he comes back to save us then he does... If he’s happier out there... then leave him alone.”

“Kisu...” Mentou gritted his teeth. His younger brother was a rarity, pure of heart usually was in the Makai. Those tears had the power to convince him to do anything... even take Kisu’s place as their father’s new toy, if he could. They weren’t enough to stop him this time. Kuronue hadn’t just made it out, but he had found someone. Someone to be happy with. One of their siblings didn’t deserve to be happy while the others suffered. “I’m dragging him back here, if I have to rip both his wings off to do it. Now go get cleaned up...” He lowered his voice, “if father heard you say any of that, you’ll be in a world of pain.”

Kisu gave him a hateful look, backing away slowly. “You’re just like him... just like father.” He turned and ran, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.

“Maybe so Kisu...” Mentou squared his shoulders, wings flaring behind him. “Like it or not, Kuronue’s coming home.” When he does, their father will finally recognize Mentou as worthy of being his successor. Then when he’s strong enough, he’ll kill the bastard off and take his place as the head of his father’s lands.

“Master?” Five men bowed before him, feeding Mentou’s heady power trip. “We’re ready to attack when you are.”

Mentou nodded, sneering. “Alright, let’s move out.” Kuronue’s kitsune will die by his hands, if he has to strangle the life out of him by himself.