How they Met

Yoko recovered quickly after he awoke, and it was a relief to air out the sweltering room. As an added bonus, the rain finally stopped, although it left the forest so soggy that a breeze would probably make the trees crumble. Yoko used the first moment that Kuronue let him out from under the blankets to go have a proper wash. Kuronue took the opportunity to debate his own problems.

His food supply was rapidly shrinking and there was nothing left to burn. No animals dared return to the forest yet and, Kuronue was dismayed to see, the rain had washed away the vegetable garden he’d had out back. To top it off, the king of thieves was lounging in his washtub. Said demon called his name, effectively snapping the bat out of his gloomy trance.

…and now he wants my clothing. Great. What was wrong with the bathrobe, I wonder. Crossly Kuronue dug through his wardrobe. All he could find was a long white toga and matching white pants.

Yoko sighed. “It’ll do. Thank you.”

Kuronue sighed. It wasn’t that he disapproved of Yoko’s chosen profession; as a matter of fact he’d often wished he were as good a thief. He was one of the handful of demons that admired the fox demon’s unmatched skill. It was the fact that Yoko was…well, Yoko Kurama that bothered him. Other than those first few panicked moments the fox had been nothing other than charming, and that’s what worried him. Yoko Kurama was not supposed to be charming. He was a coldhearted, ruthless trickster who’d steal the fillings from your head if he thought he could get away with it. And then he’d seduce your daughters and maybe your sons too, if he liked, on his way out.

Kuronue tilted his head to one side. At least, that’s what the rumors say…I suppose the rumor mill could be wrong…those could be lies spread by those who have something worth stealing and want us normal people to fear and hate him. Besides, he’s legendary. Legends are usually hyperbolized versions of actual events or people. Maybe the whole heartbreaker legend is just a few ex-girlfriends out for petty revenge… Kuronue got up. Or, I could just be trying to lull myself into a false sense of security. I suppose only time will tell.


The clothes actually looked quite good on Yoko, although Kuronue had a nasty suspicion that anything would look quite good on Yoko. Without the mud crusted into his hair and the sickly paleness the fox was much more attractive than Kuronue had believed possible for a rumored evil, conniving jerk.

Clothed, clean, and finally warm, Yoko curled up on the sofa and met Kuronue’s lavender eyes. Lavender at this moment, at least. He’d seen them turn red when the bat was annoyed or angry. “Kuronue… there has to be something I can do to repay you for everything you’ve done…”

A shadow of an idea crossed Kuronue’s mind, but he brushed it aside. “Unless you can go and steal dry wood from the trees or magically make all the game come back, then I don’t think there is.” If the animals don’t come back soon then I’m going to be in some trouble…

The fox smiled. “If there’s a way to steal the dry wood off a tree, I haven’t figured it out yet,” he said, but his eyes narrowed slightly. Kuronue felt hairs prickle on the back of his neck. “But I know there’s something you want from me, Kuronue,” the fox added his voice dropping. He smiled again, but it was a much less friendly smile. When he spoke next it was in a sort of growled whisper that made every hair on the bat’s body stand to attention. “You cannot like to me. I saw that little light of hope before you winked it out. You want me for something, don’t you?”

If he doesn’t stop purring like that I’m gonna want him alright… Kuronue swallowed the whimper as it fought to rise. He dared not meet the fox’s eyes, knowing that if he did he’d lose all control of his motor functions and start blurting every secret he had. I can’t tell if he’s trying to scare me into telling him or seduce me into telling him…but then, maybe with him they're the same... He risked a glance at Yoko’s face and decided he had more to lose by denying he wanted something than he did by asking. The worst he can do is say no, and if I try and deny I want something the worst he can do is—right, brain, let’s stop that line of thinking right there… Kuronue shifted nervously. “Would you—“ he started, and then stopped to pull himself under control.

Yoko smirked to himself as the bat fought with his pride. Works every time… wonder what he wants if he’s getting so agitated about it… Curiosity was one of Yoko’s weaknesses.

With a huff Kuronue straightened out of the slink he’d fallen into, like a cornered cat, and met Yoko’s mildly curious gold eyes. “I want you to—“ he hesitated, but only for a moment. “I want you to teach me to be a thief.”

Yoko stared at him for a moment. “Wait…what?” he finally said.

“You heard me.”

The fox blinked a few times. He had not been expecting that. “That’s…that’s it?”

Kuronue nodded, but when he saw the fox’s eyebrow twitch upwards he rushed to add, “At least, that’s all I want that I would ever ask of you…” There are plenty of things I’d like from you, Yoko…but your life for any of them wouldn’t be a fair exchange…

As infuriating as that answer had been to someone who wanted to know everything, Yoko, with great effort, shoved his curiosity to the back of his mind, and focused on what was at hand. “Let me get this straight,” he said slowly. “You save me from a slow and painful death by hypothermia and in exchange…” he paused, “…you want me to—make you a thief…?” Kuronue nodded. “But that hardly seems like a fair trade!”

“Will you do it or not, Yoko?”

“Well…yes, I—I mean, I’ll certainly try; I don’t know if I’m much of a teacher but—“

Kuronue raised his head and met the fox’s eyes again. Yoko stopped mid-protest. “There’s nothing else you could give me,” Kuronue whispered, his voice as hollow as his eyes, “that I would ever be able to forgive myself for asking for.”

Again with the cryptic excuses…what’s he hiding? Whatever it is, he won’t give it up easily, that much I can tell.