Vampire Fox

Yoko awoke with a familiar sense of dread. Glancing down at his sleeping scion, he carefully slid out of bed and to the window, aware of the figure lounging in the trees.

“Kuronue,” he said shortly, acknowledging the other demon’s presence without emotion.

There was a small laugh from the murky shadow in the tree branches. “It’s so nice to see you too, my dear fox!” The sarcasm was heavy in Kuronue’s voice as he hopped into the room. The tall bat shot a glance at the sleeping Suichi. “I see you found yourself yet another little pet. Who knows, maybe you’ll be able to hang on to this one for more than a week.”

Yoko’s hackles rose. “I’d be able to keep them as long as I pleased if you didn’t keep interfering, Kuronue!” he snarled, louder than he had intended. He froze as Suichi stirred fitfully, unwilling to wake the redhead from his peaceful slumber. “What do you want now?” he whispered.

Kuronue shrugged. “I just wanted to see your new toy, Yoko. Make sure he’s behaving properly.”

Yoko growled. “He’s my scion, not my pet OR my toy. It’s none of your business how I choose to treat him!”

“Oh, but it is, Yoko. You’re his master, and I’m your master, therefore I’m his master as well. And any disrespect he shows you, it’s an insult to me as well,” Kuronue chuckled.

The fox’s voice rose again. “You don’t understand the concept of a mutual relationship, do you, Kuronue? He’s not my toy or even my pet, he’s my goddamn scion!” Yoko found he was shouting, but he didn’t really care.

“Take it easy, my fox. No need to get so worked up abou-“

Yoko snarled loudly, cutting him off. “Yes, there is. I won’t let you destroy my relationship with Suichi as you have the other seven! I’m sick and tired of this, Kuronue. Just let me treat him as I see fit, OK?”

“Wh-What’s going on, Yoko? Why are you screaming?” Suichi’s sleep-muddled voice killed the fox’s rage.

Yoko turned, all trace of anger gone from his face. “Nothing. Go back to sleep.”

“Who- who’s he?” Suichi looked at Kuronue warily, not liking the glint in this stranger’s eye.”

The fox’s eye twitched. “No one of any importance. I’ll take care of it, so go back to sleep.”

Kuronue laughed. “So I’m of no importance now, am I? Such an impudent little fox you are! It would seem I’ve been away too long. You’ve forgotten the respect that’s due to me, Yoko.”

Yoko whirled around. “I’m angry, Kuronue. I’m angry, and I’m tired of your bullshit! Just go the hell away and leave us alone! I don’t feel like dealing with your crap anymore!”

The purple eyes narrowed. “You’re pushing it, fox. You are my scion. I am your master. You cannot order me around,” Kuronue warned. “Keep this up, and I might have to re-teach you the meaning of ‘respect.’”

The fox bared his teeth and said nothing. Suichi got out of bed and came to stand next to Yoko, looking small and frail next to him. Yoko spared him a glance. “Go back to bed, Suichi. I can deal with this myself. You’ll only get yourself hurt.” The human shook his head silently and remained where he was. He was trembling, but he glared at Kuronue as fiercely as Yoko, not liking the black-clad demon that was making the fox so agitated.

“Isn’t that cute,” Kuronue said between gritted teeth. “The little human wants to protect his master and disobey his master’s master! Just like his master!”

“Leave him alone, Kuronue,” Yoko growled, tail lashing like a tiger’s. “This is between you and me. Suichi, I told you to go back to bed. Go.”

“No.”

Yoko’s angry gaze shifted to the redhead. “Suichi, I’m not going to tell you again. Go. Back. To. Bed!”

“No.”

Kuronue laughed. “He’s worse than you, Yoko. But it doesn’t seem like he’s used to obeying orders; I’d say it’s your own fault he’s so disobedient.” Yoko snarled and his muscles tensed, but he remained silent. Kuronue moved closer. “I’m feeling generous. Let me take him for, oh, say a week, and I’ll do you the favor of breaking him for you.”

“Leave us alone, Kuronue,” Yoko snarled. “We’re perfectly fine the way we are.”

“This is unlike you, fox.” The demon mused, “Normally you hate disobedience and love bending your pets to your will.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Yoko saw Suichi’s eyes widen. “Suichi is different, Kuronue. I don’t want to hurt him.”

Kuronue raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Why is that?”

The fox shot a reassuring look at Suichi. “I couldn’t hurt him.”

“Au contraire, my fox,” before they could blink, Kuronue was behind Suichi, one arm around his neck, the other around his waist. “The more delicate they are the easier and more fun it is to break them,” he growled.

Suichi was frozen in fear, unable to move as Kuronue’s hand crept down his pants. With a bark of rage, Yoko threw himself at Kuronue, catching the bat off guard and flinging him to the floor. Suichi scrambled backward, heart pounding.

“Don’t you touch him, you bastard!” Yoko roared. “He’s mine, Kuronue. I don’t care what you do to me, but Suichi is mine!”

All sign of amusement was gone from Kuronue’s face. Before Yoko could do anything, the other demon had him pinned face first on the ground. “Be careful, Yoko. You might get yourself in trouble,” he hissed.

He found himself wrenched off the fox as Suichi grabbed Kuronue by his hair and pulled as hard as he could. With a cry of pain, the bat lashed out with his foot and sent the smaller human sprawling. Suichi hit the wall and yelped, but stood up again, shaking. He pressed himself against the wall as the bat advanced, teeth bared in anger.

Yoko threw himself blindly at Kuronue, wrapping his arms around Kuronue’s neck and biting his ear, hard. Kuronue grunted and judo-threw the fox off him and crashing into Suichi, where the fox’s head hit the human’s, and both slid to the floor, unconscious.