Only the Most Intense Flames can Burn a Rose

A/N: Hey guys. Sorry about the time it took for this. For some reason, I've been having big problems for this chapter, and I'm sure the next chapter is going to be just as hard, if not harder. I've recently become very strained when it comes to sex scenes, and I don't want it to sound that way when you guys read it, so I'm going to try as hard as I can

Also, this chapter might seem a bit out of character for Karasu, but don't worry. He'll be back to his lovely sadistic self soon. :3 Thanks for all the reviews I've gotten. You have no idea how awesome it feels to get on AFF and see that someone else likes what I'm doing. Anyway, enjoy.




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So, why didn’t Kurama have his powers? It didn’t make any sense. It had to be the fault of whatever it was that was around his neck. It felt rough, so it wasn’t some kind of cloth, and it wasn’t cold like metal, so it wasn’t a chain of some sort- besides it was too thick to be a metal unless it was plenty gaudy. Karasu just didn’t strike him as the gaudy type.

“What is this…?” Kurama finally asked, look back up towards the proud crow demon, who finally took his eyes off the friendly green fern. He kept his own green eyes lifted when the amethyst ones met his, and he saw the other’s cheeks lift as if his mouth curled into a smile.

“It’s another gift to you, Kurama. Do you not like it as much?” His head tilted to the side curiously, and he turned his body to completely face the man on the ground. It was the person he was most interested in, after all.

Kurama shook his head, giving a soft sigh and then stood up. He felt the dark eyes following him even if he wasn’t looking at them. Without a word, he moved past him and into the bathroom that was so close. He looked in the mirror and what was on his neck. It was a leather collar- of sorts. It could just as easily be called a choker, since there wasn’t a metal ring to string a leash through, but knowing who put it around his neck, collar would be a safe guess.

Now he knew the feeling. He didn’t realize it before, but it was the same thing that he felt when he was in the dark tournament with his powers sealed by the demon paint. He did a mental search of his body. Were there any open wounds on his body at all? Now he wished that he hadn’t dodged so much before, and it made sense why Karasu wasn’t trying his hardest. It was too late to win this time. The only thing he had to work with was a small scratch on his shoulder.

He heard footsteps, and turned his head to the side to see the other coming towards him, mask in one hand and finally not covering his face. He turned his head back to the reflection in front of him, to protect his lips mostly. Karasu didn’t even go for that, however. He just stood at his side and brushed the other’s hair away from the injured shoulder. Kurama didn’t see any harm in it, besides the obvious, so he didn’t do anything in response to the other man’s approach.

Karasu didn’t do what Kurama expected, however. He lifted both hands to his shoulder, and the cloth was ripped away from the scratch. He lowered his lips to the wound and out came his tongue. It probed and explored the shallow wound.

Kurama watched the reflection, captivated by how Karasu’s tongue moved and felt against the scratch. It didn’t sting, it was warm, but it was comforting. Watching it was the only erotic part, and he continued to watch the man when he lifted his head from it, and he looked into the mirror to meet the other’s eyes. It took a moment, but Kurama tore his gaze away and looked back to the shoulder. It was healed.

What the hell? Did he have healing saliva too? Karasu took half a step back, and then lifted a hand to his mouth. He pulled out a leaf from his lips, and the odd turquoise color gave it away. It needed to me mixed with some sort of living creature’s fluid to work, and Karasu obviously mixed it with his saliva, and activated its healing properties. He’d used it himself, and it had felt just like Karasu’s tongue had felt. It had a terrible taste, though, and one that lingered. Most people preferred to use blood, which also made it better to use, since it dried to a film that lingered over the thin skin. The healing wasn’t perfect after all. A carpet burn could probably re-open it.

Karasu dropped the half-chewed leaf in the trash, and then looked back to his target, not messing with the mirror this time. His hands moved right back to the hair, and almost as soon as he had a small lock threaded through his fingers, Kurama pulled it back away and moved out of the bedroom. He was almost surprised when Karasu didn’t immediately follow him out. He knew that his eyes remained faithful to him, but that was okay. He could live with Karasu just looking at him, especially since he couldn’t use his abilities.

He crossed the room and took a seat at the desk that was in his room, after pulling the chair out from under it. No need to have his legs trapped under the dark wood of the piece of furniture. If he was going to sit, then it was either that chair, the bed, or on the floor. The floor was harder to get up from if he did need to flee from overly friendly hands, and the bed just seemed too much like an invitation. This chair wasn’t the most comfortable, but it certainly was the most sensible option.

Kurama didn’t even see Karasu leave the bathroom. However, it was easy to tell that he had when he felt the man at his back again. The red in those eyes had faded. He was back to normal, even without his mask. He could hear him breathing, and it was a lot... Softer than most people, more shallow. Looks like he was trying to control his powers. At least he wasn’t trying to turn into an entire demon bomb while he was in Kurama’s apartment.

“Why so cold, my fox? I merely defended myself against you.” It was chilling to hear that voice without the metallic tone that he was so much used to. He knew that meant he was that much more dangerous. The last time he’d heard it, he had fully intended to give his life to keep the raven away from the rest of the three worlds. “Why are you so against me, lovely? I just want to show you how I truly feel for you, even with your imperfections...”

Do you feel those hands? Even as they touch just the skin of your neck and shoulder, isn’t it amazing? Use him for at least a night.

Kurama stood immediately, shaking his head once. “No, Karasu. Take this damned... Thing off of my neck and get out.” He just couldn’t bring himself to call the leather what it was. To say that he was wearing a collar was just... Demeaning. He wasn’t going to do it, even with a fox whispering in his mind.

The voice that came in response was real, and a whole lot more convincing than the voice in his head. “I cannot do that, Kurama. It is for your own protection. If you don’t use your abilities against me, then why would I need to harm your pretty human skin?” Karasu paused, and Kurama heard him take a step forward. Karasu wanted him to hear that, or he wouldn’t, and he knew that. However, he didn’t know why Karasu was standing there trying to convince him instead of just taking what he wanted. Force seemed a whole lot more in character for him.

“I don’t want to know how you feel about me, Karasu. Take your feelings and go.”

“If you don’t want to know how I feel about you, then what was the kiss on the first day I saw you? Don’t you want to feel my lips against yours again? Against your skin?” Karasu asked, using a patient tone, even if he was looking at a back and the long, damaged hair instead of the perfect face that he loved so much.

However, the voice in his head probed once again at the same time. You want his touch. I know you do. It makes your skin tingle. Take it, my human. Discard him when you’re through. You need him.

“No.” He replied simply, sounding as confident as he could in a situation where his own mind was encouraging himself to give in. He turned around then, and he saw Karasu standing beside the chair instead of behind it, and he had one of his long fingered hands resting on the back of it.

As soon as the raven opened his mouth to speak again, he felt an overwhelming urge to just go forward. He looked into those hauntingly beautiful eyes, and he just wanted to take off his shirt and offer himself.

“No!” He jerked his head to the side, tearing his eyes away from the other male. “Stop it!”

Karasu just lifted an eyebrow, parted mouth falling back closed. A smirk pulled at the side of his mouth, and he took the chance to move forward. His long legs crossed the space between them easily, and both of his hands went up. Kurama was brought back to reality as he felt the other’s hands press against his cheek, urging him to move his head up and back to the front. He didn’t fight as much as he wanted to, and he once again found himself looking to a pair of violet eyes. God, and what was that expression? If he didn’t know any better, he’d say it was love.

Who cares what it is. Use it. He started to lift the heels of his feet, trying to move closer to the other’s lips.

Then he stopped again, and closed his eyes. He would have pulled his head away again if he could, but Karasu’s hands didn’t allow that to happen. He was trapped. He didn’t even have his own mind to back into to flee from this situation. He couldn’t try to rationalize what he needed to in order to get out of it. He couldn’t work out a though process without the King of Thieves interrupting him. He couldn’t—

He couldn’t even think. Not with this. Not with this kiss that made his defenses already start to crumble. He sighed heavily through his nose, and his eyebrows and shoulders dropped. He didn’t have his abilities to fall back on. He didn’t have his mind to reason in. He didn’t have a place that he could flee to.

Maybe just one time wouldn’t hurt...?

As if Karasu knew of his impending victory, his lips parted, and Kurama felt the same tongue of before press forward, and ever so gently beg for entrance. His own lips complied, and he didn’t know if it was because of what he wanted, or if Youko had caressed them open. But when he felt that tongue flick against his own, he didn’t really think that he cared.

Yeah. One time couldn’t hurt...