Partners by Moonlight

Chapter 9

Discount

“Well?” Kuroune mumbled as he turned to face Kurama. Sneaking back to their rooms was a breeze, although making the sacks of loot look less obvious wasn’t. The youko remembered a small cave near the town. After making sure there wasn’t anything inhabiting it, they set the bags inside. Kurama sealed the cave with his vines, both to obscure it from vision and to guard against any intruders. Now Kuroune wearily stood before the kitsune, not caring what ‘revenge’ he had in mind.

“Well what?” Kurama walked past Kuroune, shedding his robes before easing himself into bed.

“I thought you wanted to take revenge and all that...”

“Not when you know it’s coming. I’ll just wait until your guard drops, or when I think it’s a good moment.” The youko yawned. “Just get some sleep and we’ll figure out what next to do in the morning. Late morning... If you wake me up before noon, you just might lose a limb.” With that being said, Kurama turned onto his side and fell asleep.

The winged demon glared at Kurama, holding back an insult. He wasn’t angry because he wanted to sleep with the handsome youko, it was a sneaking suspicion that Kurama was taking pity on him after what had happened. Kuroune hated having anyone pity him.

Kurama had left plenty of room for Kuroune on the bed, but the winged demon couldn’t sleep. Quietly he opened the door and slid out into the hallway of the tavern. The downstairs area was decently clean, most likely because of the lack of customers. Since midnight was when they left for the tanuki’s home, it had to be a few hours past that.

The streets of Narusuke were almost empty, compared to earlier. Only a few nocturnal demons roamed about, probably feeding off the drunks that staggered amongst the streets in search of home. Or a good place to throw up and pass out. Kuroune smirked to himself as he remembered some of his younger days.

A hand reached out of an alley and grabbed Kuroune’s boot. The grasp was so feeble, the black haired demon didn’t bother to guard himself. From what he could tell, it was a small sazamus demon. It’s skin was tinted a light green, while it’s hair was a darker red. Black eyes stared dully up at Kuroune; this demon was obviously someone’s food. Some where in the shadows red eyes glared at him then the sazamus demon was dragged further into the dark alley, Kuroune giving the hand a kick for good measure.

When he looked up, he noticed the name of the building on the brightly colored plaque. “Blue Tran,” he mumbled, remembering the odd girl from earlier. “Hn, why not?” Kuroune pushed past the demons standing by the door talking, entering a barely lit room. The walls were covered with blue paint, as well as every chair and table. A few demons observed his entrance, none with any real interest. As soon as he was a few feet within the room he felt a tap on his shoulder.

“Hey you pretty lil sneaky demon, remember me?” The girl from the store said as he turned around. She was smiling ear to ear, and wearing something more revealing than last time, if possible. “My boyfriend told me I sold everything way too cheaply, I even got into a little bit of trouble because of it.” She stuck out her tongue.

“Wish I could say I was sorry, but I’m not. You should be more careful.”

“Pfft... You’re right.” The girl trailed a finger along the edge of Kuroune’s vest, following it down his chest. “I must say, the clothes fit you well. Anywho, the least you could do is buy me a drink, sneaky.”

Kuroune chuckled jerking his head to the bar. “Sounds about right. The name’s Kuroune, by the way.” They wove their way through the crowd of demons to the bar. It had a black stone top and an intricately carved wooden bottom. The few stools sat haphazardly about the bar were barely cushioned and covered in blue and black fabric.

“Kuroune huh? Mind if I call you Kuro?”

“Not at all.” The winged demon nodded to the short brown eyed bartender, his clipped hair long enough to be put into little spikes. Kuroune glanced back at the girl. “What would you like?”

“The special, a blue tran.” She giggled, “they’re reeeeeally strong.”

“Heh, good.” Kuroune smirked at the bartender. “Two blue trans.” He turned back to the girl. “So what’s your name then?”

“Suza.” She leaned her elbows onto the top of the bar, crossing her arms so she lightly clasped each elbow in her hands. “At least, that’s what my name is tonight,” she said, grinning up at Kuroune.

“Aah, I see.” The bartender shoved two glasses at them, each the length of Kuroune’s hand and filled to the brim with blue liquid. He sniffed it hesitantly, wrinkling his nose when the smell of strong liquor assaulted his senses. “Shit, you weren’t kidding.” The winged demon absently pulled out the coins the bartender requested and handed it to him.

Suza laughed, “nope.” She held up her cup. “To a long life and the bloody death of our enemies.”

Kuroune repeated the popular toast then tossed back the drink in two long gulps. It burned his throat on the way down, but that was to be expected. The drink left a pleasant sweet flavor in his mouth, one that he couldn’t identify at the moment. Once the blue liquor hit his stomach, and he felt it actually entering his belly, it stung for a second then a cold sensation filled his gut. Using his knowledge of drinking, by a great many years of doing so weekly, he guessed could probably handle at least five of these with out worrying about being too drunk.

“So? What do you think?”

“It’s good.” He waved to the bartender and waited until he was done with another costumer. “You want another one?”

The next hour was a blur, made possible by the wretched blue trans. For some reason, the liquor hit him harder than he had suspected. A few minutes after he downed his fifth, the floor suddenly tilted to one side. Luckily Kuroune had a good grip on the bar by that point, so he didn’t appear to be as drunk as he was... he thought. He had enough small talk with Suza, and wanted nothing more than to get back to the relative safety of his quiet room. “Good luck with that sweets, maybe I’ll catch you later.”

“Awwww! Don’t leave yet, Kuro.” The girl pressed her body against Kuroune’s, not helping his hindered ability to stand up straight. “Why don’t we go up to my room? I could show you a few... tricks I’ve learned.” She rose to the tips of her toes and whispered, “I’m very good with my tongue,” then promptly tripped.

Kuroune caught her by the wrist before she came close to hitting the ground, swinging her around so she could grab a hold of the bar stool. “As much as I think I’d enjoy that, I’m just not in the mood. Some other time, maybe.” Ignoring Suza’s protests he left the bar. The sky was beginning to lighten in the east, heralding in the new day. Stumbling back to the tavern he had been staying at wasn’t a problem. The few demons that thought he’d make a good snack were. To his luck they weren’t that powerful, or smart. Each was easily defeated or wounded seriously enough to retreat from him without much of a fuss. They were only enough of a bother to put him in a bad mood once he reached the tavern and his room.

That was really only part of the reason he was feeling crappy. The goal he had set for himself was to forget what he had just seen of his brother. To force the feelings down that arose as he saw those demons carry him away. Regret, guilt, sadness... those feelings were a hindrance to his very existence. Feeling those sorts of emotions would only get him killed, like they did for his sister. Or his brothers. He had sworn to himself to not be weak like the rest of his siblings, he wouldn’t die for some sentimental shit.

Other than Relita, none of them had done anything for him. Why should he have rescued Kade then? Kuroune scrubbed at his face. In all honesty, which being drunk brought out in him, he was more disgusted with how little he actually felt towards Kade’s passing. While he didn’t want to be a caring person, such as his sister, he didn’t want to be cold like his father. Feh, it was all too much for him to balance out. He’d feel how he would feel and that was that. Struggling against himself took too much effort, especially when his head was spinning so fast.

“Why the hell do I drink? I just end up thinking in circles-“

“Mmmm, why do you have to be so noisy?” Kuroune wrinkled his nose as he stripped off his clothes. He hadn’t realized he had been speaking aloud... How long had he been mumbling out loud to himself? “And what took you so long to come back?” Kurama mumbled sleepily as Kuroune slid under the sheets.

“If your cheap ass would have booked us two suits instead of one, you wouldn’t have to worry about that.” Kuroune snapped as he turned onto his side, back facing Kurama, urging the spinning in his head to stop. He let out a gasp and arched his back as claws were dragged none too gently down his shoulder blade to his rear.

“Don’t bitch at me at this hour. Sleep. NOW.” The last word was accompanied by another drag of the kitsune’s claws.

“Damn it, I will if you’d stop doing that!”

Kurama uttered a quiet chuckle, already falling back to sleep. Kuroune followed soon after, blissfully too drunk to dream or remember any of it if he did.


~*O*~

“Hey... Wake up.” Kuroune was nudged in the chest yet again. He mumbled something then turned away from what ever was nudging him. Kurama pinched his nose closed. Within seconds Kuroune sat up, gasping for breath. “Heh, don’t glare at me like that. It’s the only way to get you up.”

“Mmhmph... What time is it?” He rubbed at his eyes, trying to look outside from the small window in their room.

“Five past noon. Why?”

“Crap!” The winged demon sat up, grabbing his clothes. “I need to go pick up my boots... Have you eaten dinner yet?”

“Nope. I got up four hours ago, but you looked like hell... and smelled it too, so I let you sleep in. Well, are you treating me to dinner again?” Kurama chuckled as he picked up Kuroune’s red pouch. The many coins clanked softly together, causing the kitsune’s eyebrow to rise. “You still have a lot of money left over, unless they’re all small coins. Even then...” He tossed the bag at Kuroune, who caught it midair.

“They aren’t, not that it’s any of your business.” There weren’t any residual effects left by a night of heavy drinking, so he dressed quickly. Kurama watched him with interest... Rather, his interest was on specific parts of Kuroune’s body. He sniffed himself cautiously. “Do I really smell that ba”
”

“No, I figured out it was your clothes so I rinsed them off... How did you get so much lizzer blood on you? Those shadow creatures stink to high hell, I would have thought you could of avoided them before they attacked you.”

“Ne, too drunk.” Kuroune smirked and winked at Kurama. “Ready?”

“Sure.”

Kuroune led Kurama to the town square, then retrahis his steps to the shoe shop. It was hard to keep from smiling as he entered the shop, Kurama right behind him. “Hello?” When there was no answer the winged demon shrugged. “Guess we’ll have to wait another hour.”

“What?! Why?”

“Well he said he’d be here either at five or six... Looks like it’ll be six.”

“Great. Why don’t we go eat then come back?”

“No.” Kuroune closed the distance between himself and Kurama quickly, pushing him against the wall. “I have a better idea.” He kissed Kurama full on the lips, willing the silver youko to respond to him. It didn’t take very long for Kurama’s arms to wrap around his neck, while Kuroune’s traveled down to his partner’s hips.

Kurama pushed him back a little, gasping for breath. “Not that I’m complaining, but isn’t an hour too little of time?” He smiled deviously as his hands wandered over Kuroune’s body in suggestive ways.

“Mmm, thin it it as a race.”

“Alright...” The youko pulled Kuroune back to him, fingers unlacing the winged demon’s vest.

“No. You first.” Kuroune whispered as he took a few steps back. So far, so good. Kurama didn’t look as if he had suspected anything. Slinkily the youko undressed, starting with his sash. It was easily discarded, hung on a display boot. Kurama slid one finger down his chest slowly, opening his robe, then shrugging it to the ground. His silky pants were the next to drop, the silver youko now standing naked before him. Kuroune licked his lips, holding back an urge to shed his own clothing and give that beautiful body the caresses and pleasure it deserved.

“Your turn, Kuro.” Kurama flicked his tail, brushing it over his thighs. Suddenly he froze, his ears perking up. With narrowed eyes he walked back to the curtain on the back wall. Scuffling could be heard more loudly now, so the youko tossed back the curtain. Behind it was the shop keeper, his pants seemed to have been hastily pulled up. Kurama looked on in disgust, his head whipping around to face where Kuroune stood chuckling.

“That enough of a show for you?” The winged demon called out, his eyes never leaving Kurama’s.

“Ye... yes.” The shop keeper stuttered. Kuroune couldn’t blame him, Kurama looked pretty angry.

“Good, I’ll take my boots then with out leaving any additional gold. Agreed?”

“Agreed...” The short boot maker rushed to grab a pair of boots, then hesitated. The path to Kuroune would take him right past the naked kitsune.

“That’s what all this was?! I was just a discount you used?” Kurama narrowed his eyes, his ears laying flat against his head as his tail twitched with barely suppressed anger. He strode back to his robe and pants, pulling them on quickly. “That’s low Kuroune.” Kurama grabbed his sash and walked out of the store.

The black haired demon blinked. Ever since that first week they had met, Kurama called him Kuro. Kuroune winced then grabbed the boots from the shop keeper’s limp fingers. “Wait!” He tried to yell out to Kurama, but he either couldn’t or didn’t want to listen. Slamming the door shut, he searched for the familiar silver hair. “Shit...” Kurama was striding down the road on the left, his anger evident in each footstep.

Twenty minutes later, he finally caught up with Kurama. The chase had ended well out of town. Now they stwithwithin the densely wooded forest, the silver youko crossing his arms over his chest and was leaning against the thick trunk of a tree. His eyes were as icy as the first time Kuroune had met him. They stood staring at each other for a moment, the winged demon catching his breath before he walked up to Kurama.

“Kura-”

“Stop. I don’t want to hear it.” Kurama grabbed the winged demon by the strings on his vest then spun him around, shoving his back aga the the tree. “I trusted you... If that’s what you had wanted, all you had to do was ask. I wouldn’t have minded if you had just asked me first.” He shook Kuroune once, shoving him into the trunk yet again. “There are a few things you need to learn about having a partner, Kuroune. As well learning a few things about me...”

Kuroune felt something curl around his ankles then slide up his legs. As he looked down, two vines caught his upper arms, pulling him against the tree. Struggling wasn’t an option, the vines held him fast to the soft barked tree. No matter how much he pulled and tugged on them, they wouldn’t budge an inch. A gentle touch to his chin made him freeze.

The youko pushed his chin up, so their eyes were almost level despite the fact that Kuroune was taller than Kurama. “It’s time you learned your place...”