You Said "Yes"...

The room was opulent, as would be expected given the quality of the paper the note had been written on. “As you value your secrets, come alone.” That and the address were all he had to go on. Well, there was more, but that he wasn’t completely sure.

Kurama had noticed a strange aura of someone following him a little over a month ago. Not just someone, some demon. He didn’t know who it was, though, and he could never pin down where it came from, so he tried to ignore it. He even began to wonder if he was getting paranoid. No one else, not Yusuke, not Hiei, not Kuwabara felt anything when he became aware of the creeping feeling going up his spine as he was sure eyes were on him. Soon after, shadowy figures began invading his dreams, taunting him, touching him. He’d wake in a cold sweat, panting, trembling, trying to forget how his body responded to the touches. He tried to forget the longing he felt under the terror when he woke.

“Welcome, my little redhead,” a velvet voice filled his ears, though he couldn’t place its source.

“What do you want?” he growled, gritting his teeth against the kick he felt in his groin.

There was motion and it seemed as if the tall demon just appeared in front of him. Pale skin, long flowing black hair, violet eyes combined to make the redhead nearly double over as his body demanded the creature’s touch. “I think it may be a matter as to what you want, Kurama,” the demon’s voice went through his body.

Drawing in a deep breath, the kitsune forced his body to stop reacting. This demon’s arrogance was enough to stop him. “Why did you call me here?” his voice managed to be haughty and his posture matched it. “Why have you been following me?” He focused on the mask that was where the other’s mouth should have been. “Who are you?”

The tall demon began to approach Kurama and the redhead remained still, not wanting to give him any more satisfaction. A laugh rose from the depths of the pale chest, drawing Kurama’s attention to the fact that the other was dressed. A trench coat hung open from his shoulders and the tight black pants that looked like they were leather. It took physical effort to lift his eyes from those pants. This drew another chuckle from the advancing demon. Kurama forced himself to make eye contact, holding it without turning his head as long as he could as the other circled him. He wasn’t going to give this demon the satisfaction of turning to follow him.

The demon stopped behind Kurama and the redhead was hard-pressed not to turn around. “I called you here because I like you.” Kurama felt a shudder pass up his spine. “I have been following you because it’s possible you may be worthy of my affections.” The hair on the back of Kurama’s scalp stood on end and he was sure he could feel the other leaning closer to him. He jumped when hands went around his neck, caressing his throat and hair, “Karasu.”

Kurama’s heart fluttered like a trapped butterfly, trying to break through the barrier of his throat. “Let me go,” he managed to growl. His body felt hot. He needed to get out of there. He needed to get away from the demented demon. He needed more of Karasu’s touch.

Karasu stepped closer, bringing his chest against Kurama’s back, “Is that really what you want?” he asked softly while his hands continued to fondle Kurama’s hair.

Kurama grit his teeth and stepped away from Karasu, turning to face him after taking three steps, “Yes, I’m sure that’s what I want. I want you to leave me alone.”

Karasu chuckled, “I don’t think that’s what you really want, Kurama.” He approached the redhead again and Kurama forced himself to stand his ground. Karasu’s hand went to his cheek, sliding back into his hair. “I think you want what I do,”

Kurama slapped the demon’s hand away and stepped away, “No, I don’t.”

Karasu grabbed his wrist, “What would your mother say if she knew what you were, Kurama?”

“What do you mean?” he asked, sharply, pulling away, though he didn’t manage to break Karasu’s hold on him.

“What would your mother do if she knew your secrets, kitsune?”

Kurama froze, “What do you mean?”

Karasu pulled the unresisting redhead to his chest, “I know you’re a kitsune. I know you’re Youko Kurama. I know you’re on parole and working for Koenma. Do you want to know what else I know?” He wrapped his arm around the slender redhead.

“Let me go,” Kurama’s voice was breathless.

“You’ll do anything to make sure she doesn’t find out, won’t you?”

“Let me go,” Kurama repeated, making no move to get away on his own.

“All you have to do is say yes, Kurama.” Karasu’s hands caressed the redhead’s back, his ki in them, tingling along the nerves of the trembling kitsune.

“Let me go,” the words were weak, barely leaving his lips.

“Just say yes, Kurama.” Karasu brought one hand to the kitsune’s neck, his ki still focused in his fingers and he lightly touched the redhead’s fluttering pulse. Kurama gasped, his eyes rolling back in his head, his hips pressing into Karasu’s. “Say yes, Kurama,” Karasu ordered, his voice soft, hard, deep.

“Yes,” the kitsune moaned as the demon’s fingers traced his lips. He gasped as the stinging feel of Karasu’s ki flowed through his skin. He moaned again, “Yes.”

Karasu slid his fingers into the red hair, “Good.” He watched with half lidded eyes as the redhead melted under his touch, knowing that the only thing he was responding to was the almost pain of his ki. It didn’t matter, though. He would posses the redhead. And then, he would preserve his beauty. It was only proper. Otherwise, the beautiful kitsune would age and his beauty would be forgotten. Beauty such as his needed to be preserved. Karasu slowly drew his fingers along Kurama’s neck, tracing the fluttering pulse, unable to resist the temptation to wrap his hand around the delicate column.

Kurama was drawn up short when a hand began to squeeze at his throat. His head snapped up and he tried to step back, stopped by the arm around his waist. “Let me go.”

“You agreed to this,” Karasu replied equitably, his hand going behind Kurama’s neck.

This answer drew the redhead up short. He cursed that kitsune were bound to their word. He didn’t want to do anything with this psychotic…the thought dissolved with a gasp as Karasu ran his ki-charged hand down his chest, brushing over his nipple, sending shocks through his body. Kurama struggled to regain his indignation, but it fled from him again when Karasu’s hand traveled back up his body. There had to be a way out of this, he thought, only to have the thought torn from him when Karasu’s hand traced his neck again. If he could just get away from…he moaned as Karasu drew a finger over his lips. “S-stop that,” he groaned.

Karasu’s mouth moved to his ear, the strange mask between them. “Do you really want me to stop, Kurama? You’re body seems to be enjoying itself.” The demon slid the hand around the kitsune’s waist to cup his ass and pressed their hips together.

Kurama gasped when he realized how hard he was. His mind protested. He didn’t want…the thought lost its ground when Karasu rolled their hips together again, angling his hips so Kurama could feel his arousal. The redhead’s mind and body continued to rail against each other, leaving him trembling. “No,” he finally managed to gasp out, though it was so breathless it carried little force.

Karasu ignored the word, continuing to slowly rock their hips together as his other hand began to work on removing the redhead’s shirt. He gently pressed the redhead’s shoulder back and the kitsune arched away gracefully, their hips continuing to move in a slow rhythm. Green eyes, full of recriminations and lust disappeared under heavy lids. Purple eyes, full of smug satisfaction, watched as pale fingers loosened the fastenings of the redhead’s shirt and teased the exposed skin. Kurama rolled his head side to side, moaning, sometimes the sounds resolving themselves into denials, which Karasu continued to ignore.

The last button fell open under Karasu’s fingers and he ran his palm up the exposed skin, enjoying its smooth texture, watching as Kurama brought his hands up to hold his arms. Green eyes opened, revealing the continuing struggle within them. “Stop,” he gasped out.

Karasu slipped his hand behind the redhead’s neck. “Stop what?” he asked as he caressed Kurama’s scalp.

Green eyes tried to disappear again, but Kurama managed to keep them open, “Stop messing with me. What do you want?”

“What is it you want, Kurama?” Karasu turned the question on the redhead.

“No,” was all the redhead managed to answer.

“That doesn’t answer my question, Kurama,” Karasu replied, amused. He ran his ki along the redhead’s body without using his hands, drawing a shuddering moan from the kitsune as his body relaxed again. Karasu used Kurama’s lassitude to remove his shirt and pick him up to carry him in to the room he’d prepared.

Kurama managed to roll his head to see the room and the sight began to energize his body. The room was well lit, and that was the only comfort in it. Dominating the center of the room was a large cage-ish looking device, four bars extending from the floor nearly to the ceiling where they bent sharply and formed an X as they connected to each other. From each bar hung chains with leather cuffs attached. Each upright had chains and leather cuffs attached. In racks along the walls were assorted devices that in another context may be called weapons. Whips, flails, blades, and other things that didn’t fully register before another fluttering of ki along his body forced a groan out of the redhead’s throat and green eyes rolled back into his head.

Wave after wave of ki kept the redhead quiescent as the demon fastened his arms into the cuffs. When Karasu stopped, it took a long moment before Kurama could lift his head and take in his situation. Karasu watched, amused, leaning against one of the uprights, waiting for what was sure to be an amusing reaction. By degrees, Kurama became aware of his situation and Karasu could see the lust fleeing his eyes, replaced by anger. That anger flared to where he could see gold swirling behind the green, only to be hidden as pain crossed the redhead’s face. “Bastard,” Kurama growled out.

“Had you asked, I would have told you they are warded,” Karasu answered, amused as Kurama continued to struggle, his expression revealing when he tried to use his ki. After a long moment, Karasu became bored with the strugglings of the redhead. They weren’t enough, so he walked around behind Kurama and began playing with his hair, pulling it every so often. He felt the redhead’s panic and his struggles became more satisfying. A smirk traces his lips, hidden under the mask and he used his ki to brush along the redhead’s body.

Kurama froze, unwilling to react, unwilling to give Karasu any satisfaction. A chuckle from behind him let him know he’d failed. He closed his eyes and forced himself to focus, struggling to block out the sensations from his body and to think clearly. He couldn’t focus his ki out of his hands. Maybe there was another way. Very slowly, he reached out to the seeds in his hair, encouraged when he received no lacings of pain traveling through his body. He made contact with the seed that became his whip and it responded to him, waiting for his command. He forced his body to relax, waiting.

Karasu felt the redhead’s body go still and ran his hands up his back from the waist band of his pants up to his shoulders, wrapping them around the kitsune’s throat. Kurama’s eyes flew open wide and he pushed his ki into his whip. The thorny vine twisted itself in his hair for stability while it lashed against the other demon’s back. Karasu chuckled, to Kurama’s disgust, “No, no, my little redhead, that is not how we’re playing. You are the one chained. I had hoped you would behave. I hate to cover your neck.”

Karasu’s hands left Kurama’s neck and the kitsune struggled to contain a scream as a ward was placed around his neck, forcing his whip back to its seed form. His body shook as his ki was repressed and he struggled to learn to breathe around the blockage. Karasu’s hands wandered his chest, his back, nails lightly scratching his skin. The demon waited until Kurama’s body stopped trembling and his breathing was more regulated before he moved to stand in front of the bound and warded kitsune.

Angry green eyes met amused violet ones as the kitsune continued to struggle, twisting his wrists, trying to free himself. “That was foolish, my little redhead.” Karasu pulled of his coat, showing it to be whole, “Foolish and ineffective.” He watched as lust again made an appearance in the green eyes. He smirked, “Have you been deprived so long, little redhead?”

Kurama startled, trying to regain control over his body’s reactions to the demented demon standing in front of him. He didn’t want to respond to every touch, every glimpse of skin, but the harder he tried not to react, the more his body insisted on it. “What I have and have not done is none of your concern,” he struggled to make it sound menacing, confident.

Karasu stepped close to Kurama, bringing their chests together, smirking again as the redhead tried to cover a gasp with a growl. Karasu ran his hands along Kurama’s back, “You amuse me so much; I almost don’t want to punish you for your insolence.” Karasu’s fingers rested against Kurama’s shoulder blades. “Almost,” he repeated, “but not quite,” he continued as he broke the kitsune’s skin with his nails and drew his hands down the redhead’s back.

Kurama gasped and fought the scream that wanted to rise from his throat. He bowed his back, trying to get away, but Karasu followed the motion, keeping the cuts of an even depth, deep enough to breech the skin but not deep enough to threaten the tissue beneath. Not yet, that would come later. Kurama’s mind grasped at anything and before the thought had fully formed in his mind, he brought his head forward sharply. Karasu’s fingers went deeper into his back at his waist as the demon growled from the contact of Kurama’s forehead to his mask.

“You insist on being foolish. You disappoint me,” Karasu’s voice growled out from behind his mask as he continued to dig his fingers into Kurama’s back just above the redhead’s pants. Any retort the redhead would have made was swallowed by his gasps of pain. Abruptly, Karasu pulled away from the redhead, stepping completely clear of him, watching as he struggled to regain his composure. “I just want to bring you pleasure,” Karasu pointed out reasonably.

“Pleasure?” Kurama panted as he twisted his wrists again, wincing as the wards activated themselves, sending sparks of pain into his nerves and along his ki.

“You misbehaved, you had to be punished,” Karasu continued, secure in his reasoning. “Now, if you are good, then you won’t need to be punished anymore, my little redhead.”

“I’m not yours,” Kurama growled out.

Karasu shook his head sadly as he walked to the wall, “You said yes to what I wanted, Kurama.” He regarded the tools on the wall and selected a heavy whip before turning back to the redhead, “So, yes, if I say it, you are mine.” Mindful of the beautiful face, he brought the whip up sharply, leaving a deep red mark along the kitsune’s chest. An almost scream left the redhead’s throat to be strangled as he bit his lip, trying to suppress the sound.

“Let it out,” Karasu enjoined. “It will be so much more satisfying for both of us if you do.” The whip traced another line down Kurama’s chest, leaving a throbbing red X on his body. Again, the redhead strangled the scream that wanted to rise from his throat. Karasu shook his head sadly as he stalked to the panting redhead. He stood just out of reach a moment while Kurama tried to glare at him. Karasu shook his head again and traced a finger nail up one of the marks. “You just insist on being difficult, don’t you?” he sighed.

“Get it over with,” Kurama glared, his voice high and tense. “Just fuck me and get it over with already.”

Karasu’s expression was so surprised that Kurama almost believed it to be genuine, “Fuck you? You think that’s what I want?” He laughed softly, deep in his throat. Kurama looked away and Karasu cupped his chin, forcing his eyes back up. “I want you to be mine, Kurama.”

The redhead pulled away, stopped when a surge of the demon’s ki traced through his body, focusing itself in his groin, setting off the battle between body and mind again. Slowly, softly, Karasu explained, “You are quite belligerent. Of the four of you, I liked you best. When I kill something I love,” green eyes went wide showing white around them, “it saddens me, as does thinking about why I am here anyways. But, at the same time, it brings me great joy. Do not fear, I will preserve your beauty.”

Kurama’s voice was aghast, “You’re sick!”

Karasu ran his fingers along the whip marks again, watching as his nails traced fine lines along the raised welts before he brought his eyes back to Kurama’s, “Am I?” He walked behind the kitsune before he could answer, trailing the leather around the narrow waist, “And if I am, what can you do about it but serve my purpose. Did you not hear me, Kurama? I love you.”

Fine tremors traced through the redhead’s limbs. With the wards, he saw no way of freeing himself, and bound by his word, no way out of his obligation to the demon unless he died. If the bastard were sick enough, then perhaps he would enjoy the fight that would be needed to free him of his obligation. Thoughts were chased from his mind as Karasu ran his fingers through the gouges in his back. His body shuddered, trying to escape the pain, only to freeze when another wave of the demon’s ki traced through his body, making the sensations almost pleasurable. But, with each repetition of the ki, it was loosing its effectiveness. Kurama was able to hold onto his determination, his desire to leave. That gave him a small measure of satisfaction when his demented captor stepped away from him.

Kurama’s head rolled enough that he could trace Karasu’s movements across the room while his mind struggled to find something that didn’t rely on his ki to get him out of the wards. With the ward around his neck, he couldn’t push his energy into his seeds anymore. While he thought, he unconsciously sought an outlet, pushing ki though his body. A small gasp escaped his lip when he felt his energy respond along the open wounds and his feet.

Hearing his captive’s reaction, Karasu picked up the foot long blade he’d been fingering. “So, you like this, do you?” he asked, examining the blade as he walked back to the bound kitsune.

Kurama bit his lip to keep back any number of retorts that wanted to leap from his mouth. He shrugged, “Tell me,” he began, “what is it you want from me?”

Karasu brought up his free hand to caress Kurama’s cheek gently, “You’re making me very concerned for your mind, my pretty redhead. I told you what I want.” He laid the tip of the knife against Kurama’s chest, just above where the whip marks crossed, “I want to posses you and then I’ll preserve you, share the deepest of intimacies with you.” He drew the blade downwards, opening the kitsune’s skin.

Kurama struggled to keep down his scream of pain and only partially succeeded, a whimper escaping lips trapped between his teeth. His body trembled as he fought within himself for control. While he knew he could still get his ki out, it didn’t do him much good without a seed or something to focus it into. He gasped aloud as the blade dug deeper into his abdomen.

“That’s better,” Karasu murmured. “I want your full attention, and full responses.”

Kurama bit back a groaning gasp as the blade continued down his body and Karasu’s ki caressed his groin again. He could feel his body wanting to respond even though his mind didn’t want to. He pulled back as far as his restraints would allow when he felt Karasu’s hand caressing his groin. “Make up your mind what you want.”

The demon laughed, “I’m not the one that’s conflicted, my little redhead.” He moved closer to the trembling redhead, wrapping his hand with the knife behind the kitsune’s back, the blade along Kurama’s spine. “It’s you who needs to make up your mind.”

Kurama managed to keep his mind focused. There had to be a way for him to get away. He was too warded to force enough ki out of his body without a focus and his best focal items were plants. He let his head loll, using the motion to check out the room. Not a single plant within the arc he could survey without looking obvious. He brought his head up again to look into Karasu’s eyes, searching for hope there as he remarked, “I don’t do pain. Make up your mind what you want from me. Pleasure or pain.”

Karasu kept the knife pressed into Kurama’s spine while he ran his hand along his chest, leaning his head on the redhead’s shoulder. “There isn’t a difference between the two, my pretty redhead.” He sighed sadly, nuzzling into Kurama’s neck, causing the redhead to try and squirm away, “Pleasure only brings pain when it leaves and pain brings pleasure the same way.” He lifted his head and met the green eyes that looked on him in disgust, “In the same way, the ultimate pleasure, the ultimate intimacy can only bring death. That is what I wish to share with you.”

Incautiously, Kurama pulled back, the blade digging into the skin along his spine, opening the skin. He hissed and was forced to rethink his strategy, his body freezing in place.

Karasu shook his head, “It’s not time for that, Kurama. There is much you have to learn yet.” He pulled the knife away from Kurama’s body, stepping away to the rack of tools, dropping the blade on the floor now that he was finished with it. Violet eyes scanned the implements remaining, tracing them with his fingers as he thought.

Kurama used the time to his advantage. He could feel the knife, feel where his blood touched it. If he could some how keep the demon distracted, maybe he could use that to his advantage. He could also feel his ki in his blood as it traced down his back and soaked into his pants.

Karasu turned from the rack without selecting a tool. He leaned against the nearest upright, watching the redhead intently. Kurama kept a mask of hostility in place, glaring at the black-haired demon. “You really are quite belligerent, aren’t you? Most laudable.” He walks slowly toward the bound redhead, “You see, no matter how much affection,” Karasu caressed Kurama’s cheek, “you lavish on something, it eventually grows old. This is why I kill the things I love with my own hands.” He wraped his hands around the kitsune’s slender neck, over the ward, squeezing enough to make Kurama uneasy. “You see, I have always done so. And,” Karasu’s hands tightened, forcing Kurama to gasp as the demon leaned closer, “it gives me an insane amount of pleasure to do so.”

Abruptly, Karasu removed the ward and leaned against the upright again. Kurama gasped, struggling to breathe as all the ki he’d been trying to channel through his blood now sought the easier release of the seeds in his hair. Just barely, he managed to control the reaction, keeping the seeds from exploding into their various forms. He gasped again, struggling to remember how to breathe without the heavy weight of ward around his neck. An explosion behind his head rocked him forward, almost dislocating his shoulders with its force. When the ringing in his ears dropped to a tolerable level, he glared at the silent observer. “Just get it over with. Whatever you’re going to do to me, get it over with.”

“Don’t you see, my little redhead, I am doing it,” Karasu chuckled. Kurama stared at him, hostility and confusion on his face. “I have decided that you are worthy of my utmost attention. I felt you searching for any outlet for your ki even around the wards. What I would expect of someone worth my time and energy. And when the ward was removed, you controlled your reaction. Most commendable.”

A small explosion near his side caused Kurama to pull away, both from the heated air and from the demon in front of him. Gold flickered behind his eyes, refusing to fade back into green as he growled, “You’ve angered me. That is most foolish and will not be forgiven.” As Karasu watched on, the redhead’s form lengthened and became more substantial, white covering the swiftly healing wounds, silver hair overtaking the red as furred ears and a tail switching in aggravation showed themselves. The cuffs, tight on the redhead, snapped under the strain to contain the silver youko. “Now, how shall you be punished?”

“So, you did decide to show, Youko Kurama. I am most pleased indeed,” Karasu nearly purred.

“Your offence is great, I do not take lightly to being summoned,” Youko stated flatly, his eyes narrowing at the demon who failed to understand the danger he was in.

“I think you underestimate me,” Karasu said casually, holding his hand palm up in front of him. “I know who I face. Do you?” He threw the energy he’d gathered at the kitsune, causing him to dodge. A welter of petals appeared, obscuring the kitsune’s form as he moved out of the framework of the cage. One of the petals closed in on the pale demon’s face, cutting his skin shallowly.

Karasu chuckled, “Flower petals honed sharp, huh?” He watched the, dance around him, “Beautiful,” his tone admired and then turned hard as the blossoms began to explode around him, “and fleeting.” His eyes found the kitsune standing behind him, “Surely you can do better than that.”

Youko smirked, “It is indeed an honor to meet another of the Quest class of demons. Too bad I have to kill you.” He gasped as he felt the demon’s ki crawl up his body, focusing around his groin. A growl then emerged, “That won’t work.”

Karasu laughed, “But it has.” The kitsune growled and he continued, “It has brought you out, and that is what I most desired.”

“I will not tolerate your games,” Youko snarled.

“But you must, you’re bound by your word, kitsune.” The silver one glared and Karasu laughed, “Or did you forget what Inari does to those kitsune who break their word?”

“I do not forget,” Youko replied low in his throat. Inari was not kind to those who broke their word. Those kitsune were stripped of their powers and left to the mercy of those they sought to betray. He refused to be powerless before this demented demon. “What is it you want from me?”

Karasu stepped closer to the kitsune and Youko had to fight within himself to remain still. “I want to share the deepest of pleasure, the most complete intimacy with you.” He ran his ki charged hands over the kitsune’s body, enjoying the firm muscles that quivered under his touch as the silver one struggled to hold himself still. He allowed his hands to wander lower, cupping the kitsune’s semi-flaccid shaft, “I think that would be quite enjoyable, don’t you?”

Youko bit the inside of his cheek to keep his mind clear. “So,” he began, his voice too breathy. He looked into Karasu’s eyes and found stability in the lack of reason he saw there. “So,” he began again, his voice firmer, “you want me to try and kill you?”

Karasu laughed, squeezing his hand around the flesh in it, sending a touch more ki though it, “That would be the end result, I suppose.”

Youko smiled and put his hands on Karasu’s chest, “That is what I wanted to hear.” He shoved the demon away from him so hard that Karasu’s back shattered the rack holding the implements of torture when it contacted.

Karasu shook himself, his eyes seeming to smile, “That is more like it.” He formed several bombs around himself and sent them after the kitsune.

Youko reached for his whip, manifesting it only to wince when he went to use it. His wrists were not responding normally. He dodged and brought one of them before his eyes. There were still markings around it from the restraints. Under his breath, he cursed as he was forced to dodge again. He returned his whip to its seed form and to his hair. He forced his ki into shape, and threw it from himself. It was harder than it should have been, but he did manage to spear the bombs and detonate them. He stood panting across the room from his demented captor. “Tell me,” he began, “have you heard of the ojigi sou of South America? It responds to heat and fire by retracting its leaves.”

Karasu snorted in contempt, “You are at such a disadvantage and you wish to give a botany lesson?”

Youko smirked. So, the wards had been constructed to affect both his forms, but Karasu didn’t know when he was getting a warning, either. He began to gather his ki to summon the plant, “The ojigi sou of the Makai is a little more proactive, you see. It seeks out flammable things and devours them.” The words of focus left his lips without much thought to them. His attention was focused solely on manifesting the monstrous plant. “Be careful,” he gasped out when the plant grew next to him, “it also seeks motion.” It’d taken more out of him than it should have to call the plant. He’d worry about that when Karasu was disposed of. While he watched Karasu take in the plant and his words, he sent his ki along his body, inspecting it. The marks from the demon’s nails were still running down his back, but nothing from the whip or blade on his chest. As a precaution, he reached out for Hiei and Yusuke, hoping he wouldn’t need their help. He felt Hiei answer that it would be a while before they could reach him, but they would come as soon as they could.

Karasu laughed, “You think this will stop me?” One of the plant’s flowers took an interest in him.

“It seems it has already decided you’re an enemy,” Youko remarked dryly.

A snarl crossed what was visible of the demon’s face hidden by concentration as he was forced to avoid the plants various defenses. He threw a bomb at the center of the plant but that only succeeded in bringing more of its limbs after him.

“Your half assed attacks are going to backfire,” Youko pointed out sounding amused as he tried to break through the bindings on his wrist without moving. He didn’t understand how Karasu had managed to transfer the ward from the cuff to his wrist and to get it to stay when his form changed. That should have corrected any damage his body had taken. It worried him almost more that he could still feel the marks on his back, but they didn’t inhibit his movement so he ignored them for now. Karasu’s eyes narrowed at him, but the odd thing was the lust in them. Youko felt his stomach tremble at the thought that Karasu was enjoying himself.

The plant desired to devour such a strong source of energy and redoubled its efforts to catch Karasu. The demon was forced to concentrate to avoid the plant. Karasu reveled in the danger the kitsune and the plant offered. He had to twist his body awkwardly to avoid the uprights of the cage and the plant caught him, wrapping him with its leaves, trying to consume him. He heard Youko sigh and start to walk away. He grinned and began pulling more ki, pulling it from the plant. He heard the kitsune stop and gasp just before he burst from the wilted leaves. “That was indeed entertaining,” Karasu purred, forcing his mask to loosen itself. Two of the plants remaining stems reached out for him, embracing him tightly as he forced his mask free of his face. He laughed at the freedom he felt without the restraint on him. “I haven’t had to take that off,” he remarked as he wilted the rest of the plant, “since I put it on. Congratulations, Youko, you are indeed worth the effort. I shall greatly enjoy our pleasure.”

Youko was now forced on the defensive as explosions rocked around his body, forcing him to twist and turn around the room. He didn’t have time to focus his ki on anything at all. He picked up the whip Karasu had dropped behind him and began attacking the bombs tracing him with it. He nearly fell on his face when one of his feet refused to leave the ground. Stumbling and swinging the whip around himself, Youko looked down and saw his leg was being held by something growing out of the ground.

“Got you,” the thing laughed before a series of explosions sent him sprawling on his face.

When his head stopped spinning, the weight of the other on his back held him down. “Got you, my pretty redhead,” Karasu’s unfettered voice purred in his ear as the demon rolled his hips into the prone kitsune.

Kurama tensed, struggling to control the bile that wanted to rise to his throat. He moved his eyes and surely his hair was red. The explosions had taken too much out of him and he’d reverted to his human form. He felt no wounds on his body though he could still feel the marks on his back and the binding around his wrists. Whatever he was going to do, he’d have to do quickly. He was running out of energy to continue. He struggled to roll over and push Karasu off of him. All he succeeded in doing was allowing the demon’s hand under his hip.

Karasu rolled his hips into Kurama’s body as he caressed the kitsune’s groin. The redhead buried his face in the floor, his body trembling. With a sudden surge, he shoved with both hands under his shoulders, reaching his feet and throwing Karasu off of him. Karasu chuckled, “Very good. Very good indeed. Wouldn’t want this to end to easily, would we?”

Kurama didn’t answer, moving to draw his rose from his hair. The flower trembled in his fingers, his ki too unsteady to maintain it. He redoubled his efforts to control the flower and it exploded. He glared at Karasu while he panted, trying to stop the trembling in his limbs.

“You don’t even have the strength to summon one of your weapons and yet you continue to glare so at me. Delightful. Truly, I have chosen well, but the game begins to grow dull. Come, share with me your ultimate pleasure.”

Kurama didn’t answer, moving to attack the demon with his bare hands. He had one desperate chance, but he needed to wound the demon for it to work. Several explosions rocked him as he crossed the room, but he pressed on. “You can’t see my bombs anymore, isn’t your attack suicidal?” Karasu asked amused as he watched the redhead struggle across the room.

“If I can’t see them, it doesn’t matter where I am, does it?” He reached for a seed from his hair as he continued to press forward. There was a small chance it’d work, but it wasn’t his main goal in the assault. With a yell of force, he pressed the seed into Karasu’s body while thrusting the demon away from him, using his momentum to push the demon into the wall. He then leapt away from the demon, panting out of physical attack range, waiting.

“Nice attack,” Karasu laughed, “or so I’d like to say.” The demon dug the seed out of his chest. “I’ve seen it before. Come now, be more creative.” He manifested bombs around the shaking kitsune, “But, I think it’s all you can do to stand, isn’t it? But, I must give you credit, you did wound me, twice. That is something to be proud of. Now, let’s be serious before I become bored.”

Bombs exploded around Kurama, twisting his body in pain, but he did nothing to avoid them, concentrating on drawing out his life’s energy to add to his ki, focusing it on summoning his last hope. The effort would quite possibly kill him, but he could see no other way. His body fell and he landed on his hands and knees. Karasu was laughing, delighted, approaching him. With a final yell, Kurama released his final attack, a blood sucking plant that grew explosively as it fed on his life force. The look on surprised ecstasy on Karasu’s face was the last thing he remembered seeing as he collapsed under his own weight, utterly exhausted.

The tableau that greeted Hiei and Yusuke stunned both of them for a moment. The redhead, face down next to a huge plant that continued to suck dry the dead body of a pale, black haired demon. The look of utter fulfillment on the demon’s face would haunt Yusuke for a while as Hiei moved to Kurama.

“Shit.”

The uncharacteristic curse drew Yusuke’s attention from the fallen demon. Hiei knelt over Kurama, having turned the redhead face up. Yusuke moved next to him, “What is it, Hiei?”

“He’s used almost all his ki. There’s barely enough to keep him breathing.”

“Can’t you just transfer some to him, like Kuwabara did to me?” Yusuke asked, slightly confused.

Hiei looked at him, meeting his eyes with an unreadable expression. “Yes, it is possible to transfer some ki to the kitsune, but not the same way that Kuwabara did to you.”

Yusuke frowned, “What do you mean?”

Hiei picked up the limp redhead, “Go close the door and I’ll explain.” He frowned deeply, fairly certain the detective would protest what was needed. He laid the redhead on the bed, examining his arms when he felt an odd energy off of them, and then turning the kitsune over to examine his back. Though invisible to the naked eyes, he could sense the remains of wards around Kurama’s wrists. The marks on his back puzzled him, though. He lifted the ward on his jagan and saw the wounds the kitsune had received. Those should heal when they restored his ki, though, so Hiei didn’t worry about them. He turned his attention again to the kitsune’s wrists, trying to see what type of ward had been used. He frowned deeply, not seeing anyway to remove it, but it didn’t seem to be in the way of what he had to do. He’d leave it for now, checking with Genkai when he had more time. He reset his ward and looked over at Yusuke standing in the door way. “Do not argue with anything I tell you to do. We don’t have time. It is vital for him that you do as I say. Do you understand?”

Yusuke paled, but his voice was steady as he answered, “Yeah. I’ll do what you say.”

Hiei nodded, “See that you do. As you know, kitsune are sexual creatures.” He watched, mildly fascinated that Yusuke’s face was trying to get paler and blush at the same time. He shook himself and continued, “That is how they must restore their ki. There is no other way, and you said you wouldn’t argue with me. Take off your pants and get on the bed.”

Yusuke startled, but a glare from Hiei kept him from arguing. He moved to the opposite side of the bed, turning his back to the koorime as he worked the fastenings of his pants, shoving them down his hips as he sat on the bed. Sound behind him caused him to turn, looking over his shoulder to see Hiei removing Kurama’s pants. The koorime met his eyes, and the look in those red eyes silenced him. “Lay down, detective,” Hiei ordered as he removed his cloak.

Yusuke moved to comply, lying as close to the edge as he could, pulling his shirt down over his hips. His stomach was so tense he was sure he was going to be ill. “Hiei, what are…?”

Hiei cut the detective off, “He needs physical contact to recover.” His eyes took in Yusuke’s tenseness and something began to nibble at his mind. “You’re a virgin?” Yusuke’s face and neck were bright red as he looked at the far wall and nodded. Hiei sighed; Kurama really didn’t have time for this. He walked around the bed to look Yusuke in the eye. “If there were any other way, detective, or if I had time to make you feel comfortable, I would. He doesn’t have time, so bury your disgust and move to the center of the bed and spread your legs.”

Yusuke was aghast at the koorime’s bluntness. His stomach threatened to invert itself. He swallowed thickly and asked quietly, “Could you at least kiss me if I have to do this?”

It took a lot, but Hiei managed not to roll his eyes at the request. He bent over the trembling detective, gently cupping the boy’s cheek and was almost overwhelmed at the fear he could feel coming off of the boy. “Relax, Yusuke. I’ll do what I can to help you, but he has to be our focus, okay?”

Yusuke nodded, holding Hiei’s hand to his face, “I’m trying, Hiei.”

Hiei brought their lips together softly at first and then with more pressure as his free hand went to Yusuke’s flaccid shaft and began stroking it. Yusuke tried to pull away from their kiss, but Hiei continued to press their lips together, his hand slipping behind the boy’s neck. Yusuke whined high in his throat, but his body was responding and that’s all Hiei really cared about at the moment. If he had a chance later, he’d find a way to make it up to the detective, but for now, this was the way it had to be. He pulled back and his voice was gentle as he ordered, “To the center of the bed, Yusuke.”

Yusuke searched his eyes and whatever he found there calmed him. He nodded and moved. Hiei returned to the other side of the bed and pulled his pants off as he walked, absently noting that he was nearly fully erect. He didn’t have time to think about his reaction to Yusuke. He needed to focus on Kurama for now. He brought his ki to his hands and placed one over the kitsune’s heart and one over his groin. While the kitsune could not receive enough ki through simple touch to sustain him, it would be enough to complete what needed to be done. As he stroked Kurama’s flaccid flesh and fed him enough ki to sustain an erection, Hiei looked over at Yusuke, unsurprised to find the brunet’s eyes wide and focused on him. “It’s not going to be very pleasant, for which I apologize, but it must be done, you understand?” Yusuke nodded, still looking into Hiei’s eyes. “We both have to get off.” Yusuke paled again. Hiei sighed, “If there were any other way…”

“I know,” Yusuke whispered, his voice white. “Will it really help him?”

“Yes.”

“You would do this…you…do you like me?” Yusuke’s voice broke. “Does he like me?”

Hiei was puzzled. He searched Yusuke’s face and what of his mind he could reach with the ward in place. Yusuke needed reassurance that he was more than just a convenience. “Yes, I like you, detective, as does he or he wouldn’t have called for us.” Yusuke nodded and seemed to relax. Hiei didn’t understand what liking had to do with assisting the kitsune, but if it helped Yusuke to help him, he’d go with it.

Kurama’s body refused to accept any more ki through his hands and his flesh was fully hard. Hiei looked at the nightstand and was unsure if he should be disgusted or relieved that there was a bottle of lube on it. He reached over and opened it, coating the kitsune’s erection as he looked at Yusuke, “I need you to bring your knees up and relax. I don’t have time to prepare you at all. We have to move quickly. Relax your body as much as you can.” As he instructed the detective, Hiei coated his own shaft with lube. He heard Yusuke taking deep breaths as he maneuvered the kitsune’s body. It was difficult to get the limp body between the detective’s legs, but he managed, Yusuke surprising him by helping. “Hold his shoulders,” Hiei’s voice was soft.

Yusuke did as he was instructed, surprised at how, even with the urgency Hiei expressed, that the koorime was so gentle with him. Thoughts fled him as he felt the kitsune’s slickly coated shaft seeking his entrance. “Relax,” Hiei breathed softly and Yusuke struggled to obey. A high pitched whine made its way out of his throat though he tried not to make a sound. He squeezed his eyes shut as his body was stretched beyond comfort. His breath came in tense gasping pants as he fought his desire to flea. “It’s okay, Yusuke. You’re doing fine. Breathe.” Hiei’s words, so unexpected from the cold koorime gave him anchor and he felt his body calm, making the kitsune’s entrance easier. He opened his eyes again and saw red eyes looking at him, something like compassion in them. “Keep holding his shoulders, Yusuke. Don’t let go, okay?”

“Yeah,” Yusuke breathed out, focusing solely on Hiei’s eyes.

“We both like you,” Hiei added, though he didn’t know why.

Yusuke smiled, blushing slightly, “That helps a lot.”

Hiei nodded, and then entered the kitsune’s body. A slight moan made its way out of Kurama’s throat, but that was the only response from the torpid kitsune. Hiei wrapped one arm low around the kitsune’s hips, using it to brace himself, and the other hand around Yusuke’s shaft, drawing a gasp from the detective. He moved the kitsune back a little as he pulled out, pulling on the detective’s erection. It would be awkward, but he could manage it, he thought as he pressed into the kitsune again, pressing his body forward. Yusuke moaned, drawing Hiei’s attention long enough to notice the pleasure mixed with pain in the boy’s expression. It would do. “I’m sorry we can’t take our time to get you completely used to this,” he murmured as he moved them. He set a pace that he knew would pull him over quickly and hoped would do the same for the detective. He watched Yusuke’s fingers flutter, gripping and releasing Kurama’s shoulders as he continued to brace the redhead’s limp body.

“Hiei,” Yusuke gasped out after a time, drawing the red eyes to his brown ones. “It’s…it’s weird. I’m…I’m gonna…” His head arched back as he struggled within himself.

The sight of the detective so wanton excited Hiei more than he expected and his body demanded release. He could feel the kitsune’s body beginning to draw their energy and knew it was time, “Let it out, Yusuke,” he panted.

With a yell, Yusuke arched back, gripping hard enough to white his knuckles around Kurama’s shoulders. Hiei felt his shaft pulse in his hand and the sensation drew out his own release. He moaned into the kitsune’s back, feeling the redhead’s body accept their energy. Hiei felt the redhead’s muscles tighten around him and heard Yusuke yell again as Kurama’s body milked his shaft, a whine making its way out of his throat. As his release washed over him, Hiei felt the kitsune’s body draw in his energy, mingling it with Yusuke’s to strengthen the weakened redhead.

The three lay limply on the bed, all of them panting. Hiei was relieved to feel the redhead breathing hard under him. “It worked,” he sighed.

Kurama reached around, though his body still responded more slowly than he was accustomed to, and caressed Hiei’s hip, “Thank you.”

Hiei grunted and rolled off the redhead, lifting his ward to examine the kitsune’s wrists and back. The ward marks around his wrists were gone, but the marks remained on his back. He ran his fingers down one of the marks, drawing a shiver from the kitsune, “We’ll have to see Genkai about those.”

Kurama nodded and turned his attention to Yusuke as Hiei left the bed. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“Do you like me?” Yusuke asked softly, his voice barely reaching the redhead’s ears.

Kurama’s voice was confused as he answered, “Yes, Yusuke, I like you.” In his mind, he heard Hiei explain that the detective had been a virgin, replaying their conversation for the redhead. Kurama groaned, “I’m so sorry, Yusuke. Yes, I do like you.” He bent to gently brush his lips against the brunet’s. Yusuke evaded the gesture, though, turning away from the redhead. “Yusuke?” Kurama asked softly.

“Get off me,” Yusuke growled, his body tense.

“I’m sorry, Yusuke,” Kurama repeated as he moved off the brunet, wincing at the indrawn hiss of pain Yusuke gave as he moved. Yusuke rolled over, drawing what he could reach of the blankets around his body as he curled into a ball. “I really am sorry, Yusuke,” Kurama whispered, wincing when Yusuke pulled a pillow over his head.

Hiei pressed a wet washcloth into Kurama’s hand, drawing pained green eyes to him. Hiei frowned and moved to the other side of the bed. Kurama’s eyes followed him, taking in that the koorime had dressed again. He watched as Hiei pulled the pillow off Yusuke’s head.

“What?” the brunet demanded, his voice thick. Kurama could smell the tears and his guilt increased.

Hiei grabbed the detective’s chin, twisted his head so that the boy had little choice but to make eye contact. “Listen well, Yusuke, because I won’t repeat this.” He paused, making sure he had the boy’s attention. “If Kurama had any other option, we would have used that. I told you that. He has been watching you and planning on approaching you. He does like you, detective.” He drew a deep breath, releasing it before he drew another to continue, “I like you, too, it seems. Kissing you excited me more than it should have, so I would assume that’s what it means.” He glanced at Kurama, who nodded in confirmation, before looking back at the detective, his expression and his grip softening as he continued, “If we had a choice, Yusuke, this is not what your first time would have been like.” He bent and kissed Yusuke lightly. He looked startled when the boy reached around him and pulled him down into the bed.

Kurama looked away, his eyes falling on Karasu’s body. He winced, feeling the marks on his back pull as he did. He hoped that Genkai would have some solution for him. The memories would be bad enough; he didn’t need any other marks from this encounter. The sound of his name drew his attention back to the bed. Though he didn’t know it, his expression was haunted as he looked again at the two.

“Shit, Kurama, I’ve never seen you look so scared,” Yusuke murmured, his expression shocked. He released Hiei and left the nest of blankets to crawl to the redhead, wrapping his arms around the redhead.

Kurama leaned into the brunet, more than relieved that Yusuke’s nature had reasserted itself. “I don’t want to discuss it yet, Yusuke, but I think I’ll have nightmares for awhile,” he admitted softly.

Yusuke held the redhead silently for a long time before he whispered, “I’m here for you, okay?”

Kurama gasped a sound that could have been a sob and wrapped his arms around Yusuke. The brunet tightened his arms around the trembling redhead, holding him until the shaking subsided. When Kurama lifted his head from where he’d buried it in Yusuke’s shoulder, the brunet kissed him awkwardly and quickly. Kurama gave a watery smile, “If you want, I’ll teach you to do that better.”

Yusuke paused, blushing as his expression tried to sort itself out. “It’ll be a while before…” his voice trailed off. “And,” he added, looking over his shoulder at Hiei, who’d remained on the other side of the bed, “I…uh…well…” he looked back to Kurama in confusion.

Kurama looked at Hiei who nodded before he brought his hand to Yusuke’s chin. “Neither of us is going to rush you, Yusuke. Not for sex, not to choose one of us. You don’t ever have to choose one of us. We’re both here for you.” He looked over when he felt Hiei crawl on the bed and wrap his arms silently around the detective.

Yusuke looked at the koorime and back to the kitsune, nodding before he looked over to the fallen form of the demon who’d, in a strange way, brought them together. He shuddered, “Can we go? He gives me the creeps and I’m sure it’s worse for you, Kurama.”

“Yes!” the redhead replied firmly. He and Yusuke dressed quickly while Hiei glared at the fallen form.

The koorime looked over his shoulder to be sure they both were watching before he burnt the body of the fallen demon to ashes, ensuring that it could not leave its final rest, as was possible for some demons. Kurama moved to stand behind him, laying a hand on his shoulder in silent gratitude before all three left the room, locking the door behind them.

As they left the building, Kurama wondered where life would lead them. His question was partially answered when they reached Genkai’s temple and Yusuke stepped off the path into the forest, beckoning the other two to follow him. “I want to see where it goes,” he began without prelude. “I don’t know how far I’ll be able to go, or if I’ll decide I like one better than the other, but I want to see how far it goes.” He turned to Kurama and reached out for the redhead’s hand, pulling him close and whispered, “Teach me,” as he wrapped his arms around the slender kitsune.

Relief curved Kurama’s lips as he brushed them lightly against the brunet’s before desire made its demand and deepened their contact. Kurama’s arms went around the brunet, one hand slipping into his hair as the other remained around the strong shoulders as his tongue and lips slowly explored Yusuke’s lips. Before he was carried away, Kurama drew back and waited for Yusuke to open his eyes.

Yusuke relaxed his grip around the redhead’s waist, placing his hands flat on the kitsune’s back. A slight frown crossed his lips. “What is that?” he asked, drawing his hands up along the wounds.

Kurama shuddered, drawing away from Yusuke. “I don’t know. That’s why we’re going to talk to Genkai.” He looked at Hiei, “They’re getting stronger.”

“I know. Let’s go.”

A/N: I don't own them, nor do I own all the dialogue. Some of it's from the Ankoku Bujutsukai. This story started out with the thought of "What if Kurama said 'yes' to Karasu?" and originally added "...and enjoyed it?" but the muse wouldn't cooperate with that. It also was supposed to be a one shot. Next chapter when I finish it. *sigh* Leave cookies. I hate writing Karasu. He's scary. I need to get a plushie to huggle (Kurama or Youko...:D )