Fox, Vixen, Fire, and Wolf

Fox, Vixen, Fire, Wolf

Chapter 1 -- Relive Life

Greetings. My name is Kurama. Perhaps you already know me, whether in this form, or another, for you see I have many forms. Years ago, I was known and feared by many as Youko, the silver spirit fox. As such, I slaughtered countless people who had witnessed my crimes. Finally, my past caught up with me, and shortly before the death of my fox form, I escaped to the living world and hid myself inside the newly conceived body of a baby boy. I would come to be known in the human world as Suichi Minamino.

I was thirteen years old when I was discovered and forced to use my spirit powers in battle. I knew who he was as well as he knew me. Although he retreated and we were separated again, I knew he would appear again. Two years later, at a time when my mother was very ill, he approached me again, and I agreed to help him to steal the Artifacts of Darkness from King Yama. When we were arrested by the Spirit World guard, we joined forces with two human men to not only defeat the four Saint Beasts, but to win the Dark Tournament.

Not long after a difficult series of battles and the death of one of our team, followed by the discovery that he too was a demon, we once again saved the world, and Hiei and I began to spend a great deal of our time together, sharing a two-bedroom apartment near where my mother lived. One night, something happened that I never would’ve expected. I woke to find Hiei standing outside the door of my bedroom, which I had left open, and he had apparently been watching me for some time. Trying to avoid being seen, he ducked around the corner.

“I saw you, Hiei,” I said. “Please, come in.” Smiling warmly, he approached the bed. I reached for the lamp, but he stopped me by putting his hand on mine.

“No, Kura-kun,” he said, kissing my hand lightly. “No more light than necessary.” Feeling me tremble, he looked into my eyes questioningly. “Why are you trembling?”

“Because I’ve never had anyone come on to me like this,” I whispered. “I’m slightly frightened.”

“There’s a first time for everything,” he said. He was about to kiss me, but I pushed him away. “What’s wrong?”

“Don’t do this,” I said. “I do care so deeply for you, but I’ve never had any kind of physical or sexual attraction to you, even during the time we’ve been living here together.”

“I’m… I’m sorry,” he said, backing off the bed and running from the room.

“Hiei, wait!” I called, but he was out of sight by the time I got out of my room. I heard the door of his room slam, and I knew that he was deeply hurt. Standing next to his door, I realized that I had never heard Hiei cry so hard. I hated doing this to him, but I’d have hurt him even more if I’d lied to him. I went back to bed, but didn’t go back to sleep until it was beginning to get light outside, and I woke up very tired a few hours later. I lay there, trying to sense Hiei’s thoughts, and found that he was in a somewhat peaceful sleep. On an impulse, I dressed and walked to his room. I silently slipped in and watched him sleep. He was indeed hansom in such a serene state. As quietly as I could, I sat on the edge of the bed.

“Nani…?” Hiei muttered as he slowly woke up. Seeing my face, he sat up and smiled. “Kurama.”

“Good morning,” I said. “I’m sorry for hurting you, Hiei.”

“It’s me who should apologize,” he said. “You were just telling the truth.”

“As were you, Hiei,” I said. “You’re the best friend I think I’ve ever had, and I don’t want to lose that.”

“Nor do I,” he said. “Give me another chance?”

“Of course,” I said. Hiei took my hand and smiled. “You look like you could use some more sleep, and I know I could.” He nodded, and I surprised him by pulling down the covers and crawling in. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“Not at all,” he said. “Please, make yourself comfortable.” I lay on my side, and he turned over so his back was to me. As an instinct, I placed my hand on Hiei’s shoulder, and snuggled up to him, hardly realizing what I was doing or how it might have affected him. “Mm, your hand is so warm.” My half-lidded eyes widened, and I pulled my hand away. I then felt his strong hand on mine, guiding it back to where it had been. “Leave it there, Kura-kun.” Yawning, he shifted into a comfortable position and was soon asleep.
A few days later, after a difficult day at work, I drove to a bar that gave no outward appearances of being a gay bar until I stepped inside and saw a number of gay couples. To my great surprise, I saw that the bartender was a woman. Our eyes met, and we smiled at each other. My heart skipped a beat when she motioned for me to come over to the bar.

“Hello,” I said somewhat nervously.

“What can I get for ya, Newbie?”

“Double Scotch, on the rocks,” I said. “I’m surprised that a gay bar is run by a woman, especially one as beautiful as yourself.”

“It makes it easy,” she said. “Most of them have no interest in me, and I have no interest in any of them. But I get the feeling that you’re not gay. Why is that, I wonder?”

“Could it be the fact that I was surprised as hell when I walked in here?” I said with a smirk. “Or that I’m chatting it up with you instead of one of the buffoons behind me?”

“Both, I suppose,” she chuckled. “What’s your name?”

“Suichi Minamino,” I said. “And yours?”

“Sheila Kanzaki,” she said, placing my drink in front of me, along with a slip of paper with a phone number. “Call me, okay?” I laughed, tucked the number into my shirt pocket, and resolved to do just that the next afternoon. And that was how I met the woman I would eventually marry. We were married on my 23rd birthday, but after only two years, she was taken from me by Leukemia.

Now, at age 25, I found myself at a horrible loss. I had no children and no one else to live for. As I look back on it now, I see how ironic it was that with as much pain as I was in, I didn’t drown my sorrows in alcohol. Perhaps the idea of even entering a bar was bringing back too many memories, as happy as they were. I would often sit in my living room, staring at nothing, the lights off, wishing like hell that I could hold her again. On one of those nights, I had a surprise visitor.

“Kura-kun,” I heard. I realized that the voice belonged to the only living man who would call me by that name. His hands pulled me into his arms, my whole body shaking with sobs. He was trying to hold me without falling back, his arms wrapped tightly around me. After a while, my tears subsided, and Hiei wiped the tousled hair and tears from my face.

“Thank you, Hiei,” I said, looking into his eyes.

“Of course,” Hiei said. “It was the very least I could do for the man I…” He stopped, looking away, and I realized exactly what he wanted to say. He still loved me, and even a hundred years wouldn’t change that, let alone just five.

“Love?” I said, and he nodded. “I care for you more than you know, Hiei, but give me time to recover from Sheila’s death. I may be able to have stronger feelings for you in the future, but please don’t push me.”

“Yes, Kurama,” he said, smiling
“Minamino speaking,” I said, answering my phone at work a few weeks later. “Yes, I know him. WHAT?!” I was shocked to hear that Hiei had been in a horrible accident. “I’ll be right there.”

“What’s wrong, Kurama?” Keiko asked as I burst out of my office and past her desk.

“Hiei’s been in a car accident,” I said, slowing down momentarily. “Call for my car and cancel all my appointments for today and tomorrow.” As I arrived at the front of the building, my cell phone rang. “Yes?”

“Kurama, it’s Yusuke,” said the voice on the other end. “Keiko called me about Hiei. Are you alright?”

“I’m en route to the hospital right now,” I said, fighting back tears. “I’ll see you there.” I closed up my phone and get into the car. With the hospital nearly fifteen minutes away, I was afraid that I would miss seeing my comrade alive again. “I can’t lose another person so soon! Please, Hiei, hang on!”
Arriving at the hospital, I was desperate to see Hiei, but I was told he’d been taken into surgery. Yukina and Kuwabara were already there, and Yusuke arrived soon after.

“Are you alright?”

“No,” I said. “I can hear Hiei in my head, screaming for me to come and save him. If he dies, I will die as well!”

“You mustn’t say things like that, Kurama,” Yusuke said. “He’ll pull through.” It was several hours before the doctor came out to meet with us, and I was relieved to see him smiling.

“How is he, Doctor?”

“He’ll make a full recovery,” he said. “He’s asking for Yukina and Suichi.” The two of us followed him into Hiei’s room, and when he saw us, Hiei’s lips curled into a smile. Yukina took his hand and began to heal him, but Hiei stopped her.

“Yukina, you mustn’t do that here,” Hiei warned. “I don’t want to take a chance of you being hurt. I’ll be fine, and I’m sorry to put you through this worry, little sister.” She squeezed his hand and kissed it. “Do you mind if Kurama and I talk alone for a little while?” She shook her head and left the room. “She’s so sweet.”

“Yes, we’re lucky to have her around,” I said. “Kuwabara’s lucky to have such a caring wife.” Looking around, I realized that I was standing in the same room that my wife had died in. “Sheila…” Hiei gave me a puzzled look. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t expect to see the inside of this room again. I didn’t even think about it when I walked in here.”

“This is where Sheila passed away?”

“It is,” I said. “I’m sorry. I should be concentrating on you and not on my own problems.”

“It’s okay,” he said. Leaning forward, he kissed me. It was soft and compassionate, and I knew he wasn’t trying to pressure me into returning the kiss. But I did return the kiss, placing my hands on his face. I felt him smiling as my mouth opened to his tongue. After a time, we broke the kiss, and he smiled. “I’ve wanted to do that for ten years, since we first started working together.

“I never thought kissing a man could be so exhilarating,” I said, trying to catch my breath. “I was stupid for not realizing my feelings for you when you first told me of yours.” He pulled me close to him, and I lay on his chest as we continued talking, at one point discussing his sexuality, and what he’d seen young men and boys go through.

“There are boys out there that are struggling to survive, homeless, just because they’ve been run out by their family and friends,” Hiei said. “I’ve seen it out there on the streets.” After thinking for a few moments, I remembered a young man who worked for me had told me of his new residence in a gay district in the city.

“I may be able to use some of my savings and profit to help them by buying one of the mansions in the Uptown area of the city,” I said.

“You’d risk your reputation and your company to do that? For me?” Hiei asked, and I looked at him and smiled.

“Yes, Hiei, I would,” I said. “I might even sell my house. There are too many memories there to stay. If that kiss said anything, it said that my feelings for you have changed.”
Meanwhile, a close friend of mine was having a difficult time for himself. I had come to know him at the funeral of his wife, who had died in a plane wreck only a few weeks before Sheila’s illness had been diagnosed. Now, Heero’s sexual identity was beginning to change, and that was causing problems between him and his family.

“I need some help,” he said after explaining his situation.

“Would you be interested in working in my new home?” I asked. “You’re a good bodyguard, or you could be a recruiter of sorts.”

“Recruiter?” he asked.

“Get a bunch of boys from the homeless shelters and the male red-light district,” I said. “They’ll all get jobs in exchange for an apartment, food, and clothing. I don’t see how any of them could refuse.”

“They’d be crazy if they did,” he said. “What if the pimps give me problems?”

“Find out how much they want for them, and I’ll pay off the pimp,” I said. “I’ll pay them to get those boys out of that horrible life.”
Hiei was finally released from the hospital a few weeks later and I’d made the sale of my house and bought a part in an estate for homeless kids. I didn’t care what people thought of me because I knew Hiei really wanted this to come through. “Welcome to your new home, Hiei,” I said as we walked into our apartment. “I hope you like it.” He pulled on my hand, but I shook my head.

“Come on, Kura-kun,” he whined. “Let’s go to bed.”

“Not quite yet,” I said. “There are some people who are interested in meeting you.”

“How long is this gonna take?” he said.

“Not long, so don’t worry,” I said, walking out to the balcony. Hiei was shocked to see hundreds of boys standing below us. Seeing us, they began to cheer. “My boys! Thank you for the great welcome! I would like to introduce you to me partners, Hiei. I expect you to show him the same respect as you show me.” Everyone cheered, and Hiei waved and smiled.

“How did you do all of this?” Hiei said as we walked back inside.

“Most of them were already here, but the ones wearing black are from my squad.” Before he could respond, I leaned in and kissed his neck, and he gasped. “I’m ready for you, Hiei.”
A while later, we emerged from our bed, having had a superb couple of hours. Hiei had only been on his feet for a few minutes when he cried out in pain and fell to his knees. “Hiei!” I ran to his side, lifted his chin, and saw that blood was trickling down his pale chin. “We have to get you some help!” I reached for the phone, but he stopped me.

“We have to… go home…” he said weakly, trembling. “This has nothing to do with my injuries from the accident. This is a fire demon disease.”

“Oh, Hiei,” I said, gathering him into my arms. “No, you cannot die!”

“I’ll be okay, Kura-kun, at least for a little while,” he said. “I’m sorry for putting you through this.”

“You can’t really help it,” I whispered, kissing his forehead. “I’ll always be here for you.”
During this time, Heero’s life had begun to change drastically. In his talks with me, he told me of one of his good friends, Duo, who had confessed his love to the shaggy-haired man. Heero asked me for advice for any future confrontations and I told him this: Do what your heart tells you to do.

I smiled as I watched Heero come into the building one day with a young man on his arm, talking quietly between each other. But with my superior hearing, not even the quietest conversation could escape my ears. “I never thought I’d feel like this, but I can’t hide it from you anymore,” Heero said. “I love you.” They sat on the steps, Duo’s back between Heero’s legs as Heero wrapped his arms around Duo’s shoulders.

“Good morning, boys,” I said, approaching them. Heero was about to stand, but I raised my hand. “It’s all right, Heero, stay where you are. As for you, Duo, welcome to Kurama Estates.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Minamino,” he said, smiling. “Heero tells me that the owners here take in homeless kids around the city.”

“It’s very true,” I said.

“Does a woman by the name of Ami Maxwell live around here?” Duo asked.

“So full of questions, this boy,” I said, chuckling as I quickly glanced at Heero. “Yes, Miss Maxwell lives next door, at Te’noh-Ky’oh Estates, and she’s very happy.”

“Your sister is dating my sister Hilde,” Heero said.

“Your sister??” Duo yelped. “I thought her last name was Shbiker!”

“It is,” he said. “My real name is Scott Shbiker. One reason we separated was to protect each other.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you, Duo,” I said. “Feel free to come here as often as you like, and you’re welcome to move here if you wish.”

“Thank you, Sir,” he said. As I walked away, I continued to listen to their conversation from a nearby balcony. “He’s beautiful, isn’t he?” Heero chuckled softly, but said nothing. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was a she.”

“There are lots of guys like that here,” Heero said. “In fact, many of the guys here are very effeminate, while many others of us are like me, with short hair and deep voices.”

“Where’s your room, my Heero?” Duo said. Standing up, Duo pulled Heero to his feet, and they quickly went inside. After a short time, Hiei came into the apartment.

“Kura-kun, where are you?”

“Out on the balcony,” I called. He came outside and smiled as he took a seat across from me at the table and sipped on a glass of wine.

“I called the physician in the City,” he said. “He can see us this evening. I told him we’d go after our party tonight.”

“Good,” I said, kissing his cheek softly. My brow furrowed as I contemplated being alone again when Hiei died. “I don’t know what I shall do, Hiei, when I lose you. I was so distraught when my wife died, I hate to think what I might do when the man I love leaves me.”

“Kura-kun, I’ll never leave you, not really,” he said. “I’ll always be right here.” He touched my chest, kissing it through the shirt. “I’ll never leave your heart, and you’ll never leave mine.”

“I love you,” I said.
That evening after dinner, I called Duo and Heero to our room. I knew someone needed to keep an eye on my estate while I was gone, and I knew Heero would do an absolutely superb job. Shortly before our scheduled meeting, Hiei caught me by surprise by throwing me onto the bed as soon as we walked through the door.

“Goodness, Hiei, what has gotten into you?” I said softly.

“Increased sexual energy is one of the side effects of this disease,” he explained. “A person can die in the throws of passion in the late stage.”

“What a way to go,” I chuckled. “You do realize, I hope, that one of our couples will be coming to see us in a few minutes. Unless, of course, you’d like them to join us.”

“I’ll bet we could teach Duo a few things,” Hiei said, husky voice becoming even more so at the idea. “But as much as I’d like that, I don’t think it would be wise at the moment.” Just then, the doorbell rang, and Hiei rolled over onto his back. “Well, there they are.”

“Please, come in,” I said after opening the front door.

“Thank you, Master,” Heero said. “Our apologies for disturbing you, but we were given instructions to meet you here.”

“That’s quite all right,” I said. “I would first like to congratulate you both again for your new relationship. It is a great thrill to see my boys find happiness. Second, I need to charge you, Heero, with looking after your brothers here while I’m gone.” The two boys were understandably shocked, and I smiled sadly. “Hiei is in need of immediate medical attention due to a strange, rare disease, so we must travel home to the City of Ghosts and Apparitions.” Heero bowed, but I lifted his chin and kissed him lightly. “If you need me, you have but to call my name and I’ll be here to help you.”

“Thank you, Master Kurama,” Heero said. “Are you leaving soon?”

“Just after the party this evening,” I said. “Now, gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me…”

“See you this evening, then, Sir,” Heero said as they left the room. I walked back into the bedroom, expecting Hiei to be waiting impatiently for me, ready to jump me again. But instead, I found him asleep. I smiled at his serene, sleeping form, and I was reminded of that first night that he told me of his love for me, and the first time we had slept in the same bed. I sat on the bed, taking my shirt off, and lifted him to a position where his head rested on my chest. He inhaled, and then gave a moan.

As I lay there, I began to think about the young braided boy, Duo Maxwell. That young man had something inside him that I’d never seen before… the bull-headedness and willpower that could get him through just about anything. I realized later that, while my love for Hiei never wavered, and I never outwardly showed it around Hiei, my feelings for Duo began to grow.
After nearly a month of great pain, Hiei left this world after falling to the disease. Holding his thin hand as he slipped away quietly, I begged him to stay, and for any god that may have been available to listen to grant him life and strength. His eyes fell upon mine, and he smiled. As his eyes closed, I could feel his spirit lift from his body.

“Watch over him, Sheila,” I said. “Guide him to the spirit world. I would follow if I could.”

“Do not try to follow us, My Beloved,” I heard him say. “Live on, find something new. There is someone out there waiting for you.”

“Goodbye, my dear sweet Hiei,” I said, kissing his hand. The next few days were like living in hell. I didn’t have the emotional strength to return to the mansion yet. But I kept thinking of Hiei’s final words to me. Who, after all this time, would want someone like me? I got my answer the day after Hiei’s burial.


“MASTER KURAMA!!!” Heero screamed. “We’ve got problems here!”

“Damn it!” I growled upon arriving in the room a split second later. “I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming!”

“Do you know who these people are, Master?” Heero asked.

“Yes, it’s the Toguro family,” I said as we continued running. “Since their brother was killed in the Dark Tournament, I’ve had to deal with their outbursts of malice. There have been a few incidents, but never anything even remotely like this! There is a powerful…” I was mid-sentence when shots were heard, and Duo fell to the floor. “Duo, no!”

“No, Duo, please don’t die!” Heero screamed, stopping and running back to him. His eyes were closed briefly, and saw Heero’s face when he opened them again.

“Don’t worry about me, Heero,” Duo grunted. “I can’t feel my legs, but I ain’t dead yet! I’m gonna kick those bastards’ asses straight into Hell, even if I have to escort ‘em there myself!”

“No, you must preserve your strength,” Heero said softly.

“We must go,” I said. “Can you carry him, Heero?”

“Yes,” he said, crouching to pick him up. But just as he wrapped his arms around Duo, another round of shots rang out. Blood gushed out of Heero’s mouth as he slumped down on top of Duo, a bullet having entered his neck.

“HEERO, NO!!!” Duo screamed. “No, no, you can’t leave me!”

“Hush, Duo,” he said softly. “I’m dying, and both you and I know it. Just… remember what I told you… last night… I can hear Hiei's voice. He and Trowa and Quatre are here to take me home.” His hand reached up and touched Duo’s face, and his used the last of his strength to kiss him. I closed my eyes, knowing that when I opened them again, Heero would be gone. Duo sat up as best he could, cradling Heero’s body in his arms. "NOOOOOOOOO!" He began to sob, and I walked over to him and ran my hand through his hair, tears in my eyes as well. We suddenly heard the sadistic laugh of someone from the balcony above us, and we both turned our attention to where the laugh was coming from.

“Well, now isn’t that sweet,” came a steely female voice. “That must’ve been the exact way that I held my brother in my arms after he died. Oh, wait, I didn‘t get to do that because he never actually died!” I looked up and growled at her. She was a Toguro; there was no doubt of that. She wasn’t as big as her younger brother, or as small and ugly as her older brother. She was actually deadly beautiful.

“Is that why you attacked my house, and slaughtered dozens of innocent people?!” I screamed. “For revenge for what your perverted, disgusting, evil brother brought upon himself?! Perhaps it was my seeds that caused him to be captured within that mind-altering plant, but it was his sick, twisted, and warped mind that had such an overwhelming desire to kill me. Now you have killed men and women I lovingly refer to as my sons and daughters, and so it is indeed YOUR fault that you will now die as well!” I pulled a seed from my hair, and formed a rose, which turned into my trademark weapon. “ROSE WHIP!”

“You actually think that little weed will defeat me?” she said. “You obviously don’t know what you’re dealing with, or whom. How many times in history have those with bows and arrows been defeated by those with guns?”

“I know you well enough, Bitch!” I barked. “You have become just as sick and twisted as your brothers, Marina! I had hopes for you, but like them you wasted your talents on a moment of strength!”

“Defend the house!” came a multitude of shouts. The chanting of my name continued as all of the balconies were filled with young men, all brandishing some kind of projectile weapon, whether it was spirit energy or actual bullets.

“Master Maxwell, catch!” called one of the boys, throwing a gun to Duo, which he caught easily.

“Thank you!” he called back before cocking the pistol and aiming it toward Marina.

“Now, die!” one of the boys shouted. When the first shot was fired, Marina’s face held a look of total disbelief, that she was actually about to lose. All of the other guns were fired, and her body became mangled with bullet holes. Without uttering a sound, she fell from the balcony to the floor below, landing with a sickening thud.

“Good work, guys,” Duo said. “Now I can rest…” He collapsed, and I ran to him. “You saved me, Master. Thank you.” Tears came to his eyes as he held his lover’s body. As strong as he’d tried to be all through this ordeal, he finally broke down. “Oh, god… If only Heero were still here.”

“There there, my little one,” I said, wiping some of the tears from his face with my fingers. “It’ll be all right.”

“No, this can’t be happening,” Duo whimpered. I pulled him into a tight embrace, and we sat there with Duo’s grip on me steadfast. I nearly broke down as well as I thought about Heero, my best friend, laying there dead.

“I understand how you must feel right now, Duo,” I cooed. “I too have lost people I loved. Heero was my best friend. Just hold me, and let it all out, Duo, because I am here for you. I’ll always be here for you.” While brushing my fingers over the edge of his braid, I pulled the elastic from it, and it immediately unraveled. “You have such beautiful hair.”

“Thank you, Master,” he sighed.

“We must get you to a doctor, and because you are part demon, they will treat you with respect,” I said. He nodded, and I picked him up. As the senses in teleport space are heightened, my musky, rosy, fox scent was easily detectable and very enticing to Duo, it seemed. Without even sniffing, I could smell his own deep scent, and I found it absolutely erotic. He breathed deeply, and we both smiled. “You enjoy my scent, I presume.”

“I do, Master,” he said.

“Don’t call me Master anymore, Duo,” I said. “I want you to live with me, in my suite, as my partner, if you’ll have me. I would even be honored if you could call me your… your lover.”

“But I do not love you,” he said. “At least not yet. I am completely enamored by you, but it’s not yet love.”

“And I don’t expect it to be,” I said. “We don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to. I would just like to get to know you, and see where it goes. What do you say, Duo-kun?”

“It sounds divine,” he sighed. Finally, we arrived at a secluded bedroom, and I lay him on the bed. I’d used my powers to stop the bleeding, but could do no more. I looked into his eyes, asking through my gaze for some intimate contact. “Yes…” I kissed him deeply and passionately. Having not been able to even kiss Hiei’s lips during the last week of his life in order to avoid deadly sexual throws taking him any sooner, my body was craving some attention, but I knew that Duo’s injuries couldn’t wait. Breaking the kiss, I stood. “Please, don’t leave.”

“Relax, my dear boy,” I chuckled. “I need to go get you a physician.” As I left the room, I realized that I’d done it again. My new companion now lay in the same bed as Hiei had died in, just as Hiei had recovered from his injuries in the very same room as Sheila had died. “Please, Lord, allow me more time with him. I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
When the doctor came to examine Duo, I found that I couldn’t wake him up for more than a few seconds at a time, and I knew that he wouldn’t remember it at all when he did finally become coherent. Unfortunately, when the doctor looked at the wound, he realized immediately that Duo was completely paralyzed. He could see no way that Duo would ever be able to walk again, even with Demon magic. After the doctor had left, I lay down next to him, settling him against me, and fell asleep. When I awoke that afternoon, Duo was awake, kissing me awake.

“Well, it’s good to see you awake,” I said, blinking for a moment. “I tried to wake you when the doctor arrived, but you were out like a broken light.” He laughed and kissed me again. We kissed for a long moment, and I began to roam his body with my hands. After a few minutes, however, he stopped me. “What’s wrong, Duo?”

“I still can’t feel anything below the gunshot wound,” he said. “I WANT to feel my body come to life, but nothing’s happening.” I wilted in sympathy for him, and he knew that it meant that our worst fears for him had come true. “I’m paralyzed.”

“Yes, the doctor was afraid that this would happen,” I said. “You’ll probably never walk again, and the paralysis will affect your ability to feel other things as well. I’m so sorry about this, Duo.”

“Don’t worry about it, Kurama,” he said. “I just don’t want you to think that all you’re good at is taking care of sickly, invalid, and decrepit people. I mean… You understand what I mean, right?”

“Yes, I fully understand,” I said. “You, on the other hand, seem to get your hands on the widowers.” I ruffled his hair a bit, trying to lighten the mood.

“You washed my hair?” he asked, and I nodded.

“It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure, especially with your injuries, but I managed,” I said. “We had to undress you to get you cleaned up. I must say that you have a very beautiful body.” Duo blushed in spite of himself. “Your hair is so soft, like my wife’s was when she was alive.”

“If you don’t mind, Koi, could you tell me about your human life?” he asked. “All I know is that you were forced to hide in a human body after nearly being killed, and that you were in a team that won something called a Dark Tournament and a Demon World Tournament.”

“Is that all Heero told you about me during the weeks you were together?” I laughed. “Looks like we have a lot of talking to do, because I want to learn all there is to know about you as well.”

“Yoko…” he whispered. “Tell me.”

“Well, if you don‘t mind being here for a while, then I don‘t mind telling the story,” I said, kissing him for a few moments. I quickly got out of bed and grabbed a photo album from the shelf, then jumped back into the bed. I told him about my life with my mother, losing my father, and my friendship with Heero, as well as my relationship with Yusuke Urameshi, Hiei, and my Sheila. I saw tears form in his eyes for me as I talked about the death of my wife, and then the death of Hiei, and he held me tight as a few tears slipped from my eyes as well.

“Incredible,” he whispered. “Thank you for telling me about all that, Lover.”

“I only wish I would’ve done it sooner,” I said. “I know how hard this is for you, and I wish to God that there was something I could do to help you.”

“Just hold me, Kura-kun,” he said. “We do what we can, right?”

“I love you, Duo,” I said.

“I love you too,” Duo finally said. “I’m glad to be here with you. I just wish… I just want to be able to walk again!” I ran my hand through his hair, trying to keep him calm. After a few minutes, he looked into my eyes and smiled, putting a hand on my face. I kissed him, and he kissed back, slipping his tongue into my mouth. I responded immediately, my erection becoming slightly painful.

“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, Duo,” I said. “Don’t feel pressured to…”

“I want this,” he moaned. “Take me, Master. I am yours.”