A whole barrel of it ((Closed, Kusuriyuri/Kurama))

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama was sure that one of the reasons he didn't like gods and tended to try and stay away from them was because, for some inexplicable reason, they liked to use him as a little cat-toy. Bat him around a little here, let him think he's free for a minute, then start chewing on his head for a while.

It's starting to get old, and the string of his patience has been growing short. He was sick of working in the greenhouses, bored of staying in his office or his room, and not yet intrigued enough to start really exploring the castle. What he wanted now was to be around someone calming.

Kusuriyuri, of course, was the calmest person he knew. Kurama also adored spending time with him, so it was in search of the Medicine Peddler he went, first deciding to check his office.

He paused at the door and knocked politely, in case any students were in or Kusuriyuri was busy.

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[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Seems logical, doesn't it? What they earned, I should have, and why should I have to work for it as well?" he chuckled softly. "Too bad people didn't grow out of that mindset from generation to generation."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"And, I have heard it said that parents wish to give their children what they did not have, which then devalues what they earned." The wind seemed mournful as it blew between the castle and the forest. Though he was curious, Kusuriyuri did not ask why they were headed in that direction.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Children, to some people, are models of themselves. My m-" he stumbled over it, just slightly, "my mother wasn't like that. Most parents want their children to fit into a mold better than they did, so they make it easier for them to do so. Mom figured out pretty early that I was going to do my own thing regardless, and never pushed. She was a good mother."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri squeezed Kurama's hand, drawing him a little closer. "There are those in each generation who remember wisdom. They are fortunate, as are their children."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"That is truth," Kurama murmured, letting himself be drawn in. They had reached now the edge of the forest, and the path to their destination. He glanced up at the sky, clouds were starting to build again. Perhaps, if they were lucky, another storm was on its way.

"Have you ever had children?" Kurama asked. It was a silly question, and he thought he knew the answer, but he was curious anyway.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri watched the forest around them. "I left the Makai when I was old enough to. I have wandered since. That I am aware of, no, but that is not to say it is not possible." He glanced over at Kurama. "And yourself?" he asked gently.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"I don't know if I do. It is a possibility, but I have never sought them out and they have never found me," he shrugged. "I would have been an awful father, before I left Makai."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"Would you wish to be a father?" Kusuriyuri asked, though between them, it wouldn't really be possible.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama considered it as they walked, raising all the pros and cons in his mind.
At length, he spoke.

"I think that, someday, I would not mind too much being a parent. But for now I think it would be foolish. I want to focus on you, on my students, and on the work I must begin for Inari. I wouldn't want to starve any child of mine for affection."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

In the seclusion of the forest, Kusuriyuri allowed himself to wrap his arm around Kurama's waist. He walked in silence a while. "When Shirogitsune is prepared, he will be a good parent," he said softly. The details of just how this would be accomplished could be worked out later.

He listened to the forest around them. "I think it will rain," he murmured.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Someday," adoption, maybe. He couldn't quite imagine either of them carrying a child to term.

"If we are lucky, there will be thunder," his grin widened. they were nearly at the spot; they had just passed the clearing where he and A had practiced the day before.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri laughed softly. "Shirogitsune loves to dance the storm?" he teased gently. He could feel the strength of the trees around them, pulling strongly at them. "In a place this alive, it would be intoxicating," he admitted.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Just you wait," he grinned. "This time it may be a little different." Only a few paces later, and the path, now little more than a game trail, ended abruptly between the gatelike personage of two massive trees. From there the earth seemed to dip down, and at the middle of the clearing sat the mother tree. The massive tree - its species unknown even to Kurama, dominated the huge clearing, its trunk alone enough to dwarf most of Hogwarts. It watched them as they entered the clearing, and he bowed to it respectfully.

"I hoped to introduce you to the mother of this forest," he said to Kusuriyuri with a smile.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri bowed as well. There were few living creatures in the human world as old as or older than he was. There were few in the Makai as well, for various reasons. He looked up, for the first time in a very long time, feeling small. He greeted her in the oldest, most formal way he knew, once reserved only for the nameless gods. He was sure she would remember it.

He felt welcome filling him, a trace of amusement as well. "It is an honor," he replied to the feeling.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

With A, he hadn't gone any further than just the entrance of the Mother Tree's clearing, but now he walked forward, down into the area itself.

Little pools had collected down here, and if it were not so close to rain small animals and insects would no doubt be clustered around them. The roots of the Mother Tree had formed long pathways where they rose up from the earth, soft grass and dark-hardy flowers flourished down here as well. Vines thick as the branches of normal trees spiraled up her trunk, forming a kind of makeshift stairway to the canopy. He could feel the Mother Tree's contentment with them, and her anticipation for the storm brewing up ahead.

"This place is..." Kurama groped for words, "I wanted to bring you here since I found it, but I didn't know when the time would be right."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri turned to look at Kurama. The kitsune was full of reverence for the living that he didn't have for his own god. He, himself, found the place almost sacred, full of life and energy. "It reminds one that there is much unknown in the world, regardless of age," he said, almost whispered.

He opened himself to the life around him because it was almost impossible not to. A laugh rose up, unbidden. "It reminds one of life," he said, his voice continuing to ripple with joy.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama bent to pull of his shoes and socks, wanting to feel the earth beneath his feet. He placed them at the entrance of the clearing and ran back to Kusuriyuri, pouncing to pull them both to the ground.
"It is life, all the parts of it that are good and wonderful," he grinned, embracing Kusuriyuri tightly.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Laughter rose without thought and Kusuriyuri wrapped his arms around Kurama. "It is," he agreed before leaning up to kiss Kurama gently.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama returned the kiss, smiling through it, feeling the brightness of the life around them. He pulled away from the kiss and leaned forward, pausing to look around conspiratorially, before whispering two words into Kusuriyuri's ear.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri looked at Kurama quizzically. Everything was so alive around him it was almost as if the trees around them sought to be heard. "Shirogitsune?" he asked, his fingers coming up to trace Kurama's face.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"My name," he murmured, tilting his head to follow the path of Kusuriyuri's fingers. "It means 'blue lotus,' because they were in bloom when I was born, I think."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri repeated the name with the reverence it deserved. He let his eyes close and repeated it again, savoring it. He opened his eyes and smiled. "Thank you," he said softly.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama shivered when he heard Kusuriyuri speak his name. The way his voice moved, it sent a kind of wonderful thrill up his spine. He was about to reply when a crash of thunder - muffled by the canopy but still deafeningly loud - interrupted him. He waited for the noise to fade and kissed Kusuriyuri again.

"We'll miss the show from down here... I don't think she will mind if we go topside," he murmured, pushing himself up.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri shook his head. "I do not think she will mind," he said softly, moving so he could follow Kurama. His skin was already alive with the power of the storm. "It will be the last of the season," he said softly. "The winter will come soon." He looked up and he could just barely make out the lightning behind the trees.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Winter..." he sighed, leading Kusuriyuri to one of the spiraling vines, asking permission of the Mother Tree before shaping them to a form more closely resembling stairs so they could climb easily. The Mother Tree's amusement with them was still strong, with it a strong undercurrent of deep and gentle love.

"I have never seen a winter like the ones that are rumored to happen here. A keeps mentioning Christmas... I think it's celebrated differently here."