Recovery (closed, Kusuriyuri/Kurama, likely NSFW)

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Hands charred, nasty gash on the chest, various wounds from fire and shrapnel littering his face and arms... Kurama certainly did not look like the epitome of health. He didn't feel like it either, but managed to not limp in view of anyone as he made his way to the rooms he and Kusuriyuri shared.

Even though he felt like he'd taken a stroll through the London Blitz, it wasn't his health he was concerned about. He could smell Kusuriyuri's blood thicker here, but he could also hear the cats, and Kusuriyuri speaking to them softly. With that small relief, he pushed the door open with his shoulder, sliding in and leaning against the door as it closed again with a little sigh.

"Koi," he said softly, keeping the rage at his old foe at bay until he could get the scope of the situation, "please tell me Karasu didn't actually blow your leg off."

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[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"This one is accustomed to fighting those which respond to wards," Kusuriyuri murmured, his eyes on the tissane he was brewing. He reached for a clean piece of linen and dipped it into the antiseptic solution. "If Itoshii would, the feet are most awkward," he asked. "Then, something for pain for both of us."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Thankful for something - anything - to do, Kurama shifted so that he could take one of Kusuriyri's feet, carefully cleaning away the blood and tending to the small cuts. It was easy work for useless hands.

"More than used to, I should think," Kurama said, knowing he was only talking to fill the silence. "Your wards work better than most weapons."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"Itoshii's touch is very gentle," Kusuriyuri murmured, sidestepping Kurama's comments. It was still awkward for him to receive them, though Kurama was very fond of giving them to him. "Only against those who are susceptible," he added, implying Apos.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama smiled slightly; gentleness was a natural reaction around Kusuriyuri. He finished with one foot, moving to the other, more careful this time of the bandages already around Kusuriyuri's leg.

"I think, if you'd help me with a specific ward, I've found a way to keep that little maniac out of trouble for a while," he said, catching the implication.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"A specific ward?" Kusuriyuri asked, tilting his head. "What does Itoshii have in mind?" he asked, the touch more painful, more ticklish on this leg since it was the one that had been caught in Karasu's trap.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Something to keep the warded trapped in a certain area, and to weigh them down if they make any violent actions. It will be coupled with a handful of spells I've researched." He concentrated on keeping his touch as light as possible - not easy; his hands were starting to feel numb - but the effort was etched on his face.

He paused to clean the linen, giving up with that piece when wringing proved too difficult and reaching for a new one. "I have Apos marked for detention, but I know he won't show. I won't feel so bad about the subsequent punishment that way."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri reached out for Kurama's cheek. "It is enough," he murmured. He poured the tissane into two cups. "Here," he said, "drink. When we wake, I will look at your spells and see what it is I can do for you."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Nodding, he took the cup, blowing away the steam and taking a careful sip. He gave Kusuriyuri a lopsided smile and drained the cup, setting it aside and moving to stand, offering his arm. "I give it five minutes before we pass out, so let's curl up somewhere soft and make the most of it," he said. "Though I'd rather chase the dragon with you when we're not so debilitated."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri drank the medicine as well. He frowned a little. "This one did mix it liberally," he admitted. He took Kurama's arm, needing it to help to get to his feet. He leaned on his lover, needing the support to get to their room. "What is it Itoshii desired?" he asked, leaning against Kurama's arm.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama grinned down at Kusuriyuri, already feeling the world go a little fuzzy around the edges. "Considering how hard this is going to hit us, making it across the room and laying down comfortably will be an accomplishment," he said. He took a few shaky steps forward, acting as a crutch. He would have preferred to just carry Kusuriyuri, but that risked ruining all of his lover's hard work to keep him intact.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps we should have waited to take it?" Kusuriyuri murmured, though he would not have been able to walk without the numbing of the pain killer. He also knew he'd need to get out of his outer kimono, most of the shrapnel on his body caught in it, but he couldn't work the obi while they were walking and he knew Kurama's hands were in no state to deal with it. "Itoshii will be sure that this one does not sit on his kimono?" he asked, figuring vaguely that would be a solution.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"'f course," he smiled, stepping carefully over the cats, who were being helpful by getting in the way. "I can see if..." he gestured a little; the world was getting more than just fuzzy. "Um, vines. Vine hands obi."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"Just out of the way," Kusuriyuri countered, not sure Kurama was up to controlling the plants well enough to keep from entangling him completely. The cats, at least sensing his feet were off limits, stayed by Kurama.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," he realized that, suddenly, they'd reached the bed. He slipped an arm behind Kusuriyuri and lifted the obi out of the way so he could sit. The actual process of doing so seemed to take hours, though it was jut a few seconds of effort. He squeezed his eyes closed and shook his head. It didn't help much, but it was something. Enough to be able to do simple things like sit and talk.

"How... how much did you put in that tea?"

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

It wasn't fully what he'd meant, but if he could untie his obi, he could slide out of his kimono as he crawled into bed. He frowned at the question. "This one should not mix medication when he is in pain," he admitted. He fumbled with his obi, as clumsily as Kurama used to, though he managed to get it undone and pulled onto the floor.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Likely not," Kurama murmured, shrugging out of the remains of his shirt. "I messed that up, didn't I?"

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"No, it's okay," Kusuriyuri murmured, untying the dateobi and crawling up the bed. "See, okay," he mumbled, falling to the bed face first in his under kimono. He tried to move up farther but only managed to turn his head so that he wasn't face down in the bed. He looked at Kurama, watching his lover. "Does Itoshii need assistance?" he asked.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama looked down at his pants, at his hands, at the floor, at the ceiling, and then to Kusuriyuri, who looked so cute peeking out from underneath the kimono that he started to giggle, forgetting the earlier question. He reached over to try and pull the fabric aside and failed, ending up sprawled on his back, shaking with laughter.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"What is it?" Kusuriyuri asked, slurring his words slightly. He tried once more, but between the drug and Kurama's laughter, he found himself laughing instead of trying to move.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

He was laughing helplessly now, tears making tracks down his cheeks as he fumbled to try and pull the kimono off of Kusuriyuri's head, and failed. He could feel the not-pain of his wounds protesting on all the strain of laughing, and forced himself to take deep breaths, calming just enough to get a handful of kimono and tug it away. Then he dug his heels into the bed and pushed himself further on so his legs wouldn't dangle, ending up with his feet on the headboard and his head to Kusuriyuri's.

It wasn't the most dignified of positions, but it was something.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"It's enough," Kusuriyuri said, waiving his hand a little. "If you undo what I have done, then you will have to fix it," he mumbled. He considered moving, but with his feet as they were, it was probably best that they hung over the edge of the mattress. He reached over, taking one of Kurama's forelocks in hand as his eyes drifted closed.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama mumbled something unintelligible, turned his head to kiss Kusuriyuri's fingers, and fell dead asleep.

Some hours later, probably even as long as a day, he struggled awake. Sore, mouth dry, eyes still fighting wakefulness, he struggled to sit up. That didn't turn out as well as he hoped, covered as he was by Belophoebe's heavy bulk, so he settle with shoving her onto the mattress and turning onto his less-injured side and burying his face into a pillow.

That's what sucked about healing in peacetime. When the battles were still on the horizon, you didn't have time to grumble around and feel sorry for yourself.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri shifted and two things happened: Boukensha batted at his ear, complaining about his moving and his leg started to throb. With a grunt, he shifted until the throbbing eased some and reached up for the kitten-sized cat and Kurama before opening his eyes. "Itoshii?" he asked, his voice crackling and dry.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Urnf," Kurama replied, groping around for Kusuriyuri's hand. He found a shoulder, and for the moment, that was good enough. Slowly, he lifted his head from the pillow. He had to breathe, after all.

"I think..." he started, licking dry lips, "that we need some water."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri hummed. "That may be so," he murmured, slowly opening his eyes. "If Itoshii is able," he asked, the thought of walking just then causing his leg to throb more.

Boukensha walked over Kusuriyuri to lick at Kurama's face before turning a couple of times and flopping down, purring contentedly.