Journey into Recovery ((Sock, RP, Kusuriyuri, Yukimura, Kuronue))

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

What god-modding there is has been approved. Topic and action likely to wander to NSFW areas and possibly triggery.

It had taken him longer to recover than he expected, but Kusuriyuri had finally convinced Kurama that he was well enough to return to his office for the day. He had almost had to threaten his lover with wards to make Kurama go to the greenhouses. He was just finishing preparing to leave when there was a soft knock at the door. Frowning at the wards that thought about identifying the presence as Kuronue but wouldn't commit, Kusuriyuri opened the door, not surprised the knocker was Yukimura, though he was surprised to see the samurai.

"I am sorry to bother you so early," Yukimura said, bowing. "As well as at your home, but I have something I wish to speak with you about in private."

Kusuriyuri tilted his head and looked at Yukimura. A contented exhaustion overlayed a deeper sense of concern. He returned the bow and stepped back. "Please, come in. Good morning." He wondered how long Yukimura had been waiting to be sure Kurama had left for the day.

Yukimura smiled as he walked past the peddler, stepping out of his shoes easily before entering the main portion of the house. "Good morning and thank you for your indulgence."

Kusuriyuri led Yukimura to the living room and gestured for him to take a seat. He watched while the samurai knelt between the couch and the table. Kusuriyuri knelt opposite him and waited.

Boukensha crawled into Kusuriyuri's lap and Belophoebe sniffed at Yukimura before hopping up on the couch behind his head, turning to deliberately ignore him except for her tail that draped over his shoulder.

Yukimura reached up and brushed her tail, causing ti to twitch and then settle again on his shoulder. "First, I want to thank you for everything you have done for us, Kuronue and myself. Words only are not enough."

"You have done much for us, as well," Kusuriyuri murmured. He knew that Yukimura's relationship with Kurama and Kuronue helped the fox in many ways.

A smile crossed Yukimura's lips. "I also know that we are far more in your debt." He reached up and caressed Bel's tail, amusement in his features as her tail flicked around his neck, lingering, before settling on his shoulder again. His expression sobered as his hand settled in his lap. "And I am here to place myself more in your debt."

While it was expected, Kusuriyuri's eyebrow went up. "This one does not consider you in his debt," he said formally. "As to your request, this one is a medicine peddler."

"True, but as to whether what I ask is within your trade..." Yukimura protested, his hand coming up to caress Bel's tail again.

"Ease your mind, then, and make your request," Kusuriyuri suggested after watching Yukimura pet the cat's tail a long moment.

Sighing, Yukimura said, "It is a difficult thing, but Kuronue did agree to this." He looked at Kusuriyuri. "Kuronue is still having nightmares. He doesn't always recognize me when I try to soothe or wake him. While he has only snarled at me in his sleep, this is a newer development and I would not care to see it become worse."

Kusuriyuri bowed to Yukimura. "This is a difficult thing," he murmured.

Nodding, Yukimura continued, "And, neither of us is used to asking for help. But, I do not wish to have you obliged, either. I remember that thing Apos threw at you."

"Once this one's body accepted it, it has ceased to be a problem." Nor would it be one in the future with Apos trapped in the sinning tree.

"That is good to hear. I would not want you to come to permanent harm." There was genuine relief in the samurai's voice.

"What is it that you would ask of this one?" Kusuriyuri asked. "What you have said does sound as though it would be within the scope of a medicine peddler."

"It is more complex than that," Yukimura said carefully. "To allow himself to be open enough, he needs more than I am able to give him."

Kusuriyuri frowned slightly. "More?"

"Yes," Yukimura nodded. "Violence and sex are very closely tied in his mind. I tend to be more gentle unless he provokes me, and even then, I am not as harsh as he desires sometimes. But, when he receives such treatment, his mind is more open."

"Is that so?" Kusuriyuri murmured. "That may be why Akabane affected him so deeply."

A wry expression crossed Yukimura's face, his eyes hardening. "Perhaps, but we both would like him to reach a level of peace rather than just burying his heart again. I would rather he healed."

The image of Ro impinged on Kusuriyuri's mind. He'd kept his distance but he had seen how very weak and injured that part of Kuronue's mind had been. "Healing cannot be forced," he said carefully.

"I know. I also am aware that things between us may change. I also know that things may become worse before they improve." Yukimura held up his hand. "I trust and respect your judgement, both in regard to whether you'll accept and what you tell Kurama. If you will not, there will be nothing more spoken of this."

Kusuriyuri was silent a long moment, stroking Boukensha as he thought. "I would speak with Kuronue alone first," he said slowly. While he understood why Yukimura approached him—things between him and Kuronue were still somewhat awkward despite the recent changes in their relationship—he needed to know this was truly what Kuronue wanted, that he was prepared.

"Of course," Yukimura said. His eyes went unfocused for a moment and he rose. "He will be here soon," he said, bowing. "Thank you."

Kusuriyuri rose before returning the bow. "It is what is done," he said as Yukimura walked to the hall.

"By some," Yukimura said, turning as he stepped into his shoes. "Those who are indeed worthy of regard," he added with a bow, stepping out of the door.

Comments

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

The prospect of fried udon made his eyebrows rise. He was looking forward to it. "I haven't had fried udon in a long time," he said, watching the elf disappear into thin air.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"This one glad the selections please you," Yukimura said, teasing by making his voice sound like a geisha.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue leaned over to Yukimura and placed a finger to his lips. "You sound very indecent when you speak like--"

He was interrupted by an elf slamming their dished down on the table. Kuronue was getting a particularly nasty look. They'd come to anticipate his activities in the Great hall and didn't generally appreciate him being there.

The elf disappeared before he could say anything to it. Kuronue huffed.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura managed to look a little abashed at the house elf's obvious disapproval. "Remind me to only tease you when it won't offend their sensibilities," he laughed. "They are very considerate, on the whole." He drew the fried udon and fruit closer to Kuronue. "Enjoy."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue shot Yukimura a scandalised look and began to pick at the fruit, which had already been cut into artistic little shapes of all sorts of things. "Cockblocked by a creature two feet tall," he shook his head.

True enough, it wouldn't have happened if he hadn't been under orders not to fuck. He sighed.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Picking up a spoon, Yukimura said, "No, cockblocked by being in public." He looked at Kuronue out of the corner of his eye. "Do keep your excuses in line," he teased.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Cockblocked by Kusuriyuri," he groused, returning the look from the corner of his eye as well. He picked up some fried udon with his fingers and ate them, turned silent with nostalgic bliss.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura raised an eyebrow. "Oh? How is that?" he asked, picking up a pair of chopsticks and a bowl of rice to start eating the salmon.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"He's making me respect people's space," he protested. Though it was a front, complaining for the same of at least providing some form of amusement for himself and for Yukimura. "Unthinkable..."

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"Oh, now that is quite terrible," Yukimura said, managing to make his tone horrified and sympathetic. "Respect...? The horrors."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Unquantifiable!" he said, making an odd sound as he tried to hold back his laughter.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"What shall we do? I'm not sure I'd recognize you if you were to show respect. Could you show me what it is like?" he asked, eyes wide, almost innocent.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue spun on his chair to better face Yukimura and placed his hands in his lap. "My dear, ask of me anything now and I shall respect it," he said, doing his best to look serious.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura brought his hand up to Kuronue's cheek. "Then, I shall ask of you that you finish your meal and walk me home. Unless I decide, between now and then, to go to the room of requirement."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue was curious as to why Yukimura might have wanted to go to the room of requirement, but he nodded simply instead, and with a slight smile and bow, he said, "as my Lord wishes..."

He placed a hand over Yukimura's on his cheek and curled his fingers over it, turned his face into his palm and kissed lightly, then drew Yukimura's hand away. He turned to his meal in silence, half smiling, and began to eat. He was hungry. He wondered if he'd have to order more from an elf.

It was strange, because he couldn't remember doing anything recently that his body would ask for more food than it usually ate.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura smiled at the kiss, feeling warmth from where Kuronue's lips touched to his heart. "Should I ask for more?" he asked as he turned back to his food.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"It's odd, but yes, please do," he said around a mouth of fried udon. "It's quite sudden. Maybe Kusuriyuri's doing."

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura raised an eyebrow. "Will you blame everything on the peddler now?" he teased before turning to find a house elf and asking for more fruit and udon and salmon. "But, if the results are for your better, then I suppose it would be fine to blame him, for now."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue turned before the elf could vanish. "And pork. Raw," he said, pointing his chopsticks at them. He'd turned away before the elf vanished, but he knew the moment it did.

"He was working on my energy today, perhaps rearranging things did something... I don't know. All I know is that since I started seeing him a couple of days ago I'm calmer, feel strange and real hungry." The requested food was placed before him and Kuronue dove in gleefully, mumbling thanks.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"I don't recall being hungrier when he worked with me, but then, I didn't see him as often," Yukimura murmured, finishing his lunch. "Maybe working with your energy is what makes you hungrier? But, I am glad that you are calmer." A smile curved his lips. "I like you better calmer," he teased, the undercurrent of the words that he loved Kuronue regardless, liked him regardless.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He laughed softly, done with the pork already. The udon was next. "Honestly I like myself better calmer too," he said, pausing in his eating as he revelled at that small realisation before continuing.

His foot hooked itself around Yukimura's under the table.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"You know," Yukimura said suddenly, turning to Kuronue. "After lunch, I would like to practice hand to hand combat," he said, his eyes twinkling with hidden meanings. "In the Room of Requirement."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He'd looked over to Yukimura with a look that must have originally qualified as shocked and then degraded to curious, understanding and finally mischievous. When he finally took his chopsticks from his mouth, he realised he had to chew and swallow first before talking. it resulted in him taking a big gulp that made the food burn the whole way down. He squinted with one eyes and pounded his chest with a fist. "Okay, ow," he said to himself, cursing lightly.

Clearing his throat he turned back to Yukimura with a grin. "Is that so? Any particular kind of hand to hand?"

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Kuronue's reaction was rather amusing, though Yukimura fought to keep his expression serious. "Have you studied much Western history? The Greeks and the Romans seemed to value wrestling highly. I've been studying some of the techniques."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Indeed, thought an eastern demon, and annoyed with the fervour of the humans resistance and lynch mobs the west seemed to attract, he had been vaguely aware of 'westling'. "Of it's a sport I haven't a clue how the scoring goes, however I do have an idea as to the general..." He rolled he hand around, the English word for 'do' escaping him, "way of wrestling."