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]

Chuckling lightly, Kuronue held the bucket over Yukimura's head and tipped slowly, making sure to wet his hair, and then his body. He took his time, feeling relaxed and patient enough to lather up Yukimura's hair and then the rest of his body, working periodically, muscle after muscle, massaging as he went. When he was finished he filled the bucket up again and washed the suds from Yukimura's hair and body.

"There," he murmured when he was done, having gone into something of a trance while he worked. "All pretty..."

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura laughed, startled a little out of the reverie he'd lapsed into as Kuronue worked, quite enjoying it. "I'm always pretty," he teased. "Shall we rest in the pool? It should help your wings."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He nodded. "I'd zoned out for a bit there and forgotten about it," he said, standing slowly, holding out a hand for Yukimura.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura took Kuronue's hand. "I saw," he murmured, watching his footing as he stepped into the pool, the natural stone steps leading deeper in. The water came to his waist when he reached the more level bottom. "There's a rock there," he pointed to just where the inner and outer portions of the pool joined. "You could sit facing this way and let your wings stretch out."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He hummed happily, liking the warmth of the water against his skin as he sunk down into the water. He spread his wings out and groaned. "Not often I get to spread them out and be in water at the same time," he murmured, sitting and reaching for Yukimura.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura shifted to sit on Kuronue's lap, draping his arms over his lover's shoulders. "This is a wonderful place this room has given us," he sighed. It felt good to relax, to feel his lover relaxing.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Hm, it would be nice to have it all the time," he said, resting his chin on Yukimura's shoulder and wrapping his arms around his waist loosely. He crossed his legs beneath him and sighed.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Sighing, Yukimura closed his eyes. "It would be very nice," he agreed. "There are times that home is the best place and this is a lot like my home, though I am not quite fortunate enough to have so fine an onsen on my property.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"It does ring very strongly of home. Very Eastern," he said, turning his face into Yukimura's neck and kissing idly. Not with any real intent, just affection.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Giving a humming sigh, Yukimura chuckled. "It's been a while since I've been there, even before I came here. I'm glad I could be here with you." It felt more like home with Kuronue there than it had before. "When we finish here, there should be breakfast and tea overlooking the garden."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He hummed whole heartedly agreeing. "Do you miss it much?" he asked, curious. Sometimes the strangeness of his surroundings got to Kuronue, but he couldn't say he missed the constant danger. Life here was interesting enough.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura lifted his head enough to look around. "Sometimes, I get very homesick, yes." He rested his head on Kuroue's shoulder again, nuzzling a little. "But, I wouldn't enjoy it as much without you."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue chuckled, endeared, and then settled into silence, letting his muscles soak up the warmth. The light ache in his wings had eased, but it was still so nice in the water, to bee able to be in Yukimura's arms and enjoy it all.

He kissed Yukimura's temple, then his cheek.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Turning to meet Kuronue's lips was just such a natural reaction, Yukimura moved before he was aware he was moving. He gave his lover a soft kiss, gentle, loving. "This is like a holiday," he sighed. "A wonderful holiday."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"You think so?" he asked, pulling back a little to meet Yukimura's eyes. "We can stay here a while longer past breakfast if you like. We can spar or play a game or whatever my love desires." He liked seeing Yukimura happy.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"That would be wonderful," Yukimura sighed. He brought one of his hands forward to touch Kuronue's cheek again. "Do you play Go?"

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"No, but I'm sure you can teach me," he said, smiling softly. Leaning forward a little, Kuronue kissed Yukimura.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"It is a difficult game to master, even though it's easy to learn. It's a game of war on a board, with strategy and attacks and everything in a war." The answer was given between kisses, two or three words at a time.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Hm," he managed between the kisses. "Sounds interesting." Kuronue ran his hands up and down Yukimura's back.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"It is a very good game," he said. He was growing warm, not just from the water, but also from their kisses. Kuronue's lips were always addictive, even more now that he was so much more confident in himself and in their bond.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Humming, Kuronue raised his hands, settled them just over Yukimura's shoulder blades. "Do you want more?" he asked, pulling back to look at Yukimura, his thumbs sliding along the smooth skin of Yukimura's back.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura looked at Kuronue, blinking a little. "I don't want to stop," he murmured, "but, I am content without sex, as well, if you'd prefer to just relax here." He sighed. "I do love you," he said, a smile curving his lips.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue made a curt amused sound and craned his neck up to kiss Yukimura again, this time deep and loving. I love you too, he murmured, enjoying the sensation of the water, which had a natural current, flowing around them.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura gave a soft moan when Kuronue returned to kissing him, amusement as well as pleasure in the sound. While deeper, the kiss was still relaxed, more for enjoyment of being together than the desire for sex. He sighed, content, happy. His hands caressed Kuronue's shoulders and arms.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Pulling Yukimura against him, Kuronue's hands slid down Yukimura's back, following the line of his spine down into the water. He gripped at his ass gently, urged his hips forward. Yukimura had such a pretty ass, he thought, while his hands smoothed over it and gripped again, urging Yukimura to rock.