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

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura slipped his hands through the arms of the yukata and looked up at Kuronue. "I should hope so," he teased. "You did go through the effort of washing me," he finished, his voice rippling in amusement.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"I did," he said, smiling. He crouched down and pulled the yukata around, slipped the obi from around his neck to rest beside Yukimura, and then sat beside him. He poured himself some tea, sniffed at it, and hummed in appreciation.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura wrapped the obi around his waist, more to protect his lap than than for modesty's sake, before pouring himself some tea as well. Pouting, he asked, "Why can't I have sake for breakfast?" He sipped the tea, though, finding the flavor pleasant despite his protests. He set his cup down and lifted the cover over their food, setting it aside. "Itadakimasu," he murmured, lifting a pair of chopsticks.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Because your liver will kill you before war does," he said, experiencing a moment of weirdness at knowing how Yukimura would die. Yukimura still had to live it, while he'd lived his--albeit miserable--life. He cradled his small cup of tea in his hands, feeling the heat against his fingers.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura leaned against Kuronue and wrapped his arm around his lover's waist. There really wasn't a promise he could make that would solve Kuronue's worrying about his eventual death. "I'm here now," he whispered. "You're here now, too. Let us enjoy now to the fullest so that we have nothing to regret when it happens. Then, I believe, we are more likely to find each other in the other world." He lifted his chin to look at his lover.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Worlds," he corrected, turning his head and kissing him. "Because if I get sent back to Meikai I'm coming for you."

He held Yukimura's gaze for a moment, smiled and then set down his cup, picked up some chopsticks.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"I'll come for you, too," Yukimura promised. If he was at all aware of their history, of their bond, when he entered the Reikai, he would look for Kuronue with every effort he could make. He let his hand slide down Kuronue's back. He sighed and picked up a bowl of rice before using his chopsticks to pick up a sausage link. "Want some?" he asked, offering it to Kuronue.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

The words were... immeasurably comforting. They'd look for each other. They'd marked each other's souls and there was no way that they could not know something was amiss. Kuronue blinked at the sausage, and released he'd just released what had to be the biggest sigh of relief in his life. Pivotal. Like a rusted out piece of shit old car come new and fashionable again.

His mouth worked, and he realised he couldn't say anything. So he leaned forward and took the sausage from Yukimura's chopsticks, rather dazed. He'd theorize later that this was the exact moment his energy, his being, simply snapped into place, regardless of what work Kusuriyuri had left to do on him.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Very aware that something major had shifted in Kuronue, for the better, Yukimura let him just eat in silence for a moment. He rubbed his cheek against Kuronue's shoulder and continued to eat his breakfast. He was very glad Kuronue had agreed to meet with Kusuriyuri; he felt like he was truly beginning to know his lover now.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue swapped the hands he held his chopsticks with and stroked Yukimura's face, and, a little bemused, picked at some sweet pork and rice with his chopsticks, ate it. Yukimura was almost resonant. Like a beacon. Almost blinding.

"Explain the rules of Go to me," he murmured, setting his chopsticks down for a moment and going for his tea.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"Go is played on a board with black and white stones. White goes first. The goal is to trap your opponent's pieces and take them. Pieces are trapped when there's no place for them to grow. The board has a grid on it and stones are placed on corners. They cannot grow if there are no corners connected by lines that are not controlled by the other player. The winner is the one who controls most of the board when all points are controlled." He set down his chopsticks and reached to refill his tea. "Does that make sense?"

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He made an amused sound. "It does. Sounds very interesting. A tactician's game." He poked at the rice, which had some vegetables in it. "This is nice," he said, licking his lips.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"It is," Yukimura agreed, to both of Kuronue's comments. "It's also why the game is easy to learn but takes so much effort to master." A smirk curved up one corner of his mouth. "I'll go easy on you."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He snorted. "Kurama and I weren't famous for nothing," he grumbled. People might have forgotten Kuronue, but he'd shared in Kurama's fame. They'd had a longer time to forget him, but he'd been known just as his old partner in crime.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"Ah, a thief versus a famous general, known for his strategies and still remembered even though he lost? Oh, which shall win?" he teased. He picked up another piece of sausage. "Then, do you want to place a wager?" he asked, an eyebrow arched while he slid the sausage into his mouth.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"We out witted many demons," he said, chuckling. Looking over at Yukimura though, he licked his lips and distracted himself by picking up his bowl of rice, holding it up while he scooped rice into his mouth.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"I've outwitted a demon or two myself," Yukimura purred. "What shall we wager?" he asked.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue wanted to avoid a wager, just in case he actually lost, because Yukimura had likely played Go for a lifetime and he had only just heard of it. He blinked at Yukimura, picked up and sipped his tea. "I don't know. What do you have in mind?"

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura set down his chopsticks and picked up his tea cup. "Oh, I was thinking our standard wager, a fantasy," he said, smiling suggestively at Kuronue. "Unless you prefer something else."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He tilted his head. There wasn't anything too bad in loosing, and besides, he really would like to see Yukimura with diamonds and silver and nothing else. "Alright, a fantasy." That he could agree to. He winked at his lover.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"Let us walk around the garden first, though," Yukimura said, rising and stretching until he was on his toes, his back arched slightly. "Then, we will play."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue turned his head out to the garden, noting the way the wind made the branches of the closest tree sway, and then looked up at Yukimura. "Uh huh," he said, a little distracted by the way Yukimura arched and moved. Eventually he snapped himself out of the daze and set his cup down and stood. He took Yukimura's hand, brought it to his lips for a kiss.

"It does look nice," he said, his words rather dubious in meaning since he was looking at Yukimura, then the garden, and then back again. He smiled and pulled on Yukimura's hand lightly, pulling him into the garden.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura smiled at Kuronue's distraction, enjoying the way his lover openly enjoyed him. He squeezed Kuronue's fingers gently and led him to the step where he knew there would be sandals for them to wear as they walked. He brushed his hair behind his ear as he stepped into them, looking around as he waited for Kuronue. "This is lovely," he sighed, looking up at the sky and then over to his lover with a smile. He took the path to the koi pond, looking around as he did.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Slipping his sandals on, Kuronue followed Yukimura at a slight distance, looking around. "It's amazing that something so real can come of a simple need of it."

Watching the coy swim, and then their reflections past that, he made a small, approving sound in the back of his throat.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"Beauty is as needed as food and air," Yukimura sighed. He could feel himself relaxing as they watched the koi. It wasn't that he hadn't had time to relax, to enjoy himself here, but there was something so much more homey about this situation, this place. He hadn't realized he'd missed it. And, to share it with Kuronue, especially with his lover feeling more at peace with himself, was wonderful.