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 rested his head against Kuronue's shoulder, leaning against his lover a moment, laughing as well. "I'm glad you think so. It's important to me that you do," he said, amusement rippling through his voice. "Shall I just arrange this yukata nicely or would you prefer to wear something else?" he asked, not moving away yet.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Something else," he said, "whatever you like..." He was quite curious to see how Yukimura would dress him up given the chance anyway.

And, he was ignoring Yukimura's insistence on being cute. Well, it got a smile and nothing more.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Pressing a kiss to Kuronue's chest, Yukimura reached around his lover to untie the obi. He looked up at his lover as he stepped away. "Shall I make you cute or handsome?" he asked, his eyes trailing down Kuronue's body appreciatively as the yukata fell open.

With a half smile, he turned away to open the drawer of the dresser in the corner of the room. His smile grew as he drew out a pair of leather pants and a vest that was in better condition than the one Kuronue usually wore. "This does look good on you," he said, his voice somewhere between serious and amused.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Handsome," he said, because he rather preferred cute more when he was in his female body.

Still the sight of the vest made him frown a little. "I like my other one," he complained, stepping closer to inspect the articles of clothing.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"And, yet on me, you prefer cute," Yukimura sighed as he worked one arm of Kuronue's yukata off before handing him the clothes and sliding the other arm off. "Your other is in our room, I think, or maybe in your room?" He moved behind Kuronue and lifted the yukata over his wings, wrapping his arms around his lover's waist a moment. "If you really don't like it, you can just wear the pants and stop by there before going to the peddler. But, the leather of those pants does feel very nice," he added, reaching over to stroke them, his body pressing close to Kuronue's.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue was grinning, very much enjoying this closeness, being naked while Yukimura was not. In a sexual way it was exciting, and he was half tempted with a lazy kind of interest in turning this into something fun, but he did have to see Kusuriyuri. "It is nice," he said, looking down from Yukimura's eyes to the leather in question. The vest itself wasn't leather--he wasn't Mello--but it was still worth his approval.

"I'll wear them," he said, leaning forward enough to have his lips press Yukimura's forehead without having to bend at all. "I like cute on others. I like to think I'm more devilishly handsome than cute. I don't pull off cross-dressing as well as you."

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

It was odd, but Kuronue's lazy interest made Yukimura feel appreciated, that he'd satisfied his lover and Kuronue still wanted him. He smiled up at his lover, savoring this new experience. "I think you do quite well, dressed up prettily, when you're playing as Kuroi," he teased. He let his arms wrap around Kuronue's waist. "And, yes, I do find you handsome, as you are." He tightened his arms and then released Kuronue to take the pants from him. "Let's get you dressed, my love."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Smiling, Kuronue handed the pants over. "I like hearing you call me handsome," he said, sneaking a kiss and balancing perfectly on one foot and lifting a leg.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

The temptation to tease Kuronue, to draw out the dressing process was definitely there, but Yukimura also enjoyed the feeling that he could satisfy Kuronue and still enjoy his company because they weren't both utterly exhausted and knew that his lover still wanted to see the peddler that he restrained. "Well, occasionally, it needs to be said," he said, sliding Kuronue's pants on his leg and pulling them up so his lover wouldn't stand on them when he put his foot down.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He giggled a little, amused at the whole process. Putting his foot down, Kuronue lifted the other one up, watching Yukimura. When he got back from Kusuriyuri's he was going to make sure they made out for, like, an hour or something. "And you are terribly cute."

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"Terribly?" Yukimura asked, raising an eyebrow and sliding the pants over Kuronue's other foot then up his legs. "You make it sound like a burden," he teased as he smoothed the leather over his lover's thighs and hips, making sure it settled correctly, of course, before fastening them and brushing his hands over Kuronue's ass, again, to make sure they settled right.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

His eyes fell half lidded and he hummed gently, leaning against Yukimura and bringing his hands up to run them through his hair. "Oh it is. Having someone as cute as you around? I never get anything done."

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"You would get things done without me around?" Yukimura asked, disbelief clear in his voice, along with teasing. He tilted his head a little. "Kiss me then I'll finish dressing you."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"You'd be the only exception," he said, laying his arms over Yukimura's shoulders and kissing him as asked. Rather than mess around, he pressed his lips to his lovers and kissed him slow and deep, humming lightly as he did.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

It was a very nice kiss, wonderful, everything he could want in a kiss just then and Yukimura lingered in it, his hands shifting to hold Kuronue closer. He drew back reluctantly. "Love you," he whispered. "And, I'm the only thing you'd get done with me around?" he teased, slowly moving back so he could put on Kuronue's vest.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue was suddenly a little confused by the conversation, the kiss having diverted his attention and his coherent thinking. "Love you too," he murmured, pressing his head to Yukimura's, then remaining still as he pulled away.

He held his arms out, compliant. "Well, depends what we're doing really. Where we are, who we're with." He winked at Yukimura.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"Who we're with?" Yukimura echoed. "What is going through your mind, love?" he teased as he took Kuronue's vest and moved behind him to work it over his wings.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He hummed lightly, grinned. "Well, you and Kurama together would be..." He spaced out for a moment, just imagining. To have the two that he loved together, at the same time... He probably wouldn't last very long, but he'd be sure that they had the time to do it again and again until they were both worn out.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"I was under the impression that Kurama was intimidated by me, or something like that," Yukimura said when Kuronue's expression looked like he was with him again mentally.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Hm?" He frowned a little. "Intimidated by you? Really?" He baulked a little, utterly floored.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"Something like that," Yukimura said, reaching up to caress Kuronue's cheek when he finished fastening his lover's vest. "I could be wrong, love. He just seems off-put by me, especially since our fight."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Oh...well, perhaps we should...I don't know, try to get the two of you onto better terms or something..."

He kissed Yukimura's palm and then looked down, wiggled a little in his leather pants. "I feel like I'm wearing too much," he said, smiling up at Yukimura.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura smiled at Kuronue. "You could have chosen to wear a yukata," he teased. He wrapped his arms around Kuronue's waist, hugging him a moment before drawing back. "And, weren't you supposed to win at Go before revealing one of your fantasies?" he asked. "Not that I'm opposed, I just don't think Kurama would be interested in me after that fashion."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He pressed a finger to Yukimura's nose, as Kusuriyuri had done to him once, and smiled. "I don't mind telling you my fantasies, never have, really." He leaned forward and kissed Yukimura's temple.

"And I don't think he dislikes you as much as you seem to think." He ran fingers through Yukimura's hair, sighed lightly.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura sighed, though having his nose poked at was a bit odd. "I don't think he dislikes me, I just never got the impression after my sorting that he was interested in me that way. The peddler caught him between my sorting and when we had a drink together," he explained.