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 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.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue sighed, and looked away from the koi. There was a zen garden a little ways off, over a small red and black bridge made of wood and under the shade of a large tree. "My love, I think you're right," he murmured.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura slipped his arm around Kuronue's waist. "There's a pavilion over there. The Go board should be in there, when you're ready," he said pointing over the bridge. The pavilion itself was little more than a roof over a platform with curtains that could be drawn to keep out bugs.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He made an amused sound. "Cute," he said, slipping an arm over Yukimura's shoulders. "Shall we go now then?"

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"It is a very nice place to enjoy the garden in the summer," Yukimura laughed. He looked once more at the pond before leading Kuronue to the pavilion. "And, in the spring, too, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"I can imagine," he said, following obediently. When they reached the pavilion he tilted his head at the board and took the side with the black pieces, chuckling a little. Snow was white after all.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura's lips quirked at Kuronue's thought about snow being white. He touched a few points on the board and explained what they were, the star points and a few others, before placing his first piece and watching Kuronue.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue stared at the board for a moment and then made his first move. It continued like so for a while, and Kuronue was quite proud of just how well Yukimura moved.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

They continued until all the points on the board were covered. "Now, we remove the pieces that are trapped and count territory. The one who has the most, wins," Yukimura said, holding back his yukata sleeve as he removed his stones that were surrounded.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Humming, Kuronue removed his pieces, a little bemused at the rules of the game still. Still, it was rather easy to tell that Yukimura had more than he. He sat back and let his hands drop into his lap, watched him.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

When finished, Yukimura looked at Kuronue, eyebrow raised. "I thought you were a well known thief, great with strategy?" he asked archly, brushing his hair back over his shoulder.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

One of Kuronue eyebrows went up. "I had time to study and prepare then," he defended, narrowing his eyes a little at Yukimura while he smiled.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"Oh?" Yukimura asked. "Then, should we play another game, now that you've had time to study and prepare?" He began separating out the pieces into the bowls. "I would like to see this great strategist," he teased.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Oh, are we playing best out of three now?" he asked, raising his eyebrows and taking his pieces back. "Don't you want your fantasy?"

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I do, but I don't want you to feel cheated in anyway. It should be a fair win, after all, shouldn't it? You were telling me that you were a great strategist, after all," he teased.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Hmm, alright, best out of three." He couldn't deny Yukimura his fair chance, after all. He figured he had a decent idea of the rules now.

Kuronue moved his first piece.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"Very well," Yukimura agreed, moving to counter Kuronue's move. He was going to make Kuronue work for this game, win or lose. He was also determined to enjoy the game, as well. It'd been a long time since he'd been able to play.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Now with the basics, Kuronue made an effort to make it hard for Yukimura, took his own time studying Yukimura's possible moves and planing ahead before he too moved. To say the least, the game stretched on for quite a while. He was having fun.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura was enjoying himself, too, watching Kuronue's mind work, but not peeking through their bond, just watching the thoughts flicker over his face as he examined the board. He made Kuronue work for every move he could while keeping up a defense against his lover. When the last stone was placed, he looked over at Kuronue. "Time to count and see who won," he smiled, eyebrow raised. It was a very close game.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue was interested to see who won. Glancing at the board showed no obvious winner, and he counted quite happily. "I like this game," he said, while he counted and retrieved his pieces.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura laughed, pleased that Kuronue was enjoying himself. "Two points more," he said, a little boasting in his voice. "My fantasy!" He leaned over the board and whispered near Kuronue's ear. "When your wings are feeling better, I want to fly through a storm."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

His eyebrows went up immediately. "We've known each other for over a year and you only ask me for it just now?" He was a little surprised, though he was grateful that he wouldn't have to take Yukimura flying just yet. His wings were...tender, still.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"I didn't want to impose on you," Yukimura pouted, sitting back again. "Besides, isn't that the point of fantasies? To have something you wouldn't normally ask for?"