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]

Kuronue lifted his head again, smiled up at Mamechiho. His smile widened at how Yukimura's arm tightened just that little bit and her cute blush. "We spent a long time looking for it, now that we have it, we're very much happy with what we have."

He shifted, careful to not knock Yukimura's tea any. Then he plucked it from his hand and set it down beside him, pulled Yukimura over into his lap. He handed him his cup, took his own from Mamechiho gracefully.

It was good tea.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura chuckled at being moved like a doll in front of Mame-chan. "We do apologize for falling asleep on your friends," he said, shifting a little to get more comfortable and finish his tea, burying a yawn in the cup.

Mamechiho waved her hand. "No need to apologize. They were most pleased by their time with you and that you allowed participation and to witness such."

Yukimura finished his tea and handed back the cup, reaching up to touch her cheek. "It was our pleasure."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue hadn't stopped smiling in the least. Slipping and arm around Yukimura's waist, he settled, watching the two of them while he sipped at his tea. "You did a great thing for us Mamechiho. I'm grateful."

He nodded, and then widened his eyes. "Oh, if you'd like to open your gifts now, you may. One is an apology for my being absent, the other is just because I can."

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Mamechiho looked at them bemused. "A great thing?" she asked.

"It was a fantasy of his, you helped fulfill it," Yukimura explained, covering another yawn. "To be worshiped that way. And the presents are in Kanae's closet, if you haven't peeked yet," he said, his eyes closing as he settled against Kuronue.

Mame-chan laughed. "Thank you. I am pleased then, both that we could aid you and for the presents. Rest." She rose, taking the cups away.

Sighing, Yukimura let his eyes close, his sleep less intense, but as needed. At some point, he heard Kanae leave and could occasionally hear sounds of Mame-chan moving around.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue remained awake for a while longer, listened to Mamechiho in the other room as she went into the closet, fished out the boxes. He could hear her gasps, the quiet utterings she made to herself.

She returned, poking her head in the door, and bowed to him. "Thank you, I'm humbled by your gifts," she whispered.

Kuronue smiled and crooked at finger at her, returning it to Yukimura hair, stoking lightly. As Mamechiho came close, Kuronue leant forward and pressed his lips to hers lightly, careful to not mess up her makeup too much. He took her hand. "You deserve them. If I could, I'd see that you'd become one of the best geishas. I'll try to visit you more often, even if it's just for tea."

She nodded in that graceful way of hers, pulled the blanket that had been covering them before up again. He noted the way she used her hands, fingers straight, elegant. Every movement was smooth, like art itself. "Sleep a while longer, danna," she said softly, looked down to Yukimura and then back up to him with a smile.

She left and Kuronue settled with Yukimura. Faintly, before he fell asleep he could hear Mamechiho calling her Okasaan to tell her about her gifts.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

The room was dark when Yukimura opened his eyes, easily this time. He wasn't sure if it was morning or later at night, his own internal clock used to Hogwarts now. He yawned, burying it into his shoulder, trying to let Kuronue sleep a little longer if he needed to. He felt very well rested, very comfortable, very close to his lover. A smile curved his lips. This was a very good way to wake up, he decided.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue woke a few minutes later, somehow knowing his lover had woken. Humming lightly, feeling quite content, he mumbled an intelligible greeting and curled around Yukimura a little tighter. We must have needed the sleep, he mused to them both.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Indeed, Yukimura laughed in reply, snuggling into Kuronue's body physically. Though, I could use a bath, he added as his stomach started itching and his body reminded him he'd fallen asleep directly after sex without washing up at all. When we're ready to move.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that'd be nice...

He couldn't hear anyone moving around in the apartment and that made his eyebrows rise, even as his eyes remained closed. He wondered if Kanae was still at work when it was this late. Or was it early. Had Mamechiho left?

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura lifted his head, looking for a clock he could read in the low light. He saw one and frowned at it a moment before he could make out the time. It's almost four in the morning, he said, lowering his head again. Mame-chan will wake up in about an hour, unless she had to return. Kanae will sleep until woken or until about eight, he supplied.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue blinked and turned his head to smile against Yukimura's shoulder. It was warm right here, with Yukimura. He didn;t really want to move just yet, despite how he could feel Yukimura's want to bathe. How do you know that? Experience?

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yes, I told you, before, that we'd been together, the three of us, Yukimura teased, squirming a little against Kuronue. His bladder decided to remind him it existed as well, though he was loathe to get up if Kuronue wasn't going to join him. I wonder if they left the bath for us... he thought, letting it trail off. The shower wasn't very loud, but filling the bathtub could be. If the tub had water in it, then they could bathe without making too much noise and waking the girls.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Shall we check? He wasn't cruel enough to leave Yukimura in this kind of shape when he was uncomfortable, especially if nature was calling.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

You're most kind, Yukimura said, brushing a kiss against Kuronue's lips before he pushed himself up and held his hand out for his lover, leading him to the bathroom. A little lamp plugged in by the door revealed the cover was over the tub. There is water, he said, Kanae having told him once that she left it open when it was empty and covered it to keep the water warmer when it was full. It might be cool, depending on when they bathed, but there is water. If you could start the shower, he added apologetically, slipping away to use the toilet first.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Obediently, Kuronue started the shower, closed the door so that the sounds didn't travel too badly. He stepped into the shower while he waited for Yukimura, amused that it was like the one Yukimura had at Hogwarts, only with an actual showerhead instead of a hose.

There was soap, and a few different kinds of shampoo and conditioner. He sniffed them all while he waited, curious.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura joined Kuronue after relieving himself, watching his lover a moment after he slipped into the shower room. He walked up to his lover and held up one of the bottles. "Kanae picked this one for me. She likes how it smells," he supplied, his voice soft, but still sounding rather loud after the silence before. He reached for the shower and tested the water temperature before pointing it at Kuronue's shoulders.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

After scenting the bottle delicately, Kuronue hummed lightly in agreement, almost flinching at the sound of Yukimura's voice and his own. It was always like that after they'd been speaking through the mark. Loud as anything.

"S'nice," he declared, shifting a little to be more in line with the water. It was nice. Warm.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura ran the water over his lover's body. "Glad you like it," he whispered. "Shall I use it on you? Or do you like one of the others, better?" He used his hands as well as the water to help start cleansing his lover's skin.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"I like this one," he said, still holding the bottle. He read the label. It was nice to read Japanese rather than English.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"Very well, my love," Yukimura said, bringing the shower head up and letting the water flow over Kuronue's hair, brushing it back from his face, moving close to be able to reach, letting the water also flow over Kuronue's back and wing joints.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He tipped his head back to help, almost purring a little happily. He'd let Yukimura was him all day if he could survive it without come out like a wrinkled old man.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"I am pleased you enjoy this," Yukimura said, pleased at Kuronue's reaction and enjoying washing his lover, as well. "I think you'd make a very attractive wrinkled old man," he teased, slipping behind Kuronue so he could reach his lover's wings.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue could only laugh at that, though he tried to keep himself quiet for the girls sake, but the thought of himself as an old man was just hilarious to him.

The laughter trailed off into soft sounds, however, since Yukimura's touch on his wings was nice and relaxing. Vaguely arousing too, but he wanted to have something to eat and drink before he thought about it any more.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Pleased that he could make his lover laugh and feel good, Yukimura continued working on his wings, not trying to deliberately arouse Kuronue, but if it happened to feel good, why not? He moved in front of him again, taking some of the shampoo into his hands and working it through Kuronue's hair and using it to wash his body as well.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Humming happily, Kuronue tipped his head down so that it was less of a strain on Yukimura's arms to wash him. He was quite happy for the moment, setting aside the bottle and letting his hands trail down Yukimura's sides, washing him at the same time, only in a half-hearted manner.