"Botan... daijoubu?"       She ceased her moaning abruptly coupled with a prolonged sigh. Nothing else but him filled every corner of her mind very much up to this point, his very presence before her drugging her further, pushing her farther. Nonetheless she smiled pushed back the silver tresses affectionately, gently fingering the soft hair caught within her slender fingers. "Hai..." she whispered against the kitsune's ears before kissing it lightly. feeling the soft fur against her lips. Those very ears twitched and tucked against his head as he leaned forward and claimed her lips within his own.

      That's the LAST place I wanna be, he thought as he ventured further into the thick vegetation. He was aware the he better take caution upon his actions... but- but...

      They were, his thought faltered at the short memory and he felt blood rush to his cheeks, his pale skin tainted with a crimson hue. It would have been fine if not for the obscene sounds that were pretty much audible OUTSIDE the cave. Baka kitsune, he thought, letting his mind wander as he advanced further.

      The koorime was no where within his sight and he advanced with cautious steps. Taking in his sorroundings and making his senses aware. He pushed his lean frame from the vegetation and set foot upon the open area, "Finally."

      A smile pushed against his lips as he caught sight of her slender form, laughing slightly as she scouted the cave for her clothing, finding the task quite difficult for they were hastily discarded and randomly thrown over.

      She emitted a hiss of annoyance, still pondering upon where some of her clothing had gone to. She bent own, one hand pushing back the blue locks that dared to sting her eyes and she gathered the clothing within her arms. Her senses caught his slight laugh and she dropped the bundle over the youkai's head. She giggled as he tried to voice his protest, the soft fabric muffling his cries. She steadfastly ignored the kitsune as she clothe herself but she smiled when he pushed his silver head from the pile of white cloth. "Get dressed." she said, failing miserably from seeming firm, finding the kitsune far too amusing. He smiled cockily, eyeing her mockingly as he titled his head to one side, "No." he replied, grinning.
      "Oh?" she shot back, leaning down and touched the tip of his nose with her own. She smiled when the youko brushed his tongue against her nose. She titled her face and caught his mouth with her own but quickly pulled back at his sudden advance.
      He growled his protest, staring deep within her eyes. "What?" came the slightly irritated reply and the tail beneathe him flicked vioelently as it struggled to free itself from his legs. He eyed her as she ran a gentle hand across his ears and giggled when he swiftly tucked it against his head.

      She leaned forward against his ear, "Not until you get dressed first." she said and pecked at the tip of his nose.
      He sighed, "Hai, hai..." he muttered as he pushed himself to rise beneathe the cloth that very much concealed his bared frame. "Baka..." He bent over as he replaced the clothes from their former place, his tail swaying idly.

      With his back at her, she watched the kitsune's tail, speculating every move. Her hands twitched subconcsiously, wondering how the soft fur would feel caught between her fingers. Her gaze fell down as she caught sight of the long cloth that lay against her feet. She grinned as she shifted her gaze back at the youkai.
      "Nani...?" He ran a weary hand over his silver locks. "Where's my belt?" he muttered quirking an eyebrow. Soft, lean arms slowly enfolded his waist in a loose embrace and his gaze fell at the feel of the slight shifting against his stomach.
      "There." she said, smiling against the youko's back and she leaned her face against the youkai. "Let's find Hiei."
      "Hai." He turned and took a firm hold of her hand but he felt himself cease and stare at the sight before him. "You." His voice hushed, ragged as he found breathing difficult but through instinct placed himself between the youkai and the deity. "How did you find this place?"
      He grinned at the youko kitsune, eyeing the fox rather idly as he set his gaze upon the deity. "Honestly kitsune... it would have been difficult if not for the 'sounds' that would give way to this place within a mile." he said, licking his lips. "She must be something if she could make YOU do THAT."
      Youko Kurama had tried to keep a straight face, but that didn't cease the slight blush that crease his face. "I..."
      "Tell me about it... why the hell did you think I left?"
      "Hiei!" the rest of the populace said and the dark youkai shrugged and placed himself beside the kitsune.

Karasu eyed the smaller youkai and smiled once again, "So we meet again, Hiei."
      "Hn."
      "Botan..." the youko muttered as he stepped back and pushed her deeper into the cave, his eyes not leaving Karasu. "Stay here..."

The youko could not ponder upon which had inflicted greater pain, Karasu's blow or the side of the cave he had violently collided against and he had involuntarily coughed blood from the powerful impact. He shifted his gaze slightly and eyed the small youkai sprawled against the cave floor. Kusou, Hiei can't wield his Kokkuryha and I can't summon my plants without endagering anyone other that Karasu, the youko's thoughts were abruptly cut off as he felt a firm hold against his face and he winced as that hold thightened, the bruises against his face making themselves known and the thick crimson fluid that slid down his chin didn't help matters.
      "Tsk, tsk," he said, staring at the golden orbs. and he smiled. "I guess you shouldn't fight after such now could you?" He heard a violent snarl after that. though he was aware that the youko was blushing. "Or..." he emphasized his statement by gripping the youko's face harder and the kitsune gave a wry cry at the painful contact. "Is it because you don't want to endanger them?" One hand drifted down the youko's bared side, the wound still fresh from one of his assualts. He grinned as a faint purple hue coated his arm and he heard the silent explosion coupled with the youko kitsune's painful cry.
      "Kurama!" she gasped unable to turn away at the horrible sight. The wound at his side bled violently, coating his pale skin crimson and she could only stare as he cried.
"Ku-Kurama...." she muttered, her voice trembling, unable to utter a sound as her lips quivered. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to supress the tears pooling within her eyes, failing miserably.
      "Kurama... kisama, Karasu...." he muttered brokenly as he roused from his place but he halterd abruptly as his jagan glowed eerily and he knew why. Damn it, I'm surrounded, he thought, minding to keep still as he eyed the battle helplessly.

      The youko kitsune gritted his teeth, muffling his cry as Karasu held his side firmly, roughly handly the open wound as he held his place, pushing his hand further the kitsune.

      Karasu smiled against the youko, feeling the deep, heavy breaths the taller youkai took and he shifted his gaze upon the deity.
      He wouldn't, Hiei thought. Kusou, he braced his small compact frame and swiftly shifted from his place, but found his effort useless as he brought down to his knees by the bursting sensation of the explosions against his form.
      "Matte..."

Karasu turned and brought his gaze upon Kurama, smiling as he fell to his knees, clutching his side. The youko's eye squinted in pain as he pushed himself to rouse and he slowly advance towards Karasu. But when he found himself ignored, he smirked and swiftly placed himself before Karasu. "I said wait." he muttered darkly.
      She held him by the arm, eyeing the bleeding side wearily and she oticed his weakened, unstable state.
      "Botan!" She felt the sudden shove and watched helplessly as Kurama was again assaulted upon his wound and was pushed against the wall of the cave once again but this time, the youkai found no strength to rouse. "Kurama..."
      "Don't go to him..." he muttered firmly and he smiled when she turned to him. "He's surrounded..." he stated as he advanced towards her. "The deep wound upon his side would not stop bleeding, he lost consciousness through loss of blood, his body weakened incredibly. He will die in a matter of minutes."
      "Iie..." she gasped and she took a step back, constantly keeping a weary eye upon Karasu.
      "And upon my order he will be put to death...slowly and painfully." he grinned the evil glint in his eyes catching her in a firm stare and he reached out a hand, intending to lay atop her shoulder.

      "Yameru!"
      The koorime blinked and then sighed in exasperation and probably loss of hope. "Oh great, not HIM!"
      "Don't even lay a hand on her." he muttered as he advanced towards the tall youkai, topaz clashin against violet.
      "What if I refuse?"
      "Then you fight me."
      "You?" he was aware he grinned foolishly, unable to vision the young prince caught in a battle without rushing off.
      "Hai. You fight me and let me inform you I have no intention of giving her up without a fight."
      "Hn, that's what the kitsune tried to do and look at him now."

      "Koenma-sama..." she muttered, gently cradling the youko's limp frame. She bit her lip, his wound still bleeding, Hiei still caught within the trap and Koenma too weakened too continue with his fight. She felt the dead weight within her arms shift slightly and she smiled as he forced his eyes to open. "Kurama..." she said, tears beading down the youko's face. "Daijoubu, koibito?" She felt her chest tighten when he failed to muffle his cry.

      Kurama coughed blood, and tried to remain still, feeling helpless yet somehow secure within her arms as he watched the battle before them. "Koenma..."
      The blue pacifier dropped to the floor as the Reikai prince staggered, finding support against the wall. His eye squinted as crimson liquid coated his eye. He felt his legs burn with every shift, his arms numb from all the wounds and bruises and his face slightly swollen from Karasu's hard blows... blood everywhere. He watched helplessly as Karasu advance towards him. "Gomen ne... Botan."

Yui had found herself to be quite late and she gasp at the site before her. She held a trembling hand atop her chest, finding it diffucult to breathe. But when she saw him collide against the wall she knew she had seen quite enough, "Koenma-sama!!!"

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