Youko Tails IV: The Fox Husband

Not mukashi mukashi, there lived on Mount Hiei a fire demon named, well, Hiei. He lived deep in the forest with his sweet sister Yukina.

For a living, Hiei made charcoal and sold it to a nearby town while Yukina sold popsicles during the summer. It allowed them to survive comfortably, at least. Sometimes Hiei would work a side job; he was an excellent assassin and thief.

One winter, the two siblings set off for Gandara to buy a futon, as Hiei had attempted to beat the other one and had ended up popping it instead. On the way, the two came upon a fox caught up in a trap.

Moved by the hapless creature's plight, Yukina begged her brother to help the kitsune. She turned wide, pleading eyes on Hiei; in a nanosecond, the (small, ornery) fire demon was a puddle of mush.

Grumbling under his breath the whole time, Hiei roughly freed the yelping kitsune, growling when it tried to lick his face.

"Oi!" both fox and youkai froze at the angry tones of the trapper, who had returned to check his traps. "Nani shiteru yo?!"

"Oniisan, don't let him hurt this kitsune, onegai!" Yukina beseeched softly, her eyes on the angry features of the approaching trapper.

Hiei snarled slightly, tossing aside the indignant kitsune and reaching for his katana.

"Dame! Not like that!" Yukina cried, correctly reading the intent-to-kill sign flashing on Hiei's forehead.

"Why?" Hiei wondered. "Much easier that way."

"Just because," Yukina insisted. She smiled innocently at the trapper. "I would like to buy this kitsune, kudasai," she said sweetly. From the folds of her kimono she withdrew a teargem, shed while cutting onions. She placed it in the suddenly-happy trapper's palm, and gathered up a dazed looking fox.

So Yukina and Hiei took the kitsune home, where Yukina used it as a guinea pig for her budding abilities as a Healer. Oddly enough, the kitsune took quite a shine to Hiei, though the youkai was often brusque towards it. Still, the kitsune continued to shower it's affections on Hiei, and it was with a great deal of reluctance that it finally took its leave, Hiei having chased it out with his katana. The household became quiet once more, and against his will, Hiei found that he...erm...missedthestupidfox.

A few nights later, there was a soft rapping at the twins' door. Muttering something about rude people who have nothing better to do than disturb others at insane hours, Hiei yanked open the door.

Standing in the doorway and shivering slightly from the chill winter air was a slender redhead. "Konban wa," he said, a husky alto sending a strange shiver up Hiei's spine. "Could you spare a place to sleep for the night? Onegai." The fireplace cast soft shadows over the stranger's features, bringing out the brilliant emerald of his eyes. Full of secrets and sly humor, the emerald eyes pulled at Hiei in a disturbing manner.

The fire demon was about to refuse, but Yukina beat him to it. "Of course!" the ice maiden ushered the redhead in and sat him down by the fire. She brought the stranger a hot cup of tea, returning his grateful smile with a gentle one of her own.

Having gotten over his surprise, Hiei moved to watch the redhead warily. Noticing the fire demon's suspicious regard, the mysterious eyes sparkled. "Sumimasen," he bowed over his cup. "Ore wa Kurama desu. Yoroshiku." Once again Hiei found himself drowning in deep pools of green.

"Hiei." The youkai grudged.

Kurama ended up staying longer than intended, slipping into the household routine smoothly. Even Hiei was forced to admit that the redhead was helpful with the chores, and that he felt assured that the young man would watch over his sister while he was out working. Kurama helped ward off Yukina's loneliness, and for that alone Hiei would have opened his house to the redhead.

That winter, Mount Hiei was struck by many violent snowstorms. It became harder to find the wood needed to produce charcoal, and money was getting scarce.

Nearly at the end of their finances, Kurama went to Hiei. "I want you to lock me in the storehouse for three days," he told the dark youkai. "On one condition. Promise that neither you nor Yukina will look in on me during that time." Kurama was firmly insistent, and Hiei finally agreed.

After three days, Hiei opened the storehouse door to find Kurama neatly folding a beautiful silver robe. "How-" Hiei began, but the redhead stopped him with a slender finger on his lips.

"Don't ask, kudasai," Kurama requested. "Take this robe to Gandara and sell it. It should be worth enough to get through winter."

Seeing the value of such a robe and the wisdom of Kurama's words, Hiei took the robe. In a flash of black, he was gone.

Kurama huffed, gazing in the direction Hiei had taken. "It's been three days Kurama. Why don't you have something to eat? Why, thank you Hiei. I think I will. Hmph. Somehow, I can't feel the love here." With an offended snort, Kurama flounced off to raid the kitchen.

While Kurama was busy trying to quiet the growling of his stomach, Hiei was on his way toward the village, the silver robe tucked safely in his coat.

As he approached a crossroad, Hiei became aware of a chocobo on an intersect course. The rich robes of the giant chicken's rider proclaimed that she was a lady of high rank. The cold winter sun reflected brightly off the noblewoman's orange hair; Hiei recognized her as Mukuro, the Lady of the countryside.

Spotting Hiei, Lady Mukuro slowed her chocobo to a halt before him. "Ohayo Hiei," she greeted the fire demon. "You're not selling charcoal?" Hiei's charcoal was known to be excellent, and Lady Mukuro often bought from him.

Hiei gave a slight shake of his head. "Selling something else today," he said.

"Oh? Let me see." Mukuro gasped in delight when she saw the silver robe Hiei displayed. "I'll pay you a bag of gold," she told Hiei. Still gazing at the garment, Lady Mukuro handed the fire demon the gold. Caressing the robe with gentle fingers, she asked, "Where did you get this? Yukina can't weave or sew, as far as I can recall."

Hiei shrugged. "Just a wanderer who decided he wanted to live with us. He figured he had to earn his keep somehow."

Lady Mukuro folded the robe neatly and put it in her pack. "Can he make another one? Tell him I'll pay him double. This is magnificent!"

"Hn, I'll see what I can do." Hiei turned and disappeared, leaving Lady Mukuro to await the next robe.

Hiei returned home to find Kurama munching contentedly on aburage and rice. He took a moment to (unconsciously) admire the charming sight the redhead made. Kurama looked up from his meal, and for a second time stood still.

"Hiei!" The tension broken, Kurama bounded towards the youkai, a happy smile wreathing his features. "Back so soon?"

Hiei remained expressionless. "I sold the robe to Lady Mukuro," he explained curtly. "She wants another one." He dropped the bagful of gold to the floor with a heavy 'thud'. "She'll pay double for it."

Kurama's eyes widened. "I'll get on it." He glanced at his hands. "Can I finish my meal first?" Hurriedly gulping down the last of his rice, Kurama headed for the storage house. "No peeking," he teasingly warned the fire demon as he slid the door shut.

Now, telling someone not to do something almost invariably has the opposite effect; Hiei was no exception to the rule. On the second day of Kurama's self-imposed isolation, what little curiosity Hiei possessed overwhelmed him.

Sneaking silently up to the door, Hiei cracked it open and looked in. To his utter shock, instead of a redhead, he beheld a tall silver Youko. Hiei blinked, then blinked again. Yes, there was still a Youko in his storehouse. A tall, silver Youko. A tall, silver, NAKED-AS-THE-DAY-IT'D-BEEN-BORN Youko, who was nonchalantly brushing strands from it's tail and weaving them deftly into a silver cloth.

Hiei gave a small squeak, quickly muffled, but the sharp ears of the Youko heard him. It - he, definitely a he - whirled, showing off spectacular...muscles, and luminous gold eyes. Sensual lips stretched in a predatory smile, and something told Hiei that NOW would be a good time to run.

Too late.

Correctly reading his expression, the Youko threw a few seeds at the fire demon, growing them into long tendrils that pulled Hiei fully into the storehouse. The hapless youkai struggled futilely as he watched the Youko shut and bar the door. Crimson eyes widened as the Youko approached. "Naughty youkai," the Youko chided, running his nails lightly down Hiei's chest. "I told you no peeking." With a downward slash, the Youko tore Hiei's shirt off.

"Ku-Kurama?" Hiei gasped in shock.

"Hai hai," the Youko answered cheerfully, working off Hiei's belts. "I was the kitsune you rescued. You didn't seem to like me in that form," Kurama pouted, Hiei's pants flying over his shoulder, "so I changed into something you'd find more...appealing." The vines released the shell-shocked fire demon as Kurama pulled him into his arms. "I knew you'd get curious sooner or later. Can't follow instructions, can you? We'll just have to clean those ears."

"Kurama," Hiei recovered from his shock to point out, "that's NOT my ear."

"It ISN'T? Silly me."

"Hnn..."

When Hiei had finished doing whatever it is one is supposed to do with a nekkid Youko in the storeroom, he and Kurama lived happily ever after, Yukina having decided to open her own ice cream shop in town. They weren't very rich, but then again, they were enjoying themselves too much to really care. As for the silver robe, Lady Mukuro received it...eventually.

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