tampered | Log: Complete

When: June 27, afternoon
Rating: Everyone!
Characters: Kurama [

banditfox] and Kuronoe [

nobamboopls]
Summary: Two thieves. One cafe. Over a thousand years of catching up to do.
Log:

Shiori's arrival had been startling and worrisome. As much as Kurama missed her, he'd have been happier if she remained safely at home rather than trapped in the City. The difficulties of maintaining his secret aside, this was no place for a human woman of Shiori's giving nature. Now, with Kuronoe's arrival just a day later, the kitsune was feeling a little overwhelmed. He made his apologies to the other residents of his apartment for his abrupt departure, and set out for Cafe Juliet for the second time in as many days, knowing that his friends would protect his mother in his absence.

To all appearances, Kuronoe was real this time, not an illusion designed to throw Kurama off balance. It was still painful to think of the day Kuronoe had died. Everything had changed after that. Kurama had continued his work, but he became colder, more calculating, and more ruthless. What he'd done to Yomi was proof of that. After Kuronoe had died, Kurama had had no patience for partners who needlessly risked themselves.

Out of consideration for Kuronoe, the kitsune took his youko form before he reached the cafe. He knew that it would be more difficult for the bat youkai to recognize him as a human. When he finally stepped through the doors and saw his old partner, he didn't know how to approach--with anger, with joy, or with guilt--so instead he just waited, off to one side so other patrons could come and go. It was Kuronoe's turn to react.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"That depends on the number of objects worth stealing." He drawled, more than a little relieved that Kurama let the pressure on his youki go. "Yes, yes. You know I learn quickly after making a mistake. I never actually thought I'd get a second chance after getting myself killed, though."

"No one does, but you'll find it's a little more common than either of us thought." Kurama glanced around the cafe and shook his head. "This isn't the right place to be having this discussion. There's a lot that we need to catch up on, and some of it I'd rather not discuss where anyone can hear." He stood and nodded towards the door. "Let's go for a walk. There's a forest, if you don't mind being surrounded by trees at this point. I'll tell you everything that's happened since ... " The kitsune caught himself before he said 'died'. " ... since the last time I saw you."

Kuronue pushed his chair away and got up and nudged it under the table with one foot before following after Kurama. He would comment on his partners (he didn't care of the midget insisted he was Kurama's partner, he has seniority on the matter in his own opinion) avoidance of the term "died", but decided to cut him a break.

"A forest, huh? Well, then this place isn't a total loss."

"At times, I almost enjoy it," Kurama admitted. He kept to idle conversation as they made their way to the edge of the trees, and then fell silent as he listened to the surroundings--not just the way a normal person would listen, but also the plants themselves. When he was confident there was no one else nearby, he sat down against a trunk. "I'm sure you've noticed the human scent on me, but the explanation comes towards the end of the story." Then he began to tell Kuronoe how he came to head a small group of bandits, with Yomi for his second-in-command, the way they had fallen out of each other's good graces, his subsequent solo operations and eventual injury. The story continued with his human life, and finally ended with the routine he had settled into just after the Makai Tournament, before the City had snatched him.

Kuronue listened to the story, moving around occasionally, a bit restless. Forests had been a haven to him for a while so he felt secure as he listened. He didn't like what he heard, angry at himself for dying, not being there to help his friend. He felt like that by dying, he'd betrayed him completely.

Stupid pendant. Stupid bamboo. Stupid him.

"I missed... alot." He said finally as he jumped down from the tree he'd been standing in, his wings slowing his descent so that he landed silently.

Kurama again offered a sympathetic smile. "You did. It's all right, though. I forgive you ... especially now that I've had a chance to yell at you for leaving." He leaned his head back against the tree and closed his eyes, relaxing for a moment in the quiet of the forest. "I'm going to change, now," the kitsune warned his partner. "You'll still recognize my ki, but the body is human. The woman who bore it is here, and she doesn't know what I am. I can't go back to the apartment looking like the youko you know."

With that, he let his form shift. There was a brief flicker, red replacing silver, and then a boy just leaving his teenage years sat against the tree, his red hair falling to his waist.

Kuronue looked at this completely alien boy, finding it hard to believe that this was who his partner had become. The kitsune scent was extremely diminished leaving mostly the scent of 'Shuichi'. The human boy. And he wasn't going to take back the statement about red hair belonging to a saucy wenches in the pleasure district.

"So how are you going to explain me to your... 'mother'? Bats wings and pointed ears aren't exactly human traits you know."

"I'm not." 'Shuuichi' stood and ran his fingers through his hair to straighten it. The red strands were more unruly than the silver, and tangled more easily. "Not yet. She'll find out about me eventually, but I think it's best to hold off on introductions for now."

Green eyes fastened on violet, and Kurama continued. "I do want you to meet her. I just can't ignore the fact that I've been lying to her for nearly twenty years."

Kuronue was very good as controlling his facial features, it was hard to accept. 1000 years had gone by, the Kurama he knew was changed. It was understandable, he thought.

"Right. I'm guessing you know a place for me to stay then?" Away from his mother, he supposed.

It hurt to ask this of his friend, especially now, and Kurama let that hurt show. Whether or not Kuronoe would read it properly was another story. "I'm sorry." He tucked his hands in his pockets and turned back towards the city proper. "Believe it or not, I'd like you close if you don't mind. There are rooms near mine if you want them. Housing is free, here. You just pick what you want and make it yours. I'll understand if you'd rather have some distance. There's plenty of space in other buildings."

Kuronue sighed and rubbed his forehead. One thing never changed and that was how much Kurama could feel guilty. Time for damage control, he decided as he walked, his now longer legs getting him even with 'Shuichi' easily before he slung an arm over his shoulder.

"Geez, why would I want some other building. We're partners, right?"

At least letting Kuronoe see that he didn't want to do this had worked. "Thank you." Kurama gave him a grudging smile and a playful shove just as he urged a tree root to come up from the ground right in front of Kuronoe's feet. "You really ought to watch your step!" he called as he took off at a spring for Building Three.

Log: Complete

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