Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Patron ❯ Chapter 1

Youko whined softly in fear as he realised what sort of mood his host and master would be in after all the innuendos Karasu had directed at him after he watched Team Toguro's training with the two humans. Shuuichi would not allow himself to be prey in that way. Youko remembered the time that he'd felt that confident, almost arrogant. But his arrogance at least had been tempered by the memory of what he'd been before he gained his second tail, after his entire clan had been destroyed while he was still a kit, and how he'd survived to become a master thief and the most skilled and powerful Plant Master in the Makai. Tonight's session would be worsened by the fact that Shuuichi had concluded he needed the power boost that he could only get from Youko's form, and the memory of how Youko had gained control of their body for just a few seconds when they were first exposed to the Potion of Past Life. The fact that Youko had been too scared and shocked to try anything but defending himself from his opponent had won him a reward from Shuuichi; a real reward, for he'd spent the night being petted and stroked, and gently teased until he climaxed and opened his legs of his own accord, instead of being raped. Even then he'd known better than to think he wouldn't be expected to please his master, and if he could please the human without having to bleed he counted himself lucky, being permitted to climax himself, and first...

 

It didn't matter, his master was falling to sleep. Deep in Kurama's mind Youko cowered into the darkest corner he could find, knowing that the collar and cuffs at his wrists and ankles would allow his master to drag him out anyway, but praying to Inari that perhaps this time he'd find some other outlet for his anger and cruelty and forget about Youko if the demon hid well enough.

 

Shuuichi appeared in the dreamscape, and moulded it to fit his wishes, a dark temple surrounded them, Youko hiding in one of the hidden niches, the human standing by the altar stone, a tray of knives and other things by his hand.

 

“Where are you my pet? Don't make me come looking for you.” If he'd thought he had a chance of hiding...but he didn't, and Youko crawled out of his hiding place and over to Shuuichi. He pressed himself to the ground at his master's feet, a low placating whine coming from his mouth. It had been so long since he'd dared to speak that he wasn't sure he could any more, not coherently. And Shuuichi had taken all the knowledge he'd gained over more than a thousand years, and a lot of the power, and made it his own.

 

Suddenly he was tied spread-eagled to the altar, no apparent transition, and he knew it was Shuuichi's doing, his will changing Youko's reality. Red hair brushed his cheek as Shuuichi took his mouth in a dominating kiss. But the human said nothing, he just took out the knives and set to work, gagging Youko first.

 

Afterwards Shuuichi simply willed him healed, and he was, one of the advantages of living in a dreamscape Youko reflected bitterly, it wasn't a true advantage, he couldn't control it, only Shuuichi could, and he often abused it to take Youko closer to the edge of soul death than he'd have risked physically. The altar his master had raped him on changed to a bed, he was still chained, but at least it was more loosely, allowing his owner to pull him into a possessive embrace that he accepted without challenge.

 

“I'll have to use the Potion of Past Life to fight Karasu. You'll fight him too, even if it puts you in charge of my body for a few moments, won't you?” Youko didn't think that was very likely, it was probably just the shock that had given him control the first time, he hadn't gained control when Shuuichi had tested the potion earlier. But he still nodded against his master's shoulder, making a wordless sound of agreement as his master stroked his hair. He hated himself for taking the scant comfort his rapist offered, but it was all he had. “Good. I don't think he'd believe you if you tried not to fight him anyway. After all everyone knows that humans are weak, far too weak to imprison a demon inside their body and mind.” Youko shivered at that, and at the implication that even when Shuuichi `died' as a human he wouldn't be free. It was something he'd been trying not to think about, the death of his last hope.

 

But then he was distracted, as Shuuichi kissed him, and began the slow process of bringing him to arousal. This was another torment, and Youko decided desperately to try something new, turning his kitsune tricks to use to pleasure the human, praying his master would be pleased enough with this new form of capitulation not to torture him more.

 

When it came to morning Youko had only acquired a few bruises and scratches, and he hadn't needed Shuuichi's healing again that night, making this night much better than he'd expected overall. He'd thought he would be in for a night like the ones that finally broke him, a night of being tortured nearly to death, over and over, then brought back to health, only for it all to start again. Those had only started when Shuuichi was ten, and they'd realised that Youko couldn't regain his form as he'd expected to, that he'd be trapped in Shuuichi's body for some time to come. Before that...Shuuichi had dominated him, and took his powers and knowledge, but he hadn't been cruel, not really, just rough and Youko had considered it a mostly fair trade. His knowledge, and power, and sexual submission in their dreamscape until Shuuichi lost control of their body in exchange for a place to hide while he recovered from his injury, and a life to take afterwards.

 

He watched the fighting from within Shuuichi's mind, as he'd expected he didn't have any chance to control their body when it returned to his old form, and he was powerless to do anything, but he still watched, if only because he feared that Shuuichi might grant him control of their body to suffer in the human's place. His fears were foolish he supposed, his master would have killed them both before allowing Karasu to live to see his victory, and Youko wondered if he'd ever been that strong. He felt a distant gratitude that Shuuichi had allowed him to see what was happening, it would have been far worse to have been imprisoned in his master's mind, held by the chains of his master's will, only vaguely aware of what was happening.

 

 

***0***

 

 

The next time Youko was really aware of what happened in the waking world that Shuuichi moved in, and he no longer hoped to experience, was at the end of a battle, some force pulled him out of the mists of the dreamscape, and he was suddenly aware of the last enemy throwing something at Shuuichi. His master intercepted it with his whip, and destroyed their attacker with a thrown grass blade, but there was something in the thrown object that emerged as a mist and the dreamscape seemed to fracture around him. He suddenly found himself in his true form, apparently physical, but still wearing the marks of Shuuichi's ownership, and he hurt too much to do anything but collapse. He was distantly aware of his master's contempt as he returned to the devastated dreamscape of his mind, or his master's.

 

Or both since Shuuichi appeared just minutes later, and he was angry. Youko whined in fear when he saw the anger on Shuuichi's face, the anger that he so rarely showed to anyone else, and pressed himself to the ground in submission. The kitsune form was his truest nature, but he never looked like a kitsune in here, and he didn't know why, unless it was that Shuuichi simply didn't want a kitsune. Still, this time he was more terrified than ever before, by the strangeness of what had just happened in the outside world as well as by his master's anger, and so in a panic he tried to shift, and this time it worked. The change seemed to startle Shuuichi out of his anger a little, and there was something...

 

Youko tried to spin enough to see and count his tails, he knew it was stupid, he wouldn't be able to succeed that way, and there were better ways to find out what he wanted to know, but it amused his master, and once Shuuichi was laughing...

 

“You don't need to do that my pet. You've got five tails now.” Shuuichi knelt and pulled him into his lap, stroking his head and back. Youko crooned deep in his throat, burying his muzzle beneath his master's arm in an ironic gesture of trust. “Hmmmm, I wonder...” He put Youko away and the kitsune watched anxiously, as the human...changed to a fox form himself, but one with his own blood red fur and emerald eyes, rather than the silver and gold of Youko's form, and just four tails, not five. Youko tentatively offered to play with him in his actions, and to his surprise Shuuichi did, for a few moments at least. And it didn't turn into sex, even when Shuuichi ended up on top of him. But as soon as Youko rolled over, offering his throat to Shuuichi in submission the other fox sat back on his haunches and shifted back to human form.

 

“We appear to have been split into two separate bodies. So, a few ground rules. You will not give any indication that we still share a dreamscape. And you will not explain who was in charge of our body for most of my life. And you most certainly will not discuss what happens in our shared dreamscape. Do you understand me?”

 

Youko whined in affirmation, and nodded.

 

“Good. Now, shift back to your other form, I want to play a bit more.” Youko shivered and obeyed, but at least Shuuichi didn't sound angry anymore. The human - at least he thought Shuuichi was still human - undressed him slowly and began to kiss him, and Youko decided to just lie back and enjoy this rare, tender mood. His master still chained him down, hands above his head, legs open, but for once he didn't take Youko, but rode him instead. It was a rare event for Youko, and he let himself enjoy it totally, cleaning his master as commanded afterwards. The chains disappeared once Shuuichi had reached his completion, even though Youko was still hard, but he got to his knees as commanded.

 

“Go ahead and masturbate if you want. But we need to repair this dreamscape.” Youko didn't understand why his master needed his help, but he took the permission offered and used it, his master would tell him what else was needed he was sure. He could feel the dreamscape shifting around him as he spilled his seed and he offered an interrogating whine to Shuuichi.

 

“Envision the world around us as whole and undamaged, see it as, oh, the grounds of Genkai's temple. You do remember what they look like?” Youko nodded as he obeyed...and the world changed around him, to fit what he envisioned, or almost. It was different in some areas, doubtless from his master's mind and control, but he was just grateful to have been permitted to do this. As he thought that he found himself dissolving from the dreamscape...

 

 

***0***

 

 

He wasn't certain where he was when he woke, so he feigned continued sleep that seemed to deceive those around him. He knew he was among his master's allies when he heard Yukina's voice, telling Genkai that they just needed to rest, otherwise he and his master were both healthy, but that didn't make him feel safe enough to open his eyes. He could still feel his collar and his cuffs - even if they didn't feel exactly like the ones that kept him under Shuuichi's control in the dreamscape, and he wasn't certain enough of how his master's friends would react to him to risk it. He heard his master moan, not something he normally got to hear, and then he heard someone walk away from him, probably to Shuuichi.

 

“Kurama-san?” The Koorime sounded uncertain.

 

“Yes, Yukina-san, I am awake. What about Youko?”

 

“He hasn't woken yet.”

 

“He should have.” From the quiet protest Yukina bit off quickly Youko knew it was his master walking over to him. He could feel it when Shuuichi sat beside him, lifting his head to run a hand through his hair. “He's faking it, must not trust you. We know you're awake, so stop pretending.” A thin whine of fear escaped his lips and Youko sat up obediently, not looking directly at anyone, but keeping his gaze to the floor as Shuuichi climbed into his lap, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. All of the other Reikai Tantei were there, as well as Genkai and Yukina.

 

“First, are we both healthy like this?” The question seemed addressed equally to Yukina and Genkai. Youko could see Hiei unveil his Jagan as he glanced past his master's hair.

 

“It seems so, Fox.”

 

“I can't sense anything wrong with either of you, Kurama-san.”

 

“And can anyone tell what our power levels are now? I'm...not certain.”

 

“You're high end of B-class median, he's low end of A-class median. Same pattern though.”

 

“Thank you Hiei. We used to be high end of B-class superior, or low end of A-class inferior, didn't we?” Shuuichi began running his hands through Youko's hair, obviously searching for something as he turned to the others. The silver kitsune soon found himself purring at the way he was being treated, he didn't know why, he shouldn't have, but he almost felt as if he loved his master sometimes. “What happened? I remember that last demon throwing something at me, and a mist came out when I used my rose whip to destroy it...”

 

“Metal things came out too, that collar on his neck.” Yuusuke gestured at Youko as he spoke. “Five hidden demons, tried to take him. We killed `em.”

 

“It looks familiar, I'm just not sure why...” Shuuichi pushed away from him to inspect the collar.

 

“First Patron Gift.” He should have recognised it from the feel, before Hiei had to point it out.

 

“And unspecified too. We can't leave it like this. I think I'm the best choice to claim him, if no one does he's a dangerous weak point. Genkai-shihan, you could provide for him, but I don't think you'd be willing to take him to your bed. Hiei, you don't seem to have a home in the Ningenkai. Yuusuke, Kuwabara, you're both heterosexual, and pursuing someone else, even if you could provide for him. I'm kitsune enough to not care about the gender of my partners, and keep up with him, and I own an apartment I can put him in, the whole building actually, and I've got more than enough money to provide for him.” No one else said anything as Shuuichi twisted around to kneel across his lap.

 

“Youko Kurama, will you accept me as Patron? I swear that while you are mine, and it is in my power to prevent you shall go neither hungry, nor thirsty, nor cold, you shall not lack for shelter, nor clothing, nor protection.”

 

Youko gave a bark of agreement, and nodded, Shuuichi cut his finger open with a leaf blade and smeared his blood on the front of the collar.

 

“It won't be finished until I've taken him to his apartment, fed him and bedded him, but he's safe now.”

 

 

***0***

 

 

Yuusuke had to be missing something here.

 

“What's going on? You own an apartment building Kurama?”

 

“Makai ritual.” Hiei thought that was enough, Kurama laughed.

 

“Yes, I own an apartment building, the first theft I pulled off after I'd been born into this body was about three months after my father died. I was six, Kaasan was having problems paying the mortgage, even just the interest, so I stole enough to pay it off, and convinced her that it was a late payout from insurance. If I'd had more warning I'd have made the theft before he died. I invested the money from later thefts into property, and I buy a lot of my own clothes, duplicates, or stuff she'll never see me wear, it saves money for her, especially considering that I ruin my outfits by fighting in them a lot of the time. When she was in hospital the rents from my apartment building covered the bills, she doesn't know how much it cost, she still thinks her savings and what's left of the `insurance money' paid for it. And I can sneak some money into her account every month, or I can until she remarries, when she intends to hand over her finances to her husband, but Hatanaka-san can provide for her very well.”

 

“Didn't you ever have problems collecting money from your tenants?”

 

“They don't know who the owner is, one common speculation is that I'm Yakuza, first they thought I was someone's toy, then they speculated that I was some boss' son, now the most common bet is that I'm an enforcer.” Kurama looked as innocent as only he could when he continued. “I can't imagine why.” Yusuke could.

 

“Hey, you never said what that stuff was about.” At least it was Kuwabara who said it.

 

“Think of it as a contract, like an old style feudal lord maintaining a mistress. That's the closest equivalent. I'm required to set him up in a suitable dwelling, clothe him suitably, make sure he always has enough to eat and drink, and that he's either protected, or can protect himself. That's how I-he, we learned to use plants, our last Patron was a Plant Master, he set up plants to protect where we lived, and gave us the minimum teaching to control them a little. We got our second tail by training during the first twenty years we were with him, then, after he'd let us go we decided we didn't need a Patron - it's often the only way for a weak but pretty demon to have any safety. And Youko's clan were all killed when he was the equivalent of just hitting puberty. And that's when kitsune get access to a lot of their powers.” Kurama didn't seem happy about explaining this, but it didn't look like anyone else could. He was still running his hands through Youko's hair, more and more urgently. “Don't you have any seeds on you, Youko?”

 

The demon shook his head, whining, instead of speaking. Yukina moved towards the two Kuramas at that.

 

“Why don't you speak Youko-san? Should I check-”

 

“Don't. Not yet, not until I've finished claiming him. We both seem to have kitsune instincts, or I assume he does, and I haven't finished becoming his Patron yet.” Then Kurama kissed Youko, forcing his tongue into the other's mouth. “You have a tongue, and obviously vocal cords, speak to me.”

 

“Trkgh...” Youko stumbled over his words. “Try to speak, nrt...not used to it.”

 

“Here, protection.” Kurama began pulling seeds out of his hair, handing them to Youko one at a time as the other put them away. Youko looked shocked at one of them, but he didn't say anything, just put it with the rest. “Genkai-shihan, this will work better if I actually catch the food I give him, do you have any pots and stuff I can take out into your forest?”

 

“Go ahead. We won't get any use out of you two until then, will we?”

 

“No, I suppose not. Yuusuke, can you check with Koenma and find out whether he expects both of us to remain in the Tantei, or just me?”

 

“Sure. You want me to see if he can put you two back together too?”

 

“No, there's more advantages to being separate like this. At least I think there is, I'll tell you if I find out that I'm wrong. Or you can tell me if Koenma comes up with a good reason to merge us back together. But I think he'll be thrilled at the idea of having another `pet demon' on his Tantei. Genkai-shihan, could you show me which pots I can use?” He stood, and led the other Kurama away, one arm around the tall kitsune's waist.

 

 

***0***

 

 

Youko knelt obediently when Shuuichi released him, and watched as the other called the plants around them to guard him.

 

“Try to shift into your fox form my pet.” Youko glanced up at his master wide-eyed, for just a second, before he obeyed. It had been so long since he'd worn this form, since he'd controlled his own body at all, but he resisted the urge to run and play. It would anger his owner if he did that, he was certain. Then, Shuuichi took on the fox form from their dreamscape, and Youko began to realise what he'd done when he placed himself in Shuuichi's body, he'd changed the embryo from that of a human like Yuusuke, with high spirit energy, to that of a kitsune. But why...

 

“We couldn't shapeshift without aid before because we were two souls in one body, and since the human form was mine, and we were trying to get to your humanoid or fox form that ability was blocked.” He hadn't noticed when Shuuichi took on his version of the half and half form that he'd learned just before his clan died. “Now, I want you to think of what it felt like in my body, focus on those sensations, and try to replicate them, the way you replicate the sensations of being in this form to take it.”

 

That made an awful lot of sense, Youko obeyed, remembering what it had felt like on the rare occasions Shuuichi had granted him temporary control of their shared body, usually so that he could get out of something he disliked, like the one occasion Shiori had taken them to see a Kabuki play, but Youko had been grateful for it anyway. Once he'd remembered everything he could, he focused on altering himself, so that he'd feel that way, sense the world like that, again. And it worked! His hair was still silver, and his eyes presumably still golden, he was still just a little bit paler than Shuuichi, and his hands thinner and longer, but he wore a human form, kneeling on the ground.

 

“How did you know this was possible?” He looked up at Shuuichi in wonder as he risked questioning him.

 

“You don't know?” His master seemed surprised by that. “Remember our trip to the Makai when we were eight?” Shuuichi had found a brothel that included a black kitsune two-tailed vixen as one of the whores, Youko had hidden himself inside Shuuichi's mind after the other had paid for her time, he'd assumed that the human wanted to experience something of sex in the physical world before he lost the chance, and allowed privacy. Now he nodded obediently. “I had Asuka tell me all about what a kitsune should be able to do, and at what level of power. That's what started me experimenting with telepathy and telekinesis, and why I bought that E-class.” The E-class had been killed when it was of no more use, after Shuuichi, and Youko had both mastered telepathy with anything that could use its power. If Shuuichi hadn't done it without prompting Youko would have suggested it, even so soon after Shuuichi had broken him.

 

“Stay here while I hunt. Use the time to grow the seasonings I'll need, and increase the numbers of the medicinal seeds I gave you.”

 

“Yes, Shuuichi-sama. W-what of the Death tree, do you want a seed to replace the one you gave me?” It was the only one they had, so he had to ask.

 

“No. You have higher ki than I do, you can use it better.” With that Shuuichi shifted into fox form and left the clearing he'd created. It was a shock to Youko just how much those few words meant to him, those few words, and the casual show of trust his master made by giving such a weapon to him. Shuuichi hadn't finished claiming him, he could still kill the other, and that would free him of the collar and cuffs, but...he didn't want to. He didn't know why not, just that he didn't want to kill Shuuichi. He'd only been given one of each type of seed Shuuichi had handed over to him, so he began making himself as many more as he could, especially of the medicinal plants and roses. But not until he'd grown the seasonings his master had requested, he didn't want to displease Shuuichi. And...Shuuichi hadn't asked, but he could help by starting a fire for him, even if he was to stay here he could get his plants to bring him deadwood, and it was easy to get the grass to clear away so he could dig a fire pit, even if he did have to take fox form for that.

 

He didn't have any of the devices ningen used to start fires now, but he didn't need them, he'd learned how to do things like this before his clan was destroyed, and it was easier now, oils from the fireweed would make it much easier to light the wood from a spark, instead of having to rely on a handful of dried grass to catch the first spark, then to nurture it...

 

“That was very thoughtful of you, my pet. Well done.” His master's voice startled him, but he still preened under the simple praise from his master, enjoying the gentle caresses Shuuichi rewarded him with. Shuuichi had brought back a pair of rabbits that he quickly cut up and seasoned, roasting them over the fire pit, then feeding Youko by hand. Afterwards it seemed only natural for them to move into bedplay, surprisingly gentle on Shuuichi's part, he didn't even restrain Youko, and something seemed to fall into place then, just like with his other Patrons.

 

 

***0***

 

 

Botan was waiting when they returned to the temple, not very happily, and Youko trailed behind Shuuichi, so that his Patron could take the worst of any anger she felt. He'd take whatever advantages he could get out of this, and even if he was stronger than Shuuichi his owner had sworn to protect him.

 

“Why's he hiding behind you, Kurama?”

 

“Because he's my concubine, Botan. That means I'm supposed to protect him. No one else is allowed to hurt him.” That might not have been the best thing to say. But Youko fully intended to act like a proper concubine, if he showed that he knew his place his master might only hurt him in the dreamscape.

 

“But you can hurt him, is that it? That's wrong.” Yuusuke looked almost as if he was about to challenge Shuuichi over him. Why? Yuusuke didn't even know him - but he might think that he did. “I can't believe you're acting like this, Kurama.”

 

“He's acting like a demon. I thought you were the ningen half?”

 

“Actually, it turns out that if a kitsune enters a foetus with high enough spirit energy you get two kitsune if anyone manages to separate the two souls.” Shuuichi took his halfway form as he spoke, making it much easier for Youko to hide behind him. “Botan, you can't have him. He's mine.”

 

“Koenma thought you might say that. He's committed more crimes than you have...but he can work off his debt the same way you are, as long as he's under your complete control.”

 

“He's my concubine, by definition he's under my complete control, Botan. Human form, my pet.” Shuuichi reached behind him, pulling Youko forward by one wrist. Youko obeyed without question, making himself look like a human, and never raising his gaze from the floor.

 

“I thought Youko had this scary rep. You sure that's the same guy?” He flushed as he overheard Yuusuke's muttered comment, and pressed closer to his master for safety.

 

“We both have the same memories, but they seem to have affected us differently. Considering the reason he's my concubine, it's no surprise that he's the more submissive of us.” He felt his master shrug behind him. “I don't know if the souls are mixed up, if I'm the soul that was originally meant for this body, or if he is.” He'd need to keep track of that lie, or perhaps he wouldn't, not considering his total lack of interest in that sort of esoterica even before he died. “But obviously whoever tried to enslave him would have wanted whichever of us was the more compliant, and desired his form more. Has anyone figured out anything about who was behind this?”

 

“No, not yet. But if they want Youko we can monitor him, and find out that way.” Botan seemed uncomfortable making that suggestion, and for a very good reason. Youko found himself thrust behind his Patron, dropping to his knees as he lost his balance, and when he glanced up through his hair he could see Shuuichi's Rose Whip wrapped around Botan's throat as the other kitsune pulled the ferry girl towards him.

 

“Hey!” The objection was coming from two throats at once, the two human boys, held at bay by more of Shuuichi's plants, the Aura Vines, that kept them from manifesting enough ki to use their abilities. The vines would be useless if Yuusuke raised his full power, but they'd work as a delaying tactic.

 

“Relax, I'm not going to hurt her. But she needs to understand. Youko is mine!” He practically growled it into her face. “Mine to protect, mine to punish, mine to do with as I please. And I will not allow you to use him as bait.”

 

His Patron was ready to fight over him, but...Tentatively Youko reached out, touching Shuuichi's lower back, and feeding his ki into him.

 

`Well thought my pet.' A wave of approval accompanied the thought. It might not be as much help in a real fight as a partner would be, but this was to establish Youko's position more than anything else, and despite his reputation Youko wasn't a fighter the way Shuuichi was.

 

“We didn't mean use him as bait, just monitor him, so if anyone tries to take him we'll know who it is.” Botan sounded frantic and Youko allowed himself some amusement. Genkai and the other demons all seemed to realise what this was about, and they had more sense than to interfere.

 

“The extra protection couldn't hurt. You have my permission to put some type of tracking device on him, no more.” He released Botan, and began to let the Aura Vines return to their normal state, slowly enough to let the human boys calm down. “Are there any other conditions?”

 

“He has to pass for human, that's all.”

 

“Not a problem, you didn't expect him to have a human form, did you? Youko, collect the vines, you can keep one of them.”

 

“Thank you Shuuichi-sama.” He stopped the ki-feed to his Patron and stood to collect the two seeds when they'd finished reverting, watching the other people as he did, wary in the way he'd been when he only had one tail.

 

“We have to go, the shops will be closing soon, and I need to get Youko some clothes.”

 

***0***