Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Patron ❯ Chapter 14

Youko found himself humming in pleasure as he helped Yukina in the kitchen the next day, preparing to roast a deer for all of the Tantei who'd agreed to gather here in the afternoon. He'd grown all the Makai herbs they'd need to make the dressing, and even if some of the ingredients weren't really authentic he was pretty sure it was up to the standards of the few restaurants in the Makai - at least the standards from thirteen hundred years ago, when his Patron had decided he should learn to cook for him. And he'd done his best to cater to what he knew of the Tantei's tastes in creating the dressing - Shuuichi most of all, but Yuusuke and Kuwabara's tastes were considered as well, as he knew nothing of Hiei's preferences, but suspected they tended to the utilitarian.

 

“Should I ask what makes you so happy Youko?” And that reminded Akari of what his Patron had said yesterday.

 

“Shiori-sama added my name to the family register, and...you should call me Akari from now on, since my Patron has informed me I am to live under that name from now on.”

 

“And you are content with that?”

 

“Why wouldn't I be? I do not actually have any particular affection for the name Kurama, it was just that kitsune are expected to have a clan name and a personal name and it fitted me well.” That wasn't exactly true, but a name given to him by a woman he'd learned to see as a parental figure had more value to him than the name a Patron had given him and it wasn't exactly uncommon for kitsune to change their personal names on occasions that would change the course of their lives. And being given the protection of his Patron's name and the promise of eventually becoming Shuuichi's spouse, or perhaps even his consort was certainly an occasion that would change the course of Akari's life.

 

“Very well Akari. What else do we need to add to the dressing?” Akari blinked at the change of subject, glancing at the dressing they'd been preparing.

 

“Nothing more, that is it. We can leave the vegetables for later, now we should start cutting the deer up properly.” As compared to the simple field dressing he'd done earlier, removing the offal and skinning the deer, leaving the offal out for the natural foxes and other small predators in the forest. Yukina nodded at that, and pulled the deer out from where she'd used her powers to keep it cool.

 

“Any particular way we should cut it?” Yukina's inexperience with cooking meat that had been freshly killed was showing, not that he blamed her for that, he seriously doubted she'd been free long enough to need to learn that between leaving her people and being caught and enslaved by those ningen.

 

“I'll cut it up for you, and you can watch, it's really a one person job anyway. Next time you can cut the deer up, under my supervision.” He didn't bother trying to find the right sort of knife for this, instead reshaping a leaf and reinforcing it with his ki to serve that purpose. “I'd suggest we look through your knives to find the right type for this job, or buy a new knife if none of the ones you have will work before we try this again, but I'll just be using my leaf blade for now.” Akari kept up a running commentary as she jointed the deer and then cut it up further, removing the organs and laying them to one side to cook separately and arranging the meat in a large roasting dish. “Now you can baste it with the dressing and then we can put it in the oven.” Since Yukina'd started it heating about halfway through the process of cutting the deer up at Akari's request. He watched as she basted the meat with the dressing, taking hold of her hand when she had about a third of it left.

 

“Leave it at that. We'll need to add some more when we put some of the vegetables in to roast with it.”

 

“Ah, shall we start preparing the vegetables now then, or wait and do something else?”

 

“It will take three to four hours for the deer to cook through, so why not come for a run with me while we have time?” The yukata they were both wearing weren't exactly ideal for running in, but not impossible, and it would help Akari get some practice in dealing with this sort of clothing.

 

“Why not.” Yukina pulled her geta on as they reached the exit and Akari imitated her.

 

~~~()~~~

 

“You don't have much experience running when you're dressed like this, do you Akari?” Yukina seemed to be surprised that he'd start learning to run in yukata and geta when he obviously normally wore more practical clothing when he was doing anything active.

 

“No, but I need to get some experience. As I said my Patron tells me I will be living as Youko Akari when we return to the Makai, and that would be accepted better if I lived as a female, not just used the name.” So he'd get some practice in now, and more as he could, despite the disapproving look Yukina was giving him. “Shuuichi-sama didn't order me to do this, I decided it would be easier to learn how to function dressed this way, since I've been circumventing his preferences in how I dress whenever I could before.” He'd thought that if his Patron didn't care enough to give him specific orders it didn't matter, and he'd always looked enough like a woman to pass, so he had been obeying the only explicit order, the implicit order to wear yukata and geta had never actually been stated.

 

“I didn't realise it was common for kitsune to wear yukata or kimono.” The Koorime did tend towards relatively traditional Japanese clothing styles - from the feudal era or the Shogunate, but that was unusual among demons, and kitsune generally preferred to wander about wearing a lot less clothing than that.

 

“It isn't. But Shuuichi-sama finds me appealing in them, and that's all that matters.” Y-Akari shrugged, putting as much of his innate grace into the gesture as he could. “I'm not sure if this is something he's picked up from his time playing human, or if he just likes the idea of no-one but him seeing too much of my body, but he has every right to choose how I dress.” He'd lose that right, or at least it would be weakened when he made Akari his consort or spouse, but Akari had the feeling he'd have grown so used to dressing this way by then that he wouldn't bother changing his style of clothing. It was unlikely to be before Shiori-sama died anyway, even if Shuuichi had managed to earn his fifth tail before that time.

 

“Ah, should I start preparing the vegetables now, or do my weight routine first?”

 

“How long does your routine take you?” They'd spent almost an hour running through the forest, Akari had followed Yukina, since by now the Koorime had to be at least as familiar with Genkai-shihan's lands as Akari was, and he'd been focusing as much attention on keeping his clothes clean as on running.

 

“Just over an hour.” He'd set up the initial routine, and told her that she could alter it in two ways, increasing the weights she lifted and put in her clothes, and extending the time she used the weights for, but she hadn't consulted him for a while.

 

“Then do your routine first, I'll be working on my shapeshifting. By the way, do you have any training in any weapons, a sword or a dagger perhaps?” He knew that any kitsune would have at least basic training in how to use a knife, and one type of sword, but he wasn't sure about Koorime traditions when it came to weapons work. After all, they were generally hostile to males, so he'd avoided them, and the cold in their lands.

 

“No, I haven't had any training. It's so rare for us to leave our territory that it isn't considered necessary for us to learn how to fight.” She seemed a bit embarrassed about that, not that Y-Akari really blamed her. He'd have been a bit embarrassed to admit to leaving somewhere safe of his own free will without proper training - and Yukina was too young to have been trained fully, although her conviction and strength of will was impressive to be willing to risk herself to search for her brother so unprepared.

 

“There's three or four options then. First I could probably teach you the basics in using a sword or a knife, but it's been a long time since I relied on those skills seriously - I am far better with a whip. Then again you could ask Genkai-shihan to teach you how to use a light weapon, but you would have to convince her to teach you. Asuka has been trained in how to use a sword more recently than I have, so you could ask her for training, or ask our Patron to order her to teach you. Finally you could ask Hiei to teach you.” He was being just a little manipulative there, since it would force the two together and possibly be enough to convince Hiei to tell Yukina that they were related.

 

“I'll have to think about it.”

 

“Understood, it isn't a decision you want to make too swiftly. But you really need to learn technique as well as gain strength, and probably learn how to use your ice in combat.” He hadn't seen her do that so far, but she might already know that and just not have chosen to use it.

 

“I...it isn't approved of, and my only training was in peaceful applications, because I'm considered tainted, but I can ask Genkai-shihan for advice. I do have a few ideas though.”

 

“Good. You don't need to share them with me, but perhaps Genkai-shihan's library will include some information as well.”

 

“I'll check that later then. Thank you for the advice.” She made sure Akari was settled somewhere he could work on his shapeshifting in peace, then left to do her routine.

 

~~~()~~~

 

Kurama had told Yuusuke and Kuwabara that his `first concubine' would be cooking for them, something new, and he didn't want to miss that. Youko's cooking was incredible, and Yukina's was improving as well, from the already high standards she was adding lots of new things, and even Hiei seemed to approve since he never seemed to miss a meal Youko had helped with. But he didn't think Kuwabara needed to be quite that eager to get there.

 

“Hurry up Urameshi. If we take too long it'll all be gone by the time we get there.”

 

“No it won't. You really think the old hag would let that happen? Or Yukina?”

 

“No, my angel wouldn't do that to me...” He trailed off, stars in his eyes, and Yuusuke scowled, punching him in the arm to get his attention.

 

“But you don't want to make her wait either, do you?”

 

“No, come on.” Yuusuke put up with Kuwabara dragging him into a run instead of complaining again, he wanted to see what Youko had come up with now after all.

 

They weren't the last ones there, Kurama was sitting at a table, working on homework with Youko kneeling at his feet, but it looked like Hiei hadn't turned up yet.

 

“So, how long will it be for the food?” He interrupted Kuwabara as he was declaring his devotion to Yukina, but Youko was the one who spoke up to answer.

 

“About a quarter of an hour, Hiei should be here by then, if he isn't here already and just hiding.” Youko's voice sounded like it would carry quite a distance with the last phrase and that dragged Kuwabara's attention away from Yukina.

 

“I can sense something strong enough to be him over in those trees.” Yuusuke wasn't that worried, Genkai's wards were really good - except when she dropped them to let people in for something like that apprentice tournament. Hiei jumped down to join them anyway, and Yukina turned to him then.

 

“Hiei-san, Akari told me that I'm ready to learn how to use a weapon of some sort, and he suggested I ask you to teach me how to use a light sword.”

 

“Akari?”

 

“I could teach you how to use a sword Yukina.” Yuusuke didn't care about that, he wanted to know who this `Akari' was. And Hiei did too from the look in his eyes.

 

“No, you couldn't Kuwabara. You're good with your sword, but you're taller and stronger than most humans, your style takes advantage of that, and you have no idea how to adapt it for someone smaller and weaker, Hiei on the other hand uses a fairly light sword and has far more experience. And when we return to the Makai my first concubine will be using the name Akari, the way he does with most humans now, so I want him to start getting used to it early.”

 

“But Akari's a girl's name.” Why would Youko be willing to let people call him by a girl's name?”

 

“Yes, and Kaasan isn't entirely comfortable about the fact that I've taken a male lover, she'll only support me if Akari pretends to be female for the other ningen.” He'd said that the disguise had been because his mother wanted a daughter before, but Yuusuke guessed it could be both. There was a cruel smile on his face as he reached down to stroke Youko's hair. “Does it bother you my silver rose?”

 

“It's a small price to be treated like family. We're roasting a deer if you were wondering by the way.”

 

“Cool.”

 

“Hiei-san, will you teach me, please?” Yuusuke wondered who'd set Yukina up to manipulate Hiei like that, or if she knew what she was doing.

 

“Yes.” Hiei was curt as always, but Yuusuke could see his reluctance to spend so much time with his sister.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Yukina, we need to go and get the meat out to rest before we cut it now.” Youko - no, Akari, he'd try to remember that - Akari stood, and Yukina followed her out.

 

“Asuka, would it make your practice with the sword much less effective if you were sparring with a novice like Yukina?”

 

“It would be less effective, but I don't have to improve for the same reason you do. When I return to the Makai I'm going straight back to my clan's lands and I won't be leaving their protection until I gain my third tail, or my third litter can take humanoid form.”

 

“If you work at it I think you might be able to get your third tail in just twenty years, but...Genkai-shihan, will it be a problem for Asuka to act as Yukina's sparring partner? Or from your view Hiei?”

 

“Alternating physical exercise with mental training helps you learn. And a variety of influences makes for a stronger pupil.”

 

“Go ahead.”

 

“Good, and I might train with her sometimes as well.”

 

~~~()~~~

 

Asuka didn't understand why Shuuichi-sama was having trouble learning how to use foxfire, it had always been the simplest of the kitsune techniques for her. Of course foxfire was basically light in an unusual form, so that might have been the reason it worked so well for her, but all the kitsune in her clan were expected to learn how to use foxfire before they left the clan. And it was such a useful trick for a thief, or at least she thought it would be, the ability to create a small, subtle light and limit the area it illuminated precisely as desired.

 

Not that she was going to say anything about his difficulties, at least nothing that could be termed insulting, although she was tempted to tease him a bit about it, and this might be a good time to see how he'd react to slight insolence.

 

“Are you trying to delay learning how to use foxfire, since that's the only ability of a four-tail you haven't mastered yet, to fit the timing for having my new sword made?” she made sure to laugh lightly as she spoke, making it clear she was joking, and she surprised a laugh out of him as well.

 

“I just wish I was. No, I really am finding it this hard to figure out how to use foxfire. I'm sure it's got nothing to do with power, but...I just can't get a grasp on the technique.”

 

“I don't know what to tell you. My teacher always told me to find the visualisation technique that worked best for me, and that was the light I recommended to you.”

 

“Every time I try visualising it that way I end up starting to create an illusion, and that's no good.”

 

“No, it isn't.” An illusion wouldn't help him see at all, it would only make him think he could see, and it wouldn't have the other effects of foxfire, the more useful ones. “I think that's making it harder for you to learn this, the fact that you already have the ability to create true illusions, I can only hide things with illusion, so it didn't occur to me that you might find your power trying to twist the foxfire to the illusions you're used to wielding.”

 

“You could hardly be expected to think of that, I didn't either.” Asuka hadn't expected that quiet reassurance, and she knew her surprise was showing on her face.

 

“As your teacher it is my responsibility to think of things like that in advance. Are you going to punish me for my failure to do so?” She didn't want him to punish her, but she knew that acknowledging her fault would make her punishment a bit lighter than if she tried to hide it and he found out later.

 

“No. There was no way you could have known. I don't think there was ever a kitsune who survived the destruction of his clan when just past puberty before Youko, so there's no way any other kitsune could have had this problem, learning how to use foxfire for the first time with more than two tails. Do you have any suggestions for an alternative visualisation? None of the imagery from my dream shaping does anything but create illusions.”

 

She should have ideas for an alternative visualisation, she was supposed to be teaching him after all, but he'd learned everything else so well and so fast that it hadn't occurred to her that he'd have difficulty with this. But Youko had said he treated his illusions a bit like the plants he'd controlled at first, perhaps that would be a useful place to start in adjusting the visualisation Shuuichi used to create his form of foxfire.

 

“Why not work with your strengths? Perhaps you should think about how a Sunstar blossom produces light and imagine the foxfire as if it were the flower.”

 

“Well thought Asuka. I'll try that.” This time when he raised his hand and focused what formed was foxfire, of a sort, but it was shaped into the form of a Sunstar blossom, making Shuuichi laugh out loud. “Well, at least I know that I can create foxfire, even if it isn't in the shape I wanted. But I think I have the right pattern for making the foxfire fixed into my mind. You should remember this for when you teach Akari how to use foxfire as well, since his abilities are exactly the same as mine, only somewhat more powerful.” That thought always bothered her a little, knowing that her fellow concubine was more powerful than their master, it seemed almost unnatural.

 

“I will remember that, but you learn a lot faster than he does, so it might not work as well for him as it does for you.” Asuka hesitated before continuing. “Actually, if you'd be willing to it might help me teach him if you could write down anything you noticed while you're learning how to do this.”

 

“That sounds simple enough. I'll do that then.” With that he left her, presumably to start on what she'd asked of him.

 

~~~()~~~

 

Akari had put the finishing touches to his constructed community a few days ago, but he'd never expected Shuuichi to demand this.

 

“Yes, Shuuichi-sama, I have designed the autumn ceremony, I designed it second in fact.” He glanced at his Patron's face to check the reaction, he wasn't angry, but he obviously wanted more information. “It wasn't as if I ever expected you to want to use that ritual, but designing it was a relief in a way, the other rituals I needed to have three or five different paths, because in the mythology I created you are the essence of change, this one only had one path.”

 

“So, if I wanted you to use that ritual tonight when we share dreams you'd need to brief me beforehand.”

 

“Yes, and no. As I envisaged it, you are always surprised that the ritual doesn't change.” Akari looked down, biting his lower lip in a display of uncertainty, calculated to arouse him. He could tell his master the details of what he'd planned, something gentle in every way, what he'd wanted for far too long, save for the fact that he'd dreamed of being the one pampered, rather than the one doing the pampering, or he could show Shuuichi with an illusion, but then his master might decide to change the script. Still, better that than for him to anger his master now. “Do you wish to learn the details of what the ritual involves now? Or will you wait?”

 

“Surprise me.” He laughed at the idea that he'd be so uncertain of himself that he'd need advance warning. “It isn't as if you'll be able to do that in the future is it now?”

 

“No Shuuichi-sama, it isn't. Your priest will have instructions on how to prepare you for the ceremony, and he'll talk you through the broad outline while he's preparing you.”

 

“Preparing me. What would that involve?” He'd said the wrong thing, there was a dangerous edge to his Patron's voice, and Akari wasn't sure how he'd screwed up.

 

“Bathing you, massaging you and covering your body with oil, and dressing you in the appropriate outfit, since this ritual involves undressing you slowly, and you're meant to be wearing lots of layers.”

 

“Lots of layers.” Shuuichi found that funny too, even if Akari couldn't understand why. “How many? And do you want to be wearing lots of layers yourself to make it harder for me to get at your beautiful body?” So, he'd realised that at least part of the ritual had been designed as a measure of wish-fulfilment for Akari, although he'd focused on the wrong factor.

 

No, I might have with previous Patrons, but not with you. It's to contrast with how little we both wear in the first ritual I planned. And I think there's five or six different layers, but you shouldn't have problems walking or anything.”

 

“I see.” Now there was a pleased smile on Shuuichi's face as he stroked Akari's hair and face, leaning in to kiss him for a moment, then pulling back to continue the questioning. “And when you say preparing me does that include stretching me ready for your cock? I remember that I didn't need to do that in the first ritual.”

 

“I...I didn't think you'd want to bother with that, stretching you is part of the ritual this time, but he will be cleaning you inside as well as out.” That was the most polite way to put it, and even if it was probably unneeded in the dreamscape, since their forms were a reflection of desire Akari had wanted to build as much realism as possible into his constructed little world. He'd possibly built too much realism into it, but if Shuuichi didn't like the idea he could easily alter it just a little, without even telling Akari since he never intended to question his Patron's priest.

 

“You mean your priest had done that to you before the other ritual?” Shuuichi sounded surprised, Akari couldn't understand why though.

 

“Yes, the point of the ritual is that it has to be `perfect' sex, and a mundanity like that has no place in such things. I could have just set it up so that my form didn't need something like that, but...I found it easier to add in details like that than to change my form in the dreamscape.”

 

“Strange, are you saying you actually need to relieve yourself when you're in the dreamscape?”

 

“Yes Shuuichi-sama. Perhaps it's got something to do with all the time I spent living only in your dreamscape?” His Patron wouldn't have known, but often when he'd been left tied up after Shuuichi had finished with him he'd ended up soiling himself, and having to lie there in the filth until his Patron began to dream again. He thought it was partly because an earlier Patron had found it amusing to do that exact same thing to him - and he'd killed the bastard later, as part of securing his reputation. But it had still left him with a certain fear of being treated that way again, and so it was no real surprise he found history repeating itself like that in his master's dreamscape.

 

~~~()~~~

 

This time Akari arrived at the ritual temple first, and sat on the altar waiting for the avatar of Shiveteraso. He was just wearing a kimono, dark green with a white pattern that he knew would make people think of the first snowfall, and an obi that recalled how leaves changed from green to brown come autumn. The altar was even more heavily cushioned than it had been for him, so it would be no less comfortable for Shuichi to lie on it than on a futon, and there was nothing more he could do to prepare, only wait.

 

He gave a gasp of pleasure when he saw Shuuichi being led towards him, moving slowly in his high geta from all the layers he wore. The top layer was an open, sleeveless outer robe in white and underneath that was a dark green kimono. Akari could see the under-kimono in shades of red toning to brown at the collar and cuff, and he knew that beneath those Shuuichi wore a close fitting tunic and trousers in a rich deep brown, reminiscent of the most fertile soil. He'd known better than to expect Shuuichi to kneel the way he had, instead Akari stood as his lover approached and held out his hand, accepting the hand the priest of Shiveteraso placed into it with a smile.

 

He pulled on Shuuichi's hand, turning him around and pushing him to sit on the altar while he stood in front of him, then leant down and cradled his face in both hands, kissing him hungrily, deeply, but gently enough for a seduction. He pushed the open robe from Shuuichi's body first, following that up with another kiss, at the base of his master's throat first, then moving up to the lips while one hand stroked along his spine and the other trailed along his jawline. He waited until Shuuichi closed his eyes in pleasure and unspoken surrender before he moved on to the next step, since Shuuichi would react differently each time there would be slight changes every time they did this, but nothing of any significance.

 

He stood in front of Shuuichi, pushing his legs apart and reaching to untie his obi, then he ran his hands down his Patron's arms as he pushed the kimono from his shoulders. Again he kissed his lover, but this time he let his hands wander over Shuuichi's body as well, touching his lover through the layers of cloth covering him, focusing on places he knew caused a subtle arousal rather than a blatant one. He wanted to build slowly, enjoy every second of this, and so create a wonderful memory for his future fantasies.

 

He removed the next kimono, as slowly as the outer one, and pulled Shuuichi up to his feet again, pressing their groins together as they kissed this time. He guided Shuuichi's hands to his own obi then and whispered into his ear as he began removing the next kimono. “Unfasten my obi once I've removed this layer.”

 

This time when he kissed Shuuichi he lifted him off his feet as well, holding him bridal style for a few seconds before sitting down on the altar itself and arranging Shuuichi on his lap. Then he removed the last kimono, sliding one hand inside his trousers carefully and running his other hand over his lover's body as he took Shuuichi's mouth.

 

“You can remove my kimono now.” Shuuichi laughed quietly at that and pushed the kimono down Akari's arms until it was off and Akari let it fall down onto the altar behind him. He removed his hand from Shuuichi's pants, and swung him to stand in front of him, giving him a chance to stand up himself and toss his discarded kimono to the ground before pulling his lover into a swift embrace.

 

Akari was careful to be gentle as he removed the final layer, kissing his way up Shuuichi's exposed stomach as he raised the tunic, then stroking those beautiful legs as he pulled the trousers down, ending on his knees, and taking Shuuichi into his mouth just long enough to tease him a bit. Then he stood and swept Shuuichi into his arms, laying him down on his back on top of the altar.

 

He climbed onto the altar himself then, kneeling over Shuuichi and bending down to lick gently at each nipple in turn. He slowly explored Shuuichi's exposed body, first with his fingers, then with his lips and tongue before picking up the oil set beside the altar and carefully massaging it into his skin. He smiled in pleasure as he saw his master was lulled into a state of half slumber, and finally settled down between his legs and sucking him to a quick climax to relax his entire body, teasing his entrance with oiled fingers and actually sliding one inside as he climaxed.

 

“Roll onto your side.” Shuuichi's eyes widened a bit at the quiet command, but he did obey, and he didn't protest when Akari curled behind him, sliding a finger back inside him. He kissed the back of Shuuichi's neck as a distraction, and stroked him in the places he'd seen Shuuichi react best to so that he could arouse him again, and make this more comfortable for him.

 

When he finally entered Shuuichi he made sure to move almost painfully slowly, reaching around to stroke his lover's renewed arousal in the same rhythm he was using. It didn't take too long before his master was pleading with him to move faster, and grip harder, but he made a point of ignoring that at first. When he finally did acquiesce to his lover's wishes they both climaxed within a handful of thrusts.

 

~~~()~~~