Seedling ((EDDE))

Not needing the sleep, the former detective was in a light one. The moment his lover stirred it pulled him up from the depths of slumber. At the question, he hugged the man a little tighter. "Yeah," he responded quietly. His voice was a little scratchy from waking. "How you feelin?" The addition was a little stronger as he shifted a bit to straighten his back. Maybe the pose hadn't been the nest idea. He was a little stiff; not that he cared though. He was much more interested in his own question.

Despite wanting to get back to his ailment Yusuke would have loved to lounge there as long as possible. Unfortunately it seemed that 'long' wouldn't so much be that. "Rama? Yusuke?" The voice of the tiny blonde human reached his ears.

There was some glee there for the lately rather rare inclusion of himself on her questions. Still, he couldn't stop himself from groaning lightly as chocolate eyes shifted downward. He didnt see her, but could tell by how close her voice was that they'd been sniffed out. "Hide'n seek's over," he mentioned only a little shortly. "Looks like we lost again."
 
"Exhausted," he answered honestly. In fact, his eyes fell shut again and he strongly considered going back to sleep despite the kink growing in his neck. The fox couldn't stop an irritated growl coming from his lips when Lily's voice met their ears. The little brat was becoming more and more aware of her surroundings each day. They would have to start actively hiding their energies soon, if they ever wanted time alone. "She needs a tracking collar," he mumbled. "Or a bell."

With reluctance and some difficulty, Kurama pushed himself up until he could crouch on the branch and stretch his arms. "We will be down in a moment Lily. Please be patient." Lily wasn't so terrible; once she stopped screaming the second he came into view, she actually seemed kind of cute. Her constant need of attention however, was not. Which was one of the many reasons he didn't like children as a whole. Despite this, Yusuke's love for her was enough to convince the fox to at least play nice and, on occasion, actually enjoy her company.

"After you," he offered his companion. "Unless you have a better suggestion, of course," he purred playfully, but expectantly. With as tired as he felt, a ride down the tree sounded almost as nice as a ride up it.
 
The raven haired man thought about this for a moment. But he made a face quickly upon contemplating. "That'd get really annoying really freakin' fast," he decided to share. The bell anyway; he could easily imagine the hyper child hopping and dancing about with her bell absolutely enthralled by making the noises.

A bit of a shutter rolled through him as a relatively strong gust rushed over them forr how gentle the vreeze had been previously. It was almost like it signified the end of their precious time together all on its own. Yusuke huffed a heavy breath and stood to stretch away his stiffness. When he looked down this time he saw those big blue eyes staring up from under blonde curls. "Awesome... think we missed breakfast?"

It was kind of a given. The girl was dressed but a little dirty. She'd made her way into the forest and found them on her own. Really they were lucky she'd adapted a good awareness of danger; mostly the sense to avoid it. "She coulda gotten herself in trouble," he added quietly. But it wasn't like they could really reprimand her. She'd made her way to probably the safest place she could be, if only for the fact that they were there.

His attention was still split despite seeming to have fallen mostly on the girl. When his stretch ended though his eyes were purely on his fox, that cooky grin of his having piled over it. "If you want a ride all ya gotta do is ask." The addition he added, a bit sugestively, explained the almost sly look. "You know I love it when you climb on top of me."

He turned to offer the ride regardless. And it wasn't long before his unclad feet hit the ground. Granted, he still wasn't all that quick about it.

"Rama~" The girl cheered happily as they landed. And yusuke attempted to hide the pout that wanted to present itself at being ignored once again.

She hurried over on those stubby little legs. And despite clinging to Yusuke's shirt, her attention was still on the redhead. "Sissy is okay?"

Chocolate eyes widened slightly. He didnt have to try very hard to avoid sniggering at the question. It was getting old, and kind of annoying. Lily had been asking about her 'sissy' for a few days now. He still didn't know what brought it about in the first place, but it ceased being funny the moment he realized how much it bothered his vain lover. "Lily..."

The frown that crossed his lips was as harshly ignored as he'd been as a whole once Kurama had filled her view. Within a moment of asking she'd circled around him and was attempting to climb her way up his fox. "Wanna see. Lemme see, Rama~" she added through a bit of a pout.
 
"Agreed." He could already hear the obnoxious ringing through the temple halls. It sent an unpleasant shiver down his spine. The fox looked down to share the same sight; the little blonde brat who had become intensely clingy as of late. First the child hated and feared him, now she wouldn't leave his side. At least not of her own will; Kurama had gotten quite creative in keeping her away from him... Yusuke had not been pleased when he hung her up on a clothes hanger in the closet.

The mention of missing breakfast was disheartening. His stomach was painfully empty; but, the fox wasn't one to make a fuss. Besides, his husband was, as always, providing the perfect distraction. "It is one of my favorite activities," he purred in return; already climbing onto the man's back to enjoy the ride down.

An exasperated sigh left his lips as they touched the ground, and Lily wobbled over to them. Kurama's relaxed and delighted mood dropped with that one question. His right eyebrow twitched, and it was arduous not to settle her with a glare. Even more so when she pounded on him and tried to climb him like a tree. "Lily!" The fox's voice was sharp. The girl was plucked up by her arm pits and placed in Yusuke's arms. "How many times have you been told not to wander the forest alone?" The scolding came while Kurama was already walking back home.
 
Both of them jumped and stiffened at the sharply clipped name. Although for Yusuke it was more of a learned reaction. The man always seemed to have some sort of guilty conscience, as it were. He managed to get over it as the girl was placed in his arms. The redhead was walking off and the small girl began sniffling and squirming in his grasp. "Rama~"

She didn't used to try to get away from him nearly so much. In fact, her clinging had been focused on him a great deal for quite a while. "I wanna see the baby," she whined.

With a short sigh Yusuke started after him. "That's enough Lily," he told her quietly. "We're going with him anyway." It wouldn't be hard to keep her in place while she was wiggling about, but as expected the promise quelled her for the most part. Big blue eyes were still trained on Kurama though.

It seemed they could scold her for coming there. Or at least Kurama could. Still, Lily seemed to be just about as worried for him as Yusuke was; baby talk or no, she could tell something was up. And honestly that only made him more worried. They'd come to realize the girl was incredibly well in tuned spiritually. It was hard not to take her opinion into account with the evidence shed provided them with previously of her skill. Well, aside from the baby part of course.
 
Her sniveling was ignored with ease. She didn't hold his heart in her palms the way she held Yusuke's. In fact there was some dark, terrible piece of him that got a thrill out of her crocodile tears. What he couldn't ignore was her whine. The demand had the fox preening so sharply the ends of his hair curled. Kurama's day had not been going well, and he was not in the mood for what ever game of house she decided to play due to his bloated stomach.

"Enough of this!" Shuichi spun gracefully on the balls of his feet to face his husband and address the brat in his arms. "Little girls who tell lies will be confined to their rooms," the fox warned with a harsh stare. "One more word from you and you will not be joining the other children for the scheduled afternoon activities." She was lucky he didn't forbid her from it just for wandering off. Yusuke would be devastated if Lily were to be injured or killed, and his apprentice would likely lose his motivations. Kurama might miss her too... Maybe. "Have I made myself clear?"
 
The temple master preened once again. And Lily froze entirely, blue eyes wider than usual. But this time they recovered about the same time.Lily had long since gotten over her all consuming fear of the redhead. But luckily she'd also since learned batter than to growl back at him when he was obviously serious. Instead she simply turned to pouting; a trait Yusuke wasn't exactly happy he'd taught many of the children. Still, it was better than her starting up with the shrill noise she could have.

Yusuke on the other hand was giving the fox a quizzical look. "You still feelin' shitty?" It wasn't exactly unknown for his redhead to offer reprimand, but he usually attempted to push Yusuke into doing it. The man was horrible at putting his foot down. For the most part Kurama took the leap when he was incredibly annoyed, or not feeling well and short tempered.

"Oh hey." That goofy grin passed over his face as he hoisted up a suddenly very confused looking girl between them. "Speaking of. If you did wanna get it over with quick, i bet Lily could kiss you better."

The girl's head tilted back in order to look back and up at the raven haired man. "Rama has owies?"

Blinking a few times, the former detective pulled her back into a supportive grasp. "Uh... w'll yeah." He hadnt really put much though into his action and words before hed done it. Then again, hed never really been the best at that.

But that wasnt what pulled his lips into a small pinch as that contemplative look fell over him. He could have sworn the girl's worry for the fox was because she could already tell something was wrong with him. After all she'd been checking his condition almost as much as yusuke tended to lately. So why did it seem like she didn't know that?

Pulled into his own line of thinking, he didn't notice how the girl looked over the fox with a contemplative look that was all her own. And he was nowhere near prepared for the sudden pinch to his cheek or the bubbled up look she was suddenly facing him with. If he weren't so taken back, he might have had juuuust a little pride in how well she pulled off the offended look he'd mastered. As well as the attempted intimidation in a quieter tone. "You lyin'," she puffed out.

"Huh?" His cheek was tugged harder as she worked her accusation through.

Her little arms crossed and she offered what was like the most adorable little mommy look ever. "You go your room young lady!" While still childish, she was actually quite a bit better at attempting to pull off Kurama's serious look.

Unfortunately he was hung up on the words and wasn't able to take it in all that well; eyes wide and confusion written all over his face. But then he bubbled eight back. "Whaddaya mean 'young lady'?" He puffed back in the same quiet, perfectly offended tone she'd had previously. That part of it was something Yusuke wasn't used to being faced with at all. People didn't tend to mistake him for a female.

His intimidation tactics didn't tend to work out for him nearly as well as they had in his past. This much became rather obvious all over again as, despite having pulled the girl close under her pits with stubby little legs dangling, the stern look she held bubbled away. Through a grin she put up her hands by her face between the two of them. "Rrrrgh," she mocked growled right back.

Chocolate eyes went a bit wide, forced to blink through the far too playful reaction. And they only grew wider as she began giggling. They narrowed right over again as he repositioned the girl under his arm and knuckled at her head in retaliation. "Whats funny? Stop laughing! I ain't no young lady, dammit!" Neither his retaliation nor his argument phased he giggles. "I ain't playin' dammit!"
 
The look Yusuke was settled with a deadpan look. That question didn't really need an answer, did it? Of course he was still feeling 'shitty,' as his husband so delicately put it. He hadn't not felt shitty in days. "Uh?" The fox leaned back a bit as the girl was held out to him and forced his expression to remain calm when he very much wanted to burn a hole in Yusuke's forehead with a glare. The little girl had an amazing gift. One that would be harnessed with care over time... Even then he wouldn't want her talents used on him. To his open energy, the invasion of healing energy was seen as an attack at worst and an intrusion at best; and, Lily's spirit filled kisses acted as a syringe.

Kurama didn't need to correct his lover. The young girl did so for him, in the form of a sharp pinch to Yusuke's cheek and a harsh accusation. "He was not lying Lily, he was simply mistaken..." A bubble of amusement threatened to pull his stern expression into that of a snickering teenager. This time, when their eyes met, Kurama was very clearly gloating; because it was not such a trivial thing when the tables were turned, was it? Still, he retained his humor to correct the girl. "I am quite serious Lily. No more of this 'Sister' nonsense. It lost any charm it had, days ago."
 
Her giggling stopped only when Kurama turned his attention on her again. Because he managed to maintain that serious look. "Ah." The small noise signified her ha ing forgotten her previous goal of trying to get at him.

Under yusuke's arm, she was much closer to his stomach. Not quite close enough to reach, but she still squirmed out a chubby little arm. "Lemme see," she insisted again.

Yusuke's offense, which had switched to pointing at the redhead for a perceived snarkiness he couldnt fully see cross his face gave way for a huffed sigh. She seemed like we was still going to insist after all. If that was the case, it wasn't like he could do much about it. She'd been warned after all. And in any case, she did need to learn anyway.

The temple master pulled the girl back into that supportive hold against him and turned chocolate eyes on his fox. He figured he'd be the one to dole out the punishment since the threat had been his.
 
A disappointed sigh escaped the redhead's nose as, once again, the girl tried to grab for his stomach. His lips pursed together tightly as frosty green eyes cast down on the disobedient child. "I see you have made your choice," he started. "When we return to the temple you are to stay in your room for the remainder of the day. Do not continue down this path young lady. You will not enjoy what you find at the end of it."
 
The pout returned on the girl; pointed once again at the fox. "Why?" She didn't seem to be grasping the concept at all really. And also didn't seem like she was playing a game with how insistent she was.

The raven haired man leaned closer, offering a well put on whisper, as opposed to how loud his voice usually was in th e attempt. He could do it when he really tried after all. And sensitive ears would hear him easily while the small human's would be lost on it. "Maybe she really thinks there's a baby," he offered; a little too insightful for his norm.Then again, that was nowhere near unheard of.

"Maybe you got a stomach bug or something? She's still little. Might be the only thing she knows could be in a belly is a baby..."

It didn't make it any less annoying. Nor did it fully excuse her. But if something like that were the case, it'd be more understandable than just that she was being a wretched brat. Lily was usually pretty well behaved comparatively speaking. "Would it be fair to punish her for that?"

Yusuke wouldn't openly, at least not deliberately, contradict kurama. Not anymore anyway. He'd seen the kind of effect that could have on the childrens' respect for the redhead's authority already. After all, they'd been at this for quite a while. And unlike what most of his teachers had said to him in his younger years, he wasnt completely inept at learning things. He actually was pretty good at it; especially for how empty his head could go on occasion.
 
Insufferable little... The fox caught himself mid thought. While he was never particularly fond of the child, his thoughts had never been quite this irritated. With the exception of an ill-timed intrusion on his marital coupling. The realization of his mood swing only served to irritate him further; and, it continued to grow irrationally as Yusuke piped in. His husband had a large heart. Something he loved dearly about him; yet it left him to be the 'bad guy,' on most occasions. They were Yusuke's brats, not his; but, since the temple master could barely bring himself to scold the children, Kurama had to preform any punishments. Which were crucial if the four adults were to keep control over the growing gaggle of baby ducklings that Yusuke kept bringing home.

It didn't end there, of course. When in the wake of discipline the children would flock to their Mother Duck, who would flip his words out of the way like a burnt flap jack and leave him looking the fool. The damned creatures---

Stop this!

Shuichi reprimanded himself silently for the slew of thoughts that went wildly out of line, even with the hint of truth strewn about. Yusuke had gotten much, much better when it came to undermining him around the temple's strays; and, the taunting of the children was put in place swiftly, and without hesitation. The red head took a breath and relaxed his jaw. He hadn't realized how tense he'd gotten, but he could feel his fingertips digging uncomfortably into his palms.

"Perhaps not," he agreed. "She is, however, banned from the afternoon activities." Emerald eyes bore into bright blue. "For leaving the temple grounds alone, and without permission. That rule is in place for your safety, and breaking it won't be tolerated. Right, Yusuke?" The words were pointed as his attention turned to the former detective. After all, this was something he firmly believed he should be backed up on; and, the punishment was hardly that.
 
Yusuke could tell something was off of course. He could practically smell the anger on his fox. What he couldn't tell was what was getting him so very riled up. Wanting to know the reason for her punishment, if that was what her question was indeed pointed at, wasn't bad in the least. In fact, it was a good thing for her to want to clarify. Knowing what she'd done wrong was pretty essential to being punished after all.

A frown had touched his lips as he watched his husband grow more annoyed, but his eyes were soft as he looked him over. Maybe what he'd asked had strewn him out further. But it was a valid point, right? Again, not understanding wha t was being done wrong wouldn't help the punishment process at all.

But Kurama seemed to reel himself back in. So Yusuke's face straightened back out. As his ailing human spoke chocolate eyes drifted down to the still pouting girl. She took a breath, and he could tell already she was getting ready to argue. Before she could, he stopped her.

"No buts about it Lily." In a rarely used stern tone Yusuke managed to keep that straight face despite how much it all but hurt to do so. "You know better. And it's not okay to leave the temple. It doesn't matter if we're close or far. If we're not right there with you, you don't go."

"Yusuke~" She turned a bubbly look up on him. Only for him it wasn't angry. It was brimming on tears. Understandably, he has to turn his sight away instantly. Both he and Kurama knew he couldn't stand that look when it was pulled on him, even if she didnt cling to him as much as she used to to use it.

"You heard us." He didnt mean to snap, but the catch in his throat forced it out that way. And it forced the girl's pout to turn down for a moment.

Those bright blue turned back up. And while the look still seemed sad, it more resembled guilt. "Sorry Rama..." She didn't think to apologize to the temple master, but then again she didn't tend to. Mostly for his lack of reprimand as a usual.
 
Relief he shouldn't need washed over him when Yusuke took his side; and, as he spoke, the tightness in the fox's fists released and his features gradually returned to their usual, pleasant smile. He even repressed a chuckle as the a fore mentioned crocodile tears were turned on his husband, who promptly turned away from them. Half expecting the man to waver, Kurama was pleasantly surprised and rightly proud at being proven wrong.

Returning his attention to the child, he found her guilt ridden; and, again he found some twisted delight in it. Shuichi reached out and placed his palm atop the blonde crown. "You will be forgiven; on the condition you promise not to do such a thing again." That promise would keep her in the temple... For a little while, at least.

"Come; let us return home," he said while turning to begin the trek.
 
The look the girl finally settled him with was somewhat blank. It took her more than a moment to follow his words. She actually been doing pretty well up until this point but, admittedly, a lot had just gone on.

Yusuke helped. "Promise you won't leave the yard by yourself again." She turned her attention to yusuke again as he translated. The courtyard wasn't exactly the final safe haven before the demon forest, but it was definitely far enough. Once again she looked back at the fox as Yusuke began to follow. With a far too brilliant smile she offered, "yeah."

But Yusuke seemed to have found his stone; because he was on a roll with that stern tone he somehow was still managing despite what it had gotten him a moment before.

"Seriously Lily," he started in clarification. "If me or Kurama ain't close enough to hold your hand, you better not lose sight of the door." It didn't matter which door really, as it wasn't hard to lose sight of any of them with the bits of bramble and spotting trees that surrounded the temple even before reaching the cearing to the forest. But the biggest part of the way he'd said it meant not going past the temple walls. And that was the most important bit. "Got it?"

The puffy loom was faced at him again; the offended one. "Yyyeah," she drawled out in a shorter tonr. After all, she'd already agreed.

And all over again chocolate eyes landed on his redhead; to check his condition all over again, and to offer up that silly 'done good' smile of his that sometimes simply searched for praise. He'd done rather well in his own right and he knew it. And Kurama was absolutely right in his assumption. The fact that she'd offered agreement pointed at the both of them might even keep it in her little brain longer too; although that wasn't exactly a sure thing.
 
Yusuke rarely took initiative when it came to such things, so, the fox was elated to hear the man continue with the scolding. After all, the young lady needed to know that the both of them were very serious about this matter. Which was why, when he glanced over at his lover and saw that excited puppy expression, Kurama offered him a nod and a curve of his lips that showed his approval.

His mood was gradually returning to normal, and it had his steps falling lighter as he slowed to walk beside his lover and the former detective's stray. "Lily," he started before pursing his lips together. It was still difficult for him to 'dumb down' his vocabulary, and it took a second to find the correct words that, hopefully, the young girl would understand. "Men cannot bare children," he started. "So, there is no baby. I am simply ill," the fox explained, looking from her and up at the other man; because, if he had failed, then Yusuke would be able to translate for him.
 
Blue eyes weren't blank this time as she stared up at the redhead once he'd gotten her attention again. She seemed to have gotten at least a partial grasp on what he was saying if nothing else. At best she was contemplating the newa. Still, Yusuke wanted to make sure the issue was clear. It was something that bothered his fox to a great extent.

"That's right," he offered with a nod as he turned his attention back down on her. "Boys can't have babies."

"Mmn?" The curious little noise had the girl studying the redhead once again. With a little gasp, tiny fists drew up to the girl's face as her eyes rounded and she practically yelled out her conclusion. "You a girl?!"

She sounded surprised and offended at the same time. And Yusuke couldn't help but fall into a bout of chuckles at the adorable reaction. Partially, it was because despite the confusion she'd shown a moment ago, her surprise meant she'd had no doubt previously that Kurama was not female so--

He froze; going so far as to stop walking as that realization struck him on a different level. "Wait just a damn minute!"

"Lily," Puppy Brown eyes turned down on the girl as blabbered into a pout. "You don't think I'm a girl, right?"

She looked from the fox back to the temple master. New confusion swirled around her for the new information that had yet to be denied and forced her to assume suddenly. "Are you?"

"Whuh..." The puppy dog look he'd turned on only blubbered further at the respinse, the former detective failing to connect her new confusion.

"No!" The growled response came with a quick change of features all over again. Heat flared over his face as he bubbled and angry pout down on the girl. "We ain't girls!" The correction finally came.
 
Tension birthed from irritance sharpened Kurama's features for several seconds. Such words were never taken well; and yet, her offence kept him from feeling his own. The little girl sounded down right betrayed, which assured him that Lily was fully aware of his gender. After relaxing, the fox opened his mouth to correct her, only to have to shove his knuckle between his teeth to hide his snicker. It was tempting to take advantage of the situation and torment his lover with Lily's confusion with genders; however, he wasn't one to dish out what he couldn't take in return.

"You are mistaken Lily," he tried once more, his voice wabbling slightly in his attempt to hide the humor in it. "Neither of us are girls; and I am not pregnant. There is no baby."
 
The look on Yusuke's face over the offence of possibly being called a girl drew a curious little pinch to the girl's lips. And not just because the utter offense of being truely bothered was more rare than one might imagine given his personality. But raven hair soft and loose from a lack of primping after waking (the bathroom was taken) had his features softer than usual as well. The softness the waking state of his hair put on him wasn't exactly new either. But it accentuated the silly look on his face as he blubbered down at her.and it even made the angry bubble he tended to wear more often lokk funnier than usual.

Glee crossed her features after using that moment to take in his features. A happy giggle bubbled from her lips. And despite the words not being pointed in malice, but in want of getting more of that look, she taunted in a jeery song of "Yusuke is a girl. Yusuke is a giiirl~"

A short cacophony of sounds that pointed toward that offense flew from him rather quickly. And there was no stopping the heavier giggle the stubbornly pouted out look pulled from her. "Am not. Am not!" It was the start of a familiar scene that could have turned incredibly childish incredibly quickly--as if it hadn't already. "Lilly~" he whined, sounding somewhat helpless.

After all, what could he do about it? He tended to be just as bratty, if not moreso, on almost regular occasion. Not only was it completely unfair for him to turn it around on the small girl, but with the grasp she had on his heart strings it was always absolutely the hardest for him to punish her... and he'd already just been so stern.

But her giggles stopped rather abruptly; and it forced the tension in him away almost entirely. Because the look s he had to land on the redhead as he corrected her properly seemed even more offended than the one he'd just been giving off. If nothing else, she at least looked almost sad over it. And that hold of hers jerked at him heavily.

"Rama..." The almost blubbered look she faced the fox with showed off her feeling toward what seemed like a hypocritical response to a girl so sure of herself. "Lyin' is bad."

He was annoyed by the fact that she'd had an utterly different response to Kurama 'lying' than she had toward him, but there was a stronger response there. Because the girl wasn't the only one with a sharp hold on those strings of his. All at once a serious looked crossed the normally goofy creature's face. "Alright. That's enough." His tone wasn't sharp, but it demanded attention regardless. The little human wasn't used to that look either, softened features or not.

He drew her undevided attention as he repositioned her once again and took up the lead in their walk home. They still had a way to go. Their travel their had been swift, but walking took plenty longer. "Listen Lily." The offer was made without looking down at her. It wasn't because he was worried any look she might give him could be heartbreaking. It was because he knew the softness her little angel face would pull into his features wouldn't make what he was about to say hit home nearly as well as if he could keep his resolve.

"It's not nice to tease people either." Yeah, he was a hypocrit alright. Although most of the time he knew when to stop. "If something you say hurts someone's feelings but you keep saying it anyway it's not nice." Why did it seem like it was harder to talk to her on her level at the moment.

"I hurt you?" The worried sounding question didn't deter him; if only because it meant she was getting what he was trying to say.

"I'm not talking about me right now. Didn't you hear Kurama?" He did chance a look down on her. She was riveted, and thankfully it added to his resolve and allowed him to keep on with that same look. "Kurama doesnt wanna talk about a baby anymore. It hurts his feelings cause he already told you but you keep doing it anyway. I know you don't wanna hurt his feelings. Isn't that right?"

She blubbered. But, again thankfully, the look had been settled on the fox. "Nu-uh," she agreed. He didnt think she would. The tiny being tended to be overflowing with glee and, more often than not, seemed to like to spread it more than anything. She was pretty sweet after all. That they'd been lucky for; especially when it came to how opposite her brother tended to act. Although with him it seemed more and more that 'act' might be the word. Kurama saw this more often than Yusuke though.

"I didn't think so. So here's the deal." A strong, gentle hand landed atop the blonde curls and displaced them much more gently than they had previously in a light pet. "So we don't hurt kurama's feelings, we won't talk about a baby anymore. Got it?" The warmth and affection he gave off as he spoke probably hit home better than the former detective realized. Punishments weren't his forte. But getting the kids to understand important things in his own way did tend to be.

She nodded, the blubber still there but mingled with a rather determined look. She understood. And, for the most part, it would last for a good while. At least until she forgot the feeling she had at the moment and needed to be reminded again.

But Yusuke was past that already. Despite the fact that the moment hadn't lasted all that long, he'd never been very good at keeping that seriousness up. And with the girl looking up at him like that there was no way for him to help that all consuming need of his to lighten the mood.

A sly look that curled his lips into a smirk and heated his eyes landed on his redhead; his presence having been recognized despite the focus he'd taken and his usually horrible multitasking skills. "Ya know," he added in a sultry purr. "We could always work on fixing the issue too." There was an attempt to be subtle here, but it permeated words alone; tone and the look on his face all but screamed 'flirt'.

"We could always go'n work on a baby." The giddy chuckle that probably said a little too much about how sly he thought he was being didn't help his attempt. Well actually, it didn't necissarily hurt it considering it was meant for the nieve child in his arms.

The addition showed off the still plain worry he had for his husband's condition. But it combined rather flawlessly with that cooky nature too. "Before we go see Yukina we could grab something to eat quick. And maybe get in another nap." That was the concern part of course. Kurama had to know the other bit would follow immediately even before it did.

And when it did, it came with a warm growl attached to it. "And we can go to our room after that so i can rock you to sleep."

That sultry bubble only popped when Lily quite suddenly butted in all cheer and smiles again; and with excitement. "I wanna nap with Rama too!"

"Geh..." And that bubble burst into a look of disheartened offense all over again as the child simply destroyed his innuendo with the horribly innocent, not to mention adorable, addition.
 
The exchange between adult and child could be called nothing other than childish. They sounded like grade school students squabbling in the school yard; something that would either irritate the fox immensely, or nearly throw him into a fit of giggles; depending on the circumstance. His chuckle was relaxed, and warm though it didn't last long. It was cut short and sharp as the little girl accused him of lying, and was replaced with a growl too quiet for the human child to hear. Kurama was well known for his patience, but she was wearing it rather thin. To the point that any thoughts of her punishment would be more for his delight than her behavioral correction. Kitsune could be vengeful creatures. Hopefully, Lily would never have to know how lucky she was that Yusuke intervened when he had; because he was very close to tanning her hide so red she wouldn't be able to sit right for days.

The man who acted more like a child on a regular basis suddenly turned very paternal. It should come to no one's surprise that he could speak 'Kid' so fluently. "Well said, Master Yusuke," the fox offered in an honest praise when Lily finally agreed to put the talk of babies to rest. For now, at least. It still bothered him that she still couldn't grasp the fact that there was no baby; but, he would settle for the thought being dropped. When he glanced at Yusuke his expression was collected and calm as it usually was, but it changed rapidly into a catty look that was so minute only his husband would be able to see it, let alone recognize it.

"I see no harm in that," the fox offered in a purr of his own. His stomach had settled now, after all. He could see no reason to turn his lover away again. "And a nap does sound lovely..." His attempt to return the flirtation was forced to a screeching halt when Lily butted in. "Not this time, Lily. I do not feel well, and I do not want you to become ill as well. Another time."
 
The pleasure he got out of that praise he'd offered just before he'd turned on that sultry charm of his had brought some color to his cheeks and a smile to his face. And though he hadn't pointed his attention at Kurama for it, it was visible from his position near the man.

But now focus was turned back on his cheeky little tease that had absolutely been an invitation. Because for the invitation to be accepted so readily, Yusuke was even more pleased. After all, his husband hadn't felt well for a while. And while he'd wanted to, he hadn't made the offer as much lately because of that. His fox might not be delicate, but there was sometimes no stopping himself from treating him as though he were.

Lily could have whined. She could have pouted and thrown a fit. And if she were in need of a nap, her respect for the redhead wouldn't have stopped th e reaction no matter how strong it was. Instead there was only a small bubble of a pout over her disappointment of not being allowed to share that time with him. But she relented easily enough. "Kay." Then again, s he had a great knack for keeping him to his word as well. "But later," she added adamantly. "You said."

With the scene having turned out nice and peachy in the long run chocolate eyes melted all over again and turned from the cute portion of the show back on the predominantly sexy one. "Wanna race?" The challenge was just as heated as the look he was landing on him.
 
"Of course," he assured her. "Later."

Kurama was happy to turn his attention from the small human in Yusuke's arms, to the man himself. The playful challenge sent a shiver down his spine, and he took a second to savor the sudden rush of lust. "Are you sure?" The fox replied in a low coo. "It may be wise for you to retain your strength. After all, I have been napping all day." Shuichi bounded forward a few step, just enough to give him few feet of distance, then paused to look back over his shoulder. "I believe that it is time I rocked you to sleep," the fox teased with the smoothest of tones before happily taking Yusuke up on his offer.

Vanity was a trait he embraced and the Temple Master encouraged, and the tempting vixen was certainly showing off. His stride was perfectly formed, and he flexed a little more than necessary each time he propelled himself on.
 
"So have I, " he promised warmly. The smirk that had landed on his face for the cheeky remark melted away rather auickly for the addition though. It didn't quite turn meek, but it certainly lost the luster it had had before. He attempted to throw the air back on quickly to cover the fumble a rather heavy jump of his insides caused at the offer. But he didn't do as well as before. Still, he returned the cheeky tease as best he could despite it. "Yeah we'll see about that."

Even that was thwarted a bit as his fox lept into a short bound that became rather showy rather quickly. Most of the time Yusuke didn't win these races. He, in fact, tended to stay a few paces behind as they went. Whether it was purposeful or not was still up to question. But there was every possibility that he became so utterly distracted and consumed by the lovely peacocking that he actually was losing that 'race'. One of the few types of losses he never really saw as one.

Even Lily couldn't break his line of sight as she squealed happily and cheered in a "whee~" as they picked up their pace. Neither did thr cheer of "Faster Rama." If he weren't so cinsumed, he might have been slightly bothered by the fact that the girl was sly enough to recognize that Kurama was the one goading Yusuke on, and therefore he needed to be the ponce to pick up to change their pace. Then again, like her brother, she was a very quick learner.
 
Dancing through the forest with ease, Kurama bounced off of protruding roots on the balls of his feet. They gave him a little extra push now and then; not that he needed it. Yusuke enjoyed watching him 'walk away' than he did winning; but the extra height gave him enough time in the air to show off unnecessary agility. Some might call it narcissism; and he might agree. He never claimed to be a modest man.

Lily's cheer and the familiar rush he was bathing in bubbled natural laughter from his lips. Even she could see the leash Yusuke was happily attached to. "As you wish," he agreed before following through. The speed up was gradual but noticeable; and the more momentum he gained the more delighted he felt. Racing beneath the trees gave him a sense of home that differed vastly from the same sense he felt within the temple walls. The open air tasted like the freedom only a beast can know. Unfortunately, that relief slowed with his stride halfway up the steep incline.

As well as the afore witnessed nausea, fatigue plagued the ailing fox. He found himself wanting to stop and pant like an over worked greyhound; but the same pride that had him peacocking before, now urged him to at least reach the gate with some dignity. Kurama kept his breath and stride even, his pace, however, was a little more difficult to continue.
 
No matter the situation, the former detective would always love watching his fox's peacocking. Sometimes it was purposeful; sometimes it came about subconsciously purely for how much Kurama knew he appreciated. Either way, it was always noticed. And always appreciated.

Chocolate eyes were glued to the redhead as they moved. On top of the lovely view he was also treated to one of his favorite sounds when Lily chimed in. When the laughter fell naturally from his lover's lips it was simply the best; even if some control was pulled over it to keep it calm. The bubbly noise was, simply put, always a treat.

"Alright," he addressed the girl. "Hang on." Even though he said as much, his hold grew tighter and protective. It allowed her to see where they were going if she liked as their speed increased. But most likely her eyes had already closed against delighted squeals and laughter as they bound through the forest.

Chances were they'd get to the temple faster than they had the tree due to the 'race' but he wasn't complaining in any way. Kurama tugged on that leash, and he kept in tow perfectly. After all, he didn't want to lose sight of him. And even if it didn't last all that long, he'd be trading the sight for a lot more soon; so in a sense there was a feeling of 'the sooner the better'.

It was only when they drew close that he finally turned a look down on the girl. "Whatcha think? Should we try to win or let kurama?" It might not be aa matger.of letting him considering how close they were though.

"Win! Win!" The cheer came and Yusuke gave himself the push he needed to, at the very least, catch up after nodding out his agrement. He had little difficulty putting a kick in his speed even as they ascended the hill.

The real question was whether Kurama was going allow them to win or not though. He'd stayed back a bit much in order to easily view his fox as a whole through the travel. So really it was up to whether his fox pushed more into his own step or not.
 
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