Chapter Text
Kuwabara bit off a grunt as Karasu pulled his swollen, deflating member from inside him, squeezing his thighs together tightly as soon as he did.
The look in his violet eyes was full of fear and anger, and it made Kuwabara's heart thump wildly.
He couldn't see who stood at the door from where he lay, but judging by Karasu's reaction, it wasn't anyone friendly.
Karasu pulled up his soiled and sticky pants, pulling his shirt down forcefully as he climbed off the side of the bed. He yanked the comforter up to Kuwabara's chest, pressing it there firmly to tell him to cover himself without words.
“What are you doing here?” Karasu snarled, yanking a silky black robe from where it was draped across his armchair and quickly pulling it on over his soft clothes.
Kuwabara leaned to the side, trying to peek around Karasu's tall, broad chest, and as soon as he did he regretted it.
His breath sucked into his chest and got caught there, his eyes welling to the brim with tears. He slapped his hands over his mouth to keep himself from making any noises.
“I wanted to come play with your pet, Karasu. I see you've been playing as well, you're filthy,” the intruder grinned.
Bui.
Kuwabara couldn't stop the tears as they flowed fast and free down his cheeks.
Karasu hadn't even warned him!
Pulling the comforter up over his head, he slunk down and attempted to hide himself, ignoring the cold wet spots on the bed beneath him.
His cries were filling his chest, deafening his own ears, and he curled his fingers into fists, beating at his own temples.
“I can't, I can't, I can't!” He sobbed under his breath, terror overtaking him completely.
“I didn't invite you here!” He heard Karasu snap, his voice still laced with oily fear.
“Since when does that matter?” He heard Bui reply with a dark chuckle. “Smells good in here.”
“I've no time for you today! Leave!” Karasu demanded icily.
The high, sudden cry of pain ringing into the room made Kuwabara flinch hard, knowing that Bui was bigger and stronger than both of them.
“Let go of me!” Karasu screamed, edging on mania now.
Kuwabara lifted the edge of the blanket just enough to peek outside and the sight made his tears run faster and harder.
Bui held Karasu in submission, one hand yanking fistfuls of long silky black hair, the other holding Karasu in a wrist lock behind his back. He shook Karasu's head violently by his hair, laughing at the pained sounds coming from his throat.
“It's you or him. Sakyo seems to think you need a reminder of who's in charge, so perhaps I'll just take you.”
Kuwabara felt his stomach turn hard at the sight of his master looking so small and frail against such a big brute as Bui.
Karasu's eyes looked filled with panic, and Kuwabara didn't know what he should do.
Karasu was in complete hysteria, unsure how he could possibly protect his poor, sweet pet when he could hardly protect himself.
He couldn't use his powers with so much Never running through his veins, and he didn't stand a chance against Bui physically.
He gasped as Bui shifted his weight, forcing Karasu's body to move against his will.
He was pushing him toward the bed, where his poor little kitten was doing his best to hide.
“No!” He shrieked as he realized how close Bui was to getting what he wanted.
His heart beat fast in his chest, thundering blood rushing in his ears as he tried to come up with a plan.
His human couldn't run, he could barely walk, and there was no way he could carry him and still get away from Bui.
He felt Bui press his kneecap into the bend of his knee, weakening him and making his legs falter. He landed on the mattress face down, feeling Bui pressing his fat length against his backside while still holding his hair like a leash.
He knew it was a long shot, but there was one thing that he could do to make himself strong enough to fend off the brute.
Mustering up the lingering majick from the Never he'd drunk the night before, he used it to shove Bui backwards, as though a strong wind were forcing him away.
Bui grunted and his grip faltered, his feet stumbling as he was pushed back by an unseen force.
In those few split seconds, Karasu had to jump into action.
He took a quick glance at the heap on the bed that was his precious Kazuma, hiding from sight in terror, and he steeled himself.
Closing his eyes, he forced himself to do something he'd never done before. He wasn't even sure that it would work, but he had to try.
Focusing hard, he turned his attention inward, using the majick to draw the majick out.
It was uncomfortable, bordering on painful and he could feel the way his veins squirmed beneath his skin.
The majick felt cold and slimy within him as he focused on drawing it back out, as though it were fighting him from within.
With the false-majick inside him, he couldn't use his demon powers at all, and right now, they were the only hope he had.
He grunted low under his breath, sweat dripping from his brow as he felt his body shifting, changing back to the way it should be. The transformation was jarring.
He could feel the way his demon energy was surging back through him as the majick drew back, flowing slowly through his arms and legs, trickling warmth into his fingers and toes.
Finally, he could feel the emptiness that the Never left behind.
He felt smaller. Weaker.
He felt apprehension in his chest, hoping he'd made the right choice, but he didn't have any time to wonder about it.
Opening his eyes, he turned swiftly back around with an open palm, forcing his demon energy to wake up and make itself known again.
He pushed his hand through the air, his fingertips spread wide to channel as much energy as he could, and he aimed it all directly at the brute that was angrily making his way back over.
A loud explosion rang through the little apartment, making Karasu's ears ring. He hoped he hadn't damaged the human's hearing while he was at it.
He watched as Bui flew backwards once more, with more force this time. He crashed into the countertop, crushing it into rubble beneath him.
Holy shit.
It worked.
Karasu only had half a second to rejoice before he realized that his fight was far from over.
Looking back at the bed once more, he saw that Kazuma had pushed himself into an almost sitting position, watching with horrified wet eyes.
Karasu turned and leaned over him quickly, invading his personal space until their lips were nearly touching.
“I'm going to do my best to protect you,” he whispered, knowing that his eyes were too wide and his face was too frightened to pretend he wasn't afraid.
Kazuma's hand reached up and his fingertips rested soft and cold against his jaw, his grey eyes filling with hope, and it made Karasu feel warm.
With a little smile, he quickly pushed himself back up, renewed in his fight.
Taking a few confident strides forward, he shot another blast at Bui before he could even get to his feet.
His muscles were fatigued from the exertion he'd extended the night before, but he wasn't about to give anything less than his best against his former teammate.
“Leave,” he commanded, holding his hand poised to throw another explosion. He warily watched as Bui got back to his feet.
Icy blue eyes stared coldly at him as Bui made his way back to a standing position. His chest had been cut and his forehead dripped red, but other than that, Karasu could barely tell that the man had been hit.
“Make me,” Bui growled, his lips curling into a sharp snarl. He took a step forward and Karasu reacted before he could think, sliding his foot backwards before he could stop himself.
Bui recognized the apprehension and took advantage of it, lunging forward with his arm outstretched.
Karasu sucked in a sharp gasp but he was taken off guard, reacting just a moment too late.
Bui’s huge hand flew out, palm open and he grabbed Karasu's entire face in his hand, gripping tightly.
In the same second, he swung his arm, slamming Karasu head first onto the floor, landing on top of him.
Karasu let out a sharp cry at the sick crack of his skull against the hard floor, then his vision went black.
Kuwabara watched, horrified as his only hope was laid unconscious in one move. Tears flowed furiously down his cheeks and he held his hands over his mouth as though making no sound would deter the monster that was coming for him.
He watched as Bui sat up onto his knees, reaching into the front of his pants to stroke himself as he looked down at Karasu's unconscious body.
Bui grunted and then reached back down, yanking open the robe Karasu had slid on, pulling it from his arms. Tossing it aside, he quickly gripped the front of his billowing shirt and ripped it apart, shredding it and exposing his pale chest to the room.
Kuwabara tried his best to keep quiet, but his sobs were growing more and more uncontrolled and a little squeak escaped him unbidden.
He watched Bui's cold eyes snap up and lock onto him. His mouth turned into a sickening grin, and he forgot about Karasu for the moment, pushing back to his feet.
Kuwabara felt every muscle in his body tense, his knees pulled tightly into his chest as he tried to curl up and hide in the corner.
Bui chuckled softly, slowly, and it made Kuwabara's skin crawl. He kicked his heels into the mattress, attempting to push himself backwards, but he was already tightly pressed into the corner.
He was trapped.
Bui reached his long arm out, hardly putting any effort in as he gripped Kuwabara by an ankle, yanking him hard down the mattress.
Terrified, Kuwabara squealed sharply, trying his best to grab anything he could to pull away, but the blankets and pillows only slid down the mattress with him.
Rolling onto his stomach, he clawed at the edge of the mattress, desperate to pull himself from Bui's clutches.
Bui overpowered him easily, pulling the ankle he held painfully hard to straighten his leg and yank him once more to the side of the mattress.
“No!” Kuwabara peeped, terror overtaking him.
Bui didn't even respond, using his free hand to cup at Kuwabara's backside, sliding his thumb directly into his softened, sloppy hole.
Kuwabara cried out again, feeling the pain and discomfort shudder through him.
Certainly Karasu had fucked him nice and loose over the hours they'd screwed, but his skin was so sore and abraded and Bui's thumb was thick and dry.
Kuwabara cried out and his stomach lurched as Bui quickly pulled out his thumb, worming two fingers inside of him instead.
“Stop!” He shrieked through his tears, doing his best to just cling to his sanity.
Bui began to pump his hand back and forth, fucking into Kuwabara just to hear the wet sounds of the come he was filled with.
“Mm, you're ready for me,” Bui said quietly, and Kuwabara could feel and hear him shifting.
“No! I don't want you!” He screamed at the top of his lungs. “Don't touch me!”
He buried his face into the mattress as tears streamed harder from his eyes.
He did his best to let go of it, of everything in his mind. If he had to endure this torture again, he knew he wouldn't mentally be able to come back from it, so he forced his mind to go far away.
He felt the slick slide of Bui's fingers as they slid from his entrance and he squeezed his eyes shut tighter.
Karasu could feel the pain in his head, splitting and sharp, and he groaned as he clutched his skull, his eyes feeling almost swollen shut.
The sharp, panicked screams of his little kitty cat had woken him, and he forced his eyes to open.
Bui was knuckle-deep inside his poor pet already, and preparing to defile him once more.
Forcing himself into action, he jumped up from the floor, curling his fingers into a fist and letting it fly.
Bui grunted low and deep as he was knocked from his perch, toppling to the side and landing on the mattress beside Kazuma.
“Get away from him!” Karasu hissed, seething with rage.
As soon as Kazuma was free of Bui, his head shot up, horrified eyes locking onto Karasu's.
“Karasu!” He sighed hopefully, his eyes wider and wider by the second.
“You,” Bui growled menacingly as he clambered back to his feet. Kazuma scrambled as fast as he could back to the head of the bed, curling his knees into his chest. “I'm going to tell Sakyo about this.”
“Oh yeah? Gonna run and tell Daddy on me?” Karasu mocked, though Kuwabara could hear the tremor in his voice.
“You're doing an awful lot of fighting back to protect this little piece of human fuck-meat,” Bui snarled, his feet hitting the floor.
As soon as Bui was on his feet again, Karasu threw three bombs consecutively at him, exploding around his face and chest.
Bui roared with anger and pain, bringing his arm over his shoulder to throw a swing in Karasu's direction, but the smaller man was too fast, dodging easily.
“Come on, big man, let's take this downstairs,” Karasu taunted, hoping Bui would take the bait.
He needed to separate the brute from his prey, even if that meant shifting the target to himself.
Bui took a slow step forward, growling under his breath.
Bui had never been the brains of the operation, and Karasu was hoping that would play out in his favor.
“Come on, you want me?” Karasu challenged again, shifting closer to the front door. “Come and get me.”
Bui hunched down and began to charge, nearly closing the gap between them in a few quick strides. Karasu's heart lurched and he jumped into action, tearing down the loud metal stairs with Bui just behind.
Kuwabara was scared shitless.
His heart pounded and his breaths heaved in and out of his rattling chest.
His whole body shook hard with tremors, his knees knocking together as he tried his best to get his mind in order.
He didn’t know what to do or where to start.
He could barely move, but he needed to do something, he couldn’t just sit in Karasu’s filthy bed and wait to be abused.
He didn’t know if Karasu stood a chance against Bui, but the grunting and exploding coming from downstairs told him that Karasu was putting up his best fight.
Maybe he wouldn’t have to worry, but he didn’t want to risk it or take any chances.
Still, there wasn’t much he could do.
Throwing away the blankets that covered him, he shoved himself to the edge of the bed, steeling himself and forcing himself to his feet.
His legs wavered hard but he was determined to stay up, forcing his feet to move forward as fast as he could.
A sharp, pained cry rang through the apartment from downstairs, and Kuwabara knew in his heart that the voice was Karasu’s. His heart jolted painfully with acid terror, and he yanked open a drawer in the kitchen, grabbing a long, sharp knife.
He knew he had no chance of escape, he’d never make it down the stairs, let alone anywhere else.
Hurrying, he forced himself back to the bed, hopping onto the mattress and slipping the knife under the pillow.
Sliding himself back into the corner, he covered himself to his neck with a thick, fluffy comforter. All he could do now was to wait and find out the result of the fight downstairs.
It seemed to have gotten quiet since the loud cry. The sounds of a single person catching their breath were the only sounds emanating up the cold stairs.
Slow feet began to slide across the floor, like the victor was too weary to lift his feet all the way to take a step.
Kuwabara’s hands gripped the mattress below him apprehensively as he heard the loud, slow thunk of boots heading toward him.
Thunk
Kuwabara swallowed hard.
Thunk
He felt a hot tear slide from the corner of his eye, biting back a scared whimper.
Thunk
It was getting closer, and the steps sounded loud.
Thunk
Graceless.
Thunk
“Kami, please don't forget me, please,” Kuwabara begged softly under his breath, his eyes squeezed shut as he prayed.
Thunk
“Please, Kami, let me survive this day.”
Thunk
The victor of the battle was just outside the door. Kuwabara tried to control his shaking, watching with watery eyes to see who came through, refusing to believe what he knew to be true.
After a charged moment of silence, he softly, hopefully called out, “Karasu? Sir?”
The door creaked as it slid open, slowly, and Kuwabara's heart sank down into his stomach.
Bui stood there, huge and imposing, his wicked grin aimed directly at Kuwabara.
“No!” Kuwabara sobbed, feeling all hope slipping out of him, leaving nothing but cold, slimy fear behind.
Bui laughed loud at Kuwabara's reaction, entering Karasu's apartment and closing the door behind him as if he belonged there.
“What did you do to him?” Kuwabara dared to ask, clutching his blanket tighter around himself.
Bui's cold, icy blue eyes tracked every tiny movement that Kuwabara made hungrily. He gripped the bottom of his shirt and pulled it over his head without breaking his eye contact.
Kuwabara felt his stomach churning as he watched Bui stripping off his boots and socks too, pulling open the button on his pants.
“I'm glad Karasu got you nice and warmed up for me,” he sneered, advancing on Kuwabara like a predator. “It'll make it easier to use you.”
Kuwabara swallowed the rising bile in his throat, doing his best to keep still as Bui crawled across the mattress to where he cowered.
His muscles were tense from fear, but he knew better than to attempt fighting back.
He held back his cries as Bui's cruel hands gripped him by his biceps, shaking and forcing Kuwabara into the position he wanted him in.
He felt like a doll with a cruel child playing with him.
The blanket that covered him was tossed aside carelessly.
Within moments, he was on his stomach, his spine forced into an arch. He knew what would happen next, and he closed his eyes, retreating to his mind once more.
Yusuke.
Yusuke loved him so much.
He missed Yusuke.
The sharp, burning pain at his rear nearly pulled him from his thoughts, but he shoved it away before it could bring him back.
He imagined being in an open, green field with his love. They would lay together and, maybe, after a while they'd make love.
Knowing Yusuke, the likelihood of that was high. The thought made Kuwabara smile a bit.
He tried to imagine love-making surrounded by flowers, Sun beating warmly down on them. Then the huge intrusion inside him didn't seem so horrible.
“Good little fuck,” Bui growled into his ear.
Kuwabara kept his eyes shut tightly, thinking of being made love to, his body being caressed and adored.
The way Karasu had adored him.
He thought of the soft touch of his hands and the way he'd stroked him into completion. His violet eyes looked soft and gentle.
Karasu had kissed him last night.
He'd kissed and kissed and kissed.
He'd been willing to kiss not only his body but his lips, and Kuwabara tried to remember what that affection felt like, ignoring the jolting of his body, the burn of his knees or the tight soreness of his spine where it arched.
“Karasu,” Kuwabara groaned, feeling his heart filling with sadness. “Where's...my master?” He dared to ask, coming back to the present all at once.
He glanced over his shoulder, seeing the mountain of a brute that was filling him drenched in sweat and ecstatic.
“Where's Karasu?” He asked again directly.
Instead of an answer, Bui reached forward and slapped his cheek, turning him back around to face the wall once more.
Kuwabara was still afraid, but his fear seemed far away; detached.
He sighed and lowered his body to the mattress, feeling Bui lean down to stay inside him.
“Why do you even want this?” He asked, either bravely or stupidly, using his arms to attempt to roll over, pushing Bui away to move his body.
Annoyed, Bui watched Kuwabara situate himself. He held one hand firmly grasping Kuwabara's hip and his dick firmly planted to be sure that he wouldn't slip away as he revolved.
Kuwabara panted as he finally made it onto his back, wiping sweat from his brow with his forearm.
After being up all night, his head was buzzing. It was taking everything in him to even keep his eyes opened.
“Why are you doing this?” He managed, his voice a rough whisper.
“Because I like your tight little human cunt,” Bui replied, his lips curling into a nauseating sneer.
He pulled back his hips and slammed them forward, pushing hard into his thrust. Kuwabara shrieked at the unexpected pain of it.
Kuwabara knew Bui would begin another round of torture in just seconds.
Before he could second guess himself, he slipped his hand under the pillow, feeling for the knife he'd hidden. Feeling the cold metal handle, he squeezed it in his fingers tightly.
Swallowing hard, Kuwabara tensed and steeled himself as Bui thrust his hips hard once, twice, three more times. He then slid his hand from under the pillow, slicing the kitchen knife through the air fast.
Bellowing loudly, Bui gripped his shoulder as the knife plunged into the meat wetly.
Kuwabara was still trapped beneath the giant, impaled on his member, and he had no way of getting away from him.
He hadn't thought of that before he'd plunged a kitchen knife into his chest.
Quickly, he brought his hands up in a defensive X across his face, knowing that the retribution would be severe.
He lost his train of thought when the first blow hit him in his temple, making his ears ring and his jaw go slack.
His vision began to swim with black and he couldn't focus.
Bui began to rain down punches, swinging with his left and right hands to maximize the damage.
The ringing in his ears grew louder, more sharp and high pitched. His vision failed completely and he knew he was making some sort of pitiful noise due to the vibrations he felt in his chest.
Blindly, without hope, he curled his fists and punched out in front of himself, landing a few weak throws of his own to protect himself.
He knew it was no use, but he was tired of taking everything he was given lying on his back. Maybe he wasn't as strong as a demon, but he could still hit hard.
His eyes were squeezed shut, as much as he could around the swelling, and he threw fists rapidly, connecting with anything he could. The blow that knocked him out cold was to his temple, shooting stars across his vision, before everything faded to black.
Karasu felt himself yelp more than he heard it when something solid connected agonizingly with his ribs. His arms raised defensively in front of his face, his body tensing and curling.
Gasping loudly, he yelled out, “Bui!”
He forced his eyes open, maneuvering himself to roll onto his knees before he’d even opened his eyes. His head spun like a slow lazy washing machine, his brain riding the cycle to the top and then falling soggily back to the bottom of his skull to begin the ride again.
His stomach lurched at the dizzy feeling and his throat and eyes burned, but he forced himself to his feet, his fists protecting his face. Blinking hard, he focused his bleary eyes on the shadowy figure standing in the cold dank room with him.
It wasn’t Bui.
The person before him was much too small; too slight.
His stomach lurched hard but he ignored it, turning his head to try to gather his bearings. He saw the stairs weren’t far away, and his brain fought through fog to concentrate hard.
“Kazuma!” he gasped, shifting his body weight to turn.
Without stopping to think, he ran, desperate to reach his poor human before it was too late.
He hoped it wasn’t too late.
Yusuke had made a few hasty phone calls on his walk to the warehouse, knowing that backup would arrive by the time he did.
He wasn't wrong, by the time the building was in his sights he had two companions by his side.
“This is big,” he warned, his brow low and heavy. “It's not going to be easy, but Kuwabara needs us.”
“Right. I may not be much of a punch, but I'll still swing,” Jin said in his singsong Irish way, brandishing a fist as proof. Touya nodded his head in agreement, his jaw already set.
They were quiet as they approached the door, letting Yusuke take the lead.
Kicking open the door loudly, they burst in together, muscles tensed and ready to swing, but what they saw was almost perplexing.
Karasu lay on the filthy floor unconscious, covered in blood and dirt, his clothes torn and askew.
The room was otherwise empty and it was so quiet they could hear their footsteps echoing around the walls.
Yusuke brazenly walked to his prone body, swinging his foot and connecting hard with the demon's ribs.
“Where is he?” He demanded softly when Karasu grunted, his voice quiet with rage.
Karasu didn't seem to hear him, groaning as he struggled to get to his feet.
Jin grabbed Yusuke’s arm, pulling him back a step cautiously, but Karasu didn't seem to even see them, struggling to his feet and looking toward the top floor fearfully.
“Kazuma!” He gasped before hobbling his way up the loud metal steps.
Yusuke watched as he made his way up the stairs, slowly following behind, unsure of what he might see.
“This could be gory, so be prepared,” he warned again.
“Why didn't you stop him?” Touya asked in his soft voice.
“Because he'll lead me right to Kuwabara. All I have to do is follow. Stay behind me,” he said as he began to make his way slowly up the stairs.
“Kazuma!” Karasu cried as he burst through the door.
He was pretty sure of what he'd find, but it still turned his stomach to see it.
Bui was thrusting carelessly into Kuwabara's motionless body, uncaring of how hard he was abusing the poor man.
“Get away from him!” Karasu screamed, ignoring his own pains and running to the bed.
Bui snapped his head around, snarling as he pulled himself away from the poor broken human, zipping his pants as he got to his feet.
Karasu could see Kuwabara lying unconscious, his body covered in drying blood.
Steeling his nerves, he gritted his teeth and faced Bui with fists clenched.
“You're not welcome here. Leave, or I'll make you,” he growled, not letting the man towering over him intimidate him.
“Oh yeah? Like how you took care of me downstairs?” Bui chuckled darkly. “I haven't finished, are you here to take over for him?” He taunted, gesturing over his shoulder at the broken man.
Karasu reacted before he could think, swinging hard and connecting with Bui's jaw.
The brute grunted, taking a step forward and swinging in return, but Karasu quickly moved backwards, avoiding the blow.
Karasu wasn't sure what to do, but he knew he had to keep fighting.
He thrust his hand out, throwing a blinding bomb at Bui's face, following with a swift gut punch.
Bui grunted but quickly reached out, grabbing a handful of Karasu's long black hair and wrenching him toward himself.
Karasu let a terrified scream slip from his lips, before throwing another fist into Bui’s burned face, aiming for his nose.
He noticed the handle of the knife that still protruded from Bui’s shoulder and he grabbed it, ripping it out.
Bui loosed a pained bellow but before he could react, Karasu had already flipped the knife and begun to slash, slicing across his chest, aiming for his throat.
Baring his teeth, Bui began trying to grab Karasu’s hand before he’d been sliced to pieces, but Karasu was too fast.
Karasu took a deep breath and slashed once more, slicing deeply at the base of Bui’s throat.
The huge demon was stopped in his tracks. He released Karasu entirely and gripped at his throat, thick ribbons of sticky blood pouring between his fingers.
Bui’s eyes were round with surprise and fear, gurgling as he tried to cling to consciousness, or potentially to life.
Karasu took a shaky step back, unsure how fatally he’d wounded the demon. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, his own eyes wide in terror.
Bui’s right hand reached out one more time, gripping tightly around Karasu’s throat and squeezing hard. Karasu was surprised at the amount of strength left in him, as compared to the amount of blood that was pooling at his feet.
A sudden, blinding blast lit the room, and in an instant, Karasu heard the shot and felt the warm, wet splatter of grey matter across his front.
He sucked in a shocked breath, his eyes unable to look away from Bui’s suddenly headless body. He was in a state of shock, shaking slightly as he felt the fingers around his neck slowly loosen. The knees of the headless corpse slowly bent, dropping horrifyingly to the floor.
Karasu forced himself to blink, swallowing hard before he could bring himself to turn his head toward the source of the light.
His heart froze, fear stopping him entirely.
The human had come, just as he’d suspected he might. The demons he was with weren't the usual ones that stayed by his side, but Karasu had no doubts that they were just as strong.
He didn't stand a chance.
The human stood, still tensed and fingers aiming at where Bui had just been standing. Slowly, he turned until he was aiming squarely at Karasu’s head.
Karasu gulped again, casting a quick glance at where his poor little pet still lay unconscious.
He knew that Kazuma should go back where he belonged, he’d be better off with the other humans in the end, but he didn’t want to let him go.
Still, he knew if he tried to fight he’d die, and quickly, and he had no idea what the human would do in retaliation for the atrocities he’d committed whether he fought or not.
He was tired, injured and weak from trying to fend off Bui, weaning off drugs in a moment and protecting Kazuma.
He had no hope, no ideas and no plans.
Yusuke could see the fear loudly playing across Karasu’s features. He didn’t feel the slightest bit of apprehension looking at him.
“Freeze his arms and legs,” he instructed quietly over his shoulder at Touya.
The small demon flanking him quickly obeyed, thrusting his hands out. A shock of cold air went blasting through the room.
Blue ice surrounded Karasu's feet, climbing up until it reached past his knees. It grew out like vines, wrapping around Karasu's wrists and binding them to his thighs.
Karasu’s eyes looked watery, filled with tears, and he still clutched the bloody knife in his hand.
Yusuke suspected that his hands would be shaking if they weren’t stabilized into immobility.
Slowly, he lowered his hands, letting his fists fall to his sides.
He began to cross the filthy space.
He stopped just a few meters away, looking up into Karasu’s frightened eyes.
There were bloody fingerprints smeared around his throat. The side of his face and his temple were bruised and his lip split.
Gritting his jaw, he pulled back his fist and let it fly, smashing across Karasu’s cheekbones.
Karasu grunted as he was jerked to the side, violently stopped by where he was frozen to the ground.
Yusuke pulled up his left arm, curling his fist and joining with his right. He hit Karasu over and over, right after left after right.
He switched his position, grabbing Karasu’s ripped black shirt and aiming now for his stomach.
He yelled as he punched, furious at what everything had come to.
After a moment, he felt a warm chest and stomach press against his back, a hand slipping firmly around his stomach.
He froze, glancing over his shoulder to see Jin’s red hair.
“Urameshi, I think you should step away now, for your own sake” he said quietly but firmly.
Yusuke looked up at Karasu, seeing the amount of blood and swelling he’d caused.
He breathed heavily, his brow furrowed deeply as he watched Karasu.
The tall demon was sagging as much as he could, forced to stand whether he wanted to or not. His eyes drooped low. He looked exhausted.
Good.
“That was for Kuwabara,” he said softly, filled with venom.
Standing up straight and relaxing his muscles, Yusuke allowed Jin to pull him back a few steps.
He knew the bloody body sprawled on the bed to his right was Kuwabara.
He’d seen the shape of him from his peripheral vision, but he’d been too afraid to look before.
Now, he didn’t have much of a choice but to see what his dear friend and love had been through all this time he’d been gone.
Sliding his chocolatey brown eyes to the side, toward the mattress, his breath froze in his chest.
Kuwabara looked so bad.
His whole face was swollen, bruised, cut and broken. His throat was ringed in finger marks and lines of bruises from squeezing hands. His ribs were purple and green, old and new bruises mingling together.
There were defensive wounds all over his arms and legs and his hair had been horrendously hacked off.
He lay naked in the middle of Karasu’s filthy mattress, his arms inert by his ears, his thighs open wide.
Even his cock looked swollen, mottled with purple, and sore. Bite marks littered his inner thighs and his hips and chest.
He breathed rapidly and shallowly, and Yusuke could see the blood that stained his teeth.
There was blood everywhere.
His face and chest were slashed in a thick, bright red spray. His thighs were smeared in dark, streaked blood.
Yusuke wasn’t sure how much of it was Kuwabara’s and how much wasn’t.
“Get out,” he said.
“What?” Touya asked, surprised.
Yusuke turned around to face the two smaller men.
“I want you to leave. Stay outside and keep the building secure. Let me take care of him.”
He held his arms out wide, blocking their view and ushering them away.
“Are you sure Urameshi?!” Jin asked uncomfortably.
“I can handle it,” Yusuke assured, preparing to close the door as soon as all of their feet were on the stair landing.
“I won’t be long.”
Closing the door, he turned back to face the two bloodied men in the room.
Karasu was barely conscious, only on his feet because he had no other choice. Kuwabara still hadn't stirred.
Yusuke slowly walked toward the bed, fear creeping in on him finally.
“Kuwabara?” He called slowly as he neared the edge of the mattress, ignoring Karasu for the moment. “Kuwa?”
He wearily placed his hand on Kuwabara's shoulder, feeling that his skin was still warm.
He could see the man's pained, uneven breaths still and heaved a tiny sigh of relief that he was at least alive.
“Kuwabara?” He called again, shaking gently.
Kuwabara groaned then, his hands twitching as he slowly came back to consciousness.
He continued to groan, his eyes swollen shut. Yusuke couldn't tell if his eyes were open or not.
Kuwabara's hands moved to his chest, sliding slowly down his body until he reached his groin, cupping himself gingerly between his legs, his knees drawing weakly together.
His groans became whimpers and Yusuke could see a few shiny tears slip from his eyes, squeezed tightly as they were.
“Karasu?” He whispered out, curling slowly into a fetal position. “Sir? Where's Bui? Did he…finish…using me?”
Yusuke felt his chest clench with anger, hurt and disgust at Kuwabara's words.
“Kuwabara,” Yusuke called softly again, reaching down to encompass Kuwabara's hands in his own. “It's me. I'm here to bring you home.”
“Karasu?” Kuwabara asked again, trying to push himself into a sitting position. His body trembled, and he could barely use his arms to push himself from the mattress.
“It's me,” Yusuke said again, trying to keep the hurt from his voice.
Kuwabara struggled for a quiet moment, forcing his eyes to open just a slit to see who was in front of him.
One gray eye opened enough to land on Yusuke, then he turned his head, catching sight of Karasu just feet away, struggling with staying conscious.
He quickly glanced back at Yusuke, then he began to climb from the mattress, practically throwing himself to the floor to slowly scramble his way to Karasu's feet.
He grabbed onto Karasu's legs, encased in ice, pulling himself onto his knees. He wrapped his arms around Karasu's thigh, leaning his head against his hip, looking up pitifully into Karasu's bloodied face.
“Sir?” He said softly. “Is this another trick?” He asked, gripping tighter to Karasu as he gazed toward Yusuke.
Karasu's throat gurgled as he struggled to force his eyes open.
“Sweet thing,” he rasped, coughing a spray of blood onto the floor. “You're not mine any longer.”
Kuwabara gasped hard, and Yusuke felt hard jealousy heating like hot coals in his chest.
“But I need you, Sir!” He cried, tears streaming through the blood on his cheeks. “Who will protect me?”
“He will,” Karasu replied softly, gesturing his head toward Yusuke. “He’s done all this for you already.”
Kuwabara let out a squeak and scrambled to cling to Karasu even harder.
“T…Toguro?” He whispered a guess to Karasu. “He'll hurt me! You can't give me away, Sir, please! I promise to be better!”
Yusuke took a small step backward, shocked by the words spilling from his lover's lips. How could he not recognize him?
Karasu shook his head softly, sagging a bit. He'd have probably sat down if he wasn't still frozen to the floor.
“It's not a trick, my precious creature. He's real, and he's here for you.”
Kuwabara slowly turned and really looked at Yusuke, his shiny black hair soft and loose over his angry eyes.
He stared for a long moment, unsure of what to say or do, then finally he whispered, “But what about you?”
He gazed up at Karasu's swollen purple eyes. He still clung desperately to the tall demon.
“I…will have to say my goodbyes.”
“No!” Kuwabara cried out sharply.
Yusuke blew out a sigh and carded his fingers through his hair.
He knew Kuwabara had been through more than he might ever know, but it still hurt to think that he wanted anything other than to go home and be with him again.
Irritatedly, he tried to put himself in his lover's shoes and understand. While it was difficult, he knew Kuwabara still needed the tenderness and safety that Karasu seemed to bring him.
He hurried forward, frightening Kuwabara and making Karasu stand up straight, far from Yusuke's fists.
Gripping the cold blue ice that encased his hands and bound him to his ankles, he squeezed and yanked until the ice shattered to pieces.
Karasu let out a grunt of pain at the rough treatment, but he knew better than to comment on it.
Instead, he reached down and softly cradled Kuwabara's face in his palms, like a little bird.
“I hope you'll remember me. It may not be fond thoughts, but…” he trailed off, Kuwabara hanging on every word from his mouth.
Kuwabara felt himself at war inside. He wanted Karasu, of course, but he wanted more to go home with Yusuke, and it made him feel guilty.
“I can't leave you here!” He forced out through a tight throat.
“You can, and you will,” Karasu replied firmly.
Kuwabara couldn't stop the tears as he broke down. He felt that he couldn't trust himself any longer.
Karasu still held his face, pulling gently to urge him to his feet.
Kuwabara struggled to do as his master wanted, his legs still quaking, now worse after Bui's assault.
Karasu pulled him in close once he was upright, leaning down to kiss him.
“Hey!” Yusuke barked, his fists clenched at his sides once more. “Back off!” He snapped, stepping forward again threateningly.
Kuwabara held his arm out, catching Yusuke by the shoulder before he could retaliate, and the look of surprise on his face cut like a knife.
“Please,” he begged softly, his face anguished.
Yusuke growled in frustration, turning around to try to calm himself.
Kuwabara took the moment to lean up and kiss Karasu on the lips, allowing his long tongue to invade his mouth for the last time.
They kissed for a long, tender moment, and Kuwabara could feel his endorphins rushing again, making him feel like this was right.
The sound of the door closing caught his attention, and Yusuke's. They both turned to look, but no one stood there.
Kuwabara turned back to Karasu, reaching up to caress his face for what may have been the first time.
“Alright, I think that's enough,” Yusuke said brusquely, taking Kuwabara by the shoulders and pulling him back a few steps.
“But-!”
Kuwabara was cut off when a sick metallic sound cut through the air, followed by a squelching crunch and a violent grunt and gurgle from Karasu.
Yusuke and Kuwabara both turned back to Karasu slowly.
Gasping, Kuwabara felt his eyes fill with tears and he covered his open mouth with his hand.
Karasu slowly looked down at his chest and the other two men followed his gaze, seeing the bloody pointed end of a sword jutting from his chest, dripping blood down his front.
His shaking hands reached for the blade, his fingers gently curling around it. As he did, the sword twisted violently, cutting his hands.
His legs broke free when the ice cracked loudly and began to shatter. He took a few shaky steps forward from the force of the blow, then dropped to his knees.
More blood poured onto the floor when the sword was removed from his chest, leaving a gaping hole.
Yusuke was shocked enough to stay where he stood, watching Karasu as he was finally taken down.
Stepping out from behind Karasu, Hiei slashed his sword through the air, throwing off as much blood as he could before he replaced the blade in his scabbard.
“That was for what you did to Kurama,” he said coldly, unaffected by the scene before him.
Kuwabara cried out, dropping back to his knees before Karasu. Yusuke considered pulling him back once more, but instead, he waited to see how Kuwabara would react.
His shaking hands reached up, trying to cover the hole in Karasu's chest, feebly attempting to stop the bleeding.
“No!” He cried softly, watching as blood poured through his ineffective fingers.
A sudden commotion from outside the door had Hiei and Yusuke's attention, but Kuwabara didn't bother to turn around.
“-can’t go in there! Stop!” They heard Jin calling loudly as the door burst open.
Kurama, looking weak and battered, came stumbling through the door, followed a second later by Jin.
“I tried to keep him out, Yusuke, but-”
“Karasu!” Kurama gasped, hobbling weakly across the floor.
“Oh,” Karasu tried to chuckle, his throat gurgling blood down his chin. “It's my lucky day.”
He fell back, sitting hard as his body failed him faster and faster. Kuwabara reached up and grabbed his shoulders as he began to fall back, guiding his fall, his bloody hands cradling the demon's skull.
Kuwabara curled his fingers into Karasu's hair tenderly, his other hand resting on his chest, above the hole, feeling his heart slowing.
Kurama whimpered softly as he made his way to the two men on the floor, dropping to his knees and placing a hand beside Kuwabara's on Karasu’s chest.
Karasu smiled, his lips shaking as he looked from one to the other.
“My boys,” he said softly. His shaking hands reached up for both of them, landing softly on the back of Kuwabara's head. He aimed his other hand for Kurama's, intending to slip his fingers into his hair, but Kurama jerked away, avoiding his touch.
Karasu gurgled another laugh, dropping his hand down instead of trying to touch Kurama again.
Kuwabara nuzzled into Karasu's touch, leaning down to rest his head on his chest as he continued to cry.
“Please, don't leave me?” He whispered softly.
“You'll be…better off without me, I assure you,” Karasu struggled to say. “You'll be happy again.”
Kuwabara glanced at Kurama when he moved, watching the pretty man lean in close.
He thought Kurama might kiss his cheek, thinking he was saying his goodbyes, but his brow furrowed when he realized the truth.
Kurama leaned close so that no one else could hear him, knowing Hiei and Yusuke would think he was being sentimental.
Kuwabara was the only one close enough to know the truth.
“Where are the drugs?” Kurama whispered softly, caressing Karasu's cheek to make it look more convincing. “How can I keep getting them?”
Kuwabara felt anger bubbling in his chest, still believing that it was Kurama's fault he was there in the first place.
How could he be worried about drugs at a time like this? Karasu was about to be gone forever!
Karasu turned to Kurama, the smile on his face gone flat.
He raised his hand once again, and Kurama allowed him to touch him begrudgingly. Karasu's hand threaded into the shaggy hairs at the back of Kurama's head, clutching firmly.
He used his grip to urge Kurama to lift his head and look him in the eye.
Karasu leaned forward like he was going to kiss Kurama, and Kuwabara could see the tenseness between Kurama's eyes as he felt compelled to let him.
Karasu's lips were so close to Kurama's that to anyone besides Kuwabara, it looked like they were kissing.
“You'll get better, Kurama. I hope it hasn't changed you, but you can heal. You're a beautiful little flower. I wish I could see you once you're healthy again,” he murmured.
Kurama's eyebrows twitched and drew together in anger.
His green eyes flicked to Kuwabara's and all the anger drained out of them immediately.
Slowly, he lay his head down on Karasu's shoulder, placing his hand beside Kuwabara's once more. Their fingertips touched and Kurama carefully laced his fingertips with Kazuma's.
Karasu let out a slow, quiet sigh and his head fell back.
“My boys,” he whispered again softly, placing his hands on their shoulders in an embrace.
“K…Kazuma,” he struggled.
They could all see how pale he'd gotten over the last few minutes. His pink lips were nearly colorless, and both Kazuma and Kurama knelt in a growing puddle of cooling crimson.
Kuwabara nodded his head, tears still rolling down his nose. “Yes, Sir?”
“I n-need you to know,” Karasu struggled to swallow and it was loud in the nearly silent room. “Last night, I was m-making love to you.”
Kazuma's grey eyes locked onto Karasu's violet ones, listening intently.
Karasu nodded weakly. “I…may never know what-” he cut off, struggling hard, and everyone in the room seemed to be waiting with baited breath. “-what r-real l-l-love feels like…but I f-felt it for you. I m-made love to you. All night. Was it…good? For you?”
Kazuma quickly nodded his head, caressing Karasu's cold cheek.
“You made me feel so good, Sir,” he assured quickly. “You made me come so hard. Stay, Sir,” he urged. “Have me again?”
Karasu's lips curled into a weak smile for just a moment, his chest beginning to heave as he struggled to breathe.
“I'd…like to give you…something to remember me by. If that's alright”
Kurama watched their interaction quietly, realizing at once the jealousy he felt.
Kazuma nodded.
Karasu glanced around, not really seeing anything.
“Give me…the knife.”
Yusuke moved immediately, intending to stop Kuwabara from handing the villain a weapon, but Hiei held his hand up to stop Yusuke.
Kuwabara pressed himself onto his knees, shaking as he grabbed the bloody kitchen knife that lay on the floor a few feet away and pressed it into Karasu’s weak hands.
They all watched with bated breath as Karasu slowly took hold of a thick hank of hair in one hand, struggling to cut through it with the knife.
Kuwabara struggled to hold back his sobs as he wrapped his own weak hands around Karasu’s, lending his strength until the hair was cut.
With a shaking smile, Karasu handed the long severed hairs to Kuwabara, closing his hand around it.
“To…remember me by.”
Karasu then turned his head to Kurama, still smiling the same sad smile.
Taking the hair from the other side of his head, Karasu then began to cut through it as well, the hair left on his head shorn low and uneven. He handed it to Kurama.
“You may just throw it away…That’s your prerogative. I won’t…ask you to rem-remember me fondly…But…I’m sorry for…the things I did to you.”
Kurama accepted the gift gingerly, holding the shiny black hair to his chest.
“I just…wanted you so badly. You…could have been mine.”
Kuwabara leaned down and butted his forehead gently against Karasu’s shoulder, pulling his attention back to him.
“I’m…sorry for what I did to you too. And…for what you went through.”
Karasu took a deep, burbling breath, closing his eyes as he lay back against the floor.
“I…I love you,” he said softly.
Kuwabara sobbed softly, the only sound in the quiet room, before he finally replied, “I love you, too, Karasu.”
Everything that happened after was a blur in Kuwabara's memory.
Yusuke had grabbed him, wrapping him in a piece of black fabric laying discarded on the floor to hide his nakedness before pulling him from the building.
Karasu's weak fingers had held Kuwabara's until he couldn't any longer, reaching out to him in his memory.
Kuwabara was sure that Jin had somehow gotten him home, along with Yusuke. He wasn't sure how Hiei and Kurama had gotten back. He couldn't remember anything past the blinding, crushing grief he felt in his chest and throat.
Yusuke had immediately put him in the bath, running water as he scrubbed drying blood from Kuwabara's lips and chin. He couldn't remember the way he'd howled like a wounded dog as the warm water rushed over the rest of his poor, abraded skin.
He didn't remember Yusuke drying his skin lovingly with a soft towel while he sobbed hysterically, shaking hard from fear and pain and sadness.
He had no memories of Yusuke needing to pin him down to dress him, unwilling to let anyone help him and see Kuwabara's vulnerable nakedness.
He vaguely remembered the warm kiss that Yusuke had pressed to his cheek once he'd treated all of his topical wounds.
He did not remember Yusuke laying him gently in his soft bed, sliding in behind him to hold him tightly.
“I'm so glad you're finally home, my love,” Yusuke whispered in his ear once he thought Kuwabara was asleep.
Kuwabara remembered that fondly.