I watched the music video for Orange Caramel '까탈레나(Catallena)' and decided to draw this concept with these victims men
Fish tails/dresses version
Xuebing Du
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
Cosmic Funnies

JVL
art blog(derogatory)
RMH

ellievsbear

❣ Chile in a Photography ❣

pixel skylines
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
Sweet Seals For You, Always
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
trying on a metaphor

PR's Tumblrdome
$LAYYYTER

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⁂
Claire Keane
occasionally subtle

#extradirty
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@ask-icemastertouya
I watched the music video for Orange Caramel '까탈레나(Catallena)' and decided to draw this concept with these victims men
Fish tails/dresses version
Jin & Touya
Inspired by @ganseydraws Touya's drawing for this AU Alternative versions below + static image
Alright, I was gonna do more with this guy, but I'm happy with him. So! Touya in Zelda cosplay to join Jin in Link cosplay by @wistfulink Thanks to Rev for the idea 🥰
Jin as Link
Could consider this a combo concept or Jin simply cosplaying as Link from Zelda. Either way, this idea is credited to @forterp
Video process below
A Cure For What Ails You Pt. 3
Kurama doesn't so much as flinch in the face of @askjinthewindmaster's fury. He's not entirely sure which part has Jin angry, exactly; maybe a desire for revenge against whoever poisoned his soon-to-be mate or perhaps the fact that he still holds resentment over Touya's chosen career path. He surmises that it very well could be both, but most curious to him is why Jin would be so upset over Touya still functioning as a shinobi. It's puzzling, to be sure, but it is not the time to pry into that subject.
He watches Jin as he seems to shift through a few different emotions until, finally, he settles. The tears that fall down Jin's face nearly startle him and Kurama honestly feels for him. Reaching out, he offers a comforting pat and squeeze to Jin's shoulder as the wind master voices that he's ready to go inside. Kurama nods as he drops his hand and leads the way inside of the house. Rather than take Jin downstairs, he instead goes into the kitchen and starts pulling some food from his fridge.
"I promised Yukina some food, so I wish to make good on my word before going back downstairs." Kurama started washing some rice. "You're more than welcome to head down there, however. Yukina is doing her best to make sure Touya is comfortable." He doesn't say anything else, leaving further details up in the air, and focuses on his current task.
The comfort Kurama offers with his hand on Jin's shoulder reaches him more deeply than he expects. The fox had always been the paragon of propriety, and when it came to physical contact, Jin hadn't seen him touch even his teammates unless they needed healing. His touch being so rare a thing made it all the more precious now, and no words Jin could summon would be enough to express his gratitude. So, Jin simply holds his gaze wordlessly, borrowing a little bit of strength before Kurama leads them through the door.
He expects to go straight to Touya, but when Kurama takes a detour to the kitchen he can't help but fear he'll see Kurama open up the fridge to find Touya stuffed in it to keep him cool, so when the fridge door opens to neatly organized shelves of produce and other perishables, Jin can't help the sigh of relief that leaves him. Even if it's a small one. He figured Kurama operated with more finesse than to stuff Touya in a fridge, but desperate times...
"Aye," he affirms, not wasting another second before rushing towards the beacon that is Yukina's ki. He practically shoots down into the basement, turning the corner of the creaking wooden steps into the almost blindingly lit room. It's sterile and cold, lit like a hospital operating room, and the hairs stand up on the back of Jin's neck when he sees the chest freezer's fluorescent light illuminating @melted-heart-yukina's face from below. She's luminous with koorime energy concentrated down her arms. Jin follows their path down into the depths of the freezer as he comes near. Her wrists disappear into water dotted with ice, where the spectral outline of her glowing hands press down against a body Jin's mind seems incapable or unwilling to recognize as Touya's. But there he is. Unconscious, pale, and his energy is so weak Jin can barely feel it. He looks so... fragile. The thought causes Jin to violently bite the inside of his cheek, filling his mouth with the taste of copper. He swallows, willing himself to stay grounded.
He stops next to Yukina wordlessly, his shadow casting harshly over her smaller frame and into the chilly depths of the freezer.
He's dying.
Gently, so gently, Jin reaches down into the icy water to slip an arm under his mate's neck and to cradle his face in his palm. "'m here, love," he murmurs, praying Touya can feel him. "Yeh hang in there. Yukina an' Kurama're gonna get yeh back on yer feet, yeh'll see. An' I'll be right here by yer side the whole way through."
In his chest, Jin could swear his heart shatters as guilt and helplessness wrap mercilessly around his ribcage and bear down. He struggles for breath as he feels the beginnings of a sob forming in his throat-
No.
Touya needs him right now. He can't fall apart. Instead, he lowers his face to gently rest his forehead against Touya's and screws his eyes shut. It's only a moment—a moment of selfishness wherein he allows himself to break, imperceptibly. Then, with a deliberate inhalation through his nose, Jin carefully pulls his arm away to straighten, but he reaches down to take Touya's hand resting outside the chest freezer, obviously set there to allow the IV to feed into the ice apparition's veins. He gives his lover's hand a gentle squeeze and runs his thumbs over too-warm skin with a quiet sigh.
"Hullo lass," he says quietly to Yukina, finally turning to meet her eyes. "How're yeh holdin' up?"
Yukina spares Jin a glance as he nears and stands over her and Touya, his face illuminated by the deep freezers light and her own icy glow add many shadows to his already worries features. Her eyes remain an icy, glowing blue as she maintains the cold around Touya. She watches Jin handle Touya carefully, taking note of the many emotions he tries to hide. She glances away, giving him a bit of privacy as he regains himself. She says nothing as he speaks to Touya, knowing he probably needed the time to adjust and accept what he was seeing and feeling.
It's when he speaks to her directly that she returns her gaze to meet his own.
"Hello Jin," she greets, speaking softly as Touya remains unconscious. If he were to wake she thought it would be better if he heard Jin first, not her. She is unaware of their fight, or recent misunderstanding, but what she does know is that the two were to be bound as mates. They were also friends and colleagues long before this, which to her, only makes sense that Jin should be the one he hears and sees when he wakes. She and Touya, too, shared a bond built over time at Genkai's, but it was closer to kinship.
She gives Jin a reassuring smile, warm despite the chill around them. "I'm doing well. I should be able to maintain the cold and him for some time," she states. She knows her energy isn't unlimited, and sharing her ki would drain her faster, but she had spent many years building up her healing abilities and stamina, all to help those who had helped her.
She subtly increases the amount of Ki she is sharing with @ask-icemastertouya , hoping that it would be enough to allow him to hear and feel Jin's presence.
He doesn't dream of anything. His mind seems to float within a never ending darkness. There's no figure, no light in the distance, it's just...him.
At first, he had struggled and fought to stay alert, but after a while he simply gave in to exhaustion. His body felt too heavy, but at least he was cooler. Weird, that he actually feels cold. He never feels cold. It's such an odd sensation, but it's not enough to rouse him.
How long has it been? He's slept for so long, it feels like, but he can't bring himself to worry about it. With how tired he feels, he doesn't even want to wake up. What would even be the point? The person he cares most about, who he loves and cherishes more than anyone or anything, won't even be there if he does.
What's the point?
"'m here, love."
What? Who's voice is that? It sounds so familiar, filling his chest with warmth.
"-hang in there... get yeh back on yer feet..."
He's... not imagining it, is he? For all he knows, the voice is just a dream.
"...be right here... whole way through."
He must be dreaming. He has to be. There's no way... is there? There's only one real way for him to know for sure. Desire floods through him and he struggles to wake up, feeling as though he's swimming through his own consciousness as he tries to wake up. He suddenly has a bit more energy than he had before and it's enough to finally break through.
Touya's eyes crack open as his head lolls to the side towards the room. His vision is blurry and he sees a mass of red, but he frowns. The last time he'd woken up, he had mistaken Kurama. He squeezes his eyes shut, then blinks a few times to try clearing his vision. It goes in and out of focus for a bit, but it's enough to recognize the man beside him as the one he loves.
"J...in...," his voice cracks. Damn, he just feels so tired, but he's so happy and he's overcome with disbelief that Jin is actually here. He swallows thickly and feels a tear roll down his cheek. "I'm... sorry. I... I love you... Jin." Another tear escapes him as he squeezes his eyes shut, so many emotions bubbling to the surface that he doesn't quite know what to do with them.
He's happy that Jin is here, sad that they fought again, regretful that he let it go on for so long, relieved that Jin doesn't hate him after all. Touya feels a pressure in his hand and it takes him a moment to realize that Jin is holding it, so he squeezes it back as hard as he can. Most of his strength is gone, however, so it ends up not being a very tight squeeze, but he still manages it.
@askjinthewindmaster
Touya moves, head rolling in his direction, and Jin sucks in a hopeful breath to hold it. He doesn't dare move when Touya blinks up at him weakly, but even looking right at him, the ice apparition doesn't seem to know him. At least not yet. Before Jin can spiral into hypotheticals about the poison affecting Touya's memory, he calls Jin's name. The first words that crack from his lips are an apology, and then a proclamation of love. Somehow, his heart only breaks further. Jin melts to his knees by the freezer until he's at Touya's eye level, exhaling shakily.
"I love you, too." He lifts Touya's hand to kiss it and lingers with his lips pressed to his love's skin. Seconds pass while Jin begs his heart to be strong, but his own eyes well with tears. They're both a crying mess now--Touya's tears plink hollowly into the water of the freezer and sink below the surface. "Don't cry, love." Jin smiles at his own hypocrisy. There he was with tears streaming down his own face, too. "It's me should be sayin' 'm sorry. An' I am. Never should have said what I did t'yeh. Always known yeh t'be noble. Was... me own guilt come out an' I threw it onto you." Jin swallows, deciding he's sounding too much like he's saying goodbye. He leans in carefully to press a kiss to Touya's cheek, staying close even as he pulls slightly away. "'m sorry I stayed away so long. Again. I swear t'yeh things'll be different from now on."
Because Jin refuses to acknowledge the possibility of there not being a from now on.
He hesitates a moment, questions burning on his tongue. He wants to know what happened, but if Touya was injured doing shinobi work... Jin doesn't want to fight about it. He doesn't understand. Unlike before, they had more choices than they knew what to do with. Why Touya would choose shinobi work with a new world at his fingertips eludes Jin entirely.
The gentle glow of Yukina's hands catches the corner of Jin's eye, pulling him from his reverie, and he knows it's her they have to thank for Touya's survival until now. Not to mention Kurama's efforts besides. He'll thank Yukina properly when he isn't crying by his lover in a chest freezer, he decides.
Not all hope was lost. Touya's awake. That's something. Yukina's energy is buying them time. Somehow, some way, they'd get through this. They always had. Once Touya was back on his feet, they could talk.
Jin tells him not to cry, but he's also crying and apologizing. It only makes Touya cry more. Given how weak he is and the fact that Kurama hasn't been able to procure an antidote yet, he figures that he doesn't have a lot of time left in this world. This is it. One fleeting glance at happiness was all he'd been allowed in this life. Maybe the next one would be kinder.
"Listen... to me, Jin. There's something... I should tell you." Speaking does not come easy. He has to stop often and take deep breaths, and it doesn't help that he can feel unconsciousness trying to overtake him again. "I never told you before because there's not really a good way to bring it up." Touya sniffles, willing his tears to stop as he stares into Jin's gorgeous blue eyes. "It's about back then. When we were younger and I distanced myself from you."
His hand weakly squeezes Jin's again, "I was always watching over you. Not one of those bastards ever came back alive. I made sure of it. I hated that it was all I could do for you and I hated them for what I knew they were doing. Would have... killed Risho, too, if I could have." A breathless huff leaves him as he gives a humorless laugh and looks away for a moment. "Might have hated him the most."
When his gaze returns to Jin, his eyes have welled up with more tears. "You have always... been what's most important to me. That will never change, even when we argue." With great effort, Touya lets go of Jin's hand and cups his face instead, thumb brushing away stray tears as he smiles. He can feel himself fading away again. "Your eyes shine like sapphires, you know. But... when you cry... they're more like... a starry... night..."
He can't hold on anymore as he slips back into unconsciousness, his hand falling from Jin's face.
Jin had seen countless Shinobi brethren lay on their death bed, telling any around them their last will, praying or confessing a secret they'd hidden when life had been a certain thing. They always spoke with gravity, knowing that every breath they took had to count before they drew their last. The way Touya tells him to listen, like he's running out of time, wrings Jin's insides with fear.
That fear only grows. Their history spills out between them as Touya continues to speak, everything he doesn't say painted in by Jin's memories. When they were kids... Jin had killed for the first time--fellow Shinobi who put their lustful hands on the ice apparition for his beauty. After that, for many years, Touya kept his distance. Jin had thought it was that Touya saw him for the monster he really was. Jin became rebellious, covering the pain of losing his only friend by becoming a problem for the higher ups. He refused to take orders and took beatings instead, and when he trained, he rarely followed anyone's instruction. The day he learned he could bend the winds to his will to fly, Jin was sentenced to live out the rest of his days staked to the ground, in chains, in a cave. For years he didn't see the light of day.
He'd thought of dying. But the thought of Touya gave him purpose. Jin made himself the scapegoat--in chains, he was an easy target. And as a problem fighter, he was left unprotected. Older members of the clan would come to him, sometimes to beat him, sometimes to use him to slake the thirst between their legs. Jin bore it all. If they thought him to be helpless, he pretended that he was. There was power in knowing Jin kept them right where he wanted them--away from Touya.
That all changed the day Risho arrived. For all that he was a slimy coward, he was smart, and he saw Jin's power. Risho used him too, but the earth master was sweet on Jin in his own terrible way, and drowning in the black tar of loneliness and neglect, Jin welcomed whatever crumbs of affection Risho gave him.
The visitors to the cave never did come more than once, and Jin did wonder over it. But he'd heard rumors that any who came to put their hands on Jin would be cursed to disappear mysteriously. He didn't mind the legend, but he'd thought it was Risho killing anyone who touched him out of jealousy.
"It was you..." Of course it had. Of course. Touya protected him all those years just as Jin did his best to protect Touya. The realization falls off him like an invisible shroud. He can see it all so clearly now, with the other half of the story laid before him. Gods. They'd always loved each other, hadn't they?
"You will always be what's most precious in me heart no matter what comes between us," he whispers back, nuzzling into Touya's palm. His voice breaks as he speaks. He presses his lips against the skin of Touya's wrist like a plea for his veins to continue carrying his lifeblood, for his heart to keep on beating. The quieter his voice becomes, the louder Jin's heart pounds in his chest.
Starry skies were things of beauty. The agony of watching Touya's eyes slide shut and his hand fall limply away is anything but. "No." He cups Touya's face, gently lifting it to rest their foreheads together again. "Touya, come, love, yeh've t'stay awake..." But he's already slipped back into unconsciousness, and Jin begins to sob.
"Don't leave me..."
@melted-heart-yukina
Yukina remains silent through their exchange, focusing on her temperature control and her ki sharing, hoping it'll last until Kurama returns and finds a more reliable solution. She trusts he will, as she has an unshakeable faith in her friends. She only shifts her hands beneath the cold water to adjust where her energy flows.
She only looks back to Jin when Touya falls back into unconsciousness. She shifts her energy a little, forming snowflakes in the air and gently having them fall over the two. "Don't give up Jin," she whispers gently. "Winter always returns to spring's embrace, carried away by its gentle breeze."
She smiles, hoping he understands her words. Her eyes move away a moment and up at an angle to where she feels @ask-youkokurama energy above them. "Have faith in Kurama and Touya."
Kurama quietly returns downstairs in hopes of not disturbing anything. His keen ears had heard their voices in the kitchen, though had not discerned any words as to give them their privacy. He carries a tray laden with food and a kettle of tea. Kneeling beside Yukina, he places a plate and a cup next to her, then pours the tea. He does the same for @askjinthewindmaster, a plate of food and a cup of tea. The food isn't much, just a simple arrangement of fish and rice, but it's enough to fill the belly and restore some energy.
There's an ache in his heart as he watches Jin cradle Touya so delicately. It reminds him of a time long ago when he had lost someone so dear to him and Kurama hopes beyond hope that the same fate does not await his friends. "Let him rest, Jin." He speaks quietly, "Please eat, have some tea." He offers another gentle touch to Jin's shoulder as he had outside. "About his condition, I want to ask you, do you know of a poison that directly attacks one's ki? I wasn't able to ask Touya."
The over bright basement feels wrong to Jin. He should be in shadow, as dark as his grief. Touya still breathed, but the fact was little comfort to him. A hundred years and change, and Jin had never seen the ice apparition as weak as he was now. Wrong. This was wrong.
@melted-heart-yukina's platitude, beautiful as it is, does nothing to ease the twisting desperation in Jin's gut. He can't move. He cradles Touya's face like clouds cradling the moon against the night--useless. His hands offer nothing but a gesture. What Jin wouldn't give to know how to heal.
Kurama comes down the steps. Somehow the presence of Yukina and Kurama together makes the basement feel too small. It's irrational. The basement is just an underground mirror of the main floor above--the space of a generous living room, dining room and kitchen sprawling around them. And yet, Jin feels suffocated.
Porcelain clinks delicately against porcelain, then the gentle notes of an herbal tea reaches Jin's nose. Kurama's touch surprises him. Not because he hadn't felt it coming, but because it reminds Jin that he's really here. And this is real.
Disentangling his hands from around Touya's sleeping face is a labor of untying stubborn knots. Difficult. Time consuming. Finally his fingers come free and Jin wipes his eyes before turning towards the fox's silken tones. He isn't hungry, his appetite crushed by what feels like rocks, but he still reaches for the cup and plate. He knows he'll be no help if he starves himself. He takes a sip of the steaming tea and sighs, the liquid melting imaginary stones away. He wouldn't put it past Kurama to spike it with something curative.
"If I knew what it was, I'd 've told yeh long ago," Jin says with a sad shake of his head. "Not a poison I've ever come across in me time doin' work as a Shinobi, an' no poison I've learned 'bout since can attack a demon's ki." His heart sinks, threatening to drown. If Kurama was asking him, and Jin had no answers either, what hope was there?
He stares down into the surface of his tea and the suggestion of his own face stares back. If Kurama didn't have the cure, how long would it be before a reaper came floating through the ceiling?
"Reaper," Jin breathes, then he lifts his eyes to meet Kurama's with a burgeoning hope. "Spirits, have yeh thought t'ask Koenma? Has all knowledge 'cross time in his archives. Surely he'd be one t'ask what would know a way t'help."
Yukina thanks Kurama for the offer of tea and food, though she does not remove her hands from Touya. She was, currently, his lifeline and wanted to ensure not to cause any harm to his already weakened body. She remains quiet otherwise as they discuss the issue of the poison.
The mention of contacting Koenma seems to be a good suggestion, and she hopes Koenma can help.
"Yes, please, contact whoever you need. I'll be ok here until you do, do not worry," she assures @ask-youkokurama . "I've got plenty of energy left. I'll enjoy some tea after."
it’s stupid and hot and humid and i don’t like any of it
Source
A Cure For What Ails You Pt. 2
Kurama can only stare at Touya with what must be disbelief. Certainly what Touya has just told him isn't true. Jin adores Touya; what could possibly have changed that? He wants to inquire further, but it's clear that any further questions would only upset his friend and there's no need for that when his life still hangs in the balance.
As he's contemplating his next course of action, his phone goes off and he thinks it must be Yukina announcing her arrival. Her energy isn't near enough for him to sense, however, so he's surprised to see Jin's name on his phone screen. Kurama quickly opens the text to find a very contradictory message to what Touya has told him.
Before he can decide whether or not to divulge this information, @melted-heart-yukina's energy finally crosses his senses along with another familiar energy. He smiles as he recognizes @ask-puu, who must be carrying the ice maiden to his home. Kurama's smile quickly fades as his house shakes with the spirit beast's landing. Was he getting too much junk food again? It's a good thing he had the foresight to reinforce his roof some time ago.
With a fond sigh, he stands from the edge of the freezer. "That would be Yukina. I'll go up to greet her and bring her inside. I figured she could help counteract whatever poison has it's grip on you." Kurama makes his way upstairs and greets Yukina in the front yard, giving Puu a little wave.
"Thank you for coming, Yukina. I hope you can do something for him, it's not looking good." He gestures inside, "Please, come in. I have him soaking in an ice bath in the basement. I'll follow you in once I make a quick phone call." Kurama offers her a smile and once she disappears, he takes a few steps from the house to make that call.
Yukina bows politely as she is greeted, though she makes it short as Kurama quickly explains the situation. She nods in understanding and quickly hurries inside past him, using her spiritual sense to ensure she takes the quickest path to the basement. She shuffles down the stairs and over to where Touya is soaking in the ice bath.
"I'm here to help Touya," she announces aloud incase his senses are scrambled and he didn't hear or see her approach. She shifts to his side and gives him a quick glance over before her hands reach out dip into the icy water to find his abdomen. She pushes her healing energy as well as physically cools the room around the two, her eyes glowing an icy blue. She tries to keep it contained to a small radius around them, focusing so no to freeze the saline Kurama has provided.
The fact that Touya doesn't sense Puu or Yukina's energy upon their arrival greatly concerns him. Not only can he not access his own ki, but he can't seem to utilize his senses. The poison affecting him is a truly unique one that he's not sure even the shinobi sect has access to. He certainly doesn't remember learning about anything like it.
He says nothing as Kurama disappears, eyes still closed, as he forces himself to take steady and even breaths. Panic will only make the poison work faster. While he breathes, Yukina enters the basement and greets him. He turns to her with a weak smile, cracking his eyes open to return her greeting. "Hello, beautiful. Long time no see. Sorry I haven't been by to visit in a while." Touya winces as her hands press against his wound. The icy aura she surrounds them with feels incredible, though, and he feels just slightly better.
If only he didn't feel so exhausted, then maybe he wouldn't feel quite as awful. "Sorry we're... seeing each... other...," Touya isn't able to finish the sentence as he slips back into unconsciousness, what little energy he had, completely spent.
Yukina smiles gently at him as he greets her, as kind and thoughtful as he ever was. She keeps her smile despite the worry that crosses her mind. She can sense his ki being eaten away, and so far, despite her healing, it doesn't seem to be returning. Her smile falters when he falls unconscious again.
She refocuses herself on healing and keeping him cool. Perhaps Kurama had something to counteract his ki drain.
"Hold on Touya," she whispers, hoping her words would still reach him.
Kurama returns a moment later, stepping close to check that the IV drip hadn't been frozen. Of course, Yukina had impeccable control and the fluids were only chilled. He frowns down at Touya's form. "How is he doing? Did he fall asleep or is he unconscious?" Stepping away, he opens up a drawer in a stainless steel cart to pull out a sterile syringe along with a few vials.
With items in hand, he takes a few samples from Touya's arm. "I'd like to see if I can't get a good look at what's affecting him," he explains to Yukina as he works, taking the samples to a microscope in the corner of the basement. "Maybe I can find an antidote while I'm at it."
Yukina cast Kurama a glance as he returns, watching as he moves about to prepares to do some investigation of his own. Her eyes return to Touya, concern etched on her gentle features.
"He fell unconscious. It seems the poison is eating away his ki," she informs him, "my healing isn't helping to restore it either. I'm afraid I can only heal the physical wound and keep him cool." Her voice remains steady as she explains what she has noticed, but it's clear she is very worried.
Kurama looks up from his microscope in alarm. "It's eating his ki?! This is more dire than I initially thought." He racks through his brain, trying to think if he's heard of a poison that attacks ki. After a moment, he's not sure that he has. "Our best course of action may be for me to analyze his blood to determine if I can identify what this poison is."
He meets her worried gaze steadily, "Would you be able to share some of your ki with him? I know it's a lot to ask, but we need everything we can give him to keep him alive. Just long enough for us to figure out how to make an antidote." If he was being honest, though, he was terrified that they may be about to lose their friend.
She gives a small nod in response, eyes remaining on Touya as she shifts her healing focus to her ki. She pushes it forward gently, while still maintaining the cold temperatures around them. She focuses on giving him enough to keep ahead of the rate it is draining, but not too much, worried it would only make the poison work faster.
She is careful, ensuring not to make the situation worse for him, or herself, as she is now using her own ki to sustain them both.
"Thank you, Yukina." Kurama turns back to his microscope, knowing that Yukina will do everything she can to keep Touya stable. The samples he views are baffling, the poison unlike anything he's ever seen before. He's unsure of how long he studies them before his phone alerts him of a new message; one he's been waiting for. Standing from his work station, he walks over to check on the saline drip and switches it out for a new one.
"My apologies, Yukina, but I must step out for a moment. There's someone I wish to bring here." Even though Touya is unconscious, Kurama avoids saying the name of who he intends on bringing to the house, just in case he begins to stir and overhears him. Touya doesn't, however, and Kurama turns to leave. "I'll bring back something for you to eat to help replenish your energy."
It does not take long for him to arrive at the park where @askjinthewindmaster said he was waiting. He spots the wind master easily enough, if the slight aura of agitated wind wasn't enough to guide him. Kurama approaches slowly, expression guarded. "Thank you for coming, Jin. Now, if you would be so kind as to explain why it is Touya thinks that you no longer wish to see him, I am all ears." His arms cross over his chest as he furrows his brow, frowning at Jin with some scrutiny.
Kurama approaches him with an air Jin doesn't expect. Jin's already lurched towards him, ready to ask what he knows about Touya, ready to launch into a tirade about all the blood, and how he knows something is terribly wrong--
But the words that come from Kurama hit Jin like a punch to the gut, and the way he crosses his arms over his chest and stands in Jin's way like a quiet sentry sends Jin's heart plummeting into his stomach.
"Wh-" he struggles to get a word out, choking on his own air as confusion and urgency battle with reason and the need to move. To see his mate. Alive. "He-" Jin stumbles again, gods dammit. And this time his eyes fill with angry tears, all his exhaustion and fear spilling out of him now that he at least knows Touya's near. What scares him is that there's no trace of the ice master's ki.
"Was Touya what didn't want t'see me," he says quietly, shoulders dropping as he feels the weight of what could be the entire century and a half of his demon life piling onto him. "We fought. Stupid things, I said t'him 'bout him keepin' on with Shinobi work. I'd not known, an' I-" He'd what? He'd let himself lash out at Touya for his own sins? Fuck, but it was true. "Took out me own guilt on him like he was to blame. An' it's been two weeks since that I've not seen him nor heard a word. He'd said not to follow him home, but tonight I couldn't wait no longer an' went lookin' fer him at his place only t'find the walls an' floors painted in his blood."
Jin's pulse kicks up again, and a new wave of defiance propels him to take a heavy step in Kurama's direction. "I need t'see him, Kurama. An' hells help me, I'll not be stopped by you or anyone else. I love him more than life itself-" Jin bites off the rest of the sentence. "I need to be with him now, an' he needs t'know I'll not ever abandon him. No matter what it is that's happened between us."
It takes every ounce of Kurama's self control to keep his facial expressions neutral as he listens to Jin explain what had happened. He wants more than anything to just drop his head into his hands in frustration, but he keeps himself in check.
"Let me make sure I'm hearing this correctly. Touya asked you not to follow him home. Because he needed some space." He pauses a moment for Jin to confirm, then continues, "And you interpreted that to mean he didn't want to see you again. Ever." Kurama's brows pinch together, his expression finally giving way to disbelief. He lets out a heavy sigh and drops his arms from his chest, pushing his hair back from his face.
Falling back into a serious expression, he regards Jin carefully. "Regardless of how things got to this point, it's clear to me that both of you desperately wish to see the other." Kurama offers a brief smile, but quickly frowns again. "That being said, I must warn you. Touya is not doing well. By the time I got to my home, he had passed out from immense blood loss. I was able to give him a transfusion and resuscitate him, but..."
He purses his lips, gaze dropping a moment then returning to meet Jin's again. "He was poisoned by something I've never seen before and has slipped back to unconsciousness. I will take you to him, of course, but we must move quickly. There is work to be done." Turning from Jin, he starts the trek back to his house. "Ask whatever questions you wish on the way. I'll answer to the best of my ability."
Really, given that Touya's life seems to hang in the balance of the moment, Jin has no idea how Kurama manages to disarm him with all of a sentence. Well, when he puts it like that... Even Jin can hear how ludicrous it all sounds. Had he and Touya really made the exact same mistake as two years ago? Touya telling Jin he needed space, and Jin giving him too much of it? Hells be.
He's not sure where to put his embarrassment, so he's grateful Kurama moves right along, leading them back home. Where Touya is. Where an unconscious and severely injured Touya is. What could Jin possibly ask that wasn't a fool's hope? Is he going to be okay? Can you save him? He already knows from what Kurama's shared that those questions have no clean answer. There's a distinct tension in Kurama's shoulders that tells him the answer is maybe. And that makes Jin's blood run cold.
"How'd this happen?" he asks finally. At least this is a question with a clear answer. He hopes. If he gets his hands on whoever poisoned his mate, they'll wish they'd never lived at all.
Jin's expression darkens, and an old part of him that had long been sealed away claws its way up through years of cobwebs and willful neglect.
He craves blood.
It isn't the first question Kurama was expecting Jin to ask, but it's not a surprising one. "Unfortunately, it was not a subject matter we were able to discuss." He gives Jin a sidelong glance, "Though I imagine it was doing the shinobi work you seem to disapprove of so much." The change in Jin's entire demeanor is somewhat... daunting, if not entirely intimidating. He's angry and Kurama would say that it's nearly palpable.
His house comes into view and he stops them just within the front yard, a stern expression crossing his features. "I know that you're upset, but before we go in there, I really would prefer if you calmed down. It's not going to be of any help to him. You know that." He waits patiently for Jin to come to his senses, knowing that he would do anything for Touya.
Kurama's voice had always been one of the gentlest Jin had ever heard, but beneath that gentleness there lived a bed of thorns Jin knew all too well. After years of seeing Kurama fight, and after training with him briefly before the first Demon King Tournament, he'd learned first-hand that the fox was not one to be underestimated.
His elegant beauty belied his incredible power, and beyond that, the depth of everything Kurama seemed to keep sealed under his perfectly curated surface of calm. So when he reveals his theory as to how Touya was injured, even Jin's rage isn't enough to drown out the edge he senses in the fox's voice. Touya must have said something about their fight. Though subtle, Kurama's sideways glance at him is worth a thousand words, or one good snap of his rose whip. Despite every muscle in Jin's body tensing further, his anger pulses hotly in his veins with nowhere to go.
When Kurama encourages him to calm his anger, Jin's first response is to meet shining emerald eyes with a blackening storm in his own. But... Kurama is right, and Jin knows it. He can't see Touya the way he is now.
With the heat of his anger easing away, the truth of how he feels floats to the surface. Grief. Fear. Gods, but how his heart breaks. Of course Touya got hurt doing shinobi work. Of course their past had come back to haunt them this way. Of course this would be how their love story would end: tragically, just when they'd stepped out of the darkness...
"Into the light..." Jin mutters brokenly, unable to stop the few stray tears that fall down his face. He quickly wipes them away to meet Kurama's eyes again, giving him a resolute nod. "Aye, goin' in hot-headed's no way t'see him now. Yer right." He gives Kurama a gentle smile, somehow realizing he'd not so much as greeted his old friend properly. Not that the moment lent itself to pleasantries. All the same, Jin had always respected Kurama, and along with all members of Team Urameshi, the fox held a special place in his heart. "Thank yeh, fer everythin'. No matter..." how things turn out, "know Touya couldn't be in better hands 'n yers." Then, turning his eyes to Kurama's door, he says, "'m ready."
A Cure For What Ails You Pt. 2
Kurama can only stare at Touya with what must be disbelief. Certainly what Touya has just told him isn't true. Jin adores Touya; what could possibly have changed that? He wants to inquire further, but it's clear that any further questions would only upset his friend and there's no need for that when his life still hangs in the balance.
As he's contemplating his next course of action, his phone goes off and he thinks it must be Yukina announcing her arrival. Her energy isn't near enough for him to sense, however, so he's surprised to see Jin's name on his phone screen. Kurama quickly opens the text to find a very contradictory message to what Touya has told him.
Before he can decide whether or not to divulge this information, @melted-heart-yukina's energy finally crosses his senses along with another familiar energy. He smiles as he recognizes @ask-puu, who must be carrying the ice maiden to his home. Kurama's smile quickly fades as his house shakes with the spirit beast's landing. Was he getting too much junk food again? It's a good thing he had the foresight to reinforce his roof some time ago.
With a fond sigh, he stands from the edge of the freezer. "That would be Yukina. I'll go up to greet her and bring her inside. I figured she could help counteract whatever poison has it's grip on you." Kurama makes his way upstairs and greets Yukina in the front yard, giving Puu a little wave.
"Thank you for coming, Yukina. I hope you can do something for him, it's not looking good." He gestures inside, "Please, come in. I have him soaking in an ice bath in the basement. I'll follow you in once I make a quick phone call." Kurama offers her a smile and once she disappears, he takes a few steps from the house to make that call.
Yukina bows politely as she is greeted, though she makes it short as Kurama quickly explains the situation. She nods in understanding and quickly hurries inside past him, using her spiritual sense to ensure she takes the quickest path to the basement. She shuffles down the stairs and over to where Touya is soaking in the ice bath.
"I'm here to help Touya," she announces aloud incase his senses are scrambled and he didn't hear or see her approach. She shifts to his side and gives him a quick glance over before her hands reach out dip into the icy water to find his abdomen. She pushes her healing energy as well as physically cools the room around the two, her eyes glowing an icy blue. She tries to keep it contained to a small radius around them, focusing so no to freeze the saline Kurama has provided.
The fact that Touya doesn't sense Puu or Yukina's energy upon their arrival greatly concerns him. Not only can he not access his own ki, but he can't seem to utilize his senses. The poison affecting him is a truly unique one that he's not sure even the shinobi sect has access to. He certainly doesn't remember learning about anything like it.
He says nothing as Kurama disappears, eyes still closed, as he forces himself to take steady and even breaths. Panic will only make the poison work faster. While he breathes, Yukina enters the basement and greets him. He turns to her with a weak smile, cracking his eyes open to return her greeting. "Hello, beautiful. Long time no see. Sorry I haven't been by to visit in a while." Touya winces as her hands press against his wound. The icy aura she surrounds them with feels incredible, though, and he feels just slightly better.
If only he didn't feel so exhausted, then maybe he wouldn't feel quite as awful. "Sorry we're... seeing each... other...," Touya isn't able to finish the sentence as he slips back into unconsciousness, what little energy he had, completely spent.
Somewhere in a random room of castle Tourin, the young queen lays in a sweaty heap on the cool stone floor, it offers naught but a small bit of relief.
"uuuugghhhh I can't believe the air conditionings busted DX"
You can imagine she's having a miserable time right now considering it's the middle of summer.
@ask-icemastertouya "Touyaaaa, help I'm literally dyiiiiing ;A;" (No not literally but she has to be just a little dramatic about this.)
Touya receives the text some time around midday when the sun is at it's highest, and hottest. He frowns at the text as he remembers Sota from conversations on his social media. She had been very helpful and he liked her well enough. Not to mention she reminded him of Yusuke, a bit. He decides to quickly text back, concerned.
What happened? Were you attacked? Should I keep an eye out for enemies? Where are you? I'll get to you as quickly as I can.
"The air conditioning in the castle is busted and I'm practically melting D: Do you think you could come cool things down until it's fixed? I know it uses ice magic or something. I may be acclimated to living in the demon world, but my body can still only handle so much! I swear I'll pay you back for your time if you come here!!" She pleads in reply
He stares blankly at the request, hardly believing his eyes. She had gotten him worked up over... broken air conditioning? Honestly...
I will help, but maybe next time lead with the broken air conditioner rather than startle me with impending death?
A Cure For What Ails You
Pain. Darkness. Aching. Longing.
So much pain.
In the corner of his bedroom, Touya sits propped against the wall with his legs spread out. He'd collapsed there a couple of hours ago, exhausted and clutching his side. How long had it been since the fight?
He thinks maybe a week, if he's calculating correctly. His head feels a bit fuzzy, though, so he can't be for certain. Not that he's surprised, considering he's barely slept or eaten since then. He's been too upset, actually feeling his emotions for once.
Jin has not been by to see him or make amends. Touya was gone on a job for two days that he wouldn't know if Jin had shown up, but there are no missed calls or text messages to indicate otherwise. Is this it for them, then?
One moment, they were ready to pledge themselves to each other and the next.... A single tear slides down his cheek and lands softly on the carpet as a perfect gem. He reaches out, hand leaving his side to pick it up, and he sees red. A soft curse escapes under his breath at the sight of his own blood, explaining why his side is still in excruciating pain.
He shouldn't have taken the job, but he was hoping it would distract him. Instead, the opposite ended up happening, his head clouded by thoughts of Jin and their fight. His target got the drop on him and managed to stab him before he could recover. That had been nearly 24 hours ago.
Normally, the wound would have nearly completely healed in that time. Touya grimaces as he struggles to stand. The blade must have been poisoned with something to prevent him from healing. It's the only thing Touya can think of. Luckily for him, he has an antidote for such a poison on hand at all times. Once on his feet, breathless from the exertion, he slowly limps towards the bathroom to pull out the first aid kit.
Opening up the kit reveals the antidote and he quickly swallows it, making a face at the bitter flavor. With a heavy sigh, Touya sways and his back thumps against the bathroom wall as he closes his eyes, giving the antidote a moment to do its work. He's still bleeding a lot, however, so he removes his already soaked shirt to wipe up the excess.
Placing his hand over the gash, he summons his ki so that he can seal it with his ice. No sense in bleeding out while the antidote takes its time.
Except... nothing happens. No ki, no ice. Touya frowns, feeling the flow of his ki within his body, but when he reaches for it, it's as though an invisible wall prevents him from accessing it. Something is off. Is it the poison? Does he need to wait longer for the poison to dissipate?
No. He's dealt with this type of poison before and blocking ki was not a symptom. As he struggles to catch his breath, Touya realizes something else. Does he feel... warm?
Fuck.
Pushing himself off the bathroom wall, he rushes as much as he can back to his bedroom, blood smearing on his wall and dripping across the floor. He reaches for his phone, thoughts racing with panic. With his phone in hand, he starts to pull up Jin's contact information and stops.
Should he really be calling him? Jin probably hates him now and why should he rub more salt in the wound that he's gotten injured from taking a job. A job that Jin so clearly despises. With shaking fingers, he closes Jin's contact and opens up another instead, sending a text to @ask-youkokurama.
Sorry to text you out of the blue like this, but I really need your help. It's an emergency. Got hurt.
It's at least an hour by the time Kurama sees Touya's text. Fresh out of surgery, he's taking a break before handling any upcoming appointments. The message makes him jump up from his desk, however. Touya has never contacted him for an injury before, so it must be dire. He quickly texts back for the ice apparition to meet him at his home and calls his secretary to reschedule the rest of the day's appointments. Grabbing his things, he rushes from the hospital and heads home.
Touya does not wait for Kurama's text before stumbling from his home, unaware of the smear of blood he leaves on the doorframe. He did his best to pack the wound with some gauze, but he's not sure how long it will staunch the bleeding.
Time ceases to exist and he had no idea how long it takes him to finally arrive at Kurama's house. There's no sign of him, however, so Touya decides to wait on his front porch. It will be good to sit and rest. His vision swims as he goes up the steps one at a time. He's already bled through the gauze, the wound now soaking into his shirt and trickling down his leg.
There had only been three, but he's out of breath and sweating profusely by the time he reaches the top step. The ground suddenly tilts and the next thing Touya knows, he's collapsed onto the porch. Realizing he won't be conscious much longer, he groans as he reaches into his pocket for his phone, side searing with pain.
He brings the device to his face, hoping to see a text back from Kurama. However, when he hits the button... nothing happens and his phone screen remains dark. Damn. A phone with a dead battery and he has no idea if Kurama is actually coming. Maybe he should have....
His final thought before slipping into unconsciousness is of deep blue eyes and fiery red hair.
🌹TW for semi-graphic description of wound treatment
The moment he arrives home, Kurama rushes for his front porch at the sight of Touya lying there. Panic sets in when his friend doesn't respond to his approach. "Touya!" He calls out as he jumps up the steps. There's a lot of blood and Kurama suddenly fears that he made it too late.
Kneeling down, he gingerly rolls Touya over. The ice master's normally cool skin is warm and slick with sweat, which only causes more concern. Kurama can sense his ki, so why isn't he -
Touya's eyelids flutter and a soft groan escapes his lips, but he doesn't regain consciousness. His heart flips with hope. "I got you, my friend. You're going to be okay." Standing quickly, he unlocks his front door and opens it wide before returning to Touya's side. As gently as he can, he lifts Touya into his arms and carries him inside, using his foot to close the door behind them.
He carries Touya into the kitchen and lays him across his kitchen island. The dark stain on Touya's shirt is a clear indicator of where he's wounded and Kurama grabs his kitchen scissors to make quick work of the shirt, cutting it away. Blood slowly oozes from a laceration an inch below Touya's ribs on his right side. Kurama grimaces, pulling out the gauze that had been used as a way to stem the blood flow so that he can assess the damage. Touya had been smart, but it sadly hadn't been enough.
The stabbing made a clean cut, which was good. It will be easier to close up and has less chance of scarring. However, there is no way for Kurama to tell if any internal organs have been damaged. He has no way to check without cutting him open and Touya has already lost too much blood for him to spend any time poking around. Pursing his lips, he makes a tough decision. Hopefully, Touya doesn't wake up in excruciating pain from what he decides to do, but Kurama is desperate to save his friend's life.
Reaching into his hair, he pulls out a specialized seed that he had cross-bred himself. He likes to be prepared for anything and given the company he keeps, life-threatening injuries were not off the table. Taking a deep breath, he feeds the seed with his energy and carefully guides the growing thread-like vines into Touya's open wound.
With his ki pulsing through the vines, he uses them to "feel" for any damaged organs. Touya's body twitches, but he doesn't awaken. Sweat drips from the ice master's skin, another cause for alarm, but Kurama focuses on one thing at a time. His vines find damage to the liver, which most likely is the reason for why Touya is bleeding so much. Using precise manipulation of the vines, he quickly repairs the damage and uses the plant to sew up the liver. Luckily, this particular plant had been bred to be able to be metabolized by the body. He wouldn't have to remove them later.
Very carefully, and as quickly as he can, he removes the remainder of the plant from Touya's body. With internal damage taken care of, Kurama sets to work on cleaning and closing up the external gash. It barely takes him two minutes to close him up and stop the bleeding, but Touya is still too warm to the touch, leaving Kurama perplexed. Touya needs a transfusion immediately. Perhaps that is attributing to his body temperature.
Without wasting any time, Kurama goes into his basement and opens one of his chest freezers, mentally patting himself on the back for having the foresight of insisting he draw blood from his friends to have on hand for situations exactly like this. Touya's blood holds special properties that require it to be stored at a much cooler temperature. Yukina's is the same way, so he has kept their blood in a sterilized freezer.
He grabs the blood bags labeled with Touya's name, but before he shuts the lid all the way, an idea suddenly comes to him. The cold blood will likely be able to lower Touya's body temperature, but it will not last longer than a few minutes at best. With only a slight moment of hesitation, he quickly empties the contents of the freezer and places them into a different one.
It's a desperate move, but Kurama doesn't know what else to do. His ki isn't able to cool down his friend and it's the middle of summer. Rushing back upstairs, he carefully collected Touya into his arms, doing his best not to tear the stitches, and brings him to the basement. Touya's smaller frame fits surprisingly well inside of the freezer. Pleased with himself, Kurama quickly sets up a blood bag to begin the infusion.
While the infusion process does it's work, Kurama knows that the freezer itself is not enough. He hates to leave him unattended, but he doesn't have much choice. As quickly as he can, he heads out and brings back several bags of ice. By the time he returns, the first blood bag is empty, so he sets up a new one before emptying the ice into the freezer around Touya's body.
And waits.
Finally, nearly one hour and a third blood bag later, Touya begins to stir and Kurama lets out a shaky, relieved breath. "Welcome back, my friend. Try not to move around too much."
Touya feels heavier than stone. No matter how hard he tries, his limbs don't respond. He's not sure he even knows where he is anymore, his consciousness floating around in darkness. He thinks he hears a familiar voice, but the more he tries to grasp the knowledge of who it might be, the further out of reach it becomes.
A searing pain in his side and abdomen nearly pull him back into his body, but his eyes won't open. He feels hot and... wrong. Even after the pain subsides again, he can't wake up. His ki pulls away from him each time he reaches for it. Without his ki, he can't regulate his temperature and if he doesn't cool down... he will certainly die.
He knows he should be panicking, that he should be afraid for his life, but in the darkness, he feels nothing. So he floats and he waits. He waits, and he waits until he's no longer certain what it is he's waiting for. He's waiting for... something. Even before he was hurt, he was waiting.
As he contemplates this, thoughts slowly drifting in and out, a fuzzy figure forms beside him in the darkness. It speaks to him, but he can't make out what they're saying. The figure becomes clearer; a familiar man with sharp features and a soft expression, reaching out to Touya as he speaks. He still can't make out the words, but he knows that he wants nothing more than to reach back. The moment their hands touch, however, the man's expression turns to one of fury and he yanks back from Touya's touch.
It tears Touya's heart in two, though he's unsure why, and he curls back in on himself. The man fades and Touya is alone again, left to wait for something he's unsure of once more. He's not sure how much time passes, but at some point the man returns.
The man speaks to him with urgency now, hands grasping and pulling at his arms. It's then that Touya notices a light in the distance behind the man, who seems to be trying to pull him towards it. Panic sets in now, a faint memory of an old saying that going into the light meant certain death. He struggles against the man. No! He isn't ready! He still needs to make amends, he can't just leave without... without something.
If only he could remember - the man suddenly grabs him and shakes him, a familiar deep blue gaze burning into his own as a gentle breeze brushes past them. The man speaks again and, this time, Touya understands.
It's not here where yeh belong, alone in the dark.
Recognition washes over him, erasing his fear. That's right. He doesn't. The light is good, filled with warmth and love. The light... is where Jin takes him, where they -
Touya inhales deeply, feeling a tugging pain in his side where he vaguely remembers being stabbed. His limbs still feel heavy, but his eyes slowly flutter open. His surroundings are rather confusing as they slowly come into focus, but he hears the familiar voice of someone at his side.
"Jin?" He sees red hair, but the eyes that look back at him are a deep green. Not Jin. He tries to swallow, but his throat is too dry. "Ku...rama...," His voice sounds raspy as he struggles to speak, barely clinging onto consciousness. His head lolls on his shoulder and it's then that he realizes he's been submerged in ice. Right. He can't cool himself.
Touya closes his eyes and leans his head back, summoning every bit of energy he can muster. He's so tired and his thoughts slosh around in his brain. After another attempt at swallowing, he takes another deep breath and attempts to speak again.
"Think... I was... poisoned. Can't... I can't...," the effort to speak leaves him nearly breathless and he still can't swallow. "Ki is... blocked. Can I get... some water? Please?" Touya's eyes crack open, expression pained as he looks up at Kurama. The ice helps make him feel better for sure, and he knows that he's in good hands with Kurama there, but he's not sure how long they can keep him on ice before the poison actually kills him.
Kurama releases a breath of relief, smiling fondly when Touya mistakes him for a moment as his mate. It quickly slips away, however, at the mention of poison and Touya's ki being blocked. This explains a lot. The fact that his wound won't heal and why he feels so unusually warm.
"I see. I'll get in touch with Yukina and see if she's able to assist with keeping you cool. I'm afraid I can't let you drink anything until you're more stable, but here - " He picks up an ice cube and holds it to Touya's mouth, "Suck on an ice cube for now. I'll hook up a saline drip for you once I've contacted Yukina to keep you from dehydrating."
Once Touya takes the ice cube into his mouth, Kurama stands and pulls out his phone to text Yukina. "Were you able to reach Jin? Is he on his way?"
The ice cube feels like heaven on his tongue as he sucks on it, the moisture coating his throat. Touya frowns, avoiding Kurama's gaze when he brings up Jin. After a long moment, he finally quietly answers. "No. But it's fine. He's... we're not speaking anymore." Touya swallows thickly and it has nothing to do with his thirst. "He doesn't need to know."
He closes his eyes against the pricking sensation that springs up behind them, recognizing it now as tears that want to escape. He won't let them, though. Not now. Not here, in front of Kurama. His body still aches and exhaustion clings to every muscle and feels as though it seeps into his very bones.
Touya wishes more than anything that Jin were here with him, but it feels so impossible that he doesn't even try to hope for it. Jin doesn't want to see him anymore. The lump in his throat grows bigger no matter how he tries to swallow it down.
Kurama takes down the empty blood bag and nearly drops the saline in surprise at Touya's words. He quickly hooks it up, then sits on the edge of the freezer, reaching to cup Touya's face in his hands. He's always had a bit of a soft spot for the ice master, and Touya's confession fills him with a bit of alarm. He gently turns Touya to face him. "What happened? You only just announced that the two of you would be getting mated."
Kurama's eyes swim with concern as he searches Touya's wet, blue gaze. "Surely it's not anything the two of you couldn't overcome. After all you've been through together?"
Touya pulls away from Kurama's touch, wrenching his gaze away from concerned emerald eyes. It's too much to look at him, feeling as ashamed as he does. "I don't want to talk about it." He swallows thickly, resting his head against the side of the freezer. "Just... let me rest. I'm tired." The silence between them is deafening and it only makes him feel worse.
When Kurama doesn't move away, Touya gives him a pained look. "He doesn't want to see me anymore and there's nothing I can do about it, okay? Just drop it." Even though Kurama hasn't said anything else, he makes it clear that he doesn't wish to say anything else about it. He closes his eyes again, emotions drained and energy exhausted, his body still feeling like lead.
A sort of 'redraw' of everyone (with their hoods off, because I wish they got actual scenes together with their faces visible) in the scene where Jin shoves Bakken's hand away and refuses to fight first after witnessing the cheating.
A Cure For What Ails You
Pain. Darkness. Aching. Longing.
So much pain.
In the corner of his bedroom, Touya sits propped against the wall with his legs spread out. He'd collapsed there a couple of hours ago, exhausted and clutching his side. How long had it been since the fight?
He thinks maybe a week, if he's calculating correctly. His head feels a bit fuzzy, though, so he can't be for certain. Not that he's surprised, considering he's barely slept or eaten since then. He's been too upset, actually feeling his emotions for once.
Jin has not been by to see him or make amends. Touya was gone on a job for two days that he wouldn't know if Jin had shown up, but there are no missed calls or text messages to indicate otherwise. Is this it for them, then?
One moment, they were ready to pledge themselves to each other and the next.... A single tear slides down his cheek and lands softly on the carpet as a perfect gem. He reaches out, hand leaving his side to pick it up, and he sees red. A soft curse escapes under his breath at the sight of his own blood, explaining why his side is still in excruciating pain.
He shouldn't have taken the job, but he was hoping it would distract him. Instead, the opposite ended up happening, his head clouded by thoughts of Jin and their fight. His target got the drop on him and managed to stab him before he could recover. That had been nearly 24 hours ago.
Normally, the wound would have nearly completely healed in that time. Touya grimaces as he struggles to stand. The blade must have been poisoned with something to prevent him from healing. It's the only thing Touya can think of. Luckily for him, he has an antidote for such a poison on hand at all times. Once on his feet, breathless from the exertion, he slowly limps towards the bathroom to pull out the first aid kit.
Opening up the kit reveals the antidote and he quickly swallows it, making a face at the bitter flavor. With a heavy sigh, Touya sways and his back thumps against the bathroom wall as he closes his eyes, giving the antidote a moment to do its work. He's still bleeding a lot, however, so he removes his already soaked shirt to wipe up the excess.
Placing his hand over the gash, he summons his ki so that he can seal it with his ice. No sense in bleeding out while the antidote takes its time.
Except... nothing happens. No ki, no ice. Touya frowns, feeling the flow of his ki within his body, but when he reaches for it, it's as though an invisible wall prevents him from accessing it. Something is off. Is it the poison? Does he need to wait longer for the poison to dissipate?
No. He's dealt with this type of poison before and blocking ki was not a symptom. As he struggles to catch his breath, Touya realizes something else. Does he feel... warm?
Fuck.
Pushing himself off the bathroom wall, he rushes as much as he can back to his bedroom, blood smearing on his wall and dripping across the floor. He reaches for his phone, thoughts racing with panic. With his phone in hand, he starts to pull up Jin's contact information and stops.
Should he really be calling him? Jin probably hates him now and why should he rub more salt in the wound that he's gotten injured from taking a job. A job that Jin so clearly despises. With shaking fingers, he closes Jin's contact and opens up another instead, sending a text to @ask-youkokurama.
Sorry to text you out of the blue like this, but I really need your help. It's an emergency. Got hurt.
It's at least an hour by the time Kurama sees Touya's text. Fresh out of surgery, he's taking a break before handling any upcoming appointments. The message makes him jump up from his desk, however. Touya has never contacted him for an injury before, so it must be dire. He quickly texts back for the ice apparition to meet him at his home and calls his secretary to reschedule the rest of the day's appointments. Grabbing his things, he rushes from the hospital and heads home.
Touya does not wait for Kurama's text before stumbling from his home, unaware of the smear of blood he leaves on the doorframe. He did his best to pack the wound with some gauze, but he's not sure how long it will staunch the bleeding.
Time ceases to exist and he had no idea how long it takes him to finally arrive at Kurama's house. There's no sign of him, however, so Touya decides to wait on his front porch. It will be good to sit and rest. His vision swims as he goes up the steps one at a time. He's already bled through the gauze, the wound now soaking into his shirt and trickling down his leg.
There had only been three, but he's out of breath and sweating profusely by the time he reaches the top step. The ground suddenly tilts and the next thing Touya knows, he's collapsed onto the porch. Realizing he won't be conscious much longer, he groans as he reaches into his pocket for his phone, side searing with pain.
He brings the device to his face, hoping to see a text back from Kurama. However, when he hits the button... nothing happens and his phone screen remains dark. Damn. A phone with a dead battery and he has no idea if Kurama is actually coming. Maybe he should have....
His final thought before slipping into unconsciousness is of deep blue eyes and fiery red hair.
🌹TW for semi-graphic description of wound treatment
The moment he arrives home, Kurama rushes for his front porch at the sight of Touya lying there. Panic sets in when his friend doesn't respond to his approach. "Touya!" He calls out as he jumps up the steps. There's a lot of blood and Kurama suddenly fears that he made it too late.
Kneeling down, he gingerly rolls Touya over. The ice master's normally cool skin is warm and slick with sweat, which only causes more concern. Kurama can sense his ki, so why isn't he -
Touya's eyelids flutter and a soft groan escapes his lips, but he doesn't regain consciousness. His heart flips with hope. "I got you, my friend. You're going to be okay." Standing quickly, he unlocks his front door and opens it wide before returning to Touya's side. As gently as he can, he lifts Touya into his arms and carries him inside, using his foot to close the door behind them.
He carries Touya into the kitchen and lays him across his kitchen island. The dark stain on Touya's shirt is a clear indicator of where he's wounded and Kurama grabs his kitchen scissors to make quick work of the shirt, cutting it away. Blood slowly oozes from a laceration an inch below Touya's ribs on his right side. Kurama grimaces, pulling out the gauze that had been used as a way to stem the blood flow so that he can assess the damage. Touya had been smart, but it sadly hadn't been enough.
The stabbing made a clean cut, which was good. It will be easier to close up and has less chance of scarring. However, there is no way for Kurama to tell if any internal organs have been damaged. He has no way to check without cutting him open and Touya has already lost too much blood for him to spend any time poking around. Pursing his lips, he makes a tough decision. Hopefully, Touya doesn't wake up in excruciating pain from what he decides to do, but Kurama is desperate to save his friend's life.
Reaching into his hair, he pulls out a specialized seed that he had cross-bred himself. He likes to be prepared for anything and given the company he keeps, life-threatening injuries were not off the table. Taking a deep breath, he feeds the seed with his energy and carefully guides the growing thread-like vines into Touya's open wound.
With his ki pulsing through the vines, he uses them to "feel" for any damaged organs. Touya's body twitches, but he doesn't awaken. Sweat drips from the ice master's skin, another cause for alarm, but Kurama focuses on one thing at a time. His vines find damage to the liver, which most likely is the reason for why Touya is bleeding so much. Using precise manipulation of the vines, he quickly repairs the damage and uses the plant to sew up the liver. Luckily, this particular plant had been bred to be able to be metabolized by the body. He wouldn't have to remove them later.
Very carefully, and as quickly as he can, he removes the remainder of the plant from Touya's body. With internal damage taken care of, Kurama sets to work on cleaning and closing up the external gash. It barely takes him two minutes to close him up and stop the bleeding, but Touya is still too warm to the touch, leaving Kurama perplexed. Touya needs a transfusion immediately. Perhaps that is attributing to his body temperature.
Without wasting any time, Kurama goes into his basement and opens one of his chest freezers, mentally patting himself on the back for having the foresight of insisting he draw blood from his friends to have on hand for situations exactly like this. Touya's blood holds special properties that require it to be stored at a much cooler temperature. Yukina's is the same way, so he has kept their blood in a sterilized freezer.
He grabs the blood bags labeled with Touya's name, but before he shuts the lid all the way, an idea suddenly comes to him. The cold blood will likely be able to lower Touya's body temperature, but it will not last longer than a few minutes at best. With only a slight moment of hesitation, he quickly empties the contents of the freezer and places them into a different one.
It's a desperate move, but Kurama doesn't know what else to do. His ki isn't able to cool down his friend and it's the middle of summer. Rushing back upstairs, he carefully collected Touya into his arms, doing his best not to tear the stitches, and brings him to the basement. Touya's smaller frame fits surprisingly well inside of the freezer. Pleased with himself, Kurama quickly sets up a blood bag to begin the infusion.
While the infusion process does it's work, Kurama knows that the freezer itself is not enough. He hates to leave him unattended, but he doesn't have much choice. As quickly as he can, he heads out and brings back several bags of ice. By the time he returns, the first blood bag is empty, so he sets up a new one before emptying the ice into the freezer around Touya's body.
And waits.
Finally, nearly one hour and a third blood bag later, Touya begins to stir and Kurama lets out a shaky, relieved breath. "Welcome back, my friend. Try not to move around too much."
Touya feels heavier than stone. No matter how hard he tries, his limbs don't respond. He's not sure he even knows where he is anymore, his consciousness floating around in darkness. He thinks he hears a familiar voice, but the more he tries to grasp the knowledge of who it might be, the further out of reach it becomes.
A searing pain in his side and abdomen nearly pull him back into his body, but his eyes won't open. He feels hot and... wrong. Even after the pain subsides again, he can't wake up. His ki pulls away from him each time he reaches for it. Without his ki, he can't regulate his temperature and if he doesn't cool down... he will certainly die.
He knows he should be panicking, that he should be afraid for his life, but in the darkness, he feels nothing. So he floats and he waits. He waits, and he waits until he's no longer certain what it is he's waiting for. He's waiting for... something. Even before he was hurt, he was waiting.
As he contemplates this, thoughts slowly drifting in and out, a fuzzy figure forms beside him in the darkness. It speaks to him, but he can't make out what they're saying. The figure becomes clearer; a familiar man with sharp features and a soft expression, reaching out to Touya as he speaks. He still can't make out the words, but he knows that he wants nothing more than to reach back. The moment their hands touch, however, the man's expression turns to one of fury and he yanks back from Touya's touch.
It tears Touya's heart in two, though he's unsure why, and he curls back in on himself. The man fades and Touya is alone again, left to wait for something he's unsure of once more. He's not sure how much time passes, but at some point the man returns.
The man speaks to him with urgency now, hands grasping and pulling at his arms. It's then that Touya notices a light in the distance behind the man, who seems to be trying to pull him towards it. Panic sets in now, a faint memory of an old saying that going into the light meant certain death. He struggles against the man. No! He isn't ready! He still needs to make amends, he can't just leave without... without something.
If only he could remember - the man suddenly grabs him and shakes him, a familiar deep blue gaze burning into his own as a gentle breeze brushes past them. The man speaks again and, this time, Touya understands.
It's not here where yeh belong, alone in the dark.
Recognition washes over him, erasing his fear. That's right. He doesn't. The light is good, filled with warmth and love. The light... is where Jin takes him, where they -
Touya inhales deeply, feeling a tugging pain in his side where he vaguely remembers being stabbed. His limbs still feel heavy, but his eyes slowly flutter open. His surroundings are rather confusing as they slowly come into focus, but he hears the familiar voice of someone at his side.
"Jin?" He sees red hair, but the eyes that look back at him are a deep green. Not Jin. He tries to swallow, but his throat is too dry. "Ku...rama...," His voice sounds raspy as he struggles to speak, barely clinging onto consciousness. His head lolls on his shoulder and it's then that he realizes he's been submerged in ice. Right. He can't cool himself.
Touya closes his eyes and leans his head back, summoning every bit of energy he can muster. He's so tired and his thoughts slosh around in his brain. After another attempt at swallowing, he takes another deep breath and attempts to speak again.
"Think... I was... poisoned. Can't... I can't...," the effort to speak leaves him nearly breathless and he still can't swallow. "Ki is... blocked. Can I get... some water? Please?" Touya's eyes crack open, expression pained as he looks up at Kurama. The ice helps make him feel better for sure, and he knows that he's in good hands with Kurama there, but he's not sure how long they can keep him on ice before the poison actually kills him.
Kurama releases a breath of relief, smiling fondly when Touya mistakes him for a moment as his mate. It quickly slips away, however, at the mention of poison and Touya's ki being blocked. This explains a lot. The fact that his wound won't heal and why he feels so unusually warm.
"I see. I'll get in touch with Yukina and see if she's able to assist with keeping you cool. I'm afraid I can't let you drink anything until you're more stable, but here - " He picks up an ice cube and holds it to Touya's mouth, "Suck on an ice cube for now. I'll hook up a saline drip for you once I've contacted Yukina to keep you from dehydrating."
Once Touya takes the ice cube into his mouth, Kurama stands and pulls out his phone to text Yukina. "Were you able to reach Jin? Is he on his way?"
The ice cube feels like heaven on his tongue as he sucks on it, the moisture coating his throat. Touya frowns, avoiding Kurama's gaze when he brings up Jin. After a long moment, he finally quietly answers. "No. But it's fine. He's... we're not speaking anymore." Touya swallows thickly and it has nothing to do with his thirst. "He doesn't need to know."
He closes his eyes against the pricking sensation that springs up behind them, recognizing it now as tears that want to escape. He won't let them, though. Not now. Not here, in front of Kurama. His body still aches and exhaustion clings to every muscle and feels as though it seeps into his very bones.
Touya wishes more than anything that Jin were here with him, but it feels so impossible that he doesn't even try to hope for it. Jin doesn't want to see him anymore. The lump in his throat grows bigger no matter how he tries to swallow it down.
Candytufts: When do you feel the most loved?
Honestly? Any time I'm in the presence of @askjinthewindmaster. With just a single look, I can see exactly how much he loves me and it makes me melt every single time.
It is a blessing to be loved truely! You are loved and appreciated my icey friend! Be kind to yourself and stay cool 🫶
-random human named Forte
Thank you very much. I appreciate your kind words more than you know. I hope the same is true for you, as well.
Somewhere in a random room of castle Tourin, the young queen lays in a sweaty heap on the cool stone floor, it offers naught but a small bit of relief.
"uuuugghhhh I can't believe the air conditionings busted DX"
You can imagine she's having a miserable time right now considering it's the middle of summer.
@ask-icemastertouya "Touyaaaa, help I'm literally dyiiiiing ;A;" (No not literally but she has to be just a little dramatic about this.)
Touya receives the text some time around midday when the sun is at it's highest, and hottest. He frowns at the text as he remembers Sota from conversations on his social media. She had been very helpful and he liked her well enough. Not to mention she reminded him of Yusuke, a bit. He decides to quickly text back, concerned.
What happened? Were you attacked? Should I keep an eye out for enemies? Where are you? I'll get to you as quickly as I can.