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[onemuseleft]

perpetual_poet asked for a scene set one hour after the end of Variation:



Genkai was not displeased to see them, merely surprised. However, she disguised it in her usual fashion.

"I am absolutely astonished," she said, staring down at them from the temple steps, "to see you all here alive." Her feet were bare, one tapping impatiently against the wooden steps, her arms were crossed over her chest and the wind was blowing her hair in her face, though it did nothing to make her less impressive a figure. Her voice was low and gravelly, not from displeasure, but with the rough edge of a smoker's cough. Not for the first time, Kurama mused that if Genkai had been born a normal human, she'd be decades dead of lung cancer.

"Thanks, Genkai," Yuusuke said. "Your confidence means the world to us."

The old master snorted. "Shall I call Yukina?"

Kurama cut a sideways glance at his companions; Hiei was largely unscathed and Yuusuke's wounds were messy but superficial. His own injuries were not serious. Kuwabara glared at him ferociously and Kurama bit his tongue before he smiled. "We will keep, for now," he said.

Yuusuke grunted, but didn't object. Yuusuke's shoulder was wedged against Kuwabara's ribs and he looked like he was ready to fall asleep on his feet. Kurama couldn't tell anymore whether he was supporting Kuwabara, or if the taller boy was supporting Yuusuke.

"What happened?" Genkai asked as they trudged up the steps to the temple.

"Kurama wrecked my coat," Kuwabara snarled.

"And my shirt," Yuusuke said.

Genkai slid her gaze over to meet Kurama's and let the briefest spark of amusement show. "I'm sure he'd be happy to replace them."

"Damn straight," Yuusuke said.

Kurama opened his mouth to object, ignoring the flash of teeth from Hiei, perilously close to a grin, or the way Kuwabara's shoulders were shaking slightly and rolled his eyes instead.



kahn asked for a scene set one year after the end of Grudgebearer:



Kurama paused at the edge of the yard and felt wards brush against his skin like cobwebs.

The gate was still there, though the house was gone. Only the foundation had survived the flames, and that had been carefully and meticulously buried beneath the earth. The trees had burned in the fire, but grass now covered the breadth and width of the yard, rich and deep green. It smelled sweet, and Kurama inhaled slowly.

He'd meant to leave this place a barren, empty lot, devoid of plant life. He'd meant to make it as aesthetically unappealing as possible, to discourage visitors.

He stepped through the gate and stepped onto the soft grass. His youki kept it fresh and healthy. It was a little like leaving flowers on a grave.

What instinct propelled him to come this night, he doesn't know. It could, perhaps, have been a coincidence. Perhaps some sixth sense alerting him to the situation. More likely it was the date.

He stood at the edge of the yard and watch Yuusuke count off careful steps from the stone fence until he crossed the boundary. Kurama could feel exactly where the foundations of the Saeki house rest beneath the ground, wrapped around with vines and buried under rock and dirt, and he had to withhold an urge to reach out for Yuusuke as his friend stopped on the middle of what would have been the living room. Yuusuke paused and stood there with his hands in his jacket pockets, staring off at the distance. Whatever he was thinking, he chose not to share.

"Do you know where you're going?" Kurama asked.

"Not yet."

Kurama had come here straight from work, stepping off the bus before he even really thought about what he was doing, or where he was going. It was not the first time he'd come, though he didn't make a habit of it. As far as he knew, Yuusuke had not set foot in this place in a year.

"I'm coming back," Yuusuke said.

He didn't say when. Kurama didn't ask. When it got dark, they went their own ways.



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