Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ L'Amoreux (My Kitsunep4) ❯ L'Amoreux ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

L'Amoreux 4 (NYC 11-22-02)
by: Baby Nyx

Old Pond,
frog jumps in-
plop.

-The Frog : Matsuo Basho

I left the Youko with the two... designers. It's a
little past 12 noon, that means I won't see Kurama
till around 1:30. I'm an hour or so away from his
company.

I feel... naked.

I'm in the elevators with a couple of ningens and I
feel vulnerable. I keep looking to my right where he
usually stands and he's not there to smile down at me.
My right arm, where the dragon is, my left arm is my
sword arm... so he stands there to watch over my weak
side. I didn't realize until now...

I miss him already. Pathetic. I should be stronger
than that.

The Youko's at large...

I trust Kurama, he will behave himself... And besides
I need time to do something.

I went to our rooms and stood still before the door.
There were people inside.

I closed my eyes and leaned on the door trying to
sense the minds of the people in our rooms. It was
just the cleaning ladies, same group of people as last
time.

I don't have to go in... all the important stuff are
with us, my hiroseki, my tear. The rest of the
diamonds had been deposited in a bank. Cash? The only
cash Kurama left lying around was my moneyclip and I
have it with me. And I'm sure he would have kept
everything that needed to be secured because he
probably called the cleaners himself. Our rooms were a
mess.

I will need my jacket... it's chilly outside. With an
annoyed grunt I opened the door with my key card and
walked in. One of the women was vacumming by the
couches, she greeted me with a bright good afternoon
and I nodded at her. She chided me lightly about the
popcorn...

"I didn't do it." I told her honestly and went to the
coatcloset.

Well I didn't. Kurama caught the handfuls I threw at
him. The rest were thrown by him trying to win a bet
we made. He wanted to go out but he's wasted, I told
him if he can hit me with one popcorn then we'll go
out, if he ran out of popcorn before he gets me then
he's drunk and should go to bed.

He never got me so he went to bed without an
argument.

But even when he's drunk, he's very much in control.
He does crazy things but he's careful. He's fun but...
I think I've learned to fear that certain smile of
his, he gets that delighted glint in his eyes and his
lips would slowly spread into a smile. I saw that
smile a few moments ago when he was asked to model
clothes, I held my breath then because he's up to
something, and I actually encouraged him by making him
go.

I trust Youko Kurama, I want him to have fun, plus I
have an agenda of my own.

He had draped my scarf across the shoulders of my
jacket and I can see my gloves bulging one of the
pockets. Thoughtful as always, my koishii.

I like these rooms, it's elegant, comfortable, and
full of memories that will make me sad when we have to
leave this place. The girl who's vacumming by the
couches had polished and removed the bottles from the
coffee table where Kurama had knelt and offered
himself to me. The Youko sat on that couch over there
grumbling at me to stay still while he flicked
unpopped kernels at me. Hn, there's a handprint on the
ceiling, I hope they don't notice that...

There's the same older lady from yesterday still
making our bed. She gave me a forced smile that looked
real enough and I nodded at her. The bed is dressed in
crimson and gold, with 4 ornately carved posts and
boards, Kurama's skin looked beautiful against those
sheets. That bed is where I made him mine and where he
made me his. Everyday, everynight we made sure that
bed was ours, and everyday they would come and change
the sheets so we'll have to claim that bed again
tonight.

I didn't go to the bathroom, but that place always
leaves me with warm, wet, lazy comforts.

"Oh Hello Mr. Jaganashi." I paused in the act of
donning my jacket, it's that other lady who cleaned
our bathroom. "I washed your bandages and I left them
to hang in the same place and your laundry will be
done in a couple of hours."

"Aa. Sahnk yuh." I replied and took out my bill fold,
I left some money on the tray thing by the door and
excused myself.

I'll be sad when we have to leave this place. I
lingered there, standing with my back to the door and
my hand on the golden knob. Then I took a deep breath
and pulled myself away, I can't get attached to these
things.

I don't feel comfortable being in the same room I
consider my territory with 3 women I don't know. I
feel like they're invading mine and Kurama's privacy,
I know that's silly, they are just doing their jobs.

I made my way to the fire exits with as much stealth
as I did last night. When I opened the door, the cold
wind made me shudder, I closed my jacket and wished I
had my long coat. I left my Katana because I can't run
around with that in plain sight, people will think I'm
strange. My hachiwara will have to do.

I ran up the fire escape to the top floor and made a
leap for the roof. The wind is worse up here, I stayed
low so people won't see me, took my Jagan ward off and
scanned my surroundings.

There's Kurama in a car with a woman and those two
men Tom and Gio. The woman is presumably the Marie
they were talking about. I took the card Guttenberg
gave me and looked around for his brother Peter
Guttenberg.

I had looked behind Samuel's eyes and saw how his
brother looked like, I searched for the man with that
name and face and found the Guttenberg I'm after. He
is sitting inside a cafe a few blocks from his shop
having his lunch. He looked older than Samuel.

Hn, it's so much easier looking for someone when you
have a name and face to go with it.

What was that...?

I looked across at Central park and the... no, thats
not human. There's a creature in a grey coat and hat
under that leafless tree. Yes his energy signature is
definitely not human, it's not Yoshira either... it's
very familiar, but I can't place it...

Hn? He sensed me! I watched as he ran away towards a
clump of leafless bushes and evergreens. What the...?
He opened a dimensional gate? He's gone.

I wasn't alarmed. Well, if he was a threat I would
have known that and he would not have run when he
sensed me looking at him. He does not have enough
energy to harm either of us, and I KNOW he is not a
threat.

But what the hell is he? He feels very familliar. But
he's gone, I won't be able to find him unlesss I go
through the worlds and I don't have time for that. I
have to tell Kurama, his nose is much more sensitive
than mine, maybe he'll be able to identify it.

I made my first leap into the next rooftop fast as I
could to keep any human from seeing me, I stopped at
the roof of a building that's higher than the one I
came from and I looked around for any threats. I
closed my eyes and searched for any anomaly. The
population of this city is not as big as Tokyo's but
it's still overwhelming. It would take me forever if I
try to sift through all of them.

I looked for Kurama and found him still in the car,
having a conversation with his 3 new friends. They
like him and are very comfortable with him.

Kurama is very easy to like, he's out going, fun
loving, friendly and he isn't shy around people, well
Youko Kurama is. My red headed Kurama is a bit formal.

The Youko is laughing whole heartedly and wagging a
finger at the driver Tom, I could listen in on their
conversation but...

I trust Kurama, I will not spy on him. I searched
around him though making sure there was no threat, I'm
looking for a particular energy signature.

I followed him for almost 5 minuites before I decided
it's time I continued my own journey. I wasn't
satisfied with my search, but I found no threat, so I
made haste for the Jewelry shop that was almost across
the city itself. I leapt from building to building as
fast as I could so I was nothing more than a blur of
colors or a distortion of light. A few minuites later
I was standing on a lampost outside the cafe Peter
Guttenberg is in. I covered my Jagan.

My face is frozen, my fingers are cold even through
the leather gloves, I dug them deep in my jacket
pockets. There are people walking despite this cold
and the snow has decided to fall a few minuites ago
fat white flakes that melted in my hair and dampened
my cheeks.

I leapt down the lampost making sure I land in the
alleyway and timing it so no one will notice my sudden
apperance. Then I made my way into the cafe.

The smell of strong rich sweet coffee filled my
senses. I'm still full but the heat of the place and
the warmth a cup of capuccino offered made me want
one. I went to the counter and stared at the sign were
the kinds of coffees are listed.

Hn, I didn't notice it before but... I think I can
read these-

"Good afternoon, may I help you?" A lady with copper
red hair asked me. She has earrings on her eyebrows
and on her lower lip. Her eyes are painted in
sparkling colors and she wore a leather collar with
silver studs.

I cleared my throat. "What do you recommend? I want
something sweet and hot."

She smiled coyly at me. "Weeelll, we have that
Mochaccino that has whipped cream and your choice of
chocolate syrup topping, there's classic cappuccino,
there's Vanilla bean latte with real vanilla beans
or..." she looked at me with hooded lids and in a low
voice said "I'll be out in an hour."

Hn?

I stared at her and she looked at me elbows on the
counter her black shirt had a low collar and I could
see her cleavages, she has a tatoo in there... then
it hit me. I wanted something sweet and hot. I pressed
my lips together to keep myself from laughing at her
then I shook my head "Excuse me, but that Mochaccino
you mentioned earlier sounds good."

She went from warm and inviting to frosty and
dismissive just like that. "Would you like white
whipped cream or chocolate?"

"Chocolate."

"White chocolate, milk chocolate or dark chocolate
topping?"

I shrugged "Dark."

"Small-medium-large-extra-large."

"Medium."

"Anything else with your order?"

"Ah, no." I must have said something rude...

"That'll be 2.15 cents. Your name please?"

"Hiei." I gave her a 10 and went to find Guttenberg.
I don't know what it was I did, I just hope the tip
will make her feel better.

"Your change sir."

"Keep it." Women... they're too complex they give me
a head ache sometimes.

Who was it that told me you don't try and understand
women? That you just love them, care for them, and let
them be? Guess it must be some of the Youko's wisdom,
that sounds just like him.

Guttenberg is near the windows and he's done his
sandwich and was having an animated conversation with
his celphone. He was gesturing like the one he was
talking to was right in front of him. As I came closer
I realized he was talking in a language I did not
understand. I stood in front of him and waited for him
to acknowledge me.

He looked up and a curious frown crossed his
features. He looked exactly like the man in Samuel
Guttenberg's mind. Older, longer grey beard, a
grandfatherly smile on his lips. "Ah well Sam, you
said tonight but I'm afraid Mr. Jaganashi is here
now." He said shifting to English. "Please sir have a
seat I'm talking to my brother he's telling me all
about you and your request, yes, dark spiky hair with
a white starburst in front, crimson eyes, asian,
petite. Yes, yes he's here. Sir let me finish this
conversation you have my brother very exited about
something."

"Of course." I took a seat. Petite? What does that
mean? I keep hearing that word...

"Oh and he says hi."

"Hn." K'so was that another one of those polite words
for short and small?

They talked for a few minuites in their language
while I made a mental note to ask Kurama for the
definition of the word petite.

He turned the phone off after a few minuites
then smiled at me as he pushed his glasses up with a
finger. "Mr. Jaganashi how do you do? How did you find
me? And how'd you get here so fast?"

Ooops? Was that the right expression? I cleared my
throat, "You look like your brother. I went in here
for coffee." As if on cue the copper haired girl
called my name. I stood up to get my coffee and left
the other question unanswered. That was close.

The girl gave me a little tray with a huge cup
covered with chocolate whipped cream with dark
chocolate syrup criss-crossed over it, she dusted it
with something white, and one sniff of it made me want
to smile. It looks good but, this is a medium? I won't
be able to finish this, it's big. And what's this? I
held out a...

"Chocolate chunk cookie sir specialty of the house,
since you like chocolate I thought you'd like to
sample one. It's on the house." She said with an
apologetic smile.

Hn, it worked, I'll remember that tip from the Youko.

"Thank you." I nodded at her, the cookie smells good
but the way she said it's on the house... I think she
means it's free but it's strange thinking of this
cookie on top of this building. I took a bite as I
approached Guttenberg and stopped in midstride.

It was... divine.

The bread around it was crisp on the outside and soft
and warm on the inside the chocolate was melting in my
mouth and it turned thick and gooey and the nuts.... I
want more of this.

I placed my coffee cup on Peter's table then I went
back to the counter to buy more cookies. When I got
back to the table I had 6 chocolate chunk cookies as
big as my hand and one of each of the other kinds, a
dozen cookies in a box. Kurama and I will enjoy these
later, the Youko, unlike Shuichi, loves chocolate too
and with his appetite I hope a dozen cookies will be
enough.

"Oh yes their cookies are famous worldwide."
Guttenberg grinned at me then drank some of his
coffee, "Now as I understand sir you want me to set a
diamond that's over 2 carats big? Don't show it to me
here, it's not safe, show me later in the shop."

"Yes, a ring would be nice but I don't know the size
of his fingers and it will have to be size
adjustable."

"Really? I suppose we could make the frame in 14K
gold and the rest in pure gold but... did you want it
in gold or silver or platinum?"

"Platinum?" I asked munching on my cookie. Hmmm so
good...

"Yes, stronger than silver or steel and never
tarnishes, more expensive than gold too and harder to
work. But the results are guranteed to last forever.
Like the diamond itself." he chewed thoughtfully on
the remains of his sandwich. "But adjustable? Hhhm,
that's a challenge. Platinum is pretty rigid. I
suppose I could alloy it with.... but no, that would
weaken the whole thing." he scratched his beard.

"Do you have any suggestions?" I asked

"A drop earring. That would look beautiful, it would
flatter the stone and the wearer, or a pendant. I
can't say yet, I have to see it. I can't imagine it
from my brother's description. Why do you need it
adjustable anyway?"

"Because." I said and did not elaborate. I heard that
one from a brat sitting in front of us in the plane on
the way here. I smirked at the old man as he nodded
and smiled back at me.

Pleasantries followed as we hurriedly finished our
meal. I was really too full to finish the coffee but
the cookie was gone long before we had to go to his
shop. I followed him down a few blocks to his
unpretentious establishment that had an armed guard at
the door. He greeted us and opened the door for us.

Once inside he led me to a display case that showed
complete and incomplete jewelry, there were models for
settings done in plastic in one box over the counter
he poured this out and began sorting through it.

An old lady greeted us with a smile as she came in
from a door behind the counter and started talking in
that language again, to Peter. By the way they treated
each other I think they are married. She left just as
promply leaving a bottle of water and some plastic
cups.

"Now these are simple," He showed models of rings
done in plastic "here are some simple pendant settings
and as for earrings would you like that in a hoop, pin
type or dangling...?" he said as he turned around to
get another box with more of those plastic models.

I decided now was the time to show him my tear gem. I
have to check in on Kurama soon. It's been more than
30 minuites.

I bent over the counter and let the gem slip free of
my lips. It clattered loudly on the glass counter, the
old man turned around at the sound, the flourescent
lights under the glass turned the dark gem into a
glowing drop of blood.

"Oh my..." he said as he approached the counter, box
forgotten, he righted his gold rimmed glasses with his
fingers again and bent to examine it. "It was in your
mouth? But you were eating. What if you swallowed it?"

"I had practice." I replied.

"It's amazing, I've never seen anything like it." he
held a hand over it then he looked up at me "May I?"
he asked.

"Of course." I watched as he took out that one eye
thing and peered into the gem.

He brought out scales and weighed it "2.5 carats,
cobochon, deepest red, no hint of aluminum er, purple
in it, flawless, the color is uniform and it's the
work of a genius." he sighed.

"May I check it's internal structure and purity?" he
asked.

I nodded in response. He put it in a machine that
shown different colored lights on it and some shades
of light that can't be seen, he nodded all the while
mumbling to himself as he typed on a computer.

"It's a diamond alright, but how could the smith who
fashioned this smooth it out so well? He's insane! He
must have used diamond head grinders and worked on
this for months! You're suppose to facet diamonds so
they sparkle but he chose to polish this. It looks
like a frozen drop of blood, exactly like my brother
told me." I could hear the awe in his voice as he
typed on his computer. "I need to make a mold of this.
Why does it seem to sparkle from within?" he's
mumbling to himself and I can see he's very excited.

I smirked. Even here my tears are praised.

He reached over to a drawer brought out a lump of
clay and flattened it out on a tiny box like thing.

It's annoying me that there are a lot of words in
this language that I do not know as of yet. He took my
gem from inside the machine then pressed it into the
center of the clay. "Oh, sorry, but may I? I'm too
eager to work on this." he said with an apologetic
smile.

I snorted, this man is a true artist in his field,
his excitement over this new project reminds me of how
excited I get when I find a good opponent, or get a
new sword. I nodded my permission.

"I'm making an impression of your stone so I can work
on it while it's in your keeping, it's amazing, every
bit as strange and rare as my brother described it." I
watched him make a plaster cast of my gem.

"A ring will not do this justice, it needs to dangle
to catch the light around it, it looks like a drop of
blood smooth and crystal. The one who cut this is
either a genius, or is insane; or even both. I will
not touch this with a chisel, that's sacrilage. Who
made this stone?"

I almost said me. "I inherited it." I lied.

He polished my tear gem with a white piece of cloth
and put it down on the counter again to look at it's
reflection with his eyepiece. He mumbled to himself as
he got another box from under the counter and started
sorting through them. I decided not to disturb the
craftsman at work, he looked pretty immersed in it. I
turned to look around in his shop.

"Ey excuse me Mr. Jaganashi." I turned back to look
at him. "Here better keep this with you, don't ever do
that with something as precious as this." he said in a
reprimanding tone. He opened the bottle of water and
poured a little of it's contents into a plastic cup
then dropped my gem into it. He swirled it around
"Never ever turn your back when you have something as
priceless as this out in the open. Your lucky I have a
reputation to protect." he raised his brows at me,
the old man is actually reprimanding me for trusting
him. I smirked at him.

"Hn. My bad." these Guttenbergs are good people.

He dumped the water and my gem over a little towel
then washed it again. He dumped the water a second
time before offering my gem back in the cup. I took it
and put it under my tounge.

There was a ding and he opened the little oven with
the red light, he took out his mould with a pair of
thongs and left in on a cooling plate.

"Thank you for giving me this opporturnity to work on
something so rare." he smiled broadly " Now have you
decide what to do with it? I've got several
suggestions but first what's our budget?"

"Dosen't matter how much it cost. I want the best for
my Fox."

"It's for a man right?" he asked.

I nodded.

A wide grin parted the brush of his grey beard," I
just had an inspiration. It's simple it's platinum and
it will only take 3 days. Leave me a number and I'll
call when it's done."