Kurama started to worry. He needed to rescue Kinno as soon as possible. Hiei was outnumbered. He was risking himself too much battling all those furious youkai. The Silver Youko took a long breath, still unable to figure things out.

Udo must have very strong wards circling the Fortress, otherwise he would not be able to control his slaves. He had somehow become a victim of the same spells. Kurama imagined he might be mistaken, but it seemed that the longer he remained inside those walls, the weaker he would become.

He needed to act fast. First of all, he had to reach the lowest floors.

There was a small wooden door on a retreat. Kurama tried it; it was locked. He thought for an instant about inserting a seed into the lock to crack the mechanism. But he could not risk it. He preferred to use his shoulder to shove it open.
 
Entering the door he faced a dark,  narrow corridor. Boxes, empty cages of all sizes and old barrels were piled along its length. Dust and debris all over the floor indicated the passage was not often used.

He entered through the corridor and passed a door. He tried it, and it was locked. The youko continued, irritated because it was impossible to step forward silently with all the junk he found in the way. He had to shove cages out of his way, and as he proceed, a huge pile of  wooden chests and boxes of all kinds fell to the ground, crashing with a loud noise.

Damn! He had always been so furtive! It all looked as one awkward novice's invasion! What was happening? Was he losing his touch?

He tried the second door he came across.  It was unlocked, but it shrieked so loudly when he pushed it open, that it ruined his sneaky approach completely!

He mumbled a curse, and peeked inside.

There was nothing but the same kind of trash and stuff which littered the corridor. Kurama smelled the air, attempting to sense the right way in through that dark, suffocating building.

Oh, damn! That room was packed with the disgusting smell of dogs. There must be lots of those beasts in the building... And Makai Dogs, equal to the Ningen world ones, were not fond of foxes whatsoever.

He rushed out to keep following the corridor. There was one last door a little way away.

He walked forward, alert to all the noises surrounding him. He knew there must be someone behind that third door, but it was the only option he had left. He'd better be prepared to fight.

It had been very long since he had last fought with his bare hands. Kurama was so used to summoning his Demonic Plants, that the mere idea of punching or kicking an enemy felt odd to him.

The stink of the dogs had nauseated him a little. He took one deep respiration, and pushed the door open, jumping inside.

He blinked. That room was very well lit. The smell of  meat stew being prepared filled the air. Wide-eyed, he looked around the kitchen.

Female youkai of all kinds looked back at him, interrupting their tasks.

Kurama stepped inside, slowly. If he tried to act naturally, they could think he was someone from inside. He did not want those girls to call out an alert; he was too vulnerable now.

One black haired girl with pointed ears, probably a half-youko, or some unidentifiable mixed breed, stopped stirring the cauldron on the oven. Then she welcomed Kurama with one mischievous little smile.

"Hey, what a Hunk!' She exclaimed.

Her comment raised chucklings all over.

Another short female youkai looked up at Kurama, with big, round, twinkling eyes. She showed a large smile, fascinated with Kurama's looks.

 "I love youko! Oh... Give it to me, baby..." She chanted, coming closer to Kurama, reaching out to grab him.

Kurama jumped forward when he felt someone holding him from behind.

"Hey! I'm married!" He complained.

"I want fun, I don't want a commitment!" A third one announced, trying to hug Kurama again, blinking a pair of very clear green eyes.

Kurama tried to dodge those crazy females on heat, when he bumped into another, who put herself right in his way, trying to stop him from leaving.

"Hey, youko... I'm married too, and I prefer redheads, but we can have lots of fun together anyway..."

Kurama gently shunned her, showing a vexed smile. He even felt his cheeks turning red...

"I'm sorry, girls, but I have a mate, and I don't intend to cheat my partner."

They didn't seem to care, surrounding Kurama, with very definite intentions.

The youko shuddered and squealed a loud protest when he felt a touch patting his butt. "Hey! I said I'm married!" He cried out. Then he shoved them away, escaping the kitchen by a door across from him, as fast as he could.

Hn. It was all he needed. To be goosed by a bunch of female youkai...

He sighed out noisily when he found himself behind the door, beyond their grasp. He slammed the door at his back, and looked to his right, and then to his left side.

It was another passageway. It was wider, with better illumination, furniture, tapestries hanging from the stone walls.  To his left, doors, more corridors, and at the end a large arch giving way to what seemed to be the main room. To his right, a spiral staircase.

He was about to reach the dungeon levels.

Just when he was about to run to the other end of the corridor and reach the stairs, he heard loud thumping noises coming in his direction.

The youko had time for nothing else but to run across the corridor and push open with an energetic thrust, the first door he found.

He shut the door behind him, and kept himself very still and silent, listening to the loud steps moving along the coridor, toward the main hall. It was a small troop of guards, and they seemed to be in a hurry.

He leaned against the door. It was better to wait a little to make sure the way was clear.

In the complete darkness of the closed room, Kurama lifted his hand to pick up a very specific seed from his hair. He sensed the seeds interlaced amidst his strands of hair, till he reached a small, oval one. He got hold of it, and after involving it in a haze of his own you-ki, he threw it to the floor.

Kurama's vulpine eyes were able to discern the outline of the growing plant. It was a Light Flower. The youko eagerly observed the plant grow and blossom, expecting the room to be filled with light.

However, nothing happened.

"Shit! I must be hexed!" Kurama rumbled, in a very bad mood; so bad in fact that he smashed the little flower with his foot, furiously.

The youko looked around then. His pointed ears twitched as he tried to listen whether there were more approaching guards or not. He took a deep breath, and then he sensed a very light draft.

He blinked, trying to accommodate his eyes better to the darkness. Soon he noticed the debris of what seemed to be a ruined scaffold at the bottom of that cubicle. He looked above, and caught the contour of beams, gears and hanging ropes. He advanced, slowly, then he saw a very faint light coming from cracks on the wooden floor.

He tapped the way with the tip of his foot, and found a decayed trapdoor.

He smiled. At last something good had happened! He could reach the lower levels without the need to risk himself in the corridors and stairways. To be forced to struggle for passage would delay him; mainly when he wouldn't be able to make use of his plants.

He crouched and bent to rip the trapdoor open. It was locked. He had to break it open with a punch. A cloud of dust arose as he yanked the boards off.

"Ouch!" He cried then, sticking one finger in his mouth. Now that; he had just broken a nail... Definitively it was not his lucky day.

He pushed the boards aside, and looked down into the hole.

It was a small passage, but enough to fit someone of his build. It was a rectangular hole, probably an elevator shaft, so that supplies could be shipped directly to the lower levels. He could see some light below. The tunnel extended all the way down through the many levels. He could count 3 different floors. The lowest one was very dark, so dark he could barely see the bottom...

It must be there.

He accommodated himself inside the tunnel, holding to the edges. Then he huddled and just let go, falling down, fast and silent. He fell right on his feet, gracefully enough not to make a sound. It was then he heard a very distinct click.

Kurama acted faster than his own thoughts, jumping to hold himself against the walls, grasping the stony surface with his nails, struggling to find a salience or a cut he could prop at least one of his feet on.

After a mere second passed, he heard a crackling sound. The youko looked down, still in time to see the bottom of the tunnel collapse. Shattered ceramic plates, wooden boards and bricks hit the bottom with a loud noise.

It was dark below, but Kurama was able to devise very well the sharp points of spears, and spikes, menacingly filling the whole bottom of the tunnel.

The youko felt so nervous his hands would tremble if  they were not so tightly clutching  the clefts of the shaft wall. So much came to his mind then. He even thought about his friend, Kuronue.

It had been close. If he had been one second slower, he'd be impaled at the bottom of that pit now...

He should be very careful now that he had reached the base-level of that Fortress. Just a little more and he'd rescue the kid, and then they could go back home.

He crept against the wall till his feet touched the ledge. He jumped to the floor then, already very alert to perceive if there was someone coming by.

He had reached another passageway. It was poorly lit by scarce torches hanging from the walls. To add to the horror, it was a very narrow, dirty place. An unbearable stench permeated the air. He heard a rustling noise, and as he looked, he saw one big, roaring sewer rat, almost the size of a cat, looking furiously at him from one dimly lit corner.

It was a detestable place.

The corridor was tight and moldy. The smell of fear and agony was so thick it seemed plastered to the walls.
 
It was then he heard the scream. An agonizing scream, a supplication for freedom mixed to one long shriek of pain. The rattling of chains accompanied the cry, as a horrifying background music.

He walked on to one of the large wooden doors. They were heavily reinforced with iron bars. A narrow wicket, for vigilance and for food was on every one of them. The cell doors were many, one across from the other following the whole length of the tortuous dungeon. Kinno must have misbehaved really badly in order to be locked into such a horrifying place. Kurama tried to sense the golden youko's energy, but somehow it was difficult to focus himself enough. His memories were interfering with him, obliterating his usual coldness.

It was impossible not to think about all his lovely Hiei had been through not so long ago.

Supposing Kinno was his real offspring then...

Kurama felt a chill in his heart when he realized his guilt; if he had accepted Kinno in a better manner, if he really looked after him, that detestable slave-trader would never have caught him again.

He sniffed the stinking environment, struggling to perceive Kinno's smell amidst the moldy, foul odor that filled whole place. A passing whiff would be enough for him to grasp his son's location.

In a blind attempt, Kurama headed for one of the doors and flipped the narrow wicket open.

It was not his supposed son. It was a blond demon, but not a youko. The strange youkai was naked, huddling painfully in one corner of the cell. He covered his face with his crossed arms, in complete abandonment, maybe on the verge of death. Even in the dim-light Kurama could see the cruelty and depth of the gashes across his back and thighs.

If it were not such a difficult situation, he could free all of Udo's slaves. But without his plants, it was too dangerous. He would better concentrate on Kinno only. First things first.

"Hey, big ears! What you're doing down here?"

Kurama turned round just in time to avoid the spiked club the creature waved against him.

The heinous pig was so big he almost fit the whole width of the corridor. Tall, he had to bow his head not to hit the low ceiling. But the villain was fast wielding the weapon.

"You won't pass by me, cub!" The ugly thing roared, calling out an alarm for more guards.

Kurama pulled himself backwards, as the dungeon keeper hit another strike aiming right at his head.

It could be so much different if he had just used his seeds and plants to put the whole Fortress into a deep sleep. But no; he had to risk himself that way.

The youko knew he had no time to insist in using his plants; they were failing him. He stepped backwards a little, as the large creature attacked him again. The club hit the rocky floor with a mighty thud.

He aimed at the monster, releasing a whip-like projection of you-ki from his attacking hand. He slashed him across the middle. Then, as he swung his arm to complete another semi-circular strike he cut through his throat, beheading the fiend.

As the head rolled, Kurama looked up to see two other guards, equally monstruous and big, coming down the passage, wielding broadswords. The youko noticed, interestedly, that one of them carried a heavy bunch of keys hanging from his belt. It was very appropriate indeed...

Kurama gave an ironical, half-bitter, half-amused smile to himself. He could not believe he was going through all that to rescue that male bimbo who claimed to be his son. But what to do? Life was like that.

He wasted no time then; that operation was taking damn too long.

He looked back at the youkai with an intense, ireful expression. Again he used his you-ki, feeling it start to vibrate around his wrist and arm to form the slashing whip of energy.

The energy which whirred in his wrist seemed a little weaker this time, but Kurama did not mind. He lashed the air, menacingly.

"I want the golden youko! Where is he?" He demanded from the dungeon keepers.

Instead of a reply, one of guards attacked him, brandishing his sword in a fierce charge. Kurama dodged the attack. He stepped backwards a single step, enough to have room to lash his energy whip again cutting the guard's right arm off.

The coward started to cry and weep in pain, like a baby, pulling himself back.

The youko foresaw the other keeper's attack, and struck him first. Kurama lashed his throat open from one side to the other as he waved his whip again.
The fox ran after the wounded youkai, to finish him, with a decisive last slash. Those idiots were not telling him a thing anyway.

This time he realized he had almost missed the target - It seemed the energy lash was shorter, somehow more difficult to control.

When he called back the energy weapon he had invoked it was then the youko realized. It was indeed weaker. In fact, he started to feel himself a little indisposed, exerted...

He sighed out, imagining it was over, but he heard a rustle behind him. He turned, already dodging the attacker. The guard missed the target and lost his balance. It was the chance Kurama needed.

He punched the youkai really hard, first on the stomach, and then in the throat.

The last one was the weakest of the dungeon keepers, it seemed. Kurama's hit was enough to knock him out. He fell over the bodies of the other two, with a loud thump.

The Silver Youko bent over the defeated demons to grab the bunch of keys. He trod over the keeper's bodies and followed the passage with decision. Kurama smelled the stinky air, looking for even the faintest trace of Kinno's presence. An aroma which was a mixture of lavender, honey, sandalwood and teenage youko pheromones.

He hurried along the passage, opening the wickets of every door, running from one cell to the other, in a concerned haste. He found a black elf, a winged youkai in chains, a female cat-youkai, a horned beautiful succubus...  All of them bonded by shackles and chains, most of them too wounded and weak to even realize what was happening around them. Their powers must be limited by wards. Most of the prisoners were in an unconscious, near moribund state, naked or in rags, badly injured.

But then finally he managed to recognize the kid's scent among all that confusing mess of youkai traces, mould and sewer stink.

Kurama ran to the door, trying one key after the other. He was a little nervous. He knew that dungeon level was safe for a while, but even then, he needed to hurry.
 
He finally unlocked the door, pulling it open with some effort. The hinges creaked noisily.

There was the boy, under the faint rectangle of light which filtered through the open door. He was lying on his side, facing the wall, naked and motionless. Chains bound him, circling his waist. He had shackles around his neck and ankle, fixing him by more chains to the walls. Even then Kurama could see his clear skin was marked by bruises, cuts and gashes.

The silver youko breathed in deeply. He felt a sudden urge to cry then. He had imagined he would never witness such a disgusting scene again, and there was he...

Oh... He hated the sensation of deja-vu. And again, it seemed he was the one to blame, was he not?

Kurama approached the lying figure very slowly, promising to himself he would take better care of the kid from there on; whether he was his son or not.

The silvery youko called the golden youko's name, in a hesitant murmur. He kneeled down next to him. He bent over to see his face. The kid had a black eye, and his lips were hurt and a bit swollen; probably effects of a heavy punch.

He touched the boy's shoulder, calling him again.

"Kinno. Wake up!" Kurama insisted, poking at his back. "I can't waste time here, it's dangerous!"

No response. Kurama sighed in and out.

"You gotta be strong! Come on, wake up!" He continued, starting to shake the kid off his stunned condition.

No reply. His closed eyelids did not even flutter. He gave out no respiration. His skin was too cold...

"Oh... Inari, please, the kid can't be dead... Hiei will never forgive me..." The youko whispered in a soft but audible prayer. He even closed his eyes for a while, in a deep faith. "I will never forgive myself... I... I..." Kurama hesitated for a while, but then he shut his eyes harder then, speaking very clearly, as if the Divinity could hear him. "I promise I will never be mean to him again..."

He touched Kinno's shoulder again. There was some you-ki running through his body, but in such a low level that Kurama could not be sure of anything. And being a youko, a demon, there was no pulse, no heartbeat to make him sure he was yet living.

Kurama inclined over Kinno's still body. He embraced him and brought him up, leaning his face on his shoulders. The chains clanked.

The silver youko placed one arm around the boy's waist, supporting him.

"Kinno? Give me a sign." Kurama murmured, right in the other youko's ear. "Let's go home..."

Suddenly he felt Kinno's breathing. His cold chest rose and fell against his embrace.

He held the smaller youko tighter, and could not avoid nuzzling his blonde hair. The kid shuddered, and Kurama heard a very painful moan.

"Come on, be strong! I'm gonna break these chains, and..."

The golden youko pulled himself  backwards a bit, enough to stare at Kurama's face. He smiled, but then, his contentment vanished, changed into an expression of pure agony.

"I don't want this dream again... No... No..." Kinno reacted, trying to evade Kurama's arms to huddle against the cold, moldy stone wall again.

But Kurama held him firm, keeping him sitting up. He forced the kid to look right at his eyes.

"I'm here, it's not a dream. We're going home together now."

The golden youko looked for a long instant into his father's eyes, in a shocked silence, as if trying to understand what was happening. He blinked teary golden eyes.

"Dad? Daddy?"

Kurama just nodded. He struggled with all his might not to smile with the sudden release.

"You came to save me?"

Kinno seemed so helpless... He shivered, and his breathing was irregular and too weak. His voice was but a whisper. Kurama felt his hands around his waist,  clinching to him, and did not oppose the hesitant, but tender touch.

He had indeed been too hostile towards Kinno... Poor child...

"Yes, son... "

"Is it for real?"

Kurama just nodded again. His throat was tight; he could not say a word. He just held Kinno tenderly against his shoulder once more, patting his fair head.

The boy burst into a convulsive cry, babbling a confused train of words and  laughing at the same time. His whole body trembled under the strain of  his weeping. His hands clutched feverishly to his father's sides, as if  he could lose Kurama from one instant to the other.

"Hiei is waiting for us ouside. We have to hurry and meet him. Can you walk?"

Kurama sensed Kinno acquiesce against his shoulder. The boy could not say a thing yet.

"You know the Fortress, I need your help. Is there a short cut or a secret passage out of the underground?"

The golden youko shook his head. Then he sniffled noisily, mumbling something in between his sobbing.

"I love you daddy..."

Kurama felt his cheeks turn red. He felt too ashamed of himself then. He was thankful Kinno sunk his face against his shoulder and into his hair. He could not stand to stare at him in the eye at that moment. Repentance could be too embarrassing.

He caressed his back with a  long, slow touch.

"Everything's gonna be fine now; I'm taking you home."

The youngster cried deeper yet. Kurama patted his back. Even touched, the silver youko managed to control his emotion. He took one deep respiration, and while cuddling to Kinno, his eyes followed the chains which extended from the walls to the tight circles around the kid's body.

He would love to be able to summon any acid-showering plant to melt the chains. But it seemed he had to do it all by himself. He did not want to take risks now that things seemed to go well again.

He gently pushed Kinno away from him. He offered the boy a reassuring smile, and grabbed the chain with both hands, twisting the links and at the same time focusing his you-ki to tear the bonds open. Hiei could melt those iron locks in a second, but Kurama used a vigorous pull to add his physical strength to his energy and break his son free.

The golden youko looked at his father in a sweet adoration, surprised with his might.

"Daddy... If I were strong like you, My Master would never be so bad to me..."

"If you were strong like me, you would never have to obey a master, Kinno. Now you're gonna be free." Then Kurama twisted apart the links holding the chains around the boy's waist together. Then he shoved that noisy, clanking pile of chains aside.

Kinno fondled his own belly and waist,  massaging his flesh. The tight binding had left sores and bruises around his slender middle.

One last pull freed the boy from the chains fastened to his left leg. Only the fetter around his ankle, and the metal collar around his neck remained in place.

"Hiei will slice these shackles in half. Let's hurry to meet him now."

The Silver youko started to unfasten the belt around his waist. He loosened it enough to tear a long band off; enough for the boy to tie around his hips and cover his nudity. He handled it to the boy then.

"Here. Cover yourself, and let's go."

Kinno agreed, obeying his father as hastily as he could. Then Kurama helped his son to stand up, supporting him with an arm around his waist.

"This place is disgusting... I can't stand to stay here a single moment further." Kurama commented on bringing Kinno out of the cell with him. The boy was lame, and Kurama could feel he was too weak from the beatings he must have been through. He bore Kinno's weight, and guided him slowly till they reached the corridor. "You're gonna heal up after a short time. Don't worry, lad..."

They were in the middle of the passageway. Kinno was slowing him down, but Kurama could not complain. The boy could not hide a grimace of pain every time his left foot touched the ground. But he was brave enough not to heave a single moan.

With Kurama's help, they stepped up the staircase. They managed to reach the second, and then the first underground level without meeting any guards or any hindrance whatsoever. They were near. Hiei must have already terminated too many of the Fortress keepers, so the dungeons were kept unguarded. The stairway was narrow and steep, but Kinno supported himself on the walls also, which made his advance a little less awkward.

They reached the ground level. Kurama faced the long hall he had before him with relief. He just needed to find a door out and reach the ward, and Hiei would join them.

It was then Kurama halted, alarmed. He made Kinno lean against the wall, and stood in front of him to protect him.

"What is it, daddy?"

Kurama just pointed to long shadows which were projected along the floor, coming from around the corner end of the corridor. Those two were just between them and the way out.

Both youkos heard strong steps coming closer.

Kinno clenched his father, in an outburst of affection and apprehension.

"Daddy, it is my Master, I know... He's very bad, he's gonna hurt you... Please, leave me here, go away..."

"Nonsense! I didn't come all the way here to leave you behind!" Kurama drew himself away from Kinno's hugging arms. The kid was reluctant, but finally let go of him. "I can beat him, don't worry!"

Kurama stepped forward then. He showed confidence, but inside, he was concerned. He felt he was weaker than when he entered the Fortress. Some evil ward was dissipating his energy. He could feel he was not able to summon any kind of you-ki weapon any longer.

Nervously he fondled his own hair. He had lots of seeds inserted amidst those silvery stands. But they were of no use now...

Anyhow, he made a courageous stand.

The villains had arrived. Kurama glared at those beasts, putting himself in the way between Kinno and them. Finally the silver youko met Udo. That filthy slave-trader fit perfectly the descriptions he had heard about him...

He occupied the height of the corridor, and had a maniacal glint in his eyes. There was a short bald youkai by his side, with a nasty bad-look. They blocked the way completely; there was no way to try to deviate him.

The bigger one, Udo, looked down his nose at Kurama. All the time he kept a detestable smirk on his harsh, cynical face. None of the two youkai used weapons. They must count on their demonic powers only. Worse for him; Kurama just knew he would have a hard time there.

"You can take Kinno, Yo." Udo announced, addressing the bald demon. "I'm gonna keep that proud, gorgeous silver youko for me. Every one in the Makai will pay fortunes to screw the infamous Youko Kurama's ass..."

Kurama wrinkled his nose in disdain.

"Over my dead body."

Udo laughed madly. His laugh was so loud the walls seemed to shake.

"There's market for that variation too!"

The other youkai giggled too, sardonically amused with the whole situation.

Kurama stepped backwards one single step, to be closer to Kinno. He spread his arms to protect the kid, and the younger youko clutched him, nervously. He trembled in fear.

"Daddy, he means it... I'm afraid..."

"Leave him to me, Kinno." Kurama murmured to his son, trying to keep his calm.  Hiei was coming to help, he knew it...

Meanwhile, the Silver Youko breathed deeply, prepared to fight.