He blinked, and then he covered his pointed snout with one fair, slender paw, frankly ashamed of himself. All the tracks had brought him to that point of the road. The tracks could not be mistaken; the trail indicated Hiei's pet fox had been brutally abducted.

Kurama sniffed the dirt. Then he crawled till he reached one small spot of dry blood staining one sharp rock on the way. It was that younger youko's smell, he had no doubts whatsoever.

He could tell a lot by the scent. It was easy to sense the kid was terrified then. The smell of panic and nervousness was mixed with the trail of sweat and blood, leaving a clear path for him to follow.

His golden eyes followed the footprints and all the marks left on the soil. He could see clearly in his mind what had happened to Kinno. He had been ambushed and seized. The kid might have reacted, but his pursuer was much bigger, much stronger than him, and detained him harshly.

 The smell of that villain was strong, acrid... He smelled bad, sweaty; it was a foul odor, not agreeable however easy to follow. While in animal form, Kurama's olfactory senses were so powerful he could even form a mental image, not very exact, but precise enough to give him an idea about who Kinno had been involved with... A huge, unrefined type of youkai, however probably high B or even A. He could add that he was not from any region around there. His footprints were stained by the odor of a different soil; a sandy, almost deser-like one.

That youkai type was one he knew well. He seemed one of those errant Hunters he had dealt so much with in his past; Bounty Hunters, Slave Hunters, Head hunters, Reikai Hunters - They were all the same bunch of crap for a fox thief like him.

The fur of his back bristled at that thought.

Hunters... Hn...

The one that took Kinno away must be from beyond the high mountains surrounding Yomi's boundaries, almost on the edge of the Great Desert.

Who would come such a long way to kidnap a stupid kid like that?

Well... A golden youko would be valuable to Slave Merchants. Youko were usually good trade, because they're be hard to keep captive. Moreover, they were known widely for their beauty and their unending sexual skills and appetites. Weak the way he was, Kinno was the ultimate decorative youko, a pretty doll, worth its weight in the most precious gems.

The silver fox could not avoid thinking if such a kid could really be his offspring.

Kurama Fox blinked its very vivid, golden eyes, and licked his snout. Then he went on following the trail. His pointed ears twitched involuntarily as he listened to the surroundings carefully to sense whether there was any danger around.

The scent continued off the path, and he kept on, following a bushy slope downwards. Kinno's smell was growing stronger.

He even imagined he might find the kid. He might be just too hurt to find his way home without aid.

It was when he saw the red spot amidst the shrubbery. His heart throbbed faster for an instant. The young youko was wearing red the last time he saw him, was he not? Kurama stepped forward, hopeful. In his mind he already prepared a very hard reprimand on Kinno for making him and Hiei worry about him, but...

It was just Kinno's small embroidered pouch.

Kurama opened way very silently amidst the high grass, and then he retrieved the object slowly, holding its strings with his mouth.

It was heavy; the kid was really making a lot of money in Gandara...

Kurama sat back on his hind legs and looked around. He was not seized for the little money he carried - The pouch remained there, forgotten.

Obviously, the villain had ambushed Kinno on his way home, attacked him, dragged him off the road to the bottom of that slope, and...

Kurama sniffed the air, checking the multitude of fragrances in the air. Fortunately Kinno had not been raped. He could not perceive any trace, any smell of sex and semen pervading the area down there.

The silver fox called forth his energy. Soon he emerged from the hazy cloud of silvery you-ki wearing his tall, proud youko aspect, holding Kinno's pouch firmly in his hand.

Shit... 

He had been there on his own since the meeting had finished. The prince chose to be left behind, sinking into the background, being very quiet and somber. Young Shura behaved very differently from the usual. He had no energy to argue, to contradict the Generals or urge and encourage more energetic, imperious policies. He was feeling too dejected to do anything but just sit there in silence.

All monitors and computers were off, and finally he could share a bit of silence and peacefulness. He tapped his fingers impatiently on the table; at least the assembly had come to its end. It had been a long, crucial meeting, so important his father had personally attended it, to force the Generals into action. There were some small riots in the frontiers. A dozen of lesser landlords of the East joined one of the many Makai Mob groups. Together these groups were trying to rise, building a dominion of their own.

Being in his normal frame of mind, Shura would have readily volunteered to journey to these troublesome areas. There he could solve matters in favor of Gandara personally, by means of the Iron Fist he and Yomi ruled with.

However, at that state of things, what mattered it to him?

He'd rather be free to roam the city and the woods around it. It was the only way to be actually sure, the only way he could try to locate his youko-friend

He had not seen Kinno for days...

It had been very hard to pretend before his father and the others that nothing was wrong. He was so depressed he wanted to do nothing but sit down alone and just think... about him...

He had not paid attention to much of the plans and preparations, graphics or maps. And even when he took one long, weary stare at the monitors, it was to watch the blinking links, icons and directions and wonder where his blondie had gone to.

They had arranged to meet everyday in the city, to be together for a while.

So then, where was his youko?

He was very suspicious it might have something to do to his father's disgust towards the youko race. Shura was on the verge of paranoia; the doubt was making him crazy...

Worse than that, he had no means to try to question or investigate his father's attitudes. All he could do was to give orders to some of his officers -  the few he trusted - to find out Kinno's whereabouts.

Days had gone by, and yet none of them came up with any satisfactory answer.

Bunch of  idiots! Shura bet that pack of knuckleheads around him could not tell their own asses from a hole in the ground.

Every officer he had was on his shitlist!

The use of all that equipment to trace his youko was unthinkable of. How would he justify it to his father Yomi in case he was discovered?

He did not know what to think or what to do. He could not believe Kinno had fooled him... His father couldn't be right, he just couldn't...

Kinno was a good youko... He must be a good youko...

The doors slid ajar with a swooshing sound. Akso entered the room.

The tall, slim, blue-skinned youkai was the officer Shura trusted the most. He bowed before Shura, and bent one knee on the floor, humbly requesting audience.

"What now? Don't tell me that bunch of incompetents found nothing!"

"Shura Sama, some of the soldiers brought news about the golden youko..."

Shura's youkai heart throbbed faster. He knew he flushed intensely, and for one instant his emotion was so overwhelming he had to make a true effort to breathe in.

"Say it then, officer!"

"This soldier was on city patrol days ago. He reported that a vicious, low-life type of youkai was asking all around about a golden youko. He justified himself stating the youko was his lover."

Shura showed very wide eyes as he heard such dismal news. He grew pale, very pale, and yet he made an effort to compose himself as soon as he could.

He made a hard attempt to firm his voice.

"A lover? Do you assume he must have taken the youko with him?"

Shura noticed Akso stared at him inquisitively, trying to guess what his real feelings and reasons really were. But Yomi's son remained cold, collected, resisting firmly, even though he could feel his youkai heart being shattered by sorrow.

"None of them could be found in Gandara, Shura-sama. This is the only sure fact we possess."

Shura said nothing else. He directed a blank stare at his officer, and dismissed him with a gesture.

"Have you got further orders, Prince Shura?"

The young youkai shook his head very slowly. He was so shocked he could say nothing...

Was his papa right?

The golden youko might be just fooling him, playing with his feelings, having fun at the expenses of  his affection?

Was he just a two-timer then, like any other youko?

"Don't tell anyone about our talk."

Akso agreed, obediently.

"Go. Leave me alone."
 

He had spent the whole night and the morning searching all around for that stupid youko. It made him very tired.

He stepped up the hill slowly, bringing Kinno's red pouch firmly in one clenched hand. He had tried hard, but after a certain length there was no clear track he could follow. The smell was strong in the beginning, and all he know was that Kinno's captor had headed southwest. In a few miles every trail seemed to vanish as magic, preventing him from following on.

He had roamed his whole territory and around, sniffing every inch of dirt, every little pebble, every tiny shrub and had found nothing worth the effort.

Hunters, mainly Slave Hunters had many ingenious ways to cover their tracks.

He looked upwards the hill; his eyes revealed much of the fatigue. Hiei was up there waiting for him, sitting on a rock atop the elevation. He was seated in that peculiar way of his, one leg stretched, the other bent, arms embracing one knee.

He looked tense.

More than that, his youkai seemed exhausted as well.

They exchanged one quick kiss, and Kurama's hand cupped his youkai's small face very tenderly.

"Sorry, Hiei... I couldn't get him."

He showed the youkai the red pouch then, and turned his face, deliberately deviating his eyes from him.

"I found nothing but his little bag. The boy was taken away. I think he must be dead by now."

Hiei kissed Kurama's lips again, to comfort, and also to silence him. He still bore hopes they could find Kinno alive.

"I have found someone."

Kurama faced Hiei, his golden eyes bright again. He didn't like Kinno that much, but he'd hate to feel guilty for his death as he was at that moment.

"Who is it, Hiei?"

Hiei slipped off the rock to walk Kurama to the cave they used to sleep in.

"I found him by a river, caught in the reed, in the middle of  litter and driftwood. I thought it was just another dead animal, then I saw the black stripe..."

"The skunk?"

"He's hurt."

"How?"

"I found him miles away. He's in fox form, so I carried him here in my arms. He is weak and his head is injured pretty bad. He's got a broken hind leg, and is all scratched and bruised. I think you can help him with your plants."

Kurama said nothing. He just agreed, nodding very serenely, while Hiei guided him.

He'd have to try to help the Skunk.. Hn... Who could think of that?

He hated when he was forced to confront his past, and the other, merciless, cold youko he had been before. Nevertheless, his past character was again coming in a flashback to haunt him.

He, Youko Kurama would have to rescue Hikaru from death...

Very funny.

He entered the cave, slowly, silently, pondering on very detestable past episodes he had lived.

He could not avoid a little smile when he looked at the limp, hurt fox, which Hiei had nestled so carefully inside the cave. Hikaru rested amidst lots of fresh leaves, wrapped in his own three striped tails. Hiei had warmed up the rocks around with his own you-ki, making it cosier to the impaired animal.

Kurama looked at it for a while. The black stripe was very visible, starting at the top of his head, and following down his back till the end of each of his three fluffy tails. The silver youko tried not to allow his prejudice to interfere, but damn!

That thing really looked like a skunk, huh?

He could not make his smile disappear not even when he crouched next to the hurt animal. Hiei had involuntarily given that fox the best treatment by placing  him where he could be surrounded by his element: rocks, earth, clay...  - The silver youko's mind wandered off as he mentally continued the list, his smile widening in a sarcastic tone - detritus, mud, dirt...

Anyway, the skunk would soon recover.

The tall youko swept the leaves away, letting the animal lie on plain soil. The movement made Hikaru's body twitch, and the grey fox opened his eyes, very slowly. He tried to move, but had no reaction but a tremor, as if his own body could not respond to his command.

The animal was in pain. Kurama quickly examined the broken leg and the spot of blood on the fox's little head. He must have been beaten very hard.

"You're gonna be all right. Just rest in this form for a while, and try to recharge." Kurama told him, as he started to gather some of his seeds and herbs. He had to heal that broken leg, and that was going to hurt. He needed something strong enough to make the Skunk doze off.

The silvery demon could not avoid thinking... Oh, if that striped fox knew... If he just suspected...

Kurama knew the story behind that youko's downfall in all details - Of course; he took part in it some 200 years ago. Naturally he knew Hikaru. Lord Hikaru, exiled heir from a great Realm deep in the Youko Territory. That striped fox had chosen a self-imposed absence after being crudely turned into laughingstock by his own peers and later accused of treason.

Hikaru never knew who was the leader of  the small gang of outlaw Youko which had brought so much ruin to him and his homeland.

Well, and Kurama did not intend to present himself now that centuries had passed.

"What's so funny, Kurama?"

"The irony of my own fate..."

"Hn.. Just take care of that youko, will you?"

"Yes, baby... Don't worry. He'll soon be better."