Kurama's whole body grew tense. He had to try holding his ground for a little longer; just till help came. The Silver Youko shut his eyes just for a while, calling Hiei in his mind. He was not sure he could defeat both demons, not with his current energy level. Moreover, he did not have the slightest idea about what Udo's powers were...

Kinno's master waved a reproaching finger at Kurama.

"You better not resist. Don't try anything stupid! I don't want to leave marks on this beautiful hide of yours," He announced; Then an ugly roar started to grow from deep in his throat.

The youko looked around him, backing another step. Caught at the very middle of the long hall, he saw no safe way to escape. Kurama could feel his opponent's you-ki start to rise, together with the deep howl which rumbled higher from his open tusked mouth.

"Daddy, take care... Don't let him growl at you. He can kill you with that!"

The silver youko agreed. He still protected Kinno with his own body, in the way of those two demons. Unfortunately, there was not much he could do. Kurama knew it was risky. If he could not fight, at least he could try to bluff and threaten those monsters in order to gain a little more time.

Kurama picked a small seed from his hair, and threatened Udo, staring at him coldly.

"Don't come near! Go away or I'll summon my youkai-eating plants!"

The two demons grinned. Udo stared at Kurama with a cruel, penetrating contempt. The bastard must somehow know he was powerless.

"That plant controlling youko wants to play... Look, Yo.. He wants to measure forces with us..." The pimp laughed louder. He opened his arms then, blocking the corridor completely. "What are you gonna do? Throw birdseeds on me? Spank me with flowers? Drown me in fruit juice?"

Kurama felt his face burn with hatred and impotence as he heard the pimp's coarse mockery. But he insisted on acting his part. He did not recede from his position a single inch. However, his eyes lost the furious confidence he had before.

"Leave us alone! My daddy is very powerful! Don't make fun of him!" Kinno cried out, indignant at the way his master treated his father. He clinched firmly to Kurama's waist, and the silver youko noticed the boy was shaking with fear.

Well, he could not blame the kid. The situation was difficult.

He delicately pulled Kinno away from him. The golden boy took refuge hiding behind a pillar and the wall, imagining his father would fill that corridor with all the killing acid showering plants he could summon.

"Yeah, daddy! Go, go, go!" He cheered his father, animatedly.

Kurama gave one very concerned stare at Kinno in response. The kid did not suspect at all how weak he felt...

"Let us pass!" He ordered Kinno's master, making his you-ki he had left rise around him, so the his threat seemed more effective. "Kinno comes with me and you can't stop us!"

Udo looked down his nose at the youko pair. His associate murmured something to him, and he agreed. Then the tusked monster advanced one step forwards in the corridor, to push the youko tighter against the back wall.

"You're weak, aren't you, little youko? You must have been affected by the wards. You triggered the hex when you climbed the walls..." Udo commented, with a burning sarcasm.  "I heard a lot about you, Youko Kurama... Kinno says you're his father. So let's see if you're a good screw like him..."

The beast opened wide his ferocious tusked mouth, and uttered a loud, domineering roar. Kurama just felt the air and the sound hit him, hard and hurting like a huge punch. The seed he held rolled away.

The youko was hammered against the wall at the end of the passage. Kurama huffed a loud groan of pain, when he crashed into the rocks. Then he fell to the ground, inarticulate and out of action, thumping against the rocky floor loudly.

Kinno cried. He tried to run to help his daddy but could only run half way to Kurama. Udo growled another monstrous roar, hitting the golden youko with its shock waves. Kinno was suddenly pushed back, by the invisible strike, pinned violently against the wall.

"Don't hurt my daddy! Master, please, let my daddy go away!" The golden youko yelled courageously, trying to resist his Master's power.

"Stay, Kinno!" Udo bawled. Then he raised his vigorous clenching hand, commanding his you-ki, making his energy leave him and grasp around Kinno, holding him in place like a barrier.

Kurama sat up. He had to move slowly. His body hurt when he tried to stand up. Udo laughed loudly. It was a loud, deep sound. Kurama noticed the demon's you-ki expand together with the sound and his bad-breath, packing the small area. Udo raised his other hand, summoning a great amount of demonic energy around his fist. Then he punched down the air.

Kurama groaned in pain when he was smashed against the soil by a heavy strike, as if someone had hit his back with a huge, pounding hammer.

Kinno cried louder, and yet he could not move. He felt as if invisible ropes were tied around him. It was his master's energy, as he controlled the air around them, binding and torturing them.

"Fight him, daddy, please! You can do it!" Kinno cried in despair, totally alarmed with his father's helplessness.

Kurama tried to prop himself onhis arms and rise up, but seemed the pressure forcing him to the ground increased. It was encircling him like a force field, blocking his movements.

Udo manipulated the air. His fingers fidgeted around nothing as if  he were handling a puppet's strings. His huge right hand was clenched tight; his fingers grew taut and harsh as he emitted his you-ki to bind Kinno. Meanwhile his left hand trembled high with the strong flow of energy he commanded to make youko Kurama whimper and wriggle in agony on the floor.

Kurama heard Kinno utter a moaning sound of pain. The silver youko managed to lift his torso a little, just enough to look up at the cruel way the younger youko was squished into almost invisible, twinkling claws of you-ki.

"Leave the kid alone, you asshole!" Kurama shouted out angrily, starting to summon his own energy to try to react, to try to fight, to try to do anything which could help them in that difficult moment.

But soon the silver youko called his lover's name then, with a loud, emotional cry when he realized, in terror, he could not resist the tightening pressure over him.

The bald Demon left Udo's side then. He walked slowly towards Kinno, already reaching out to get him.

"I'm your new master, my  golden  jewel." The villain spoke, giving Kinno a filthy sidelong smile. "Come to papa, foxy thing..."

Kinno tried to escape the clasping ties around him. But Udo's associate came closer and closer, causing Kinno to shiver with nausea. He did not want that new master; he didn't want any master at all! He only wanted his daddy and his beautiful home in Gandara!

Kurama still tried to rise and defend himself and Kinno. But You-Know-Who used his energy and crushed Kurama harder against the floor.

That ghoul's you-ki was too strong for Kurama to resist any longer.  It circled the air around him, like an invisible, but intense barrier. That's why it was so difficult to move, so difficult to breathe... The silver youko stared at his son with frightened eyes - The situation had grown out of control...

Kurama was nailed down, unable to support his own weight any longer. Udo's you-ki barrier tightened around him, crushing him flat to the floor.

"I'm afraid you won't be a good pet, Kurama;  I can see you have a problem with authority..." The ugly fiend gnashed his teeth then, while a thick froth started to run from the corner of his mouth. "It's better to put an end to it all."  Udo proposed, wickedly.

Kinno cried out a loud, desperate "No!" But his master just clenched his fingers in the air, commanding the invisible dome around Kurama to cram him harder, like jaws.

The silver youko moaned and squirmed, still trying to escape. But it was difficult. His ribs were almost breaking under the heavy pressure. His head hurt, his ears buzzed, he was dizzy and nauseated, and he could not move his limbs. It was like the weight of thousands of tonnes of rocks was grinding him against the floor, pinning him painfully to the rock.

"Go away, son... Get outta... Here..." Kurama murmured, in a low, tortured groan.

It was then that Udo increased his barrier,  hardening it.

The youko whimpered with pain, and Kinno started to cry, sobbing, begging for his Master to let his father go. He could not understand why his daddy was so weak.

He looked around. There was no way out. The two demons were blocking the only passage, and that detestable bald, clammy demon was closing in... Kinno shuddered in terror when he imagined how detestable it would be to have those long, bony hands on his body...

"Ji-chan Hiei! Help! Please, help us!" Kinno cried loudly, despaired with the way they had been set up.

Udo shook his head in disapproval at Kinno's emotional burst. He looked for a while at the vanquished youko wriggling in pain on the floor, unable to move or even breathe. Then he stared at the beautiful young golden youko. That pretty thing was much too stupid!

"Idiot! My guards must have crushed this so-called Hiei!" Udo heard a groaning protest then. The silver youko still resisted. He twisted in an inarticulate protest, trying to creep out of the dome of power summoned around him.

Udo squished the air harder with his clenching left hand. It was the decisive, unmerciful strike.

He gave Kinno a wicked half-smile. All of them heard a loud moan of pain come from Kurama. A trickle of blood slipped form the corner of his lips as he was smashed slowly but heaviely to the pavement.

Kinno cried hysterically, terrified by the grimace of pain he beheld in his father's face.

"There's a lesson I want to teach you and your daddy, Kinno..." Udo commented then, offering the golden youko a sordid smirk as he clenched his fists harder. The pressure was so intense his giant arm trembled with the effort, revealing impressive stuffed veins and nerve cords. He indicated to Kinno his defeated, crushed father with an angry tilt of his head. "Shit happens..."

Udo released the binding upon Kinno, putting his right hand down. Kinno attempted to run and help his father but Yo grabbed the golden youko by his waist, holding him in place.

Kinno kicked and punched, but even though his new master was shorter and smaller, he could not fight him... He cried louder, protesting to be taken away...

It was then he noticed the energy surge increase around them, flooding the corridor like a hot sinister wind.

The tearing sound of steel piercing flesh was heard, and when Kinno tried to dodge his new Master's grip, he faced no resistance. Yo's body fell to the floor with a sticky thumping sound, trespassed by a katana.

Then a deep, intimidating  voice was heard...

"Let Kurama go"

Kinno jumped and clapped, too content to see the familiar short, spiky-haired youkai in black blocking the way between Udo and he and his father.

Hiei stepped on the other demon's body. The bald monster still squirmed in a paroxysm of agony, and its thick blood flowed slowly, sprawling on the floor.

"Ji-chan! Watch out! He's very evil!" The golden youko exclaimed, treading over that detestable bald demon's corpse to help his father.

Hiei snorted loudly. He pulled his cloak off then, in one wide, heroic draw.

"If he abuses weak kids like you he's nothing but a stinking coward!"

Hiei immediately summoned his you-ki. It arose like a high dark flame around his whole body, blocking Udo's strength. He glared at the huge monster before him;  He wanted to waste that bastard as soon as possible.

Hiei looked at Kurama from the corner of his eye for an instant. His youko was fine... They exchanged one brief but loving glance, while Kinno helped his father sit up. Kurama crept away from that giant's reach with his golden son's help. At this moment the silver youko had eyes for Hiei only, observing him bully the enemy. Fascinated by his lover's killer beauty, Kurama gazed at him in an affectionate trance, mesmerized by Hiei's determined steps, the lustrous Jagan on his brow, his blood stained, muscled figure and his furious stare at his enemy...

Hiei was such a gorgeous youkai...

"How dare you break into my Fortress and speak to me like that? I'm gonna teach you, little prick!"

"I'm gonna flame you up, motherfucker!"

Udo laughed louder.

"You are going to stop me? A walking little lump of shit like you? Are you mad?"

Hiei felt his youkai blood boil with hatred. The flame of demonic fire grew higher around him. His Jagan twinkled and pulsated, emitting a strong vibration of energy forward. He challenged that monster's scorn with his own proud yet silent disdain. With his eyes locked on Udo, Hiei started untying  the swathing around his right arm. He unfastened the bandage very, very slowly, making a tough stand to block his fiend's attacking energy with his own rising you-ki.

Kurama crept out of the way, helped by Kinno. They sought refuge by leaning tight against the wall, on a retreat at the end of the passageway. Both youko's eyes were wide, as they observed the incoming match with a nervous apprehension. The silver youko closed one arm around Kinno's shoulder. He pulled the kid against the wall and protected him with his own body when he saw the bandages around Hiei's arm fall softly to the floor.

"Stand back, child..." Kurama told him, very aware of the terrible destruction which would follow around them all.

Udo uttered a hoarse but powerful roar, packing his energy blast and the vibration of his deep voice together. He summoned a fierce ball of energy before him, which he crammed together by his huge clenching hands. He attacked then. His deep roar and Hiei's cry echoed together, as both demons focused their fighting you-ki. The whole place started to quake with the strong energy of the two demons.

"Fuck you pigmy!" Udo roared. Then he drew more and more air in, to intensify his killer howl.

The walls rumbled and trembled. Kurama held Kinno tight in his arms, sitting down and huddling against the ground, to protect themselves. Kurama prayed silently that Hiei had energy enough to defeat that disgusting demon... His baby was brave, but...

"Eat shit and die!" Hiei answered back, as he raised his arm and clenched a very tight fist, focusing the Black Dragon's energy. A wall of black fire grew before him, as he called forth his greatest might. "Ja ou en Satso Kokuryu-ha!" Hiei clamored, as his small body tautened up to shove forth the Black Dragon.

The black fire engulfed the whole place, like a deadly mist. It was heavy and thick, growing high around Hiei.

"Daddy... What's happening?" Kinno asked, gently, unable to see much, as the flames grew like a solid wall around Hiei.

Kurama just cuddled to his son. The ground started to tremble, and the vibration of pure demonic energy howled around Hiei, louder and louder...

The youkai was over reacting... He would end up demolishing the whole fortress on their heads...

"Don't worry... I still have energy enough to protect us."

Kurama smiled softly to his son, summoning the little you-ki he had left. If Hiei released the Kokuryu-ha within the Fortress, the energy would be enough to collapse the whole building. The silver youko formed a very ethereal protective dome around them, enough to prevent them from being crushed by any falling debris.

A loud roar burst forth when Hiei's powers rose up in a rotating column of pure energy. The place was shaken when so much demonic power reverberated against the walls and pillars.

Udo still tried to resist, using all his might to push back the spinning dark energy. But he was not powerful enough to resist the Black Dragon's intense drive. His bawl and the you-ki he had summoned were engulfed by the potent thunder-like sound the dragon cried out in his fast annihilating attack.
 
The Silver Youko did not see much of what was happening. Kurama just pushed Kinno to the ground, protecting his son by laying his own body over him. He clenched with a tight but affectionate touch the younger youko. The kid shivered in great fear under his body.

A loud, resonant boom erupted forth. A deafening growl and a rumble louder than a thunder sounded around them. Breaking and cracking noises filled the place, as part of the walls started to fall apart. The sound continued in a deep,  vociferous rumble, echoing and causing a continuous hoarse vibration rise from the collapsing walls and floors.

An explosion blasted right before them. It was as if the whole world was being dismantled, torn apart, swept away by a gruesome, loud torment of energy...

The youko lifted one eye for a moment, fearfully. There seemed to be so much destruction around...

The place was ruined. A high cloud of dust and dark you-ki still floated in the air, dissipating slowly. The walls, pillars and one third of the whole fortress had tumbled down. Floors had been demolished before him, sliding down into one giant heap of rocks and wreckage. The part of the construction which had been struck by Hiei's attack had been torn down completely. A large crater appeared on the walls, as if a ball of fire had melted the pillars and rocks.

Kurama shook the dust from his hair and shoulders. He was covered with a thick coat of dust and gravel. The faint barrier he had summoned over he and Kinno had already dispersed. But Kurama did not even notice it; he had one single concern... His golden eyes searched around for his youkai while he could not help but feel a tight clasp around his heart...

Hiei... Where was he?

Kinno sat up too, totally confused with all the clamor he had heard around him. He directed an astonished stare at the huge crater which had ruined the place. A draft of fresh wind blew through the collapsed ruins, reaching Kurama and his son. The dust was dissipated slowly, while a deep huge silence covered the extreme destruction.

Kurama smiled, sweetly, when he saw the small figure standing in the middle of the pile of ruins which must entomb that disgusting Udo by then. It was his youkai, safe and sound, showing not a single scratch...

Hiei proudly looked down his nose at the mount of debris he stood up on. The stone walls had turned black by the intense flames. Smashed carbonized remains lay scattered in the middle of the litter. The huge youkai had been vaporized, smashed and torn into burning pieces when the Black Dragon cut its way through him, exploding him with its power.

Hiei snorted, kicking away the pieces of carbonized flesh, rocks and rubble on his way, as he walked towards his youko lover.

Kurama stood up, running to hold Hiei in his arms. He kneeled down to cuddle the youkai better, and pressed him to his chest, making him lean his head on his shoulder.

"How did you like it? I smokescreened that bastard's ass!" Hiei spoke, with a tired but proud voice, allowing Kurama to squeeze him tenderly in his embrace.

"Yeah, baby! You were the best!"

"Now say it! You can't do anything without me. Confess it, youko..."

"Yeah, baby... I confess... " Kurama whispered, as he caressed his back, happy to have him in his arms. "Thanks for your help..." He continued, with a sweet voice.

Hiei caressed his youko's hair then while Kurama looked at the huge pile of destruction a little way away. They could see a great area of the outside and the sky through that enormous hole. The place seemed completely pacified now. Hiei must really have wreaked carnaged upon every enemy found in his way...

The silver youko kissed his lover's lips very briefly. He wanted to keep him in his arms, knowing sleep would soon take over the youkai. He needed to recharge his spent energy. But Hiei delicately pulled himself away from his Kurama, turning his attention to Kinno.

Kurama gave one long, thoughtful glance at the golden youko, who huddled, alone in a corner. He was still crying, and rubbed his eyes with nervous, trembling hands. His bruised body rose and fell in intense spasms because of  his crying and gasping. But at the same time, while he sobbed, a smile showed on his lips.

Hiei gave Kinno a beautiful, large smile, and walked up to him, holding his arms open wide for an embrace.

"Are you all right, child?"

Kinno sniffled his cry loudly. He lifted his beautiful, teary eyes towards Hiei, and just nodded. He could not speak; the cry suffocated his voice...

Kurama bent down to pick up Hiei's cloak from the ground. But he stared, with a little jealousy, at the loving embrace Kinno threw around the youkai. The silver youko turned his eyes to the ground, even then he could not help taking a passing glimpse at that scene.

The feelings that blond youko had for him and Hiei must be genuine; no one could fake them so well...

"Ji-chan! I'm so glad Daddy and you came to save me! I promise I'm gonna be a good youko, I will never lie or bring trouble to you any more!"

Hiei patted the youngster's blond head, playing with his golden hair.

"You better... Your father was very worried about your being missing."

"Really, Ji-chan? Daddy was really worried about me?"

"Yes... A lot..."

Kurama furrowed his brow when he heard Hiei's naughty and senseless play. He tried to utter a protest, but Hiei did not give him the opportunity.

"Kurama promised me he would accept you as his real son if you ever came back to us."

Kinno's face scintillated with happiness. He jumped and hurled himself into Kurama's arms. The silver youko struggled for a while to skip the embrace, but it was useless. Kinno held him so tight it hurt.

"Daddy... You make me the happiest youko there is! I've always been so proud of being your son! and I love you so much that I..."

Kurama pushed Kinno aside. Hiei should never have said such things. He had not promised anything like that...

"Hiei, don't put words in my mouth, I never..."

Kurama hurried to Hiei, eager to make the youkai disaffirm his own prankish words. But Kurama stopped midway to the youkai. His partner was already lying on the hard, uncomfortable floor, in deep sleep...

The silver youko smiled fondly when he saw his pretty youkai deep in dreamland. The youko was not sure about how many enemies Hiei had slashed, but there must have been a lot. And of course, releasing the Kokuryu-ha had worn out the rest of his energy.

He was so beautiful sleeping like that... So vulnerable... Like a child needing to be cared for...

Kurama was going to bend one knee and reach out for his youkai, but an eager clinch around his arm stopped him.

"Daddy! I'm so happy to know you love me and you want me to be with you..."

Kurama gazed for a while at Kinno. It was impressive to see how very loving and kind he was, even after all he must have passed. In this sense that youko was much like Taki. Kurama did not remember much of that vixen , but he recalled her merry disposition, her liveliness, and her coquettish and yet extremely sexy manners. Kinno was much like her in personality.

And Kurama was very aware of the physical resemblance he had with Kinno.

In the end, maybe Kinno was actually his and Taki's son... Now, after such a long time, no one could ever be sure about it.

"Ok, child. Let's get outta this stinking place."

Kinno stopped Kurama for just another moment.

"How did you find me, daddy?"

"Your friend told us where you were."

"My friend? Who?"

"That striped one..."

"Hikaru?"

Kurama nodded.

"Is he alive?"

Kurama acquiesced again.

"He was a little wounded, but he's safe now. He must be waiting for you back home."

Kurama was taken by a fierce, very tight clinch, as Kinno embraced him again with a vibrant contentment.

"Thanks for saving my friend, daddy! You were so kind to me... And I lied to you and Hiei Ji-chan... If I had told you about my master, nothing like that would have happened..." The golden youko sobbed a little more then, appeasing his weeping little by little. "I'm so very sorry... I will never ever lie to you and Ji-chan again, I promise!"

Kurama pushed Kinno away with a gentle touch. Then he bent down to bring Hiei to his lap, calmly assenting to all Kinno was saying...

"It's gonna be alright. Let's go home now, son..."

Kinno's smile grew larger and brighter when he heard Kurama calling him his son. He cuddled to his father very tenderly, and kissed his right cheek, in a quick impulse.

At first, Kinno though his father would be angry with his doing, but then Kurama supported Hiei's weight on one arm only, and reached out to pat Kinno's blond head, offering him a heart-hearting smile.

A fatherly smile...