"I come from very far away into the Youko Territory. Thousands of  years ago, when Gods and Demons still walked the Ningenkai because the three Worlds were still a single one, a bloody war erupted among us Youko. It was a war for power and influence; it was a war to choose the Guardians of Inari. There have always been different species of Fox Demons. Such war came to stress these differences."

"Different species? In which sense?"

"Our powers. Youko may have powers over either earth, fresh water or plants; some are psychic, and others possess healing powers. Some of our race can even spread plague and pestilence at will."

"It must have been a very intense war then..."

"It was a blood bath recorded only in legends by now. It was a massacre, which lasted millenia. Even in our days we can feel echoes of this ancient conflict." Hikaru breathed in deeply then." Kurama and I are descendants of the oppposite factions in the war. He is a youko with powers over the plants; a golden-eyed youko. They were the defeated faction, and ended up exiled to the utmost fringes of the Youko Territory, or turned into slaves. I am a blue-eyed youko. It was my kind, with powers over rocks and earth and fresh water, who won the dispute. Most of the Youko Territory belongs to us, together with all its riches. We have a very organized society, ruled by one  Sovereign. Our kind tries to live apart from much of the disturbances and riots which devastate the Makai. We give much value to Peace; that's why we never participate in any political affairs outside our borders. On the other side, the defeated party had no other fate but to leave our kingdom and scatter all around the Makai to become thiefs, pirates, slaves, traders..."

A soft smile showed in Yomi's lips. Even guided by his deep knowledge of the Makai and its past, he had never heard such story. A Youko Kingdom? It must be something spread only among Youko themselves...

"That is truly fascinating... I can realize the reason there is so much hatred in between you and Kurama now."

Hikaru shook his head, very slowly.

"No. This is just the beginning," he explained, unable to let go of a bitter, soft smile which barely curved his lips. "Once in a while, some small conflicts still start deep in the Youko territory, and most of them based on this ancient enmity between those different youko breeds. To avoid being harassed, my people build strong security around our cities; nevertheless, some scattered bands of  plunderers still try to attack us."

Yomi waved his horned head in a very slow fashion, acquiescing to the grey youko's words.

"Kurama must have been a member of one of these bands, yes?"

"The leader of one of these band of pillagers, in fact."

"Oh... I understand..."

"I always knew the gang leader must have been a very intelligent, resourceful youko. However his true identity has always been hidden all this time. I have discovered Kurama was involved mere days ago."

"Old secrets came to surface then."

"Precisely."

The grey youko made a pause, and he cast down his eyes, as he continued, always in his soft, gentle tone of voice."

"It happened 258 years ago. No one saw that vicious gang of vandals arrive..."
 
 

The skies were cold and overcast. A multitude of dense cummulus clouds gathered on the horizons, lining like a leaden-armored phalanx behind the tall, sharp peaked mountains. The soil was grey and arid, covered with gravel, rocks and pebbles. Nevertheless, the foxes' cushioned paws made no audible noise as the skulk followed a sinuous trail along the mountain.

One of them, a beautiful black dog fox with two tails jumped onto a boulder with one single nimble impulse. The animal quickly scented the cold air, and he blinked his round golden eyes. The fox scratched the nails of his right paw against the rock, and bent down to sniffle it.

Then, the sharp furred face seemed to smile in a pretty fox-like fashion. A tilt of  his head signalled for a very specific way, and the black animal left its post of observance then.

The other foxes, together with the black one compounded a group of nine. They stopped, forming a circle. There were two brown foxes; they lay together, one leaning on the other in a rather lazy manner, visibly apart form the rest of the skulk, entangling their several tails in a slow play. There were also two red foxes, bearing very slight differences in their fur patterns. Others were a delicate white one, and two dark grey males could be counted also. The nineth animal, a beautiful, seemingly proud and fierce silver fox stepped forward, heading the direction the black fox reconnoiter had indicated. The silver fox waved his four tails in a very slow sinuous movement.

Water - They had found it. Finally! After having crossed miles and miles of desertic sharp, jagged hills, and arid, rocky plains, it was like a blessing...

However, the eight males had to wait a little behind. The silver fox sniffed his way, and edged in between two boulders, moving into a very narrow passage. Difficult to find, but it was there, flowing in a thin stream, gurgling from between the rocks - A spring of fresh water. The first one they had came upon after long days of journey.

The silver youko quenched his thirst calmly, but in avid gulps. His silver gorgeous tails waved lazily in the air as he drank.

Only after the silver fox left the spring, yawing and allowing passage lazily, is that the other foxes trodded, with lots of caution, to the fountainhead. A natural succession happened naturally because there was room for one only animal through the narrow passage till the spring. The Black fox first, then the most gorgeous of  the red ones. One after the other, all the animals sated their thirst, till only the two Brown ones remained. Of the Brown foxes, the stronger one, was the first. All of the other animals, even the silver furred fox, stood aside as he passed.

The last fox to follow to the water was the second of the brown ones. A scrawny one, with dirty, thin fur, a snarled tail and one ragged ear, which showed a semi-circular scar, like a bite. The animal stopped on the way to scratch his back. By then, none of the other animals was paying any attention to him, except for the other brown fox, who kept himself very watchful as the other drank.

The black fox waved his tails in a very peculiar manner, as in a sign, while circling the silver furred one.

The leader twitched his pretty upright ears, and licked his own snout, still savoring the fresh water. He brought his tails down, and stayed very quiet and still for a moment.

It was then a soft luster enveloped his small, furry body, like mist. After a moment, when all the hazy energy vanished, the tall, gorgeous silver youko appeared.

The silver youko walked to the edge of the cliff. His narrow, golden eyes followed the tortuous stream which started at that spring. The clear water wormed in between the rocks, flowling  slowly in meanders down the side of the mound. And below, still in the distance, blurred by the morning mist, he could see the twinkling Crystal City, surrounded by a high wall of pure, clear quartz.

The legends were true. Now they would loot that kingdom and make those vicious usurpers and enslavers pay.

When the silver youko turned over his shoulder to direct at his band, all the foxes had already changed aspects, into a group of sensual male youko.

The black haired youko came closer to the silver one. He shook his head, tossing his thick, long black hair off his eyes, then he crossed his muscled arms at his chest. He and the silvery vulpine demon stood side by side, looking downwards at the distant city, whose turrets, pinnacles and pointed roofs, glinted under the rising morning light.

The black haired demon blinked his odd eyes. One of them was light grey, almost whitish; the other golden. It was because of his grey eye that he was named Amatsubu - Raindrop.

"Is it all made of crystal, Kurama?"

The silver youko nodded.

"All kinds of crystal and precious stones. I can't wait to lay my hands on their treasure..."

The redhead youko came closer to them, willing to take part in their conversation. After all, he had privileges; he shared the leader's company during the night, so he must share his secrets too.

He possessively circled Kurama's waist with one arm, but the silvery demon  pushed him away, a little annoyed.

"Not now, Minato. This is serious business, not fun!"

One of the grey youko came along. He was graceful and slender, and smiled to Kurama in a very seductive fashion. Minato growled in protest when he realized Kurama smiled back at him.

He had seen it coming since the expedition started. He did not matter who Kurama fucked, but he would not allow the gang hyerarchy to be altered in any way.

"If you are sending someone to investigate, I'd like to be chosen, Kurama"

"Ass-licker!" Minato retorted, glaring at the delicate white youko.

"Shhhh! Minato! Kireihana! I told you I hate any kind of fighting around me, didn't I? Shut up and let me think!"

The silver being gave his back to them, leaving the edge of the cliff. He crouched down near the spring, leaning his back against a large rock. In the shade, he remained there, very still, with low-cast eyes. Kurama seemed totally immersed in his own thoughts, detatched from everything around him.  Amatsubu stood next to him, like a tall guardian. The black youko looked up at the rest of the group then. It was a very peculiar and rare gang. It was very difficult to band male youko together; disputes were very often whenever dog foxes were involved. It demanded great effort, careful planning and a very strong leader, like Kurama was, to make their plans succeed.

Maigo, the oldest of the dark grey youko had climbed a boulder. Standing above all, he observed the horizons with dreamy eyes. Minato and Kireihana still argued on the edge of the cliff.  Nevertheless, they kept thei voices low enough not to bother their leader. The second red-haired youko, named Suni, had started summoning grass to cover that dry soil, just for fun, while humming a tune. The white youko, whose name was Shizuke, was quiet and small, almost feminine. He  exchanged a loving smile with Amatsubu. With a very soft gesture, the white youko called the sentinel closer. Amatsubu conceded, with no hesitation, agreeing to his quiet and mute lover. Then the two of them ostentatiosly walked away from the twins.

Kurama called them Psycho Twins - Hiroshi and Hayashi. It was general sense that those two meant trouble.

By the time that adventure started, Kurama led a gang of 12 powerful, greedy youko. The first gang composed solely of youko ever heard of in the Makai. But as they crossed the demon land and ventured into that desert part of the Youko territitory, looking for the Crystal City, Hiroshi, that maniacal killer, managed to kill 3 of the group under the most varied excuses. In two cases, it looked like an accident, but no one could be on the safe side in relation to that plague spreading youko. Hiroshi was considered by all there nothing but a sick pervert.

No one bothered about Hayashi much. Hiroshi's twin brother seemed harmless. Nevertheless everyone avoided him because he smelled bad and carried fleas.

Hiroshi walked tight, nervous circles around Hayashi, who was sitting on the ground. Knees bent, he huddled, keeping his head buried in his crossed arms. He was obviously trying to sleep. Hayashi's singular type made him show too much in the group. He had black tribal tatoos all over his arms, shoulders and back; they stood out of his pale skin like war paint. Also, his entangled mass of spiky, greasy brown hair and his stiff, prickled tail were very distinctive characteristics.

Hayashi was very serene, waiting for the skulk leader's decisions very patiently; just like the other youko. But his brother, first-born by a matter of instants, was extremely anxious. 

Hiroshi stopped his restless circles. He stared at Kurama then, placing his hands on his hips. His golden eyes glinted, in open defiance.

"I'll go down there! I can finish them all alone! There's no need of such silly plans. We go, we kill, then we plunder! It's as simple as that!"

Kurama did not move an inch. He aimed a very angry stare at Hiroshi; it was enough for that imbecile to shut up.

"It is because of idiots such as you that we lost the Youko territory to these mud-piling bastards!" The silver youko breathed in deeply then. "Keep your dirty mouth shut!" The leader continued. He brought his hand to his long flowing mane, as if he were to take one of his seeds, and Hiroshi turned his back to him - in silence.

Kurama huffed, annoyed by such arrogance. He looked at the other youko. That stupid Hiroshi really enjoyed showing off. But he had to have strict control over them, or their raid to the Crystal City would fail. He could not risk a gang member so openly against his plans and leadership.

"We need a careful plan. We need to know of their defenses. We need to investigate where their treasure is kept, and how to get to it." The silver youko stood up. He walked to the middle of the terrain, very aware all the youko's eyes were locked on him.

Kurama showed a slight sideways smile, filled with irony. The silver fox knew he was truly a leader. He have gathered around him the most vicious and evil youko he could find, and yet they would follow him and obbey his orders with no doubt, no hesitation. His followers were bound to him not only by respect or admiration, but by fear.

It was his idea of a perfect relationship; either in love or business. He was the Master, they were the servants. Period.

"Don't be mistaken; this is not a small group of enemies we have down there. It is a whole Kingdom! They must have a very strong Army." Kurama took some steps in Hiroshi's direction. Yet he kept a safe distance between them. "Your gift of spreading plagues and diseases is very necessary, Hiroshi. That's why I called you to join us. But your power in not enough. We need to use of our intelligence to overcome those blue-eyed bastards!"

Hayashi raised his head, looking up at Kurama and yawning at the same time.

"Don't expect inteligence from my brother. We're not identical twins."

Kurama and Amatsubu could not hide a smile. Both appreciated the fine, sharp sense of humor that tatooed youko possessed. Hayashi had the knack for a mordant criticism on his own brother.

"Hey! Hayashi, which side are you on?" Hiroshi questioned his brother, obviously annoyed.

The dirty, smelly youko lifted his eyes, lazily. He yawned again, and did not bother to offer Hiroshi any answer.

Hiroshi sat next to Hayashi. They started to talk one to the other in soft murmurs, not to allow the others to listen. The others were planning a hunt to get some fresh meat. After all that long trek, they required to recharge their energy.

Kurama called Amatsubu closer in. The scouter had picked a small green sprig from the pockets of his tight leather trousers. He held it in between his index finger and and thumb. Then commanding his you-ki, he made it grow into a long, green stem spear; his favorite weapon.

"You better watch your back, Kurama. I don't trust Hiroshi. He doesn't tolerate being humiliated before the others."

The silver youko agreed. However, he knew he would be safe; Amatsubu was not only a scout. He and his lover Shizuke were his personal body-guards.

"I need reconnaissance, but I don't want to risk you or Kireihana. You are the best, so I prefer to send cannon fodder in first."

The black youko smiled. It was a twisted, sideways smile, as he shared his chief's concerns. And it was very easy to find who was the most useless element in their group.

"Shall we send Hayashi? At least we'll spend some time away from his stench."

Kurama acquiesced, softly, to Amatsubu's suggestion. That brown youko had been accepted in the gang merely because, apart from being Hiroshi's brother, he was his lover also.

"Talk to him. Tell him to prepare a map, list defenses and try to make contact with someone from the inside. We need an informer," Kurama decreed. He needed information enough to start weaving his plans...
 
 

"Sometimes I ponder if the story would have been different if the reconnoiter was other than Youko Hayashi..."

Hikaru showed a faint smile in his lips. Nevertheless, his eyes were filled with grief. The recollections placed him in between conflicting emotions. He kept a long silence then, maybe putting his memories in order, or getting used to the pain which they might carry.

Yomi felt it was his turn. He drank his cup of sake in one only draw. He turned his blind eyes towards the Gomoku board, and placed another piece in a diagonal line from Hikaru's.

"Youko Kurama has always been a leader, since I first met him," Yomi started. His deep, manly voice filled the whole room, like a comforting velvet cloak. "The undeniable appeal Kurama possesses bewitches all around him. I fell for him miserably..."

 To be Continued...