"Come inside, children. Share some sake with us."

They held hands tighter when they heard the deep voice of the King. Kinno cuddled to Shura's broad chest, afraid they might have displeased Yomi with their curiosity. It had been Kinno who insisted they should peer on Hikaru to check if he was fine, and look what they had just found! They did not need to match Hikaru and the King any longer...

"Don't say it was my idea to come, lollypop... Your papa is going to be mad at me because we broke in their kiss."

Shura caressed his youko's back, trying to assuage Kinno. His fingers moved up to his head, playing with the tiny white flowers still intertwined along his golden strands of hair.

"There's nothing wrong, foxie. You were concerned with your friend and came to check on him; Papa will understand."

Shura undressed his slippers, bending over to take the delicate sandals off his youko's feet. Then he caressed Kinno's shoulder.

"At last they are dating! But we butted in; papa Yomi must be mad at us!"

Shura smiled.

"I doubt it..." He slipped his fingers delicately down Kinno's cheek. "Somehow I think he will enjoy our presence and support."

"And Hikaru? He never liked my intrusions, he must be furious at me!"

Shura placed his hand delicately over his partner's mouth. He had brought Kinno along to try to make him relax. The conflict between Hikaru and Kurama had stressed Kinno enourmously.

"Don't be afraid, blondie. I am sure he is still your friend, no matter what." Saying this, Shura pushed the sliding door open and entered the tea-room, encircling Kinno's waist with one arm and bringing him along.

They stepped in under the older couple's gaze, and Kinno kept his head low in a way his soft blonde hair fell over him, hiding his features. He was so aprehensive Shura needed to lead him in.

The youngsters approached the center of the room, and stood by the low table. Shura bowed his head respectfully before his father.

"Forgive me for interrupting your..." Shura hesitated for a second about which word he should use. Date? Encounter? Kiss? Affair? Then his eyes fell upon the Gomoku board. "...game." He directed a mischievous smile at his father then.

The king responded with a discreet, dubious half-smile. He could not conceal to his own son the turmoil of feelings that striped youko was causing in his heart.

Shura became certain at this very moment, that his father had very determined and straightforward intentions towards that grey youko.

A short snapping sound called their attention. It was Hikaru, who hit one piece onto the board, continuing the match.

He said nothing more then. In fact, he would not even look at any of the young lovers. He seemed uncomfortable, distressed, anguished.

Yomi, who had shifted apart from Hikaru when he perceived they had visitors, added another piece to the board in response to the youko's move.

Hikaru, still in silence, made another move, and Yomi responded his offensive, blocking his growing diagonal row. Hikaru immediately added another. The game proceeded fast. Yomi made another move; Hikaru blocked the King's offensive; Yomi counterattacked.

Shura and Kinno merely observed. Kinno was feeling dejected, and as he observed his friend, he cuddled tighter to his lover.

It was Yomi that interrupted the game, turning his attention from the board to the newly-weds. He smiled back to the children.

"It is good to have you here, children. Hikaru and I are only killing time, talking and drinking. We would be happy if you joined us."

Shura promptly refused his father's invitation. He knew Yomi was doing it just out of politeness; it was clear the King wanted to be left alone with his new youko infatuation...
 
Shura wished to find a polite excuse to leave, but Kinno sneaked out of his embrace with a nimble move. He hurried around the table, and kneeled next to Hikaru, joining his hands before his chest. His golden eyes were gleaming with tears, but Kinno still managed to hold them back.

He tried to gaze at Hikaru, but the grey youko kept deviating his stare and his face, in a polite way not to let their eyes meet.

Kinno insisted. He reached out to caress his friend's straight hair.

"Hikaru... Please... Are you still my friend?"

Silence fell upon them. It was interrupted only by the sound of Kinno sniffling his cry. The blond youko clutched his fingers feverishly, still holding his begging hands before his castdown face. The uneasy silence was so intense they could hear the sound of Hikaru's tense, deep breathing. But no answer was given, The grey youko merely added another red piece to the game pattern.

Kinno could not hold it any more. His cry burst out, convulsive and painful, and he hid his face in his cupped hands, sobbing and whining for Hikaru to forgive him, and forgive his daddy...

Shura felt the pain Kinno must be feeling in his own heart. His partner's suffering hurt him deeply. He hurried to crouch down by Kinno's side, enveloping him with his arms. The blond youko, still weeping like a child, rested his face against the curve of Shura's neck.

Not knowing the reason behind Hikaru's attack to his father, Kinno had been nervous and strained all the while. It had even been hard for him to relax enough to make love. His nervousness and his preoccupation towards his father and his friend kept Kinno with his heart his mouth all the while.

Shura had tried to make Kinno relax, but he did not insist much, even though it was their honeymoon. While in their chambers, he merely cuddled to Kinno and calmly heard him telling stories about his grey friend, their blind dedication one to the other, and the many occasions in which Hikaru had saved him from trouble. He worshiped his striped friend.

But how can you still be friend of someone who tries to murder your own father?

Shura was focused, worried, and Kinno was hopeless. Yomi on the contrary kept his tranquility. He was the only one in the room who could sense Hikaru's true emotions. The grey youko was tense, silent, rigid, but not from anger. Yomi could feel his energy. Hikaru was not furious or resented with Kinno; he was merely sad, taken by  a paralyzing, almost suffocating sorrow, which prevented him from responding.

Yomi was about to interfere and disrupt that painful silence. The king reached out to stroke Hikaru, and incite him to asnwer Kinno, but the grey fox finally reacted.

He raised his eyes very slowly towards Kinno. Then his lips showed a faint trace of a smile.

The youko pulled himself up before Kinno, offering his hand to help him up too. All of it still saying nothing.

"Hikaru... I..."

"You are still my friend. But we must talk..."

The golden youko got on his feet slowly, acquiescing as Hikaru excused himself from the Yomi and his son, bowing his head before them. He left the room then, taking Kinno along.

Shura observed them walk away, glancing back and forth between the youko and his father. Yomi directed all his senses, all his attentions towards that grey youko. He was absorbed into the elegant way he walked, the way his long hair swayed behind his hair as he moved, his scent, the sound of his pale feet stepping the wooden floor...

Shura gave Yomi  a sideways smile. He could feel his father's energy arouse. Finally, after such a long time it seemed The King was definitively forgetting Kurama, and opening his demon heart for the possibility of a new love.

Shura patted his father's thigh.

"Gorgeous youko, isn't he, papa?"

Yomi's pale face shone with the wide, satisfied smile he could not hold back. His cheeks flushed, and even his shut eyes seemed to smile.

"Yes. And he has a fascinating past..."

"Are you in love?" Shura asked then, totally at ease, amused to witness the undeniable interest his father had developed for Kinno's friend.

Yomi laughed softly. He did not say anything though.

Shura chuckled. His father's candid laughter provided him the answer he needed. He was delightfully surprised with his father's enthusiasm. It was all he wanted; that his father might find someone to love too, someone he could trust...

A new passion was indeed starting in Yomi's demon heart. Being there to witness it fascinated Shura. If he could do anything to help... Otherwise, it could be better to let things follow its natural course. They could end up ruining everything instead of really helping. Being a matchmaker was not an easy task at all.

"You seem to be very excited about him. Is he your kind of youko after all?"

Yomi nodded his head very calmly.

"His composure is just a mask. He hides lust and rage inside, like a hidden flame..."

Shura's mouth gaped when he perceived the passion in his father's voice. The King was indeed infatuated... It was serious business...

Yomi made a long pause. He breathed in, and scanned Hikaru's presence with his perception. He was outside, in the porch, explaining to Kinno a little of why he had attacked Kurama so furiously.

"I had been really blind not to notice it before, my son." One of his hands closed around the curve of his shoulder, as Yomi caressed himself. "I want him... I want him badly..."

He was very aware of  Kinno's sorrow, but being stricken by grief also, there was not much he could do to help.

Kinno caressed his hair again. Hikaru accepted the kindness, but that contact gave him much pain also. He could not stop thinking about Kurama and about Hayashi and their  doleful past...

"You are not angry with me, are you, Hikaru?"

The grey youko sighed in. Then he turned around to envelop Kinno in his arms. He held the younger fox tight against him with sweetness. It was then the Kinno's nervousness started to fade away. His weeping ceased as he cuddled affectionately to his friend.

"Never... Kinno... I..." Hikaru hesitated for a moment. But then he finally said it, drawing himself away from Kinno's cuddling arms. "I am leaving Gandara in the morning. Forever."

Kinno's eyes widened in shock. He hurried to clinch to his friend again.

"No! You are my friend! You can't leave me!" Kinno tried to hold tightly to Hikaru, but the grey youko managed to disentangle himself from his hug.

"I cannot live here. I cannot live anywhere near your father, or I'll lose my mind..."

The grey youko walked slowly around the porch, up and down, in circles, always observing the high buildings which surrouneded that quiet haven. The tall shadow of Gandara's buildings formed like a black wall sparkled with twinkling lights. He sighed in, and then out. Having found all his enemies but being defeated by the last of them left a bitter taste in his mouth, and more pain inside his heart than he could tolerate.

Kinno just remained quiet, even though he was very curious. However Kinno knew  there was no way Hikaru could be rushed to do or say something. His friend had is own, very particular rhythm.

"You tried to kill daddy... Why, Hikaru?"

Hikaru leaned to a pillar. He crossed his arms, trying to avoid looking into Kinno's eyes as he spoke.

"Your father's ambition ruined everything I had. I lost the only love of my life because of your father."

"That youko? The one who died?" Kinno asked, recalling one long gone talk he had exchanged with his friend.

Hikaru just acquiesced.

"I have promised to myself, before Hayashi's grave I would avenge him. Ever since then I chased and killed all the youko involved. I wiped out the gang which attacked my city. It was a task which took me years..." Hikaru smiled bitterly then. "I have traveled much, and I have spent most of my treasure paying for information. The inn had always been a decoy; a means to gather information. You know, drunken people often speak too much..."

Kinno seemed shocked. Yet, he did not interfere.

"All these years, I hunted them, tortured and killed them, one by one. I managed to find all of those slayers, except for the leader of the gang; the demon who ordered that no blue-eyed youko should survive..."

Kinno started to shake. He embraced himself, very aprehensive. He did not know... He had never realized... How could he...

Hikaru stared intently at Kinno then. He spoke slowly, softly, but there was an underlying wrath in his tone of voice he could not yet hide.

"I found it was your father. It was Kurama Youko who ordered the massacre which changed my whole life. Kurama acted like a coward, hiding behind my ignorance all the time; this is what angers me the most..." Hikaru reached out to touch Kinno's face very delicately. "I am very fond of you. You have always been friendly and loyal to me. But I cannot live here anymore. "

Kinno did not know what to say.

"Hikaru... Would you actually have killed my daddy if you..."

Hikaru avoided to answer to that directly. Kinno was too good-hearted to understand the urge for vengeance he kept inside him, like a heart made of the blackest and heaviest stone there was; A restless, ominous heart that seemed to have replaced his original one, since his quest started.

"I must leave Gandara tomorrow first thing in the morning..." He heaved a painful sigh then. "And I will never come back. This is a farewell between us, my friend; a farewell forever..."

He turned his back to Kinno, but the golden youko insisted, pulling Hikaru by the sleeve of his robe.

"Please... Stay with us... You could live with Shura's papa, away from my daddy..."

The grey youko seemed confused for an instant. What did King Yomi had to do with it all?

"Live with King Yomi? Why?"

"Aren't you dating? We saw you kissing. Shura's papa loves youko, and he's so kind... You would love to be papa Yomi's companion, Hikaru..."

Hikaru froze. He did not stare at Kinno as he spoke with a faint voice, smothered by emotion.

"You are mistaken. I have no intention of staying whatsoever.  This city is not far enough from your father. Not even the farthest frontier of the Makai is enough to give me peace of spirit..."
 
 

"Papa, I feel happy for you. I want you to know I support you completely this time. Hikaru youko is a very decent and cordial demon. He is a suitable companion for a King like you."

Yomi seemed a little embarrassed.

"I don't know much how to get to him. My flirting days are long gone. I wonder if I am doing it right..." Yomi played with the hem of his robe, lost in his own thoughts for a moment. "He seems like sand in my hand. Even when I try to catch him tight, he still finds a way to slip in between my fingers - I love it..."

Shura leaned forward, frankly interested. That was a facet of his father he had never known; the suducer...

"I cannot offer advice. Hikaru is very different from Kinno."

"And he is very different from Youko Kurama either. I feel like throwing him to the floor and forcing him to take me, but I am afraid of his reaction..."

Shura shook his head in a slow sway.

"Taking by what Kinno told me it would be the worse case scenario. Hikaru Youko is very reserved."

"Then I need to entice him enough to make him take the lead."

Shura glimpsed at the two empty bottles of sake by the side. Yomi had just tossed away a third one, as he filled his cup again.

"Perhaps if you keep him drunk enough it will be easier."

Yomi nodded.

"It is my intention. Then I might be able to know Hikaru better."

Father and son chuckled. Yomi offered Shura sake in his own cup, but his son refused.

"I wish you luck, papa. It is time for you to stop living all by yourself. I am sure Hikaru could be a great partner if you..."

They were interrupted when Kinno reentered the room, sobbing and crying like before. Shura got on his feet and hurried to his lover's arms.

"Hikaru is leaving us, Shura! He's going away!" Kinno groaned, as he held his sweetheart tighter against his body.

Shura was about to say something, when they noticed the grey silhouette pass them, heading towards the centre table where the game was being held.

Before taking his seat again, Hikaru faced the young couple. However, he said nothing. And he did not become aware the disappointed expression which appeared in Yomi's face, or the frustrated glance Shura aimed towards his father.

Hikaru remained impassible. His eyes were drawn to the board. He seemed to be studying the possibilities the game offered him, apparently unmindful of what was going on around him.

"Do not worry, my children. Every demon must choose his own fate. I am sure Hikaru will be able to choose wisely whatever is best for him," Yomi commented, bearing sadness in his tone of voice, but demonstrating a kingly acceptance of the facts. "Perhaps he might change his mind in the following hours; daybreak is still far..."

Kinno would insist, but Shura delicately pulled him by one hand, to bring him towards the door and out. His father and Hikaru had only a few more hours to spend together...

"Let us leave them alone, blondie. Papa and Hikaru still have a lot to talk..."

Kinno extended his hands Yomi's papa. He addressed the King then, with a naive, and well-intentioned plead.

"Papa Yomi.. Please, talk to my friend. Try to convince him to stay.." He begged Yomi, smiling, before being hushed by Shura.

Hikaru raised his clear eyes to look at all of them, annoyed with so much interference. When his eyes met Yomi's, he was given the most radiant smile.

"I will do my best to keep him here..."

The King's voice was so sensual, so passionate, that Hikaru quickly drew his eyes back to the Gomoku board. He had just realized how hot and excited he became whenever Yomi sama smiled to him like that...

Shura bowed before then one last time, still excusing himself for the interruption. Then he left, delicately bringing Kinno along, murmuring to the blond youko things Hikaru could not grasp.

Anyhow, it was good to have silence and peace again.

Yomi turned his perception back to Hikaru. The fox had filled his cup, and was quietly drinking more sake.

The King decided then he would do anything, everything, in order to prevent Hikaru from leaving. He would even lock him in Gandara's dungeons if necessary. The problem is that with his powers over rocks and earth, Hikaru would easily set himself free, only if...

The King burst into laugher then. Perhaps on the account of the sake he could not control himself as he would normally.

Hikaru faced the King inquisitively.

Yomi showed the youko a mischievous smile.

"It just came to my mind now that Gandara's dungeons are not built of stone; they are built of metallic alloy..."

The youko did not smile. He stared at Yomi with a puzzled expression, not wondering what the King meant with that...

"Where were we?" He asked severely, cutting the topic as he started to count the Gomoku pieces to check whose turn it was.

Yomi twisted the hem of the robe in his fingers. He was getting a little impatient; His interest for Hikaru grew higher at a geometric rate...

"I was about to kiss you..."

Hikaru's cheeks grew red at once. However he kept his composure, acting as if Yomi had said nothing out of the ordinary. His blue eyes gazed very gravely at the King, and he tapped the table with the tip of one finger, calling Yomi's attention to the board.

"I mean in relation to the game, King Yomi..."

"Oh...I imagined that we could..."

Hikaru had finished counting the game pieces put along the board. He faced the King, interrupting his tentative excuse.

"Kinno and Shura's visit confused us a little. But it is definitively your move."

Yomi complained. Let alone his growing impatience, he had also lost the perfect opportunity to kiss Hikaru and take him in his arms... Moreover, why should he  continue telling him about Kurama and Kuronue when he was so curious about Hayashi's life as a fake slave? It was not fair!

"Again? But I have just told you about my promotion!"

"I don't mind. Tell me more..." Hikaru smiled then; it was a slight smile, but enough to appease Yomi.

Yomi finished his cup of sake in one draw. Then he placed his black piece on the board, and smiled.