He had turned a Heir, a respectable Lord into a fugitive.

Somehow, Hayashi was very happy he had found a new protector. A protector he truly loved, with a kind heart and a sane mind, very differently from his twin brother Hiroshi. But on the other hand he felt his youko-heart pound with regret and fear for what he had caused to the life of that beautiful grey fox.

It had been so sudden... Hikaru showed an unmoving determination. In a way It was exciting to see the intensity their love had marked the young noble youko.

Hikaru had managed to make all the arrangements rising no suspicions at all. Even nervous, he managed not to let his intentions be exposed in any manner.

He had assaulted, most innocently, the Kingdom's treasure chambers, turning his back completely to his own family and to his own people and laws. It had been the most difficult and delicate part of his plans to escape the city. Nevertheless his prerogatives as Heir guaranteed the guards did not denounce his stealthy withdrawal of the Kingdom's resources.

Anyhow, he had not stolen enough to arouse suspicions. Hikaru knew he needed to be practical - he could not take much if he was to cross half the Makai as a renegade. He should mind not only the burden of excessive baggage, but the ogling eyes of thieves.

Hayashi smiled affectionately when he thought about it. Hikaru was a civilized youko. He was a faithful servant of Inari, watcher and holder of the Temples. According to rumors, his blue-eyed breed was detainer of permission to visit all three worlds whenever under Inari's service. He had different habits, and different priorities.

It was even funny if compared to the gang of outlaw golden youko he was part of.  They, the barbarians, had crossed almost one third of the Makai on their way to the Crystal City with no baggage, no supriments, no food or water but what they managed to find on their route. On the other hand Hikaru had spent hours getting ready to travel...

And it was all the difference that made him love Hikaru deeper and deeper every moment.

No matter his civilized ways, that noble grey fox would be just a runaway from there on. On leaving the city in the still of the night, Hikaru had abjured all his privileges, all his rights.

Hayashi had tried to detain Hikaru. He had tried to stop the grey fox and move him from the idea of leaving his homeland, but all he tried, all he said, was proven useless.

Needless to say Hikaru was extremely aroused by the danger and by the unconventional flavor it added to his dull, rigid noble life.

They waited till that night fall upon the city together. They encircled each other's waists with their arms, and stood by the balcony, contemplating the city. Hikaru rested his head on Hayashi's chest as they observed the sky turn red, purple, and then merge into a deep black, with the baggage they had packed by their feet.

No regrets... No doubts... When they found the time was right, and most youko were asleep, they picked up their gear, and sneaked out.

Hikaru had taken Hayashi by his hand, and merged into the darkness of the palace's corridors, going down the stairways till they had found the lowest levels, underneath the dungeons, at the mountain's foundations. All passages were closed, locked by gigantic blocks or heavy walls of rock, but they were no barrier for a member of his blue-eyed clan. Hikaru merely needed to place his bare hands onto the rocks to slide them aside and thus unveal the tortuous, damp passages underground.

It was cold, opressive, and tight. Sometimes Hayashi felt as if going out of air.  Once or twice he had really started to panic when the weight of the mountain, the earth and rocks above his head and the narrowness of the passages seemed too much to bear. A meadow-fox like Hayashi was not used to all those cramped clefts and gorges under the earth. The dark, closed spaces and the dense air made it all very tough for the brown youko, but Hikaru would always reach out for his hand and hold it dearly, bringing him sweetly along. Or else, he would stop to give his lover a quick but affectionate kiss, and whisper him sweet, encouraging words, so he could calm down a little before continuing.

The end of the secret exit led them outside the walls, almost one mile away form the main gates, in a small gorge at the base of one of the cliffs which surrounded the city. They left the underground passing through a very narrow cave, so tight that they had to crawl their way out till the open air.

And even though both agreed that travelling at night was dangerous, they started their journey right away, willing to be at a safe distance from the city when morning came.

They had trekked the whole night and the morning, making just one quick stop to refresh their energies and eat something by midday. After that they still followed on, climbing the mountains, sneaking in through the narrow passages and chasms, always careful not to leave any tracks.

During this time, they did not talk much. Hayashi was still amazed at Hikaru's attitude about leaving everything behind, and Hikaru was worried there might be patrols trailing him, too focused on the journey to say something.

They had slept just a few hours during the second night, and they were already on their way before the morning started. The trek scheduled for the second day was a tough one. They had to climb their way upward abrupt cliffs, mountains and platteaus. It was easy for Hikaru. Somehow the ground never slipped under his feet, and rocks never rolled while he was holding to them for balance. He opened the way, and here and there his hands carved natural ledges or steps to make it easier for the other fox to climb up.

However, Hayashi was nimble and flexible enough not to delay them in the sligthest. He even seemed a true-born desert fox, completely familiar to that steep and rocky environment.

They had already crossed the high mountain ridge that separated them from the desert. The summit of that chain of mountains was reached exactly by sunset, when the temperature started to chill due to the cold winds blown from the desert.

They had camped atop the last cliff, before the steep rocky walls merged into the vast, arid plains of the desert. It would take them days to cross it all to the other side of the Makai. The side controlled by the three great Lords; Yomi, Mukuro and Raizen. The desert was nobody's land, and journeying through it would be a hazardous adventure.

The hardest part of the journey would start on the following morning, and they needed a good night's rest to be able to stand the heat. Atop those cliffs they had found a small retreat surrounded by rocks, like a roofless cave. There they had lit a fire which was kept hidden from view by the rocks, enough only to roast some lizards Hikaru had managed to catch. There they could sleep, sheltered, and out of sight. Since they had left the castle, they had been carefully taking watch turns during the short hours of rest they allowed themselves, attentive not to be caught by any incoming strangers.

Still awake, they both sat atop one large rock, facing not the desert, but the sharp, arid mountains they had left behind. The daylight was fading slowly, and still allowed them to view much of the abrupt, sharp silhouette of the distant highlands and their rugged, arid beauty.

The cold wind made Hikaru shiver, while his eyes were locked at the mountainous horizon.

Hayashi moved around, sitting at Hikaru's back. He parted his legs and kindly pulled the grey fox against his body, to nestle him in between his legs and onto his chest. Then, he wrapped his waist with his arms, and rested his chin on his shoulder.

"Missing home, gorgeous?"

He just shook his head, as he pressed his body onto Hayashi's, and stirred slowly, enjoying the warm comfort of his lover's body. He made their bodies rub in a slow sliding motion, in a cat-like, sensual caress,  and turned his head enough to kiss him.

Then, In the dusk, the grey fox stared deeply at the other fox's golden eyes.

"I miss nothing if I have you."

Hayashi smiled when he heard that. He would like to remain calm like Hikaru, but instead he felt extremely tense.  Hikaru's hands moved down to stroke the brown youko's thighs, rubbing and squeezing those firm mounds of muscle over his harsh linen trousers.

Hayashi moaned sweetly when he felt Hikaru swaying his buttocks against his lap. He kissed his face, and breathed deeper, to enjoy the fresh scent of moistened earth coming from his soft grey hair. His arms closed tighter arond his waist, dragging him closer to him.

"I'm worried about you..."

"I am so happy. I don't remember ever being so content."

Hikaru smiled when he felt Hayashi's lips kiss the inside of his ear.

"I love you..." The brown fox whispered into his lover's furry ear. His hands slipped  under his coat and into his shirt, to caress his chest. His fingers closed around Hikaru's muscled breast, squeezing it.

Hikaru groaned aloud, and wriggled slowly in Hayashi's embrace. It was so good to feel warm like that - warm on the outside, and also on the inside...

"You're crazy, Blue Eyes. You left your whole life behind to live on the run with a sleazy, flea-bitten fox like me..."

Hikaru chuckled. He nuzzled his lover's cheek, slipping his tongue up along his face.

"I love you enough not to miss what I left behind." He stared at Hayashi then, and his smiled widened playfully."And as for the fleas, it's nothing a good bath won't solve." Hikaru kissed his lips again. He murmured into Hayashi's mouth, softly, around a butterfly kiss, "I would do it all over again to be with you..."

The grey youko rested his head on the curve of Hayashi's neck, still stroking him, making his body fit the warm space in between his lover's thighs.

"Now we have to think on our future. The tougher part of our journey starts tomorrow. But soon we will be far away from here, in a place where no one will ever bother us. We're gonna settle down somewhere and forget about our past. Somewhere in the mountains, where we'll be able to shelter."

Hayashi smiled to Hikaru, but his eyes showed a deep melancholy.

"I had such a good life in the past, before my brother destroyed everything..."

The sorrowful comment made Hikaru turned around, and moving his legs to the side so he could face his lover.

"Don't you even think about him. Your brother won't ever find us."

Hayashi made Hikaru rest his head on the curve of his shoulder, supporting his back with one affectionate hold, while his other hand reached up to stroke his face. His fingers followed the trace of his nose, the contour of his lips, and slid slowly down his high cheekbones to his chin.

Hikaru leaned his face onto the healing fingers of that youko. Then he kissed the harsh palm of his hand.

"No one takes you from me. Never."

Hayashi chuckled very softly.

"I always wanted to live quietly somewhere. But my healing abilities have always put me into trouble. Many youkai wanted to force me to serfdom." Hayashi caressed Hikaru's hair and looked up to the sky, recalling his long lost memories. "Healers have a hard life. There are some of us powerful enough to ressurect the dead. However, we are unable to protect and heal ourselves..."

Hikaru kissed Hayashi's tattooed neck.

"I watched everyone around me being killed, and my homeland be devastated, and I could never do anything... " The brown fox continued, sadder yet than before.

"Your brother?"

"Yes. He never let anyone come close to me. In his obssession to protect me and keep me by his side he has destroyed everyone I loved."

"I'll protect you from him."

Hayashi stroked the other youko's back, with amorous insistence. He dared not to speak his mind though. Hiroshi was extremely powerful, and the fact he might harm Hikaru somehow was his greatest fear. The long gone days of his childhood, in which he could confide on his father to protect him had been long gone. They ended at the exact moment Hiroshi's insanity surpassed his reason, and he grew more powerful than their father.

"My father was my brother's first victim. From there on Hiroshi wiped out every demon that dared to step in between us." Hayashi stopped to look deeply into Hikaru's eyes. He cupped his face with his hands, in a tight but tender gesture. "I have tried to escape my brother many times, but he always managed to seize me back. No one has ever defeated my brother; he is very powerful." He sighed hopelessly, before continuing. "Many youkai have tried to defeat him in order to steal me from him. and none succeeded."

Hikaru blinked his very clear eyes, apparently unnafected. But Hayashi insisted. He embraced him tighter, and instead of kissing they made their faces meet and rest one on the other.

"If he comes up for me, let him take me, Blue Eyes. Don't confront him, please, or he will take your life..."

Hikaru leaned forward, to murmur into Hayashi's ear.

"Relax, my love... We're far away from your brother, and from my father and all the silly fianceés he insists in finding me... After we cross the desert we will be out of everybody's reach. Just go to sleep; I'll watch over us."

Hayashi slipped his tongue along Hikaru's cheek, licking him with affection. He got on his feet then.

"I love you. Take care..."

"I love you too..."

Hayashi wanted to leave, but he couldn't. His eyes were locked on his beautiful lover. He was trying hard to let go of his aprehensions, but it was very difficult...

"Hikaru... If anything happens..."

Hikaru blew the other youko a kiss.

"Shhhhh... Nothing will happen..."

"Listen to me... I only want to protect you...  I was an enemy, but when I first saw you I knew I had to change all my plans, all my beliefs, and stay with you..." Hayashi sighed in. "If anything happens, I just want you to know I love you more than everything. I would never, ever betray you. I would never let you down, and I..."

Hikaru stood up, and in an embrace, he pressed his smiling lips on his partner's. Then he whispered very sweetly into his mouth, as he kissed him...

"I know..."
 

He felt it was dangerous, and he had a terrible hunch about it all. In fact, he did not want to go, but he would not dare denying it to Kurama. Not after all they had lived together.

His fingers moved up to the pendant on his neck. He caressed the red gem tenderly, recalling his past.

It was such an irony that one of the most valuable things he possessed was a fake jewel... And in counterpart, Kurama kept the treasure of Kings stuffed somewhere. And he still insisted in risking his neck exploring the whole Makai for the most valuable magical prizes.

Maybe Kurama needed to become a little more detatched and dispose of  his cached valuables and possessions. After all, what would be the use of such an immense treasure if he were killed because of it?

Kuronue smiled, checking the weapons attached to his boots, his belt, and all the flinging blades stuffed into his pockets.

He hoped he did not have to fight, though. The bastards at the Dark Guild Temple were very mean youkai; real bloody guys. But they did not count on Kurama. The youko had such stealth and cunning that he would easily fool all of them with one hand on his back.

His admiration for Kurama had never ceased. It was what made him still wish to share his body and his life with him. But Yomi.. Oh.. That horny novice, so submissive, and so kind was the dearest of his heart...

He was so different from Kurama...

He truly loved Yomi, but he did not want to let go of Kurama. He wanted the novelty and the kindness of Yomi's ways, but he still loved to melt the youko's cold attitude with his caresses and make him boil with jealousy. Kuronue's favorite pastime had always been to pest and tease Kurama and watch him reach his limit - It was real living on the edge!

The black winged youkai crossed the fort's ward to the west wing, where he knew he could find Yomi. He stopped midway then, spotting the youkai in a corner, busy while polishing his katana under a makeshift tent. There was no one else around.

Kuronue stopped, striking a pose. Then, knowing Yomi was looking at him, he put his hat in between his knees and with both hands free, he slowly lifted his black hair, arranging it into a pony tail and fastening it with a leather strap.

He knew Yomi loved his hair. He knew such gesture would call his attention.

Kuronue gave Yomi a mischievous sideways glance, and smiled while he put on his half-hat, fastening it and carefully making the brim fall over his eyes.

Yomi smiled to him, and called him closer waving his hand.

When they were at arm's length, Kuronue did not waste time. He ran into Yomi's arms and leaned on him for a kiss.

As always, Yomi tried to resist, but Kuronue imposed his will and his love on the horned demon with a sweet insistence, till Yomi parted his lips and the other demon's  tongue slip in, deepening the kiss.

Yomi smiled when their mouths were drawn apart.

"Take care, batty."

Kuronue acquiesced.

"I wanted to go with you, but Kurama doesn't  trust me..." Yomi lowered his eyes then, and Kuronue stroked his beautiful black hair with tenderness. "He will never trust me, Kuro. He is never going to change..."

Yomi looked so sad... Kuronue took his bigger hands into his smaller, slender ones, and made their fingers intertwine in one slow caress. He squeezed Yomi's hands with his fingers, very dearly, and pushed himself closer, in a way their bodies grazed, and they could look very sweetly one into the eyes of the other.

It was then Kuronue felt it again, deep inside his chest; a constriction, a pounding sensation, a strange disconfort... He definitively did not want to go...

"Kurama is tense because we are going after one of the treasures he covets like crazy. But I'm sure he will feel better when we return. That youko will be in such a good mood because of his new magic toy that he is going to cut you some real slack, hornie. So, just hold on tight to your pants, because when we come back we will both fuck you silly, right?"

Yomi laughed. Only that nutty demon could make him laugh when in fact he felt so sad and disillusioned.

Then he asked Kuronue something that had been itching in the back of his mind since he had joined that gang. Something he had not been told yet.

"Kuronue. How did it happen?"

"What?"

"The first time you and Kurama made love."

It was the time for Kuronue to laugh. He faced Yomi with a playful glint in the corner of his dark-blue eyes, and shook his head... He should know; Yomi was too curious... That horny guy was a real peeping Tom, who wanted not only to see, but to poke into everyone's lives...

Well, knowledge was power; he could go far using such techniques.

"I was very young. Just like you, Yomi, I had just passed my initiation test..."

Yomi smiled, and pointed at the bauble hanging from the other demon's neck.

"The pendant; I know; Kurama told me about it."

Kuronue's eyes twinkled with the delightful surprise. A-ha! So it meant Kurama and Yomi had been interacting behind his back... His smiled grew wider yet. and he arched one eyebrow, inquisitively.

Yomi got the message.

"We spent a lot of time together while your wing healed. Kurama wanted you to rest, and he called me into his bed everyday while you slept." The horned youkai lowered his head then. "He made me used to it, and now I miss him more than before..."

Kuronue became very happy when he heard that. It was all he wanted. That they could be true friends and ardent lovers; all of them, forming a true circle of affection, and not a bizarre and unequal triangle of unfulfilled desires.

He moved his hand to Yomi's face, and caressed his cheek very sweetly. Then he played with his beautiful pointed ear, and reached down, making his fingers tickle the curve of his neck.

"After I passed the test, Kurama called me to his quarters, for a private celebration. We had dinner, we drank, we talked, and then..."

"He seduced you?"

Kuronue shook his head in a teasing way. He gave Yomi a very playful sideways glance, and snorted.

"Hn... I jumped on him..."

Yomi seemed shocked. Open-mouthed, he stared at Kuronue in a frozen, astonished attitude.

"W-what?"

"I seduced Kurama, Yomi. The youko was such a gorgous demon. I was young but I was not naive at all; I knew pretty well what I liked. I seduced the youko, just like I seduced you..." Yomi's surprise amused Kuronue. "The youko was used to be in control, but I turned the tables and he loved my attitude. Since then, he is hooked on me."

Yomi was still in shock.

"But this is a... This is... It is a..."

"Relax Yomi... I always say attacking the rear is my expertise, don't I?" The bat-like demon reached around Yomi's waist to pat his butt, in an insinuating gesture.

"But Kurama was your leader; he was your chief, how could you..."

"I caught him off guard. Since that time, just like you are under the youko's thumb, Kurama became my plaything."

Yomi looked down at the ground, baffled, totally disoriented. Kuronue took the opportunity to steal another kiss form his pale, dry lips.

But Yomi gently stepped back when he felt something entangling around his horns. Kuronue laughed and reached up for his hat, which was being pulled off by one of Yomi's horns. Horns and hats were a very bad combination!

Kuronue fitted his hat back, tugging the brim down again, and winked an eye to Yomi.

"Don't worry. I never wear this hat in bed."

Yomi immediately looked down, and his eyes slid down the straps around Kuronue's arms. His pale cheeks flushed, and his eyes twinkled. It was very clear the youkai grew excited by something...

"Hmmm... great idea, Yomi..." Kuronue said then, letting one hand caress his other arm, displaying it to Yomi, making sure he observed the tight way those straps encircled and fastened his muscles. "I'll use these on you; I'm gonna tie you down and spank your butt. Then I'm gonna stretch your tight hole with my big prick all the way up..."

Yomi blinked his beautiful eyes. His reaction was immediate. His chest raised and fell with one deep gasp, and he fidgeted in place, feeling suddenly too tight, too hot...

Kuronue looked down. He could see something big growing and twitching under Yomi's pants.

"Yes, Yomi... I'm gonna make you forget the youko. I'll be bad to you. You enjoy being a slave, don't you? I'm gonna treat you bad then. I'll tread on you, I'll break you and humiliate you just like Kurama does. I know it will make you love me, and then you will forget Kurama..."

Kuronue held a handful of Yomi's hair. Then he twisted and tugged at it.

Yomi gave out a cry of pain. But when his eyes met Kuronue's they glinted with a sudden passion. Kuronue pressed his body onto Yomi's again, careful to avoid horns and hat to mess it up, and then he kissed him. It was a furious, hungry kiss, and Kuronue pressed his tongue avidly into Yomi's mouth, kissing him so vigorously that Yomi choked.

He moaned around the kiss; and his pleased groan became a squeal of pain when he felt Kuronue's teeth close around his mouth. Kuronue bit Yomi's lips with energy, and the horned youkai squirmed with the pain caused by that evil kiss.

He loved it...

They parted their mouths, and Yomi gazed at Kuronue with startlement. His demon heart throbbed, and heat climbed up his legs and thighs, filling his groin with a pulsating lust.

Kuronue waved Yomi a graceful goodbye. He smiled, leaving Yomi to join Kurama, so they could start their mission.

"Wait for me, horny baby... I'm gonna torture you bad when I return..."
 
 

To be Continued...