Yomi rested his fingers before his mouth. He would not like Hikaru to perceive his smiling lips and his muffled laughter. It was much unusual for a youko to be so entranced merely because of a kiss, like Hikaru had told him.

"Just a kiss? How naive of you..."

Hikaru paled, abashed.

"I was young. I was no more than 40 years old; it is not much for a youko. Moreover, I was yet untested regarding male love.  A kiss was enough for me grow rapt feelings for Hayashi."

The retired King showed a frown of concern. And he slowly reached out, his arm extending beyond the board and the table. He would try to touch the youko, but they were yet far one from the other.

Yomi just showed his hand in a conciliatory gesture between them.

"I beg your forgiveness. I intended not to offend you in any fashion..."

Hikaru smiled back to ease Yomi's concern. But it was a cold, quickly-fading smile. The grey youko directed his hand towards the bottle but Yomi made a move, and he was the one who served them more sake. He poured it into both cups and noticed that  bottle was almost at the end.

"I should not have spoken in such a manner. Sometimes I forget I am a King, and act like a drunken ruffian. I feel extremely sorry for my unwise comment."

The youko relaxed as he felt the cold drink reach his lips. He savored it, and swallowed the liquid fire, soothed by the quick consolation it brought him.

"I realize our lives followed opposite parallels, King Yomi. You were a lowborn, who found your own means to become a King. I was the first born son of a King, heir of the Youko territory by blood lineage and tradition. Yet, I relinquished all my rights and duties due to the circumstances which have trapped me. Now I am just a commoner..." The youko touched his own flowing hair. His fingers traced a slow caress along the black stripe which blemished the bright grey of his long hair. "No; less than a commoner. I am a misfit; A pariah among my own people."

Even though his hoarse voice and his words gave out a deep melancholy, Hikaru still showed himself controlled. His features showed no alteration, and the blue tone of his eyes became even cold and distant as he faced Yomi, who had softly called his name.

"Hikaru. I have been stricken by disgrace also. My sight has been ripped off and yet I managed to overcome it."

The youko smiled. Nonetheless he replied nothing. Servants have arrived, bringing not only one, but several bottles of sake, and varied refreshments. They bowed before Yomi and Hikaru, setting another low table next to them, and arranging everything with quick yet graceful precision.

Then, they left, closing the doors as they passed, allowing Hikaru and Yomi to return to their privacy.

The demons faced each other. Another bottle was opened, the cups were refilled.

"I had such an ordered, tranquil life then... I was much credulous though. My clan had been chosen Guardians of Inari in the past, so my bloodline had always inherited the dominion upon youko and that part of the Makai. I was my father's heir, much like your son Shura. I was under much pressure, and responsibilities. Duties and traditions burdened me. At least now, being no more than a tavern-keeper, I am free. But at that time, I was commited to all kinds of ties..."
 

Then, almost in a reflex, he reached for one small rock from the soil. It had a sharp side glinting as the daylight reflected on it. He fidgeted the small stone in his fingers, rolling it, touching it and observing it with care.

Even as his partner shifted position under his body, he did not let go of the small stone. The other youko sat up, starting to dress up. Hikaru lay on his side and propped himself on one elbow, as he deeply gazed at that little rock. He closed his clear blue eyes for one short instant as he summoned his own you-ki. A violet hue wrapped his pale, naked body as he called for his whole energy, concentrating his power on that small rock aggregate.

The blue youko followed Hikaru's every gesture, very still, keeping an expectant silence. It would be a very decisive moment for everyone on their land if Hikaru managed to fulfill his intent...

"Yes, my love. You are capable of doing it! Do not give up!" the blue-haired demon stated, supportative and kind, as the glow of Hikaru's you-ki seemed to brighten up around him.

The grey youko gave out a very low groan. The effort must strain and cause him pain somehow. His muscle cords showed under his pale skin as he focused his whole energy, spiritual and physical, into that tiny piece of rock held by his fingers with feverish intensity. His closed fist trembled, his whole arm trembled, and his back arched in a taut curve of exertion. He shut his eyes harder, and his lips murmured something; but it was inaudible.

Then, in a sudden change, Hikaru relaxed. He sighed in deeply, as the you-ki haze faded around him. The grey youko sat up  then, and his shoulders were sweetly encircled by the arms of his partner. A pair of curious big blue eyes were directed towards Hikaru's clenched fist.

The blue youko tenderly wrapped Hikaru's waist then. Both observed, thrilled, as Hikaru opened his hand, slowly unfolding his fingers to reveal a shining gem.

"Oh! You made it, Hikaru! We can get married now! And you shall be throned Ruler of the Crystal City!"
 
Hikaru tilted his head, nuzzling the blue fox's cheeks. His very soft shoulder lenght hair was brushed by a sudden breeze ad he kissed his partner's lips, with quiet, soft tenderness.

He brought his spread hand upwards, closer to their eye-level, so both could examine the twinkling, clear gem in further detail.

"My loving Mitsui... Forgive me for disappointing your trust and support," Hikaru asked the delicate blue youko, leaning onto the embrace which enveloped him.

"It is a diamond, is it not?"

The grey youko played with the shiny trinket, rolling it in the palm of his hand.

"It is no more than ordinary rock quartz. I am not yet capable of weaving diamonds." Hikaru huddled then, embracing one bent knee. He kept the crystal gem held tight within his fingers, ashamed of his own limitation. "I shall never be able to do it. I shall never rival my father's power. I shall never be King..."

The blue youko did not smile. She stood up, walking a little away from Hikaru to finish fitting her beautiful, rich kimono-like dress. She would not even look at Hikaru. Her face was graceful but severe, and her big blue eyes showed much of her upset for Hikaru's failure.

"You must practice more. You know kingship will only be conceded to you when you are powerful enough to create diamonds."

Hikaru nodded, softly. Mortified, he stood up also, careful to give his back to her vixen partner, and reached for the neatly folded pile of his clothes arranged next to him. He started dressing them.

Hikaru and his betrothed would not exchange any word, as they composed themselves. The grey dog fox was much embarrassed and could only look down, at his own feet, avoiding to meet his fiancee's eyes. She supported him so much, always inciting him to practice, to make his best to raise his power levels to maximum, and yet he could not correspond to her wishes.

"My family is always questioning me about our marriage, Hikaru. You know our clans rely on you to carry out your father's lineage and rule. You must do your best! We can not live longer resigned to meet in the bushes because we cannot yet officialize our union!"

The grey youko listened without giving out a single complaint. He agreed to the gentle, and yet hard admonition of his partner, with shame making his high-boned cheeks burn.

"Yes dear, I agree. I shall put my best effort to it, I vow it to you."

She arranged her dress, and stepped into the tiny , delicate embroidered shoes. She groomed her long, wavy bluish hair, and placed the briliant shappire tiara on her head. The small gems glinted against her hair.

"Perhaps your brother Seiji will be the one to be chosen the King's heir, even being the second son. He does not seem to procrastinate his training and obligations like you do." She directed a hardened stare at Hikaru, as she fitted his silver embroidered belt around a very thin waist. Even delicate and much shorter, Mitsui faced Hikaru too proudly. "He can already weave all different variations of crystal, without apparent effort."

Hikaru felt the comment leave a deep, painful cut in his youko heart. He finished dressing up his tunic, and reached out for Mitsui, folding her petite body in a tight embrace.

The blue vixen sneaked from Hikaru's arms to stay at arm's lenght from him.

"I want my future spouse to be the Leader of our people. You must dedicate yourself harder."

The grey youko touched her, fondling her silky blue hair. He stepped a little closer to her, and smiled when he sensed her tail brushing against his thighs as he embraced her from behind.

"Yes, Mitsui. For the sake of our love, I shall do my best..."

Hikaru was about to envelop her waist and bring her closer against him, but she nudged him away, and looked up at the clear sky.

"It is almost midday. Take me home now, will you, Hikaru? I should not have let you convince me to come here. I do not appreciate getting laid in the bushes, like a common, low-life vixen."

The male youko acquiesced, silently. He bent down to retrieve his black cape from the ground, shaking dust off it. Then he graciously extended one hand to Mitsui, to guide her out of the wilderness which lay in between the intricate rock formations surrounding the city walls. Tortuous bushes and trees fought for space in between the rocks, circling them. tall, irregular rock walls and formations and boulders encircled them, protecting them from sight. Even then, Hikaru's ears pricked forward. He had heard the very disting sound of furtive steps treading on the thin, dry grass and pebbled soil.

The young male immediately sheltered his vixen, protecting her with his own body, as he stepped forward. They were outside the walls, unprotected, and...

"There's someone coming!"

The girl opened a pair of frightened blue eyes. She did not want to be discovered in Hikaru's company outside the walls. without her family consent. She gripped one of Hikaru's arms, terrified. Even being intended since their childhood one to the other, they were not supposed to meet secretly away from their family's vigilance like that; it was not appropriate. She could be badly reprehended for such behavior if her parents found out.

"Go! Hurry back home! I'll detain whoever it is!" Hikaru cried at her, indicating her the narrow passage in between the rocks. It was the shortcut to the secret gate they had sneaked out from. "Go that way, and take care!"

Hikaru stepped forward, tossing the cape aside. He kept a fixed glance on the line of thick bushes right before him, from where the an insistent rustling seemed to come from.

The youko glimpsed over one shoulder to see Mitsui disappear around a line of rocks, running to reach a safe place. He gave a long sigh of relief and walked forward, to try to intercept the trespasser. He knew by then it must be a stranger to those lands. No friendly fellow citizen would sneak around him like this.

His body grew tense, when he perceived the silhouette pushing aside the bushes, making loud crackling noises as he closed in.

Hikaru summoned his you-ki, already preparing to fight. A cloud of dust and gravel started to rise form the dry soil, as if blown by wind, surrounding the grey youko. However it was not the wind which caused it; it was Hikaru himself, as he tried to conjure some type of defense around him.

Hikaru's startlement prevented him from increasing the barrier, when his eyes met a half-naked brown youko who stepped into that clearing.

The grey youko brought his barrier down, and the air around him became clear and still again. Aprehensive, Hikaru took one slight step backwards, to keep a defensive position. Then he looked up at the stranger, examining him with keen, curious eyes.

First thing he noticed, he was a golden-eyed youko, a plant weaver. Next, he wore weird black tatoos all over his arms and legs, and even down his neck and back. Then, the fact which had startled Hikaru in the most -  The brown youko was wearing only a small loincloth.

For one instant Hikaru did not know where to look at. But he made an effort to stare at the youko's narrow, wrinkled eyes. The intruder smiled back, but Hikaru kept himself stern and unmoving.

"Who are you? This area is forbidden for plant weavers. Go away!"

The other youko showed a somewhat sarcastic little smile.

"Do you want to know who I am, or you want me to go away? You'd better choose, gorgeous.."

Hikaru shuddered, shocked for the abusive way that intruder adressed him.  His words were disgusting, but his voice was not; Hikaru could notice that brown youko's voice was deep, rich. He kept a roguish accent, and a playful glint in his amber-like eyes. He took one step forward, but Hikaru did not pull himself backwards this time. He could not show fear, he could not lose ground so openly before that alien fox.

"Get out of our realm, plant weaver!" Hikaru commanded him. He was nervous. His arms were taut along his side, and his fists firmly clenched. The ground trembled very softly under Hikaru's feet as his you-ki started to affect it.

The brown youko would not stop smiling.

"This is not a way to treat a visitor. And I am not a plant weaver..." He stated, as he advanced another meter towards Hikaru. "I  am an incidental tourist, you don't need to fear me. I only want to be away of my brother's grasp for a while."

Hikaru shook his head, denying passage to the other youko.

"No. Not here. You're forbidden to enter the Crystal City."

It was then Hikaru became aware the other youko was already too close to him. He sniffed the air, and grimaced when he sensed the intense musk and the sour, sweaty smell of the other fox. He had to hold his breath when the other youko stayed right before him, very close, separated by the range of  an arm's touch.

The strange youko gazed at the other fox demon, keeping a fascinated expression in his sun-tanned, rough face.

"I think I like you..."

Hikaru faced the brown fox, and confusing emotions affected his body. His lips were drawn in a small downwards curve of repulse and his whole body grew taut, as if preparing to attack and repel the stranger. Nevertheless, the youko's blue eyes exhibited a bright reflection of contentment and shocked pleasure. In addition, a new growing emotion throbbed inside his chest vigorously. An arousal never experienced before started to be spread by his blood flow, sending shivers all over his skin.

What was happening? Why such a reaction?

"Please, get out of here. I don't intend to hurt you."

"You have beautiful eyes," the intruder murmured in response, in an arrested awe. His golden eyes fixed at Hikaru's face. "Blue eyes; You're breathtaking."

Hikaru could not breathe; and it was not because for the other youko's bad scent this time. It was because of the proximity, the warmth, the fierce, penetrating stare that strange male aimed at him. His blue eyes froze, fixed at the golden eyes of the foreign youko. Hikaru breathed in. He focused his energy to push the intruder away from him. He was prepared to fight any strike, any attack, any sharp hit, any kick or punch, or hostile gesture.

But Hikaru was not prepared to fight tenderness...

The brown youko uttered an entranced whisper.

"Blue eyes..."

Then he moved closer, with sweetness and loving stealth. His approach was slow and calm, meaning no harm, worming into Hikaru's defenses, instead of forcing passage. One hand squeezed the slender, sensitive side of Hikaru's waist, in a delicate grasp. The other held his chin. Then the brown youko leaned over the grey one, his lips half-open, his narrow golden eyes closed, his breath suspended in one instant of adoration...

Hikaru squirmed, in an awkward attempt to set himself free, but then, one fraction of second later, all his will to resist was transformed into a fierce, unexpected rapture, when he sensed the stranger's lips touch his mouth.

His body was shaken by shock; yet it was a shock of  extreme pleasure. Hikaru could not resist, he could do nothing but feel the smothering, lavishing contact against his lips, and the wet, warm touch slipping into his mouth, caressing and probing for his tongue...

He grew too weak to repel the contact; he felt too entranced to attempt to push that youko backwards. Hikaru breathed in deeper, and his senses were invaded by the strong, musky scent wafting from that male youko. His body was enveloped by his warmth, and by his slim but vigorous arms. He noticed the youko's hips press against him, and he shivered when he felt the insinuating presence of the other youko's manhood, bucked against his own while the embrace was tightened...

A sudden heat started to crawl along his body, starting in his low abdomen and spreading all along his limbs, all over his flesh, sending shivers and goosebumps to his skin.

"Ahhh..." Hikaru uttered, in a muffled groan of pleasure, as his lips were still devoured by that male's seductive attack. He rendered unto the brown youko, defeated, enthralled, impassioned, seized by the emotion and lust...

The brown's fox response to the delighted moaning sound uttered in between their kiss was to smile, and yet roll and twist his tongue deeper into Hikaru's mouth, sucking his taste and saliva, as his hands caressed his back.

The grey youko trembled. His sex hardened against the other youko's groin, as they pressed together in a crushing, delicious embrace. He could not breathe, he could not even sustain his own weight anymore, as his thighs were taut and paralyzed in a spasm and his knees trembled and collapsed.

Hikaru's mouth slipped away from the kiss, and he fell to the ground, drooping from the holding arms of the brown youko.

The impudent brown fox smiled. He licked his own lips dry from the kiss as his eyes fell upon Hikaru.

The heir of the Crystal City panted, totally exerted by the derring-do of that stranger. His slender chest rose and fell with the intensity of his forceful breathing. His cheeks were tinted with a rosy excitement,and his clenched fists finally relaxed, showing long, pale, trembling fingers.

One small twinkling bijou rolled from his fingers onto the floor. The brown youko observed it glint against the yellowish, sandy soil with curiosity. It was the small crystal stone Hikaru had just created, and which he had held, too startled by the newcomer to let go of it consciously.

The brown youko squatted next to Hikaru, to collect the small piece. He observed it carefully, playing with it, rolling it in his fingers. He smiled, genuinely entranced by its sharp, cold sparkles.

"It's a pretty thing. Can I keep it as a souvenir?"

Hikaru looked up at that smiling stranger. He was fetid, his face was rough, but there was some charm, some alluring grace which would not allow the blue-eyed youko to keep his eyes off him. He gasped, as if affected by pain. He looked up at the other youko's ragged ear, his spiky, greasy hair, his thin lips... That fox's low, careless features caused him to be locked into bewilderment.

The young heir was yet much confused by the intense emotion which had flooded him. He tried to say something, but he could not move his lips, his throat was dry, crammed with an anxious lump which almost blocked his breathing. He was deprived of energy enough to utter any articulate response...

He had never felt like that... It was a male youko, then how could he have been so altered? He should be packed with shame and repulse, not desire! Instead of disgust, Hikaru felt like being rammed, crushed, ground, forced against a massive block of  lust. A tingling heat burned inside him yet, as he nodded, silently, to the other youko's request.

"Thank you. I will keep it dearly with me," the stranger stated, getting on his feet.

He showed Hikaru the most delicious smile then.

"You're hot; even if you don't know it yet. I'd love to stay, but now I'm a fox with a mission." The brown-haired demon stepped aside then, ready to merge into the bushes and disappear behind the row of rocks again. "You're the most beautiful youko I have ever seen..."

Hikaru was still breathless. In a desperate attempt to recover from that dazzling shock of pleasure he inhaled so deeply it hurt. Then, he licked his own lips, and his fingers pressed against the sandy ground to gain support. His clear blue irises reflected a dash of daylight, glinting like jewels in his slant, elongated eyes. He blushed, intensely. Nevertheless, his eyes accompanied the foreigner as he moved to the edge of that rocky clearing.

Hikaru comtemplated the slim but strong half-naked youko, considering his careless, sloppy and yet alluring presence. That youko was dirty;his hair was spiky and messy like a haystack; his hands were rough, but nothing could cloak the undeniable charisma which enveloped him, like a mantle of irresistible lure.

The young youko found strenght to speak. His voice was hoarse, muffled, and yet, he managed to address the stranger.

"My name is Hikaru. Who... Who are you?"

The other still smiled as he looked back over his shoulder to Hikaru. He twitched his ears, and he brought one hand to his shoulder, scratching it.

"I'm Hayashi, gorgeous. I'll be around."

Hikaru kneeled up, slowly getting on his feet, yet bearing slightly trembling legs. His eyes followed the nimble, slim shadow which turned around a rock and thus was banished from his field of vision.

The grey youko brought the palm of his hand to his own brow, touching his cheek and sliding down to his neck, testing a temperature. He was hot. Then, he touched below his waistline. He sensed the growing heat in between his legs. His sex was tingling, tumescent, and the area around his groin  taut in a spasm of arousal.

Hikaru shut his eyes for one instant, recalling the taste of that rude kiss against his lips.

A male youko. A stranger. A plant weaver. One disgusting, dirty, smelly character, and yet his youko heart had started to pound with passion inside his chest.

"Hayashi..." He uttered, sweetly repeating the name revealed to him. And as he did it, the echo of  his own voice around that name made a shiver of delight cut through his whole body.

"I could not understand what was happening to me. I had never before been atracted to male youko. I had always had great sex with my bethroted vixen. I was certain I loved her deeply, and yet, a debauched, careless, bad smelling youko had managed to affect me so much with just a kiss." Hikaru raised his eyes very slowly, furtively glancing at Yomi. "Why? I still do not know how all could change so fast in my life after that event."

"Regarding love, as we search and toil for answers, we seem to deviate further from the truth," Yomi considered, finishing the sake in his cup in slow, short gulps. "The shock of the unexpected and the boldness of Hayashi's attitude, must have turned you on. Not to mention the fact that he was a male, and it meant your very debut in such fine art of amour."

Hikaru agreed, softly nodding his head. His fingers touched the black forelock which fell down his brow to brush it from his eyes. He looked up at Yomi then.

"The feeling I soon grew for Hayashi forced me to contradict all I had always taken for granted. At that time I had never seen a golden-eyed youko. I was my people's heir thus I had been trained a brave warrior. Nonetheless I could not react when that slovenly yet sexy youko stole that kiss. I still wonder sometimes why I had not been able to shun him away from me. There was something in his slant smile, in his body language, which attracted me. His kiss tasted so good..."

"It was just passion, dear Hikaru. A very clear case of a massive love attack..."

Hikaru chuckled, dully. Yomi-Sama's words expressed it with precision. A love attack... Yes...
 
 "It must be it, King Yomi - A stroke which no youkai, no youko can fully recover from."

Both demons exchanged a soft smile then, appeased by the perception they shared the same sentiments.

 To be Continued...